Ji Qingshu was deeply touched. Usually, the people around her were all trying to make her act like a "proper lady", but she didn't like those things at all. Shen Qing was the first person to tell her that as a princess, she didn't have to please other men, could skip learning what she didn't like, and could boldly try what she liked.
"Then Sister Shen, I want to learn martial arts. Can you teach me?"
Learn martial arts?
Shen Qing thought for a moment and said, "I can first teach the princess some basic skills. After the princess has learned for a while, if she wants to make further progress, she'll need to find a professional teacher."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to the martial - arts training ground now!"
Ji Qingshu put the handkerchief close to her body in her sleeve and pulled Shen Qing towards the training ground.
"Princess, change your clothes first..."
Since Shen Qing knew she was pregnant, she had become more and more careful. She even changed into light and loose clothes. Fortunately, she had brought her combat suit today; otherwise, it would have been really inconvenient.
Zhuxing brought the clothes. "Miss, you could actually tell His Majesty. There's no need for you to teach the princess in person."
Zhuxing didn't know about her pregnancy yet. She was simply worried about Shen Qing's poisoning incident.
"It's okay. I'll just move around a bit. I won't be too strenuous."
Zhuxing then stopped dissuading her.
Shen Qing changed into a red combat suit. It wasn't that she wanted to show off. All her combat suits had been prepared before her marriage, and they were all red.
Ji Qingshu changed into a black combat suit and tied up her hair.
When she saw Shen Qing come out, Ji Qingshu's eyes lit up. She blurted out subconsciously, "Sister Shen, you're so beautiful! Your husband is really lucky!"
Only after she said that did Ji Qingshu remember that not long ago, there had been rumors that the Marquis of Guangping had taken in a mistress, favored his concubine over his wife, and even brought the mistress's son back to the mansion.
Ji Qingshu: "..."
On the high platform in the front, the Grand Princess was tired and went back to take a nap.
Ji Junye searched for a long time but didn't see the person he wanted to see. The imperial concubine beside him kept chattering, saying that he should also join the fun on the field.
Ji Junye just glanced at her and said, "Do you think if I join, it'll be to liven things up or to spoil the fun?"
Li Quan, who was standing behind as a background, looked at the sky outside to relieve his twitching eyelids. He thought to himself that His Majesty was quite self - aware.
But then he quickly gave himself an imaginary slap in the face.
Why can't you keep your mouth shut!
One day, if you really can't hold it in, your head will be gone!
The imperial concubine was so choked that she couldn't say a word. She couldn't help but feel a little aggrieved in her heart.
People said that His Majesty doted on her so much that he never visited other concubines' palaces for her sake. But what others didn't know was that His Majesty only treated her well in public. When there was no one else around, he was cold to her.
People only knew that His Majesty only summoned her to sleep with him, but they didn't know that she always slept alone in the outer room. She had been in the palace for several years, and His Majesty had never touched her!
Although she knew that His Majesty was cold - hearted by nature, after all these years of trying to warm him up, even a block of ice should have melted by now, right?
"Your Majesty..."
The imperial concubine was extremely sad and wanted to say something else, but Ji Junye had already stood up. "I'm a bit tired too. I'll go and rest. You can play here by yourself."
The imperial concubine quickly stood up too. "Then I'll go and serve Your Majesty..."
"No need." Ji Junye interrupted her and left on his own.
Li Quan quickly followed, leaving the imperial concubine standing there alone, watching his back fade into the distance. Her fingers under her sleeve gradually tightened.
Shen Qing and Ji Qingshu had already arrived at the martial - arts training ground. There was a row of weapons on the rack. "These weapons are not suitable for beginners. I'll teach the princess how to use a staff."
"Okay!"
Shen Qing picked out a staff. "I'll demonstrate it for the princess first."
On the other side, Ji Junye was walking around boredly. An empty zone automatically formed within a few meters of him; no one dared to get close.
Suddenly, he seemed to spot a figure. Li Quan couldn't help but say, "Oh, Miss Shen has gotten along well with the princess!"
Ji Junye's mood improved a bit.
"Too talkative."
Li Quan: "..." He shouldn't have said that!
"I'll walk around by myself. Stay away."
Li Quan lowered his head. "Yes."
Ji Junye lifted his feet and walked towards the martial - arts training ground. On the training ground, Shen Qing had already finished the demonstration. It were just a few simple moves, but they still made Ji Qingshu clap and cheer.
Shen Qing raised her hand to wipe the fine sweat off her forehead. "Princess, practice more. You'll be able to do it in the future."
"Okay!" Ji Qingshu nodded vigorously.
Ji Junye leaned against a big tree and watched Shen Qing with interest. As a martial - arts practitioner himself, he keenly noticed that although Shen Qing's movements seemed smooth, she didn't actually use much strength. She couldn't unleash the full power of the staff at all.
It might deceive laymen, but to an expert, it was just a showy display.
Ji Junye frowned. Her staff - fighting technique was clearly taught by the old Protector - General of the State. There was no way she was unskilled. So why did she hold back so much strength?
"When you exert force, don't just use your arms. Use the strength of your waist and abdomen to drive your arms and swing the force out."
Ji Qingshu tried Shen Qing's method and immediately felt that she could use more than twice the strength.
"Practicing like this can also help you lose weight."
Ji Qingshu:!!!
She's incredibly powerful now!
On the martial - arts training ground, the red clothes fluttered and intertwined with the black ones. It was really a beautiful sight. Ji Junye had an urge to pull Ji Qingshu off the field and take her place.
But after thinking about it, he decided not to.
Xu Yanchi was originally trying to build connections. Suddenly, someone beside him let out a gasp.
"Look at the martial - arts training ground!"
Xu Yanchi was interrupted and said impatiently, "What's wrong with the training ground? Did they start fighting?"
Someone tugged at him. "Brother Xu, look. It seems to be your wife on the field! Your wife is teaching the princess how to use a staff!"
Back then, Shen Qing's kneeling at the palace gate had made her a well - known figure in the capital. Among the respectable families in the capital, there was no one who didn't know her.
Xu Yanchi didn't believe it and subconsciously denied it. "Impossible. She only knows a bit of the basics. How could she teach the princess!"
"If you don't believe it, look for yourself!"
Only then did Xu Yanchi look over. He saw two figures, one in red and one in black, using staves on the distant training ground. Even he, a layman, could tell that Shen Qing's movements were much smoother than the princess's. It was obvious that she was teaching the princess.
There were also many female relatives playing nearby. Many women heard what Xu Yanchi said and immediately got annoyed.
"Hey, you! She's your wife. A normal person should feel honored when they hear that their wife can teach the princess. But why aren't you happy at all? Instead, you're belittling her?"
A young girl with her hands on her hips said. She was a familiar face, the girl who had just won a ball - game against her crush.
"Don't you know?" Her companion said coolly. "This Marquis of Guangping is well - known for favoring his concubine over his wife. He only has eyes for his concubine. How could he see the good in his wife?"