Chapter 14: Archery

In the current state affairs, she wouldn’t joke about the reputation of the Crown Prince.

“If you want wealth and power, and also hostages in hand, it seems to me that it’s you who lack sincerity in the peace talks!”

Suddenly, a cold sneer sounded, and Zhao Yan turned to look, only to see a young man in a sturdy outfit not far away. Beside the young man, Marquis Jinping clenched his fists and coughed softly, gesturing for him to keep quiet.

Ignoring the gesture, the young man looked as if he hadn’t noticed, prompting Zhao Yan to glance at him a few more times.

The young man appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, with a lofty demeanor. However, there was a small scar on his left eyebrow, causing it to appear as if it were broken, giving him a somewhat fierce look. He was the only one in the hall who dared to speak openly and confrontationally.

The young man spoke sternly, “If we’re talking about nobility, why not choose the Prince of Yong or the Prince Su to negotiate? It’s nothing more than fearing the strong and bullying the weak!”

“My father’s ambition lies in the mountains and rivers, with neither power nor influence. He cannot bear such a heavy responsibility.”

Zhao Yuanyu smiled insincerely, leading the conversation toward trouble, “Sending the Crown Prince escorted by the Prince Su is indeed a good idea.”

Underneath the side door of the hall, Zhang Cang’s temples throbbed furiously upon hearing this. He glanced quietly at his master beside him. Cold light spilled from outside the door, and Wen Renlin lurked in the shadows with an expressionless face.

The weak yet clear voice of the young Crown Prince came from within the hall.

Zhao Yan stood up under the gaze of the courtiers and bowed to the Emperor, “It’s not that I fear death out of greed, but everyone in the court knows about my frailty. If something were to happen to me on the journey of amnesty, would the blame fall on the Prince Su or the governor of Liangzhou?”

If the Crown Prince were to meet with an accident during the journey of amnesty, not only could the Prince of Yong be smoothly promoted, but blame could also be shifted onto the Prince Su and the governor of Liangzhou, dragging them down together.

After all, one controlled the court while the other caused chaos in the region. Either way, their existence was extremely detrimental to the Prince of Yong’s residence. As long as they were not removed, it would be like having a constant threat looming over them.

Having their scheming exposed in public, Zhao Yuanyu forced himself to remain calm outwardly, but inwardly he was seething with rage.

That damn sickly brat! Before, he would pretend to tolerate him due to face, but now he dared to embarrass him openly in front of the courtiers. He’s becoming more audacious by the day!

The magistrate of Liangzhou, with a sly look, chuckled, “The Crown Prince worries too much. If the governor were to see the Crown Prince personally, he would certainly welcome him with open arms. How could he bear to let the Crown Prince encounter any danger?”

“Not long ago, when I was recuperating behind closed doors for a while, rumors spread and disrupted our country’s foundation. Where does the magistrate of Liangzhou find the courage to make such guarantees?” Zhao Yan, slender and delicate, looked at Zhao Yuanyu across from her. “Once someone with ulterior motives makes a fuss about my death, not only will they slander the loyal and righteous officials who accompanied me, but they will also once again provoke the court and the suspicion between Liangzhou and Shu land. Then today’s negotiations will be in vain. Is this what the Crown Prince wishes to see?”

Upon hearing the words “loyal and righteous,” Wen Renlin sneered.

It had been a long time since someone had described him like that. At first glance, it seemed rather sarcastic.

Having seen enough of the drama, he instructed the chief eunuch who was waiting for orders nearby, “Go and report to His Majesty that the rods outside the hall are already prepared.”

Without waiting for the chief eunuch to respond, he turned and left. The chief eunuch bowed and whispered the Prince’s response to the Emperor. With a poker face, the Emperor looked in the direction of the magistrate of Liangzhou.

The chief eunuch, observing with a calm mind, immediately understood the Emperor’s intention.

He approached the magistrate of Liangzhou, who was being showered with flattery, and put on a charitable smile, “My lord magistrate, His Majesty would like to have a word with you.”

