Chapter 252
**Chapter 250: The Training Ground**
Li Yuanjing's hand froze at his waist, his handsome face betraying a hint of discomfort.
His back did indeed have a slight injury.
Shen Wei's jealousy had serious consequences. Li Yuanjing closed his eyes, recalling that unforgettable night.
Shen Wei was like a fairy from a painting, enchanting and captivating... From a state of bliss to nearly being unable to stand straight, Li Yuanjing found himself leaning against the wall the next day.
A dignified emperor, trained in martial arts since childhood, had been brought low by Shen Wei, leaving him with a sore back. Li Yuanjing reflected on his recent neglect of exercise due to his busy state affairs, which had led to this predicament.
Thus, he made time to strengthen his body.
"The state affairs are demanding, and sitting for too long while reviewing memorials has left my back sore." Matters of a man's dignity prevented Li Yuanjing from revealing the true reason to his son, so he concocted an excuse to brush it off.
Li Chengyou furrowed his brows, looking worried. "Mother said that sitting for too long is harmful to one's health. Father, you should stand up and walk around after reviewing for a while, or you might end up with chronic back pain."
Li Yuanjing replied, "I know what I'm doing. You should go practice your archery."
Li Chengyou nodded and dashed off to the archery range like a little whirlwind.
Li Yuanjing returned to the cool pavilion to rest, and Eunuch Deshun hurriedly brought over some calming tea.
"Your Majesty, Xue Jieyu requests an audience," Deshun announced.
Li Yuanjing paused mid-sip. "Who?"
He had been so preoccupied with state affairs these past few days that he momentarily forgot who Xue Jieyu was.
Deshun, quick-witted, provided a detailed answer: "Five days ago, at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, a young lady from the Dantai family played the guqin and performed. You conferred upon her the title of Jieyu and granted her residence in Huayang Palace."
Only then did Li Yuanjing recall that she was a newcomer sent to the palace by the Dantai family.
He took a sip of tea, his mind elsewhere. "Let her in."
Moments later, a faint fragrance wafted through the air as a delicate figure in pale purple glided toward him. Dantai Yinxue, accompanied by a young palace maid, approached the emperor's resting pavilion.
She knelt gracefully and softly greeted, "This humble servant pays her respects to Your Majesty."
Li Yuanjing, distracted, glanced toward the archery range where his sons were practicing, and replied absentmindedly, "Rise."
Dantai Yinxue stood elegantly.
Her black hair was styled in a cloud-like updo, adorned with a beautiful begonia blossom at the tips. Her skin was as white as snow, her eyes sparkling with emotion, and she wore a flowing pale purple robe with wide sleeves, her embroidered shoes completing her meticulously crafted appearance—vibrant yet perfectly balanced.
Especially striking were her alluring, elongated eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, radiating a captivating charm that was hard to resist.
Li Yuanjing continued to sip his tea, his gaze fixed on the archery range, leaving Dantai Yinxue standing there.
Biting her lip slightly, Dantai Yinxue stepped forward. "Your Majesty, as summer approaches, I have specially prepared a soup to nourish the heart, calm the mind, and aid digestion. Would you care to try it?"
Her voice was both delicate and enticing.
Li Yuanjing lifted his eyes to glance at her. No wonder the Dantai family had chosen her; up close, she was indeed stunning.
Sensing the emperor's scrutiny, Dantai Yinxue felt a rush of shyness, her beautiful eyes lifting slightly, her cheeks flushing.
"Place the soup here," Li Yuanjing said coolly.
Dantai Yinxue felt a twinge of disappointment but still shyly replied, "Your Majesty, it's quite hot today. I will serve you tea here... Tonight, I wish to attend to you."
She hoped to spend more time alone with Li Yuanjing, to draw him into her embrace and gradually win his affection.
But Li Yuanjing had no desire for the company of concubines at the moment; after the tumultuous night with Shen Wei, his back still ached.
"Deshun, escort her out of the training ground," he ordered.
Deshun promptly stepped forward, politely ushering Dantai Yinxue away. Her charming face stiffened in shock; she never expected the emperor would be unmoved by her beauty.
He couldn't even be bothered to exchange a few more words with her.
A wave of unspoken frustration surged within Dantai Yinxue.
With a heavy heart, she knelt to bow once more and left. At the entrance of the training ground, her personal maid discreetly slipped a pouch into Deshun's hands.
Deshun, busy accepting the pouch, pretended to refuse. "Oh, Jieyu, this is too much."
Dantai Yinxue smiled sweetly. "Eunuch Deshun, you've served the emperor for a long time. I've heard that newcomers to the palace are quickly summoned to the emperor's bedchamber. Why is it that after five days, I have yet to be called?"
Deshun accepted the pouch and replied amiably, "Jieyu, please don't think too much of it. The emperor has been preoccupied with state affairs these past few days and is stretched thin. Just wait a little longer, and your time will surely come."
Dantai Yinxue could only console herself that the emperor was too busy to indulge in the affections of his concubines.
She had no choice but to wait.
With a heavy heart, Dantai Yinxue departed. Deshun glanced at the small pouch in his hand, indifferent, and casually rewarded a nearby young eunuch before returning to the training ground to serve.
The weather was fine today, and aside from the brothers Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou, the Empress's son, Li Chengzhen, was also practicing archery.
At twelve years old, Li Chengzhen was quite tall and wielded a large military bow.
However, he had been neglecting his training and was only average at archery, often missing the target. Recently, with the Empress under house arrest, no one was there to push him to study, and he had become like a wild horse without reins, increasingly careless about his studies and archery.
Meanwhile, Li Chengtai, using a small child's bow, consistently hit the target, even managing to pierce the red center a few times.
Li Chengzhen frowned, feeling a moment of dissatisfaction at being outdone by a little kid.
"Second Brother, Father said that archery requires a calm mind and patience; you can't be hasty," Li Chengtai said, gripping his small bow with the air of a little adult.
Li Chengzhen scoffed, "You're just a kid. Hitting the target a few times with a toy bow doesn't mean you understand the essence of archery. Wait until you grow taller and use a real military bow; then you'll know it's not child's play and not so easy."
Li Chengtai couldn't be bothered to argue; his mother had told him never to waste time on fools.
Just then, Li Chengyou came running over, breathless, holding two golden loquats, exclaiming, "Second Brother, Brother, I brought you loquats! They're super sweet!"
Li Chengtai set down his bow and took a plump loquat.
Li Chengzhen did not take one.
He didn't like these two short, chubby younger brothers. His mother always warned him that the two sons of Concubine Chen would be his greatest rivals in the future.
"I don't want any," Li Chengzhen coldly refused.
Li Chengyou didn't press further and peeled the skin off a loquat, savoring its sweet flavor.
After finishing one loquat, Li Chengyou casually asked his brother, "Tomorrow, Mr. Yang will come to the palace. Are you ready with your responses?"
Mr. Yang Xuanji was a talented scholar personally chosen by the Empress Dowager and Shen Wei to tutor Li Chengtai.
However, he had a peculiar temperament and was reluctant to teach those he deemed mediocre.
If Li Chengtai didn't perform well and appeared too dull, Mr. Yang would refuse to be his tutor, even if it meant defying orders.
"I’m ready," Li Chengtai said, his small face serious.
Li Chengyou's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Brother, you're amazing! Once you pass tomorrow's test, I'll go to the imperial kitchen and ask for two crabs to celebrate!"
Their conversation was overheard by Li Chengzhen, who was practicing archery nearby.
He turned to the younger Li Chengtai and said, "Mr. Yang Xuanji has a strange personality; he won't even accept me, let alone you."
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