Chapter 36: Sang Yu, Descending from the Sky

Chapter 36: Sang Yu Descending from the Sky

A ring of archers surrounded the pit, all arrows aimed at him. He was as good as dead, but he wouldn't die in vain.

Li Zhiming calmly accepted his fate this time around, lifting his chin with dignity: "Was it you who made the Crown Prince and Li Zhixing vanish?"

The Fourth Prince shot him a contemptuous glance: "How stupid. No wonder the Crown Prince picked your little brother."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing much. The Crown Prince isn't someone I can scheme against. All I can do is stack the deck in my favor. I want a shot at it too, get it?"

"?"

He didn't get it.

He changed tack, forcing a cold laugh: "Your Highness, could it be you can't beat the Crown Prince, so you're trying to get your kicks from me? If I die, there'll be hell to pay."

"Not so fast. If you die, doesn't the Prime Minister's estate still have another young master?"

Li Zhiming's smile almost froze. He felt like he'd caught a thread.

"Could Your Highness be under someone's thumb too? Or is Your Highness actually running errands for someone else? That does surprise me."

A flicker of suspicion crossed the Fourth Prince's eyes. He stared at him for a long moment before speaking: "Didn't think a blockhead could have a clear-headed moment. No wonder someone's got their eye on you."

"Since I'm dying anyway, why not just tell me who wants me dead, so I can die knowing."

As he spoke, Li Zhiming spread his arms wide, looking like a man at peace with death.

The Fourth Prince was clearly rattled, his expression shifting all over the place. He even double-checked that there was no ambush nearby, and only when he was sure the rescue party was still tied up in the woods did he relax.

"Your Highness, you know damn well how I got here. I didn't bring a soul. If I die here, someone else takes the fall. So what's got you scared?"

He stared straight at him, like he was trying to see right through him.

Through various channels, he'd naturally figured out all the princes. The Fourth Prince was power-hungry, but his talents were limited—he was no match for the Crown Prince.

But he wouldn't quit, always stirring the pot, trying to make a name for himself.

It was only because the Crown Prince was kind, tolerant, and valued brotherhood that he hadn't been killed a hundred times over.

Li Zhiming continued: "Your Highness, could it be you're too scared to even name your partner in crime? With guts like that, you'll never be Crown Prince. The Emperor wouldn't like that either."

The moment those treasonous, cutting words left his mouth, the Fourth Prince's expression indeed changed.

"You really want to die?"

"I don't, but will you let me live?"

"Of course not."

"Then there we have it."

"You..." The Fourth Prince was enraged, grinding his teeth. "I thought the eldest young master was something, but you're just a pretty face. How pathetic that your little brother's so scared of you. I really don't understand."

Li Zhiming's heart skipped a beat.

"Getting killed by your own trusted brother—does that feel good?"

"..."

"Li Zhiming, oh Li Zhiming. A fool's always a fool. You, the legitimate son, got played by a concubine's brat. No wonder he went through all that trouble to raise you into a waste of space."

"Continue, Your Highness."

"Don't get cute with me. Prime Minister Li will never know how you died. How pathetic—he even paved the way for a fool like you. A lost cause, what good are you? Just like that two-faced Crown Prince—both of you are useless!!"

The more he talked, the more worked up he got, his face turning beet red. He really had that power-hungry look the rumors talked about.

Li Zhiming clenched his fists, studying the people above.

They all wore matching clothes, but they didn't look like official gear. This guy was so unhinged—his men had to be shady too.

"Fool, loose the arrows."

At the Fourth Prince's command, arrows flew all at once, and sure enough, he was done for.

It'd been so long since he'd died that he felt surprisingly calm this time.

This time, he didn't go to the woods. He had Feng Yin take men to investigate the Fourth Prince, and thoroughly search the area around the woods, especially for out-of-the-way villages.

As for the brothel, he still had to hit it.

Li Zhiming went straight to the fake courtesan's room. Without any pleasantries, he grabbed her and asked point-blank: "Who was the man in black you met with?"

If he didn't hurry, she'd strike first, and he'd die again.

The woman still wouldn't crack, insisting she didn't know, that she'd never seen anyone.

Pushed to the edge, Li Zhiming played along, pressing a blade to her neck with a dark look: "I'll ask one more time. Who is it? Talk, and you might live. Clam up, and you're dead!"

"I don't know. Kill me and it won't change anything."

Li Zhiming pressed in, the blade about to draw blood. His hand was shaking—he could barely keep up the act—but he kept pushing.

"Who could make you not give a damn about the Prime Minister's estate?"

At the mention of the Prime Minister's estate, the woman gave a barely noticeable shudder. Though she quickly recovered, Li Zhiming caught it.

He deliberately asked more questions, but only when it came to the Prime Minister's estate did her reaction shift even slightly.

The answer was pretty obvious now.

Li Zhiming let her go, his tone cryptic as he warned: "I'm warning you—keep your nose clean. If you can't, then run for your life. Money and glory aren't worth your life."

He dropped the knife and turned to walk out of the courtesan's room.

Sure enough, she couldn't hold it in. Though he'd braced himself, walking out into an unavoidable assassination attempt was still nerve-wracking.

"Move!"

Someone grabbed his arm, pulling him through the corridor like it was empty, jumping from the second floor—but he was caught clean.

When he saw his savior's face, Li Zhiming's eyes went wide.

"Sang Yu?!?"

Sang Yu, dropping out of the sky?

"It's me."

Sang Yu pulled him along and kept running, twisting and turning through back alleys until they ducked into a small courtyard, then slammed the door shut behind them and hid inside a room.

Li Zhiming was still reeling in shock.

Just as he was about to ask what was going on, he saw Sang Yu scowling fiercely, looking like he was in agony.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Yeah."

Sang Yu looked half-dead and dramatically leaned against his shoulder.

Li Zhiming shoved him, freaking out: "Hey, don't you dare die on me. Where are you hurt? Let me patch you up. Where is it?"

"Here..."

Sang Yu pointed feebly at his shoulder.

Li Zhiming finally made out a small knife wound on his dark clothing.

"..."

I thought this guy didn't feel pain?

He shoved him off without a second thought: "You're this dramatic over a scratch? I'll patch you up, but tell me—how did you get here? Aren't you not supposed to leave the capital?"

Sang Yu said nothing, silently extending his hand.

Such a drama queen.

Li Zhiming pulled him down to sit, did a quick and dirty patch-up job, and bandaged it.

Only then did this guy finally speak, taking his sweet time: "About seven days after you left, the Crown Prince returned to the capital safely. I had a feeling you might be in danger, so I came to check on you. Didn't expect to find you actually were."