In an uneventful morning , inside the Ji residence's training room, Zhen BuFeng was sparring with Ji SongLi. Being almost three years older than the Ji family heir, Zhen BuFeng was already adept in his clan's spear arts. He mastered the primary moves merely days after his seventh birthday, and he was currently close to breaking through his bottleneck in mastering the fourth move of Zhen's Gale Wolf spear core arts.
Although he was still far from being called a master, in the whole Zhang empire, Zhen BuFeng was at the top of the list of the Empire's martial artists of his generation. If he was second, no one would dare claim to be the first.
At thirteen years old and sparring one-on-one, he could defeat an opponent several years older than himself.
However at the moment he was not very impressed with the younger boy he was sparring with.
Years ago before Zhen BuFeng was even born, Emperor Zhang, being of military background himself, added a decree not long after he ascended the throne. The decree declared that the direct heirs of the two military seal holders must be able to master at least the primary moves of both sword and spear arts.
Ji lineage always churned out sword masters, the Zhen clan always had spear masters. Although at more complicated expert levels, both arts would contradict each other, the primary moves could strengthen the foundation of both practitioners. Emperor Zhang recognized this, having trained both arts himself. The Emperor ended up more adept in using sword, but he still commanded his two generals to apply this rule to their respective heir.
Not only that, all the royal princes of the imperial family must also, at a period of time, undergo military training under direct supervision of the two generals. Before they came of age and received their own estates at sixteen years old, they had to participate in at least two military expeditions. If they were to fail in this requirement, all their imperial privileges would be taken away. Despite being princes, they could only be second rank officials at most.
"It was not to only strengthen the body, but the mind,'" the Emperor once famously quoted. He was not the type to spoil his sons who were considered born with golden spoons in their mouths.
Looking at it from another point of view, it was the princes' chance to get acquainted closely with the two strongest military forces of the empire. The Emperor gave each and every one of them fair opportunity to not only train themselves, but to possibly gain the Generals' or their heirs' support. Despite all the gold and glitters, the Imperial family members were probably the noblest personages who could not sleep peacefully at nights . There would always be parties who observed from afar or close, and any show of weakness might bring them trouble or even death. Strength and force were necessary for safety.
Crown Prince Zhang KongJing, currently fifteen years of age, had satisfied all the necessary requirements and was just being idle when he accompanied his third younger brother to visit Ji residence. He could have joined a couple more expeditions before his sixteenth birthday, but Zhang KongJing decided to start learning politics, attending court more often than what would normally be required of him at this stage. He deemed it was more necessary to have brain than brawn, which was not an entirely unreasonable approach.
Second Prince Zhang JunLi was born in the same year as Zhen BuFeng. He had finished his first military expedition last summer. In fact. Zhen BuFeng had accompanied him along, to the Eastern desert to curb minor insurgences by small tribes residing there. General Zhen and the Wolf Army was so far quite impressed with Zhang JunLi. Despite being only on his first formal military outing, he contributed to the Wolf army's victory. The most troublesome revolting tribe was subdued relatively quickly because of his insight in recognizing the desolate terrain landscape and the tribe's core hiding spot. Personality wise, Zhang JunLi was also one resembling the Emperor the most. If he could help it, the young prince would want to continue to belong in the military.
Third Prince Zhang GuoFu was the youngest amongst the three royal princes. This year, he was twelve years of age, just barely two years older than Ji SongLi. It was also his last year to undergo military learning under General Ji's direct supervision, having finished his tutelage under General Zhen the year prior. Next year was his turn to join some military expeditions, hence this year he specifically came earlier than his end of year's training schedule. It was to visit his small fiancee, Ji LanBai, for her birthday.
Regardless of any feelings that had yet to sprout, it was necessary for Zhang GuoFu to maintain relationship with his future wang-fei and her family. Ji LanBai was after all, the only daughter of the Emperor's sworn brother. No one would know if he could be present for her future birthdays during his upcoming years' military duties. His future in-laws would be a necessary connection and it was in his best interest to keep that connection pleasant.
Although not born from the same mother, the Third Prince knew that his Imperial Father had showed him favor by decreeing his engagement with Ji LanBai. The Crown Prince and the Second Prince were born by the Empress, their power and authority was never challenged by the other concubines and lower ranked princes. But for Zhang GuoFu, without the Emperor's protection all these years, his little life would have already been lost amongst the inner harem's turmoil. The Empress would not do anything to hurt him, but she would not be protecting him either from others' schemes.
