Yan Mengjun was deeply worried.
The princess had extraordinary looks and was so generous. She had raised Yan Feng plump and hearty, with endless rewards. It was no wonder this kid had come to his senses.
Whether it was about romance or something else, this kid could not be kept around anymore. But the other party was the princess.
What was more, she was a married princess with many male paramours. What future lay ahead?
Yan Feng was fortunate. At the perfect age when his heart first stirred with romance, he had met someone like the princess.
But at such an age, encountering someone like her and seeing so many wonderful sights alongside her—how could he ever settle for an ordinary life afterward?
Would the princess cherish and accept a young man’s passionate and pure feelings?
Yan Mengjun’s mind raced with thoughts in an instant. But his anxiety went completely unnoticed by Yan Feng, who only had eyes for Chu Yunge.
Chu Yunge was even less aware. Her attention was on the several boys as she tilted her head upon hearing them. “Acrobatics? You can perform for This Princess too.”
“Yes.” The leading boy was clever and mischievous, with a bold streak. He drew a circle on the ground right away.
“This little one will stand in this circle. Your Highness, feel free to throw stones at me. One copper coin for three throws. If you hit me once, the copper coin is returned…” At that point, he suddenly realized this was not street performing and quickly shut his mouth, changing his words. “Your Highness, just throw at this little one. No need for copper coins. We can also perform other amazing tricks for Your Highness.”
It was too late for Yan Mengjun and the others to stop them.
They were all a bit uneasy. Street performing was their daily routine, but because there were too many Yan people, few people gave rewards. Often, they bustled all day without earning a few copper coins.
The common folk were picky, let alone a princess of noble status who had seen everything.
But unexpectedly, Chu Yunge nodded. “Sounds pretty interesting.”
“Quick, find some stones for Your Highness.” The boys immediately grew excited.
“How could Your Highness touch stones herself?” Du Ruo spoke up at once.
Chu Yunge had Du Ruo fetch her coin pouch, then took out several silver ingots. “This Princess will use these silver ingots. If I don’t hit you, they’re yours.”
The boys were overjoyed. Chu Yunge tossed one to try, but they dodged it with all sorts of flips and rolls in a thrilling manner.
It was clear they were giving it their all, even exaggerating on purpose. One could only say that the children of the poor matured early.
Yan Mengjun watched with his heart in his throat. As they dodged time and again, he grew so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead. Why didn’t these boys know to let the princess hit them a few times to please her?
Amid Yan Mengjun’s worry, Chu Yunge stopped.
“Not bad.”
Seeing Chu Yunge stop, the boys hurriedly picked up the silver ingots and excitedly handed them to Yan Mengjun. They had earned money—lots of it.
Yan Mengjun: “…Hurry and thank Your Highness for the reward.”
The silver felt scorching hot in his hands.
The boys came to their senses and knelt with a thud, kowtowing.
“Get up.”
They were a bit skinny, but their cuteness was genuine. With some feeding, they would look even better.
“What are your names?”
“Your Highness, this little one is called Chi Baobao—Chi as in pond, Bao as in full belly.”
“Chi Baobao?” Chu Yunge repeated. “Does that mean eating until full?”
“Yes. This little one has been hungry since I can remember. My biggest wish was to eat my fill. And since my surname is Chi, I named myself Chi Baobao.” He hugged the boy beside him who was playing along. “He’s Chi Haohao. Together, we make ‘eat full, eat well’.”
“Your Highness, we’ve heard that following you means we can eat our fill. Is that true?”
It had always been their wish, and they were truly terrified of hunger, so they had tried their best to perform. Now, they could not help but confirm.
Chu Yunge saw Yan Mengjun nearby, anxious enough to almost step in and manually shut their mouths. She smiled.
“That’s a good name. It’s true. This Princess keeps her word.”
Their names were Chi Baobao and Chi Haohao, yet in reality, they were so skinny they probably had not eaten a full meal many times.
“This Princess will come find you to play again when I have time. Eat well and grow up quickly.”
