CH 25.2

Chapter 25.2 — Leng Yu Feng’s Solicitude

Shang Wuxin shot Leng Yu Feng a look. Their departure time was a confidential matter that only those accompanying would know, yet Huan Mo Che was informed of it, so it was likely that Leng Yu Feng was the one who had told him. Moreover, she was aware of the close friendship the two shared.

Noticing the crown prince’s expression, Leng Yu Feng couldn’t figure out why he immediately felt like evading his stare. He wasn’t oblivious to his best friend’s interest in the crown prince, so when Huan Mo Che incessantly asked about the journey, he had disclosed the information. Leng Yu Feng honestly didn’t think he did anything wrong.

Although he was a general, he was a noncommittal one, but today when he met the crown prince’s eyes, he suddenly wondered if he’d somehow committed a wrong.

Shang Wuxin knew that it was already too late to intervene. After all, Huan Mo Che was not an ordinary person—he was the capital’s top gongzi and someone even her fuhuang was courteous to. On top of that, she noticed Huan Mo Che had even taken out her fuhuang’s written consent.

Utterly helpless, she decided to not waste anymore time, turned, and urged her horse onward. Huan Mo Che’s eyes flashed with delight before he quickly followed suit while Leng Yu Feng released a sigh and moved to keep up with the two.

Originally, everyone present believed the crown prince to be very delicate, since although he was a male, he was nonetheless a youth, and a pampered one at that. However, seeing him push on and cross the mountain with them, their respect for him once again rose.

When they came across a forest, Shang Wuxin and her two escorts stopped. They were in a rush, but they still needed to preserve their energy, lest they encounter unforeseen calamities.

“We’ll rest here!” Shang Wuxin got off her horse, and everyone else followed.

Leng Yu Feng went to check on the grains before returning to take a seat next to Shang Wuxin. Huan Mo Che situated himself at her unoccupied side.

Bai Shaolin came over to deliver a few wrapped bingzis and addressed them with a hint of embarrassment, “Crown Prince, General, Huan gongzi, there appears to be no animals in this forest, so we can only rely on these bingzis to appease our hunger.”

Bingzi literally means ‘pancake’.

Bai Shaolin inwardly scolded himself for being inconsiderate. With General Leng, it was alright. General Leng was experienced in warfare and undoubtedly had seen bingzis numerous times, but the crown prince and Huan gongzi… Bai Shaolin peeked at the crown prince. The crown prince was someone Bai Shaolin greatly admired, so he was afraid of offending him.

Huan Mo Che looked at the hard bingzis and thought about how, although life at Taiji Estate was not extravagant, the meals were still luxurious. More importantly, the crown prince’s body was thin and frail. Just thinking about it gave Huan Mo Che a heartache, but then he saw the crown prince readily take a bingzi and calmly started eating it.

The crown prince’s eating etiquette was very graceful, and his every move was an alluring one. It was as if he was holding a rare delicacy rather than a stiff cake, effectively stupefying those who were watching. After snapping out of their stupor, they felt particularly good about the prince.

Huan Mo Che saw that the crown prince seemed to have no complaints, so his heart also calmed a bit. He picked up a bingzi and started eating too. He couldn’t help but sneakily glance at the crown prince from time to time.

Huan Mo Che believed that no matter what the crown prince did, his actions would look pleasing to the eye. This was the first time he was paying so much attention to someone.

Leng Yu Feng observed the way the crown prince placidly ate the bingzi while he began to approve even more. To think that a seemingly frail person like the crown prince would be so unpredictable. Leng Yu Feng suddenly felt that being the crown prince’s Grand Tutor[1] wouldn’t be so bad.

[1] “太傅” = The highest official position below the emperor, usually appointed after each new reign. A Grand Tutor’s job is to provide guidance to the emperor.

Bai Shaolin, seeing that the crown prince did not mind their coarse food in the slightest, promptly understood why his father’s assessment of the prince was so high. Bai Shaolin decided that henceforth, his loyalty belonged to the crown prince’s faction[2].

[2] “势力” = Literally means ‘power/influence’. In ancient China, numerous officials support different princes for the throne. Thus, each prince has their own group of supports — a faction.

For many years, he’d refrained from joining any factions; it was either for one thing or another, or because none of the princes impressed him. But now, the crown prince was able to make Bai Shaolin willingly pledge his loyalty.

Everyone hastened to get some bingzis into their stomachs and then settled down to rest. A portion stayed behind on night duty.

Shang Wuxin stood up to leave and was stopped by Huan Mo Che’s inquiry, “Crown Prince, where are you going?”