The Blood Crown - Chapter 36

Every morning, Ally would bring warm water to Yansikong’s room for him to freshen up.

Yansikong practiced martial arts in the early morning, and often by this time, he was already awake. However, when Ally pushed the door open, a strong smell of alcohol hit him. Accompanied by the sound of even snoring, it was evident that the occupants had enjoyed a deep and indulgent sleep.

Ally walked silently to the bedside and took a quick look. The sight almost caused him to drop the basin he was holding.

What he saw was Yansikong and Feng Ye entangled in each other, sleeping in a mess that covered the entire bed. Their usual refined and elegant appearances, gone. They resembled two drunken revelers behind the entertainment pavilion.

Ally placed the basin on a stool and turned around, only to meet Feng Ye’s cold and piercing gaze. Ally was startled and didn’t know how to react. The look in Feng Ye’s eyes was as sharp as a wolf’s, sending shivers down his spine.

Feng Ye gave him a slight glance and gestured for him to leave.

Ally obediently backed out of the room.

Feng Ye had a light and alert sleep. Years of military campaigns had kept him perpetually vigilant. When Ally pushed the door open, he was already awake.

His arm, which had been used as Yansikong’s pillow all night, had become numb and sore. However, he didn’t move, just silently watched Yansikong. Yansikong’s tranquil sleeping face, free of any defenses, was like a calm that could freeze time.

Feng Ye found himself engrossed, and when he snapped out of it, he felt a mess inside. He couldn’t resist reaching out and picking up a strand of Yansikong’s hair, tightly holding it in his hand.

He wasn’t sure how long this lasted, but eventually, Yansikong’s eyelids fluttered, showing signs of awakening.

Hastily, Feng Ye closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Yansikong opened his eyes and was greeted by a sharp chin. He was puzzled for a moment and suddenly sat up, only to discover that Feng Ye’s clothes were disheveled, and he was still lying in his arms.

Yansikong lamented, patted his face, and then pushed Feng Ye, saying, “My Lord, wake up. We’ve both had too much to drink.”

Feng Ye lazily replied, “Since we’ve had too much to drink, why should we get up?” He rubbed his sore and numb arm and seemed intent on lingering.

Yansikong couldn’t help but cry out, “Are you planning to lie in bed all day?”

Feng Ye, in a domineering manner, said, “I’m not getting up, and you’re not allowed to get up either.”

Yansikong was surprised, “What’s the reason for this?”

“Friendly hospitality,” Feng Ye grinned and said, “You invited me first. Don’t you want to be a gracious host?”

Yansikong sighed, “How can lying in bed be considered hospitality?”

Feng Ye suddenly pulled him closer and whispered in his ear, “You can serve me, you know.”

Yansikong pushed away from Feng Ye and said, “My Lord, please don’t joke like that. Are you hungry? I’ll ask Ally to prepare some food.”

Feng Ye sighed, “You’re not as fun as you used to be when we were kids. Back then, you taught me all sorts of games, and we did something different every day.”

Yansikong thought to himself, most of those fun games were actually taught to him by Yunnan, and during his childhood, he was focused on his studies.

Feng Ye sat up and said, “You should move out of this run-down place and come to my residence, bringing your servant with you.”

“Thank you for your kind offer, but it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate about it? The Feng Mansion is quite large, and we don’t lack one more room.”

Yansikong calmly replied, “I’m comfortable living here. Thank you for your generosity.” As a court official, he couldn’t live as a guest, especially when he had many secrets that made close proximity to others inconvenient.

“Are you afraid of Feng Hun?” Feng Ye teased.

Yansikong honestly replied, “Yes.”

“I asked it to stay away from you.”

Yan Sikong smiled but didn’t speak.

Feng Ye suddenly showed a hint of anger, “Why do you always refuse my goodwill? Back then, I asked you to go to Datong with me. If you had agreed, you wouldn’t have experienced such hardships.”

Yan Sikong said slowly, “Things in this world don’t always go as planned. The Crown Prince is favored by fate, and I’m afraid you wouldn’t understand.”

“You…” Feng Ye pushed him away and got out of bed.

Yan Sikong also got up and asked, “Is the Crown Prince angry?”

“Yes,” Feng Ye replied tersely and walked towards the door.

Yan Sikong followed and blocked Feng Ye, saying with a smile, “You’re still the same as when we were kids, quick to get angry.”

Feng Ye snorted, looking down at him, “It’s you who’s still the same as when you were a child, always provoking my anger.”

Yan Sikong chuckled.

Feng Ye huffed, “You had a talent for provoking me when we were kids. You used to hit me as soon as we met, and I had to wash horse dung out of my hair for a whole day.”

Yan Sikong couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re still holding a grudge, Your Highness.”

Feng Ye’s eyes sparkled, and he suddenly grabbed Yan Sikong’s arm, using a joint-locking technique to twist his body.

Yan Sikong cried out, “Your Highness…”

Feng Ye teased, “Speaking of that, I just remembered. You beat me back then, and my father made me practice martial arts diligently, saying I had to get back at you in the future.”

