บท 31: Poor Yan

The appearance of Jun Min caused another big disturbance in the academy and the emperor was facing another round of complaints. Luckily, there were some problems on the border which made Jun Min unable to return for some time, so they were assured that Jun Min won't appear for the time being.

The next day, Jun Hua sneaked out as Jun Min to meet with Nanglong Soujin. She wanted to tell him that their sparring arrangement needed to be put on hold because of some matters she needed to attend to. She arrived at the training hall early morning and found Soujin already started training in one of the rooms.

"Soujin, I won't be able train with you for quite some time. There are some annoying people on the border waiting to get beaten up," Jun Hua went straight to the point.

Soujin nodded. "I need to go there too."

"There are also disturbances on the northeast of the kingdom?" Jun Hua raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"It's more correct to say that there are disturbances on the entire eastern part of the kingdom. Those pests are getting way over their heads."

Jun Hua thought about it and seemed to agree, to think that they would choose a time like this. She could not join the battlefield straightaway because she was still being held up in the capital as Jun Hua. If her sudden disappearance spread once again, people would be suspicious especially her enemies. This time, she could only let her subordinate handle everything in her stead.

"Care to have an early morning exercise?" Soujin threw her a wooden sword.

Jun Hua smirked. "Sure, why not?"

With that the two of them started to spar and sounds of clashing training swords were heard all around the hall. Jun Hua had been enduring her learning those tiring things so she used this chance to vent her emotions. They lasted for a longer time, and finished up when Jun Hua got defeated.

As they were resting on a bench nearby, two people appeared within their sight – Yan and Ming Hui.

"You're early today, Jun Min. Have you finished your spar?" Yan asked with smile. He seemed to be in a happy mood that day. In fact, he had been in a good mood for the past few days.

Jun Hua stared at him questioningly as Ming Hui giggled. "Brother has just managed to secure a good business. You will soon hear about it."

"What kind of business?"

"Buying a city," Soujin answered.

This time, Jun Hua was shocked. "You can buy a city?"

Yan laughed. "Young Noble Han is truly wealthy to the point the emperor jealous. In order to get a lot of money, the emperor handed a city to him."

Jun Hua was speechless. How could that emperor handle matters so lightly? Then again, she didn't really understand some things about business. Even though Yan explained it to her in simple terms, she was sure that there were a lot of underlying works executed behind it. Anyway, it was not her business and she was not in any position to meddle into it at all.

"Soujin, do you want to play another match? I bet you still cannot beat me on chess," Yan grinned.

Soujin glared. "I don't have that much free time."

Jun Hua was starting to believe that Soujin must have bore a grudge because of that one time when he lost to Yan. That day, they played for three times but Yan only managed to win one. Seemed like Soujin still wasn't able to get over that loss, and it was an annoying matter he wanted to avoid.

Ming Hui handed both of them their towels again. Jun Hua was filled with hesitation as she saw the princess act like a maid in front of them. Soujin just casually took the towel from Ming Hui, not in the least bothered about their difference in status.

"Ming Hui, can you play chess?" Jun Hua asked suddenly.

The girl smiled and nodded. "Do you want to play? I'm quite good at it."

"Sure then."

Yan felt like he was getting ignored. But then he noticed a wooden sword appear before him with Jun Min's smiling face.

"Yan, you can accompany Soujin to play for some time."

Yan wanted to cry. How many times should he say that he was not the match for both of them? Soujin nodded and took his own sword as he stood in front of Yan. Yan realized that he won't be able to avoid getting beaten up again today.

Ming Hui's attitude in playing chess was soft and light, but at the same time tricky. Unfortunately, she couldn't match Jun Hua who was playing much better than her.

"Your game moves are quite reckless and bit risk-taking. It's like gambling," Ming Hui commented.

Gambling? Jun Hua thought for a while. What Ming Hui said was somehow correct since her manner of playing the chess was like putting everything at stake. Although she would only make one move on the chess piece, that path could not be easily blocked until it reached the goal.

"Maybe it's because I'm a reckless person," Jun Hua answered.

Ming Hui smiled. Although she was wearing a veil, Jun Hua could faintly see the girl's face. For a moment there, she finally realized why she was feeling strange around her.

"You're not really reckless. Instead, you have calculated everything perfectly," Ming Hui stared at the board. "But one wrong move and you would lose everything."

Jun Hua stared at the board. "In the first place, I don't have anything to lose."

Ming Hui blanked for a moment before nodded. "Yes, at first."

As the two girls talked, they heard a scream coming from beside them. The two of them sighed. Yan had just gotten hit and beaten up by Soujin completely without any chance to retaliate back.

"Don't mind third brother. He's always like that. And he's not really hurt since he also learned a bit of martial arts."

Jun Hua nodded. "I can see it. He's just faking it to gain attention. But really, why does he let Soujin beat him up every time?"

"That's his image."

"What a wonderful image," Jun Hua said calmly.

Yan came over to their table with Soujin after another couple of minutes. He stared at the board where the two girls were playing.

"You're really ruthless Jun Min! Show some lenience towards a girl, if not there won't be anyone who wants to be with you and you will be alone in your whole life."

Somehow, Jun Hua got the feeling that Yan was famous for getting girls and getting dumped by them because of his way of talking. Jun Hua walked towards Soujin with a stretched hand.

"Sword."

Soujin handed his wooden sword immediately. Seeing that scene, Ming Hui smiled at her brother.

"Hope you rest in peace."

"Don't say like you're sending me to my grave! Oh, hey! Not again!"

At that, Prince Yan endured another round of beating.