Drunkenness

It was just that men and women had to keep their distance, so it was inappropriate for Zhang Yunchi to teach the female students.

Wen Nihe said, "I heard Your Highness learned archery from Young Master Zhang. I imagine you must be quite good too."

Zhang Yunchi, who was teaching a classmate how to hold a bow, was startled when he heard this. He hurriedly looked at Zhao Huiluan, terrified that his sterling reputation would be ruined in an instant.

But Zhao Huiluan was toying with a bow. When she heard Wen Nihe's words, the corners of her mouth curled up.

"Don't tell me you want me to teach you?"

She casually tossed the bow aside, shot Wen Nihe a sidelong glance, and went straight to the pavilion to rest.

That single glance seemed to say, "Are you worthy?" Wen Nihe's face flushed crimson at once.

Assistant Instructor Ma did not dare reprimand Zhao Huiluan, who was drinking tea alone in the pavilion, but he frowned deeply at the group of aristocratic youths before him. They were too weak to truss a chicken, yet they were going through the motions with their minds elsewhere.

This class, made up entirely of the sons and daughters of officials, was truly exhausting to teach.

Shen Zhiyun's hand was accustomed to holding a brush, and now, no matter how she held the bow, it felt wrong. With great difficulty, she managed to loose an arrow, only for it to fall straight down at her toes.

The sight made Zhang Yunchi burst out laughing. The two of them soon began bickering.

Zhao Huiluan sat in the pavilion, watching the fun. Her gaze shifted and fell on Shen Zhiyao.

Among the students who were killing time as they waited for class to end, Shen Zhiyao, a frail young woman, stood out for her seriousness.

It was clear she did not know how to shoot, but she was trying hard to learn. She stared at the target as though she meant to bore a hole through it.

Even after class ended, she stayed on the practice ground to train.

But like Zhao Huiluan, she truly had no talent for it.

Before long, blisters had formed on her palms.

The pain forced her to put down the bow, and a clean handkerchief was held out to her from the side.

Shen Zhiyao froze. Seeing that it was Wen Yan, she turned to leave. But Wen Yan was uncharacteristically firm. He took her hand, blew on it gently, and tied the handkerchief around it.

Zhao Huiluan watched with relish and could not help shifting position and crossing one leg over the other.

"Your Highness certainly pays no mind to the small formalities."

At some point, Rong An had also arrived at the pavilion.

Though he was speaking to Zhao Huiluan, his eyes were on Wen Yan and Shen Zhiyao in the practice ground. His gaze darkened slightly, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Zhao Huiluan shamelessly replied, "You flatter me, Teacher."

Rong An looked at her sideways.

She uncrossed her legs and smiled. "The deputy director is the deputy director to all the students, but Teacher is my teacher alone."

"Are you and Miss Shen Zhiyao old acquaintances, Teacher?"

Instead of answering, Rong An asked, "What makes Your Highness say that?"

"I see that you treat her differently from others."

"They are all my students. Naturally, I should treat them all equally."

"Without a single exception?"

"..."

Rong An's lips moved, then pressed together again. He lowered his eyes and did not answer.

Zhao Huiluan wrinkled her nose, gave a humph, and walked out of the pavilion.

There was no one left on the practice ground.

On the eastern side of the Imperial College stood Reverence Gate, which led to the Temple of the First Sage next door. The sounds of craftsmen at work came from beyond the courtyard wall.

Zhao Huiluan asked a passing student about it.

One who knew told her, "His Majesty has issued an edict ordering the Ministry of Works to build a separate Shrine of the Sage's Father within the Temple of the First Sage."

Zhao Huiluan raised an eyebrow. It was a fine job for lining one's pockets.

She asked, "Who is in charge of the construction?"

"The newly appointed director of the Ministry of Works, Lord Wang He."

A Ministry of Works director of the sixth rank, upper grade, held the same rank as Rong An.

Even after offending that old scoundrel Wen Hong at the Jade Forest Banquet, he had still managed to earn such a promotion.

The man did have some ability, after all.

Then she heard the students who had walked away speaking in low voices. "It really does pay to take Grand Secretary Wen as your adoptive father! Hmph, call him 'adoptive father' and you get promoted and rich. I'll wager that in less than half a year, he'll overtake our Deputy Director Rong."

"Shh! Have you got a death wish? Think about who's at the Imperial College now!"

So that was it!

Zhao Huiluan laughed to herself and turned to see Wen Yan half-hidden behind a thicket of trees.

"Your Highness." Wen Yan came out smiling and greeted her.

"Would Your Highness like to try the lily and crispy-skin chicken from Between Water and Clouds?"

Zhao Huiluan looked at the waxed paper in his hand and readily nodded. She was indeed a little hungry after archery class.

The two found a quiet, deserted pavilion.

"You heard what they said just now, didn't you?" Zhao Huiluan asked him as she bit into a chicken leg.

Wen Yan nodded matter-of-factly and spat out a mouthful of bones.

"I have never concerned myself with court affairs or attended to family matters. I am content to be a..."

Chapter 24: Drunkenness

"A wastrel?" Zhao Huiluan raised an eyebrow and finished for him.

Wen Yan smiled and looked at the waxed paper. "Does Your Highness prefer the wings or the legs?"

"Can I like both?"

Zhao Huiluan felt a little embarrassed by her own greed, but Wen Yan thought nothing of it. He left both the wings and legs for her and tore meat from the chicken carcass for himself.

"What a pity there's no wine."

Zhao Huiluan made the remark offhand, but when Wen Yan heard it, he gave her a meaningful look.

"Wait here, Your Highness."

Wen Yan looked around to make sure no one was passing by, then put down the chicken carcass. He ran behind the pavilion, crouched in a corner by the wall and rummaged around, then returned with a flask of wine and two small cups.

Zhao Huiluan stared in astonishment.

He actually dared to hide wine in the Imperial College? Wonderful!

Wen Yan was just about to set it down when he drew his hand back.

"This wine is from the Red Sleeve House. Does Your Highness dare drink it?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Wen Yan's eyes lit up.

"Your Highness is different from the exalted princess I imagined."

"A toast to Your Highness."

"You're too kind."

Holding her little cup, Zhao Huiluan gently clinked it against his.

"Wen Qingyu, let me ask you: do you truly like that Shen Zhiyao?"

At the mention of the woman he loved, Wen Yan smiled before he spoke.

"The day I first met her at the temple gates, she ran into a few wastrels. Ah, not the sort of wastrel I am."

Wen Yan made a point of explaining.

"Miss Shen did not panic like other women. She was calm and composed, and I admired her greatly for it."