Not a Disgrace Part 1

Wen Ying got vicious. For the first time, Ling Qiyan learned that this beast could be even more beastly. He pinched and bit him, trying to do him to death. Ling Qiyan kicked, hit, and cursed, and in the end, his throat was raw from crying, but he wasn't let go. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and passed out.

When he woke the next day, Ling Qiyan was in so much pain he couldn't move. His entire body was covered in marks; there wasn't a single patch of unscathed flesh. It took him three days of recuperation to recover.

Ling Qiyan became furious over this. After waking up, he slapped Wen Ying across the face and told him to get as far away as possible. Afterward, whenever Wen Ying came to the main courtyard to pay his respects, he was never allowed inside.

The more Ling Qiyan thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. That damned poor scholar! He had just passed the provincial exam and already dared to disregard him, Prince Yu. How dare he treat him like this? On what grounds?!

Growing up, apart from his mother, the Empress, who treated him like an enemy, no one had ever dared to lay a finger on him. How dare Wen Ying!

It must be that he had been too indulgent with that boy, which made him so audacious and increasingly insolent!

Later, that boy went to receive twenty strokes of the cane himself. But he was, after all, a provincial graduate. The manor's servants, worried Ling Qiyan would settle scores with them after his anger subsided, didn't dare to strike heavily. They just put on a show, not even drawing blood.

Jiang Lin came to report the matter to Ling Qiyan. Upon hearing it, Ling Qiyan frowned. "Was he crippled?"

"No," Jiang Lin thought to himself what a close call it was that they hadn't struck heavily. He quickly explained, "Jieyuan Wen has a strong constitution. It was only twenty strokes; it won't cause any lasting injury."

The anger in Ling Qiyan's heart finally subsided for the most part. He waved his hand. "Go send some medicinal ointment to him."

A few more days passed, and it was Elder Princess Huaying's birthday. The princess's manor held a grand banquet. This Elder Princess loved lively occasions and invited the female relatives and younger generation from all the capital's manors. Naturally, Ling Qiyan had to go show support for his aunt.

Wen Ying still came to the main courtyard early in the morning to pay his respects, even though he had been turned away at the door for several days in a row.

When he arrived at the main courtyard, he ran into Ling Qiyan just as he was boarding his carriage to go out. They hadn't seen each other for many days. Although Ling Qiyan's anger hadn't completely dissipated, on account of Wen Ying having been caned, he no longer found him quite so displeasing to the eye and allowed him to approach and speak.

"Is Your Highness going out?" Wen Ying asked him in a low voice after paying his respects.

"Mhm," Ling Qiyan responded casually. "Are you going to the academy today as well?"

"Today is a holiday."

Ling Qiyan's thoughts turned. He said faintly, "Get in the carriage. This prince is going to my aunt's manor to celebrate her birthday. You will accompany me."

Wen Ying got into the carriage. Ling Qiyan glanced at him and asked casually, "Are the injuries on your body healed?"

"Thank you for the ointment Your Highness had sent. It's fine now."

It had only left some marks to begin with, and Ling Qiyan had sent him medicine. After applying it for two or three days, nothing could be seen anymore.

Ling Qiyan ignored him and closed his eyes to rest.

He was still angry, but it was acceptable to take this boy out to show off.

Arriving at the Elder Princess's Manor and disembarking from the carriage, they happened upon that boy, Ling Qining, who was coming out of the palace with several other princes.

Seeing Ling Qiyan, Ling Qining skipped over to greet him. When he saw Wen Ying, his face lit up with a smile, and he spoke to him proactively, "I heard you became the Jieyuan! You're amazing!"

Wen Ying's expression was calm. "The Sixth Prince flatters me."

"It's not flattery. I know, becoming the Jieyuan is very difficult."

"Let's go. Stop standing here talking nonsense."

Ling Qiyan impatiently cut them off and walked up the stone steps first. Ling Qining hurried to follow, and Wen Ying fell one step behind them, following along.

After entering the manor, Ling Qiyan led Ling Qining to pay their respects to the Elder Princess first.

The flower hall was filled with the graceful and noble ladies of various manors, who were chatting and laughing with the Elder Princess.

Ling Qiyan presented his birthday gift and said a few pleasing words to the Elder Princess. When they heard Ling Qiyan say he had also brought along the retainer from his manor who had just become the Jieyuan, one of the ladies immediately spoke up with a smile, asking him to call the young gentleman in for them to see.

A newly-minted Jieyuan who was only sixteen and as handsome as Pan An, and a retainer of Prince Yu's Manor on top of that—these noble ladies were all very curious.

Ling Qiyan thought nothing of it and had someone go out and call for Wen Ying, who was waiting outside.

