One Punch

The atmosphere in the Hall of Bright Virtue was heavy. The Eldest Prince and Xi Ming both knelt on the floor.

The Qi Emperor had spent two days wrangling with the Empress Dowager over the Grand Commandant's murder of the princess. He intended to release the Grand Commandant before the Double Ninth Festival and have him show his face at the Chrysanthemum Banquet, proving he had not lost imperial favor. That would put the matter to rest.

The heir to the Prince of Annam would enter the capital after the Double Ninth Festival. Whatever preferential treatment the Empress Dowager gave him to make trouble for the emperor would come later.

Once he had appeased the Prince of Annam, he would concentrate on taking the military command tally from the Empress Dowager.

With his mind full of court affairs and state governance, the Qi Emperor could not be bothered to untangle the squabble between Xi Ming and the Eldest Prince.

But these two kept dragging the crown prince into their disputes, and it was tiresome.

Last time, the Eldest Prince had implicated the crown prince. This time, Xi Ming had come to beg forgiveness, claiming he had offended the crown prince.

He was ostensibly begging forgiveness, but wasn't he still dragging the boy into it?

A Confucian scholar in his forties, forever tattling on two children. Had he no shame?

What comforted the Qi Emperor was how diligent and eager to learn Zuo'er was at such a young age. What would he do if Xi Ming put the boy off attending lessons?

The Qi Emperor had a good impression of Xi Ming, largely thanks to his face.

More precisely, it was his bearing.

Scholars possessed an elegance steeped in poetry and books. Combined with handsome features, it made them all the more pleasing to the eye.

Reminiscence flickered in the Qi Emperor's eyes. He had met countless people, but only one had ever caught his eye enough to earn his praise as a true gentleman.

Sadly...

The Qi Emperor set down the document he had finished reading and reached for another. Perhaps father and son shared an unspoken bond: shimmering morning sunlight spilled over the threshold, stretching a shadow long and slender.

A robe lifted, a foot rose, and a thud struck the strings of the Qi Emperor's heart.

The Qi Emperor abruptly lost himself in thought and rose involuntarily.

His crown prince, in gold-threaded boots and a dragon-patterned belt, stepped across the threshold, lifted his hem, and shook out his broad sleeves, looking for all the world like someone from his past.

"Father!"

The affectionate call pulled him out of his memories. The Qi Emperor glanced at the kneeling Eldest Prince, searching his face for something before giving up in disappointment.

Qi Yuanzuo caught that momentary change in the Qi Emperor's expression but left it unexplored for now.

The Qi Emperor strode over to greet him and lifted him into his arms, his affection stronger than ever.

"Why didn't you take a sedan chair? Next time, I'll have the Fat Eunuch bring the Dragon Carriage to fetch you."

"You went to lessons today, Zuo'er. How was it? What did you learn?"

Xi Ming knew the crown prince was favored, but not that he was favored to this extent. He watched the Qi Emperor carry the crown prince onto the throne.

The crown prince casually cleared a space on the imperial desk that others dared not even look at too closely.

"Come over too, Big Brother. I brought something tasty for you and Father."

Only then did the Qi Emperor seem to remember that another son was still kneeling below.

"Rise, Chengyou."

The Eldest Prince sneered inwardly. This was the root of their jealousy of the crown prince in their previous life.

They were all his sons, so why was the crown prince the heir? Their father gave him everything good. The crown prince picked through the tribute gifts first, then their father chose from what remained, and only afterward did anyone else get a turn.

He practically wanted matching father-and-son Nine-Dragon Yellow Robes.

Their father had never once held his other sons throughout their childhoods. But the crown prince? He had grown up in their father's arms!

All his martial and scholarly skills had been taught by the emperor himself!

When they paid their respects to their father together, the crown prince stood while they knelt, and their father would even tell the crown prince,

"The floor is cold. Why bother with empty formalities between father and son?"

And so the flames of jealousy burned ever fiercer, consuming two generations and burning through the reign of Great Qi.

The Eldest Prince drew a deep breath and calmed himself. No matter how many times he started over, seeing his father's favoritism still made him jealous.

Even when the crown prince and their father became bitter enemies, the crown prince remained the most important person in their father's heart.

Heavens, why was he so biased?

