Chapter 71: The Black Pot

Chapter 71: The Black Pot

For centuries since the founding of Xianling, there had never been such an absurd incident – one prince's privates were kicked by another prince. Whenever Eunuch She recalled this matter, he felt a twinge of pain in his own nether regions, as if he had been cut anew. Oh Buddha, what kind of affair was this?

"Father Emperor, you must stand up for your son! Just now, Eldest Brother tried to strip me without any explanation. How could I endure such a grave humiliation? In my panic, I kicked him..."

On the high seat, Lu Yan clung to the emperor's leg, sobbing with snot and tears, embodying the phrases "black is white" and "shameless" to perfection. If not for the constant wails of Prince Nanxun and the eunuchs bustling in and out of the inner chambers, the emperor might have believed him.

"Good-for-nothing!"

The emperor finally couldn't hold back and kicked Lu Yan aside. Rising to his feet, he pointed at his nose and berated,

"Do you think just because you're a homosexual, your eldest brother is too?! Why would he want to strip you for no reason?!"

Although the emperor doted on Lu Yan, he knew that some matters had to be handled with severity. If he favored Lu Yan in this situation, it would be unfair to his other son... his other son's... eggs.

The emperor didn't kick him hard, but Lu Yan rubbed his chest and complained, "That's something you should ask Eldest Brother about. Your son doesn't know either, Father Emperor. You must stand up for your son!"

The emperor held back from kicking him again, pacing back and forth in anger.

"I've already thoroughly interrogated your eldest brother. He clearly wanted to search that little eunuch. When did it turn into stripping you?"

Lu Yan was taken aback. "A eunuch? That's who he wanted to search? Perhaps your son misheard earlier, thus wronging Eldest Brother."

The emperor clenched his teeth, his hand trembling as he pointed at him. "Good-for-nothing, can you simply make amends with a casual 'misheard'? Can you make up for what you did to your eldest brother... your eldest brother's..."

The emperor's face twitched, unable to utter the word 'offspring'. With a cold flick of his sleeves, he said, "Go back to your palace. Copy a hundred scriptures to apologize to your eldest brother!"

Hearing this, Eunuch She raised his eyelids, sighing inwardly. The emperor was still biased after all. Such a major incident like kicking someone's privates, and Prince Fengling only had to copy a hundred scriptures at home. It was like a feather hitting the head – completely painless.

Prince Nanxun seemed to have heard the commotion outside. He rose to his feet in anger, ignoring his injuries. Pushing aside the eunuchs, he walked out of the inner chambers with the support of two little eunuchs, his face pale. "Father Emperor..."

His legs trembled, and he was still drenched in cold sweat, looking pitiful indeed.

Seeing this, the emperor instinctively wanted to step forward, but realized it wouldn't be appropriate. Waving his hand, he instructed the servants to bring a chair for Prince Nanxun to sit down. Then, frowning, he said, "Your injuries haven't healed yet. You should be resting inside. Why did you come out?"

Lu Yan also peeked out and said, "Yes, Eldest Brother, you should rest properly..."

The emperor interrupted angrily, "Get lost! Good-for-nothing, don't disgrace Me here!"

Prince Nanxun could see that his father was deliberately favoring Lu Yan. With a thud, he knelt on the ground, crying even more dramatically than Lu Yan. His emotions were much more genuine. "Father Emperor! You must stand up for your son! I was worried about your safety and saw that little eunuch acting suspiciously, so I wanted to search him. I never expected Third Brother to collude with the assassin, refusing to let me search him and kicking me..."

Prince Nanxun paused, then cried even louder. "He kicked your son's... offspring! Your son hasn't left any descendants yet, Father Emperor!!!"

He beat his chest and stomped his feet, weeping like a two-hundred-pound child, wishing he could tear Lu Yan to pieces.

Hearing him accuse him of colluding with the assassin, Lu Yan couldn't pretend to be mute anymore. Kneeling beside the emperor, his face filled with righteous indignation, he said, "Father Emperor, please judge clearly. Even if your son had the guts of heaven, I wouldn't dare collude with the assassin. What good would it do me if anything happened to you?!"

After speaking, Lu Yan moved closer to the emperor, massaging his legs in a flattering manner. He recited emotionally, "At the spring banquet, a cup of green wine and a song. Bowing twice, I offer three wishes. May Father Emperor live ten thousand years, may your son remain healthy always, and may we be like swallows on the beam, meeting year after year!"

