The barbaric and uncivilized foreigners regard everything other than themselves as property: fabric, rice, livestock, women.

Since they consider them property, they can naturally covet and plunder at will, without feeling any shame for their desires.

The way Naren Temüjin looked at him made Zhao Chuo want to vomit.

Blunt, greedy, filthy.

After a brief eye contact, Zhao Chu lowered his gaze.

He had once gouged out a man's eyes.

It was a drunken chief of the palace guards, in a secluded corner of the cold palace. He was fifteen at the time, on the second night after his mother's death, when the chief of the palace guards blocked him there.

He was drunk, but still staring at Zhao Chu with greedy and lewd eyes, blocking him and reaching out to touch him.

He said, the daughter of a deposed empress did not count as a princess, his mother was just a lady of Dingxi County, but if Zhao Chu behaved well tonight, perhaps his mother would allow him to marry him.

But if he didn't behave, without his mother's protection, seducing men shamelessly like this, he wouldn't survive.

The next morning, the body of the chief of the palace guards was found near the Xuanji Gate, with his eyes gouged out and his right hand broken. Half of the imperial guards were mobilized, but the murderer was never found for years.

Zhao Chu lowered his eyes, even though the candlelight around him was shining brightly, his hand resting on his knee was hidden in the shadows.

He looked at those hands.

The white and slender hands were stained with blood, staining his embroidered golden robe, showing his appearance on that night when he was fifteen.

Very dirty, but as were those eyes full of desire.

He slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, a dark purple robe swept lightly across his line of sight.

He heard Fang Linyuan's voice.

He looked up, just able to see Fang Linyuan's jawline, sharp like a drawn sword. He was confronting Naren Temüjin, standing tall and straight like a tree, illuminated by the candlelight, but unlike candlelight, more like the sunlight breaking through the clouds.

The wild wolf of the northern border retreated in defeat, he looked down at himself, his eyes as clear as the distant stars.

Lowering his gaze again, Zhao Chu saw his own hands resting on his knees.

Clean, without a trace of bloodstains. As if the almost overwhelming hostility that had just engulfed him had all disappeared.

And then, he heard Fang Linyuan's voice again.

"Stop, you haven't apologized to my wife yet," he said.

Zhao Chu was taken aback.

Apologize to him?

He had been scrutinized by countless filthy gazes, yet this was the first time he had heard such words.

Zhao Chu raised his head and saw Fang Linyuan, who was coldly staring at the Turkic man.

For a moment, he didn't move his eyes away.

People praised him as outstanding as the bright moon shining, while the barbarians feared him like the judge of the underworld in front of Buddha.

And now, it seemed to be true.

*

Naren Temüjin turned around.

Fang Linyuan could tell that he was indeed intimidated by him. Even if he was a morally deficient wild wolf, he would be afraid of being rendered powerless by him and losing face.

He paused, looked disdainfully at Zhao Chu, then back at him.

"What did I do that requires an apology?" Naren Temüjin asked.

Feeling Zhao Chu's chilling gaze beside him, Fang Linyuan wished he could just punch him.

If you're asked to apologize, just apologize. What's with the nonsense?

He coldly said, "My wife is virtuous and gentle, and your prolonged staring is offensive."

If Naren Temüjin dared to ask who his "wife" was, Fang Linyuan would smash this guy's dog head today.

Fortunately, Naren Temüjin knew who he had been staring at all along.

He looked at Fang Linyuan for a moment, smiled, and looked at Zhao Chuo with some contempt, casually performing a Turkic gesture.

"Forgive me, Princess." He said.

Finally, the task was completed.

Fang Linyuan breathed a sigh of relief, pretending not to hear the perfunctory tone in his voice, and sat down silently, as if to show that the matter was over.

But...

He uncomfortably shrugged his shoulders.

Why was Zhao Chu still looking at him! Making Naren Temüjin apologize wasn't enough; why was this guy so nosy!

Fortunately, at that moment, the eunuch's voice came from the front of the hall.

