The year-end approached.
The Empress had already begun summoning the consorts and concubines to make preparations.
The duties of the imperial consorts were not limited to serving the Emperor. Their responsibilities varied according to their rank. High-ranking consorts needed to assist the Empress in organizing the various palace banquets and festival ceremonies held throughout the year.
Their monthly stipends were not collected for nothing.
Therefore, under the Empress's coordination, all those with the rank of Concubine and above, along with several older, steady Noble Ladies, were assigned tasks.
This resulted in fewer imperial ladies visiting Qu Dubian's place.
Emperor Chongzhao was busy selecting a foster mother for his son while also spinning like a top to handle matters backlogged until the year's end.
The ministers also wished for a peaceful year-end, so everything needed to be resolved in advance to avoid unrest during the New Year celebrations.
Thus, for the past few days, he had been waking up a little past two in the morning. Qu Dubian, who had spent a hefty five days of his lifespan to buy five martial arts/cultivation novels, sometimes stayed up late reading them. Hearing his cheap father get up to work, he deeply felt that an emperor's life was sometimes worse than a dog's.
At least Big Black was still asleep at this hour.
When Emperor Chongzhao was busy, he couldn't pay attention to him either, so Qu Dubian once again gained freedom with his dog-cart.
But this time, he had learned his lesson. He wore a thick hat to protect his forehead from the wind. Big Black didn't run either, just pulled him along at a leisurely stroll.
Since the old man, bound by face, stubbornly refused to allow Consort Xuan to become his foster mother, then he couldn't blame him for causing trouble at this critical juncture.
Sitting in the dog-cart, Qu Dubian unfolded the paper in his hand. On it, in handwriting as clumsy as a dog's crawl, was his daily schedule.
"First, to the Drill Ground."
To see if there were any martial arts masters who knew internal energy. Wen Xiaochun knew martial arts, but they were all external techniques, without internal force, that is, true qi.
If he wanted to comprehend the qi circulation diagram given by the simulator early, he still needed to find someone to teach him.
Actually, Yi Shier would be perfect... but he was a shadow guard, someone who rarely showed himself. Last time, he finally managed to save him; it would be awful if he got punished for showing his face again.
Drill Ground.
Emperor Chongzhao occasionally came here to practice archery and horseback riding to maintain his physical health.
The rest of the time, it was where the princes came for lessons with their masters, practicing martial arts, riding, and archery. Emperor Chongzhao required them to know some hand-to-hand combat, so they wouldn't be defenseless if something happened.
Apart from that, the Drill Ground was quite idle.
The martial arts masters were mostly acquainted with each other. Often, when someone retired, their disciple would take their place, emphasizing the master's legacy being passed to the apprentice—a tacitly understood rule among them.
But some time ago, a stranger suddenly descended upon the Drill Ground and immediately took up one of the six Chief Instructor positions.
The odd thing was, this person understood no social niceties whatsoever. He didn't treat them to drinks or meals, nor did he explain his background. He even wore a strange mask, appearing and disappearing mysteriously every day, the lower half of his face as pale as a ghost's.
After all this time, none of them actually knew this person's name.
Reporting it upwards yielded no management.
Very strange indeed.
Those who took a dislike and went to challenge him couldn't last ten moves in his hands.
And what was peculiar was that they could sense the strange man could have killed them many times over, but held back at the last moment—
They privately speculated that this person had previously learned lethal moves.
In summary, they wanted even less to provoke him.
Thus, the entire Drill Ground tacitly began ignoring this strange man. Later, discovering the man had quite a good temper, ignoring turned into exclusion.
The specific manifestation was that the meals delivered by the main kitchen always lacked meat when they reached the strange man.
-
Meanwhile, Qu Dubian was getting closer and closer to the Drill Ground.
At this point, when the simulator reported Yi Shier was 299 meters away from him, he didn't pay it much mind.
"Your Highness, when we get to the Drill Ground, may I follow along and learn a bit?"
"Of course."
Wen Xiaochun smiled: "To be honest, before entering the palace, when I secretly learned martial arts, I thought maybe I could open a martial arts school and become a master someday."
Qu Dubian: "You still can. Xiaochun, you could find a few willing palace servants later and teach them."
Wen Xiaochun was taken aback: "But if I did that, I wouldn't be able to stay by Your Highness's side all the time."
"Doing what you most want to do is the best."
Qu Dubian understood that instilling the concept of equality among all people, which would take shape millennia later, was nearly impossible in ancient society. But if Xiaochun had a dream to pursue, he could guide him gradually.