What kind of nonsense was this?!

Upon hearing this, not only did the emperor's face turn green, but even Prince Nanxun's face turned green. Although they knew Lu Yan was uneducated, they never expected him to be so uneducated.

The emperor began to worry about the upcoming tribute ceremony. Would this foolish son embarrass him in front of the world? His fists clenched and unclenched under his sleeves, and finally, he slowly exhaled, his face ashen. "Prince Fengling—"

Calling him by his title meant he was truly angry.

Hearing this, Lu Yan stopped massaging the emperor's legs and quickly retreated a considerable distance, ensuring the emperor's foot couldn't reach him. Only then did he cautiously ask, "What does Father Emperor command?"

"..."

The emperor couldn't really kick him to death. In a deep voice, he asked, "Is what your eldest brother said true? Who is that little eunuch, and why didn't you let your eldest brother search him?"

Lu Yan replied firmly, "He's just an ordinary little eunuch, nothing special. Your son can swear by the Nine Heavens that I have no connection with the assassin. Otherwise, I'll die without a proper burial! But I wonder what Eldest Brother's intentions are in trying to frame me!"

The heavens had nine layers, where gods and buddhas gathered. The people of Xianling believed in deities and karma, so they never swore lightly. Normally, they would only pray to the Buddha or Guanyin, but no one dared to swear by the Nine Heavens.

Upon hearing this, Prince Nanxun, Lu Mang, became anxious. "Third Brother, what do you mean?! Do you think I sent those assassins to frame you?!"

Lu Yan sneered. "Your younger brother doesn't know."

Prince Nanxun raised his hand in anger, thinking that it was just a matter of swearing. Who couldn't do that? Urgently, he said, "Father Emperor, your son can also swear by the Nine Heavens. If your son has any connection with those assassins, may my entire family suffer a terrible..."

"Smack!"

Before he could finish, the emperor slapped him to the ground. Everyone in the hall heard the crisp sound and was startled.

"You damned beast, better off dead! In My previous life, I must have lacked virtue, and in this life, I've committed too many sins, to give birth to you two fools!"

The emperor was about to explode with rage. After speaking, he couldn't catch his breath and stumbled back, falling onto the dragon throne. His chest heaved violently, scaring everyone.

"Father Emperor!"

"Father Emperor!"

"Oh dear! Is Your Majesty alright?!"

Eunuch She hurried forward to pat the emperor's back and help him breathe. Prince Nanxun suddenly realized the foolish words he had just spoken. Ignoring his swollen privates, he covered his swollen face and crawled forward in panic. "Your son deserves death! Your son spoke out of turn! Please calm down, Father Emperor!"

The emperor glared fiercely, pointing at him and then at Lu Yan. After a long while, he managed to speak, "Since the assassin has nothing to do with you and nothing to do with him, who sent them?!"

After saying this, the emperor felt his brain being dragged into a ditch by these two fools. Since the assassin had nothing to do with them, it was likely sent by an enemy country. The current priority should be to capture them, not get caught up in their squabbles.

Lu Yan said plaintively, "Your son doesn't know. If anything happened to you, your son is the most useless one. I can't become the crown prince. What benefit would I gain?"

Prince Nanxun also rushed to show his loyalty. "You always scold your son for being reckless, fit only to guard the city, not capable of ruling a country. The court officials think so too. If anything happened to you, your son wouldn't gain any benefit. They wouldn't choose your son as the crown prince; they'd choose Second Brother... Wait, Second Brother?!"

Prince Nanxun's expression changed. His mind finally worked once. Tensely, he said, "Father Emperor, the assassin must have been sent by Second Brother! He wants to be the crown prince!"

Emperor: "…"

Lu Yan: "…"

Although Lu Yan found this speculation rather outrageous, he and King Guxu were sworn enemies. It seemed unreasonable not to kick him while he was down at this moment?

Regardless, the enemy of his enemy is his friend. After a brief moment of contemplation, Lu Yan temporarily aligned with King Nanxun. Hesitantly, he spoke up, "Although Brother's guess might be hasty..."

The Emperor asked indifferently, "But what?"

Lu Yan stole a glance at the Emperor's expression. Oh, it was truly ugly. He immediately lowered his gaze, subtly fanning the flames without leaving any trace:

"But it's not without reason."