"The Emperor and Empress have arrived——"

The court officials and their families stood up one after another, and Fang Linyuan quickly turned around, bowing down towards the direction of the throne with the others.

The emperor was here, and it wasn't that he didn't want to stand up for Zhao Chuo!

As cheers resounded from all directions, the voice of the benevolent Emperor came from the throne with a smile: "Please, everyone, rise."

Fang Linyuan also sat down with the other officials.

Perhaps it was because his momentum had been subdued by Fang Linyuan just now, but Naren Temüjin did not cause any more trouble this time, following the etiquette to pay his respects along with the other officials.

Emperor Hongyou seemed to be in a very good mood. He exchanged pleasantries with Naren Temüjin for a few moments, asking if he had any discomforts in the capital, and ordered the palace kitchen to specially prepare roasted goat meat for him.

The court officials toasted the Emperor, and the Emperor announced that the feast had begun. Sumptuous dishes were served one after another, and the hall gradually became lively.

Officials came forward from time to time to toast the Emperor, delivering eloquent speeches. Fang Linyuan, who was accustomed to the border, found such a scene lively and amusing, suitable for accompanying drinks.

He found it entertaining, and gradually, officials came to his table with wine glasses. Fang Linyuan had a good tolerance for alcohol, and the wines in the capital were not as strong as the strong liquor on the border, so he did not refuse even if he didn't recognize them.

Zhao Chuo, on the other hand, sat beside him with an air of indifference and aloofness. These officials didn't dare to disturb him, tacitly understanding not to bother him.

Only when Zhuo Fangyou approached, his expression ambiguous, did he look at Fang Linyuan several times.

After a round of drinking, Fang Linyuan found it hard to keep up.

"The wine in the capital is not strong, but these civil officials drink too much," Fang Linyuan complained softly. "Could it be that they practice drinking every day and develop iron livers and guts?"

But he heard Zhao Chu beside him emit a soft sneer.

"It's because you drink too straightforwardly; don't blame them for picking on you," Zhao Chu said.

Fang Linyuan turned his head, only to see Zhao Chu sitting there calmly, looking as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Too straightforward?" Fang Linyuan was puzzled. "Is there such a thing as straightforwardness when it comes to drinking?"

Zhao Chu glanced at him without a word and reached out to take his wine jug.

Then, Fang Linyuan watched in astonishment as Zhao Chu swiftly turned his hand, and with the movement of his fingers, concealed by the wide sleeves and the table, filled Fang Linyuan's wine jug with half a pot of tea-infused wine.

"Hey... Hey!"

Before Fang Linyuan could stop him, a full jug of tea-laced wine had already been placed back in front of him.

Fang Linyuan was dumbfounded.

"Is this how you people in the capital drink?"

But Zhao Chu remained unfazed, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary, and glanced at him.

Regardless of others, his tolerance for alcohol had always been poor, and he knew his status, so he dared not be even slightly intoxicated in public.

Therefore, mastering this skill was sufficient to deal with palace banquets.

As for others...

Zhao Chu's gaze swept over.

The attendant who secretly took out a handkerchief to spit out the wine, and the Hanlin who disappeared while changing clothes, were not much smarter than him.

Just then, they heard a voice beside them.

"Prince Temüjin, if it really comes down to it, you're just a loser under Marquis Anping!"

Fang Linyuan turned to look and saw a young unfamiliar court official, his face a little flushed from drinking, standing in front of Emperor Hongyou, loudly proclaiming.

With this statement, there was even a moment of silence in the Hall of Ronghua. Then, the voices of the people chatting and laughing weakened, and everyone looked towards Emperor Hongyou and Naren Temüjin.

"Who's this?" Fang Linyuan looked at him.

"Rong Kai," Zhao Chu whispered softly on the side. "Companion reader of the Third Prince."

"Why is it the Third..." This sentence seemed somewhat disrespectful, Fang Linyuan paused, swallowing the latter half back.

This person really had a problem with his head. Naren Temüjin was not a normal person to begin with, and he dared to provoke him. Wasn't he afraid that Naren Temüjin would flip the table?

