This story takes place during the Song Dynasty. Song and Jin were at war.
Eldest son of Song emperor is prince Zi Shu.
The Jin clan leader had not been able to defeat the Song after trying for a decade, so he decided to use spies. His favorite son was his most trusted spy. To prepare him for the throne, he put him under the care of an elderly, Uncle Bai, who had lived in the Song territory for several years. He wanted his son Ke, renamed Wen Ke Xing after he moved to Song at age 10, to learn everything about the Song people and their literature, their war tactics and their martial arts.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
Wen Ke Xing lived as a Song scholar for 18 years, and learned to dress like the Song people, eat their food, read their books, practice their sword skills. To further gain position of power in the Song dynasty, he attended and won the title of both imperial competitions of martial arts and literature, gaining himself the title of 文武双全 across the country.
Today, Wen Ke Xing would be meeting with the Song emperor and his sons both to introduce himself and to hopefully obtain an assignment or position of power in the Song palace.
He bowed to the Song Emperor, who signaled him to sit down.
As Wen Ke Xing sat down on the red pine wood carved chair, he realized the Song officials had good taste. Every piece of furniture in the imperial palace were expensive, beautiful work of arts. Jin clan on the other hand, could not afford such luxury. If Wen Ke Xing could defeat the Song people, as his emperor father wished, all these luxuries would belong to Jin, his country, his people, and how proud his father would be of him. Despite living in the Song for many years, Uncle Bai reminded him every day, that his blood was not Song's blood, it was Jin's blood.
Eat with the enemy, drink with the enemy, but do not befriend the enemy. Uncle Bai had taught him time and time again.
"Wen Ke Xing, I understand that you won both competitions, therefore your martial arts and literature skills must be well-above average. I'm pleased to know that our country has such a superior young man." The Song emperor proudly spoke.
Wen Ke Xing looked up and bowed respectfully, thanking his majesty.
He did not like bowing, for he himself was prince of Jin, but now pretending to be a scholar, he had to follow the Song rules and bow. If he could defeat the Song, they would be the ones bowing at him, not the other way around.
Uncle Bai always taught him that winners stood up, losers bowed down. Wen Ke Xing did not like to be a loser.
"Since you are so skilled, I shall test your wisdom. And to make this interesting and fair, I will have my 2 sons, Prince Xi er and Prince Zi Shu compete as well. I will ask a question, and the 3 of you will answer. I will then decide whose answer is the best." Song emperor proposed.
"I shall do as you wish, my Lord." Wen Ke Xing bowed again, then looking up at the 2 princes to acknowledge them.
Prince Xi er gave him a smile, but it was cold and fake, he could tell right away that this prince did not like him, would not be his friend anytime soon, if ever. There was saying, inside the word smile, was the hidden word - knife.
Prince Zi Shu gave him a stern nod, without any smile.
Therefore Wen Ke Xing returned a smile at Prince Xi er and then a nod at Prince Zi Shu.
Emperor Song signaled his sons to walk over and stand next to Wen Ke Xing, so they could take turn answering his question. When prince Zi Shu walked over, Wen Ke Xing realized that he was almost as tall as himself, just slightly shorter. He thought all Song men were short, at least that's what Uncle Bai told him. Being tall was a quality that Jin men had, Song men didn't. Wen Ke Xing also had not met many Song people that were tall, but prince Zi Shu was just about his height, maybe a couple inches shorter. Wen Ke Xing was surprised to see prince Zi Shu walk, his steps were elegant, princely, noble, with one hand behind his back. As he got closer to him in distance, Wen Ke Xing noticed prince Zi Shu was very good looking. He was jealous at how attractive prince Zi Shu was, he must have won the hearts of many young maids in the palace, Wen Ke Xing thought to himself.
