Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Furthermore, King Huai of Chu was determined to provoke hatred in him. Since Chu Mingkong was still an infant, King Huai had his wife, who was still breastfeeding, breastfeed him, intending for her to treat him like her own child...

This feud escalated to a new level – this brat from out of town not only stole my son's position as heir, but also tried to steal my son's milk!

Chu Mingkong understood this point, and no matter how much the Princess Chu disliked him, he could understand it. He couldn't really blame her, but that didn't stop him from being wary of the Princess Chu trying to harm him.

Chu Mingkong had thought a lot about this matter. The position of a secular prince was not very meaningful to him. His talent could support him to follow the path of sect cultivation and see the scenery of this new world. It was much more comfortable than being trapped in this prince's mansion.

Once I'm old enough to make my own decisions, I'll just hand over the title of heir to my younger brother and be done with it.

However, another incident occurred later. Chu Mingkong revealed his talent too early, and Chu Yunhan and Chu Fengnan were also remarkably talented. It was not a good thing that the descendants of the Chu King's lineage were so formidable. Therefore, King Huai of Chu arranged for the two biological children of the Chu Queen to be adopted by the Xiao family, keeping only Chu Mingkong.

Xiao Jiale blossomed, and the lineage of the King of Chu of Xiling became solely that of Chu Mingkong. However, Yunhan and Fengnan continued to live in Xiling.

However, after this incident, it was easy to imagine that the Princess Consort of Chu would have a different opinion of Chu Mingkong; he had become someone else's accomplice.

However, Chu Mingkong also had his own temper and did not want to be at the mercy of Princess Chu all the time. Therefore, he spent most of his time on the border. When he was occasionally called back to the palace by Chu Yunhan, he would put on his armor and pretend that he could not see Princess Chu's attitude.

......

Chu Mingkong scratched his head reluctantly. It was indeed inappropriate to miss such an occasion. He should have gone back to the border to hide and said he was too busy to come back.

"Alright, Brother Wei Hai, you can go ahead first. I'll go back to my room to change my clothes and I'll be there soon... By the way, has my master returned yet?"

If Zuo Qiuchi were here, Chu Mingkong would at least have someone to talk and chat with.

Wei Hai shook his head and said, "Your master and young lady have gone out and have not yet returned."

Chu Mingkong instantly lost all hope for the birthday celebration in the main hall; it was practically like being imprisoned...

Back in his room, Chu Mingkong quickly changed into his armor and went to the main hall to be the birthday celebrant.

......

Inside the main hall, a wide red carpet extends from the main entrance, dividing the reception hall in two.

One side was occupied by Chu Fengnan and the Xiao family's relatives and friends. Every seat was taken. After presenting their gifts, the guests who came to offer birthday wishes would sit down next to Chu Fengnan.

On the other side was Prince Chu Mingkong, with his family scattered around. He sat there all alone, like a metal can. Occasionally, some merchants who couldn't find seats, those with ordinary backgrounds, or relatives who didn't care much would sit down next to Chu Mingkong.

The stark contrast between the left and right sides is like a contest of family power and influence.

"Your Highness, this is a congratulatory gift from our merchant guild. We wish you great success in your military endeavors!"

A merchant with a slender build and a plump middle came to wish Chu Mingkong a happy birthday, and presented him with a treasure box. Inside the box was a storage ring of excellent quality, but it was likely to contain other treasures as well, somewhat like a nesting doll.

Chu Mingkong accepted the treasure box, expressed his gratitude, and then politely praised the merchant's business. The merchant was so happy that his face twitched, and then he went to wish the second son of the King of Chu a happy birthday.

The birthday banquets for the two princes' heirs were all arranged in one go, which was a good thing for the guests as they didn't have to make two trips.

The guests who brought these gifts came from three common backgrounds: aristocratic families, clans, and merchants. Among the aristocratic families, the most prestigious was the Xiao family of the capital, who were, after all, the maternal family of the Princess of Chu.

At such a ceremony, it would be impossible for anyone to dare to come and find Chu Mingkong to be anything but, but some differences in treatment, whether overt or covert, are inevitable.

Those forces that are on good terms with the Xiao family will definitely send gifts to both young masters. However, they will be more enthusiastic towards Chu Fengnan than towards Chu Mingkong. Chu Mingkong doesn't think there's anything wrong with this; it's normal for people to do the same.

At present, Chu Mingkong's background is King Huai of Chu, and the guests do not want to offend King Huai and the Queen Consort, so they have no choice but to do this.

“Your Highness, we have brought a troupe of dancers from the capital to perform. The dancers have just returned from their travels in the Crescent Moon Kingdom and have spontaneously performed an exotic dance, which is perfect for celebrating Young Master Fengnan’s birthday.” A person from the Xiao family arrived, cupped his hands, and rose to speak.

"Yes!" came the majestic voice of King Huai from the hall.

