Aoyama

Chapter 392 Escort
Fragrant Hills Plum Valley.

The prince rode slowly up the gentle slope, with Mr. Liao by his side.

The prince did not go hunting again, but quietly admired the yellow flowers in the plum valley.

Not far away, Prince Fu was also not hunting.

He led the men of the Five Armies Camp to drive away the prey. Wherever the Crown Prince went, Prince Fu would lead his men to drive away the prey in advance, and the attendants of the Eastern Palace could not even see a rabbit.

Prince Fu laughed heartily as he whizzed past the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, if you fail to catch a single prey during the spring hunt, do you think people will start spreading rumors about your moral failings?"

After saying that, he galloped away like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.

An attendant from the Eastern Palace, unable to contain his anger, rode up to the Crown Prince and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Prince Fu is going too far. If we allow him to act so recklessly, you may have to return empty-handed."

The Crown Prince remained unmoved, and Mr. Liao calmly closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing that the Crown Prince did not answer, the attendant of the Eastern Palace assumed that he had tacitly agreed to something: "Don't worry, this humble servant will lead the attendants of the Eastern Palace to deal with him. Even if it costs us our lives, we will fight to the death to save face for you."

Having said that, he was about to order the attendants of the Eastern Palace to go and disrupt the Prince of Fu's procession.

But the Crown Prince smiled and gently stopped him, saying, "Brother Xue Zhui, there's no need for that. My brother is playful; what harm is there in letting him have his fun?"

Xue Zhui, a close attendant, frowned and said, "But if you return empty-handed from the spring hunt, you will become a laughing stock of the world. How can I sit idly by?"

The Crown Prince shook his head: "It's already a laughing stock, one more won't make a difference. While my brother is joking around, you and I can calm down and look at the plum blossoms."

Xue Zhui was taken aback. What time is it? Still admiring plum blossoms?

Mr. Liao slowly opened his eyes and exclaimed, "Your Highness's ability to cultivate inner strength is getting better and better."

The Crown Prince asked with a smile, "Mr. Liao, judging by the time, the candidates should have already entered the examination hall, right?"

Mr. Liao glanced at the sky and said, “Your Highness, the exam has already begun. Today’s exam consists of three questions on the Four Books and four questions on the interpretation of the classics.”

The Crown Prince sighed, "It's a pity that I lost my position as the Education Commissioner this year, so I won't be able to see the candidates' essays sooner. It's a great regret... Mr. Liao, who do you think will win the championship this year?"

According to past practice, the results of the imperial examination were announced after the examination, and those who passed were called "Gongshi" (tribute scholars), totaling about three hundred people.

The palace examination did not eliminate people; Emperor Ning simply ranked these three hundred-odd people. Therefore, those who became tribute students were regarded as "Jinshi" (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). As long as they did not commit any crimes before the palace examination, they were almost guaranteed to pass.

During the palace examination, Emperor Ning personally selected the top three candidates.

The top three scholars in the first class (状元, 榜眼, 探花) were awarded the title of "Jinshi Jidi" (进士及第); the dozens in the second class (二甲) were awarded the title of "Jinshi Chushen" (进士出身); and the more than two hundred in the third class (三甲) were awarded the title of "Tong Jinshi Chushen" (同进士出身).

Mr. Liao said in a low voice, "In my opinion, both Chen Wenzong and Yang Yuan are likely to win the top prize in this imperial examination."

The crown prince asked casually, "What do you mean?"

Mr. Liao pondered for a moment: "Yang Yuan is a young talent selected by the Xu family from the south. Now the imperial treasury is empty. If His Majesty still wants to rely on the Xu family to collect taxes from the south, then Yang Yuan will be the best. However, in recent years, Wu Xiu has extended his reach to the south through the Textile Bureau and the Transport Commissioner, and has even been able to collect salt taxes. Now, Grand Secretary Xu is often muddleheaded. If His Majesty wants to replace him with someone more capable, he will probably choose Chen Wenzong to hint at something."

