Letters and arms

The Eldest Prince carried the crown prince all the way back to the Hall of Inherited Blessing, huffing and puffing until he was half-dead with exhaustion.

Qi Yuanzuo eagerly served him tea and water, kneaded his legs, and pounded his back.

"Big brother, you're amazing!"

The Eldest Prince forced down his heavy panting, the corners of his mouth lifting. "This is nothing. I'll be even more amazing in the future!"

At his peak, he could draw a five-stone bow!

Of all the brothers, he was the best at riding, archery, and martial arts.

He pinched the little crown prince's cheek. "Work hard at your martial training and studies, and you'll be just as amazing as me."

He meant every word.

His brothers hurled all manner of insults at the crown prince behind his back, but not one dared disparage his literary talent or martial prowess.

Qi Yuanzuo's eyes shone as he looked at the plump eunuch. "I want to practice martial arts with big brother, starting tomorrow!"

The plump eunuch and Simiao exchanged a glance, both filled with bitterness.

The plump eunuch coaxed him:

"Your Highness must grow as tall as the Eldest Prince before you can train. Otherwise, the strain will keep you from growing taller."

The imperial physician had phrased it delicately that day. The little crown prince had not understood, but the servants in the Hall of Inherited Blessing had.

Simiao diverted his attention. "This servant will make Chrysanthemum Cakes for Your Highness. What flavor would you like? And what shape? Little dragons or little horses?"

Qi Yuanzuo immediately began discussing the Chrysanthemum Cakes with Simiao.

The plump eunuch seized the moment while the little crown prince's attention was elsewhere.

"Eldest Prince, this servant has something to tell you in private."

Puzzled, the Eldest Prince stepped aside.

"Your Highness, my young master suffered injuries to his lungs and internal organs a few days ago. The imperial physician said he must not run or jump, and must continue to take care in the future."

Qi Chengyou's heart gave a violent jolt.

"What do you mean?!"

Terrified of attracting the crown prince's attention, the plump eunuch said, "Please, Your Highness, lower your voice. The crown prince is so young. How could this servant bear to upset him? When His Highness grows older, he will naturally understand."

The Eldest Prince understood.

Qi Yuanzuo could no longer practice martial arts!

He had thought he would feel happy, vindicated, even excited.

A crown prince without martial skills would be far easier to deal with than one accomplished in both letters and arms.

His fight for the throne would go much more smoothly.

In this life, he would surely keep Qi Yuanzuo so thoroughly suppressed that he could never lift his head.

Yet the first thought that surfaced in his mind was:

Nothing like this happened in our previous life!

Could the resentment he and Third Brother brought back from the dead have been so great that it caused this deviation?

Great Qi placed enormous importance on accomplishment in both letters and arms.

At his death, Great Qi's founding emperor had judged his own life thus-accomplished in letters, successful in arms.

The three generations of emperors had all pursued that goal.

The people of Great Qi held it up as their standard, too. Scholars knew something of martial arts, and even the roughest martial practitioner had to learn the Four Books and Five Classics by heart.

Talented young men would sometimes exchange courtesies:

One would say, "I am ashamed, truly ashamed. My literary strategies pass muster, but martial achievement eludes me."

Or another would say, "I wield blades and spears, but have achieved little in letters."

Clearly, letters and arms ran neck and neck. Even when introducing themselves, people had to give a full account of their abilities in both.

If common folk were like this, noble houses cared still more. The imperial family took it for granted that princes must be "accomplished in letters and successful in arms."

Sixth Brother, who had yet to be born, had mediocre martial skills but outstanding literary talent. People often called him "a frail scholar," unfit to shoulder great responsibilities.

If the crown prince could not practice martial arts, Qi Chengyou could figure out with his toes how outsiders would point fingers and gossip.

This was Great Qi's crown prince, accomplished in both letters and arms, with an immortal's bearing and jade-like beauty!

With three arrows, he had humbled the Xiongnu; amid a battle fought with a red-tasseled spear, he had torn up the marriage-alliance agreement; bloodstained, he had galloped home escorting the princess sent away for that alliance.

The whole city had turned out, throwing enough fruit to fill his carriage. The street he had ridden down had been renamed Young Dragon Avenue! The spear he wielded was called "Realm."