He thought for a moment and changed his approach, "Besides, if Xiaochun takes on disciples, wouldn't there be more people to protect me?"
Wen Xiaochun's steps slowed half a beat. Ye Xiaoyuan patted his shoulder and said softly, "You could consider what we discussed last night."
The two of them hadn't slept well these past few days because of matters concerning His Highness.
His Majesty seemed to value His Highness, but what he truly thought in his heart, no one knew. His Highness choosing a foster mother was originally a good thing, but after the incident with Noble Lady Chu, no one knew how things would turn out later.
If they didn't have some power in their hands, wouldn't they just have to watch His Highness suffer every time, like these past two occasions?
Especially Wen Xiaochun. Last time, he failed to detect the addictive substance in the steamed egg custard, leaving him filled with frustration and resentment towards himself and towards Noble Lady Chu.
His experience was ultimately still too limited.
Now that His Highness had His Majesty's care and Ye Xiaoyuan looking after him, Wen Xiaochun felt that apart from being relatively skilled in external martial arts, he had no other strengths and was becoming dispensable.
Ye Xiaoyuan didn't think he was dispensable; he felt it was somewhat a waste of Wen Xiaochun's talent.
Skilled in martial arts, and now taught by His Highness to recognize common characters—he could be valued anywhere.
Last night, the two of them discussed it. Ye Xiaochun suggested: "Last time at the main kitchen, you did Chief Guard Wu a favor. Now, the cleaning crew at the North Gate Inspection and Transport Office is changing personnel, and they're short-handed. If you want to go, hurry and find him to get you placed there."
The Inspection and Transport Office was the best place to gain experience.
Wen Xiaochun hesitated.
It wasn't until just now, when His Highness spoke, that the scales in his heart began to tip.
But if he left, and there was no one with martial arts skills by His Highness's side, what then? He wouldn't feel at ease leaving either.
For now, he kept this matter in his heart and followed behind the dog-cart.
The closer they got to the Drill Ground, the stranger Qu Dubian felt.
The distance between Yi Shier and him was shortening as he approached the Drill Ground. Could it be that the old man's shadow guard headquarters was at the Drill Ground?
In the entire palace, there was only one person who drove a dog-cart, so as soon as Qu Dubian arrived, the people at the Drill Ground recognized him.
The masters were eating shirtless. Catching a glimpse of the majestic Big Black out of the corner of their eyes, one choked, kicking his colleague who was devouring his meal noisily.
He hurriedly called out, "We pay our respects to Your Highness. What brings Your Highness here?"
Glancing at the bowl in the man's hand, Qu Dubian said, "Just carry on with your meal. I'm here to look around."
Truly martial arts practitioners—so muscular, so tall. Envious.
He got down from the dog-cart. Big Black instinctively ducked out from under the harness and stood by his side.
Qu Dubian wandered around as if casually, but in reality, guided by the simulator's distance alerts, he constantly adjusted his direction.
The head master put down his rice bowl and followed beside him: "Your Highness, over there is where we rough fellows usually live. It wouldn't be proper for you to go in."
"How bad is it?"
"...Just not very good."
"I want to look around."
The martial arts masters lived in the small courtyard behind the training ground. At the farthest corner, there was a small hut. Qu Dubian said, "Let's start looking from here."
[Yi Shier is 7 meters from the host.]
[Yi Shier is 5 meters from the host.]
Qu Dubian stopped outside the door, which was not closed but slightly ajar.
Inside, he found the furnishings extremely sparse. Apart from a few storybooks on the desk, there was barely any trace of someone living there.
The head master said, "A strange person lives here. He doesn't even work properly, and who knows where he's run off to now."
Qu Dubian felt a pang of melancholy for a moment. This was the closest point to Yi Shier; beyond here was just a wall. He wondered if Yi Shier had drunk the milk tea he sent last time.
He turned and left to look elsewhere.
Behind the wall.
Under the tree.
Yi Shier's consciousness was already somewhat blurred.
These past few days, something seemed to be happening at the main headquarters of the Shadow Guards. The person delivering his antidote was arriving later and later.
Today was even later.
Just as he began to feel his breathing grow difficult, a small bottle of medicine was thrown down from the tree, landing beside his hand.
With great effort, he opened his eyes, his trembling hand picking it up and swallowing it down with some snow. As the antidote took effect, the heavy, drowsy fog in his mind gradually dissipated.
Yi Shier: "Is something happening at the main headquarters?"
