Princess Yaoguang's Mansion!
In the rear garden.
A beautiful figure gazed at the pond.
The central pond glistened with gentle ripples, lotus leaves unfurled broadly, pink and white lotus blooms rose elegantly, resembling bashful beauties twirling atop emerald jade.
Goldfish darted playfully, occasionally splashing crystalline droplets, lending a touch of liveliness to the serene tableau.
It all unfolded like a picturesque painting.
Until a yellow-clad woman hurried in, her steps disrupting the poetic scene.
"Princess, news just came about Xia Chen—do you want to hear it?"
"He's gone to take up his post?"
The Second Princess didn't turn, still quietly admiring the pond's lotus flowers.
"How did you know, Princess?"
The yellow-clad woman gaped, stunned. She hadn't said a word yet, and the Princess already knew.
Her name was Li Wei, one of the Second Princess's personal maids.
"He's always stayed within the Marquis of Zhendong's household. Beyond tales of his crippled physique, the capital rarely stirs with news of him. Lately, the household's been maneuvering for a post—word is it's with the Imperial Guard. It must be that."
The Second Princess's voice was cool, the deduction simple with a moment's thought.
"You're amazing, Princess!"
Li Wei's praise was heartfelt. Why couldn't she figure that out?
"You ought to take a page from Zi Yue—read more; books hold a wealth of wisdom and insight!"
The Second Princess shook her head. Her maid was fine in most ways, just not the sharpest.
"Books make me sleepy. Zi Yue loves them, but I prefer food—food's so much better!"
Li Wei shook her head, giggling as she skipped to the Second Princess's side.
She and Zi Yue had grown up with the princess, so in private, formalities relaxed.
"Princess, don't you want to hear about him? He's your future husband!"
Li Wei reached Yaoguang's side, a blush tinting her cheeks. As Yaoguang's maids, she and Zi Yue were bound by custom to serve the Imperial Son-in-Law in bed after the wedding.
"Not interested!"
Seeing Li Wei's expression, the Second Princess shook her head, a faint smile in her eyes.
She meant to tease her, though she truly held no curiosity for her future husband.
"Princess, how can you be like that? I'll tell you anyway!"
Li Wei pouted adorably, clutching Yaoguang's arm and eagerly spilling all about Xia Chen's exploits in the guard.
As Li Wei finished, a ripple of emotion stirred in the Second Princess's usually calm eyes.
"He crippled Zhao Yu's arms with one strike?"
"Yes! They say Xia Chen was fierce—one man against a company, but the rest didn't dare move, all cowed!"
Li Wei nodded earnestly, utterly certain.
"Did he use house guards?"
"No!"
The Second Princess nodded, asking no more, her eyes thoughtful.
"Princess, what's wrong? Is something off?"
Li Wei, though not the brightest, wasn't dim. Seeing her shrewd princess like this, she pressed.
"For 600 years, the Marquis of Zhendong's household has held a rule: no heir leaves or joins the army until reaching Eighth-Rank Refining Essence. Xia Chen's out, so he's hit that mark.
"But isn't he a martial cripple?
"I'd assumed his Eighth-Rank came from the household pouring rare elixirs into him, stacking his realm.
"Now it seems I misjudged. His combat strength must reach Seventh-Rank Spirit Refining. Realm can be propped up with elixirs, but combat power hinges on myriad factors…"
The Second Princess spoke slowly, puzzlement in her gaze.
"Did he take some miracle pill?"
Li Wei's eyes lit up.
"What miracle pill exists? Xia clan—have you been holding out?"
The Second Princess frowned. A thought struck—rumors of Xia Chen's crippled state always stemmed from the Xia clan, yet outsiders rarely met him.
Could the Xias have spread it deliberately? For what? To hide an average talent?
But with geniuses aplenty in their history—and this generation boasting several prodigies—why conceal a mere Xia Chen?
Ever astute, the Second Princess found herself baffled.
"Keep tabs on Xia Chen. Report anything to me."
She turned to Li Wei, only to see her licking a candied hawthorn—plucked from who-knows-where—shaking her head with a smile.
"Sure, I'll keep watching."
Li Wei nodded, then pulled another candied hawthorn from her sleeve.
"Princess, want one? The food out here's amazing—life outside the palace beats the inside by miles!"
She grinned, licking her treat again, the sweet-tart burst lighting her eyes into crescent moons.
"No thanks!"
"Just try one—I bought plenty!"
Li Wei thrust a skewer into the Second Princess's hand.
A quarter-hour later.
The Second Princess held a candied hawthorn, nibbling as she admired the flowers.
Not bad—it was pretty sweet.
A rare smile curved her usually cool lips.
…
Afternoon!
With no pressing matters, Xia Chen, restless, summoned both his companies to get acquainted.
By day's end, he'd memorized all 200 faces.
A small task, yet crucial.
He appointed Xia Hui as interim commander of Company A.
At Seventh-Rank Spirit Refining, Xia Hui had once led over a thousand as a commandant in the frontier army—100 men were a breeze.
A brigade command was beneath him.
Though Xia Chen's move bent rules and skipped protocol, Li Wenzhong approved the paperwork without much fuss after Xia Chen reported it.
Technically improper, but only technically.
Li Wenzhong gladly smoothed the way!
Xia Hui's role was temporary—should Xia Chen leave the guard or transfer, Xia Hui would follow.
He'd spurned a commandant post back then; a petty brigade command wouldn't hold him now.