Wen Ying entered, greeting the Elder Princess with composure and propriety. The Elder Princess had met Wen Ying before and also knew her own daughter had taken an interest in this boy. Seeing him up close now, he was indeed exceptionally handsome. No wonder that girl Xihua couldn't forget him.

The other ladies' eyes lit up even more. Just looking at this Jieyuan's bearing and appearance, he was truly one in a million. There wasn't an elderly matron who didn't like a talented, promising, and handsome young man.

Many of them had daughters of a suitable age at home. If this boy could truly succeed in the higher examinations next year, he would be a good candidate for a son-in-law. The only downside was that he was too close to this Prince Yu.

Ling Qiyan was unaware of these ladies' convoluted thoughts. After exchanging a few more words, he withdrew with Ling Qining and Wen Ying.

They went to the garden in the back, where the younger generation from the various manors were playing.

Ling Qining went to play pitch-pot with others. He had received guidance from Wen Ying previously and had practiced diligently after returning home. His skills had improved a lot, and he won several rounds in a row, feeling very proud of himself.

But he was young, after all, and there were still plenty of people who played better than him. Hearing a round of applause, Ling Qiyan, who had been sitting to the side drinking tea, looked over. Someone had made a good shot. It was the eldest grandson of Duke Jing, Xihua's future husband.

Xihua was also there. After the man threw the last arrow in his hand, he looked at Xihua. Xihua's face turned red, and hearing the teasing laughter of her female companions beside her, she shot them a glare.

Ling Qining ran back and grabbed Wen Ying's arm. "Big Brother Wen, you go throw for me! You're definitely better than all of them!"

Ling Qiyan almost spat out the tea in his mouth. That brat Ling Qining was calling Wen Ying so affectionately. Wasn't he afraid that word would reach their Imperial Father and anger the old man to death?

He gave a low cough, called Ling Qining to his side, and pinched his cheek. "You little brat, can't you read the room? Didn't you see he's trying to show off in front of your Cousin Xihua? Do you have to go and compete with him?"

Ling Qining slapped his hand away and huffed, "I don't care. He wants to show off for Cousin Xihua, but why should everyone else let him? Big Brother Wen is better than him, I know it."

Ling Qiyan actually didn't care either way. He gestured to Wen Ying with his chin. "Go on. Win some face for this prince and the Sixth Prince."

Wen Ying accepted the order and went. Before long, the cheers from that side grew louder. Wen Ying was competing against that young master of the Lin family. Their scores rose alternately, and for a moment, it was hard to tell who was better.

Ling Qiyan stood up and walked over, watching with great interest. The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, until the Crown Prince, Ling Qiyu, appeared, followed by Shen Xingyao and his group.

Ling Qiyu interrupted everyone's greetings and gestured for the two playing pitch-pot to continue.

On the last arrow, Wen Ying once again made a 'reverse' shot.

Everyone was silent for a moment, then burst into loud cheers. The young master of the Lin family conceded defeat outright, very gracefully.

Shen Xingyao sneered. "Isn't this that poor scholar? Ah, no, he's Jieyuan now. How did you manage to sneak into the Elder Princess's Manor today? Is this a place you can come to?"

The smile on Ling Qiyan's lips hadn't yet faded when he heard this buzz-killing remark. He shot a cold glare over and said sarcastically, "Cousin, don't look down on people with your dog eyes. The river flows thirty years east, thirty years west. One can't say for sure what the future holds."

Ling Qiyan was definitely the first person to dare call Shen Xingyao a dog to his face.

Shen Xingyao glared at him viciously, his eyes full of venomous hatred. The last time, he had been kicked by Ling Qiyan until he vomited blood, and he still hadn't gotten over that grievance. Now he was being publicly ridiculed by him again.

Shen Xingyao wanted to retort, but Ling Qiyu spoke first with a smile, "Elder Brother's retainer is truly impressive. Not only does he play polo well, he's also good at pitch-pot. Elder Brother truly has a good eye."

Though he said that, he didn't once look Wen Ying properly in the eye. His lofty arrogance was completely undisguised.

Ling Qiyan found this boring and didn't want to bother with him. He called for Wen Ying to leave, planning to go play elsewhere.

After Ling Qiyan turned around, Ling Qiyu's pupils contracted, and the smile on his face vanished in an instant.

Shen Xingyao cursed under his breath. Not daring to curse Ling Qiyan directly, all his filthy remarks were aimed at Wen Ying in a veiled attack.

The others all pretended not to hear and dispersed. Ling Qiyu's expression grew even colder, but the two of them had already walked far away.

Wen Ying followed behind Ling Qiyan, walking casually along the lake.

By the lakeside, a group of young ladies were flying kites. One falling kite happened to land at Ling Qiyan's feet. Ling Qiyan picked it up. A young maidservant came over to thank him, took the kite back, and handed it to a very charming young girl in a goose-yellow dress not far away.