ADENCPIFPM Chapter 12

Early the next morning, Chu Chen visited the Fifth Imperial Prince’s mansion.

Perhaps not expecting Chu Chen to pay him a visit, the Fifth Imperial Prince seemed somewhat flustered upon seeing him, but his reaction was mostly one of being flattered by the unexpected honor. Chu Chen offered a superficial apology for Yang Qin’s actions. Surprisingly, instead of taking Chu Chen’s side, the Fifth Imperial Prince berated Yang Qin severely.

It seemed the Fifth Imperial Prince’s relationship with his cousin was far from harmonious.

After some pleasantries, Chu Chen brought up the Horse Meet. Without a second thought, the Fifth Imperial Prince agreed to it.

“I didn’t expect Fifth Brother to give me so much face,” Chu Chen remarked.

“His Highness the Fifth Prince has always been fond of you, Master,” Chongyang chimed in. “Even if there have been some disagreements, he still cares about you in the end.”

Chu Chen sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of sympathy for the Fifth Imperial Prince. Despite his noble birth, his intellect was lacking, and no one seemed to respect him.

As Chu Chen and Chongyang left the Fifth Prince’s Mansion, they spotted Mutou from a distance, standing at a sugar-figure stall and buying one.

“I’ll go call Mutou over,” Chongyang said.

“No need. I’ll go see,” Chu Chen said, walking quickly toward the small stall. Before he even got close, he saw Mutou had already bought the sugar figure and was turning to walk toward him.

Mutou handed him the sugar figure. Chu Chen took it with a smile and asked, “You were in such a rush. Did you pay?”

At his words, Mutou’s expression froze. Chu Chen instinctively glanced past Mutou’s shoulder at the stall and saw a familiar figure.

The vendor was Mutou’s “sweetheart”—Tao Qing.

The smile vanished from Chu Chen’s face. He said coldly, “Hah, meeting secretly in the mansion wasn’t enough? You had to come out to the street to cosplay?”

Yesterday, Chu Chen had just said he would treat him well, and today he pulls this stunt?

This was simply outrageous!

Chongyang looked bewildered. “What kind of what?”

Chu Chen tossed the sugar figure to Chongyang, didn’t even glance at Mutou, and strode back into the carriage, urging them to leave. Mutou could only follow helplessly behind the carriage as they returned to the mansion.

Two days later, on the eastern outskirts of the Capital, the scions of noble families gathered in droves.

Chu Chen had no desire to mingle with the others. He stepped off the carriage and went straight into his tent, but not before ordering Chongyang to scout the area.

“Your Highness,” Chongyang reported upon his return, “I’ve just finished my rounds. Besides the Emperor and the Fifth Prince, only the Second Prince has arrived. The young Marquis Dingnan and the Heir to the County Lord Yangping are also here.”

“Is the young Marquis Dingnan Lu Jing?” Chu Chen asked.

“Yes,” Chongyang confirmed. “He was close to Your Highness in childhood, but he spent several years in the south with Marquis Dingnan. He only recently returned.”

Chu Chen nodded. He remembered Lu Jing as the original host’s former study companion. However, Lu Jing had always been closer to the Crown Prince and had frequently bullied the original host during their youth. He was nothing but a scoundrel.

“Sixth Brother?” the Fifth Prince’s voice called from outside the tent. A moment later, he stepped inside.

Chongyang hastily withdrew, but Mutou remained standing calmly behind Chu Chen, showing no intention of leaving.

“Sixth Brother, is this your new bodyguard?” the Fifth Prince asked.

Chu Chen glanced at Mutou but offered no reply.

Mutou spoke up candidly, “I am His Highness’s male favourite.”

Ever since Chu Chen had caught him and Tao Qing meeting in secret on the street, he had been treating Mutou with cold indifference. Perhaps feeling he was in the wrong, Mutou had offered no complaints, diligently following Chu Chen everywhere and playing the part of his male favourite to perfection.

Hearing this, the Fifth Imperial Prince couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Mutou. ‘No wonder Chu Chen looks down on the male courtesans I’ve found for him,’ he thought. ‘With someone like this by his side, how could he possibly be interested in those common beauties…’

“Sixth Younger Brother,” the Fifth Imperial Prince began, “I ran into Lu Jing outside just now. Do you still remember him?”