King Guxu, sitting at home, suddenly found himself in hot water. In the afternoon, he received an urgent summons from the Emperor to the palace, leaving him utterly perplexed and unable to discern the reason.

He hurriedly rode into the palace and arrived at the Eternal Hall to find this peculiar scene. The Emperor sat on the dragon throne with an unpleasant expression, while King Nanxun and Fengling sat on either side, heads bowed in silence, creating an inexplicable sense of...

Unease.

King Guxu retracted his thoughtful gaze and gracefully paid his respects, lifting his robe: "Your son pays homage to Your Majesty."

His voice was clear and refined, his demeanor measured, a true gentleman brimming with poetry.

The Emperor's expression finally improved slightly, as Lu Sheng's presence at least proved that not all his sons were fools: "Rise."

"Thank you, Father."

King Guxu calmly took his seat, glancing at his two brothers before hesitantly asking, "I see that Elder Brother and Third Brother are also here. I wonder why Father urgently summoned your son to the palace? Is there something important?"

King Nanxun spoke with a tone dripping with sarcasm, "Second, what are you pretending for? How could you not know about the assassination attempt on Father? Half the court is your eyes and ears. Didn't they pass the news to you?"

Fools had one advantage—they didn't pose a threat—but they also had a downside: their straightforwardness left those who liked to play games struggling to cope.

King Guxu's expression remained unchanged: "Elder Brother, what are you talking about? The court is Father's court; how could I have eyes and ears there? Of course, I've heard rumors about the assassination attempt on Father, but I just learned of it. I hadn't even had time to come to the palace when I received Father's urgent summons. Tell me, have the assassins been caught?"

King Nanxun's tone grew even more sarcastic: "Assassins? Don't you know whether they were caught or not? Weren't those people sent by you?"

At these words, King Guxu's expression finally changed. He rose from his seat and knelt to the ground. His handsome face flushed red, seemingly filled with indignation and a great injustice: "Father, even if your son had the courage of a lion, I would never dare to harm you. As my sovereign and father, such an act would be disloyal and unfilial! I don't know when I offended Elder Brother, leading him to slander me so. We are brothers—what misunderstanding can't we resolve?!"

After his speech, he turned to look at Lu Yan, asking pitifully, "Third Brother, do you also think the assassins were sent by Second Brother?"

Lu Yan honestly nodded: "Mm."

"…"

Silence filled the hall.

King Guxu's expression froze. He was full of schemes, always leaving room for maneuver when speaking to others. Even if he and Lu Yan switched places today, he would have surely put on a show and pleaded for mercy on the other's behalf. But he hadn't expected…he hadn't expected…

#A born schemer encounters two blunt fools#

"Puhahahahahaha!"

King Nanxun burst out laughing, slapping his thigh in delight, forgetting his pain,

"Second, what else do you have to say! Both of us suspect you. Do you still want to deny it?!"

King Guxu clenched his teeth silently: "Elder Brother jests. This matter is grave. It's not like leading troops into battle, where the side with more people has the right. Your son humbly requests that Father thoroughly investigate this matter and clear my name."

After his words, he prostrated himself, not rising. The Emperor showed no reaction. Sitting high above, he observed his three sons' expressions as an outsider. Though silent, his presence made breathing difficult, cold sweat slowly dampening their backs.

Lu Yan felt the Ghost Engineer's Orb in his sleeve. Recalling something, he suddenly rose from his seat under everyone's watchful eyes and knelt before the Emperor: "Father, when Second Brother mentioned 'innocence,' it reminded me of something."

The Emperor's voice was unreadable: "Speak."

Lu Yan said, "A few days ago, a group of martial swordsmen suddenly attacked my residence. They were supposedly from the Heavenly Pivot Palace…"

Before he could finish, King Guxu's face paled. The matter with the Heavenly Pivot Palace had already been confirmed as his doing. By mentioning it now, wasn't Lu Yan implying that he was ruthless and heartless, disregarding brotherly ties?!

A person capable of killing his own brother might very well attempt to assassinate his father. King Guxu broke out in cold sweat, yet dared not interrupt. He felt as if he was caught in a hopeless situation!

Lu Yan continued, "Father, wise and brilliant, has already dispatched men to apprehend these remnants. However, according to my investigation, the Heavenly Pivot Palace had secretly split in two long ago. One half, tired of poverty, turned towards the nobility and wealth, while the other half remained in the mountains, guarding our ancestors' legacy, having nothing to do with the assassination."