But seeing Naren Temüjin, who was holding a wine glass, pause for a moment and then laugh heartily without any concern, saying, "Yeah! When Jade Yama shot the tiger outside my tent back then, I knew he was a hero. Now it seems, indeed!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Hongyou sitting on the throne also laughed and said, "Indeed. When Linyuan's father returned to the court to pay homage, he even specially presented a tiger skin to me. In this case, I have received a great gift from Prince Temüjin. When you return in the future, be sure to pick several pieces of brocade and fur from my private treasury."

Naren Temüjin smiled and said, "Thank you in advance, Your Majesty! But if we're talking about Jade Yama, it was that day he took three cities from the Turks, which was truly impressive!"

"Oh? How so?"

"That day, while I was stationed in the rear, a fearless commander under my command unexpectedly rushed into my royal tent, claiming to have seen Jade Yama descend from the sky, thinking he had encountered the heavenly punishment of the Heavenly Realm of Immortality!"

There were exclamations of admiration from the courtiers and nobles present, all looking towards Fang Linyuan.

Fang Linyuan, however, remained expressionless.

He knew the "fearless commander" he mentioned, named Bugurde. That day, unable to withstand the cavalry under Fang Linyuan's command, he abandoned three cities and fled.

After fleeing back to the royal tent, he, along with all the personal guards he brought back, had their skin peeled off by Naren Temüjin and hung outside the tent as punishment.

Now, he could still laugh and say he was like an eagle.

Fang Linyuan didn't speak, but his hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly.

If such a madman were to take over Daxuan City again, it would inevitably end up in a massacre. He must keep the Yumen Pass firmly guarded and keep this madman forever outside the city gates.

Meanwhile, Naren Temüjin continued to exclaim, "Jade Yama is indeed the god of war bestowed upon mortals by the heavens!"

Rong Kai, who had toasted earlier, had a somewhat strange expression on his face.

"Are you implying that you Turks only respect General Fang and don't respect the Great Emperor of Daxuan?"

Sure enough, it was directed at him again.

Fang Linyuan felt his head ache. He raised his wine glass, stood up before Naren Temüjin could speak, and walked to the jade steps.

"Master Rong, you must be drunk."

He smiled, bypassed the table, and stood below the jade steps with his wine glass.

"Who are you..." Rong Kai wanted to retort, but Fang Linyuan had already raised his glass and loudly addressed Emperor Hongyou on the steps.

"The mighty and invincible army of Daxuan, under the favour and protection of His Majesty, was able to recapture the territory of Daxuan. This is the Majesty's power, and also the blessing of the people."

"I humbly wish His Majesty eternal longevity and hope that His Majesty's grace will last for ten thousand years, protecting the soldiers guarding the Yumen Pass and defending the territory of Daxuan."

Emperor Hongyou laughed with satisfaction and raised the golden cup on the table.

And behind him, unnoticed by Fang Linyuan, Zhao Chu looked at his back in astonishment for a moment, then glanced around and made a sign to the courtiers.

Immediately, many courtiers and nobles stood up, and seeing this, the rest of the people present dared not remain seated and also got up.

"We respectfully wish His Majesty ten thousand years of longevity and Daxuan ten thousand years of prosperity!"

The cheers resounded from behind, and Emperor Hongyou also raised his wine glass towards Fang Linyuan.

Fang Linyuan couldn't help but feel a little hot in his chest, and he raised his head and drank all the wine in his cup.

The clear liquid entered his throat, but it wasn't spicy.

A light taste of tea permeated, leaving Fang Linyuan bewildered.

He was stunned for a moment before swallowing the tea in his throat.

Zhao Chu... Did Zhao Chu do this?!

He was shocked, his pupils trembling, as he turned his head.

When did Zhao Chu switch the wine in his cup to tea?

 

--

The author has something to say:

Zhao Chu: Being a wise helper is too easy. (Satisfied)

Fang Linyuan: ???

 

Translator : DarNan