Chapter 85: It’s a Shura Field; Come and See Prince Yong and Little Xie Clashing!
In Chang’an, Prince Yong was considered to be above everyone else, flattered by tens of thousands. Since coming to Jiangnan, he had been beaten and restrained; how could he endure such grievances?
Prince Yong slapped his knee, his phoenix eyes gleaming as he said:
“This morning you said Gu couldn’t sit in the carriage, so Gu didn’t.”
“Now Gu wants to eat; is even this not allowed?”
Ying Dang always managed to find an argument even when he was in the wrong, let alone now when he felt he was somewhat in the right.
Prince Yong continued his accusation:
“My brother told you to manage me, not to drive a wedge between us brothers.”
“Others who are younger brothers go into the palace every day to pay respects to their elder brother, yet you won’t even let me see my own brother!”
“Those who know think you were authorized by the Emperor, but those who don’t would think you’re detaining my brother to plot some great matter!?”
At the end of his sentence, Prince Yong raised his pitch.
That magnificent voice sounded as pleasant as music when asking a question, but the words hidden within were sharp blades.
Once this kind of “unfounded accusation” was leveled, the topic became very dangerous, especially since Xie Qianli was a military commander.
Hua Ling held her tray, cautiously observing the tent.
Her moist eyes flickered, her gaze falling beside Ying Xi. Three vegetable dishes and one soup didn’t fill the table; there was still an empty spot.
She wanted to enter the tent. But Prince Yong stood up, moved from opposite the Emperor to his side, took that spot, and shamelessly grabbed one of the Emperor’s arms.
Prince Yong: “Do you dare? Do you want to rebel? Huh?”
Xie Qianli spoke in a deep voice. Facing the monarch, his gaze landed on Ying Xi’s face before moving down to Prince Yong’s hand clutching the Emperor. His eyes were chillingly cold.
“This subject does not dare.”
“My brother’s Imperial power is vast! Gu knew you wouldn’t dare! So Gu is definitely crashing this dinner!” Ying Dang said.
Ying Xi let out a pfft and laughed.
He wouldn’t easily be led astray by Prince Yong and groundlessly suspect Xie Qianli. He just found it somewhat enjoyable.
The rebellious brother from his past life was now calling him “Brother” with every breath, and his words were all about protecting him; how could he not be moved?
His brother was finally getting with the program.
“It doesn’t matter if we add a pair of chopsticks; anyway, I can’t finish it all,” Ying Xi said.
But because Ying Xi didn’t kick Prince Yong out, it created a typical family education dilemma: one side disciplines, the other acts as a backer, and the child will surely rely on the side that is beneficial to them.
Prince Yong’s arrogance surged several inches.
Since he probably couldn’t defeat the one named Xie alone, he quickly pulled in an ally:
“And Miss Hua Ling. She’s young and inadvertently fell into this camp full of stinking men. She worked hard in the dirt to pick wild fruits, yet you want to kick her out. Do you not know how to cherish beauty!?”
Hua Ling said softly, “General Xie is also concerned for His Majesty’s safety. I can understand.”
Prince Yong was unceremonious. “If a little girl can make the Emperor unsafe, then he, as a general, might as well go die.”
Ying Xi: “Dang-er.”
Ying Xi was in a decent mood today and didn’t want to favor anyone over the other, so he said to the figure standing outside the door, “Everyone sit down and eat together. This plate of wild fruits will make a nice extra dish.”
Only then did Xie Qianli enter the tent.
He moved a low stool and sat opposite Ying Xi, revealing a pair of long legs that almost had nowhere to go.
Hua Ling inconspicuously glanced at Prince Yong and General Xie before also taking a seat. At this time, the soldiers brought in three more pairs of chopsticks and added three bowls of rice.
Hua Ling hid her slight surprise. She observed secretly: four people eating three dishes—even for an Emperor, it seemed a bit meager.
Only a few bites had been eaten.
Prince Yong was the first to attack, his chopsticks tapping the edge of his bowl. “General Xie, did you embezzle?”
Hua Ling was startled.
Another vein popped on Xie Qianli’s forehead, his handsome face showing displeasure. “How do you mean?”
Ying Dang poked at a piece of Fish Mint and lifted his chin.
“The Longwu Army is the best-treated unit of the Imperial Court, yet you treat my brother poorly, giving him only ‘rabbit food’.”
Rabbit food referred to shepherd’s purse and Fish Mint.
“Then Your Highness should go to the infirmary to eat; it’s bountiful there.”
Ying Dang wasn’t really after his food; he was here to see his brother and annoy the man. “Stop changing the subject. Gu suspects you’ve saved the money for yourself.”
The Xie family had strict discipline; talking was not allowed during meals. Xie Qianli didn’t want to bicker with him.
But when others retreated an inch, Prince Yong would advance eight yards.
