Chapter 61: Meeting Nangong Qian for the First Time
Translator: Claire.KK
Shang State was affluent and peaceful. The capital city was even more prosperous.

At the gate of the capital, Crown Prince in white and General Leng in black were sitting on two high horses with a guard team and some officials standing behind them.

In the distance, they saw two carriages coming, which as one could recognize even far away were made of Phoebe exquisitely, showing an extravagant and lavish scene, not to mention the imperial bodyguards with sonorous steps following them. It could tell at one’s first sight that the subordinates of this Prince Qian were well trained.

When the carriages stopped near by Shan Wuxin, she nodded to them “Welcome! Prince Qian. You must be tired after such a long trip.” It’s comfortable of her plain words without any complicated or tentative expression.

“Crown Prince, I have heard of your illustrious name for a long time!” the voice of a man came from the carriage, which was like the most melodious tweedle in the world. The sudden stifling pressure came to everyone along with the light voice. But the pressure disappeared immediately as if it never came up. Even so, no one dared to underestimate Prince Qian. While, Shang Wuxin seemed to feel nothing of the pressure.

Nangong Qian in the carriage opened the curtain slightly and looked at Prince Shang sitting on the horse.

He came to Shang State this time to take back his younger sister. In case there would be any accidents, he came himself and planned to get back directly as soon as he found his sister. However, he found that she was different. She was more strong-minded and unperturbed than before. She was fearless to open the veil in public with confidence and vitality, which made Nangong Qian delighted and puzzled. After he asked her, she told him everything that happened since she met Prince Shang.

Nangong Qian was a little curious about this crown prince after hearing his sister’s narration. His sister was the only family member of him in this world. Because of his thoughtless protection in her childhood, she was disfigured by the wicked people, which made him guilty all along. But he was an ineloquent guy but just could give a little more attention to her, even if she was his younger sister. As a result, she was quite unsociable. Now this crown prince not only saved her but also opened her mind. Anyhow, Nangong Qian had been much obliged. Although he was clear that this crown prince’s real intention was not good, but what did it matter?

Nangong Qian had already known from his sister that crown prince was an exceedingly handsome boy, who had his advantages as Nangong. Although Nangong Qian had never cared his appearance, he knew he was one of the best in the continent judging from the praises of other people. Even though he had had the preparation already, he was still surprised by Prince Shang’s beauty at the first sight.

Prince Shang was elegant with the perfect features, which was not coquettish but as noble and graceful as the saussurea beside the cliff. He appeared uniquely prettier in the midday sun with a smile hanging on the corners of his pink lips. He was cool, flawless and as amazing as a faery in the picture even if just lying quietly.

Nangong Qian’s heart missed a beat not for the young boy’s appearance but for his eyes. He had the bottomless eyes with indifference and alienation, where no sunlight could shine in. Nangong Qian had no idea about love at first sight at this moment. But he understood in the years ahead that his heart had sunk as soon as he looked at the eyes at the first time. The struggle after that just made him fall deeper and deeper.

“Crown prince, the sun is burning outside. Let’s have a talk in the carriage! ” Nangong Lian in a veil opened the curtain and said with a smile, which attracted Shang Wuxin’s eyes that were meant to look at Nangong Qian.

Nangong Lian always felt that Prince Shang was very kind when seeing him. He was obviously not a good guy, but he was the best in her heart. If she couldn’t confirm that her feelings for him was not affection, she would mistakenly think that she had fallen in love with him.

Everybody looked different after hearing Nangong Lian’ words. Females were not harshly shackled in this continent, but they were still requested to be missish and obedient, and the position of them was very low. Now a princess was inviting the crown prince of another country to come into her carriage in public however. Everybody looked at Prince Shang ambiguously. After all, it was the invitation from a beauty. Generally, no man would refuse it.

Leng Yufeng knew who she was when he saw Nangong Lian. He was much more displeased with her shameless action under such circumstances. Nonetheless, he still looked at the crown prince stubbornly and wanted to know what he would do.

Shang Wuxin looked at the naughty Nangong Lian. She knew that she didn’t mean it maliciously. But she was the crown prince of her state. She was afraid that she might need to marry her if they stayed too close. She had no intention to get married for the moment. Besides, Nangong Lian’s brother was here. Shang Wuxin did not want to get herself into troubles. However, Nangong Qian couldn’t bear it any longer before Shang Wuxin’s refusal.

