Chapter 20: Da Xia's Number One Warrior, Li Ji!

As Prince Wei's voice rang out.

Only then did everyone turn their gaze to Gu Jin Nian.

Qin Wang's heir Li Yue rose, a smile also on his face, and nodded to Gu Jin Nian as a greeting.

Wei Wang's heir Li Xuan went straight over, took Gu Jin Nian's hand, and said.

"Uncle Jin Nian, it's been a while—want to play together?"

Li Xuan spoke, both knowing well the Gu family's standing in the court, so their households had instructed them to be courteous when meeting Gu Jin Nian—not to curry favor, but to make connections if possible.

The younger generation has its own social ways; back then, if the Yongsheng Emperor hadn't been on good terms with Gu Jin Nian's father, he wouldn't have won the Gu family's full support, and without the Gu family, Jian De Nan would very likely have failed.

This is advance preparation.

These principles are understood by the Qin Wang heir and the Wei Wang heir, but not by the Crown Prince—yet it's understandable, since barring any mishap, this Crown Prince will be the future emperor, so a bit of arrogance is normal.

Indeed, as Gu Jin Nian arrived, everyone's eyes fell on him; Li Ji felt somewhat displeased, thinking Gu Jin Nian was disturbing the mood, and he sat there feeling uneasy.

"I have greeted both princes."

Gu Jin Nian smiled; although the other party respectfully called him uncle, he couldn't act superior, after all the imperial family is the imperial family.

He then shook his head and said.

"Forget playing; this thing is too childish."

He spoke, first giving a polite greeting, then adding that the thing was too immature.

As his words fell, they indeed drew displeasure from a small group.

Gu Jin Nian's remark was tantamount to mocking them for being childish.

It was mainly aimed at one person.

That person was Li Ji.

To take revenge on the Minister of Rites, one must provoke Li Ji.

Sure enough, Li Ji's voice rang out.

"Then I'd like to ask, what isn't childish? Horseback archery? Or two people sparring?"

Li Ji's displeased voice rang out.

He already had no fondness for Gu Jin Nian, and now he even said his plaything was childish?

For him, who considered himself the Great Xia's First Warrior, this was extremely humiliating.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, don't be angry; I, uncle, was just speaking offhand."

"But to call oneself the Great Xia's First Warrior based on such a toy is rather childish."

Gu Jin Nian said with a faint smile.

As soon as he said that, Li Ji flew into a rage, especially at being called "uncle."

Gu Jin Nian is only a month older than him, yet he keeps saying "uncle"—Li Ji can't accept that.

"Then what should it be based on?"

"Is it horseback archery, or hunting fierce beasts?"

Li Ji snorted coldly.

He dares to do all of those.

"Never mind, it's just the uncle's nonsense; Your Highness the Crown Prince, don't take offense."

"You are the Great Xia's First Warrior; the uncle acknowledges it."

Gu Jin Nian's face remained calm, but this remark sounded especially odd, making listeners uncomfortable.

Li Ji was naturally somewhat domineering, and with his status, everyone in the powerful circles basically had to yield to him.

Thus he developed an overbearing nature.

Now Gu Jin Nian speaking this way, how could he not make Li Ji furious?

"What do I need your approval for?"

"If you can't say it, shut up."

"Don't spout weird nonsense here."

Li Ji spoke; he almost wanted to tell him to get out of the imperial palace, and if it weren't for Gu Jin Nian's status, he would have really cursed him out.

Seeing Li Ji getting worked up, Gu Jin Nian dropped the sarcasm, looked at Li Ji, and said calmly.

"To prove you're the Great Xia's First Warrior with a toy—I, uncle, naturally won't accept it."

"The Crown Prince is the future bearer of Da Xia's Heaven's Mandate; he should have a king's bearing and must prove his courage."

"Then we must use the king's way."

"So, may I ask the Crown Prince, do you dare or not dare to throw a stone at the Minister of Rites? If you dare, I will acknowledge you as the Great Xia's First Warrior; if you don't, don't deceive yourself—by the way, the Minister of Rites is right next door in the Ten Thousand Carp Courtyard, very close."

Gu Jin Nian spoke, his eyes fixed on the Crown Prince.

Finally, Gu Jin Nian added another sentence.

"It must draw blood."

The sound fell.

In an instant, everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

Not only Li Ji, but also the Qin Wang heir, the Wei Wang heir, the Jin Wang heir, other heirs and commandery princesses, and the surrounding eunuchs and maidservants—all fell silent.

