Chapter 95
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After rushing to the main hall, Xu Wenzhe only learned about the previous farce, but now he had no time to dwell on that. The Fourth Prince had already been brought in by the royal guards.
Duke Wei Guo scolded Xu Wenzhe when he arrived late, but Xu Wenzhe immediately knelt down to apologize, presenting carefully prepared toys for children that the Fourth Prince liked. The Fourth Prince, upon seeing them, was delighted and said, “Is this what you were preparing? No wonder you were late. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you. You don’t need to kneel.”
Xu Wenzhe quickly expressed his gratitude, and Duke Wei Guo’s expression improved upon seeing that the Fourth Prince was pleased.
The Fourth Prince also asked about the recent wedding events, making Duke Wei Guo feel embarrassed. He could only choose less embarrassing matters to share and satisfy the child’s curiosity.
Soon, the Fourth Prince lost interest in sitting and chatting. Xu Wenzhe proposed going to the garden to play, as most of the things he had prepared for the Fourth Prince were meant for outdoor activities.
The Fourth Prince happily agreed, and Xu Wenzhe accompanied him to the garden. Seeing the scene of young people playing, Duke Wei Guochose not to join them. The Fourth Prince granted him permission to attend to the guests in the mansion.
Among those who followed, in addition to the royal guards and the guards from Duke Wei Guo’s residence, there was one more person.
Xu Wenzhe quickly greeted this person with a bow, but the person waved his hand, seeming uninterested in speaking.
So, the group arrived at Duke Wei Guo’s residence’s garden. Although it was early spring and the garden lacked vibrant colors, the well-maintained bonsai added a touch of greenery.
“By the way, I have two fellow students here in the mansion. Originally, they came to attend the banquet. Right now, they are enjoying themselves in my courtyard. Should I invite them over? It would be more fun with more people,” Xu Wenzhe suggested.
“Sure, let’s invite them over,” the Fourth Prince readily agreed.
Xu Wenzhe sent someone to fetch Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang.
Having met the three princes before, Lin Qingyang wasn’t too surprised. However, when he saw the Fourth Prince, he felt like he was dealing with a somewhat arrogant ten-year-old boy.
Yuan Han, the current Fourth Prince, is the son of Concubine Mei and the grandson of Prime Minister Li.
He had a round face and a pair of shiny black eyes, appearing clever. His features were meticulously carved, befitting the overall royal standard of attractiveness. If he had successfully grown up, he would have been a handsome young man.
Unfortunately, his life was cut short at the age of fifteen. Despite being the longest-lived among several princes, a long life did not necessarily lead to a favorable outcome.
As the puppet in the hands of Chu Lishu in the future, he could have lived until the tides changed. In the original plot, Chu Lishu had already become a despotic ruler, even if the Fourth Prince had not harmed him. However, considering that the blood of Emperor Zhou Qing flowed in the veins of the Fourth Prince, how could he be considered innocent in the eyes of Chu Lishu?
He chose to imprison the Fourth Prince in the cold palace after the death of his mother, Concubine Mei, providing him with good food and drink. However, the Fourth Prince had a fear of the dark and ghosts, enduring two years of constant fear before succumbing to exhaustion and dying. It could be considered a form of revenge and torment.
Looking at this child who knew nothing, Lin Qingyang felt a bit uncomfortable. However, the current Chu Lishu was no longer the tyrant from the original plot, so perhaps the fate of the Fourth Prince would change.
Apart from the Fourth Prince, who curiously observed them, General Zhao Cheng, a silent and reserved figure not far away, also scrutinized the arrival of the two newcomers.
The two approached and bowed to the Fourth Prince before paying their respects to General Zhao. Lin Qingyang deliberately cast a glance at the devoted General Zhao Cheng—average in appearance but exuding the aura of a military commander. This person had done many things for Emperor Zhou Qing, including manipulating the events that led to the downfall of Crown Prince Yuan Ran in the battles of the past. As a result, his future would be even more tragic.
Xu Wenzhe gave a brief introduction of the two.
However, to Lin Qingyang’s surprise, the first person the Fourth Prince showed curiosity about was not Chu Lishu but Lin Qingyang.
“Are you the eldest son of Marquis An Nan who scored that astonishing goal in the last cuju match?”
Lin Qingyang looked up and saw the sparkling eyes of the Fourth Prince. He said, “General Xiao Huo didn’t want to teach me that move. You teach me! Hurry, find a cuju ball for this prince.”
The Fourth Prince exhibited typical childlike behavior, wanting to do whatever came to his mind.
