Chapter 40: 040 Bullying
Chu Qianchen felt a little disappointed and quickened her pace towards the Yongding Marquis’ residence.
She didn’t notice a black horse with hooves treading on the snow, leisurely swishing its tail in the alley beside Jishi Hall. Its owner, Prince Chen, Gu Jue, was striding swiftly into the hall.
He was wearing a light moon-white Daoist robe with a white collar guard, tied at the waist with a lake-blue silk cord.
As he walked, the wide sleeves of his robe fluttered, and the simple outfit gave him an air of elegant grace, as if the breeze itself had carried him.
The attendant was about to stop him when he heard Mo Chen’s voice from behind:
“Master!”
Mo Chen was on his way back to the rear hall to check on Yun Zhan, but upon seeing Gu Jue, he immediately cupped his fists in salute.
“How is Yun Zhan?” Gu Jue asked as soon as he entered the front hall, his breath slightly disordered.
Gu Jue had just heard about Yun Zhan’s injury and immediately rushed here on horseback. On the way, he had passed the Qingming Tea Shop. The large patch of blood outside the shop had already dried, but it was still shocking to see.
Gu Jue had already braced himself for the worst.
Having fought on the battlefield for many years, he knew well that any neck injury caused by a sharp blade, especially one that severed the blood vessels in the neck, was usually fatal.
“Master, Yun Zhan is alive,” Mo Chen replied quickly.
Gu Jue widened his eyes slightly.
Mo Chen wasn’t one for many words, but he never spoke without reason.
So, Yun Zhan really did survive?
This unexpected relief made Gu Jue’s heart ease. His gaze shifted past Mo Chen to Marquis Zhongyong who had emerged from the rear hall. He changed the subject, “You go and watch over Yun Zhan.”
Mo Chen cupped his fists in acknowledgment and turned to head to the rear hall.
“Your Highness!” Marquis Zhongyong stepped forward, cupping his fists in greeting with a forced smile, “Yun Zhan has been reckless, many thanks to Your Highness for your concern.”
“Your Highness?!” The attendant overheard the title and felt his legs go weak, staring at Gu Jue in disbelief.
Although the capital was full of nobles, this young man, who looked as scholarly as a scholar, was actually a prince?!
The attendant silently took a step back.
He suddenly found that the previously cold face seemed a little more approachable now. It was lucky that the icy-faced man had spoken quickly, or else he might have offended someone important.
“Marquis, you’re here. That makes things easier,” Gu Jue smiled at Marquis Zhongyong.
His smile was warm and inviting, like a spring breeze, but his eyes were as cold as ice, devoid of any warmth.
Hearing this, Marquis Zhongyong’ heart skipped a beat. He sensed a hostile tone in Gu Jue’s words.
“Your Highness, it was my son Yun Hao who accidentally injured his brother. He is extremely regretful. Thankfully, Yun Zhan is unharmed. Otherwise, he would be devastated.” The smile on Marquis Zhongyong’ face grew even stiffer.
Although Marquis Zhongyong had no notable achievements in the court, he came from a long line of distinguished officials, and had seen many things. He could still manage to maintain the demeanor of an aristocrat in front of Gu Jue.
His words were also a subtle reminder to Gu Jue that Yun Hao and Yun Zhan were his sons, and that sibling quarrels were just family matters of the Yun family.
Lowering his stance, Marquis Zhongyong added in a softer tone, “Your Highness need not worry. When I return, I will properly punish that boy and make him apologize to Yun Zhan.”
“Apologize?” Gu Jue’s voice rang clear as jade striking against stone.
The slight rise in his tone sent a chill down Marquis Zhongyong’ spine.
The Marquis quickly said, “Your Highness, I will have Yun Hao kneel and apologize to his brother.”
Gu Jue casually flicked the sleeve of his robe, his voice indifferent. “Since Yun Zhan is fine, I won’t pursue the matter further.”
Marquis Zhongyong let out a sigh of relief, unable to stop himself from wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
“But I will break off one of Third young master Yun’s hands,” Gu Jue continued, his tone light and casual, as if it were a trivial matter.
Marquis Zhongyong: !!!