A voice came from the shadows: "The main headquarters is relocating, but that's not why the delivery was late. The commander said this is punishment for you entering the Purple Palace Hall without authorization last time. That is the Emperor's bedchamber, and you are no longer a Shadow Guard."
Yi Shier was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "You're new. Are you my replacement?"
There was no sound from the shadows.
Yi Shier: "Only a new Shadow Guard would waste words on me."
"..." The new Yi Shier spoke coldly: "You are a fool. The commander says if the Seventh Prince forgets you, you will still die. And the Seventh Prince hasn't mentioned you again. Your time is running out."
Yi Shier said softly, "You may go. A talkative new Shadow Guard is not a good thing."
As if I need a dismissed man to lecture me.
The new Shadow Guard swiftly departed.
Yi Shier pushed himself up against the tree, feeling his internal energy begin to circulate within his body once more, his lost strength returning. He brushed the dirt from his hands and prepared to go to work for the Seventh Prince.
He tilted his head and sniffed his shoulder. The bone-piercing injury was healing slowly. The Seventh Prince had a keen sense of smell; he wondered if the faint scent of blood would be detected.
Unexpectedly, just as he leaped onto the roof, he heard the familiar, commanding voice of a child.
Yi Shier's steps faltered.
-
Inside the training ground, Qu Dubian stood on a table, directing a few mediocre martial arts masters to demonstrate their internal energy and lightness skills.
"Crack!"
A brick split with a sharp report. A surge of internal energy shook it, breaking it directly into several pieces.
Qu Dubian gave a very appreciative round of applause: "Wow—"
He was always generous with his emotional validation. Not watching for free, he distributed the golden melon seeds he had obtained from Emperor Chongzhao among them, treating it like tipping a live streamer in later times.
The martial arts masters demonstrated with even more enthusiasm.
When the atmosphere, stimulated by money, was sufficiently heated, Qu Dubian estimated the timing was about right. He blinked his big eyes, his face full of yearning, and said, "I want to learn too!! Is it true energy? Can one of you let true energy circulate in my body once, teach me?"
The masters who had been laughing heartily moments ago stopped laughing.
"That won't do, Young Master. It's too risky."
"Right, right, it's not allowed. If you want to watch, we'll demonstrate for you, for as long as you like."
Controlling true energy was no simple feat, let alone for these mediocre practitioners. The slightest mistake could lead to qi deviation or even a fatal explosion.
Letting true energy flow through the body of a small child, and a precious imperial prince at that? Unless they had a death wish.
Qu Dubian pinched his little finger: "Just a tiny bit."
"Not even a tiny bit, Young Master. We can't joke about such things," the head master said awkwardly. "Eunuchs, please advise him as well."
Qu Dubian sighed heavily.
"Then can you take me flying with your lightness skills for a bit?"
The head master said awkwardly, "We can manage it ourselves, but carrying you would be rather dangerous." If their breath faltered, they might just fall.
Qu Dubian looked at them with pleading eyes. "Then is there anyone else who's really skilled, who could take me flying?"
The martial arts masters: "Uh..."
They looked at each other.
Their skills were quite good, sufficient for instructing a prince. But infusing true energy and carrying someone while flying? That was beyond their job description.
Qu Dubian was utterly disappointed. "Alright then, I'll leave for now. I'll come back another time."
He turned around and almost bumped headfirst into a wall of black, a wall that also exuded a faint, elegant fragrance of plum blossoms.
"!!" Qu Dubian slammed on the brakes, leaning back and taking several steps backward. "Who, who, who?"
Once steady, he looked closely and saw a young man in tight-fitting black clothing standing there. It was Yi Shier.
Yi Shier hesitantly took a step forward. As he moved, a rustling shower of plum blossom petals fell from his sleeves and the hem of his clothes, scattering on the ground—each step sprouting flowers, each step fragrant.
Qu Dubian: "..."
Yi Shier: "..."
He hurriedly tightened his sleeves.
Upon hearing the Seventh Prince had arrived, he knew today was a good day to meet his new superior and make a positive impression. But worried that a trace of blood scent might still offend, he had gone to the flower room again and stuffed petals into his clothes.
The effect was a bit overdone. Tightening his sleeves was useless; the petals kept falling.
After a few futile attempts, Yi Shier gave up completely and walked up to Qu Dubian.
"I can take you flying."
Qu Dubian instinctively reached out and caught a petal drifting down from him.
The taciturn former Shadow Guard had made an incredibly flamboyant and eye-catching entrance.
Under the astonished gazes of all the martial arts masters in the courtyard, Yi Shier stood before his dumbfounded little superior, bowed his head, and quietly died of social embarrassment.