Xu Wenzhe quickly stepped forward and said, “Fourth Prince, not long ago, Young Master Lin just recovered from an injury. It’s not advisable for him to engage in physical activity now. How about we schedule it for another day?”
The Fourth Prince’s interest was disrupted, revealing his arrogant and domineering nature. Dissatisfied, he said, “He can run around in your residence, so why can’t he kick a ball? This prince rarely leaves the palace, and I must see it.”
Lin Qingyang’s abdomen had just healed, and even if he forcefully played cuju, attempting the high-difficulty moves would likely result in pain and a fall halfway through. He wouldn’t be able to complete them.
However, watching the Fourth Prince insist on his own way was genuinely headache-inducing. That’s the way it was when there were distinctions between the noble and common. Lin Qingyang was considering whether to pretend to be exhausted and on the verge of fainting when suddenly Chu Lishu stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Your Highness. I am here to beg for forgiveness from Your Highness.”
The Fourth Prince was momentarily stunned. Initially uninterested in dealing with formalities, he found Chu Lishu’s appearance very pleasing, which sparked his curiosity. He asked, “I asked him to play cuju. Why are you asking for forgiveness? Because he’s your cousin? Are you protecting him?”
“Well, actually… My cousin’s wound has healed quite well, and today he was eager to perform for Your Highness and gain your appreciation. However, just a moment ago, we were playing hand throw ball in the courtyard, and accidentally, my cousin strained his injury due to excessive movement. It’s still causing him pain now. Even if he reluctantly practices, it’s likely to end in failure. After all, the cuju techniques involve using abdominal strength and considering the current situation, it’s only right for me to beg for forgiveness. It’s all due to my playful behavior, which disrupted Your Highness’s interest.”
Chu Lishu spoke a lot, seemingly taking responsibility for Lin Qingyang’s sake and deflecting the Fourth Prince’s whimsical demand. However, he subtly introduced a new term into the conversation that no one present had heard before.
While Lin Qingyang was still pondering what “hand throw ball” meant, the Fourth Prince curiously inquired.
“Hand throw ball is a game my cousin and I came up with. Since I lack stamina and can’t play cuju for a long time, we thought of changing the game using a ball similar to the one used in cuju.”
The eyes of the Fourth Prince instantly lit up with excitement. Due to his young age and smaller stature, he was often excluded when they played cuju, as his stamina was insufficient. Hearing about a game that suited him perfectly, his attention was immediately diverted, and he began asking questions incessantly, forgetting about the idea of having Lin Qingyang play cuju.
Chu Lishu patiently took a cuju ball and started explaining the rules. Those around also became interested as they listened attentively.
Xu Wenzhe was genuinely surprised. After all, they had been roommates before and often spent time together, yet he had never heard about this hand-throw ball game.
Curiously, Xu Wenzhe discreetly moved closer to Lin Qingyang and asked, “When did you guys come up with this game?”
Lin Qingyang, dumbfounded, replied with a twitch of his mouth, “I’d like to know too.”
In an instant, Xu Wenzhe understood that it was actually Chu Lishu’s idea. It conveniently served to please the Fourth Prince and, in order to share the credit with Lin Qingyang, they claimed it was a joint creation.
Chu Lishu treated Lin Qingyang genuinely well, but Lin Qingyang’s expression was not one of happiness; instead, it seemed somewhat eerie.
“What’s wrong? Isn’t it good to avoid trouble?” Xu Wenzhe chuckled.
“No… I just think my cousin is a genius.”
Isn’t this just a simplified version of basketball? Did the male lead come up with it on his own? Is he, by any chance, also from another world?
If he had known that he could please the young prince like this, he would have a whole bunch of ball game ideas.
Soon, the simplified version of basketball was introduced, and Chu Lishu deliberately mentioned that he hadn’t figured out the specific rules for the game yet. He invited the Fourth Prince to think about them together, which delighted the Fourth Prince.
They immediately decided to play a round of hand throw ball on the spot.
The crowd watched with curiosity.
The Fourth Prince attempted a few ball bounces and then ran toward a makeshift bamboo basket not far away. The basket was low, making it easy for the Fourth Prince to aim and throw.
With a thud, the ball landed in the basket, scoring a direct hit. The people around quickly recognized the situation and cheered. This immediately heightened the excitement for the Fourth Prince. Judging by his expression, the hand throw ball seemed to have surpassed cuju in his heart.
Chu Lishu successfully entertained the child with just one move, making Lin Qingyang feel confident about their entrance into the palace.
