Troublemaker Prince C21
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 21
Don't meddle in the affairs of beautiful young men—even if a handsome youth wore rags, he would still be the center of attention in any crowd. Don't meddle in the affairs of beautiful women either—they only liked looking at pretty gentlemen and disliked seeing ugly things.
After being spat upon by the noble lady, Li Yuan's face twitched uncontrollably. The disdain that aristocratic families showed toward nouveau riche was displayed to the fullest. Even though he ran rampant in Chang'an City relying on his status as the Empress Dowager's nephew, facing these young masters and noble ladies from prominent aristocratic families made him feel inherently inferior to them.
Li Yuan couldn't help but grind his teeth. His Majesty detested aristocratic families, even hating the Crown Prince who came from such a background. These aristocratic families would be destroyed sooner or later.
Meanwhile, the young masters from aristocratic families, having had their thunder stolen by Huo Xiling who had just entered, were somewhat displeased. Seeing Li Yuan, they maliciously asked, "Former heir of the Marquis of Nan'an, since you came to attend the Spring Banquet despite your injuries, you must have some remarkable insights. When everyone engages in debates later, we must seek your guidance."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuan's face couldn't help but turn pale. He only knew how to eat, drink, visit brothels, and gamble—how could he understand matters of state governance and classical scholarship? If these people truly sought his guidance, he would only make a fool of himself in public.
"You jest. I merely came to recruit talent for the Li family," Li Yuan forced out a smile that didn't reach his eyes, looking down at the young masters from aristocratic families and poor scholars with the gaze of someone selecting goods.
After speaking, Li Yuan had his servants support him as he headed toward the estate where the Spring Banquet was being held.
Watching Li Yuan's retreating figure, the young master from an aristocratic family snorted, then said, "If the Li family really lets him recruit retainers, they're truly finished."
For a moment, the label "the Li family is finished" was pinned on Li Yuan.
On the other side, Huo Xiling, dressed in splendid robes, walked into the Spring Banquet with a cold expression. All along the way, he drew countless gazes. His striking features and the rebellious air about him were enough to dazzle everyone. Just as You Yusui had predicted, Huo Xiling was the focal point of the Spring Banquet.
Huo Xiling paid no attention to these gazes. With a clear purpose, he walked toward a secluded pavilion where the person he sought was waiting.
Curtains hung around the pavilion's perimeter, and through layers of gauze, one could vaguely glimpse a figure in red. Huo Xiling couldn't help but quicken his pace, walking to the pavilion and lifting the curtains with his hand.
You Yusui, who had been lying on a beauty couch, opened his eyes the moment Huo Xiling entered. His crimson teardrop mole lifted slightly, adding even more alluring beauty to his already extraordinarily handsome face. The fiery red robes made You Yusui's skin appear snow-white, and the golden thread embroidery made him look even more magnificent. When he gently raised his eyes, anyone would think this was an arrogant and domineering beauty.
"How did you find your way here?" You Yusui asked.
As the Crown Prince, he naturally had certain privileges and had arrived at the Spring Banquet early, not wanting to steal Huo Xiling's thunder. Otherwise, if he had appeared before everyone carried on a palanquin by eight bearers, that grand display would have made even Huo Xiling's beauty meaningless.
"Why did you abandon me and make me come alone?" Huo Xiling immediately grabbed You Yusui's hand upon entering, speaking in an aggrieved tone.
You Yusui smiled, then reached out to hook Huo Xiling's chin. "Tell this prince, how many people were watching you along the way?"
"I didn't pay attention," Huo Xiling said with a frown.
He was in a hurry to find His Highness the Crown Prince—what did other people's gazes matter to him?
So You Yusui turned his attention to the young eunuch who had followed Huo Xiling. "Come in and tell me how popular my family’s Xiao Huo is."
"The moment Attendant Huo got out of the carriage, countless young masters and ladies stared at him, forgetting what they had been planning to do, as if they had lost their souls. Only when Attendant Huo left did they remember to throw the flowers in their hands to him," the young eunuch said with a smile as soon as he entered the pavilion, describing the scene vividly.
Along the way, how many people had stared at Huo Xiling, how many young masters and ladies had wanted to approach and make his acquaintance, only to be ignored.
You Yusui couldn't help but lower his head and trace Huo Xiling's features with his fingers. "My family’s Xiao Huo is indeed beloved by all."
"As long as Your Highness likes me, that's enough," Huo Xiling obediently rested his head on You Yusui's leg.
Upon hearing this, You Yusui smiled. "You're the best at coaxing this prince."
Huo Xiling felt somewhat aggrieved upon hearing this. He reached out to embrace You Yusui's waist. "I'm not coaxing you—it's all the truth."
He was somewhat vexed that the Crown Prince no longer remembered him, and that their first meeting in the Crown Prince's current memory was mixed with an exchange of interests. If it hadn't been the Crown Prince making those demands but someone else, Huo Xiling would definitely not have agreed.
You Yusui didn't know what Huo Xiling was thinking, but he greatly enjoyed being coaxed by Huo Xiling, as it made him feel truly loved.
"There's nothing to do now. Keep this prince company here for a while," You Yusui said.
"Alright."
Huo Xiling removed his feathered cloak and nimbly climbed onto the beauty couch where the Crown Prince was lying, reaching out with his long arms to pull You Yusui into his embrace.
You Yusui looked at Huo Xiling's hand resting on his waist. This was the first time they had been so close together, and he could even smell the osmanthus and grass fragrance on Huo Xiling's body, which made You Yusui feel exceptionally refreshed and pleasant.