"They were arrested without cause and subjected to severe torture in prison, including innocent children and women. I humbly request that Father show mercy and spare their lives."

The Emperor hadn't expected Lu Yan to bring up this matter. In his youth, his nature was cruel and resolute, driving away three kingdoms, with countless souls lost to his sword. Now, though aged, he wouldn't place much value on the lives of those dozens of old, weak, and defenseless Heavenly Pivot Palace members. His brows furrowed: "Is that all you wanted to say?"

Was Lu Yan genuinely trying to save them, or was he simply trying to smear Second Brother further?

Lu Yan replied, "In response to Father, that is all I wished to say."

He had a feeling that King Guxu was about to suffer greatly. If he didn't speak up now, the Emperor might not be in the mood to listen later.

The Emperor closed his eyes, rubbing his temples, clearly not taking this matter seriously. His tone was weary: "Since you've determined they're unrelated, have the prison release them later."

"Father's wisdom is unmatched."

Lu Yan thanked him for his grace and then tentatively asked, "Father is busy with affairs. Perhaps your son should take his leave?"

The Emperor was annoyed by his presence: "Wretched child, get out. You shouldn't have come to the palace today!"

After his words, he looked at King Nanxun and said sternly, "You return to your residence to recuperate. Second, stay behind."

There was nothing more delightful than seeing one's enemy suffer. Upon hearing this, King Nanxun smoothly paid his respects and departed, casting a gloating glance at King Guxu. Then, supported by two eunuchs, he exited in an awkward posture.

Lu Yan also quickly left the Eternal Hall, clutching his chest where the Emperor had kicked him. Just as the doors closed, he distinctly heard the sound of a porcelain cup shattering inside, followed by the Emperor's indistinct angry curse:

"You didn't do it?! If you truly didn't, dare you swear by the Nine Heavens?!"

Lu Yan shook his head, feeling that King Gusu was "pitiful," dragged into the mess by King Nanxun for no reason, a black pot of blame falling from the sky, truly unjust.

The same could be said for King Nanxun; he had no idea about the assassin's origins. Adhering to the principle of 'better a friend dies than I do,' and 'if I can't have it easy, neither will you,' he deliberately implicated King Gusu out of spite, promptly forgetting the whole affair upon returning to his palace.

But what they never expected was that the assassin was indeed sent by King Gusu!

"Really? Are you sure?"

Lu Yan, originally lounging on the reclining couch while rubbing medicinal wine, instinctively sat up straight at the news, feeling a buzz in his head: It couldn't be! They had been brawling like dogs in front of the Eternal Hall, randomly biting someone, and it turned out to be the real culprit?!

"It seems true. Word has it that his actual power has been taken away, and now he is confined within his palace. The Emperor hasn't decided how to deal with him yet."

Shang Junning was applying medicinal wine to Lu Yan, pouring the oil into his palm and warming it before kneading the bruise on the other's wrist. His slender fingers, calloused from years of sword practice, applied just the right pressure, creating a rough yet soothing sensation.

Shang Junning frowned. "You've been practicing swordsmanship too hard with Eunuch He these past few days. The palace's medicinal wine isn't enough for your use."

Lu Yan reclined back onto the couch, his voice languid. "Recently, there were a few moves I couldn't quite grasp, so I asked him for more guidance. The severity of my injuries is a good thing; it means Eunuch He now has to use his full strength to defeat me, unable to hold back anymore."

Shang Junning glanced at Lu Yan. "Isn't the Emperor also a Sword Master? Why doesn't he teach you techniques, but instead leaves it to Eunuch He?"

Lu Yan found it strange as well, furrowing his brows. "The Heart Sutra of the Immortal Spirit Sword Sect can only be learned by imperial offspring. Father has always doted on me, but for some reason, he only taught me a couple of moves during my childhood, never mentioning it again."

"King Gusu prefers literature, so his mediocre sword skills are understandable, but why didn't Father teach King Nanxun, who leads troops into battle, instead allowing him to learn the He family sword under Master He Jian Shuang?"

Lu Yan grew increasingly perplexed. "Could it be because only half of the Immortal Spirit Heart Sutra remains, making it impossible to teach?"

Shang Junning spoke calmly. "Even if only half of the text remains, the Emperor is still at the Sword Master level. Surely he knows the techniques by heart. Why doesn't he teach them to you?"