With two excellent older brothers, Zhang GuoFu actually did not have any thought or desire for the throne. Nevertheless, with the conflicts ever-surging from neighboring tribes and outside forces, along with turbulent domestic forces that were only being kept in check by the Emperor, the young prince recognized that he also need to build his own power.
At this very moment however, more than any other matter, Zhen BuFeng was very conflicted about Ji SongLi. He could tell the latter was barely interested in exchanging moves with him. Although the younger boy's movements were lithe and light, he kept stealing glances at the three princes who were playing a game of Go. The Second Prince and the Third Prince were teaming against the Crown Prince. But even with his divided attention, Ji SongLi could actually stand his stance against Zhen BuFeng's aggressive sharp moves. Although Zhen BuFeng tactfully lowered his strength, sticking to the primary moves of his own spear-art to match the younger boy's current level, he could see that the latter actually had an innate talent of swordsmanship.
He was not sure if it was because Ji SongLi was very skilled in the four-arts; the finesse usually only belonging to scholars was somehow reflected onto his movements. Rather than killing moves, the waves of his sword were graceful, it was like a series of artful dance moves. His precise but flexible turns of his sword were beautiful. However, if the sword were made of sharp metal instead of bamboo, those elegant moves would no doubt be deadly.
"Truly, the apple will never fall far from the tree," Zhen BuFeng mused in his mind. The spar was not going anywhere, so he finally decisively executed the last form of his spear-art primary move.
It hit Ji SongLi squarely below his right rib and sent him flying across the room, causing him to fall on his back. Zhen BuFeng frowned and let out an exasperated sigh. "Song Li still hasn't mastered Ji clan's nine primary moves."
If he had, that last move could easily be countered.
Ji SongLi coughed while lifting himself up and patted some dust off his training robe. Although he looked like he was badly hit, the long bamboo stick Zhen BuFeng had used as training spear had not given him any major pain.
He bowed slightly at Zhen Bu Feng, "Thank you for going easy on me, BuFeng."
Despite being younger, Ji SongLi did not call him with any honorific. As the Tiger and Wolf heirs of the same standing, their fathers decided to absolve any necessity for formalities between their children.
Before Zhen BuFeng could express his grievance and admonish the younger boy for his obvious lack of training, the latter had excitedly walked to where the three princes sat. He took one black Go piece from the Crown Prince's stash and decisively put it onto a spot on the wooden block filled with black and white circular stones.
Zhang KongJing's eyes brightened and he threw his head back, letting out a hearty delighted laugh. The last move by Ji SongLi had blocked the white stones completely. Zhang GuoFu groaned and Zhang JunLi threw his hands up in exasperation.
The Crown Prince slapped Song Li's back not quite subtly, causing the latter to choke slightly.
"Ji SongLi, ah, Ji SongLi. This Prince definitely wants you as my right hand minister when I become the Emperor. Truly an outstanding talent blessed by the heavens. Just with a brief look, you managed to kill any possible move from my younger brothers," he chuckled, examining the Go pieces on the board, "This Prince can only achieve such ending in possibly another nine moves."
The other princes and Zhen BuFeng smiled wryly. Zhang KongJing certainly had all the poise and brain for the throne, as well as the Crown Prince title currently uncontested. With his good discernment for talents, he was not wrong to start looking for strong support. However, although the Ji family would be tied to Third Prince Zhang GuoFu by marriage in the future, Ji SongLi never showed interest in martial arts or the military. Although he was the heir, he might not even be interested commanding the Tiger army in the future. If this continued on, Ji ChanFang would be forced to choose a competent commander from other sources, making Ji SongLi to be an heir in name only. With this trail of thought, it was not a bad idea for the Crown Prince to have Ji SongLi serving him instead as a strategist.
"I just have meager talent for the game," Ji SongLi bowed humbly, "Crown Prince is generous for his praise."
They were about to banter further when they heard commotion outside the training hall. As the host, Ji SongLi took the initiative to peek through the door and noticed his first mother Wu JianRui, his birth mother Hai FenChu, and several maids walking in hasty steps, half-running. Meng-momo also followed close behind, half-dragging the little maid with thick gauze still around her head.
Everyone were scurrying towards Ji LanBai's room.
"Third brother's little fiancee seemed to be in trouble," Zhang KongJing teased, also sneaking a view from the door.
Zhang GuoFu smiled bitterly. His fiancee was certainly still a very small child.
"I will go to Bai-mei's room to have a look," Ji SongLi cupped his fists at his older friend and Princes, before exiting the training room.
"Well, there's no point of staying here if we are not going to practice," Zhen BuFeng shrugged, "Why don't we follow SongLi?"
