Chapter 19 - The End Of The Spring Competition

The sixth day of the Spring Competition was rather anticlimactic for me.

After winning the martial arts event, standing on a horse and shooting targets felt rather inane. Even if the horse was moving.

Unfortunately for the rest of the competitors, the Air Element prevented even one of my arrows from missing the target.

Still, for the sake of propriety, I led the horse in the race and shot expertly.

After I was pronounced the winner of the event, I was led to the Emperor and knelt in front of him like before.

“After this, the title is a foregone conclusion, Shen Long Mu.”

I nodded, not daring to speak, still in a daze from the day before where the emperor bowed to me.

“Yet, seeing as you are a Prince now and have unimpeded access to the Imperial library, granting one such prize to the Champion of the competitions seems like a waste, don’t you think?”

“This servant agrees with his majesty.”

The man nodded thoughtfully “Very well, we shall seek a prize befitting of the new prince.”

“This servant does not deserve such consideration, but equally thanks his majesty.”

“Very good.”

I was dismissed after that, and I wandered to watch the rest of the events, receiving praise from many bystanders.

On the outside, I smiled and waved and answered questions, but inside I felt strangely numb.

I wanted to speak to Master Fa about it, but first I had to fulfill a promise.

I wandered to the place where the poetry competition was being held and, sure enough, I found Bai Fan. Her beauty and grace put her on another level against the rest of the competitors, which was further accentuated by the wide berth everyone gave her.

Yet behind her mask of indifference, I saw a tinge of loneliness.

This girl was like me, a gem surrounded by stones.

I crossed the space separating us to the surprise of everyone in the public and the judges, and without ceremony, sat in front of her.

At first, she didn’t recognize me, concentrated as she was in her poem, but after a moment of noticing a new blur in her peripheral vision, she turned, and our eyes met.

I smiled and she gaped.

“What are you doing here?!” she hissed, glaring at me.

“I promised to come to see you… but that’s too far” I pointed at the line of people we were not supposed to cross and the two stumped guards that were looking at me as if they didn’t dare believe their own eyes.

“I- You-” she opened and closed her mouth several times before snapping it closed at my teasing smile. “Thank you for visiting, Honorary Fourth Prince Shen Long Mu” she used my whole honorific to get a rise out of me. “You can leave now.”

I smiled insolently and took the parchment from her hands, which left her spluttering impotently again. I felt her glare on my face, which intensified until I handed her paper back.

“It’s good. Again, you show promise, my lady.” I stood and winked at her. “I shall impatiently await your results.”

Rising to my feet, I turned around and waved at some of the other competitors.

It might have been evil of me, but I liked it when my friends won.

My appearance had rendered the desired effect. While I hadn’t broken any rules, nor even bent them, I had successfully boycotted the event. Bai Fan won by a wide margin when her poem, titled ‘small nuisances’ made everyone in the public smile and laugh.

Even me, despite knowing that the poem was a white-gloved insult to myself.

While Bai Fan went to receive her prize at the hands of the emperor, I made it my penance to approach every other competitor and ask them about themselves and their motivations.

Most of them were girls, which didn't help my disposition much, but it was a penance, so I endured.

I left that day with many more names to add to my growing list of ‘people I must remember’, and quite a few extra friends and fangirls.

But most importantly, I had left behind my apathy. All thanks to a friend in need.

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Soon enough, all events were finished, and every participant had been asked to gather in front of the Imperial pavilion.

The imperial envoy thanked us for our participation and efforts and assured us that we had all gained honor for our families.

“Now, I will give the name of the Champion of the Spring Competition. When I name you, come forward to receive your prize.”

I turned sideways and found Bai Fan trying to bite back a smile.

“What’s so funny?” I whispered, but she shook her head and rolled her eyes without a word.

“Shen Long Mu!”

“Yes!” I stepped forward amidst a reverent silence. As I reached the indicated spot, I knelt with my head down.

“Honorary Prince Shen Long Mu” I could hear the amusement in the Emperor’s tone before he sighed. “Not a day as a prince and you have already caused problems for my envoys.”

“He’s truly worthy of the title, then.” The Empress intervened and I could hear laughter coming from inside the pavilion.

“Raise your head.” She commanded me and I did as was told.

“You are a rare breed, Shen Long Mu.” The Emperor was smiling “And too valuable gem to remain unpolished.

“I shall then grant your initial request: unimpeded access to the Imperial Library, so long as you are worthy of your name. Also, I grant you the title Duke of the Yan Province and, in this day, your Royal Family will send you off with 2000 gold teals, 2000 silver plates, 2000 water pearls, 2000 rolls of silk of your choosing, and the promise of a princess’s hand in marriage once you reach 18 years of age.”

Everyone was stunned. Never had an emperor shown such grace to a man outside his family. Not counting the dukedom, the amount of money and gems given were even higher than the current Empress’s own bridal gift.

Yet, in the faces of the imperial family (save for the first concubine and the empress who had not given birth to females), I could only see smiles.

‘It’s a two-sided blade’ I reasoned. ‘I am a prince now, but if I lose their favor, I will lose everything.’

I wanted to cry.

Yes, it was a great honor to belong to the imperial family and to have titles and everything. But it also truncated my freedom. All I had wanted was time to dedicate to my cultivation and novels; but now, I was sure that I was going to get involved in the politics of the country.

I should have spoken to Master Fa before the ceremony.

“Shen Long Mu, what’s your answer to the Emperor?” The Imperial envoy demanded after I had remained in silence for over a minute.

Without the benefit of time to think about it, I coughed “To answer the Emperor, this subject is not sure he deserves to receive such honor from the imperial family.”

The Empress giggled softly “Remember the Fourth Prince is but thirteen, my love. Speaking of marriage at such an age… surely you wish to laugh at his expense?”

“Um” the Emperor nodded. He had wanted to close the deal before the boy had a chance to think about it. If Sheng Long Mu became engaged to one of his daughters, he would be forever indebted to the imperial family and fight to protect the country at any cost. But what his wife said was sadly true. It was too much for one so young. “Very well, you shall keep the title and riches. We shall speak of marriage until you have grown older.”

Still, one ‘grace’ removed from his shoulders was good.

At the very least, I would be able to choose who to marry… if ever.

I looked up at the face of the emperor, gauging how much I could haggle without becoming a nuisance. The man’s face was unreadable, but he appeared bothered, so I sighed and gave in.

“This subject humbly accepts his majesty’s gifts.”

Everyone applauded and many began to chant his name again, but inside, Mu wanted to cry at the loss of his freedom.