In the morning, in the backyard.
As the sunlight slowly fell in the courtyard, Lin Jiangnian appeared in the backyard after breakfast and began a new round of practice.
A day's plan begins in the morning, so start practicing martial arts early!
After eating and drinking and resting for a while, Lin Jiangnian felt a little relaxed and refreshed, and continued to practice diligently.
Compared to yesterday, he has obviously made great progress today.
When I first started trying to stand in horse stance yesterday, I couldn’t last more than half an incense stick before I was out of breath and exhausted.
But today, I don’t know if my body has adapted, or maybe it’s because of the help of the “qi” in my body, but Lin Jiangnian is obviously more durable.
Lin Jiangnian, who had yet to learn martial arts, understood the importance of laying a solid foundation, not only for future preparation but also for strengthening his physical fitness.
No matter what, we can't be like last time and not be able to beat Xu Lan!
…
The yard was quiet.
The sunlight penetrates the shade of the trees and slowly falls into the yard.
The entire backyard was enormous, lush with foliage. It was silent, save for the occasional clatter of Lin Jiangnian's fists.
In the corridor not far away, two maids stood carrying tea and towels. Xiao Zhu was among them, staring at the prince diligently practicing in the courtyard with a hint of curiosity, her small eyes filled with wonder.
His Highness is actually... practicing martial arts? !
I heard from the sisters in the mansion that His Highness has been practicing martial arts with Sister Zhiyuan in the backyard since yesterday.
But they all said that His Highness had just developed a sudden interest and would not be able to keep it up for a few days.
Practicing martial arts is very hard. Your Highness has been pampered since childhood. How could he endure this hardship?
It seems to make sense?
Xiao Zhu tilted his head and looked at the prince not far away, who was sweating profusely, with a look of difficulty on his face but gritting his teeth to persevere. For some reason, a trace of worry suddenly arose in his heart.
Your Highness...are you exhausted?
Why does Your Highness suddenly want to learn martial arts?
Then, Your Highness, will you give up?
…
Outside the backyard, in an attic.
Zhiyuan stood quietly at the edge of the building, looking into the backyard, his eyes falling on the figure who was practicing diligently in the yard.
He stared intently for a long time, remaining silent.
I don’t know what he is thinking!
"Sister Zhiyuan, don't you want to go down and see His Highness?" A maid's voice came from the side.
Zhiyuan's eyes were cold and he said calmly, "No need."
Seeing this, the maid didn't say anything else.
But I was a little confused. Didn't Sister Zhiyuan plan to teach His Highness martial arts before? Why did she leave His Highness alone in the backyard today?
Why don’t you go and take a look?
After an unknown amount of time, footsteps were heard in the attic and a figure appeared on the top floor.
"Sister Zhiyuan? Are you here too?"
Zhiyuan turned her head slightly and caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
Xu Lan.
Xu Lan appeared in the attic, looking at the kite with a bit of surprise. As if thinking of something, he quickly walked forward and looked along the balcony towards the backyard not far away.
When he saw Lin Jiangnian diligently practicing martial arts in the backyard, he exclaimed in surprise: "He is actually still practicing martial arts?!"
"I thought he would give up today!"
Xu Lan looked at Lin Jiangnian in the yard from afar. Although they were far apart, he could still feel Lin Jiangnian's gritted expression and perseverance.
A strange feeling arose in her heart, but she quickly shook her head to get rid of it.
"This guy said he wanted to learn martial arts before, but he ended up dying after practicing for less than half a day. What on earth has he suddenly gotten the hang of this time? He actually took up the art?"
Xu Lan muttered, and then casually glanced at Zhiyuan beside her: "Sister Zhiyuan, how long do you think he can hold on before giving up this time?"
Zhiyuan's gaze fell on the courtyard. He pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly.
"You don't know either?" Xu Lan seemed a little surprised.
"No."
Zhiyuan said softly: "His Highness will not give up."
Xu Lan was stunned when she heard this answer. She stared at Zhiyuan with an expression of disbelief on her face.
Won't give up?
There is nothing wrong with Xu Lan saying this.