"Musicians and dancers, come up!" The man clapped his hands and ordered the people waiting outside the palace gate.

The bustling hall fell silent for a moment, and the guests turned their gazes toward the entrance. They had heard of the beauty of exotic dances, but rarely witnessed them firsthand. He began to anticipate that the choreography by the capital's master choreographer would be no less impressive than the authentic dances from the Crescent Moon Kingdom.

Soon, music filled the hall. The melodious and gentle tune was like a curtain woven from light gauze, slowly being drawn back. A group of dancers dressed in exotic dresses and veils gracefully entered. Their figures were slender and their waists were delicate. Their movements were fiery and charming. With a wave of their arms, the semi-transparent sleeves fluttered, like fairies dancing.

Exotic dances are quite rare in the Tianji Empire. The beauty of the dancers and the captivating dance moves immediately drew applause from the guests, whose eyes couldn't hide their admiration.

but,

There's an awkward thing: all the excitement and liveliness belong to the party that was already having a lively time.

Generally, the dancers' troupes are arranged in a square formation. The master in the palace is in a high position and can see the dance below. There are dancers on each of the four sides of the dance formation, corresponding to a direction. Although he cannot see the whole picture, he will not miss the dancers' dance.

However, this gift was brought by the Xiao family, and the dance formation was arranged in a triangular formation, which conveniently omitted Chu Mingkong's side.

The guests of King Huai of Chu and the Second Prince were unaffected, but Chu Mingkong could only stare at the dancers' buttocks.

Near Chu Mingkong, several merchants secretly lamented, "If only we could see the front of this dance."

Chu Mingkong, however, didn't think anything of it; these dancing girls all had pretty moist butts.

As the music reached its climax, a woman's alluring and unrestrained laughter echoed through the hall. Just hearing the laughter sent shivers down everyone's spines, and they eagerly looked up, only to find nothing.

Then, another woman, veiled and holding a peacock feather fan, appeared among the dancers. She seemed to arrive on a fragrant breeze, and everyone in the hall was momentarily captivated.

"Could this also be part of the dance? This kind of entrance is unheard of!" Some people clinked glasses and cheered.

Beneath the armor, Chu Mingkong looked at the newly appeared dancer with a puzzled expression: "That butt... doesn't it look like Feng Ying's?"

The guests below the stage cheered, but the dancers in the room were dumbfounded. This was not part of the choreography. Where did this woman come from?!

Their professionalism kept them calm; no one dared to make a move or cry out. In this situation, making a mistake would be a capital offense! Even the musicians who had also noticed something amiss dared not stop; they could only pretend to be oblivious and continue playing.

The alluring woman in the peacock-patterned gauze dress turned and twirled, her jade-like hand lightly brushing the buttocks of several dancers beside her, seemingly giving them a gentle push. The dancers understood and slowly retreated.

However, none of the guests noticed anything amiss. They simply thought that this was the arrangement of the dance: welcoming another beauty amidst a group of beautiful dancers was perfectly normal. In terms of figure alone, this new woman was even more stunning than the previous dancers, outshining all the others!

Before the pleasant music had even stopped, the beautiful woman began her dance again.

The graceful dance embraced the fiery sensuality unique to exotic styles. It was similar to the movements of the previous dancers, yet there were some distinct differences. It was as if the dancer in the room was performing a more authentic exotic dance.

As the music quickened, the woman's dance became faster, her flowing sleeves fluttering on her jade-like arms. A section of her fair, jade-like leg, protruding from under her thin gauze skirt, was particularly eye-catching. Suddenly, her straight and slender snow-white leg stretched out and lifted above her head, causing the white skirt that hugged her beautiful buttocks to billow, reflecting the colorful peacock feathers, just like a peacock spreading its tail.

Golden rings were wrapped around her plump thighs, and golden bells adorned her fair ankles. The bells rang incessantly like a torrential rain, yet they blended seamlessly into the music, without sounding out of place.

"it is good!"

Another round of cheers erupted.

As the music slowed down, the woman in the audience, whose gaze was completely absorbed in the dance, finally slowed her movements, and everyone's attention shifted from her dance to her.

The woman's dance was as rapid and dramatic as a sudden downpour, but her face remained completely concealed by a veil throughout. Even at the most flamboyant moments of her dance, her veil only revealed her pointed chin, appearing and disappearing in a way that left the audience wondering and wondering.

However, if we only consider her graceful figure, even the top dancers invited from the capital are far inferior to her.

As the music was about to end, the woman gracefully stepped onto the tables of the closest guests. Her long, beautiful legs connected to her exquisitely beautiful feet, which stood lightly and elegantly on the wine jars. She then leaped over them one by one, each step landing on the edge of the jar, while the jar and the table remained completely still, as if only a feather had passed by.

