Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 904 is for no other reason than to cause trouble for people.

As dusk settles over Chang'an, it is the perfect time for纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families) to gather with their friends and indulge in revelry.

However, the brothels and taverns in the West Market were unusually deserted today. None of the richly dressed young men who used to be seen were to be seen. Only a few servants were left leaning against the door, sighing as they looked at the empty streets.

“It’s strange. Those young masters said yesterday that they would come to taste the newly arrived wine, but today there’s not a single one of them.”

"The Cui family, the Wei family, the Pei family, and the Wang family—those frequent guests—have all pleaded illness today."

Meanwhile, the scene on the Zhongnan Mountain road was the complete opposite of the desolation of Chang'an City.

"Tuoba... Your Highness Tuoba... Please rest..."

Cui Yan, the young master of the Cui family, lay slumped on a blue stone, his hair disheveled and his brocade robe torn in several places by thorns. He was nowhere to be seen as the "most handsome man in Chang'an." He was panting heavily, his face as pale as paper.

Around him lay more than twenty young men from noble families, sprawled haphazardly, each one looking utterly disheveled. Some clung to tree trunks, some lay directly on the grass, and some were gulping down water from their water pouches. These纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brats) who were usually carefree and never knew the meaning of fatigue, now resembled snakes with their bones removed, barely able to speak.

"You're already giving up halfway up the mountain?"

Tuoba Shang's voice came from above. Everyone looked up and saw that he had somehow leaped onto a huge rock three zhang high, gazing into the distance with great interest. The setting sun gilded his figure, and his spirited appearance contrasted sharply with the slumped crowd below.

"Brother Tuoba, please spare us..." Pei Wenruo, the third son of the Pei family, barely managed to sit up, his voice trembling, "This...this is not sightseeing, this is clearly a military campaign..."

Early this morning, Tuoba Shang went door-to-door inviting the most notorious playboys in Chang'an to join him on a trip to Zhongnan Mountain. Hearing that it was the Crown Prince of Wei who had invited them, none dared refuse, and they all dressed neatly to keep their appointment. However, Tuoba Shang completely disregarded convention, refusing to take the well-maintained mountain paths and instead choosing to climb the desolate and difficult trails.

At first, everyone stubbornly refused to show weakness. But after two hours, some began to fall behind. Tuoba Shang, however, was like a tireless monkey, leaping and bounding among the treacherous rocks, constantly turning back to urge, "Hurry up, hurry up, the view from the top is the best!"

"I'm telling you guys," Tuoba Shang said, lightly leaping down from the boulder and landing silently, "you've been indulging in too much wine and women all day, and your bodies are completely worn out. Look at you, you're already panting like this after climbing just this short distance. If you were on the battlefield, wouldn't you be easy prey?"

He casually plucked a blade of grass and put it in his mouth, then chuckled and kicked Cui Yan, who was sprawled on the ground: "Hey, Cui beauty, can you still walk? Do you want me to carry you?"

Cui Yan waved his hand weakly, too exhausted to even speak.

“Your Highness Tuoba.” Wei Zheng, the young master of the Wei family, maintained his composure despite his military background, though a tear in his sleeve made him look less than dashing. “Today’s outing was truly…unique. However, it’s getting late, so perhaps we should descend the mountain now and continue another day…”

"Go down the mountain?" Tuoba Shang's eyes widened. "We're almost at the top. If we go down now, won't all our efforts be wasted? Let me tell you, there's a great place at the top that will make your trip worthwhile!"

Upon hearing this, everyone almost burst into tears. All they wanted now was to return to their comfortable homes, take a hot bath, and rest on soft couches; they had no interest in any other pleasant places.

"Let's go, let's go!" Tuoba Shang said without waiting for a reply, grabbing one of them with each hand. "Persistence is victory! When we get to the top of the mountain, I'll treat you to roasted wild rabbit!"

Forced to continue their journey, the纨绔 (spoiled brats) finally understood what it meant to be "unable to live, unable to die." Their legs felt like lead, every step incredibly difficult. Sweat soaked through their luxurious robes, their faces covered in dirt and sweat; all traces of their usual dashing demeanor were gone.

"I can't go on..." Wang Yun, the fifth son of the Wang family, suddenly collapsed to his knees, sobbing, "Even if His Majesty himself came, I couldn't walk anymore..."

Tuoba Shang looked back at the group of disheveled young masters, and finally sighed as if he had a change of heart: "Alright, alright, look at your pitiful state. Here's what I'll do, I'll teach you a way to save your energy, just like me, crawl on all fours!"

The group of spoiled brats exchanged bewildered glances. Were they supposed to crawl like dogs? If word got out, how could they save face?
However, exhaustion ultimately triumphed over pride. Following Tuoba Shang's example, one after another, the spoiled brats finally succumbed to reality and began crawling forward on their stomachs along the mountain path. If their elders had seen that scene, they would probably have cried out in despair, lamenting that it was a disgrace to their family.

As the last rays of the setting sun disappeared below the horizon, the group finally reached the summit. They collapsed to the ground, too exhausted even to cheer.

Tuoba Shang, however, was in high spirits and started a campfire. Sure enough, several wild rabbits were roasted over the fire. Oil and spices dripped into the fire, sizzling and filling the air with fragrance.