After all, she knew best that the Lin Jiangnian in front of her was no longer the former Prince Lin.
He is fake!
How could the former prince of Lin, living a life of luxury, endure the hardships of martial arts training? But the Lin Jiangnian before him was different...
but……
Why did Zhiyuan come to such an affirmative conclusion?
Xu Lan suppressed the hint of surprise in her eyes: "Oh?"
"Sister Zhiyuan, why do you think he won't give up this time?"
"Feel."
"Feel?"
Xu Lan was stunned. Is this a reason?
Or...did she discover something?
Xu Lan suddenly began to frown. Could it be that Zhiyuan had begun to doubt Lin Jiangnian's identity?
"Just, just a feeling?"
Xu Lan cautiously probed: "Just based on feelings, we can't conclude that he really won't give up, right?"
"What if his interest this time just lasts a little longer than before... and he gives up again in a couple of days?"
Zhiyuan lowered her eyes and was silent for a while before she spoke: "Last night, I tested His Highness."
"Probing?"
Xu Lan's heart suddenly jumped.
Could it be that she really discovered Lin Jiangnian's identity?
My heart suddenly hung in the air, filled with anxiety.
Even she herself didn't seem to notice... It was Lin Jiangnian whose identity was exposed, so why was she so nervous?
"How did you try?"
Xu Lan asked nervously.
Zhiyuan's beautiful eyes moved gently, and she said calmly: "Last night, I asked Xiaozhu to help His Highness bathe..."
"Um?"
Xu Lan suddenly opened her eyes wide.
What the hell?
Help that guy take a bath?
Wait, isn't his identity exposed?
Also, why did she let Xiaozhu help that guy take a bath?
Isn’t that... a sheep walking into the tiger’s mouth?
“…”
"When practicing the Xuan Yang Heart Method, one must abstain from sexual desire before breaking through the first level, otherwise all efforts will be in vain..."
"If Your Highness is truly determined to learn martial arts, he will naturally restrain his desires and keep himself clean."
Zhiyuan's eyes were calm. "On the contrary, if Your Highness was just in the mood, he probably wouldn't have any concerns. Then last night..."
She didn't continue.
But Xu Lan understood.
If that guy was just in the mood, he wouldn't care about abstinence. How could he resist having such a pretty little maid bathe him?
Why don’t you strip that little maid naked and eat her right there?
Hearing this, Xu Lan breathed a sigh of relief. Then, something occurred to her: "So, you conclude...he's serious this time?"
"He won't give up halfway?"
However, after a moment of silence, Zhiyuan shook her head and said calmly, "I don't know whether His Highness will give up halfway. But..."
She seemed to have thought of something and said calmly, "Your Highness's determination this time is indeed much stronger than before."
Xu Lan agrees with this point.
She glanced at Lin Jiangnian in the courtyard again, and as if she had thought of something, she turned her head and looked at Zhiyuan again: "Are you going to teach him yourself?"
The kite remained silent.
Xu Lan was a little worried.
At present, Zhiyuan really couldn't discover Lin Jiangnian's fake identity. One reason was that she had not spent much time with the Prince of Lin before and was not particularly familiar with him.
Secondly, she hadn't spent much time with Lin Jiangnian these days, so it was naturally difficult for her to notice anything unusual.
But if she starts teaching Lin Jiangnian martial arts from now on, and the two of them have been in contact for a long time, what if he accidentally reveals something and she finds out that Lin Jiangnian is an imposter?
"But, this doesn't require you to teach him martial arts yourself, right?"
Xu Lan asked tentatively, "You're just his maid. This isn't your responsibility... Besides, didn't you dislike him before?"
Hearing this, Zhiyuan did not refute.
But that cold gaze remained, as if she had thought of something. After a moment of trance, she suddenly whispered, "This is my duty."
"Um?!"
Xu Lan's face was full of confusion. How could this become her responsibility?
She is just a maid, why does she need to be taught these things?
There are many masters in Prince Lin’s Mansion. If Lin Jiangnian wants to learn martial arts, there are many masters who can teach him.
