Inside Cloud Rest Courtyard, the three stared at one another, and for a moment, "not a crow or sparrow could be heard."
Yu Hao hesitated several times, words rising to his lips only to be swallowed back down. Thinking of how he had acted high and mighty before Xiao Fan, only to discover that this young man was actually the prince's "brother"... This was awkward.
He probed cautiously, "May I ask where Young Master Xiao... Xiao serves?"
In truth, this was a roundabout way of probing Xiao Fan's identity. As one of the "Four Young Masters of the Capital," Yu Hao knew the capital's dignitaries and nobles like the back of his hand, yet he had never heard of anyone named Xiao Fan...
Xiao Fan smiled faintly and answered truthfully, "I am merely a commoner. His Highness the Fifth Prince favored me and recommended me to participate in the Nine Provinces Martial Tournament as part of the direct-entry group, to serve the nation and repay His Highness's appreciation!"
Ji Xuanyuan nodded along, then sighed. "Old Xiao, how are you so good with words? Teach me sometime, so I don't keep making Father Emperor angry."
He said it with such honest simplicity that it was clear the young master often offended Emperor Hongwu by speaking too bluntly...
"Wait, wait, wait!"
At that moment, Yu Hao suddenly perked up. "You said His Highness recommended you to join the Nine Provinces Martial Tournament's direct-entry group on behalf of the imperial court?"
"That's right." Ji Xuanyuan confirmed it.
Yu Hao immediately lost his composure. "Him! What gives him the right?! I came to visit His Highness today because I wanted to... wanted to..."
Now Ji Xuanyuan understood Yu Hao's true purpose in coming here... He had wanted Ji Xuanyuan to give him a direct-entry