I Built a Territory in Ancient Times Chapter 103

Chapter 103

There were, of course, people speaking in court, but Ming Yu was not the least bit concerned. After all, his imperial father was still standing at the forefront, taking the brunt of the fire for him. He simply went about his own business as usual.

Five days passed quickly. Early in the morning, Ming Yu left the palace to find Xie Yixiu. Today was the day of the Eldest Princess’s garden gathering. Though she had called it a small banquet, many people were still attending.

Ming Yu was brimming with excitement. He sent someone ahead to inform Xie Yixiu to prepare himself and to wear the clothes he had sent over. Then, he personally went to pick him up. Ming Yu had specially prepared this outfit for Xie Yixiu. Having spent years on the battlefield, Xie Yixiu was almost always clad in his general’s robe. Even his usual attire was kept as simple and comfortable as possible.

But today was an important occasion—one where he absolutely could not appear too casual. Ming Yu was the kind of person who fussed over details, and since he was taking Xie Yixiu to meet the daughters of wealthy families and noble ladies, being dressed too plainly would only invite contempt.

If that happened, wouldn’t it be a slap to Ming Yu’s own face? That was unacceptable. Today’s outing had to be a success—failure was not an option. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse. Appearance and demeanor could not be lacking in any way.

Seated inside the carriage, Ming Yu was dressed in a deep purple robe embroidered with intricate patterns, its luxurious fabric further enhancing his fair, flawless complexion, making him look like a piece of exquisite jade. His eyes curved with amusement, and a bright, starry glimmer shone within them.

Meanwhile, Xie Yixiu wore a moon-white robe, its sleeves and hems embroidered with delicate silver cloud patterns, exuding understated elegance. The simplicity of the attire, with its subtle touch of refinement, only accentuated his naturally aloof temperament, lending him an air of noble grace.

Ming Yu lounged lazily against the carriage wall, his body tilted slightly as he scrutinized Xie Yixiu from head to toe. Finally, he revealed a satisfied smile. He had to admit—Xie Yixiu had the perfect frame and build. Clicking his tongue in appreciation, he thought to himself that without the battlefield’s bloodshed surrounding him, Xie Yixiu looked as pure and refined as jade. With this kind of presence, he was bound to captivate a fair share of young ladies.

Ming Yu’s openly admiring gaze made Xie Yixiu’s ears tinge slightly red. Feigning composure, he lowered his head and straightened his sleeves before asking in a slightly husky voice, “Where are we going?”

The day before, Ming Yu had sent over the outfit along with a message, instructing him to wear it today. He had mentioned taking him somewhere but had not provided any further details. As a result, Xie Yixiu was still entirely in the dark about their destination.

Ming Yu, full of mystery, simply said, “You’ll know when we get there.”

Seeing that further questioning would yield no answers, Xie Yixiu let it go. It didn’t matter anyway—once Ming Yu had made up his mind about something, he rarely changed it. Besides, Ming Yu wasn’t likely to lead him into any trouble, right?

It wasn’t long before the carriage came to a stop. From outside, a servant’s voice called out, “Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

Ming Yu rubbed his hands together excitedly and grinned. “General Xie, after you.” With that, he nimbly hopped out of the carriage first.

Xie Yixiu had no choice but to follow. As he stepped down and looked ahead, he saw an imposing and luxurious courtyard entrance, guarded by attendants.

Just as he was wondering where exactly they were, Ming Yu had already stepped forward. A servant promptly handed over a gilded invitation for verification. The guards at the entrance, recognizing Ming Yu, immediately bowed in deep respect and invited him inside. Ming Yu nodded at them in acknowledgment, without the slightest trace of arrogance.

He turned back to look at Xie Yixiu, grinning as he urged, “Hurry up and follow me!”

Xie Yixiu shook his head but quickened his pace. He had long since decided not to overthink things—he would simply follow Ming Yu’s lead.

Once they had entered, the two gatekeepers exchanged glances. One of them, still puzzled, muttered, “Did I see that right just now? That was really the Fourteenth Prince?”

The Fourteenth Prince was a legendary figure in the capital. Although he had been sent to the borderlands, his name remained widely known. After all, there were countless rumors about him circulating in the streets and alleys. Stories of the Fourteenth Prince only seemed to grow more exaggerated over time, with people adding their own embellishments to the tale.

As mere gatekeepers, they would never have had the chance to see the esteemed Fourteenth Prince in person. But the refined and elegant young man who had just walked past them—was that truly him? Hadn’t the rumors described the Fourteenth Prince as foolish, arrogant, and as plump as a pig? But what they had just seen was an entirely different person!

The other person finally snapped out of his daze. Hearing his companion’s question, he hesitated for a long moment before replying uncertainly, “According to the name card, it should be the Fourteenth Prince.”

Receiving a confirmed answer, the man shook his head and sighed. As expected, rumors could never compare to seeing someone in person. This young man didn’t need to do anything—just standing there with a slight smile was already like a painting. Such a clear and pure presence, handsome and refined—how could such scandalous rumors even exist about him? Were those spreading them blind? But, of course, these were not words a mere servant like him could say aloud.

It was also because the Fourteenth Prince had always lived deep within the palace and never made public appearances. In his eyes, even those so-called scholars, poets, and noble youths who regularly surrounded the Eldest Princess, acting as if their eyes were set above their heads, could not compare to him in the slightest.

Turning past the decorative screen, the view suddenly opened up. Lush trees, vibrant flowers, and winding paths leading into secluded corners came into sight, along with distant glimpses of elegant pavilions and towers. This was clearly a private garden. Just from this single area, one could already tell the owner had exquisite taste.

A guide led them forward, and before long, a group of elegantly dressed palace ladies approached to greet them.