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "Mr. Liao didn't give me an answer; he's leaving it to me to guess."

Mr. Liao's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said with certainty, "Yang Yuan. Although Grand Secretary Xu is muddleheaded, His Majesty has tacitly allowed Minister Zhang Zhuo to review drafts and memorials on his behalf, which is enough to show His Majesty's favor. The Xu family has a successor, so I think His Majesty will give him some face."

The Crown Prince murmured, "Lord Zhang is a man of great talent. It's a pity that I have invited him several times, but he has always avoided me."

Mr. Liao reassured him, "After returning to the capital, this old minister will think of another way..."

But the next moment, the Crown Prince interrupted, saying, "Mr. Liao is wrong. Yang Yuan will not become the top scholar."

Mr. Liao asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "You've all misjudged Lord Zhang. Lord Zhang isn't a member of the Xu family; he's Father Emperor's man..."

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of approaching hooves could be heard in the distance, fast and urgent, unlike that of an ordinary hunting party.

Mr. Liao immediately spurred his horse to block the Crown Prince's path and said in a deep voice, "Protect His Majesty."

More than ten palace attendants drew their swords, staring menacingly at the end of Plum Valley.

Prince Fu also heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance. He smiled and led Zhou Kuang on horseback, teasingly asking, "What kind of commotion is this that has frightened the Crown Prince of Ning Dynasty like this?"

……

……

On the Xiangshan Eighteen Bends Mountain Road.

Chen Ji led the way, Yang Yang brought up the rear, and the seven of them held their breath as they sped along.

Yang Fang and Yang Xian still had crossbow bolts stuck in their bodies and dared not remove them. If they were removed, blood would gush out and they would lose all their strength in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The two men remained on the flanks of the cavalry, using their bodies to shield the hillside. If anyone fired a sneak arrow from the hillside, they would be the first to be hit.

Qi Zhenzhuo looked at the two of them with concern and asked, "Are you two alright? Do you need your wounds treated?"

Yang Fang glanced at him: "No need."

Qi Zhenzhuo asked again, "You two don't need to shield us from arrows anymore. If you do, you'll probably die." Yang Xian replied expressionlessly, "The order the lord gave us was to shield us from arrows."

Sheep, standing at the back of the line, jokingly said, "Do you know how my Long Live Army differs from yours?"

Qi Zhenzhuo remained silent for a moment: "How is this any different from sending them to their deaths? They are all your Yang family members."

Sheep calmly said, "To remove an arrow, you need to remove your armor. Do we have time to remove our armor now? They are already wounded. If we encounter the enemy head-on, their current strength is not as good as yours. Naturally, they will be the ones to shield you from the arrows. On the battlefield, feelings are not important. What matters is right and wrong. Only by always making the right choice can you win."

At this moment, Chen Ji reached a fork in the road and turned to Zhang Xia beside him: "You remember the way, which way do we go?"

Zhang Xia led the way: "To the west."

The seven of them turned onto a western fork in the road, and Yangyang couldn't help but shout, "Hey Chen, where are you taking us? Don't lead us around like a headless fly!"

Chen Ji ignored him.

At this moment, the sound of horses' hooves approached from behind, and the number of people was no less than before.

Yangyang's expression changed: "Quick, let's go! The assassins are catching up! Chen family brat, you'd better lead us the right way, or we'll be in trouble today!"

Chen Ji suddenly said, "We've arrived!"

But as the winding mountain road came to an end, a breathtaking view opened up before us. What lay before us was no longer a rugged mountain path, but rather a valley filled with blooming wintersweet.

In Plum Valley, the prince and his entourage were looking towards the sound of horses' hooves.

Chen Ji shouted, "An assassination attempt! Protect the Crown Prince! Protect Prince Fu!"

Zhang Zheng was startled: "Huh?!"