Ying Dang immediately said, “See, Brother, he’s feeling guilty!”
Prince Yong pulled the Emperor to his side, openly slandering the man.
Xie Qianli’s brow furrowed slightly. He could ignore Prince Yong, but he couldn’t fail to explain to the Emperor: Xiao Xi was suspicious, and he had a special status. The scene of him being tested and warned in the Yongning Prince Mansion was still fresh in his mind.
Xie Qianli: “Your Highness, take evidence and impeach me. If there is ironclad proof, I shall plead guilty and accept execution.”
Where was there any evidence? Prince Yong scooped a bowl of soup for himself, lifting his phoenix eyes, which were bright. “Naturally there is evidence. I’ll expose you once we return. Quickly, go change some good wine and food for my brother. If you perform well, I might reduce your sentence by three to five years.”
Send this beast away, and my brother will be mine alone.
Ying Dang waved the dish away with his hand. “Go, go, go.”
But in reality, the wild vegetables that Prince Yong despised didn’t just grow anywhere.
As it was summer, shepherd’s purse was past its season. Those of poor quality couldn’t be used; it took searching several hills to gather enough for a small plate.
Fish Mint had strong medicinal properties and a very strange taste; the chef had put a lot of effort into the seasoning.
The dinner was a result of Xie Qianli’s careful arrangements; it was not just food, but medicine.
He had quietly done these trivial things, only hoping Xiao Xi would recover sooner.
Xie Qianli’s long fingers pressed down on Prince Yong’s wrist. “Put it down.”
The power in his fingertips was extraordinary. Prince Yong’s hand shook, and his fingers let go, but the plate he was holding immediately began to fall.
Xie Qianli’s palm steadily caught the bottom of the plate and placed it on the table. Not a drop of soup was spilled. He said sternly to Prince Yong, “Your Highness should cherish resources.”
Prince Yong hated being lectured most in his life, and moreover, he had long been unable to stand the beast, so he immediately used his palm like a blade.
He knew the Emperor was right in front of them, so Xie Qianli wouldn’t dare use his full strength; Ying Dang was certain to get the better of him.
Prince Yong’s strikes came one after another, his arms moving like two circles of afterimages.
Hua Ling couldn’t help but watch secretly, moving her stool another half-foot closer to Ying Xi, looking incredibly delicate and timid.
The two of them exchanged over a dozen moves.
Ying Dang used tricks, both real and fake, wanting to catch Xie Qianli off guard. He used a move called “Parting Flowers and Brushing Willows” to first push away Xie Qianli’s left arm, and his other palm, “Vajra Subduing the Demon,” was more energetic than if he were fighting for his life, using all the strength he had!
The power of his palm brought a gust of wind!
Ying Xi suddenly stood up. “Minister Xie.”
He could already foresee Xie Qianli losing out, his lip line pulled tight into a straight, thin gap.
In the past, his concern for Xie Qianli was hidden in the shadows, in places Ying Xi himself didn’t know about. Now, it had actually come into the light for the first time.
Ying Xi didn’t realize he had lost his composure, but Xie Qianli saw through Prince Yong’s change of move. With a hook, a push, and a lead, he neutralized the fierce power of Prince Yong’s approach. Prince Yong was pulled up from his seat.
Xie Qianli released Prince Yong, his tone cold. “Good match.”
But how could he have known that Prince Yong’s eyes would sharpen at this moment? At an angle the Emperor couldn’t see, but only Xie Qianli could, the corner of Prince Yong’s mouth lifted, and he used the momentum of being pulled up to fall backward. He stumbled and crashed into the military map.
The heavy base of the map shifted. Vroom.
Xie Qianli’s brow was tightly knit.
Ying Xi followed his gaze.
Hua Ling was even more terrified by this commotion, her small face turning deathly pale.
Prince Yong lay on the ground and reached out a hand. “Elder Brother… it hurts, the wound hurts. Elder Brother… General Xie hit me, Elder Brother…”
Xie Qianli: “……”
A dignified Prince, professionally faking an accident—how shameless.
Prince Yong was born without shame. He cried out in pain as if he were about to weep. As the older brother, Ying Xi hurried to pull his younger brother up.
The moment Prince Yong’s hand grasped his brother’s, his blood boiled, and fireworks erupted in his mind, his phoenix eyes brightening with excitement.
He took the opportunity to throw his arms around Ying Xi’s neck, hanging onto him like he had no bones, seeking comfort while adding slanders. “Imperial Brother, have pity! General Xie has kept me under his thumb all the way, he won’t even let me eat, won’t let me see you, he hit me… I’m in so much pain.”
Xie Qianli: “……”
Prince Yong should spend his life grateful that he was Xiao Xi’s brother.
“Alright, it doesn’t hurt. Get up quickly.” Ying Xi helplessly patted Prince Yong’s back.
