Chapter 4 Holding Him, Returning to the Eastern Palace

Chapter 4: Carry Him, Return to the Eastern Palace

The Crown Prince’s order left Xiaoyunzi with no choice but to obey. He quickly gathered up Su Zheng’s long hair, tying it into a bun and securing it with a hair crown.

Su Zheng was fairly satisfied and nodded. “Show me how to put on this robe.”

“This servant will help you, Your Highness,” Xiaoyunzi said, reaching for the robe.

Su Zheng grabbed it himself first, throwing it over his shoulders, only letting Xiaoyunzi guide him on how to fasten the ties and belt.

Finally, he put on a fox-fur-collared leather coat for warmth. According to the original owner’s memories, it was the tail end of the spring chill, and the weather was still biting cold.

Su Zheng stood straight-backed, shoulders squared, his chin slightly lifted. His face was delicate yet sharp, with refined features and pale skin. His clear eyes held no emotion, giving off a cool, aloof vibe.

As he stepped out of the hall, Nanny Chen waited outside.

Su Zheng said impatiently to Nanny Chen, “I’m not feeling well and can’t stand the smell of those powders and perfumes. Don’t let the maids into the inner hall. Just have Xiaoyunzi wait outside.”

Nanny Chen quickly asked, “Your Highness, are you alright? Should I call a doctor?”

“No need. I’m going for a walk in the imperial garden. Don’t bother following me.”

As he walked, Su Zheng asked the System, “System, are the Eastern Palace guards all Empress Shen’s people?”

“The guard captain is one of Empress Shen’s men. There’s a second-rank guard named Xu Mo who works for the male lead. The rest just do as they’re told.”

Su Zheng arched an eyebrow. “The Eastern Palace has one of the male lead’s guys? Which one’s Xu Mo?”

“The one on the left, second row behind you.”

Even though Su Zheng said not to follow, the maids and guards didn’t dare disobey. They hung back, keeping him in sight.

Su Zheng stopped, and those behind him halted too.

He pointed at the guard captain and three other guards, including Xu Mo. “You four, circle around me to block their view.”

The four guards, not sure what the Crown Prince was up to, could only salute with clasped fists and obey.

Once they’d circled him, Su Zheng made the guard captain take off his cloak and hand it over. He wrapped it around himself, then casually pointed to Xu Mo. “You, come with me and cover for me.”

He turned to the guard captain and ordered, “After I leave, take the others forward, take a detour to shake off those behind us, then meet me by the Carp Pond.”

With that, Su Zheng turned and walked off with Xu Mo.

Following the System’s directions, they skipped the Carp Pond and headed straight for the Martial Training Ground.

Over at the Martial Training Ground.

Tenth Prince Su Wang was dead set on sparring with Luo Yunchen to prove he, as a legitimate imperial prince, was second to none.

The others naturally buttered him up, though they secretly worried. This Heir of Beiyuan was a hard nut to crack, completely clueless about tact. What if he actually beat the Tenth Prince?

Eighth Prince Su Yang chuckled and said, “Tenth Brother’s martial skills are naturally extraordinary. At your age, none of us could match your current prowess. However, Heir Luo is over three years older than you. This contest is hardly fair.”

The others quickly chimed in, “Exactly, exactly. This is too unfair.”

The Tenth Prince was somewhat swayed. “Then how should we compete?”

“How about this: both sides may use weapons, but Heir Luo’s hands must be bound. Heir Luo has no objections, I assume.”

Luo Yunchen merely glanced expressionlessly at the Eighth Prince and said nothing.

The Eighth Prince’s face darkened, but he quickly recovered his smile and said to the Tenth Prince, “It seems Heir Luo has no objections. So it’s settled. What do you think, Tenth Brother?”

“Fine, let’s do it that way. Give him a sword too.”

Soon, Luo Yunchen’s hands were bound behind his back, and a sword was placed in his hand.

The match began. The Tenth Prince raised his sword and charged at Luo Yunchen.

Luo Yunchen stood straight as a rod, utterly still. Only when the Tenth Prince was nearly upon him did he drop his sword to the ground, flip over, and kick the sword’s hilt, swinging it up.

“Clang.” The Tenth Prince’s sword was knocked away. Before he could recover, Luo Yunchen kicked him to the ground.

With his hands bound behind him, Luo Yunchen had felled the Tenth Prince in one move.

The surroundings fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stood stunned, hardly daring to breathe, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

It wasn’t that they doubted Heir Luo’s martial prowess or the Tenth Prince’s lack of skill. It was that they couldn’t believe Heir Luo would dare offend the Tenth Prince so blatantly, leaving him no face at all!

The Eighth Prince was the first to react, stepping forward to help the Tenth Prince up. “Tenth Brother, are you alright? Heir Luo, how dare you! You attacked Tenth Brother by surprise and injured him! Do you know your crime?”

Some of the others snapped to attention and, without needing orders, immediately pressed down on Luo Yunchen’s shoulders, forcing him to kneel.

The Tenth Prince shook off the Eighth Prince’s helping hand. The humiliation of defeat and the pain in his body fueled his rage.

Was it truly as others said—that he, a legitimate imperial prince, was inferior to a lowly heir?

Burning with fury, the Tenth Prince strode over to Luo Yunchen, sword in hand, and snarled, “You wretch! Who gave you the nerve to ambush me? If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll forget your place!”

With that, he thrust his sword into Luo Yunchen’s side, then yanked it out and threw it to the ground, sending blood splattering.

Luo Yunchen only grunted. With his hands bound, he couldn’t press the wound to stop the bleeding. He could only straighten his back, enduring the pain and the cold that seeped through him as he lost blood.

The Tenth Prince tossed aside the cloth he’d used to wipe his hands and ordered harshly, “Leave one man to watch him. He’s not to leave until he’s knelt for two full hours. Let’s go.”

By the time Su Zheng arrived with Xu Mo, Luo Yunchen had already collapsed unconscious on the ground.

Su Zheng pretended to be curious and walked over. “Who’s there? What’s going on?”

The young eunuch left to guard him, seeing the Crown Prince, hurriedly knelt. “Reporting to Your Highness, the Tenth Prince ordered this servant to watch over Heir Luo.”

“Heir Luo? That’s Heir Luo? Why is he lying on the ground?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, this, this is…”

Seeing the eunuch stammering and unable to form a complete sentence, Su Zheng’s tone turned sharp. “Speak quickly!”

The eunuch trembled violently and hastily recounted the events to Su Zheng.

“Nonsense! You, go immediately to Zhongkun Palace and report everything to the Empress. If you dare delay or hide a single thing, I’ll have your head!”

The young eunuch was terrified and didn't dare delay a moment. After taking his leave, he rushed straight to Zhongkun Palace.

Su Zheng glanced at Luo Yunchen, who lay motionless on the ground.

Luo Yunchen was lying half-face down, his face out of sight, with his hair slightly disheveled, his clothes thin, his figure slender, and a pool of blood beneath him.

Su Zheng thought to himself, "He really does look quite pitiful."

Turning to Xu Mo, whose expression remained unchanged, Su Zheng tossed his cloak to him and pointed at Luo Yunchen. "Cover him with this, pick him up, and follow me back to the East Palace."