Forgotten Legend of the Bloodied Flower

'No need to be impatient, the time will surely come.'

Concubine Qu, Qu Fei Jiao, was calming herself when she sensed someone looking in her direction. She raised her head and saw Nan Hua, who was supposed to be drinking tea quietly had already turned to look in her direction.

Her black obsidian eyes looked like the abyss, sucking her deep.

Chills break out on her back but after she blinked her eyes, all she could see was the young girl who had already returned to sip the tea quietly.

'Am I imagining things again?'

"Fei Jiao, you…"

"Huh?" Qu Fei Jiao turned her head and immediately noticed that at some unknown point of time, a part of her dress was torn. Her face turned dark as she looked around. Some noble ladies were already pointing finger at her as the tear was a bit big.

"I'll get changed."

Qu Fei Jiao quickly stood up and called her maidservant. Luckily, she always asked the servants to bring a change of clothing for her.

What she didn't understand was how her clothes could be torn when there was literally no one around her? Even those who were standing close to her wouldn't possibly carry sharp blades around, would they?

She didn't understand, so she rushed over in embarrassment.

Thankfully, only some people saw this scene and only thought that she was not careful enough.

…

Inside the hall

Nan Luo was feeling rather bored without anything much to do. He glanced to the side and saw Feng Ao Ai stiffened.

"Cousin Ao Si?"

"They will hold the winter training in two days." Feng Ao Si recalled the schedule. They would first be tested in the academy and Feng Ao Si asked the teacher to skip him since he was not exactly a student. With the war raging on, many of them skipped the academy and headed straight to the battlefield.

It was not uncommon.

Nan Luo blinked his eyes. "That means you have to be prepared, Cousin Ao Si."

"I'll naturally be prepared."

Feng Ao Si was staring at the side where Shangguan Yi was standing. Thanks to the medicine given by his uncle, he managed to recover rather quickly. Even though he was still not allowed to force his legs to do any strenuous activity, there was no problem for him if he wanted to walk around.

Just some pain occasionally.

"I can see that you have come prepared, First Young Master Feng." Shangguan Yi was looking at Feng Ao Si and sneered. "During training, I'll show you who's better."

Feng Ao Si arched his eyebrows. "I'll be waiting to look at that, Young Master Shangguan. I hope that it'll be better than your performance in class."

Shangguan Yi's face darkened.

Feng Ao Kuai nodded in approval at his older brother's words. Back in class, Shangguan Yi had accidentally lost his grip over his own sword just a few days ago. This caused him to be a joke in the academy as the teacher admonish him so badly.

It was fine if it was a little brat who had only started to learn as his grip might not be strong enough. But how about Shangguan Yi? He was already 14 years old and his grandfather would bring him to the battlefield soon.

If he was still like this, it would be the same as playing with his own life.

"That's only natural." Shangguan Yi snorted.

Feng Ao Si nodded then turned around, unwilling to even speak with Shangguan Yi any longer.

Nan Luo also only replied shortly to the other young masters. Right now, his mind was rather in a mess because he was worried about Nan Hua who was staying at the other side of the hall.

He couldn't accompany her and naturally felt worried that something bad would happen to her.

"His Highness the Second Prince had arrived."

The second prince?

Nan Luo was startled and after a round of greeting, he pulled Feng Ao Kuai to have him explained more. He thought that the second prince would have been put in the cold palace or something because the Emperor would surely not let anyone who could threaten him so close to him.

Feng Ao Kuai looked at Nan Luo as if looking at a stupid person. "He needs the second prince's influence over the noble families. Those who used to support him would be fighting against the others."

"Is he not worried there will be too many dogs fighting over the meat if he released the wild ones?"

"The incompetent ones will be eliminated faster and in order to cleanse the area since the pen couldn't hold too many dogs, it's necessary." Feng Ao Kuai was calm. Dogs were suitable analogy since there was dogs' fighting sports that some people did. He himself didn't participate because he felt that it was useless, but some other young masters liked it so much.

They would even bet who would win.

At some times, the dogs would even die if they couldn't handle the fight properly.

"I see." Nan Luo was wondering who would be eliminated first but he couldn't possibly ask that. At the same time, he was a bit curious what Emperor Yang Zhou actually do to pull those officials to side with him.

In all sides or direction, it could be said that Emperor Yang Zhou looked fairly weak.

However, it was precisely because of this that Nan Luo felt it would be better for him to find out more.

"Don't get involved. In this time, everything should be clear." Feng Ao Kuai raised three of his fingers, signifying three years. It was precisely the time that they have before Emperor Yang Zhou turned into adults.

During this three years, there would be many upheavals.

And they couldn't participate.

Not yet.

Their stages would be when Emperor Yang Zhou held the control and started to take over other kingdoms around.. At that time, they would be ready to showcase their brilliance.