"How about it? Isn't the view nice?" Tuoba Shang pointed proudly down the mountain.

The group struggled to look up and saw the city of Chang'an lit up in the twilight, resembling a starry river fallen to earth. The Zhongnan Mountains rose and fell, shrouded in mist, a truly breathtaking sight. However, their bodies ached all over, making it difficult to appreciate even the most beautiful scenery.

"Brother Tuoba," Cui Yan asked weakly, "how did you develop such stamina?" Tuoba Shang, turning the roasted rabbit, chuckled, "When I was in Jinling, I got up before dawn every day to practice martial arts, without fail. My father said that as the crown prince, one can be averse to studying, but one cannot lack good health. Otherwise, how can one cope with those endless court assemblies? And those concubines in the harem? I'd like to invite your crown prince to come too, after all, he'll be bringing all your sisters back with him, how can he manage without good physical strength?"

He tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to Cui Yan: "Try it, this is true delicacy. It's far superior to your elaborately crafted court dishes!"

Cui Yan took the rabbit meat, took a bite, and found it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—truly delicious. The other纨绔 (sons of wealthy and powerful families) also took the rabbit meat offered by Tuoba Shang and began to devour it. At that moment, all notions of aristocratic etiquette and decorum were thrown to the winds.

"Let me tell you something," Tuoba Shang said, looking at the group of spoiled brats with their mouths smeared with grease, his eyes gleaming with the smugness of a triumphant prank, "Tomorrow we're going swimming in Kunming Pool! I promise it'll be even more fun than today!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nearly dropped the rabbit meat in their hands, their faces turning ashen.

Tuoba Shang did not form cliques, amass wealth, or gather power; he simply came to cause trouble for people.

Afterwards, it was said that going up the mountain was easy but coming down was difficult. Since it was so dark, they naturally had no choice but to camp on the mountaintop. Although it was already late spring, the temperature in the mountains was still freezing.

This is where Tuoba Shang can show off. Back in Fuliang, Xia Lin led them to the mountains for wilderness survival, where the conditions were much harsher than here.

He always kept his word, and now that their lives were at stake, these spoiled brats were truly at their wits' end and had no choice but to follow his orders.

Some people set up temporary windproof tents, covering them with branches and leaves from the mountain. After the simple setup, they used the tents for warmth at night. The thatch in the mountain was just right, but there were insects in the thatch, and every now and then you could hear these well-fed and well-clothed people suddenly bursting into screams.

On the contrary, Tuoba Shang, feeling hot from working, simply took off his coat, revealing his muscular physique that looked like a fake, which gleamed in the campfire.

"My uncle once said that a person in a high position must possess both extraordinary wisdom and a savage physique. But I'm just an ordinary person with little wisdom. However, if any of you disobey me today and cause others to freeze, don't blame me for using my savage physique to kill you." Tuoba Shang pointed at several lazy playboys and scolded, "Did you hear me? Get to work!"

The sons of noble families who were usually so dignified and respectable were now being treated like grandsons. Those who could make the city walls tremble with a stomp of their feet in Chang'an were now powerless here.

Even if he made threats, and actually beat someone up, what could they do but swallow their pride and bear it? Sending troops to the Great Wei, huh?
Although they had never met the Western Regions Construction Corps, their parents had mentioned it to some extent. It was a construction corps that was transformed from the Northwest Army and was more than capable of fighting the entire Tang Dynasty. If they really went to war with the Crown Prince of Wei, it would be fine if he was unharmed, but if he was seriously injured, they would have to face the main force of the Northwest New Army, namely the Polu Army and the Fuliang New Army.

Whoever makes the first move will be thrown out of their family to take the blame...

Despair... confusion... helplessness...

They finally made it to midnight, and the group didn't care about the environment anymore. They crawled into their tents, spread straw on themselves, and slept like the dead.

Suddenly, a cry of alarm came from one of the tents: "What are you doing! What are you holding up my head with!"

Tuoba Shang, who was in charge of maintaining order, immediately crawled out of his tent and shouted, "What are you yelling about?"

Cui Yan, whom he called "Beauty Cui," glared angrily at his companion, his face flushed. His long hair flowed over his shoulders, and his appearance bore a striking resemblance to his sister, Cui Lin, making him truly deserving of the title. Even now, with his eyes wide open in anger, his beauty remained undiminished, captivating all who beheld him.

"Hahaha, I thought it was something serious. It's alright, it's alright." Tuoba Shang waved his hand and said, "With such a delicate young lady by my side, it's hard for anyone not to be tempted."

The young master of the Cui family hung his head and remained silent. He had never suffered such humiliation before, but compared to other纨绔 (playboys), he was indeed a bit soft-hearted. He could only sit there and silently shed tears.

"Alright, stop crying. Go sleep at my place, it's not as crowded there." Tuoba Shang pulled him out, saying, "Don't be so girly, it's not a big deal."

"Let them try wearing this on you too!" Young Master Cui cried out in grievance, "It's disgusting!"

"I broke them all in half!" Tuoba Shang showed off his scalding biceps: "Look, I kill without blinking an eye."

These words made Young Master Cui smile broadly, and Tuoba Shang shuddered at the look in his eyes. So he quickly said, "Alright, I'll build you a separate nest. It's really hard for you to sleep alone."

(End of this chapter)