Especially the eunuch Bai Ying.

He had thought Gu Jin Nian was deep and calculating, knowing to retreat, but didn't expect him to be waiting here?

Inciting the Crown Prince to strike the Minister of Rites—isn't that just messing around?

If he really did it, the Crown Prince would surely suffer a huge punishment.

"You're sick."

In an instant, Li Ji gave an answer.

He barely thought at all and outright rejected the matter.

Smash the Minister of Rites? Have to smash until it bleeds?

You think I'm Li Ji, a fool, right?

Who is the Minister of Rites? A respectable second‑rank official—if you truly dare to smash him, I bet your grandfather wouldn't let you off.

Even one's own father can't save oneself.

He inexplicably wondered whether Gu Jin Nian was treating him like a fool, and heard Li Ji's reply.

Gu Jin Nian felt no ripple in his heart; if His Highness Tai Sun agreed, that would be the real problem.

This was expected.

Nevertheless, Gu Jin Nian dared to say that because he had already prepared a full plan.

The reason he raised the idea wasn't to treat His Highness Tai Sun as a fool, but because he possessed a Courage Talisman.

This thing could be taken out and used, and also to see whether it actually works.

Thinking of this, Gu Jin Nian shook his head, approached Li Ji, a talisman paper appeared in his hand, and he stuck it onto Li Ji's shoulder.

In an instant, the talisman turned into a beam of light that pierced straight into Li Ji's body.

"Uncle was just joking."

"Enough, everyone, accompany His Highness Tai Sun and have fun."

"Gu Jin Nian will go back first; when you have time, come visit the Duke's residence."

Noticing the talisman had entered his body, Gu Jin Nian gave a slight smile, then turned and left, letting Lord Bai Ying escort him away.

The talisman has been affixed.

If it works according to fate, that would prove my golden finger is effective.

If it fails, never mind; the road is long and winding, and this grudge can be avenged slowly by oneself.

Thinking this, Gu Jin Nian said nothing more and left with Lord Bai Ying.

The Tai Sun who had the Courage Talisman affixed showed no sign of change at this moment; the only feeling was increased irritation toward Gu Jin Nian.

The leading Lord Bai Ying also breathed a sigh of relief.

He also feared Tai Sun might go ahead and actually do such a foolish act; fortunately, this Tai Sun still has some sense.

"Crown Prince, please."

The two left.

The courtyard once again returned to the earlier frolic.

However, after a short while, Li Ji inexplicably lost interest.

He didn't know why, but Li Ji's mind was filled with Gu Jin Nian's face, a face bearing a mocking gaze, detestable.

The more he thought, the angrier Li Ji became.

Later, the nameless fire in Li Ji's heart grew extremely intense.

Adding to that, his absent‑mindedness made him get his finger pinched repeatedly, the pain making him even more irritable.

A quarter of an hour later.

As Li Ji was pinched three times in a row and the Crown Prince of Qin and others laughed, Li Ji finally erupted.

"No more games, no more games." "Really boring."

He tossed the pinching device aside, threw a tantrum, causing the others to frown.

"If you can't play, don't play."

"Lost and you quit, yet you call yourself Da Xia's number one warrior?"

Several voices rang out, also with emotion.

Everyone was powerful, and a few were older than Tai Sun, so they naturally couldn't be coddled.

"What's there not to play."

"Just think, this thing is too childish; always winning is boring."

Li Ji spoke up to defend himself.

"Childish?"

"If you really think it's childish, why not go smash the Minister of Rites's head?"

"Right, would His Highness Tai Sun dare to smash the Minister of Rites's head if he thought it childish?"

The Crown Prince of Qin also got heated; the thing was his, Gu Jin Nian called it childish, he wasn't angry, just couldn't play together.

Now Li Ji says it's childish, why didn't you say so before? A youth is a youth, loves to compete, nobody yields.

And as everyone kept talking back and forth.

Li Ji's inner fire grew larger, and he still didn't know why.

At that moment, a mysterious force arose, making him oddly restless.

The feeling was strange, his mind was irritated, thoughts tangled; the few words from others were like needles stabbing him, extremely displeasing.

Yet soon a sense of "who else but me" rose, as if he could do anything.

It seemed he could do anything, as if he were an invincible, all‑powerful existence.