The Eldest Prince rose in silence but did not approach.

Qi Yuanzuo watched him for a moment, then climbed down from the Qi Emperor's arms and pulled the Eldest Prince back to his father's side. He had someone open the food box, and two plump, jiggling steamed buns were brought out.

"One for Father, one for Big Brother."

The Eldest Prince went rigid, feeling he was far too close to his father.

Close enough to see his pores.

The Eldest Prince gazed absently at the Qi Emperor, who was smiling at the crown prince.

So he looked at the crown prince too.

"This is something new the people in my palace made. Father, Big Brother, try it. If it's good, I'll have someone send you the recipe later, Big Brother, so Consort Xian can taste it too."

Xi Ming's knees had gone numb from kneeling, but the Qi Emperor showed no intention of acknowledging him.

Above him was a picture of paternal kindness and filial devotion.

Naturally, the Qi Emperor would not refuse his son's kindness. The Eldest Prince glanced at Xi Ming twice, intending to remind him, but the crown prince tugged his sleeve, signaling him to eat first.

So the Eldest Prince buried himself in the task.

The Fat Eunuch served them with a smile too, paying Junior Tutor Xi no heed whatsoever.

Only once they had finished did the Qi Emperor clear his throat twice.

"Zuo'er, Junior Tutor Xi says he offended you."

Qi Yuanzuo looked surprised. "How did he offend me?"

"I simply didn't take to him and exchanged a few words with the Junior Tutor. He didn't offend me."

"His Highness declared me unfit to teach... and said I was slovenly..."

"If I had not offended His Highness, why would he..."

Protective as a beast guarding its cub, the Eldest Prince snapped, "You pointed your finger at the crown prince first! You defied your superior. Was he wrong to say you were unfit to teach?"

Xi Ming looked deeply ashamed. "I came expressly to beg forgiveness!"

He lowered his head, looking aggrieved yet willing to accept any punishment without defending himself. It was profoundly uncomfortable to watch.

The Eldest Prince's teeth itched with irritation.

What he hated most was trading words with scholars, especially people like Xi Ming.

He knew something was wrong with the man, but could never get a handle on it, and one careless moment left him sickened again.

"Junior Tutor Xi needn't beg forgiveness. You committed no offense in the first place. Whether someone appeals to you comes down to one word: mystery. I don't take to you, just as I think Big Brother is impulsive and rash."

"Although Big Brother is impulsive and rash, I like him."

"Just as the Junior Tutor is slovenly and rude, and I don't like him."

"There's no difference between the two."

"No one is perfect. I haven't denied your learning, Junior Tutor. I merely disapprove of how you conduct yourself. This is a private matter between us and only my personal opinion. Father already has the exhausting task of governing the realm. Why burden him needlessly with such a trivial matter?"

Xi Ming said, "May I ask what is wrong with me that makes Your Highness dislike me?"

Qi Yuanzuo rolled his eyes. "You're not silver. Do you expect everyone under heaven to like you?"

Unwilling to give up, Xi Ming said, "Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

Qi Yuanzuo obliged him. "Your fingernails. I don't like them."

"People who grow their nails usually grow all five, or just the middle fingernail and thumbnail. The latter are for gripping a brush and flicking ink. But you only grow your little fingernail, Junior Tutor, leaving the other four bare. I can think of only two uses for that nail."

"Picking your nose and digging out your ears."

There was one more use. During their argument in the classroom, he had caught a very faint, cloying fragrance from Xi Ming's hands.

The moment the Qi Emperor heard this, his gaze toward Xi Ming changed. All his appreciation and admiration turned to suspicion and distaste.

Looking again at Xi Ming's excessively long little fingernail, he could barely stand the sight.

Xi Ming flushed scarlet and protested, "I have never done such vulgar things!"

Qi Yuanzuo looked unconvinced. "Then you're even more slovenly. You don't pick your nose or clean your ears? Can you still breathe? Your ears must be blocked!"

"I... I..."

Xi Ming stammered for ages without managing anything coherent.

"It's all right. Everyone does it. Your method is simply too obvious, Junior Tutor Xi. I understand."

Qi Yuanzuo wore a comforting expression that said he forgave him, and the Qi Emperor burst out laughing.