“I have a vague recollection,” Chu Chen replied. “It’s been too long since I last saw him.”

“He still seems quite arrogant,” the Fifth Imperial Prince said. “I remember when we were children; he loved to play tricks on me. But then again, out of all our brothers and our study companions, you were the only one who didn’t pull my leg. Even Fourth Brother, my own full brother, couldn’t stand me.”

“Don’t Father and Her Highness, the Noble Consort, both adore you, Fifth Brother?” Chu Chen said.

“What does that mean?” the Fifth Imperial Prince sighed. “Sixth Brother, I’m actually quite touched that you invited me along this time, setting aside our past grievances. You know the Second Imperial Prince is organising this Horse Meet. He’s always gotten along poorly with Fourth Brother, and by extension, he doesn’t like me either.”

If Chu Chen hadn’t stepped in, the Fifth Imperial Prince truly wouldn’t have been able to attend this event.

Chu Chen wondered to himself, ‘What is the Crown Prince’s true intention in going to such great lengths to bring the Fifth Imperial Prince here?’

“When he schemed against you back then, he showed no mercy,” Mutou said to Chu Chen after the Fifth Imperial Prince had left. “Whatever the Crown Prince’s plans are this time, since he hasn’t told you, it has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to feel guilty.”

“Who said I felt guilty?” Chu Chen stubbornly retorted.

He just felt a pang of sympathy for the Fifth Imperial Prince, who was so hopelessly naive.

The Horse Meet would last two days: polo on the first day, and horse racing on the second.

The participants didn’t need to bring their own horses; they could simply choose one they liked from the stables.

The Second Imperial Prince had put a lot of effort into this, providing many fine steeds. However, Chu Chen didn’t know much about horses and couldn’t tell a good one from a bad one at a glance. Still, he had learned to ride when he visited Inner Mongolia in the past, so he wasn’t afraid of embarrassing himself.

Mutou selected a horse and rode it for a lap himself. Only after confirming the animal was sound did he hand the reins to Chu Chen.

Chu Chen swung into the saddle and took a turn, appearing reasonably satisfied. He even graced Mutou with a rare, pleasant expression.

As Chu Chen trotted the horse around the paddock, Young Marquis Lu Jing spurred his own mount forward, pulling up beside him with a bright smile.

At twenty-three, Lu Jing was a few years older than Chu Chen. He possessed a valiant appearance and an extraordinary aura. Although Marquis Dingnan had spent little time in the Capital in recent years, his family’s prestige remained undiminished. Young Marquis Lu Jing had also proven himself capable, achieving significant feats in the military. Now that he had returned to the Capital, he was considered a prominent figure among the city’s young talents.

“It’s been years, Sixth Highness. You’ve grown quite a bit,” Lu Jing said with a smile.

“The Young Marquis hasn’t gotten any shorter either,” Chu Chen replied coldly.

Lu Jing paused, surprised. He hadn’t expected the once-timid Chu Chen to develop such a sharp tongue. This only piqued his interest. “The moment I arrived in the Capital, I heard rumours that His Highness almost drowned in Changning Lake while frolicking with a male courtesan from a pleasure boat during the Lantern Festival. Seeing you today, I see the rumours were true. Even for a casual ride in the countryside, His Highness must bring along his own personal favourite from his household.”

“What’s the matter, Young Marquis? Feeling a little jealous?” Chu Chen asked.

“A little, yes,” Lu Jing replied with a smile. “Anyone would find it hard not to be tempted by someone Your Highness has taken a fancy to, wouldn’t they?”

Chu Chen’s gaze sharpened. “What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing much,” Lu Jing said, his smile widening. “Just a friendly reminder to keep a tighter leash on your man. There are plenty of young nobles here today with a fondness for the Southern Wind. If someone were to carelessly make a move on Your Highness’s man, I’m afraid the consequences would be… unpleasant.”

With that, Lu Jing spurred his horse and rode away.

