Chapter 17: The Return Journey

Chapter 17: The Return Journey

Qin Zhonglian drew the bowstring and released, the arrow tearing through the air toward the target forty zhang (roughly 130 yards) away.

A crisp "ding"—dead center.

Chen Shuo'an, blessed with sharp eyesight, could gauge the arrow's position well enough and clapped in admiration when he saw the result.

Qin Zhonglian smiled with confidence, lowering his raised hand and shooting a look across the field at Chen Shuo'an.

Receiving the signal, Chen Shuo'an shouted even louder.

"Hell yeah, Brother Qin!"

Yuan Rang's face fell, his mood turning sour in an instant.

His thin lips pressed into a tight line as his narrow eyes flicked toward Qin Zhonglian beside him.

Then he ran his tongue over his pointed canines.

Yuan Rang drew an iron arrow from the quiver held by the warrior behind him, slowly nocking it to the bowstring. The snow-white fletchings brushed against his chiseled profile in the gentle breeze, accentuating his cold, striking looks.

The arrow tore toward the target, its hum reverberating across the entire range.

Emperor Yuan Zun rose from his seat, listening to the warrior's score call and slowly breaking into a smile: "The Sixth Prince's archery has improved considerably lately."

Yuan Wu immediately followed up on the Emperor's words: "Sixth Brother has indeed put a lot of work into his archery."

Yuan Zun glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and said, "Yuan Rang is certain to take first today—he deserves a reward."

Yuan Wu volunteered eagerly: "Leave it to me, Father."

The Emperor's gaze fell from on high upon Yuan Rang in the archery field, his expression unreadable as he said only: "What goes up must come down. Tread carefully."

Yuan Wu followed the Emperor's gaze, understanding dawning: "I understand, Father."

Chen Shuo'an slowly slumped down, only for Zheng Yuanzhi—himself nursing an injury—to grab him by the collar and haul him up: "What's wrong with you?"

Chen Shuo'an murmured: "Oh my god, oh my goodness, I can't even—His Highness the Sixth Prince is so handsome my legs have turned to jelly."

Zhang Chenggong was thoroughly contemptuous: "What a pathetic excuse for a reaction. Of course, I'm not saying His Highness isn't handsome—I'm just calling out Chen Shuo'an specifically."

No way—he, Zhang Chenggong, was born meticulous. The moment one sentence left his mouth, he immediately covered his tracks. His cleverness was truly something to behold.

"With skills like His Highness's, why waste time on archery? He should focus on what he's really good at—like breaking my heart."

Chen Shuo'an had no filter, spouting shameless flirts left and right.

Zheng Yuanzhi: "..."

Zhang Chenggong: "..."

Li Wei: "..."

He suddenly sprang up, wrapping his arm around Chen Shuo'an's neck and gritting his teeth: "So that's it?! A few days ago I saw His Highness the Sixth Prince coming out of your room and thought something was off—don't tell me you two actually have something going on?!"

"What?!" Zheng Yuanzhi exclaimed in shock.

"Really?!" Zhang Chenggong looked utterly incredulous. "He's still practically a kid!"

Chen Shuo'an looked utterly exasperated. He felt their imagination was rich enough to rival Hans Christian Andersen's.

"Kind words build bridges, harsh words break hearts. You can eat anything, but you can't just say anything. Keep spreading rumors and I'll personally put my foot in each of your asses." Chen Shuo'an couldn't be bothered to explain—no one believes something that ridiculous anyway.

Zheng Yuanzhi gave him a strange look, exchanged glances with the other two buddies, and immediately turned around to launch into a heated discussion.

The intensity was enough to rival an international summit.

Chen Shuo'an flashed a smile that could kill. He couldn't take it anymore—he raised his leg and kicked each of them in the ass one by one.

"Talking shit about me behind my back?"

Li Wei turned back with an awkward smile: "Just sharing my two cents. You're being a bit touchy, Shuo'an."

Zheng Yuanzhi added: "After careful thought, we've all agreed we were wrong about you. Zhang Chenggong has something he wants to say to you." With that, he shoved Zhang Chenggong forward with his right hand.

Zhang Chenggong scratched his head, looking a bit clueless.

"S-sorry?" Wait, what? He didn't know—they hadn't told him what to say.