He hugged the crown prince and gave him a thorough ruffling.

"My dear Minister Xi, I won't interfere with your private preferences. But the crown prince has a point. You pointed at your sovereign, then claimed to have come to beg forgiveness. You know perfectly well what you were really asking for."

"Remain at home and reflect on your conduct for ten days."

"I will find someone else to serve as Junior Tutor."

Junior Tutor Xi's expression turned ugly.

"I obey Your Majesty's decree."

A glint passed through Qi Yuanzuo's eyes, and he whispered into the Qi Emperor's ear.

The Qi Emperor raised his brows slightly.

He stepped down from the throne and personally helped Xi Ming to his feet.

His nostrils twitched slightly. The smile on his face abruptly froze before returning to normal.

He patted Xi Ming's shoulder.

"Go home. This is all a minor matter. Don't let it damage the bond between sovereign and subject."

Xi Ming's expression eased. "I would not dare. I shall heed Your Majesty's instruction."

By the time Xi Ming slowly withdrew, the Qi Emperor's face had darkened like ink.

Qi Yuanzuo ran to his side. "Father, wasn't I right? The fragrance on his hands is so strong!"

The Qi Emperor stroked his head. It was not strong, but cloying! An erotic fragrance carrying a veiled suggestion!

"Be good and go have breakfast with your big brother. I'll join you for your nap at noon."

"If you don't like him, I won't let him appear before you again."

Qi Yuanzuo readily agreed. "All right! Goodbye, Father!"

Qi Yuanzuo took the Eldest Prince's hand and left.

The Qi Emperor was suspicious by nature. After the Eldest Prince's accusation last time, he had found nothing in his investigation, but had nevertheless developed an unfavorable impression of Xi Ming.

Now, with Qi Yuanzuo's guidance, the Qi Emperor could no longer suppress his suspicions of Xi Ming.

"Set our people in the shadows to work. I want to know everything he does each day."

The Fat Eunuch answered, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Qi Yuanzuo led the Eldest Prince all the way toward the Hall of Inherited Blessing.

The Eldest Prince shook off his hand and sneered,

"Stop pretending. You've been lying to me all along, haven't you?"

Qi Yuanzuo looked puzzled. "What have I lied to you about, Big Brother?"

"You just said I was impulsive and rash!"

"That's right. Junior Tutor Xi has been leading you around by the nose."

He said earnestly, "Big Brother, if you fall into the trap of defending yourself, you'll never win a war of words. Against someone with a belly full of twisted arguments, we have to turn the accusation back on him!"

"Father says that's called... called..."

Qi Yuanzuo thought hard about how to make something up. "The aura of a kingly conqueror!"

The Eldest Prince immediately retorted, "Bullshit! It's called imperial authority!"

Qi Yuanzuo agreed. "Yes, yes, yes. Everything you say is right."

The Eldest Prince eyed him suspiciously. "Turn around and walk ahead."

Qi Yuanzuo tilted his head, his eyes wide.

The Eldest Prince turned his face away. "No acting cute! Hurry up! Turn around!"

"Okaaay."

He turned and walked ahead.

He had only taken a few steps when the system in his mind warned him loudly,

"Host! Dodge! He's about to attack you from behind!"

The Eldest Prince suddenly threw a punch, failing to notice the eyes of the Fat Eunuch and Simiao behind Qi Yuanzuo turn razor-sharp.

The punch stopped beside Qi Yuanzuo's ear.

Qi Yuanzuo never stopped walking or dodged, as though he knew nothing of it.

The Eldest Prince did not know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

The crown prince was still the crown prince.

Yet the crown prince was no longer the crown prince.

Even if a martial artist lost his memories and martial skills, his body would retain its instinctive defenses against danger.

The crown prince of his previous life could never have remained unmoved by that punch.

"All right. Turn around."

Qi Yuanzuo turned and lifted his face, his smile like a sweet rice ball filled with liquor. He spread his arms and wheedled,

"Carry me. Tired. My chest hurts."

The Eldest Prince immediately grew anxious. He picked him up and headed toward the Hall of Inherited Blessing, his questions drifting away into the air.

"Have you taken your medicine today? You've been recovering for so many days, so why does it still hurt? Did you run around too much..."