Chu Chen scanned the crowd but saw no sign of Mutou. He turned his horse and rode back toward the camp. As he approached his tent, he saw a figure emerge from within. The man’s face was covered, so Chu Chen couldn’t see who it was.

A moment later, Mutou stepped out of the tent. He looked up to see Chu Chen staring at him, his face contorted with rage.

“Your Highness?” Mutou said, stepping forward quickly.

But Chu Chen had no time for words. He wheeled his horse around and galloped back toward the training grounds.

‘Meeting his old flame, Tao Qing, in the streets was one thing,’ Chu Chen thought, his fury boiling over. ‘But for Mutou to hold a secret rendezvous in his very own tent while he was testing horses…’

Even if this “male favourite” was just a title for show, Mutou had no right to treat him with such blatant disregard!

This was simply too much!

Chu Chen rode several laps around the polo field, yet not a single word passed between him and Mutou until the match was about to begin.

Mutou rode behind him, maintaining a steady, respectful distance like a loyal guard.

The rules for today’s match had been decided on the fly: teams of two. Eight teams in total would compete, and the first to score three goals would be declared the winner. The Fifth Imperial Prince had been determined to team up with Chu Chen, but Mutou’s unwavering presence made him a non-competitor. He had been forced to settle for someone else.

Though Chu Chen had been ignoring Mutou the entire time, he tacitly accepted him as his partner once they took the field. After all, no one else dared to approach him, seeing Mutou constantly at his side, for fear of being humiliated.

A gong sounded. The players charged into the field, mallets in hand. Mutou led the charge, seizing the first ball and striking it cleanly into the goal with a single swing.

Chu Chen: …

‘Was all this showing off really necessary?’

Chu Chen held the reins tightly, barely daring to approach the fray for fear of getting hit. He was like a spectator on the sidelines, completely useless, as he watched Mutou gallop through the field, snatching the ball and striking it straight into the goal again!

The crowd erupted in cheers, and even Chu Chen couldn’t help but cheer along. He had to admit—Mutou was undeniably cool!

“Your Highness, how about I score two for you?” Lu Jing raised an eyebrow in a playful challenge as he rode past Chu Chen, a smirk on his face.

With a sharp squeeze of his thighs, he spurred his horse into the thick of the action, dodged Mutou’s polo mallet with a swift manoeuvre, seized the ball, and sent it flying into the goal.

“One!” Lu Jing held up a finger, signalling to Chu Chen.

Chu Chen: …

‘This arrogant bastard!’

Lu Jing then coordinated with another teammate, snatched the ball again, and scored another goal.

“Two!” Lu Jing flashed Chu Chen another gesture.

His competitive streak, successfully ignited by Lu Jing’s provocation, surged through Chu Chen.

The score was now tied at 2-2. The next goal would decide the match.

“Mutou!” Chu Chen gritted his teeth and spurred his horse into the fray. “This Prince will help you! Don’t let him win!”

Mutou spurred his horse toward him. As they passed each other, Mutou tapped his own left chest and flashed Chu Chen a smile. Chu Chen’s heart skipped a beat. ‘That damn scoundrel knows exactly how to flirt,’ he thought.

“The final goal—if Your Highness wants it, I can let you have it,” Lu Jing said, riding over with a smile.

“Save it!” Chu Chen shot Lu Jing a glare and charged toward Mutou, mallet in hand.

The ball flew wildly across the field. Finally, Mutou seized the opportunity and snatched the ball, but Lu Jing’s teammate intercepted it mid-pass and sent it flying to Lu Jing instead.

Seeing this, Chu Chen rushed to snatch the ball, but Lu Jing pursued him relentlessly. Lacking experience, Chu Chen swung his mallet and missed completely, wasting a golden opportunity. Seizing the moment, Lu Jing swung his own mallet. It was about to strike the ball, but his aim was off by a few inches. Unable to pull back in time, his mallet swung straight into Chu Chen’s calf.

A jolt of excruciating pain shot up from his leg. Chu Chen lost his balance and fell from his horse.

Just before he hit the ground, Mutou leapt from his saddle and caught him in his arms.

Chu Chen got jealous, Mutou started showing off, and then caught him like a damn romance hero. 😂

Just date already. 💀

Buy your translator a coffee ☕