Chapter 4; A Second Encounter

"Long sorrow begotten; wild flowers and spring in full bloom, sweet fragrance of wine, bottom up youth, the melody of music afar. "
Reclining languidly among the tree branches, Dan Zhang's relaxed posture exuded an air of ease and nonchalance. Reciting poetry with a hint of whimsy, a straw dangling from the corner of his mouth, he painted a picture of carefree contentment amidst the serenity of the surroundings. With his eyes half-closed, he savored the tranquility, embodying an idyllic image of leisure and contemplation.

His affable demeanor conveyed an underlying depth, hinting at a penchant for artistic appreciation and a soul inclined towards poetic musings. Known for his ability to find joy in simple pleasures and the beauty of the world around him,

A tall young man, around the same age as Dan Zhang, collided with the tree with his fist. Like Dan, he possessed striking good looks but exuded an air of coldness and aloofness, revealing his arrogant personality. "Hey!" Dan cried out. "You almost made me fall and break my neck!"

"Get down from the tree," the young man scoffed, visibly annoyed. "We don't have time to waste." Dan Zhang gracefully hopped down from the tree and adjusted his half-braided hair, calling out to the young man, "Brother Nan, let's go."

As they strolled through the bustling Central market, the scene was alive with activity. People hurriedly moved about, traders enthusiastically marketed their wares, carriages clattered by, and patrolling horsemen maintained order. The market was a fascinating blend of nobles and commoners, while mischievous urchins played hide and seek with irate traders, causing occasional mischief. Dan Zhang paused at a weapon stall, where the friendly trader warmly greeted him, asking, "Young man, what can I offer you?" With a mischievous smile, Dan pulled out a sword, proudly declaring,
"Look at this one, it's of excellent quality and far superior to..."
Suddenly, Nan Fang appeared out of nowhere, interrupting with a hiss,
"Fake." The trader's expression switched from cheerfulness to surprise. With a glare that could pierce steel, Nan Fang fixed his annoyed gaze on the trader, his devilish yet undeniably handsome face expressing his disapproval. His thick brows furrowed as he firmly grasped Dan Zhang's arm, pulling him away from the stall.

Amidst the commotion, a nearby trader called out, enticingly declaring, "Hot buns, hot buns! Come and taste our delicious meat buns!" The mouthwatering aroma of the food permeated the air, making Dan Zhang's stomach rumble with anticipation
As Dan Zhang's tummy grumbled with hunger, he couldn't resist the temptation of the food stalls. However, Nan Fang stubbornly pulled him away, and Dan Zhang's greeting to a passerby was left unfinished.

Roaming around, Dan Zhang's kind heart noticed a group of street kids eyeing the apples on a fruit stall. Overcome with compassion, he took some apples and handed them to the children, who gratefully thanked him before skipping off happily. Dan Zhang beamed with satisfaction, scratching his head in a lighthearted manner. The trader extended his hand, demanding payment, while Dan Zhang frantically searched his pocket. Realizing he didn't have the money, he cursed in frustration. Nan Fang must have taken it to prevent him from impulse buying, so he was trying to come up with an explanation. However, before he could finish his sentence, the trader alarmed others by accusing them of theft. Thinking quickly, Dan Zhang managed to dodge the incoming trader, grabbed a stick, and sprinted away, pursued by an angry group of traders.

Ming Yuan, alongside the imperial eunuch, rode on horseback accompanied by a group of imperial guards. They were searching for clues about Mei Xiang's whereabouts. Suddenly, their attention was diverted by the sight of a man being chased by an angry mob. As the young man leaped through the air, displaying an impressive display of Feather of lightness skill.
The Feather of Lightness skill was a revered and profound technique in the realm of combat. It enabled practitioners to harness their spiritual energy, granting them the ability to effortlessly levitate in the air, akin to a delicate feather gracefully swaying in the breeze. The young man, with his mastery of this skill, demonstrated a remarkable display of agility and grace as he soared through the air, evading his pursuers with astonishing ease, he landed on a rock dangerously close to the edge of a cliff. Just as he stumbled and was about to fall, Ming Yuan acted swiftly, reaching out to grab his hand and pulling him to safety. As Dan Zhang accidentally collided with his savior, they quickly spun away from each other. Dan Zhang's eyes widened in surprise—it was Ming Yuan once again. With gratitude, Dan Zhang offered a respectful salute and expressed his thanks. Ming Yuan felt a peculiar sensation coursing through his body, causing him to cast a curious glance at the young man and then the crowd. In a calm voice, he inquired about the situation, "What did he do?" to which the trader hysterically complained that the young man had stolen his apples. The trader was dumbfounded as he subconsciously caught the money pouch, realizing that someone had paid for him, but it wasn't Ming Yuan. Dan Zhang's face lit up with delight as he exclaimed,
"Nan'er!" Nan Fang glanced at Dan Zhang and approached Ming Yuan. Dan Zhang's eyes widened in realization as he heard Nan Fang address Ming Yuan as "your highness" and "the crown prince." Curiosity and concern filled his mind as he wondered, "Oh, what has he done?" Eager to be of assistance, Dan Zhang offered, "Can we be of service, crown prince?"

Nan Fang, with a disapproving look on his face, couldn't help but think one word: idiot! The eunuch turned to him and inquired about the whereabouts of the floral troupe, to which he eagerly provided the information. Ming Yuan glanced at him briefly before mounting his horse and riding off into the distance, a shadowy silhouette disappearing through the window in a flash.

The manor of the floral troupe resided in a serene, secluded area beyond the city's reach. Though modest in its appearance, it exuded a unique aesthetic charm. As Ming Yuan silently observed the surroundings, he couldn't help but sense that Mei Xiang, the owner, was a simple person with a complex inner world. As they looked around, Mei Xiang gracefully strolled through the courtyard with her maids by her side. She wore a simple yet exquisitely embroidered qipao, with a delicate veil covering her face, projecting an air of nobility. Greeting them with a curtsy, she and her maids knelt as the eunuch presented the imperial edict. It announced that Miss Mei Xiang was officially invited by the emperor to attend a royal celebration at the palace, to entertain and please the guests in exchange for a reward at the banquet.

Expressing their gratitude for the royal edict, Mei Xiang and her maids bowed and kowtowed in acknowledgment. With the assistance of her maids, she rose to her feet, her head still lowered as she addressed the eunuch and the crown prince. However, Ming Yuan couldn't help but notice the slightly disheveled appearance of Mei Xiang's hair and dress, especially her hair; its style was similar to that of the fellow he saved earlier. Curiosity and uncertainty etched across his gaze as he glanced at her. Politely declining her invitation to host them, they mounted their horses and departed from the manor.

In an involuntary motion, Ming Yuan's gaze flickered briefly toward Mei Xiang and observed her quick, furtive movement to conceal something within the folds of her qiao sleeves.