Thinking that his suggestion had been accepted and that the Emperor wanted to inquire about rewards, the magistrate of Liangzhou couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. He smiled and nodded repeatedly in response.

As he stepped out of the hall, he saw a circle chair placed beside a white jade carved railing. A handsome man in a red robe with a jade belt was reclining in it. Even the most skilled painter would find it difficult to capture his extraordinary charm.

Beside him lay a long bench, a bundle of coarse ropes, and four guards holding canes.

The magistrate of Liangzhou recognized the face, and the narrow eyes that were smiling into slits widened instantly, staring blankly. Two guards flanked him, grabbing him from both sides, stripping off his clothes, and pressing him face down onto the bench. He struggled to get up, but his hands and feet were bound by ropes.

“Your Majesty! Why do you treat me like this… ugh!”

Soon, there came the dull sound of the canes striking flesh outside the hall, accompanied by muffled screams. The screams echoed and amplified in the silent hall, leaving everyone exchanging looks of discomfort.

At this moment, Wen Renlin arrived against the light, his demeanor casual as if he were taking a leisurely stroll. Each step he took seemed to tread on the hearts of the people, exuding a chilling pressure.

“The magistrate of Liangzhou failed in his supervision, intending to sow discord between Your Majesty and Liangzhou, putting the court in danger. His intentions deserve punishment. By His Majesty’s order, he will receive sixty lashes as a warning to others.”

He said this with a smile, and if not for the sounds of a pig being slaughtered outside the hall, it would have been a pleasant sight.

“What do you all mean by this! Killing the chicken to scare the monkey, is this how the court treats its guests?”

General He slammed his fist on the table, making a deafening noise.

After all, he was a reckless military man who couldn’t fathom the Emperor’s intentions.

When the man on the dragon throne was young, he had emerged as an iron-blooded Emperor from among the eleven princes. No matter how much he pursued immortality and enlightenment now, he would never tolerate the trampling of imperial authority. Amnesty was necessary, but it couldn’t be granted while kneeling to the court.

Zhao Yan knew very well that the magistrate of Liangzhou, as a fence-sitter, was the best pawn to sacrifice.

These sixty lashes fell not only on him but also on the hearts of every courtier present: favor was bestowed by the Emperor, not seized. Anyone who stood on the wrong side would meet the same fate as the magistrate of Liangzhou.

But General He, who didn’t understand the ways of kings, naturally didn’t comprehend this. He only knew that when trapped in enemy territory and in danger, he should instinctively seek hostages to shield himself from harm.

So, his fierce gaze fell on the most significant and most likely hostage, the Crown Prince.

Just as General He was about to rise, he felt a heavy pressure on his shoulder.

“The banquet is not over yet, General He. Why not sit down and talk?”

Wen Renlin had appeared behind him at some point. Despite considering himself to be vigilant and always on guard, General He hadn’t noticed him at all. With a single hand pressed against his shoulder, Wen Renlin’s slender, jade-like knuckles protruded white against the back of his hand.

To others, it seemed like the Prince was just cordially greeting General He. But Zhao Yan, who was close by, could see clearly: Wen Renlin effortlessly subdued the murderous intent-filled General He with just one hand. What a terrifying display of strength!

Reluctantly releasing his strength, General He relaxed. Wen Renlin then withdrew his hand, took out a white handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped his hand, and returned to his seat.

His dining table was on Zhao Yan’s right-hand side, closest to the Emperor.

Zhao Yan fixed her gaze on the wine cup in front of her, even catching a faint whiff of the woody incense on him.

The wails outside the hall gradually faded, and soon, even the occasional groans could no longer be heard.

The Deputy Minister of the Honglu Temple looked pale, and Zhao Yuanyu also appeared uneasy, continuously drinking tea to calm his nerves. Sixty strikes of the executioner’s rod might not seem like much, but over the years, they had witnessed how many loyal officials met their end under its blows?

