C16 The 16th Chapter

Three days later, the sky was layered with thin clouds, and a cool breeze was blowing—a perfect day for a spring outing. By the river, the grass was lush and vibrantly green. In the gentle wind and light mist, clothes fluttered, and jewelry softly jingled.

The young gentlemen of prominent families wouldn't miss such a beautiful scene. Servants had already set up canopies, laid out mats, and arranged low tables topped with fresh seasonal fruits.

"Wu, you're quite the connoisseur," remarked Liang Qi, picking up a peach. "Enjoying flowers, water, and beauty—this is the joy of life."

Wu Chengzhao smiled and shifted slightly. A servant promptly brought over a small table for him to lean against. "Pardon me for being so casual," he said, stretching out his legs before crossing them. With a contented sigh, he added, "This is much more comfortable. I'm just a simple man; no need for you all to follow my lead."

In this society, etiquette was highly valued. Guests and hosts often sat in a formal kneeling position, with their bodies upright, to show their cultured manners and respect for the host. Only among close friends would one sit cross-legged. Some, however, found this informal posture disrespectful, considering it something only uncultured people would do.

Even though Wu Chengzhao's family was prestigious, he still offered an apology.

The others, familiar with his nature, took no offense. Xie Zixiao smiled and clasped his hands in a gesture of goodwill, saying, "Wu, your comfort is what matters. Don't worry about us."

Yan Xiuchuan's lips curled into a smile, barely holding back his laughter. He quickly pretended to take a sip of his drink, using the glass to hide his amusement.

Wu Chengzhao's face darkened, but with Xie Zixiao looking at him so earnestly, as if he had Wu's best interests at heart, he couldn't bring himself to call out the insincerity. He had no choice but to let it go.

The others exchanged knowing glances, fully aware of the situation.

Why was Wu Chengzhao feeling unwell? It was because his father had disciplined him. Prime Minister Wu ran a strict household, yet his second son was notoriously unruly. In terms of being a troublemaker, if Wu Chengzhao claimed second place, no one would dare claim first. Prime Minister Wu, skilled in both literature and martial arts, never held back when it came to disciplining his son. Rumor had it that one night, he broke a wooden staff as thick as an arm over him. Fortunately, Wu Chengzhao was tough enough that he managed to go horseback riding the next day to visit the famous courtesan, Xiao Rumeng. This infuriated Prime Minister Wu so much that he skipped court and returned home from the palace gates. His anger was like a thunderstorm, with hundreds of household guards making a formidable display, their spears gleaming coldly, shaking half of Yuan'an City.

What happened to Wu Chengzhao after being dragged back home is unknown, but when he was seen again, he had to be carried by servants.

Forced to recuperate at home for a few days, Wu Chengzhao's temper seemed to have mellowed, his face showing no trace of anger. "In such a refined place, one must do refined things," he remarked, his gaze shifting. "Third Young Master Yan, does our bet still stand?"

Yan Xiuchuan thought to himself, "Finally, it's happening."

With a cheerful smile, he said, "A gentleman's promise is worth its weight in gold. A bet's a bet, of course I'll honor it."

Wu Chengzhao slammed the table and stood up, "That's the spirit. Bring my cricket here."

Someone promptly and respectfully brought over a golden box. Wu Chengzhao transferred the cricket onto a porcelain plate, boasting, "I call it the 'Undefeated General.' None of the crickets in my estate have ever beaten it." With a sly glance, he added, "Let's see if it can remain undefeated today."

Yan Xiuchuan took a bamboo tube from his pocket and used a small stick to move his cricket onto the plate. "I'm no expert in this, so we'll see how it goes."

Everyone's eyes were glued to the plate, where the two crickets were a stark contrast. One had powerful hind legs and was quite large, while the other was small, slender, and dull in color. Laughter erupted around them.

Someone remarked, "Sanlang, where did you find such a tiny cricket? Even the ones under the trees in my backyard are bigger than this!"

Another chimed in, "Sanlang, just admit defeat now and save that little cricket's life."

Yan Xiuchuan ignored the comments, gently nudging the small cricket's long antennae with the stick, and said, "Black Cloud Leopard, today you need to make me proud. I'll treat you to the finest bugs when we get back."

Wu Chengzhao scoffed, "You just won't give up, will you?" With a wave of his hand, he ordered the partition to be moved aside and shouted, "Champion, bite it in half!"

Strangely enough, the Black Cloud Cricket, upon seeing the much larger Champion, wasn't scared at all. Instead, it chirped even louder, its antennae raised high and its back legs twitching, ready to pounce.

On the other hand, Champion backed away repeatedly at the sight of the Black Cloud Cricket. It started with a couple of chirps, but soon even those grew faint.

Wu Chengzhao was anxious but didn't let it show. He laughed and said, "Champion thinks your Black Cloud Cricket is too weak, not even worth a nibble!"

Yan Xiuchuan, who rarely engaged in cricket fights, believed Wu Chengzhao's words and grew a bit anxious himself. He kept prodding the cricket's hind legs with a twig, urging, "Black Cloud, go on, bite it!"

"Chirp!"

With a sharp cry, the Black Cloud Cricket launched itself like a black lightning bolt onto Champion, biting down hard on its neck.

Everyone was stunned, their smiles frozen in place. They had been watching the two crickets closely, yet none of them had caught the Black Cloud Cricket's swift move. It sat firmly on top, and no matter how much Champion leaped and twisted, it couldn't shake the Black Cloud Cricket off.

"Squeak!"

A sharp cry echoed as the victorious general lost an antenna to a bite. Only then did the clouded leopard leisurely hop off its back. "Chirp chirp, chirp chirp."

Wu Chengzhao watched the clouded leopard shake its hind legs in a playful manner, feeling a twinge of frustration. He snapped his fan open and shut, open and shut, and muttered, "Don't celebrate too soon; this is just the first round."