Chapter 165: Miss Xiang Wu

Chapter 165: Miss Xiang Wu

Here's what happened:

Today, the trio of rakes had arranged to leave the city for some fun. Xiao Yuming, having not hunted in days, suggested they go hunting, and so they rode their horses toward the Western Hills.

En route, they crossed a pool of water. The three didn't stop, galloping straight through it. Coincidentally, a carriage was parked beside the pool, with several young masters and ladies standing around it.

As Xiao Yuming and his companions' horses passed through the pool, the water splashed onto the dresses of two young ladies, who naturally took offense and barred their way.

Reining in their horses, the trio turned back and recognized the group; they were acquaintances, particularly of Yan Wu. Xiao Yuming and Qi Er merely knew them.

This group belonged to General Xiang's household, out enjoying the fine weather when they encountered Xiao Yuming's party, leading to the mishap.

All being part of the capital's elite, with frequent interactions, Xiao Yuming's group should have simply apologized for splashing the ladies. But before they could speak, a young master from the Xiang family looked at Yan Wu and sneered, "A toad lusting after a swan's flesh."

His remark had a backstory. Recently, the Lady of Nanling had been match-making for Yan Wu and had taken a liking to the Fourth Young Lady of Xiang's third branch. She reasoned that although Yan Wu wasn't the eldest son and wouldn't inherit the title, the third branch of the Xiang family wasn't the primary line either. Besides, though General Xiang held military power, he lacked a noble title. All things considered, the third branch of the Xiang family was actually marrying above their station.

But Yan Wu's reputation as a profligate was a sticking point. The Lady of Nanling figured that a slightly lower birth was acceptable. Being well-acquainted with General Xiang's wife, she approached her to feel out the situation. General Xiang's wife, not being the biological mother of the Fourth Young Lady, naturally couldn't make decisions on her behalf and mentioned the proposal to the third wife of the Xiang family after the Lady of Nanling's visit.

Upon hearing this, Lady Xiang of the third branch was overjoyed. Being part of a junior branch and living off the main family, marrying her daughter to the legitimate son of the Earl of Nanling's mansion was an excellent match. She immediately agreed. However, when the news reached the fourth Miss Xiang, learning that her family intended to marry her off to a profligate, she became downcast. She wept daily until she fell ill.

With things having reached this point, the fourth Miss Xiang was naturally unwilling, and Lady Xiang couldn't force her daughter, no matter how regrettable. So, she reluctantly had the wife of the Great General Xiang reject the Earl of Nanling's wife. The matter seemed to have passed, but who knew they would run into each other again today.

The one who mocked Yan Wu as a "toad lusting after a swan's flesh" was none other than the fourth Miss Xiang's own brother, the third young master of the Xiang family. He felt his sister's illness was all Yan Wu's fault, so he couldn't help but sting him with his words.

How could the brash Yan Wu tolerate such an insult? He lashed out with his whip toward the third young master Xiang, but before it could land, another whip entangled it, wielded by the legitimate daughter of the Great General Xiang, the fifth Miss Xiang.

"He misspoke. I apologize on his behalf. Let's let bygones be bygones," the fifth Miss Xiang said to Yan Wu.

Her voice was fairly amicable, but to Yan Wu's ears, it sounded mocking, especially followed by the third young master Xiang's scornful laughter. Yan Wu grew even more infuriated, feeling that the Xiang family was deliberately provoking him.

There was some history between the fifth Miss Xiang and Yan Wu. The wife of the Earl of Nanling was on good terms with the wife of the Great General Xiang, so the two families interacted frequently, and Yan Wu had known the fifth Miss Xiang since they were children.

When Yan Wu was about six or seven years old, he accompanied the wife of the Earl of Nanling on a visit to the Xiang residence. While the adults conversed, the children were left to play together. At that time, the fifth Miss Xiang, who was four or five, was playing with a small wooden sword in the courtyard.

That sword, crafted by the Great General Xiang himself, was not only smooth and adorned with patterns that children liked, but also extravagantly inlaid with a gemstone, shiny and very attractive.

Upon seeing it, Yan Wu wanted to play with it and approached the fifth Miss Xiang to ask for it. She refused, so he reached out to snatch it. He thought, being older and a boy, he could easily take the wooden sword from her.

But unexpectedly, as soon as he extended his hand, a small foot kicked him squarely in the stomach, and he fell to the ground. Before he could react, the fifth Miss Xiang was on top of him, her little fists flailing left and right.

Yan Wu didn't remember how much it hurt, but the humiliation still burned fresh in his memory.

Fortunately, the maids hurried to separate them; otherwise, his face might have swollen up like a steamed bun. From then on, he felt both hate and fear toward the fifth Miss Xiang. Somehow, the story spread, and now, several young masters of the Xiang family still teased him about it.

They might see it as a joke, but not Yan Wu. It was a stain on his honor, one that he could never wash away.

Now, faced once again with his nemesis, he was both enraged and anxious, but forced himself to appear composed. He tilted his chin up and said, "Just let it go? No way."

The fifth Miss Xiang was not known for her patience either. After hearing his response, she retorted, "Then what do you suggest?"

What to do? Yan Wu had no clue.

At this moment, the third young master Xiang sneered, "How about a fight? A duel. Do you dare, Yan Wu?"

Yan Wu turned to look at Xiao Yuming. Among the three of them, his skills were slightly better. Xiao Yuming was also very angry at this moment; among the people of the Xiang family, two were particularly intolerable.

Turning to observe the household, I noticed four girls in their teens and two young masters around fifteen or sixteen. The young masters moved languidly, clearly untrained. Yet, they harbored delusions of engaging in single combat, oblivious to their impending doom.

"Fine," he declared, "if it's a duel you want, who shall be your champion?"

As his words faded, all eyes within the Xiang household turned to the fifth Miss Xiang. Xiao Yuming too glanced at the young lady. Around thirteen, with a round face and large eyes, she was quite endearing. Petite, barely reaching his shoulder, and slender - her neck so fragile, he believed he could snap it with one hand.

The young girl spoke, "I'll match you, but let's make it clear - no crying or running off to tattle to the elders if you get hurt."

Xiao Yuming had initially thought that fighting such a young girl was tantamount to bullying, but her words ignited a fire in him. "Alright, it's settled then. Don't you run crying to your elders claiming I bullied a girl," he retorted.

Miss Xiang shrugged, snapping her whip with a flick, "Come on then."

As soon as she spoke, the Xiangs hastily retreated. Yan Wu and Qi Er were perplexed but also stepped back. Qi Er whispered to Yan Wu, "Is this Fifth Miss Xiang really that formidable? She doesn't look it."

Yan Wu shook his head, "I'm not sure, we only played together a couple of times when we were kids."

As they conversed, Xiao Yuming and Miss Xiang had already commenced their duel. Xiao wielded a knife, and Miss Xiang, a whip. The exchange was intense, and to any discerning eye, it was clear that Xiao Yuming was being driven back, with Miss Xiang dominantly pressing the attack.

Xiao Yuming had severely underestimated the girl before him, assuming that whatever she learned from her father amounted to mere showy, ineffective moves. Only in the midst of battle did he realize that it was he who was all style and no substance. Regret was futile; he could only muster all his strength to fend her off.

Miss Xiang pressed on relentlessly, driving Xiao Yuming backward until he reached a puddle. Seizing the moment, she aimed a kick at his chest. Xiao Yuming tried to dodge, but failed, receiving a solid kick. He slipped, collided with the Xiang family's carriage, and with a crack, he cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground.

A rib was broken.