Prince Yong’s high nose was buried in the curve of Ying Xi’s neck, which was enveloped in a cold fragrance. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and the tip of his nose quivered as he sniffed.
Satisfying!
Who gives a damn about winning or losing? I dare to hug my brother, do you?
What’s the point of having better martial arts? Let you show off all the way, you hypocrite. Hit me then!
Prince Yong had long known Xie Qianli’s dilemma. It lay in the fact that he presented a clear and noble image to the outside world. This man named Xie had known the Emperor for ten years and had long harbored a thief’s heart, yet the court and the commoners still regarded him as a loyal and capable general.
Then you deserve it. Keep pretending.
Ying Dang winked at Xie Qianli, his expression incredibly punchable.
Prince Yong took the opportunity to stroke Ying Xi’s shoulder blades. His hands were elegant, his movements playful. His brother’s bones were delicate, and the lines of his back were smooth.
Satisfying!
Xie Qianli frowned and stood up, wanting to pull the brat away.
But before his hand could touch Prince Yong, the brat became even more emboldened. “It hurts… don’t touch Gu…”
Satisfying!
Although he was ordered to discipline Prince Yong, in terms of status, Prince Yong was still a Prince of the blood. There was a saying: An outsider should not come between kin.
Xie Qianli’s heart drummed, and he observed Ying Xi inconspicuously.
But Ying Xi had already pushed Prince Yong away. After coaxing him for a couple of sentences, he returned to his usual light tone. “Sit down. What ‘rabbit food’ or ‘tiger food’? In an army, having food to eat is a blessing. You are not allowed to be picky.”
Prince Yong acted shamelessly. “I’m in pain. Brother, punish him.”
Ying Xi: “Not only can he discipline you, he can also find the time to guide you. Why should I punish Minister Xie?”
The slander had failed. Prince Yong had been pampered by his brother since childhood, yet his brother had once again failed to protect him.
Prince Yong’s heart skipped a beat!
He looked at the one named Xie again. You hypocrite, why don’t you complain?
If you complain, I’ll play the pity card and see who wins.
However, the hypocrite didn’t explain at all, maintaining an air of “a clear conscience needs no excuse.” He truly is a damn hypocrite.
Xie Qianli didn’t expose Prince Yong because his thoughts were already overloaded.
He thought of how, many years ago, he had used the strategy of An outsider should not come between kin to drive a wedge between Emperor Yuantai and the Shadow.
Now it was his turn to be slandered by Prince Yong, yet Xiao Xi hadn’t even asked. He didn’t care for Prince Yong’s false accusations at all.
Xie Qianli felt as if he were holding a piece of malt candy; between his teeth, threads of sweet water were emerging. His beloved’s favoritism wasn’t explicitly stated, but the fireworks in Xie Qianli’s heart blossomed into splendor once again.
The truth between him and Prince Yong didn’t matter; why make things difficult for Xiao Xi?
Between the two of them, the storm calmed slightly.
The sound of chopsticks rang softly, and the vegetables on the plates gradually disappeared.
Once the main meal was finished, Hua Ling reached into the fruit bowl. From among several kinds of fruit, she chose loquats. Using her white, lustrous fingertips, she peeled the fresh fruit, and the golden loquat gradually revealed its dense flesh.
Hua Ling said, “Please have some fruit, Your Majesty.”
“His Majesty cannot eat food from outside.”
“You sure control a lot. Come, little sister, let Gu taste one first.”
Prince Yong was used to being a playboy and had never done something like peeling a loquat. He snatched away the loquat and took a bite himself. A loquat peeled by a beautiful girl seemed to be several times sweeter than its original taste.
Prince Yong praised loudly, “Delicious! Good fruit! Brother, try it!”
Loquats were good for the lungs and helpful for the recovery of the throat. Prince Yong could be considered to have tested for poison for everyone.
Xie Qianli cleaned his hands with a handkerchief and peeled a loquat.
Prince Yong believed he knew exactly what the beast was thinking and his clumsy methods of currying favor.
Prince Yong didn’t know how to peel a loquat.
He would have crushed it.
But the one named Xie shouldn’t expect to act sweet to curry favor either!
Prince Yong took a hard bite of the loquat flesh and used his words to sting the man: “The General wants to control the food we eat, whether or not we eat outside, and even the fruit a little girl offers. Is there anything you don’t control?”
“Do you control whether my Imperial Brother takes a concubine, or whether he goes to the Dragon Bed? If he takes this lady away in the future to be my little Imperial Sister-in-law, will you control that too?”
Xie Qianli slowly froze.
His silver armor made him look like an ice statue. The candlelight reflected a layer of light, and a cold frost rose over his body.
Hua Ling hurriedly knelt down. “Your Highness, speak with caution! This commoner woman does not dare!!!”
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