Chen Shuo'an looked at the three shameless faces and smiled with a warmth that promised murder: "From now on, do fewer things you'll have to apologize for. I'll remember every single one."

These past few days, Chen Shuo'an had been living the good life.

No early morning classes, no competitions to attend—life was so easy he'd gained two pounds.

But today they were heading back to the palace.

He didn't want to live, but he felt like the one who deserved to die was someone else entirely.

"BANG"—the door was kicked open.

It was Qin Zhonglian.

"Can you keep that damn dog of yours in check?" Qin Zhonglian looked thoroughly furious, his face dark as thunder.

"Show some respect—his name's Gangpao." Chen Shuo'an lay sprawled on the bed, hauling himself up just enough to correct him.

Qin Zhonglian wasn't in the mood for this banter. His expression was grim, as if he held a massive grudge against Chen Gangpao.

"What did he do to you, oh great one?" Chen Shuo'an knew his own dog—he firmly believed Chen Gangpao couldn't have done anything truly heinous.

"He took a dump in my room." Qin Zhonglian's anger flared just talking about it, wishing he could point at Chen Gangpao's nose and curse him out on the spot.

"What?! Did he eat it?!" Chen Shuo'an suddenly perked up at that.

If Chen Gangpao dared to eat it, he, Chen Shuo'an, would shave off every last whisker on that dog's face!

"No, he ran off right after. Bolted faster than a rabbit."

Chen Shuo'an calmed down and said: "Everyone's gotta go, and little dogs pee wherever they want. Even if Chen Gangpao was out of line, to be fair—isn't your house a little to blame too?"

"Are you blaming me?" Qin Zhonglian let out a dark chuckle, his big hand grabbing the back of Chen Shuo'an's neck.

"No, no, Brother. We're heading back to the palace today, so let it go. The dog doesn't know any better—but you do, right?" Chen Shuo'an hastily escaped his grip, slipping behind him to massage his shoulders a few times, totally submissive.

Since Chen Gangpao had the same last name as him, Chen Shuo'an couldn't help but put in a good word for the dog: "Gangpao is actually fairly obedient. You just need to make a 'pspsps' sound and he'll come back—no need to chase him."

"What dog doesn't come running at a 'pspsps'?" Qin Zhonglian sneered. "Don't make excuses for him. I can tell he's still pissed because I kicked his food bowl a few days ago."

Chen Shuoan: "..."

Then he suddenly sprang up and pounded fiercely on the bastard's back.

Kicking his bowl is like slapping him in the face! How dare this guy come here and try to blame him for it?

Chen Gangpao, at that age where kids can't hold their pee or poop, had somehow held in a huge grievance.

"I was wondering why that bowl rolled so far and shattered into eight pieces—so you're here to own up to it?" Chen Shuoan stared at Qin Zhonglian with a sinister look.

Qin Zhonglian was speechless, knowing he was at fault: "I accidentally kicked it when I called you to breakfast that day. I'm really sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry doesn't cut it! Chen Gangpao is the little dog that His Highness the Sixth Prince and I treasure. We can't just let this go." Chen Shuoan, now on the winning side of the argument, straightened his back with confidence, looking like some old-time landlord bullying the poor.

Qin Zhonglian clearly missed the point of that statement, asking in shock: "His Highness the Sixth Prince can actually stand this mangy dog?"

Chen Shuoan said expressionlessly: "Your prejudice against Chen Gangpao is seriously messed up."

Qin Zhonglian, knowing he couldn't out-argue Chen Shuoan, reluctantly conceded: "What do you want?"

Seeing him relent, Chen Shuoan was overjoyed inside but feigned weakness: "The journey back to the capital is long and arduous. Could you do me a favor, Master Qin, and give me and Gangpao a ride on your horse..."

Before he could finish, a tall, slender young man walked in through the open door.

Yuan Rang, carrying Chen Gangpao in his arms, smiled and said: "Chen Shuoan, why didn't you come to find me?"

As if he hadn't even noticed Qin Zhonglian's presence, his face was as fair as jade, his demeanor languid and indifferent, his dark pupils locked tightly onto Chen Shuoan's eyes, and a smile curled at his rosy lips: "Hm?"