Ming Yu stepped forward with a grin, bowed, and said playfully, “Greetings to the Eldest Princess!”

The Eldest Princess Anping let out a chuckle, lightly tapping his forehead with her round fan. “Looking for trouble, are you? You’re deliberately teasing me, aren’t you? Do you really think I won’t punish you?”

Xie Yixiu was startled—was this really the Eldest Princess? He had never imagined that Ming Yu would bring him to meet her. Even though he had spent years stationed at the border, he had still heard of Princess Anping. It was said that she loved literature and poetry, had an extensive circle of acquaintances, and was admired by all the scholars and noble gentlemen of the capital.

It was obvious that she was hosting a gathering. But he was a military man—why had Ming Yu brought him here?

Before he could figure it out, Ming Yu was already chatting casually with the princess. Then, turning back, he pulled Xie Yixiu forward and introduced him. “Elder Sister, this is the famous General Xie of the Red Robe Army—also known as the ‘War General.’ He came here especially to accompany me today.” Then he turned to Xie Yixiu with a smile. “General Xie, this is my eldest sister, the Eldest Princess Anping.”

The moment Ming Yu mentioned General Xie’s name, the people around the princess stirred with excitement. In the Great Yan Kingdom, even a three-year-old child knew of the Red Robe Army’s War General—how could they not? He was a national hero revered by all. None of them had expected the princess to invite such a legendary figure today.

There had always been chilling rumors about General Xie—stories of his ruthlessness, how he could devour barbarian flesh and drink their blood, and how his name alone could stop a child from crying. Yet, seeing him now, he was nothing like the tales. He was strikingly handsome, with a cold and refined aura that carried a deadly allure. These noble ladies were used to the pretentious posturing of scholars and poets, so this stark contrast left them blushing deeply.

Meanwhile, some of the literati and gentlemen in attendance cast scrutinizing glances his way. Hmph! No matter how famous, he was still just a warrior. This was a literary gathering hosted by the princess. It was one thing for the Fourteenth Prince to attend—his royal status justified it—but why bring a mere military man? What could he possibly contribute? Would he wield a sword to write poetry or paint?

The Great Yan Dynasty had always favored scholars over warriors. In the eyes of these so-called intellectuals, scholars were inherently superior. No matter how many victories Xie Yixiu had won on the battlefield, to them, he was nothing more than a brute.

Hearing Ming Yu’s introduction, the Eldest Princess was also surprised. This troublemaker had insisted on bringing someone along but had refused to reveal who it was, saying it would be a grand surprise. And indeed—it was quite the surprise.

He had already observed everything carefully. The reactions of the young ladies had not escaped his notice. It seemed the first impression had been very favorable. All the effort Ming Yu had put into this was not in vain. The rest, however, was up to him.

With that thought, he nudged Xie Yixiu with his elbow and shot him a meaningful glance.

Xie Yixiu didn’t quite understand Ming Yu’s intent, but he knew proper etiquette could not be ignored. He stepped forward and saluted the Eldest Princess. The princess covered half her face with her fan and smiled. “No need for formalities, General Xie. Your presence today is an honor. Please, make yourself at home—there’s no need for restraint.”

Ming Yu chimed in, playing along, “Exactly! We came here drawn by admiration. If we happen to be impolite in any way, Elder Sister, I hope you’ll forgive us.”

“Enough, enough. There’s no need for so many rules,” the Eldest Princess laughed. “What offense could there possibly be? We’re all just here to enjoy the scenery and good company. Everyone, feel free to wander and relax.”

Upon hearing the Eldest Princess’s words, everyone understood the unspoken rules and began to scatter in small groups, each finding their own way to enjoy the gathering.

Some admired the flowers and chased butterflies, some indulged in drinking and merrymaking, while others engaged in poetic exchanges. Each person displayed their own sense of refinement and elegance.

The Eldest Princess pulled Ming Yu to her side. She had not forgotten her duty—to subtly observe and find someone suitable for Ming Yu.

Meanwhile, Xie Yixiu did not leave either. Instead, he remained by Ming Yu’s side. Ming Yu initially wanted to tell him to find something enjoyable to do on his own, but after a second thought, he realized that besides fighting wars, Xie Yixiu knew little about such leisurely pursuits. If he were to join others and fail to fit in, he might end up being mocked, which would be more trouble than it was worth. It might be better to keep an eye on him himself.

So, the words that had been at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. The Eldest Princess paid no mind to this at all. She knew that Ming Yu had never attended such an event before, so everything must feel fresh and novel to him. She enthusiastically introduced various people to him, slipping in some personal recommendations along the way.

“That over there is the daughter of the Minister of Rites, and beside her is the granddaughter of the Vice Censor-in-Chief. They are well-educated, having been immersed in literature since childhood. Both are gentle, graceful, and still unmarried.”

Following the Eldest Princess’s words, Ming Yu looked over. One girl was playing the zither, while the other danced elegantly to the melody. Their figures were delicate and charming. They were indeed exceptional—both in appearance and family background, and they even possessed talent. Worth considering.

“And over there is the niece of the Deputy Minister of War. She has a bold and straightforward personality, acts decisively, and is even praised as a heroine among women. She only recently arrived in the capital and has yet to discuss marriage.”

His sister truly understood him. Ming Yu was pleased—this one was good too. In fact, she seemed quite suited for Xie Yixiu. She was attractive, and her strong personality would complement his cold and distant demeanor. Maybe this could lead to a promising match.

Ming Yu was so caught up in evaluating potential candidates that he failed to notice the dark expression on Xie Yixiu’s face behind him. Xie Yixiu’s fists were already clenched tightly.

Xie Yixiu never expected that the reason Ming Yu had brought him here was for this. Lowering his head, he knew that even if this was the case, what could he possibly do about it?

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