Langhua: The Codependence of a Prince and His General

Sixteen

After that day, though, the subject never came up between them again. Hua Yuheng seemed to take it seriously when he said he would give Xuanyuan Lang all the time he wanted. Sometimes, Xuanyuan Lang could even entertain the possibility that Hua Yuheng had forgotten about it.

...Yeah, right.

Xuanyuan Lang walked into Hua Yuheng's study just in time to hear him fly off the handle again.

"Why does this nonsense have to rhyme, anyway?! Not just the sound, but the tones and the strokes and the images too!"

"Because all of that completes the perfection of the poem. It must be beautiful to behold, soothing to heed, and thought-provoking to consider." Xuanyuan Lang approached Hua Yuheng's table with his hands held behind his back and the corners of his lips carefully pressed down.

"Go on, laugh if you want. No need to hold back." Hua Yuheng scrunched up yet another piece of parchment and threw it aside in frustration. "The history, I can get. Geography, vital. Philosophy... I don't agree with all of it, but fine, some principles are genuinely wise.

"But poetry? And not just memorizing them, but writing our own? I don't see why any of this should be tested! We're trying to become officials, not storytellers!"

"That's because you're still thinking like a general, Ah Heng. Civil officials must be extremely adept with the pen, and that includes showing an exceptional mastery of language and aesthetics." Xuanyuan Lang went up to him and tilted his head to look at the empty parchment on the table. Although Hua Yuheng never showed him his attempts at poetry, Xuanyuan Lang could still see some traces of his energetic handwriting as the ink leaked slightly through the sheets. "At least your writing has improved."

"Haha, very comforting." Hua Yuheng rolled his eyes. "You're much better at this wishy-washy stuff than I am, Qilang. And I don't mean it as an insult."

"As imperial princes, we're expected to know this much," Xuanyuan Lang said modestly.

"Put a sock in it, Qilang. You get way more than your fair share of praise from the imperial instructor. Admit it, you got a talent for poetry." Hua Yuheng twirled his brush around his fingers and glanced out of the door. "It's getting late now, right? Do you think it's the Hour of the Rooster yet?"

There was probably another quarter to go, but Xuanyuan Lang humored him. "Should be."

"Great! You're done with your homework for the day, right?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

"Then come spar with me!" Hua Yuheng grabbed his spear from behind his chair with a lot more familiarity than he grasped his pen. "I'll go easy on you."

"That's what you always say," Xuanyuan Lang complained as he dutifully tied up his hair. "But not too long, you hear? Lord Lin should be back soon. Father seemed a little more tired than usual during the court session this morning."

"Having fun with his new batch of concubines, I suppose." Hua Yuheng made a face while Xuanyuan Lang could only smile wryly. He had long since gotten tired of warning Hua Yuheng to watch what he said. Besides, after three years in the corrupt haven that was the imperial capital, Hua Yuheng probably did not need any more reminders.

Right here and now, it was just the two of them. They were safe.

Xuanyuan Lang tried sparring with a longsword this time, but he could only just parry Hua Yuheng's strikes. The tassel on Hua Yuheng's spear swirled through the air like a bird in flight as he spun, stabbed, and slashed with the weapon, handling it as though it was just an extension of his arm.

Within a quarter of an hour, Xuanyuan Lang was bent over and out of breath, his sweat dripping onto the courtyard. "H-Hold on. I need a break."

"I think you've had enough for the day." Hua Yuheng pulled his spear back and spun it so that the blunt end tapped smartly onto the ground. He had barely broken a sweat and his expression said that this was just a warm-up for him, but his gaze softened as he helped Xuanyuan Lang stand. "I'll bring you a change of clothes."

Xuanyuan Lang could only nod. He was still trying to get air back into his lungs.

This had become a routine for them over the years, so much so that Xuanyuan Lang had a few sets of his clothing stored here at Lord Lin's manor for this very eventuality. Despite his and Lord Lin's greatest efforts, Hua Yuheng was still evidently more suited for the battlefield than the court. When his studies drove him insane, he would always use that short period in the afternoon during the Hour of the Rooster before dinner to work away some of that frustration with a little physical exercise.

Xuanyuan Lang had picked up some martial arts for self-defense too, but try as he may, he could not keep up with Hua Yuheng.

He straightened up with some difficulty and looked into the study, where Hua Yuheng was rummaging through the drawers for his clothes.

Hua Yuheng had just turned sixteen. He was more than six feet tall now, and his face had lost some of its childhood roundness. His features were turning harder and sharper, more defined. The only complaint Hua Yuheng had now was his complexion, which had turned fairer as he spent more time indoors studying. Xuanyuan Lang felt that a healthy tan suited him better too, but that would make him stand out among the pampered young masters of the capital.

As Hua Yuheng walked back to him with the fresh change of clothes, Xuanyuan Lang compared their heights and instinctively pouted.

"You'll keep growing," Hua Yuheng said, reading the dissatisfaction on his face, "if you practice your stances and martial arts more."

"You're just saying that because you want to keep sparring." He was probably right, though, and it was not as though Xuanyuan Lang did not understand why he would want a better sparring partner. Lord Lin and Lin Xiangyang were not the physical type either. Hua Yuheng had been itching for a real challenge for a long while now. Xuanyuan Lang gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll try to put in another hour of practice every day."

"Do you have the time?" Hua Yuheng looked at him doubtfully. "Don't force yourself if you don't. Everything in moderation."

"Is that a challenge I hear?"

"Maybe." Hua Yuheng grinned, tossing him the clothes. "Here. I'll go get changed too. Be right back."

Xuanyuan Lang did not dwell on that tiny pang of disappointment. It was probably for the better, anyway. Hua Yuheng was obviously better built than he was, and he did not need the blow to his self-esteem.

He pinched his arm and sighed. By the time Hua Yuheng returned, his face still wet from when he washed it, Xuanyuan Lang was dressed and ready to go.

"I met Uncle Chen on the way here," Hua Yuheng said with a grimace. "He told me to get Lin Xiangyang back in time for dinner."

"Any guesses where he could be?" Xuanyuan Lang knew the answer, of course, but he could not resist teasing Hua Yuheng.

"Yeah, yeah, very funny. Let's just get this over with."

They made a beeline for Scarlet Pavilion, the most popular brothel in town.