Chu Yunge did not linger and prepared to leave. Before going, she could not resist reaching out to pat Chi Baobao’s head. This kid’s gaze sometimes really resembled Yan Feng’s.
Boys did not like having their heads patted, but facing Chu Yunge, Chi Baobao did not move. His face was full of delight.
The princess was just as Yan Feng brother had said—truly wonderful. She even smelled nice.
Though he had jumped into the river last night to bathe for the ritual, he was covered in stinky sweat now. Realizing it, he awkwardly dodged and spoke up.
“Your Highness, I stink.”
Chu Yunge could not help but burst out laughing. “You don’t stink. You’re very capable and cute.”
Just as she finished speaking, Pei Ji’s shocked and distraught voice came from nearby. “You… Your Highness, you…”
Pei Ji had been so disturbed by the Chu Emperor that his mind was in turmoil. In the end, he went out to ride horses, practice swordplay, and drink to drown his sorrows.
He never expected that upon returning to Heavenly Prosperity City, he would hear the shocking news that Chu Yunge was snatching male paramours. In disbelief, he rushed back to the residence and followed the maidservants’ directions here. Sure enough, in the back garden of the Princess Mansion, he confirmed the rumors.
The princess had really snatched more male paramours. Everywhere he looked—men, all men.
Moreover, they were all young men with outstanding looks.
They each wore forehead bands tied at their brows, in different colors and styles, but each had their own charm.
And every one of them held a sword in hand. Their skills might not match his, but none seemed weak.
Pei Ji was drowned in a sea of men. After passing one man after another, he finally spotted Chu Yunge—just in time to see her praising a half-grown boy as capable and cute.
Pei Ji’s foot slipped. A martial arts expert like him nearly fell flat.
“You…” His face was full of shock and fury, almost blurting out the word “beast”.
How could she have so many more male paramours? She still needed them to take turns for detoxification, yet here she was snatching more—and so many at that, even such young ones.
Pei Ji pulled Chu Yunge aside and gnashed his teeth in a low voice. “Your Highness, what are you doing?”
With so many, could she even pamper them all?
“I’ve grown tired of looking at you lot. Time for a change of pace.”
Pei Ji: “…I don’t believe it.”
How could she tire of them so quickly? Was he that boring?
“Believe it or not, just remember: This Princess’s back courtyard forbids open or covert fights. You’re not allowed to bully them.”
Hearing her immediately defend them, Pei Ji laughed in anger for a moment, his fury turning even numb.
He clenched his teeth hard and pointed at the half-grown boys. “What about them? They’re still so young. Have you gone mad?”
Could she really lay hands on boys this young?
Chu Yunge looked at Pei Ji’s expression and barely held back her laughter. “Raise them well, and they’ll be even more devoted since they’ve grown up under me. They certainly won’t point at This Princess’s nose and call This Princess mad like you.”
“You…”
Pei Ji wanted to say something, but Yan Feng already stepped in front of Chu Yunge, quietly prying apart Pei Ji’s hand that held hers.
A male paramour who liked men was meddling too much.
If he liked stinky men so much, he should not touch the princess.
Pei Ji grew even angrier at Yan Feng, but in the end, he found he had nothing to say.
It was that same old line: What right did he have to interfere? He was not even the prince consort.
Pei Ji stormed off in a huff.
Pei Ji’s arrival made the Yan people even more tense and uneasy.
Yan Mengjun hurriedly bowed in salute, but he did not know what to say. He wanted to find a path to survival for the Yan people. The princess was of noble status; if she used them, others might too.
He wanted the Yan people to integrate into the Chu State and survive for good.
But this path was hard to tread. Yan Feng, that kid, was still restless. He had even dared to wedge himself between the princess and the Little Marquis, getting jealous of the Little Marquis.
This was not just “a grown daughter cannot be kept at home.” He was rushing headlong to become the eighteenth consort, and he had not even become a “consort” yet, but he was already fighting for favor and eating vinegar.
What kind of mess was this?
Sigh.
Sigh.