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 a hundred and twenty yards out.

A crisp "thwack" hit the bullseye dead center.

Chen Shuoan had always had sharp eyesight, and he could tell exactly where the arrow landed, clapping his hands in praise.

Qin Zhonglian smiled confidently, lowering his raised hand and casting a distant glance toward Chen Shuoan.

Receiving the signal, Chen Shuoan shouted even louder.

"Hell yeah, Brother Qin!"

Yuan Rang's face fell, his mood taking a nosedive.

His lips pressed into a thin line, his narrow eyes darting a glance at Qin Zhonglian beside him.

Then he ran his tongue over his sharp canine tooth.

Yuan Rang pulled an iron arrow from the quiver carried by the warrior behind him, slowly drawing the bowstring. The snow-white fletching brushed his sharp jawline in the breeze, making him look even colder and more striking.

The arrow tore through the air and slammed into the target, its hum ringing across the whole range.

Emperor Yuan Zun rose from his seat, listening to the warrior's score call, and slowly smiled: "Old Six's archery has gotten a lot sharper lately."

Yuan Wu immediately followed up on Yuan Zun's words: "Sixth Brother's really been putting in the work on this."

Yuan Zun cut him a sideways glance and said, "Yuan Rang's taking first place today, no question. He's gotta be rewarded."

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

The Emperor's gaze fell from his elevated position onto Yuan Rang in the archery range, his face unreadable, saying only: "What goes up must come down. Tread carefully."

Yuan Wu followed the Emperor's gaze, catching his meaning: "I understand, Father."

Chen Shuoan slowly slumped over, only to be yanked up by the collar by Zheng Yuanzhi—who was himself nursing an injury: "What's wrong with you?"

Chen Shuoan murmured: "Oh my god, oh my grandma, oh my jacket, oh my coat. His Highness the Sixth Prince is so hot my legs turned to jelly."

Zhang Chenggong was utterly contemptuous: "What a pathetic loser, zero spine—not that I'm saying His Highness isn't hot—I'm just calling out Chen Shuoan specifically."

No joke, Zhang Chenggong was born precise. The moment those words left his mouth, he immediately covered himself. Smart enough to make people wanna kowtow.

"With skills like that, why's the Sixth Prince even bothering with archery? He should be playing with something he's actually good at—like my heart."

Chen Shuoan had no filter, spitting out dirty jokes without a second thought.

Zheng Yuanzhi: "..."

Zhang Chenggong: "..."

Li Wei: "..."

He suddenly lunged, locking an arm around Chen Shuoan's neck, and gritted out: "Oh yeah?! A few days ago I saw the Sixth Prince coming out of your room and thought something was fishy. Don't tell me you two are actually a thing?!"

"What?!" Zheng Yuanzhi gasped in shock.

"Really?!" Zhang Chenggong looked utterly incredulous, "The Sixth Prince is still a damn kid!"

Chen Shuoan's face was covered in black lines; their imagination was wild enough to rival Hans Christian Andersen.

"Kind words make friends, harsh words break hearts. You can eat anything, but you can't just say anything. Keep spreading rumors and I'll put my foot in each of your asses." Chen Shuoan couldn't be bothered to explain—nobody believes something that ridiculous anyway.

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

They went at it like it was an international summit.

Chen Shuoan flashed a death smile, done with their crap. He raised his leg and kicked each of them in the backside one by one.

"Talking shit about me behind my back?"

Li Wei turned back with an awkward smile: "Just sharing our two cents. You're being a little sensitive, Shuo'an."

Zheng Yuanzhi also said: "After careful analysis, we've concluded we were wrong about you. Zhang Chenggong says he's got something to say to you." With that, he shoved Zhang Chenggong forward, using him as a human shield.

Zhang Chenggong scratched his head, looking like a total idiot.

"S-sorry?" Huh? No clue—they didn't tell him what to say.

Chen Shuoan looked at the three shameless faces and smiled with a sweet, murderous calm: "Do fewer things that need apologizing for in the future. I'll remember every single one."

These past few days, Chen Shuoan had been living the good life.

No early morning classes, no competitions to attend. Life was so cushy he'd packed on two pounds.

But today they were setting off back to the palace.

He didn't wanna live anymore, but he figured the one who deserved to die was someone else.

BANG—the door flew open with a violent kick.

It was Qin Zhonglian.

"Can you control your damn dog?" Qin Zhonglian looked pissed, his face black as a skillet.

"Show some respect—his name's Gangpao." Chen Shuoan lay sprawled on the bed, dragging himself up weakly to correct him.

Qin Zhonglian wasn't in the mood to argue, his face sour like he held a grudge of epic proportions against Chen Gangpao.

"What'd he do to you, my dear young master?" Chen Shuoan knew his own dog, didn't he? He firmly believed Chen Gangpao hadn't done anything truly heinous.

"He dropped a deuce in my room." Just mentioning it set Qin Zhonglian off again; he wished he could point at Chen Gangpao's nose and cuss him out right then.

"What?! Did he eat it?!" Chen Shuoan immediately took the matter seriously upon hearing that.

If Chen Gangpao dared to take a bite today, Chen Shuoan would shave off every last one of his dog whiskers!

"Nah, he ran off right after. Faster than a rabbit."

Chen Shuoan calmed down and said: "Everyone's gotta go, and little dogs pee wherever they please. Even if Chen Gangpao was out of line, to be fair—doesn't your room bear a little responsibility too?"

"Are you blaming me?" Qin Zhonglian let out a sinister laugh, his big hand grabbing the back of Chen Shuoan's neck.

"No way, bro. We're heading back to the palace today, so don't dwell on it. The dog doesn't know any better—but you do, right?" Chen Shuoan hastily escaped his clutches, slipping behind him to pound his shoulders a few times, cowardly.

Chen Gangpao shared his surname Chen after all, so Chen Shuoan couldn't help but say a few words for the dog: "Gangpao is actually pretty obedient. You just need to make a 'tsk tsk tsk' sound and he'll come back. No need to chase him."

"What dog doesn't wag its tail when it hears 'tsk tsk tsk'?" Qin Zhonglian sneered. "Don't make excuses for him. I'm pretty sure he's holding a grudge because I kicked his food bowl a few days ago."

Chen Shuoan: "..."

Then he suddenly sprang up and started pounding the hell out of that bastard's back.

Kicking his bowl is like slapping him in the face! How dare this guy come here and turn the tables on him?

Chen Gangpao, at that age where you can't hold it in, had swallowed a huge grievance.

"I was wondering why that bowl rolled so far and broke into eight pieces—so you've come to confess?" Chen Shuoan stared at Qin Zhonglian in a sinister voice.

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

"Sorry? You can be double sorry and it still won't cut it! Chen Gangpao is the little dog that His Highness the Sixth Prince and I hold closest to our hearts. This can't just be brushed aside." Chen Shuoan, now holding the moral high ground, straightened his back with an air of arrogance, acting like some old-time landlord grinding down a poor peasant.

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

Chen Shuoan replied expressionlessly: "Your prejudice against Chen Gangpao is honestly disgusting."

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

Seeing him relent, Chen Shuoan was overjoyed inside but put on a pitiful act: "The journey back to the capital is long and arduous. Might I trouble you, Master Qin, to 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, holding Chen Gangpao in his hand, smiled and said: "Why didn't you come find me, Reader Chen?"

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