Tenderness in the Study's Inner Chamber, a Talented Scholar Queues Outside the Martial Arts School

Gu Moran pressed the map of the southern city on the table under a book.

"Come in."

Shen Ling'er entered carrying a tray.

There was a cup of hot tea on the tray, and the untouched box of goji berry and yam jelly.

She put her things down and glanced at Gu Moran's face.

"Sent by His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Gu Moran said, "Mm."

Shen Ling'er used a silver spoon to scoop out a little bit of yam paste.

"Fox nuts, goji berries, and yams—it's a pretty good combination."

She looked up at him.

"Husband, is the Crown Prince showing concern for you, or is he making fun of you?"

Gu Moran leaned back in his chair.

"Either is fine, as long as the stuff isn't poisonous."

Shen Ling'er put down the spoon.

"Even if it's not poisonous, don't eat it indiscriminately. If you overdo it, you won't be able to sleep at night."

Gu Moran looked at her.

"So, my beloved concubine is coming tonight because she's worried I won't be able to sleep?"

Shen Ling'er's ear tips turned slightly red, but the redness didn't fade.

I came to see if you'd turned yourself into medicinal dregs.

She pushed the hot tea towards her.

"I drank it; it's calming."

Gu Moran took the tea; its aroma carried the scents of mint and licorice.

He took a sip.

Shen Ling'er didn't leave; her fingertips rested on the edge of the tray.

Gu Moran put down his tea.

Is there anything else?

Shen Ling'er glanced at the doorway.

Uncle Fu had already retreated outside and closed the door behind him.

She then asked in a low voice, "Are you busy again tonight?"

Gu Moran looked at her.

The arena in the south of the city, Ye Qingyun's bamboo slips, and the prince's probing—all lined up in my mind.

But Shen Ling'er stood under the lamp, her silver hairpin simple, her sleeves carrying a faint scent of medicine.

People come in willingly, so there's no reason for them to leave.

Gu Moran closed the book on the table.

"I'm not busy anymore."

Shen Ling'er's eyelashes drooped, then lifted again.

"Then this concubine will not return to Green Vine Courtyard tonight."

Gu Moran stood up, walked around the desk, picked up the tray from her hand, and placed it aside.

"My beloved concubine, have you come to serve me in bed?"

Shen Ling'er bit her lip.

If you laugh at me again, I'm leaving right now.

Gu Moran out and took her hand.

"Then I'll shut up."

Shen Ling'er looked at him for a long while, then gently squeezed his fingers.

"Rest tonight, we'll scheme against others tomorrow morning."

Gu Moran chuckled.

"Good."

The candle flame was set too low.

The map of the southern part of the city on the desk was half covered by books, with the other half exposed in the lamplight.

Gu Moran led Shen Ling'er into the inner room of the study.

Outside the door, Uncle Fu turned and walked away.

"The Crown Prince's gift of these snacks wasn't a complete waste."

The interior room.

The curtains were drawn, keeping the candlelight out.

Shen Ling'er had removed the silver hairpin from her hair, and her long hair was spread out on the pillow, the scent of medicine mixed with the fragrance of tea, mingling with their breaths.

Gu Moran gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear and lightly brushed it against her earlobe with his fingertips.

Shen Ling'er turned her face away, the tips of her ears stained red by the candlelight.

The person on top of them also slowed down their movements.

She bit her lip, her fingers curled up, and she gripped the bed sheet tightly.

The candle wick flickered twice, and the warmth in the tent gradually subsided.

A new notice for the Dragon Abyss Seven-Day Mini-Competition was posted in the south of the city.

Before dawn, the old man who emptied the chamber pot was the first to go and check.

He was illiterate, so he grabbed the hand of the boy carrying water next to him.

"Son, what does it say on it?"

The boy carrying water stood tall with his chest puffed out.

"Regarding the competition I told you about last night, the first thing they gave us was two sets of training clothes, three meals of meat a day, and today they even gave us an extra five taels of silver."

The old man's eyes widened.

"Five taels? That's enough for our whole family to eat meat for two years."

He looked his son up and down and clicked his tongue.

"With your physique, winning first place? Dream on."

The boy blushed.

Even if you lose, you still get something.

The old man hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with losing?"

The boy said, "Even the loser gets meat porridge."

The old man slapped his thigh.

"Then what's the point of competing? Losing won't be a loss."

Ma Liu came out of the door with a straw in his mouth.

"If your son really thinks like that, I'll make him lose for the rest of his life."

The doorway was filled with laughter.

In Shun'an Lane, Shuhe held a bowl of thin porridge, listening to the commotion outside, and tapped the spoon against the rim of the bowl twice.

"Young master, everyone outside is talking about the martial arts school's minor competition."

Ye Qingyun sat cross-legged on the ground, with bamboo slips spread out in front of him.

"I heard you."

Shuhe looked at the empty corner of the wall.

There used to be a table there, but now only four faint imprints remain.

"Young master, the bricks are all broken, and the wooden stakes have been knocked askew. The Second Prince sent someone to offer you silver, but you refused it."