Yan Sikong gritted his teeth, “I’m no match for Your Highness now, ouch…”

Feng Ye quickly released his hold and helped him up, “Does it hurt a lot?”

Yan Sikong smiled wryly, “I’m just a scholar, Your Highness is too forgiving, spare me.”

“A scholar?” Feng Ye raised an eyebrow, “Xue Bo tested your martial skills. Why are you pretending?”

“Just self-defense, nothing more. If I encounter a skilled opponent, self-defense wouldn’t be enough.”

Feng Ye pretended not to hear the sarcasm in his words and changed the subject, “On the first day of next month, I’ll be hosting a banquet at the mansion to apologize to the officials and nobles of the capital who were previously turned away due to my poor health. You should come.”

“Yes.”

“Also, when you come to my mansion in the future, come openly, no need to be secretive.”

Yan Sikong smiled and agreed, “Alright.”

After that day, Feng Ye indeed sent out numerous invitations, claiming to apologize to various scholars who had been turned away due to his health. Yan Sikong didn’t mention that he had already been invited, fearing that people like Liang Sui would start asking questions. Moreover, he had more important matters to prepare for, such as teaching the Crown Prince, Chen Mu.

On the first day of class, he woke up before dawn and waited at the East Palace. The sky had just started to lighten.

The Crown Prince didn’t keep him waiting for long and even invited him to have breakfast together.

Yan Sikong declined, “I dare not presume, Your Highness. Please have your meal first.”

“Why be so polite, Teacher?” Chen Mu patted the chair next to him. “Please, have a seat.”

After some initial hesitation, Yan Sikong finally sat down.

“Teacher, have you had breakfast?”

“I haven’t had the chance yet.”

“Mr. Yan, you’ve worked hard.” Chen He proactively placed a piece of meat in Yan Sikong’s bowl, saying, “You should eat well so you can teach me with a clear mind.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Yan Sikong couldn’t help but appreciate this young Crown Prince. It seemed that he had learned much about the complexities of human relationships in the palace over the years, making him unusually mature. If he could secure the throne, he might become a wise ruler.

“Yesterday, Mr. Shen taught me, and he did a good job, although he’s more serious in demeanor,” Chen He remarked.

“Mr. Shen is a well-rounded scholar with outstanding talents. Your Highness, with your exceptional intelligence, as long as you apply yourself to learning, your knowledge will undoubtedly advance rapidly.”

Chen He nodded and looked at Yan Sikong with a faint smile, “I heard that in the Imperial Academy, Mr. Yan’s scholarship is no less than Mr. Shen’s, and Father the Emperor favors you more.”

Yan Sikong humbly replied, “I’m just a humble subject. His Majesty must have a lot on his plate. I merely shared some interesting anecdotes to amuse him, and that’s all.”

A hint of sarcasm flickered across Chen He’s face, or at least Yan Sikong thought he saw it. But Chen He didn’t say anything further.

During the lesson, Yan Sikong, in his usual style, occasionally made the young Crown Prince burst into laughter, keeping him highly engaged. He had grown up listening to his biological father’s teaching in a private school. His father had been a witty and humorous man, running a well-known private school across the region, and every time Yan Sikong gave a lecture, whether it was for the Emperor or the Crown Prince, or teaching children to read for a living, it was as if he was continuing his father’s legacy.

After finishing the morning lesson, Chen He couldn’t help but praise, “Mr. Yan, you teach so well, more interesting than anyone else, and your knowledge is no less.”

Yan Sikong replied with a smile, “If I can help Your Highness gain knowledge, I am truly honored.”

“With your talent, how can you not top the imperial examinations?”

“Among those who took the exam at the same time as me, they are all highly knowledgeable scholars. I am nothing special.”

“I disagree. If you were to solely study the dull and tedious Eight-legged Essays, you would surely excel in the imperial exams. However, you wouldn’t have such a rich variety of thoughts or such a fascinating teaching style. You are truly a remarkable talent.”

Yan Sikong humbly responded, “Your Highness, you overpraise me. I am deeply grateful.”

As he spoke, Yan Sikong sighed inwardly.

Since Emperor Wu of Han abolished the Hundred Schools of Thought and elevated Confucianism as the dominant ideology, the glorious era of the Warring States philosophers and their diverse schools had faded away. Success in the civil service examinations became the sole path for scholars to attain official positions, and to achieve that, one had to study the Confucian Classics rigorously. As a result, generation after generation, the once diverse and flourishing schools of thought gradually withered and were pushed into the background.

In his youth, Yan Sikong had immersed himself in the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, but as he grew older, his exceptional talents afforded him the luxury of exploring various “miscellaneous and heterodox” books. The great upheaval during his youth shattered his previously unwavering beliefs, and ten years of wandering made him truly understand the complexities of the world. If those nightmarish experiences had brought him any benefit, it was to free him from the confines of conventional thinking. He was determined to challenge the decadent dynasty and make it experience firsthand just how “unorthodox” his ideas could be.