Perhaps due to his shock, Li Er forgot to conceal his emotions. Even though Zhao Mian was in a fit of rage, a remnant of reason remained, allowing him to catch the strangeness of Li Er’s expression.
Li Er’s surprise didn’t seem to be solely due to his appearance. There was also an unspeakable, uncertain bewilderment in his eyes, as if… as if he was struggling to remember something.
Could it be that Li Er had really seen him somewhere before?
While Li Er was lost in thought, the strength in his hand unconsciously weakened. Zhao Mian didn’t have time to think, he seized the opportunity and abruptly struck backward with his left elbow, hitting Li Er hard in the waist.
A wave of pain struck, Li Er’s eyelashes fluttered. He finally snapped out of his daze, but it was too late.
Zhao Mian took the opportunity to break free from him, and then suddenly raised his right hand—
*Slap.*
Zhao Mian delivered a resounding slap to Li Er’s face.
Zhao Mian used every ounce of his strength in this slap, leaving Li Er somewhat dazed, his face turned to the side, cheek burning.
Zhao Mian stared at Li Er as if facing a formidable enemy. The dark-skinned fishmonger fell from one kind of shock into another, motionless, as if his soul had left his body.
Li Er should just die of heart palpitations, Zhao Mian thought with malice.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The sun had set, the brilliance was gone, and the reeds standing in the twilight had a touch of desolation. The sounds of fighting from others in the distance seemed to blur as well.
After a long while, Li Er slowly turned his head.
“A slap, you’re serious?” He said with a darken face, laughing angrily, “Why did you have to slap me in the face? How am I supposed to slap you back?”
Zhao Mian finally understood that Li Er, despite appearing unrefined, was actually quite vengeful. He had been holding onto the grudge of being forced to kneel to speak, and only now had found the opportunity to exact his revenge. That slap he did just now, Li Er definitely wanted to return it back.
Zhao Mian said coldly, “What, you don’t hit people in the face?”
Li Er said, “I really don’t like hitting people.”
“That’s perfect, because I love to.”
As soon as Zhao Mian finished speaking, he raised his hand again quickly and accurately.
Naturally, Li Er, having anticipated this, would not let him succeed a second time.
Zhao Mian’s movement was forced to stop in mid-air. His sleeves were wide, and made of high-quality fabric, as smooth as water. When he raised his hand, the cuffs also slipped down, revealing a section of his fair wrist, which Li Er firmly grasped, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move.
Seeing that Zhao Mian thought one slap wasn’t enough, and wanted to give another, Li Er’s temper flared up, and he frowned, saying, “Don’t you dare push your luck.”
Even though he was being restrained, Zhao Mian would never lose his imposing manner, and he commanded, “Let go.”
He wondered if Li Er even recognized his face. Assuming Li Er had actually seen him in Nanjing, why would he dare to be so disrespectful to him now?
Li Er probably figured that since he had already offended him and there seemed to be no way to salvage the situation, he might as well indulge himself and enjoy the moment first.
“I won’t slap you,” Li Er said, holding Zhao Mian’s wrist. They were face to face, and Zhao Mian’s long hair, blown by the wind, tickled his neck. On a whim, he said, half seriously, “How about this, you just let me pull a lock out of your hair, and we’ll call it even for that slap.”
Pull out his hair? Just a lock? Boom—
Fury almost completely burned away Zhao Mian’s rationality. Fortunately, eighteen years of etiquette training prevented him from losing his composure and acting like a desperate madman even in this situation: “You dare?! Li Er, if you dare touch me, I will make everyone behind you regret what you did today, along with you!”
Li Er laughed, “You should at least look at your own situation before you put on airs…” Before he could finish speaking, Li Er suddenly raised his head and looked towards the out beyond the reed field.
Only then did Zhao Mian notice that the sounds of fighting out there had diminished considerably at some point. Shen Buqi’s voice came at just the right moment: “Young Master?!”
Zhao Mian widened his eyes in astonishment.
Li Er followed the sound, looking toward him, “Oh, your people have come looking for you.” He leaned close to Zhao Mian’s ear and threatened him in a low voice, just as Zhao Mian had threatened him earlier, “What do you think they’ll think if they see their high and mighty young master being outmatched by a dark-skinned fishmonger?”
Zhao Mian: “…!”
He absolutely couldn’t let Shen Buqi, let his subordinates, see their respected Crown Prince suffer a loss at the hands of a black-skinned fishmonger.
Absolutely not.
Zhao Mian couldn’t care less about his composure anymore. He couldn’t shout for help, so he was about to struggle desperately when suddenly the pressure on his wrist eased.
Li Er released him just before Shen Buqi saw them.
