Chapter Fifteen: Turning Enemies into Friends
“Your Highness…”
Fearing exposure of his identity, Qi Xiaojun carefully chose his words.
“That day, I almost caused Your Highness danger during the assassination attempt, and I’ve been filled with fear and guilt. Therefore, I wish to be able to help Your Highness if a similar situation arises.”
Chu Lianmo raised an eyebrow. “You want me to be attacked again?”
“…That wasn’t my intention.”
Chu Lianmo smiled lightly. “I know, I was just joking.”
Qi Xiaojun continued, “Moreover, I was indeed frail, but I believe long-term medication is unnecessary. It’s better to build my physique through martial arts training.”
At that moment, Murong Ying, limping slightly, approached. “Greetings, Your Highness. I have something to say… I’ve recovered from my injuries and can resume my duties.”
“Look at you,” Chu Lianmo glared at Murong Ying. “You can barely walk, and you want to be a bodyguard?”
“But Your Highness,” Murong Ying looked at Chu Lianmo with a pitiful expression. “It’s so boring lying in bed all day; I can’t stand it!”
Chu Lianmo knew he was active and couldn’t stay idle; he found it secretly amusing. After a moment of thought, recalling Qi Xiaojun’s request, a thought occurred to him:
“Alright, Ajun just said he wants to practice martial arts. You can be his teacher for the next few days, teaching him for an hour daily. It’s not too tiring, and you’ll have something to do.”
“What?!” Murong Ying’s eyes widened. “Your Highness wants me to teach Zhou Jun martial arts?!”
“What’s wrong?” Chu Lianmo’s face hardened. “Are you still holding a grudge against Ajun?”
“…I wouldn’t dare. It was all my fault.” After his previous lesson, Murong Ying dared not oppose Qi Xiaojun again. He nodded. “I will do my best to teach Young Master Zhou.”
“Thank you, Your Highness, for making this possible.” Qi Xiaojun said. “I will diligently train under Lord Murong’s guidance.”
He knew Chu Lianmo intended to reconcile him and Murong Ying, which was also his wish.
So, from the next morning, Qi Xiaojun began training with Murong Ying.
Murong Ying was the Commander of the Rui Wangfu’s guards and sometimes trained other guards, so he had some teaching experience.
However, he was clearly impatient with Qi Xiaojun, quickly demonstrating a basic sword technique.
“Try it yourself.”
Normally, such a perfunctory demonstration would be impossible to imitate.
Murong Ying was ready to find fault with Qi Xiaojun to make him give up. If Qi Xiaojun complained to Chu Lianmo about his strict teaching style and wanted a change, it wouldn’t be his fault. After all, being strict wasn’t a mistake, and Murong Ying’s usual governing style was strict.
But Qi Xiaojun, calmly picking up a sword from the training ground, perfectly replicated Murong Ying’s movements.
These introductory sword techniques were incredibly easy for a former expert like him.
Qi Xiaojun was proficient in both spear and sword techniques; he used a long spear on the battlefield, but he personally preferred swordsmanship.
Murong Ying was speechless. “You… your talent in martial arts is so high?!”
Qi Xiaojun elegantly sheathed his sword, smiling faintly. “It’s thanks to the master’s excellent instruction.”
“Heh, yes.” Murong Ying smiled proudly. He suddenly remembered that Chu Lianmo, given his current affection for Qi Xiaojun, would surely inquire about his progress. If Qi Xiaojun did well, wouldn’t it be due to his, the teacher’s, credit?
Seeing Murong Ying’s sudden friendliness, Qi Xiaojun secretly chuckled. This man, though hot-tempered, was childish and easy to appease.
“Let me teach you something more difficult.”
Murong Ying decided to skip the basics and go straight to advanced techniques. He taught another sword form.
A former expert remained a former expert. However, this body had never practiced martial arts and had no experience with Chu’s sword techniques, so Qi Xiaojun learned humbly.
They taught and learned diligently, making significant progress within the hour.
“Young Master Zhou, Lord Murong,” a maid reminded them. “Lunch is ready.”
“It’s already lunchtime?” Murong Ying was surprised at how quickly the time passed.
Qi Xiaojun smiled. “I need to handle some accounting matters in the afternoon. If I finish early, may I seek your guidance again?”
“Certainly.” Murong Ying, still wanting more, readily agreed. Teaching a smart student was very rewarding.
They then went to the dining area.
Qi Xiaojun also called Ying Dong.
“You let him… eat with us?!” Murong Ying, knowing he was the one who tried to assassinate Chu Lianmo, showed his displeasure.
“Lord Murong, you don’t understand. I intend for him to be my bodyguard. Although he hasn’t agreed, I already consider him part of the Rui Wangfu.”
“Can a bodyguard eat with their master?” Murong Ying realized, after saying this, that he was also a bodyguard…
Qi Xiaojun said, “You know my status isn’t high, so I don’t have many social prejudices.”
In fact, half of Qi Xiaojun’s statement was true. As a prince, his background changed frequently, and he was inherently kind, so he never looked down on servants; he often invited his personal attendants to eat with him.
“…Say,” Murong Ying stopped worrying about Ying Dong and while eating thought of something. “I’m your teacher, but you’re my master. Whose status is higher?”
“I don’t know.” Qi Xiaojun shook his head with a smile. “That’s why I said it’s meaningless to dwell on status differences, isn’t it?”
“Makes sense.” Murong Ying nodded, ate heartily, then said, “Ying Dong, as a bodyguard of the Rui Wangfu, you’re my younger brother.”
“Yes, Brother.” Ying Dong obediently replied.
Qi Xiaojun chuckled inwardly.
In short, their atmosphere became much more amicable.
That evening, when Chu Lianmo returned, Murong Ying eagerly showed off his achievement, “Your Highness, I taught Young Master Zhou martial arts today, and he made great progress!”
“Oh?” Chu Lianmo was interested. “What progress?”
“You’ll see if you watch him use his sword.”
Murong Ying gestured to Qi Xiaojun.
Qi Xiaojun, without hesitation, demonstrated the sword technique Murong Ying had taught him in front of Chu Lianmo.
Chu Lianmo was momentarily stunned.
The elegant and spirited stance, the beautiful yet sharp movements, overlapped with his memory of someone he had seen practicing martial arts.
Could a beginner reach this level so easily?
But Chu Lianmo reminded himself again not to harbor any more delusions.
“Excellent.” After Qi Xiaojun finished, Chu Lianmo gave a straightforward compliment.
“What about me!” Murong Ying protested. “Don’t you compliment me too!”
“Alright, alright,” Chu Lianmo couldn’t help but laugh, praising him. “You taught well as a master.”
Qi Xiaojun thought: Murong Ying’s skill at vying for favor was superb. If Chu Lianmo married him, no one else would stand a chance.
“By the way,” Chu Lianmo changed the subject. “Ajun, since your martial arts are so good, are you skilled at hunting? There’s a hunting competition tomorrow, and family members are welcome. Would you accompany me?”
Qi Xiaojun was taken aback.
His hunting skills were top-notch in Qi. He was always the champion at the annual Qi hunting competition.
Hunting didn’t require internal energy and didn’t need to be learned from scratch. However, he had to hide his true skills and not be too outstanding.
“My hunting skills are quite ordinary, but if Your Highness doesn’t mind my clumsiness, I’m willing to accompany you.”
Chu Lianmo smiled slightly. “Then it’s settled.”