Chapter 135 — The Contest (Bonus Chapter: Asking for Pink Votes)
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Song Yan followed the voice and saw Dong Qi, the heir of the Earl of Guang'en.
He was tall and slender, handsome of feature, wearing a phoenix-wing helmet and a fish-scale lamellar armor of bright steel over a skirt-paneled robe of blue silk woven with gold cloud patterns. Fully accoutered for war, he cut a rather imposing figure.
The Crown Prince looked at his armor and asked in surprise, "What is this you're wearing?"
Dong Qi lowered his head slightly and replied with reverence, "This year I too am entered in the autumn hunt's mounted archery."
Dong Qi held an idle post in the Jinwu Guard.
The Crown Prince nodded.
Shen Qing circled Dong Qi, grinning as he looked him up and down. "That's some fine armor you've got."
Empress Shen came from humble origins; the Shen family had been enfeoffed as marquis only through their connection to the imperial consort's clan. The scions of the capital's noble houses had never taken Shen Qing seriously, and so Shen Qing for his part kept little company with them. There were two exceptions. One was Song Yan—his manner was somewhat aloof, but he treated everyone alike, so Shen Qing had nothing to complain of. The other was Dong Qi—smooth and ingratiating with all, on good terms with everyone, so Shen Qing's friendship with him was far warmer than with most.
"I had this specially commissioned from Tianzhou," Dong Qi said with a smile. "If you like it, I'll have a set made for you one of these days."
Armor produced in Tianzhou, Guangxi, was customarily reserved for the military alone, and Shen Qing would have found it a great nuisance to get his hands on a piece. But for Dong Qi, whose father served as Right Commander in the Five Army Commandery and had Guangxi's garrisons under his jurisdiction, it was as easy as turning over his palm.
Shen Qing brightened at the words and said without the least ceremony, "Then I shall obey rather than stand on courtesy!"
The Crown Prince's brows knitted slightly.
Dong Qi, who had been chatting and laughing with Shen Qing as though he had not noticed the Crown Prince at all, now said with a smile, "Mind you, I had this made on the sly, under my old father's banner. Whatever you do, don't let it slip."
At this the Crown Prince's expression indeed improved considerably.
Gu Yu watched and pursed his lips.
Song Yan shot Gu Yu a glance.
Gu Yu at once resumed his former deference.
Only Shen Qing, knowing nothing of any of it, was already fretting before the armor was even in his hands: "Then what am I supposed to say?"
Gu Yu looked up at the sky.
Dong Qi grinned mischievously. "Just say you swiped it from Big Song."
The Crown Prince, Shen Qing, and Gu Yu all froze.
Song Sui said mildly, "That will do."
He was so utterly deadpan that he turned the whole scene grave and solemn on the spot, leaving not a trace of jest.
Shen Qing could not help groaning, "Tianci, can't you loosen up a little? Small wonder everyone calls you Big Song."
The Crown Prince chuckled.
A group of young men in gorgeous attire came sauntering through the ranks of soldiers about to set out on patrol.
They were all sons of noble houses, and because of the autumn hunt they were less bound by punctilio than usual.
One and all they came forward to salute the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince exchanged pleasantries with them in a warm voice.
He seemed to know the circumstances of each; the talk touched on "I hear your grandmadam has hurt her leg—is she any better?", "Are you settling in at the Jinwu Guard?", "Has the wedding date been set?" ... and every man questioned wore a look of basking in a spring breeze.
Song Ji glanced at Gu Yu.
Gu Yu grinned back at Song Yan.
The company clustered about the Crown Prince and went off to his tent.
Before Song's tent only Song Yan, Gu Yu, and Dong Qi remained.
The three stood like the legs of a tripod.