Why does she need to teach it personally?
Zhiyuan lowered her eyes and said calmly, "The prince summoned me to the palace and allowed me to enter and leave Ruyi Tower freely, all for this day..."
She slowly raised her eyes and looked at Lin Jiangnian in the courtyard. She stared at his back and said calmly, "Assisting His Highness is my duty!"
Xu Lan had an expression of incomprehension on his face.
How come this is different from what she knows?
Zhiyuan was still gazing at the courtyard quietly, but her eyes seemed a little dazed.
She recalled the memory of the first time she stepped into Prince Lin's Mansion a few years ago, the prince's loving gaze, the key to the seventh floor of Ruyi Tower that the prince handed to her, and... the words that the prince had instructed her.
"Zhiyuan, Jiang Nian lost his mother when he was young, and he's become lazy and dissolute. He's caused a lot of trouble in Linjiang City over the years. I'm busy with important matters and can't take care of him. In addition, everyone in the palace is wary of Jiang Nian's status, so no one dares to stop him from deceiving his superiors and subordinates... Therefore, I summoned you to the palace this time, hoping that you can discipline Jiang Nian on my behalf and prevent him from causing more trouble..."
"Jiang Nian is not a bad person by nature. I believe that sooner or later he will turn over a new leaf. If he ever truly makes up his mind, you will hand over this key to him. As for the choice, it is up to him. If he gives up, then it will be fine for him to be an idle prince in the future. But if he insists... I hope that you can assist Jiang Nian well, and..."
“…”
Scenes from the past gradually emerged in my mind.
After being in a daze for a long time, Zhiyuan's eyes gradually recovered.
"Sister Kite?"
Xu Lan's voice came from his ears, and Zhiyuan glanced sideways: "Huh?"
Xu Lan glanced around and saw that the maid had already left. When there was no one around, she seemed to think of something and hesitated: "I have a question, but I don't know whether I should ask it or not."
Zhiyuan glanced at her and said calmly, "Ask."
"that is……"
Xu Lan thought for a moment before tentatively asking, "Your identity isn't just the maid of His Royal Highness the Prince Lin, right?"
Zhiyuan was startled, looked at her again, and frowned slightly: "Why do you say that?"
"You were adopted by Princess Lin back then, right?" Xu Lan asked.
Zhiyuan nodded but said nothing.
Everyone in Prince Lin’s Mansion knows about this matter!
"I heard, just heard..."
Xu Lan thought for a moment before speaking cautiously, "Princess Lin adopted you, but that didn't last long. She tragically passed away two years later. Afterward, you were raised by her younger sister... and only a few years ago did you officially enter the palace?"
"But I heard that you weren't actually trained to be the Crown Prince Lin's maid from the beginning, but... a child bride?"
"Yeah?"
Xu Lan remembered these rumors.
There have always been rumors about Zhiyuan's identity in Prince Lin's Mansion.
Since Zhi Yuan first arrived at the Lin Wang Mansion a few years ago, she has been highly trusted by the prince and has become the eldest maidservant beside His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. At the same time, her status in the mansion is far different from that of other maids.
She's nominally a maid, but in reality, she's hardly a maid at all...
It seems that these rumors are not groundless... If she was really just a maid, how could she have such a status in the palace?
Even if Prince Lin was foolish, he couldn't possibly trust a maid so much, right?
But if you say that she was raised as the child bride of Prince Lin, then everything makes sense.
A child bride will naturally be the future Crown Prince’s consort and the future mistress of Prince Lin’s Palace… Doesn’t everything make sense?
After hearing this, Zhiyuan was silent for a long time before asking, "Who did you hear that from?"
"That's what's being said outside."
Xu Lan asked tentatively: "Is this... true or false?"
"Sister Zhiyuan, are you that guy's child bride?"
She was very curious about whether this matter was true or not.
Zhiyuan's expression remained calm, as if this matter was nothing to her.
However, occasionally, there seemed to be a hint of confusion in her beautiful eyes.
Her bare hands lightly touched the railings of the building, and her voice was soft and hazy.
"I have no idea."
“…”
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