He had originally intended just to rest his eyes for a moment, but because of Huo Xiling's presence, he actually fell into a deep sleep. It wasn't until You Yusui heard noisy voices from behind the artificial mountain that he opened his eyes in displeasure.
"I'll go chase them away," Huo Xiling said.
You Yusui stopped Huo Xiling's movement upon hearing this, wanting to listen to what these people were actually saying.
"Brother Zhang, I heard that you once received a visiting card from His Highness the Crown Prince. Your reputation has spread so far that even the Crown Prince has heard of you. You're sure to win first place in the competition of the Six Arts."
"Exactly, exactly. Someone of Brother Zhang's caliber is certain to rise to great heights."
"The Crown Prince personally sent a card to visit you—which of these scholars has such an honor?"
"Ha! A personal visit from the Crown Prince? I wouldn't care for such a thing. If he came, I would certainly refuse to see him."
As soon as these words fell, Huo Xiling in the pavilion couldn't help but clench his fists, while You Yusui pondered when he had ever sent a visiting card to this person.
Having been reborn so many times, he completely couldn't remember.
"Come, let's go have a look," You Yusui gripped Huo Xiling's hand and said.
Soon, You Yusui put on his cloak and walked out of the pavilion warmed by braziers with Huo Xiling.
"I'd like to know—this scholar who doesn't wish to see His Highness the Crown Prince, which prince has caught his fancy?"
The voice arrived before the person. Several poor scholars turned toward the artificial mountain, only to see a handsome young man in black robes supporting a delicate and beautiful young master in red robes as they emerged from behind the artificial mountain.
The young master held a white jade long-stemmed smoking pipe in his hand, his expression and posture lazy. His red robes blazed like fire, with golden silk embroidery making him appear incomparably magnificent. After taking a puff and exhaling smoke rings while looking at them, his expression carried a hint of arrogance.
Almost at first glance, these poor scholars judged that You Yusui was one of the common wastrel sons found in Chang'an City. Except for wastrel sons, which respectable family's children would hold a smoking pipe while talking to people?
The poor scholar who had been called Brother Zhang showed no fear upon seeing this and replied, "Naturally, it's His Highness the First Prince."
You Yusui couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, then said, "Tell me your reasons."
The First Prince's maternal family were leaders among the poor scholars, and the First Prince You Yuyi was remarkably talented and moved in literary circles, enjoying high prestige among these scholar-literati. You Yusui wasn't surprised that this scholar surnamed Zhang would say such a thing.
However, when Zhang Luren heard You Yusui ask him this way, he knew in his heart that the time for him to become completely famous had come, and the opportunity to pledge loyalty to His Highness the First Prince had also arrived.
"The Crown Prince is backed entirely by aristocratic families, but these aristocratic families are all parasites on the state. All they see are their own interests—monopolizing books, suppressing the poor scholars. Even if the Crown Prince has a reputation for honoring the virtuous and recruiting talent, I will not associate with him!"
"As for the Third Prince, he's backed by maternal relatives, lacking in virtue and ability. His subordinates act recklessly, bringing disaster to the people. I will not associate with him either!"
"But the First Prince has always been wise and virtuous, possessing both virtue and talent. Prime Minister Su serves the country and people with complete integrity—this is the example we literati should learn from!"
After Zhang Luren finished speaking, thinking of how the Crown Prince had sent him a visiting card but had never come to visit, he couldn't help but add insult to injury. "In my view, the Crown Prince is merely someone who seeks fame through false pretenses."
You Yusui stared at Zhang Luren's face, feeling as though he had seen him somewhere before. Finally, in distant memories, he found a vague figure.
In You Yusui's sixth life, when he was imprisoned in Chunhua Palace, Zhang Luren, a strategist beside the First Prince, had offered counsel and then forced him to death with a bowl of poison.
Zhang Luren was feeling quite pleased with himself. As long as the scholars present spread this matter, his reputation would certainly rise to the next level, and the First Prince would surely come seeking him out on his own initiative.
You Yusui lowered his gaze to look at the white jade smoking pipe in his hand, then asked casually, "I wonder how your esteemed self came to develop such lofty aspirations."
Zhang Luren said with considerable pride. "Since childhood, my mother would tell me before bed that I would certainly become a minister in the future!"
"Oh——" You Yusui drew out the sound, "Then I'll tell you now—your mother was lying to you."
Before Zhang Luren could react, You Yusui covered his chest and grabbed Huo Xiling's sleeve. "Xiling, my chest hurts—he made me angry."
"Your Highness!" Huo Xiling quickly reached out to embrace You Yusui.
Just then, a young man in white robes emerged from the peach blossom grove. After glancing at the scene, he said to those behind him. "This person speaks recklessly of the imperial family and shows disrespect to the Crown Prince. Arrest him."
"Yes."
As soon as the words fell, Zhang Luren was immediately seized by two guards.
"By what right do you..." Before Zhang Luren could finish his words, the guards directly gagged his mouth and dragged him away, leaving behind a group of scholars stunned like wooden chickens.
The young man in white robes then bowed to You Yusui. "This official greets His Highness the Crown Prince."
You Yusui glanced at this young man who looked extremely similar to himself. Oh, it was his cousin. Then he fainted, not having thought at all about how to interact with his cousin.
"Your Highness!" Huo Xiling looked at the unconscious You Yusui in panic.
"Remember to find Imperial Physician Cui for me," You Yusui added before fainting.
Huo Xiling: ......