Shen Buqi rushed into the reed marshes, seeing the Crown Prince and Li Er standing together. The Crown Prince didn’t appear to be injured, but his expression was extremely unpleasant—far more unpleasant than any of his previous tantrums.
Zhao Mian’s eyes met Shen Buqi’s, and Shen Buqi called out with concern, “Young Master.”
Zhao Mian’s fingertips were trembling inside his sleeves and said one word at a time, “Kill him.”
Shen Buqi’s gaze sharpened, and a murderous aura erupted from his body: “Yes.”
While trying to protect himself from injury, Shen Buqi’s skills might be on par with Li Er’s. But once the Crown Prince gave the order, he didn’t have to worry about anything else. He only had to fulfill His Highness’s command, even if it meant being crushed to pieces.
But at this point, Li Er stopped fighting. After a few simple exchanges with Shen Buqi, he shamelessly dropped the line, “Can’t beat him,” and turned to run.
Li Er and his men were masters of lightness techniques. He leaped into the air and landed outside the reed marshes in the blink of an eye.
Zhao Mian said decisively, “Chase him.”
At this point, Yun Yong and Hua Ju, with the help of reinforcements, had also freed themselves. Seeing their master appear, they hurried over to greet him.
“Master?”
“Master, are you alright!” Hua Ju looked very surprised. “What happened to your mouth? Are you injured?”
Zhao Mian and Shen Buqi followed closely behind Li Er.
Yun Yong and Hua Ju were both stunned to see Zhao Mian without his veiled hat, especially since Zhao Mian appeared unharmed, while their master’s mouth was cut. The difference in strength was immediately apparent. But they only paused for a brief moment before immediately drawing their swords, ready to fight.
Li Er promptly stopped them, “Stop fighting, retreat.”
Yun Yong asked, “Why?”
“He is…” Li Er paused, then changed his words, “He’s from Nanjing, and at least the son of a high-ranking official. Don’t provoke him.”
Yun Yong and Hua Ju understood very well that in their current situation it was not the time to clash with Nanjing. But how did their master figure out that he was from Nanjing?
Yun Yong asked, “Did Master see him when he was in Nanjing?”
Hua Ju said, “It can’t be because he’s good-looking that Master thinks he’s from Nanjing, can it?”
Li Er said succinctly, “Dian Chunzhi.”
Yun Yong and Hua Ju exchanged glances, seeing their own confusion reflected in each other’s eyes.
“He has the scent of Dian Chunzhi tea on him. Only the nobility of Nanjing can afford to drink such an expensive tea.” Li Er said, then involuntarily winced. He hissed in pain, touching the spot where he’d been slapped, and actually felt a bit of blood. He grumbled, “That was a vicious hit.”
Li Er’s orders were absolute. The reinforcements retreated while fighting, each with impressive light footwork, and soon disappeared without a trace.
One of the shadow guards asked, “Your Highness, should we pursue them?”
Although no one was killed in this battle, it was a loss for both sides. Shen Buqi, eager to return to His Highness’s side at the time, fought with a deadly intent, seriously injuring several of Li Er’s reinforcements. In comparison, they only suffered minor external wounds.
Zhao Mian stared in the direction where Li Er and the others had disappeared. Now he was one hundred percent certain that Li Er’s identity was far from simple. Whether Li Er was from Dongling, Beiyuan, or even a remnant of the vanquished Western Xia kingdom, he must have been someone of importance in his own country, and possibly someone who had seen him before.
Such a dangerous character, even if he couldn’t be killed for now, needed to be tied up and beaten to vent his hatred.
At the same time, Zhao Mian was constantly reminding himself to remain calm, not to lose his temper, and to prioritize matters. An adult should always consider the bigger picture.
A gentleman takes his revenge, even if it takes ten years.
“Of course, we’ll pursue them, but not now. First, find a place to rest and reorganize.” Zhao Mian glanced back at Zhou Huairang who still lying on the ground. “Are you just going to leave him lying there?”
Shen Buqi obeyed and scooped Zhou Huairang up into his arms and placed him in the carriage. The group continued their journey towards the capital of Dongling.
The sky was completely dark, and a lamp was lit inside the carriage, particularly striking on the deep, dark path, scaring away many mountain beasts and birds.
It was still at least a day’s journey to the Dongling’s capital by carriage. It was too late to find lodging in the capital. According to the scout who had gone ahead, there was a village ahead. After making arrangements with the villagers, they could stay there temporarily, but the conditions were simple. His Highness might have to make do for the night.
Zhao Mian looked down at Zhou Huairang, who was still unconscious, and said, “Let’s go there.”
Zhou Huairang had been lying on the ground for so long that his face was covered in dust.
Zhao Mian remembered the scene of Zhou Huairang resolutely standing in front of him, and his impatience and agitation gradually subsided.