With twenty strikes, skin would split and flesh would tear; with forty strikes, bones would shatter and tendons would snap. But with sixty strikes… whether one could still draw breath remained unknown.

Amidst the thud of the baton, the Emperor’s voice sounded unusually calm: ‘The governor of Liangzhou, governing the various territories of Shu, is, after all, the ninth generation grandson of Taizong. This time, by thoroughly eliminating bandits along the way, he has made great contributions. Therefore, we shall bestow upon him the title of Lord of Shu, grant him ten thousand taels of gold, and provide him with tens of beautiful maids and dancing girls. He shall be allowed to guard the southwestern lands for generations to come. Henceforth, he may withdraw his troops and return to Liangzhou to enjoy his later years in peace. How does this sound?’

This combination of first imposing fear and then offering kindness was executed with just the right touch, but Zhao Yan couldn’t help but feel a sense of desolation and absurdity.

However, beneath the imperial robes, what lay inside was undoubtedly precarious and scarred.

The bones of loyal subjects lay buried in distant lands, while the thieves who stole the nation were being ennobled as kings and lords. It was truly a ludicrous situation. Now, she somewhat understood the helplessness and weakness that Zhao Yan felt sitting in the position of the Crown Prince.

As Zhao Yan left the seat, the Liangzhou magistrate, stripped of his official robe, remained bound to the wooden punishment stand, covered in blood from his back to his thighs. His head hung limply, and a sticky stream of coagulated blood continuously oozed from his mouth and nose.

With this condition, he was likely of no further use.

One by one, the guests passed by him at the banquet, avoiding direct eye contact as a self-warning. Although the eunuchs had already washed the steps beforehand, Zhao Yan could still smell the nauseating odor of blood mixed with the scent of someone losing control in the air.

Wen Renlin said something to an imperial guard, and the guard stepped forward to untie the thick rope, dragging the Liangzhou magistrate away. His lips were tightly pursed, devoid of his usual enigmatic smile. This gave Zhao Yan an inexplicable feeling that he must abhor the smell of blood…

It was a terrifying notion indeed—that someone who orchestrated killings could detest the sight of blood?

Lost in thought, Wen Renlin seemed to have eyes in the back of his head as he turned to look in her direction. Instinctively, Zhao Yan averted her gaze, clasping her sleeves and giving him a student’s bow before stiffly descending the steps of white marble.

As a chill wind swept by, a corner of her fox fur cloak lightly brushed against Wen Renlin’s black, polished boots.

Tch, so afraid like this?

The Prince Su observed the almost panicked figure of the young prince, narrowing his eyes in contemplation.

Indeed, Zhao Yan couldn’t see through Wen Renlin.

His hands were long and clean, yesterday engaged in a game of chess, today taking a life. While the Liangzhou magistrate had brought his fate upon himself, Zhao Yan, harboring a great secret, couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair.

It’s human nature to seek benefit and avoid harm, and she couldn’t predict whose neck Wen Renlin’s hands might fall on the next moment.

Holding a small brazier, Zhao Yan made an effort to push Wen Renlin’s detestable face out of her mind and asked Liu Ying, “How is Liu Ji’s recent condition?”

Liu Ying shook her head. “Her diet and rest are normal, and there haven’t been any other disturbances.”

“No matter what requests she makes, as long as they’re not unreasonable, try to fulfill them. Treat her as the Crown Prince did before; don’t neglect her.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

“Oh, by the way.”

Remembering another important matter, Zhao Yan habitually propped up her chin and asked, “The young man who spoke out for me at the banquet, who was seated three positions to my left. Who was he?”

Liu Ying also had a strong impression of the young man and replied, “Your Highness, he is the Prince of Jinping Marquis, Pei Sa.”

Jinping Marquis, Zhao Yan vaguely recalled. He came from a prestigious family, like the Marquis of Ningyang, Wei’s family, but in recent years, Wen Renlin had overshadowed him. Despite this, the Prince of Jinping had a close friend—Huo Feng, the husband of Princess Shoukang, General Huo.

