Old grudge after grudge drove Yan Wenkai to lose his rationality instantly, and he raised his fist to strike Dong Xiangrong, instantly entangling the two in a fight.
This move was like stirring up a hornetâs nest. The students who had come with Dong Xiangrong immediately cried out and swarmed over.
What started as a duel quickly became a many-against-one brawl.
Yan Wentao, seeing his brother Yan Wenkai being bullied, didnât say a word and plunged into the fray as well.
On the busy main street, a group of students broke into a fight, quickly drawing the attention of many onlookers.
In the past, the focus would definitely have been on the fighters, but this time, everyoneâs gaze was drawn to the wineâs aromatic red liquid spilled on the ground.
âWhatâs that red liquid on the ground? Why does it smell like wine?â
âYouâre out of the loop, arenât you? Thatâs grape wine, something only the rich and powerful can afford.â
Some wine lovers looked on with faces twisted in anguish at the sight of the spilled grape wine, âWastrels, wastrels, to waste such fine wine like that, if you donât care for it, you could sell it to me!â
âThese students just donât understand the hardships of life, to waste such good things!â
After a round of comments about the spilled grape wine, people finally turned their attention back to the fighting students.
And what they saw was shocking.
Good heavens, seven or eight people couldnât overpower two, and those two were clearly younger than the other side.
âThe martial students from Wangyue Academy are getting better and better, just look at those moves, so nimble!â
Yan Wenkai was genuinely furious. He couldnât bear to drink the grape wine his sister had made, thinking instead to give it to Instructor Fang for extra guidance. Now it had been wasted, how could he not be angry?
He held back a bit against the others, but not a jot towards Dong Xiangrong, attacking with all his might.
This fellow was an old enemy of theirs. Back when he and his father went to the provincial capital to report for duty, they had had a conflict with him at the post station. That time, thanks to the Little Princeâs intervention, he was forced by his father to apologize to them.
Wenkai thought heâd never see the man again, yet here at Wangyue Academy, he had run into him once moreâand they were both martial students.
That alone was nothing, but Dong bore a grudge for being made to apologize, and he didnât hesitate to use his familyâs influence to make life unpleasant for them.
It would have been tolerable, but he also slyly undermined their instructors, causing them to overlook Wenkai and his elder brother. If it werenât for their solid foundation catching Instructor Fangâs eye, they might have learned nothing after so long in the Academy.
Yan Wentao always remembered his parentsâ words to avoid causing trouble outside, so although he wasnât as fierce a fighter as Yan Wenkai, he had the advantage of height and strength. Besides helping Yan Wenkai dodge some blows, he would also land a punch or two on their opponents from time to time.
âWhat are you doing?ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
In the crowd, a silk-robed student looked like he wanted to step in and stop the fight, but was held back by the students with him.
Zhou Chengye glanced at Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao. Although their martial prowess was good, they were outnumbered; with fists and feet flying everywhere, both brothers were grimacing in pain.
âThis canât go on; someone has to step in and stop this!â
Wu Hongda shook his head, âIâd advise you not to get involved. Letâs not talk about Dong Xiangrong, among those being beaten is a son from the Vice Ministerâs family of the Ministry of Rites, which has been favored by the Emperor these past two years and often summoned by him.â
âThose Yan brothers donât have much of a connection with you; thereâs no need to offend the Dong Family and the Vice Minister for them.â
Hearing this, Zhou Chengye fell silent.
His occasional interactions with the three Yan brothers were mostly for the sake of the Little Prince.
He had thought the Little Prince had secured the Academy slots for the Yan brothers because he valued them, but now, after two or three months at the Academy, the Little Prince had not once visited the Yan brothers.
Now, he was unclear about the Little Princeâs attitude toward the Yan family.
Thinking of his Second Uncle who was holding up alone in the capital, Zhou Chengye hesitated for a moment before deciding that it was still best not to trouble him.
At the same time, about ten meters away from where the fight was taking place, there stood a luxuriously decorated tavern.
On the second floor of the tavern, a young man dressed in brocade clothes was fanning himself while watching the group of students fighting below.
âBig Brother Dong, should I send someone to drive those students away? If they disturb the Little Prince, that wouldnât be good,â another younger brocade-clad young man asked with furrowed brows.
Dong Yuanxuan glanced into the private room and pondered for a moment before shaking his head, âNo need to bother.â
Like Zhou Chengye, he too couldnât grasp what attitude the Little Prince held toward the Yan Family. The three Yan brothers had been at the Academy for some time now without any mention from himâhad he forgotten, or did he simply not consider the Yan Family worth his attention?
Looking again at Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao who were fighting, Dong Yuanxuan remembered the reception he received at the Yan Family; although he wasnât inclined to provoke the recently irritable Little Prince on their behalf, he was still willing to give them a chance or two.
What if the Little Prince heard the commotion and came out to investigate?
Su Hongxin glanced at Dong Yuanxuanâthese days, the Little Prince was quite short-tempered, getting angry over slight displeasures. With such uproar in the street below, he truly feared it might annoy that venerated figure again.
However, he remembered his fatherâs instructions: when serving the Little Prince, follow Dong Yuanxuanâs lead. Since he said there was no need, then there wouldnât be.
After all, if the Little Prince did get angry later, Dong Yuanxuan would be the first to bear the brunt.
âCreak!â
The door to the inner room opened.
Indeed, the two saw Xiao Yeyang with a rather unpleasant expression step out.
âWhatâs happening outside, why is it so noisy?â De Fu hastily asked.
Su Hongxin was about to say that some students were fighting below when he heard Dong Yuanxuan say with a smile, âIt seems the Yan brothers are down there, exchanging blows with someone. Theyâre not doing too badly. Little Prince, perhaps youâd like to take a look?â
Xiao Yeyang, who appeared somewhat impatient, furrowed his brow upon hearing this, then his eyes lit up, âDaohuaâs brothers?â
Dong Yuanxuan secretly thought, he remembered indeed; he had said that dayâs courteous manner of the Little Prince at the Yan Family wasnât faked, âYes, itâs them.â
Xiao Yeyang, with a newfound interest, quickly walked to the window and looked down.
Soon, he saw Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao scuffling with a group of seven or eight people.
âWhatâs this? Seven or eight people ganging up on two? How shameless! Since when did Wangyue Academyâs students lose so much integrity?â
Seeing that the Yan brothers did not seem to be at a disadvantage, he chuckled, âTruly worthy of being Daohuaâs brothers; their skills are indeed impressive.â
Recalling the first time he met Daohua, as she deftly and fiercely threw stones at the traffickers, the corners of Xiao Yeyangâs mouth curled upwards.
Behind him, De Fu, seeing that Xiao Yeyang finally smiled, breathed a great sigh of relief in his heart.
He couldnât begin to express how tense he had felt these past days.
âLetâs go, letâs go down and have a look!â
With a flick of his fan, Xiao Yeyang took the lead and headed downstairs.
De Fu, Dong Yuanxuan, and the rest of their party quickly followed.
Su Hongxin, who was walking at the very back, looked at Dong Yuanxuan and inwardly marveled; his father was right, Dong Yuanxuan was indeed better at discerning the Little Princeâs intentions.
Look, in no time, he brightened the Little Princeâs mood.
This was indeed something he needed to learn from.