Nangong Qian always knew that his younger sister defied trivial conventions. He didn’t care it before. But now he was a little discontented with her action. Her reputation was still very important after all.

“My sister is right. Please enter our carriage to have a talk with me, crown prince! ” Nangong Qian said and glanced at Nangong Lian. She shrank her neck with fear and went back to the carriage. It was true that her brother was nice to her, but he was always as strict as a father. She dared not to be disobedient most of the time as she knew how cold-blooded her brother was. She ever thought if this cold-blooded brother would become warm someday.

Shang Wuxin looked at this legendary Prince Qian. He was sitting in the carriage with his hand holding the curtain, which couldn’t prevent her from seeing his appearance clearly. He was in a white-edged purple robe without any other decoration or pattern. With the cool temperament showing obviously on his face, he was not very accessible. His pitch-black hair was tied back with a hairpin simply, which was like the fine silks with a wisp hanging on the chest. And the part behind him was quite straight, which reached his waist. On his indifferent face, it was the perfect appearance with the deep, introverted and sharp eyes, prominent and handsome nose, tight and thin lips, which made him aggressive and exclusive as the wolf king in the wild.

Shang Wuxin felt they were the same kind of person just after a glance. This guy was cold-blooded, and she had no heart. She looked this Prince Qian in the eye and thought that they would lose at both sides if they were enemies.

Shang Wuxin had to sigh with emotions, the environment in the ancient times was really good for the people. It seemed that all the influential men she met were with good looks. Even though she was careless for the appearance, who didn’t like beautiful people?

The bodyguard driving the carriage outside was somewhat surprised. After all, Prince Qian had never invited anyone to enter his carriage except princess. Prince Shang was able to be highly valued by his lord, which was also the ability of this crown prince.

Shang Wuxin was planning to refuse them, but Leng Yufeng beside her said: “You are in poor health, crown prince, you’d better enter the carriage!” Leng Yufeng did this, as he thought that the guy in the carriage posed no threat anyhow. And the sun was burning hard, which was ok for him, but crown prince’s face had been reddened by the sun. He was not willing to see it.

However, throughout the coming years, he really regretted doing this today and thought himself was an idiot!

The moment Shang Wuxin was trying to refuse, she felt the evil spirit around Nangong Qian. He was the first one that Nangong Qian invited to his carriage, but this Prince Shang was a little reluctant. Nangong Qian felt uncomfortable, no matter from the face or deep in his heart. Generally, those people who made Nangong Qian uncomfortable would not have any good end.

Shang Wuxin also felt itchy on her face because of the burning sun. So she went into the carriage after telling something to Leng Yufeng. Other people started to move forward to the Imperial Palace after she entered the carriage.

Nangong Qian smelled the light fragrance of flower and fruit as soon as Prince Shang entered the carriage. No one knew he had a sharp sense of smell, so he couldn’t bear any peculiar smell most of the time. He threw his eyes on Prince Shang and couldn’t understand why this guy smelled sweeter than his sister. If not for the sweetness, he would throw him off the carriage.

Shang Wuxin could feel the ferocious spirit around this man as soon as she entered the carriage. Everybody would be careful to stay with this kind of man and afraid that he might kill you anytime. The feeling he gave her was too dangerous.

It was still a long way to the palace. Shang Wuxin was a little boring, so she picked up a book on the carriage and read it. It was a unique copy about military organization in battlefield. She read it carefully, but she didn’t know that a conscientious “man” was the most attractive.

Nangong Qian got this book by chance, and he often read it as it was a good book. Now he was trapped at the page with something he didn’t understand. He didn’t stop Prince Shang when seeing him pick it up, but felt a little surprised when Prince Shang turned over the page that he didn’t understand.

The higher position the people was in, the more they appreciated the strong. Now Nangong Qian was appreciating this crown prince. To put aside the crown prince’s kindness for saving his sister, both the temperament and the appearance as well as the literary attainment of this boy were appreciated by Nangong Qian. He was cold-blooded, but not self-conceited. He asked Shang Wuxin, “Crown Prince Shang, can you understand everything?”

Shang Wuxin nodded and continued to read. Nonsense, why she kept reading if she couldn’t understand?

Hearing that Prince Shang could understand everything, Nangong Qian stretched out his hand and tried to take the book to have a discussion with the prince. But he didn’t expect that Shang Wuxin was planning to avoid when seeing his hand. As a result, Nangong Qian’s hand didn’t touch the book but held the white little hands of this young boy.