As the music faded, the hall fell silent. The woman stopped at the table where Chu Mingkong sat alone, her slender, flawless jade feet and delicate, exquisite toes displayed before him, surpassing all jewels and ornaments.

Chu Mingkong guessed Feng Ying's intentions. Could it be that Feng Ying came to ask him for the cultivation technique while also showing off to him... But wouldn't this make me a target of hatred between the Xiao family and the Princess of Chu?

Well, it's better to have more enemies than to have more enemies. It won't make a difference if I offend the Princess Consort of Chu this once more.

Chu Mingkong took out the exquisite ring that the guest had just presented, held Feng Ying's fair and delicate foot in one hand, put the ring on her toes, and then gestured for her to sit down next to him.

Behind them, several guests whispered among themselves: "No wonder the Crown Prince's dance was so well-received; it turns out the first half was for the Second Young Master, while the most spectacular half was for His Highness the Crown Prince!"

On the Xiao family's side, the person in charge of the dance performance was completely astonished and rushed out of the main hall to question them:

"What's going on?! Can't you even recognize who the Second Young Master is? Why did the dancers you arranged end up with the Crown Prince?!"

"My lord, we don't know either! This dancer wasn't arranged by us; she's not one of ours!"

......

Chu Mingkong's room.

That night in the frontier room, the scene of disarray and broken armor was repeated, with Chu Mingkong's armor scattered on the ground.

"Why did you run away like this? Aren't you afraid of getting caught?"

"What's there to be afraid of? I can still run away even if I'm discovered... *slurp*... cough cough cough." Feng Ying released his mouth, easing the discomfort in his throat, and admired the boy's patient expression. "But you, little prince, you're hiding in your armor like a turtle at your birthday banquet?"

"That's called domineering... Don't grind your teeth at me."

"What's with the 'domineering' attitude? You're so young and small, but your weapon is intimidating. How's the revision of your cultivation technique going? It should be almost finished, right?"

Chu Mingkong held her head and said:

"It's been fixed, it's in the storage ring I gave you. By the way, if you're going to use that dagger in the future, you'd better wear a gauntlet, the kind that covers your hand."

"You little brat, you've only been learning how to use a dagger for a few days, and you're already trying to teach me how to wield it?" The woman's voice carried a hint of seductive softness.

After a while, Chu Mingkong lay on top of her.

"Will we be able to meet again in the future? I would like to treat you as a guest minister."

Feng Ying stroked the boy in her arms, thought about the fates of her two senior brothers and sisters, and said:

"If I'm in a good mood and fate allows, we should meet."

Chu Mingkong bit into a tender grape and thought: If I take care of her enemy, then we should be destined to be together, right?

------

P.S.: I've put both updates together for a more complete look. Actually, I should have written faster, but halfway through, I found a set of cosplay photos of Western Region dancers in costumes. They were really captivating, and I spent a bit too long looking at them (scratch that).

It took a while to develop the emotions for writing.

Chapter 150 Throw it out

"So you went over and chopped up Fengying's master?"

Zuo Qiuchi lay on the bed, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the scenery along the way outside the window. Her jade feet, wrapped in white silk, were placed next to Chu Mingkong's face, her toes occasionally pinching his cheek.

This kind of thing is a case of good intentions gone wrong; it's like trying to surprise someone, but then secretly chopping up their relative.

Chu Mingkong lay beneath his master's white-stockinged legs, his arms and legs wrapped around her, and shook his head, saying:

"No, not really, but it's pretty much the same. Having fought with Kazekage in the grove, I thought about how I would deal with such an enemy if I encountered one back then. The method I came up with was to hide my strength first, making the opponent think that I am someone who moves with wide, sweeping strokes but has a slow pace of attack. When she gets close, I would let her touch me a few times before slashing down with a swift blade."

Later, before the Wei family's connections had fully investigated Gu Mei's background, they discovered her hiding place, so I went to find her. As a result, I severely injured her, but I immediately recognized that the woman's fighting style was similar to that of the Wind Shadow.

Zuo Qiuchi loosened his toes from his little apprentice's cheeks, but then immediately pressed his soles against his cheeks, squeezing them inwards. The touch of the white silk and the warmth of his soles made Chu Mingkong feel like he was being squeezed into a pig's head, but he was experiencing ecstasy.

"You've already fought Fengying once, and you still let him get away? That's so embarrassing." Zuo Qiuchi said with disgust.

"You can't blame me for this. That woman didn't teach Fengying all her skills, and she runs even faster than Fengying. You have no idea how outrageous her speed is."

"And actually, I tried to kill her twice. That old woman named Gu Mei took more than a dozen stabs from me. The first stab shattered her protective magic item and spiritual energy shield. Every stab after that was meant to kill her, but guess what?"

"You're even selling human trafficking now? If you have something to say, then say it! Is it because I spent too many time with you in teahouses back then that you've started speaking in short, halting sentences?"