He couldn’t just think about how detestable Li Er was, and forget the good others had done for him.
Zhao Mian ordered hot water and used a handkerchief he carried to wipe the dust off Zhou Huairang’s face, gently chiding, “You don’t even know martial arts. What were you doing standing in front of me?”
Zhou Huairang’s appearance could only be described as plain, and although he possessed some talent, the capital of Nanjing was full of handsome and gifted scholars. Many couldn’t understand why Zhou Huairang, of all people, was chosen to be the Crown Prince’s study companion.
In the dim candlelight, Zhao Mian looked at Zhou Huairang’s harmless face, and couldn’t help but recall the scene of their first encounter.
The Prime Minister was swamped with government affairs, so Zhao Mian was raised by his Father Emperor himself until he was five years old.
His imperial father was gentle by nature, even gentler when he was with him, not at all like a Son of Heaven who possessed vast lands and held the power of life and death. As a result, he had also developed a soft and pliable personality, crying when he felt wronged, smiling incessantly when he saw someone he liked, and even reaching out for a hug when he encountered someone he particularly adored.
After his fifth birthday, it was time for him to go to school, and the Prime Minister handled all matters concerning his education. He saw his Father Emperor less and less, and the Prime Minister more and more.
His imperial father had some minor objections to the Prime Minister’s arrangements, such as thinking that there were too many classes, more than a five-year-old could handle; and that he only had one day of rest per month, more grueling than the life of a donkey in a mill.
But the Prime Minister eventually persuaded his imperial father to agree to his arrangements. His imperial father reluctantly said, “Then I will choose a study companion for Mianmian to accompany him.”
All the civil and military officials in the capital, as long as they had young children of similar age to the Crown Prince, had to enter the palace to participate in the selection. Choosing a study companion for the Crown Prince turned into something resembling a beauty pageant.
After several rounds of screening, no one expected that His Majesty would not choose the prodigy from the Rong family, who could compose poems and speak eloquently at the age of four, nor the Prime Minister’s nephew, who bore some resemblance to the Prime Minister in his youth. In the end, the person chosen by His Majesty was actually the little son of an obscure sixth-rank civil official.
After the news spread, five-year-old Zhao Mian hid behind a large pillar and witnessed the scene of his Imperial Father and the Prime Minister arguing for the first time.
“Your Majesty wants Zhou Huairang to be Mianmian’s study companion?” The Prime Minister frowned slightly, disapprovingly saying, “Although this child’s talent is acceptable, his nature is too naive, he does not know how to read people’s expressions, and has no cunning at all.”
“Isn’t it good to be naive? The other children are too conventional, completely lacking the vitality that they should have at their age,” his imperial father said. “I hope my child is kind and pure, is that wrong?”
The Prime Minister said, “Your child is the future ruler of the nation. Purity and kindness will only harm him. Mianmian is so fond of acting spoiled now, and likes to cling to you. Do you think that such a prince will be able to become a decisive and ruthless emperor in the future?”
His imperial father angrily said, “Mianmian is only five years old now. He’s so young, he doesn’t need to be decisive and ruthless. He needs a friend who is sincere towards him!”
The Prime Minister patiently reasoned with his Father Emperor, “Compared to ‘sincerity,’ he needs ‘loyalty’ even more.”
Prime Minister, you only see him as the Crown Prince, the future Son of Heaven. Have you ever considered that the Crown Prince and the Son of Heaven are also human?” The more the Emperor spoke, the more his heart ached, and his eyes gradually reddened. Eventually, he threw his hands up in exasperation. “Forget it, forget it. We’ll never see eye-to-eye on the subject of children’s education. Leave me. I don’t want to talk to you for now.”
The Prime Minister looked at the Emperor’s reddened eyes, sighed softly, and helplessly conceded, “Alright, I’ll listen to you. Don’t be angry.”
Zhao Mian was too young then and only vaguely understood the argument between his father and the Prime Minister. He only knew that they seemed to be arguing because of him. He was a little troubled, wondering where he had gone wrong. If he knew, he would definitely change it.
The next day, the Emperor brought Zhou Huairang, a boy about the size of a bean sprout, before him, smiling broadly. “Mianmian, how about being friends with him?”
Five-year-old Zhou Huairang had large, round eyes and looked at him expectantly and nervously, “Your… Your Highness the Crown Prince, greetings. My name is Zhou Huairang. Your Highness can call me ‘Xiao Rang’.”
Little Zhao Mian looked up at the Emperor, and seeing the Emperor smile encouragingly at him, said somewhat shyly, “Okay.”
Later, the Prime Minister carefully selected several teachers for him. The Prime Minister personally oversaw every lesson he took, every article he studied, and every book he read.
