Chapter 231: Playing Host
The Prince of Chu’s Heir Apparent had slightly recovered from his illness, and Gong Changan came to visit him.
“I’ve only been indoors for a few days, and I already feel the weather has turned much colder,” Ying Bai and Gong Changan said as they walked out, sighing.
“This illness of yours has indeed lasted for some time. Now that you’re much better, you should go out and relax,” Gong Changan said with a grin. “Since there’s nothing to do in the palace, I thought I’d play the host and invite you and Prince Zhao’s Heir Apparent to Liu Xian Lou outside the palace to relieve your boredom. Would you honor me with your presence?”
Ying Bai laughed heartily upon hearing this, “I will naturally go if you invite me, but it would be a bit dull with just the three of us.”
“I had already anticipated that,” Gong Changan replied. “I have a few good brothers outside the palace who can accompany us. Their ages are only a year or two older than mine.”
“It doesn’t matter if they’re older or younger; more people make it livelier.” Ying Bai had been feeling extremely bored confined indoors these past few days and just wanted to have some fun.
However, they couldn’t do as they pleased in the palace; life outside was more leisurely and joyful.
The next morning, the three of them left the palace. Gong Changan asked the two heirs apparent to stroll around near the restaurant.
He, on the other hand, went to Feng Tianzhu and the others’ study hall to gather the younger ones.
They weren’t here to study diligently anyway. Upon seeing Gong Changan, they immediately jumped up and asked for leave.
Gong Bao’an was also there, but he was very well-behaved and didn’t dare to ask for leave easily. He hesitated, thinking he was too young and others wouldn’t want to include him.
“Let’s go, Fifth Brother,” Gong Changan said, affectionately putting an arm around him. “I’ll ask for leave for you.”
A short, stout man with a short chin nearby pouted, looking quite displeased.
Gong Bao’an secretly glanced at him and quickly pulled Gong Changan away.
Gong Changan slowly looked at the man, noticing his luxurious attire and proud expression.
“Fourth Brother, this is Liu Chuanbin from the Shoushan County Prince’s Mansion,” Gong Bao’an whispered into Gong Changan’s ear.
Gong Changan naturally remembered the name Liu Chuanbin, who was the one who usually bullied Gong Bao’an.
Gong Changan’s gaze clearly displeased Liu Chuanbin. He was already twelve or thirteen years old, older than Gong Changan and Gong Bao’an.
Furthermore, his family’s status was much higher than the Gong family’s. Therefore, even though everyone called Gong Changan a child prodigy, he didn’t think much of it.
“What are you staring at with those dog eyes?!” Liu Chuanbin bared his teeth at Gong Changan.
“Let’s see who’s higher and who’s lower between us,” Gong Changan replied with a smile, unperturbed.
“Nonsense! Of course, I’m higher and you’re lower!” Liu Chuanbin said. “Does that even need to be said?”
“No wonder people say dogs look down on others,” Gong Changan chuckled. “So that’s how it is.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Liu Chuanbin was furious. “How dare you mock me?! Don’t think you’re so great just because you got into San Jing Academy.”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. There’s nothing great about it. How could I compare to the great talent of Heir Apparent Liu?” Gong Changan said with a wicked smile. “I heard you wrote a poem about snow that became famous throughout the capital!”
The people around couldn’t help but cover their mouths and chuckle. This Liu Chuanbin, lacking any talent, insisted on being praised for his literary skill.
One day, it snowed, and he was inspired to write a poem about snow:
Feather-like snow falls heavily,
No travelers seen, north or south.
The celestial maiden of the nine heavens, wrapped in silver,
Descends to seek a lover.
Such crude words, yet there were still a bunch of sycophants. They said his poem was both elegant and common, with profound meaning and true emotion.
“Hmph, I don’t need your praise. My talent is known to everyone,” Liu Chuanbin said, his nostrils practically flaring to the heavens.
Gong Changan, still smiling, said, “I have also composed a poem for Young Master Liu.”
Then, without waiting for him to respond, he began to recite:
What tree, verdant and swaying like jade ribbons?
A person with specialized skills and high aspirations.
A good omen of both literary and martial prowess,
Two insects meet in spring, not lonely.
“You, you dare to call me stupid?!” Liu Chuanbin, though his literary talent was average, was not an idiot. He realized that Gong Changan’s poem subtly embedded his name, one character per line, spelling out “Liu Chuanbin is stupid.”
Gong Changan merely smiled and continued walking out, holding Gong Bao’an’s hand.
When had Liu Chuanbin ever suffered such a slight? He immediately flew into a rage and cursed without restraint, “You little beast! Your mother is unchaste, and you don’t know any rules!”
Liu Chuanbin had long heard from his aunt and grandmother that Gong Changan’s mother, Wen Mingqian, was a promiscuous, vile, and base woman who did not uphold her chastity.
Such a vile woman should have been drowned, so why was she still shamelessly alive in this world?
“You’re the one talking nonsense! Mother Wen is a good person!” Before Gong Changan could retort, Gong Bao’an jumped up.
He was initially afraid of Liu Chuanbin, but when Liu Chuanbin publicly slandered Wen Mingqian like this, he couldn’t stand it.
“What are you, a concubine-born dog, jumping around for?” Liu Chuanbin was even more adept at cursing Gong Bao’an. “Do you know? Your mother, who was a concubine, was killed by that woman. You still recognize your enemy as your mother, how shameless!”
At this moment, Qiao Ziyu and others also came in from outside and, seeing the situation, quickly stepped forward to mediate.
Gong Changan didn’t want more people to get involved or to engage in further verbal disputes, so he said, “The two heirs apparent are still waiting outside. Let’s not delay too long.”
After speaking, he took Gong Bao’an’s hand and walked out.
Liu Chuanbin, on the other hand, was extremely smug. He was convinced that Gong Changan was afraid.
“Go, ask for leave for me too,” he instructed his page. “I’m going to chase after him and give him a piece of my mind! He thinks he’s climbed onto a high branch, but I’ll let the two heirs apparent know what kind of brat this little rabbit is!”
It had to be said that the Liu family members all had a touch of madness in them. Liu Huanchun was like that, and her nephew was no different.
People say one should know when to advance and when to retreat, but the Liu family only knew how to push their luck.
“Fourth Brother, Liu Chuanbin is following us,” Gong Bao’an looked back and saw Liu Chuanbin riding a tall horse, leisurely following behind with seven or eight followers. His heart couldn’t help but tighten.
“This Liu fellow is truly going too far. Normally, we mediate between them at the academy, and he doesn’t bully Bao’an much. Who would have thought he’d act up again today?” Qiao Ziyu also expressed his helplessness.
“If you ask me, we should trick him into a secluded place and give him a good beating to settle it,” Feng Tianzhu said, his temper fiery. “See if he behaves.”
“That won’t work,” Qiao Ziyu stopped him. “The Liu family is known for protecting their own. It would surely cause unrest for everyone involved.”
Gong Changan, however, had a smile on his lips. He had originally decided to teach Liu Chuanbin a lesson, but today he was the host and couldn’t neglect his guests.
He had planned to settle accounts with the Liu fellow after today’s banquet, but he never expected him to follow them so recklessly, which saved him some trouble.
They arrived at Liu Xian Lou and had already booked a private room on the second floor by the window, but the two heirs apparent were not there.
Gong Changan smiled and said, “I suppose those two haven’t finished their stroll yet. Please sit for a moment, and I’ll go look for them.”
When Liu Chuanbin arrived, he directly called over the shopkeeper and asked, “Which room did those people who went up just now take? Clear out the one next to it for me.”