The mission was probably halfway completed, with General Zhao remaining…
Lin Qingyang glanced discreetly at the man. Surprisingly, he hadn’t changed his posture at all, standing silently like a tree, appearing extremely dull and uninteresting.
Lin Qingyang glanced around at the roofs, wondering where Lu Yi and Lu Shi were at the moment.
Would the plot from the original plot unfold as expected?
As he pondered, Chu Lishu suddenly ran over, took off his outer robe, and handed it to Lin Qingyang. “It’s too hot, cousin, help me hold this for a while.”
Without much thought, Lin Qingyang took Chu Lishu’s clothes and walked toward a nearby pavilion.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince had already called out Chu Lishu’s name, requesting a pass. When the pass came, the angle wasn’t controlled well, veering off course directly in the direction where General Zhao was standing.
The Fourth Prince shouted, “General Zhao, catch it!”
General Zhao’s expression softened for a moment as he turned to retrieve the ball.
However, in that fleeting moment, disaster struck. Dozens of crossbow bolts were suddenly shot towards the area where the Fourth Prince was located.
The royal guards immediately became alert, shouting to protect the prince. The Fourth Prince frightened, retreated in disarray, being shielded by others, miraculously avoiding getting hit by an arrow.
Chu Lishu stayed close to the Fourth Prince, but his eyes were already fixed on Lin Qingyang.
Seeing Lin Qingyang standing in the pavilion with widened eyes, he seemed to be in a safe position.
At that moment, dozens of black-clad assassins descended from the high walls in all directions. They brandished blades and launched an attack.
The garden plunged into a chaotic battle, leaving Lin Qingyang bewildered. This wasn’t what he had expected. Such a secretive operation should have been entrusted only to those who were trustworthy, like Lu Yi and Lu Shi. What if they capture a live captive? Where were these people hired from?
As Lin Qingyang was lost in thought, a sudden realization hit him. One of the assassins had discovered the presence of someone in the pavilion and charged towards him.
Startled, Lin Qingyang hastily stepped back. If the assassination was orchestrated by Chu Lishu, the one who had just been sent to bring his clothes to the pavilion was likely positioned there deliberately to ensure his safety. But now, what was happening? Had there been a lapse in internal instructions, or was this assassin acting on their own? Could they possibly be using him as part of a feigned weakness strategy?
As the assassins closed in on the pavilion, Lin Qingyang found himself with no room to retreat, feeling a sense of panic. The assassin approaching him had the unmistakable eyes of a true killer; it couldn’t be Lu Yi or Lu Shi.
Is the situation really escalating to this extent? Being a pawn truly means being sacrificed!
Just as the assassin was about to reach him, a crossbow bolt flew past from the side, diverting the assassin’s attention. The assassin turned to look, and the bolt hit a guard who was chasing him from behind.
Thinking that it was a fellow assassin providing cover, the killer disregarded Lin Qingyang, who seemed powerless and focused on dealing with the other guards approaching.
At first, Lin Qingyang was disoriented by the sudden turn of events. However, when the same situation occurred for the second time, he remained calm. He turned to look at the direction from which the arrows came twice. No one was there. If someone wanted to kill him from that angle, it would be a piece of cake. Since the assailant didn’t take action, Lin Qingyang was confident that it was either Lu Yi or Lu Shi from above.
Even a toolman can have its moment in the sun. The male lead was treating him quite well; he was making sure Lin Qingyang stayed alive.
So, does that mean these assassins aren’t affiliated with them? Are they trying to create chaos to complete their mission, while also ensuring his safety? Does Chu Lishu know about these sudden attackers?
Although Lin Qingyang had a general idea of the plot here, his memories of the original plot were blurred. So, he couldn’t be sure whether there were two assassins or a group of them. Watching the chaotic and perilous scene of the hunt unfold, he initially wasn’t concerned about Chu Lishu. But with such a sudden and significant change, Lin Qingyang became worried that Chu Lishu might get accidentally injured.
The assassins were all skilled, and the guards from the Duke’s residence were no match for them, resulting in numerous casualties. Only the royal guards could hold their own, but both sides suffered heavy losses.
The people around the Fourth Prince dwindled, and General Zhao was entangled in combat. Xu Wenzhe, at some point, had sustained an arm injury and was being escorted to the periphery by a loyal guard.
The Fourth Prince was on the verge of tears, repeatedly calling for protection, but the opponents’ relentless tactics were overwhelming and impossible to withstand.
At that moment, a black-clad figure suddenly pushed aside two companions, using them as shields while charging forward with a sword in hand.
