In Luanzhou, the capital city of the Nan Kingdom.
A handsome, graceful young man in white was wandering about in the busy street with a fan in his hand. Behind him was a comely lad in gray who was glancing around curiously with a joyful look, holding a bunch of sugar-coated haws in his left hand and some mutton kebabs in his right hand.
âYoung Master, Luanzhou is so big and lively! I wish I could stay here for a few more days!â
âNo worries! I have something important to attend to, so we wonât go back home so soon!â Unfolding his fan swiftly, he waved it with a smug look, which made him look so charming that a lot of women immediately cast him affectionate glances.
However, Lianshan wasnât as optimistic as his young master. After swallowing up a candied haw, he said with a worried look, âBut what if your dad finds outâ¦â
âImpossible! Lianshan, donât you even trust me?â the young man interrupted him with a smile. After a while, he stopped in front of a jewelry stand and picked up a jade hairpin, looking at it carefully.
Seeing that the well-dressed young man had a servant with him, the vendor could tell he must be a rich childe, so he immediately walked over with a brilliant smile. âSir, you wanna buy jewelry for your sweetheart?â
âSweetheart?â The young man froze for a while and didnât come back to his senses until Lianshanâs voice rang again. âBut Senior Brother mightâ¦â
âSenior Brother?â The young man cut in on him again. âI guess heâs not in the mood for my business for the moment!â he said with a mysterious smile.
Though Lianshan didnât understand what he meant, seeing the confident look on that young manâs face, he was aware that as they were in the same boat and he could do nothing to change his young masterâs mind, it was useless to say anything more. Taking a bite of the mutton kebab, he shifted his gaze to the hairpin in the young manâs hand. âYoung Master, are you going to pick a gift for your mom?â he muttered.
âYou silly boy! Iâm picking a gift for your future hostess!â The young man said calmly with a sly smile crossing his face. Before Lianshan could figure out what he was talking about, he picked up a white jade bracelet. âLianshan, do you think she will like this one?â
âWow, you really have a good taste, sir! This bracelet is made of white jade peculiar to the Ning Kingdom. Although my booth is small, you can hardly find another bracelet of such fine workmanship in Luanzhou!â The vendor began promoting his goods at once.
Standing aside for a while, the slow-witted Lianshan suddenly wised up. âYoung Master, you found your girl?â he whispered, looking at the young man in surprise.
The young man smiled but didnât answer. After paying for the bracelet, he went on his way.
When the two reached a crossroad, they saw that a group of people had gathered around a government notice and discussed in a low voice. The young man walked over out of curiosity, but as there were too many people and he couldnât squeeze into the crowd, he had to inquire about it to a man in front of him.
âHey bro, what does the notice say?â
Instead of looking back, that person still focused on the notice, craning his neck. After a while, he answered, âHis Majesty is offering a reward to the highly skilled physicians for the treatment of Prince Mu!â
âPrince Mu got sick?â
Hearing him asking in confusion, that man turned around. âBro, you must have just arrived in Luanzhou. Everyone in the capital city is discussing it!â he sized the young man up while speaking.
âOh?â The young man looked at him with a puzzled look.
Scanning around cautiously, that person said in a low voice after a short moment of hesitation, âPrince Mu suddenly fell into a coma a few days ago. Itâs said he got drunk in the brothel and never woke up after returning to his mansion. Almost all the most famous physicians in Luanzhou had diagnosed him, but nobody could tell what the matter was with him. According to the imperial edict, anyone who can revive Prince Mu will get ten thousand ingots of silver as a reward!â
âTen thousand!â
âBut itâs not easy to get the bounty! A few cocky guys took down the notice yesterday, but as they failed to cure the prince, they were pulled out of the Prince Muâs Mansion and beaten thirty times with massive sticks!â
âThey have only themselves to blame for their poor medical skills!â the young man said with a sneer.
His bold remarks immediately drew astonished glances.
âBro, youâd better watch your tongue!â that person reminded, surprised at his arrogance.
Despite his kind warning, the young man elbowed his way through the crowd and walked toward the notice confidently.
When Lianshan suddenly figured out his intent, his face turned pale in an instant. âYoung Master, donâtâ¦â
However, before he could finish his words, the young man had taken the notice down.