Marquis Zhongyong was shocked and blurted out, “This cannot be! Your Highness, Yun Zhan is fine now.”
“That’s right,” Gu Jue said, standing with his hands behind his back, speaking casually, “So, there’s no need for Third young master Yun to pay for his blood with blood.”
“Your Highness…” Marquis Zhongyong wanted to argue further, but suddenly there was a loud, harsh voice from outside the Jishi Hall: “Father! Father!”
It was Yun Hao.
A moment later, Yun Hao, with disheveled hair, was forcibly dragged into the front hall of the clinic by two armored soldiers.
Yun Hao’s face was full of panic as he struggled and shouted, “Let go of me! Let go of me! Why are you treating me like this?!”
Marquis Zhongyong was alarmed and yelled, “What are you doing?!”
“Let him go!”
Marquis Zhongyong rushed forward to pull Yun Hao away, but he had been idle for many years and wasn’t strong enough to contend with the two elite soldiers, who had fought on the battlefield. They easily avoided his grasp.
“Your Highness,” Marquis Zhongyong turned to Gu Jue, speaking in a soft tone, “Please show mercy. Yun Hao is still young, and he knows his mistake.”
“Yun Hao, apologize to His Highness!” Marquis Zhongyong sternly ordered.
“Marquis, no need for apologies,” Gu Jue continued smiling, speaking softly, “I only require one of his hands.”
“Marquis, will you handle it yourself, or should I have someone do it for you?”
His expression was calm, but his demeanor was dignified and resolute, giving off a powerful aura despite his composed words.
Marquis Zhongyong froze, shivers running down his spine.
Yun Hao was terrified, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
Prince Chen was going to break one of his hands?
No, that couldn’t happen!
It was Yun Zhan, that bastard, who was inferior, so why should it be Yun Hao who suffered?!
“Father, help me!” Yun Hao cried out in fear, his voice trembling, “I didn’t mean to! It’s Yun Zhan’s fault for not dodging!”
“Father, I only listened to Uncle…”
“Shut up!” Marquis Zhongyong shouted sharply, quickly interrupting Yun Hao.
He gave Yun Hao a fierce look, signaling him to stop talking, and then turned to Gu Jue, “Your Highness, Yun Zhan is my son. Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh; I won’t let him suffer.”
After all, this was just a minor conflict between brothers. The father hadn’t said anything, so why was Prince Chen forcing the issue?
Marquis Zhongyong became more insistent, continuing, “Your Highness, we are in the capital, under the Emperor’s nose, not the northern territories.”
“One word from you and you want to break a person’s hand? Isn’t that too much of an abuse of power?”
Marquis Zhongyong was subtly reminding Gu Jue that in the capital, with the Emperor’s authority, Gu Jue couldn’t do whatever he pleased as he might in the northern lands. This could escalate, and that wouldn’t be beneficial for him.
“It seems you’re unwilling…” Gu Jue merely flicked his eyelids, signaling to the armored soldiers, who immediately understood. One of them twisted Yun Hao’s right arm with slight force.
Crack!
“Ah—” Yun Hao’s face turned pale as he screamed in pain, like a dying animal.
Gu Jue casually waved his hand, and the two armored soldiers released Yun Hao.
Without their support, Yun Hao collapsed to the ground, clutching his broken right arm, writhing in pain, sweat pouring down his face.
“Ah Hao!” Marquis Zhongyong paled, rushing to hold his son tightly, shouting, “Physician!”
“That young miss earlier—someone, go! Quickly! Bring her back to treat Ah Hao!”
“Ah Hao!”
“…”
Gu Jue stood where he was, looking down at Marquis Zhongyong. His gaze was clear and indifferent, with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, as though he were observing a trivial matter.
“I am indeed bullying you,” he said flatly.
After that, he stopped looking at the father and son, walking past them with a steady pace, heading straight for the rear hall.
Marquis Zhongyong watched Gu Jue’s tall figure retreating, his heart sinking. Gu Jue’s gaze had felt like it pierced right through him, as if he could not hide anything. It was a look that seemed to say, “I know everything.”
His eyes, which had seemed dark and shifting, were now shadowed by the shelves, adding a layer of darkness to his expression.
(End of chapter)
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