After pondering for a moment, Lu Yan, unable to find an answer, temporarily set it aside. "I'll ask Eunuch He another day. He should know the reason behind it."

After finishing the application of medicinal wine, Shang Junning put away the bottles and jars. "In three days, the envoys from various nations will start arriving in the capital for the grand tribute ceremony. Don't practice swordsmanship these few days; otherwise, your face will look bruised and unappealing."

Seeing Shang Junning rise as if to leave, Lu Yan reached out and hooked his sleeve. "Where is the Chancellor going?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Junning finally lost his composure, irritably pulling his sleeve back. "Of course, I'm copying scriptures for you. There are still thirty-seven volumes left to copy!"

Ever since kicking King Nanxun's crotch, Lu Yan had been punished by the Emperor to copy a hundred scrolls of scriptures. Unfortunately, his hands would ache and tremble after daily sword practice, making it impossible for him to even hold a brush, resulting in chicken scratch-like writing. Thus, Shang Junning had been doing the copying for him.

No one enjoys the tedious task of copying, and Shang Junning was no exception. Every time he thought about the half-drawer of unfinished books and the effort required to mimic Lu Yan's chicken scratch, his already gloomy mood became even more irritable.

Hearing this, Lu Yan instantly retracted his hand. "Chancellor, please go ahead. This Prince won't disturb you. Father said that the remaining scrolls must be checked next month. This Prince's hands are injured, so I cannot exert myself. I'll have to trouble you."

Shang Junning glared at him menacingly. "Your Highness' hands are injured, but aren't mine injured as well?"

His injury from having his tendons severed hadn't fully healed, and the chest wound from the sword had just recovered. What misfortune did he suffer to have to help the other copy scriptures!

Lu Yan wore a smile that wasn't quite a smile, handsome and charming, yet infuriating. He swayed Shang Junning's sleeve. "This Prince wouldn't have accidentally injured Big Brother and incurred Father's punishment if not for fearing that the Chancellor would be stripped naked. You should share some of the burden for this Prince."

Shang Junning swiftly pulled his sleeve away and headed towards the study. "It seems I should avoid entering the palace next time."

However, Lu Yan smiled. "That won't work. On the day of the grand banquet, this Prince plans to bring you and the three hostages to attend. I thought Liu Que Dan and the others might miss their homeland and want to see their relatives from home."

Shang Junning paused for a moment before resuming his normal pace. "Then we shall go."

After leaving the inner chamber, he went to the adjacent study to copy scriptures. Meanwhile, Eunuch He quietly appeared in the room, standing beside the reclining couch and respectfully bowing. "Your Highness."

Lu Yan sat up straight, leaning against the pillow in contemplation. "Eunuch He, this Prince feels that my sword techniques have reached a bottleneck, making it difficult to break through."

Eunuch He nodded. "Your Highness, the techniques you have learned are exquisite and unparalleled, the best this old servant has ever seen. To achieve such mastery at a young age, calling you a genius would not be an exaggeration."

"Some people strive for years to glimpse the realm of Sword Master without success, while others suddenly gain enlightenment in an instant. It all depends on fate, something that cannot be forced. You are still young, and it's only a matter of time."

Lu Yan wasn't in a hurry. "Eunuch He, you are also a Sword Master. Do you have any techniques to impart?"

Eunuch He gave a rare smile, his aged and fair face concealing eyes that remained bright after decades. "Your Highness, this servant is a eunuch, and eunuchs have their own techniques that cannot be practiced by those with intact bodies."

Afraid of touching a sensitive topic, Lu Yan realized his slip of the tongue and changed the subject. "Are you and Eunuch She fellow disciples from the same school?"

Eunuch He didn't deny it. "This old servant and Senior Brother She both entered the palace at a young age to serve His Majesty. There were also Senior Brothers Hu and Xiang, but they were fortunate enough to serve the late emperor."

Lu Yan looked at him with a hint of doubt in his gaze. "Since you have been in the palace for many years, do you know...why Father is unwilling to pass down the Immortal Spirit Sword Sect's Heart Sutra to this Prince?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air fell silent, as if the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.

Eunuch He's expression changed several times. Finally, he broke precedent by performing a kneeling bow, speaking in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear:

"Your Highness, it's not that His Majesty is unwilling to pass it down, but rather, he cannot!"