General Zhao, having just slain an opponent, was too late to intervene. He could only shout desperately, “Fourth Prince, quickly get out of the way!”
But the Fourth Prince, terrified by the approaching blade, had already collapsed in fear and couldn’t avoid it.
In this critical moment, just as the threatening sword was about to strike, Chu Lishu, who had been nearby, suddenly lunged forward and shielded the Fourth Prince.
The sword pierced directly into Chu Lishu’s abdomen.
Watching the sword plunge into that familiar spot, Lin Qingyang felt a pain in his own abdomen. He wasn’t sure whether this was a genuine assassin or Lu Yi and Lu Shi. Witnessing the moment when Chu Lishu was stabbed, Lin Qingyang was so overwhelmed with panic that he impulsively rushed forward. However, midway through, he realized that the system hadn’t made a sound, indicating that Chu Lishu was unharmed.
Lin Qingyang quickly pretended to shout loudly, “Cousin!”
The assassin who had delivered the stab seemed to give up, pulling out the sword and tossing a smoke bomb to the ground, disappearing instantly into the mist.
The other assassins were caught off guard by this sudden move, momentarily unable to react. They were quickly counterattacked and slain. General Zhao and Xu Wenzhe almost simultaneously yelled to spare a life, but even if they were captured, the assassins chose to take poison and end their own lives, denying the opportunity for capture.
Except for the one who escaped and the two snipers from above, all the assassins met their end here.
Lin Qingyang could now be certain—the two individuals who safely withdrew must be Lu Yi and Lu Shi.
At this point, Lin Qingyang had rushed to Chu Lishu’s side. He looked at the stunned Fourth Prince, who was crying and holding Chu Lishu.
Seeing Lin Qingyang, the Fourth Prince quickly asked, “He’s bleeding a lot, will he die?”
Lin Qingyang stepped forward to help press on the wound, feeling a bit dazed. He was here to play a role, to cooperate. After all, he knew nothing, so he had to act as panicked as possible.
However, as Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu, whose face had turned pale—uncertain if it was genuine unconsciousness or feigned—he couldn’t help feeling a bit startled. Seeing Chu Lishu’s white clothes stained red with blood, he was suddenly taken aback. Having experienced being wounded by a sword himself, he knew how painful and damaging it could be.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but be puzzled. Was it really worth harming oneself to achieve the goal?
“Physician… Physician!” Lin Qingyang suddenly shouted with a trembling voice, containing an anger even he couldn’t fully discern.
Soon, others from Duke Wei Guo’s residence rushed in, including the guests who had come for the banquet.
Only then did everyone realize that the Fourth Prince had been attacked in the residence.
Duke Wei Guo’s expression was extremely grim. Seeing his injured son, his complexion worsened. He quickly arranged for medical assistance and strengthened the guards until both the city guards and royal guards arrived.
Lin Qingyang followed the escort team to temporarily settle in a guest room with Chu Lishu.
Soon, the physician arrived to assist with treating the wound.
Lin Qingyang stood on the side, watching the gruesome wound that continued to bleed. He couldn’t help but curse inwardly—whether it was Lu Yi or Lu Shi, couldn’t they be a bit more restrained in their actions? Although he knew it must have been Chu Lishu’s request, it was still…
“Fortunately, it didn’t hit any vital organs. Young Master can rest assured,” the physician said as he worked.
Lin Qingyang quickly asked for more details, only to hear that Chu Lishu on the bed had already regained consciousness.
“I’m fine, Cousin, don’t worry,” Chu Lishu said in a hoarse voice.
Lin Qingyang lowered his head to meet his gaze, his eyes filled with reproach, but he couldn’t find the right words. He could only mutter, “Your words won’t change anything. Listen to the physician. And you… shut up!”
At least now Lin Qingyang could assert a bit of elder-brother authority and scold the male lead a bit.
The physician gave clear instructions, and in terms of the severity of the injuries, Chu Lishu was in better condition than expected. After all, Chu Lishu had only suffered a through-and-through stab.
After tending to the wounds, the physician hurriedly left. There were too many people to attend to, and coming here first was probably because Chu Lishu had saved the Fourth Prince.
After the room fell silent, no one spoke. Chu Lishu lay there weakly, briefly recalling the entire incident. After a while, he realized that Lin Qingyang, who had been making a fuss, hadn’t said a word.
“Cousin? Are you injured?”
Lin Qingyang replied, “I’m figuring out how to scold you.”
Chu Lishu: …
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Thanks for the update!
Thank you for the double update~
Now they both have twin abdominal scars 🥹