This was Great Qi's crown prince, whose brilliance eclipsed every flood dragon in the palace!

The Sixth Prince, whose talent filled six measures, had retreated beneath his shadow; the Eldest Prince, with courage to rival Bai Qi's, had been fit only to serve as an attendant star; the Third Prince, adept on every side, could only crane his neck toward unreachable heights. As for the Fourth and Fifth Princes, they had dared rest only half their backsides on their stools before the crown prince.

And now someone was telling him the crown prince could no longer train in martial arts.

Then who would humble the Xiongnu?

Who would dare tear up the marriage-alliance agreement?

Who could bring the princess home?

And who would dare execute that colluding pack of beasts in Jiangnan?

Qi Chengyou's chest felt heavy and stifled.

He did not know whether he was lost at the prospect of the future or grieving that he would never again see the astonishingly gifted crown prince of his memories.

If the crown prince could not practice martial arts, should he dispose of Third Brother first?

After all, Third Brother was the one most fond of trying to assassinate the crown prince.

Actually, Third Brother and he got along quite well, but...

The little crown prince plucked petals with Simiao, discussing whether the Chrysanthemum Cakes should be salty, sweet, sour, or spicy.

"Once they're done, let Father taste them first. If they're good, big brother and I can eat them."

He really does like me.

Tender pity rose in the Eldest Prince's eyes. The weight of the gold bracelet in the pouch at his waist pressed his heart soft and heavy.

After all, this was the little crown prince he intended to watch grow up. If Third Brother still planned to strike, he could only wrong him.

He could hardly betray the gold bracelet Qi Yuanzuo had given him.

Qi Yuanzuo plucked at the chrysanthemum, bored with his performance, when the system alerted him.

"Host, Bolao is watching you."

Qi Yuanzuo said, "I know."

"If he likes looking, let him keep looking."

88 said, "There's something strange about his eyes."

Qi Yuanzuo chuckled. "Do you know what he's thinking?"

88 honestly shook its head.

"He's sick."

88 said, "Huh?"

Qi Yuanzuo said, "He's thinking-he's sick, and he and I are the same kind."

A piece of tender meat fell from the chicken drumette in 88's hand. Smacking its lips, it said:

"Host, in all my long life as a system, I've never met anyone like you."

Qi Yuanzuo asked curiously, "What were your previous hosts like?"

"Jade-like ones, cheeky ones, dashing ones. All shattered to bits in the end."

Qi Yuanzuo said, "?"

This was a system with a story!

Puzzled, 88 asked, "Why do you insist on keeping Bolao by your side, Host?"

Qi Yuanzuo rolled and toyed with the chrysanthemum in his hands. Its juice stained his fingers, smelling bitter and astringent.

"Because he's the only person in the Hall of Inherited Blessing who doesn't belong to Father."

88 fell silent at once.

Hall of Bright Virtue

The Qi Emperor listened as two palace servants vividly reenacted the crown prince's movements and conversations over the past half-day.

When they finished, the Qi Emperor laughed aloud.

The day's weariness melted away, and pure happiness appeared on his face.

The fat eunuch felt heartened by the sight.

His Majesty had suffered so much. All he wanted was a wife and children around a warm kang, but Her Majesty the empress had been fated for a short life. Fortunately, the little crown prince was still here.

"That little rascal. All the affection I've lavished on him was wasted. A brother he's barely spent a few days with coaxed him away with just a few words."

The fat eunuch flattered him. "The crown prince is still young, kindhearted, and fond of play. He needs Your Majesty's guidance."

The Qi Emperor looked faintly pleased with himself. "That boy is clever. I only taught him the art of managing his subordinates a few days ago, and he put it to use today."

The fat eunuch's mind turned, and he immediately thought of Bolao, who attended the crown prince.

"Indeed. With Your Majesty's teaching and his own innate intelligence, the crown prince is exceptionally gifted. It is that servant's honor to be kept at His Highness's side."

The Qi Emperor said nothing, but the smile at the corners of his eyes remained. Clearly, he agreed.

The fat eunuch now knew where matters stood.

This was the only young eunuch who had come out of the Cold Palace.

His Majesty had never thought anything of him, so he was not one of His Majesty's informants, either. They had been considering sending him away.

For now, they would let the crown prince use him for practice.