Sheep was speechless: "You..."

Chen Ji had actually led the assassin right in front of the Crown Prince!
……

……

Upon hearing Chen Ji's shouts, Prince Fu's expression immediately changed: "Damn it! Zhou Kuang, come and protect me!"

Zhou Kuang spurred his horse forward, leading the five armies to surround Prince Fu. He then stroked the hard bow hanging on his saddle: "Your Highness, shall we flee or fight?"

Prince Fu narrowed his eyes slightly: "Let's take a look first."

At this moment, Chen Ji and his group rushed into Plum Valley in an instant, and behind them, dozens of "Relief Guards" wearing straw raincoats and bamboo hats emerged from the corner of the Eighteen Bends Mountain Road.

The "Anti-Trouble Guards" raised their crossbows and pulled the triggers, and bolts rained down on Chen Ji and his companions, each one embedding itself in the grass behind them.

As Chen Ji and his group drew closer, the assassins behind them continued their relentless pursuit.

Once the assassin was within sixty paces, Prince Fu coldly ordered, "Release the arrows!"

Zhou Kuang raised his hand and drew back the hard bow. The five armies fired in unison, and the arrows flew over Chen Ji and the others, falling like meteors into the assassin formation.

Hand crossbows are ultimately far inferior to hard bows, and more than ten assassins fell from their horses in a single encounter. They reined in their horses, turned them around, and fled without lingering for battle.

Prince Fu said in a deep voice, "Don't chase after them, or you might end up getting caught off guard."

As they spoke, Chen Ji rushed to the front of the Crown Prince and Prince Fu's formation, urgently saying, "Your Highness, we are late in protecting you! While we were hunting, we discovered someone impersonating the Jie Fan Guard, attempting to assassinate us..."

Prince Fu cursed and said, "What protection? I think you're the one leading the assassins! Are those assassins here to kill you?"

Chen Ji suddenly countered, "Your Highness, why would anyone go to such lengths to assassinate me? It seems these assassins weren't targeting us, but we just happened to stumble upon them."

Prince Fu's gaze swept across the faces of Chen Ji, Yang Yang, Zhang Xia, Zhang Zheng, Qi Zhenzhuo, and the others, and he said thoughtfully, "Yes, why would someone send so many assassins to impersonate the Jie Fan Guard to kill you? If they're not here to kill you, then they're here to kill me and the Crown Prince..."

Zhou Kuang was startled and quickly spurred his horse back to Prince Fu's side, leading the Five Armies to separate Prince Fu from the Crown Prince!
The Crown Prince's attendants were slightly taken aback, and suddenly confronted the Five Armies Camp, firmly protecting the Crown Prince behind them.

A fierce battle is about to break out!
Prince Fu stroked his chin from behind the crowd and joked, "Where did this assassin come from? Zhou Kuang, did you arrange it?"

Zhou Kuang's face fell: "Your Highness, please don't joke about my entire family."

Prince Fu let out a long "Oh": "It wasn't you..."

He turned to look at the Crown Prince and Mr. Liao: "That's you two."

Mr. Liao said slowly and deliberately, "Prince Fu need not make wild guesses."

Prince Fu laughed heartily: "I was just joking, don't take it seriously!"

The Crown Prince slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, this is not the time for jokes. Under the Emperor's nose, someone is impersonating the Jie Fan Guard, which is a serious crime of treason. We must immediately send someone on horseback back to the capital to report this and bring the Jie Fan Guard and the Secret Service to quell the rebellion... If it were anyone else, they would need to take two fast horses to ride. Miss Zhang Xia's mount is extraordinary, and you are familiar with it. Why don't you ride it?"

Chen Ji cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, there are many assassins, and we don't know if they have left or not. With my abilities, I'm afraid I won't be able to break through. Perhaps we should switch with Mr. Liao?"

He looked up at the Crown Prince, who was also looking at him.

(End of this chapter)