Ye Qingyun closed the bamboo slip.

"I will never be a royal lackey."

Shuhe shut his mouth, and the thin porridge in his hand no longer tasted good.

Ye Qingyun stood up.

"Walk."

The Shuhe raises its head.

Where to?

" Dragon Abyss."

Shuhe put the bowl down, and the porridge sloshed around the edge of the bowl.

"Now?"

"Now."

There were already more than twenty people lined up in front of the Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School.

Porters, water carriers, security escort apprentices, and two young boys cleaning fish at the market, their clothes still smelling of fish.

As soon as Ye Qingyun arrived, the noise at the doorway was lowered.

Someone recognized him.

"The talented scholar from Jizhou has arrived."

"The one who lost to Madam Xie at the poetry competition?"

"Don't talk nonsense, even the second-place person is amazing."

"Here to practice your boxing?"

Shuhe blushed upon hearing this, wanting to speak but afraid of causing trouble for Ye Qingyun.

Ye Qingyun is more composed than last night.

He walked up to Liu Laosan.

"Sign up."

Liu Laosan leaned on a wooden stick.

" Ye Qingyun, right?"

"Twenty years old."

After the accountant finished registering the information, he pointed to the end of the line.

"Queue."

Shuhe couldn't help it.

"My young master has already registered."

Liu Laosan said, "The people ahead have also reported it."

Shuhe said, "But my young master is a scholar."

Ma Liu sat on the doorstep, laughing.

"This is a martial arts school."

Shuhe wanted to say something more, but Ye Qingyun raised his hand to stop him.

Ye Qingyun walked to the end of the line and stood behind the two boys who were killing fish.

A strong fishy smell wafted over.

One of the boys turned to look at him.

"Even talented men do posture work?"

Ye Qingyun did not reply.

Shuhe stood to the side, his face even uglier than Ye Qingyun's.

In the back room of the tea stall, Gu Moran sat by the window, holding a cup of hot tea in his hands.

Boss Zhao spoke in a low voice.

"Your Highness, he really did line up."

Gu Moran looked at Ye Qingyun's back.

"As expected."

Boss Zhao asked, "Should we have Liu Laosan pressure him?"

"No pressure."

Gu Moran put down his teacup.

Let the rules prevail.

At the entrance of the martial arts school, the stake testing begins.

The first porter stood there for half a cup of tea, his legs trembling violently, before Liu Laosan knocked him away with a stick.

"Okay, come early tomorrow."

The second boy killing fish was standing crookedly, and Ma Liu laughed at him for a long time.

"With that kind of attitude, even the fish would want to run away."

The boy killing the fish retorted.

Even if the fish gets away, I can catch it again.

Ma Liu moved the grass stalks to the other side.

"Then you should first understand your own position."

There was laughter again at the doorway.

When it was Ye Qingyun's turn, the laughter subsided.

Liu Laosan looked at him.

"Spread your legs."

Ye Qingyun did as instructed.

"The waist is heavy."

Ye Qingyun pressed his waist down.

The warmth from the bamboo slips traveled from my waist to my abdomen, and my breath rose accordingly.

Liu Laosan's wooden stick struck his knee.

"Don't push back, sink down."

Ye Qingyun's brows twitched.

"I sank."

Liu Laosan said, "That's called pressing, not sinking."

There was someone at the door who couldn't understand.

Ma Liu explained.

"Looks stable, but it's unstable inside."

Ye Qingyun's face darkened.

"Again."

Liu Laosan walked around him halfway with his stick.

"Half an incense stick's worth."

Add incense.

Ye Qingyun stopped.

One breath, two breaths, ten breaths.

His body did not sway.

The feet didn't move.

The murmurs at the door gradually subsided.

Ma Liu removed the grass stalks.

"He's got something."

Half an incense stick burned out.

Liu Laosan wooden stick.

"Pass."

Shuhe's face finally lit up.

"Young master, you've gone too far!"

Ye Qingyun withdrew his stance, his breath rising in his chest, only to be suppressed by the heat of the bamboo slip.

He looked at Liu Laosan.

"Next, shall we learn boxing?"

Liu Laosan said, "Tomorrow."

Ye Qingyun frowned.

Why?

Liu Laosan pointed to the wooden sign at the door.

"Only stakes will be measured today."

Ye Qingyun said, "I can practice more."

Liu Laosan said, "Then you should go home and stand there some more."

Someone at the door couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Shuhe said urgently, "My young master has stood there for half an incense stick's time, Mount Tai. Can't we make an exception?"

Liu Laosan looked at him.

" Dragon Abyss only judges fist techniques, not poetry, nor does he care about urgency."

He tapped the ground with a stick.

"I have my own rhythm."

Ye Qingyun stared at Liu Laosan.

Liu Laosan looked at him too, without giving an inch.

A few breaths later, Ye Qingyun cupped his hands in greeting.

I'll come tomorrow.

Liu Laosan nodded.

"I'll practice basic boxing with them tomorrow."

Shuhe was stunned.

"With them?"

Ma Liu laughed and said, "Otherwise, who would you spar with? I charge high fees."