Therefore, although overshadowed, the Prince of Jinping still had some prestige in the military and had not yet aligned with any faction. Pei Sa was only a few years older than herself, and his willingness to speak out against injustice showed he was useful.

With a plan in mind, Zhao Yan said decisively, “Inform Empress Mother that I want Pei Sa as my companion in study.”

As night fell, news came from the palace.

Wen Renlin personally led a team of guards and imperial envoys out of the city overnight, heading to the western capital to deal with the Shu rebels and deliver the imperial decree of amnesty and withdrawal.

Zhao Yan thought dealing with rebels like the governor of Liangzhou would take Wen Renlin at least ten days or so to return, fearing he might not make it back in time for the lectures at the Chongwen Hall after his rest.

She felt a secret joy until the next day when she was led by the attending eunuch to the small training ground behind the Chongwen Hall and saw Wen Renlin sitting in a circle chair, wiping his bow and arrows. It felt like a bucket of cold water being poured over her head, making her feel utterly helpless.

Did this man grow wings? How could he return so swiftly!

Zhao Yan resignedly paid her respects, and as she bent down, she caught a faint medicinal scent in the air.

Before she could delve further, she saw Wen Renlin didn’t even raise his eyes but pointed to the various crossbows and arrows on one side of the weapon rack, saying lightly, “Please choose a suitable one, Your Highness.”

The bowstrings were sharp, the arrowheads cold, each exuding a heavy and intimidating aura.

Zhao Yan couldn’t quite figure out what Wen Renlin was up to, so she cleared her throat and asked, “Are we not playing chess today?”

“Military strategy, chess, horseback archery, variety prevents boredom,” replied Wen Renlin.

Zhao Yan was about to say something when Wen Renlin seemed to see through her soul, tapping his finger on two black porcelain bottles on the table.

“I’ve specially obtained two bottles of Rejuvenation Pills from Master Sun. Even if someone faints, I can bring them back from the brink of death.”

He lowered his gaze, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth. “Your Highness can rest assured; the medicine is sufficient.”

Zhao Yan clenched her fists in anger, her head throbbing.

She went to choose a large bow on the side, her slender fingers tentatively stroking the bowstring, when she heard Wen Renlin behind her saying, “At your age, Your Highness, feeling unsettled is natural. Lately, you’ve been a bit out of line; it’s good to learn some skills for self-defense.”

Zhao Yan’s fingertips trembled, and after a difficult swallow, she said as if nothing were amiss, “What do you mean, Grand Tutor?”

She pretended to carefully select a weapon, but in reality, she hadn’t even looked at the weapons clearly. Her heart was pounding like a drum, feeling as if she were facing a great enemy.

Wen Renlin’s voice betrayed no emotion. “I’ve said before, seeing too clearly might not be a good thing. Standing in the wrong place might block others’ paths.”

Zhao Yan remembered the blood splattered under Changqing Gate, the Liangzhou magistrate beaten to a pulp, and her deceased elder brother… Suppressing the surge of emotions, she finally asked.

“What if I block the path of the Prince Su?”

…

There was no response from behind for a long time.

She could only pretend to be calm, selecting a small, lightweight bow, taking a deep breath, and turning around. “I’ve chosen…”

A cold light flashed, and a cold wind blew. A sharp feathered arrow was already in front of her.

Wen Renlin had one hand behind his back, gripping the arrow shaft in the other. The tip of the arrow was just an inch away from her nose.

Her heart stopped.

Reflected in Zhao Yan’s contracted pupils was Wen Renlin’s impeccable face. She thought he was going to kill her. But he just chuckled lightly, turned his fingertip, and changed the direction of the arrow. The sharp arrowhead pointed towards himself, harmless feathers aimed at Zhao Yan.

“It depends on which path the Crown Prince blocks for me.”

With that, Wen Renlin handed the arrow he had personally sharpened to Zhao Yan’s cold palm.

Seeing the young prince still motionless, a slightly victorious smile appeared in his eyes, and he spoke gently, “Behave yourself.”

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