Later still, he moved out of the Emperor’s palace and no longer lived with the Emperor. He began to learn the art of governing the country from the Prime Minister, going back and forth between the school and the Hall of Diligent Governance every day.
He didn’t even have time when the Emperor wanted to take him and his younger brother out of the palace to play.
His temperament, personality, speech, and behavior gradually shifted from resembling the Emperor to being molded in the Prime Minister’s image.
–At least on the surface.
But Zhou Huairang never changed. He didn’t become smarter, nor did he become more cunning. He was still as clueless as he was when he was a child, unable to read between the lines.
Most of Zhao Mian’s affairs were arranged by the Prime Minister. But his first friend in life was chosen for him by the Emperor.
Although he didn’t want to admit it, Zhou Huairang was indeed the few remaining traces of innocence he had left after starting his studies.
Zhao Mian and his party traveled for half an hour in the dark, arriving at the village scouted and prepared by the shadow guards.
This village, named Chen Family Village, was inhabited by about a dozen families with the surname Chen. Shen Buqi found the best house, personally cleaned it, and offered it to the Crown Prince as a temporary residence.
However, this place was still the countryside of Dongling after all. No matter how clean it was, it was still just a humble dwelling, unworthy of being His Highness’s residence.
Zhao Mian looked around the room and saw only a rough wooden table and a simple stone bed. His expression was dark and unreadable.
Sensing the His Highness’ mood, which was difficult to decipher, Shen Buqi tentatively offered, “If Your Highness is not accustomed to the accommodation, this subordinate will find another place.”
Zhao Mian said, “No need.” He was already someone who had been forced to kneel to a dark-skinned fishmonger. Having a place to stay was already good enough. He had no right to be picky. “Prepare water. I want to bathe.”
In the next room, Zhou Huairang, who had been unconscious for a long time finally woke up. The moment he opened his eyes, he rushed to see the Crown Prince, not even bothering to tidy his appearance.
The Crown Prince had just removed his jade crown, his black hair cascading down his back. He slightly turned his head and glanced at him, “Awake?”
Zhou Huairang stumbled forward, his face etched with worry, “Your Highness, are you alright? Were you injured by Li Er?”
Zhao Mian paused, then said, “No.”
This was the truth. Li Er had only gripped him hard enough to cause pain, while he had split Li Er’s lip open.
If they were talking about injuries, he had the upper hand.
Zhou Huairang clapped his hands and rejoiced, “Your Highness is amazing! This humble subject was worried to death seeing that Li Er could fight Old Shen to a standstill.”
Zhao Mian turned his face away, a little uncomfortable. “Mm.”
Just for the sake of those five words, “Your Highness is so amazing,” the next time he faced Li Er head-on, if he couldn’t pin Li Er down and beat him, he wouldn’t have the face to see his childhood sweetheart, the innocently foolish Zhou Huairang in the future.
As Zhao Mian was thinking this, Shen Buqi walked in: “Your Highness, the hot water is ready.”
…Nor would he have the face to face the taciturn Shen Buqi, who was good at everything from cooking to heating water.
Late at night, Zhao Mian sat in the bath tub, the water vapor swirling around him, dampening his eyelashes.
Zhao Mian didn’t like having anyone else present when he bathed. Shen Buqi and Zhou Huairang were guarding outside the room, ready to respond to his commands.
The silhouettes of the two were projected through the paper windows. Zhao Mian could hear Zhou Huairang bothering Shen Buqi again. Through the wooden door, he could hear the occasional barking of a dog, but he couldn’t make out what Zhou Huairang was rambling on about.
The night was chilly, and the hastily constructed bathhouse couldn’t block the penetrating autumn wind. Zhao Mian had initially wanted to order someone to close the doors and windows tightly, but then he thought, forget it. He was a person who had even knelt down to a beast, he deserved to be hit by the cold wind.
Zhao Mian abandoned himself to despair, sinking his body into the hot water, leaving only his head exposed. He lowered his eyes and saw his wrist through the water.
The bright red thread was still dazzlingly red, with some bruises around it, which upon a closer inspection revealed the shape of fingerprints.
Having such pale skin wasn’t a good thing; it left marks so easily.
On the other hand, Li Er was so tanned he looked like a desert native; if his lip cracked, no one would even notice.
Thinking of this, Zhao Mian raised his hand and touched the back of his neck.
This area had been touched by the dark-skinned fishmonger and needed to be washed clean. And his wrists which had been grabbed several times. His arms, his limbs, even his entire back hadn’t escaped Li Er’s clutches, and he couldn’t tolerate it, even through the fabric of his clothes.
Wash it clean, wash it all clean, wash everything clean.