"If we smash the Minister of Rites's head, will you be satisfied?" Li Ji said, looking at the crowd.

"Yes, if you dare to smash, I'll truly respect you."

"A dignified Minister of Rites, a second‑rank official—if you dare to smash, you're not a warrior; who then is the warrior?"

The crowd spoke, their words tinged with provocation, assuming Li Ji wouldn't dare to smash.

Everyone spoke up, but this remark, more or less, carried a hint of resentment; they had figured Li Ji wouldn't dare to smash it.

That was just everyone arguing a few sentences with each other.

It was just like a group of children playing in water, jumping off the bridge to prove their bravery and seek excitement.

But they didn't realize that at this very moment, Li Ji felt a surge of confidence welling up inside him.

As they responded in this manner.

Li Ji rose to his feet, glanced at the crowd, and without another word headed straight for the Ten Thousand Carp Pavilion.

Everyone stared in shock.

But shortly after, everyone hurriedly got up and followed Li Ji, curious to see what he would do.

Li Ji walked quickly all the way.

He kept encouraging himself inwardly.

What, I'm the Grand Heir, the present crown prince, future emperor of Da Xia—striking the Minister of Rites might be a bit over the top, but the worst that could happen is a beating.

It's not like I've never been beaten before.

But once this beating is over, from now on who among the three generations of nobles would dare defy me? Thinking this, Li Ji's boldness grew, and he became ever more courageous.

As time went on, Li Ji felt it was no big deal—at worst, after the beating he'd just run off to find his grandmother.

Maybe he wouldn't even get a beating at all.

And so Li Ji arrived at the Ten Thousand Carp Pavilion.

Sure enough, upon entering the Ten Thousand Carp Pavilion, he saw Yang Kai admiring the carp.

At that moment, Yang Kai was gazing into the pond, his eyes holding no admiration but rather a feeling of resentment at its lack of fight.

He felt the imperial family's extravagance was wasteful and utterly inhumane.

He wanted to recite a poem to condemn the imperial family's luxury.

But before he could utter a word, Yang Kai sensed someone approaching him.

He turned around and saw it was Li Ji.

Yang Kai involuntarily frowned, wondering why Li Ji had come over.

Still, he performed a bow, paying his respects to the Grand Heir, as etiquette required.

"I have greeted the Grand Heir."

"Ow."

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden sharp pain struck as a heavy object smashed into his head.

"Hiss."

In an instant, Yang Kai gasped, clutching his head as blood seeped through his fingers; the pain made his body tremble, but more than that he was stunned.

He didn't know what he had done to offend the Grand Heir.

How did he get hit with a brick for no reason? Aimed at the head? Ma de, you brat, no honor, ambushing like that?

But before Yang Kai could think further, a wave of dizziness hit, and he staggered, collapsing to the ground and losing consciousness.

The perpetrator, Li Ji, gazed at Yang Kai sprawled on the ground, his whole body trembling slightly.

It wasn't fear that made him tremble.

Rather, it was an inexplicable feeling—as if he himself were a king.

If before the blow he had still been a bit nervous, constantly reassuring himself,

but now he felt no panic whatsoever.

but rather a sense of achievement.

An indescribable sense of achievement.

It made him feel so good he wanted to soar.

He then looked back.

The Prince of Qin and the others all stood there, dumbstruck.

Their eyes widened; they never imagined Li Ji would actually dare to strike the Minister of Rites—what the hell.

Had he gone mad? Yet Li Ji remained lost in that indescribable feeling.

After a moment, he gazed at the crowd, his eyes laced with contempt—deep contempt.

"I am Li Ji."

"Also Da Xia's greatest warrior."

Li Ji spoke, his voice trembling with excitement.

This feeling, truly exhilarating.

But what he most wished for was that Gu Jin Nian would appear before him.

Let this coward get a good look.

To see whether he really is Da Xia's greatest warrior.

But all of this, accompanied by a shout of alarm, erupted completely.

"Oh no."

"The Grand Heir has injured Minister Yang."

Inside the Heart-Fasting Palace.

When the news arrived,

Empress Guo wore a look of disbelief.

Empress Dowager Zhou was even more stunned, frozen in place.

Princess Ningyue also went blank.

Their first reaction was that they must have misheard.

But the reaction of the messenger maid let them know it wasn't fake.

And Gu Jin Nian in the hall couldn't help but be startled.

Li Ji really dares to attack the Minister of Rites?

What kind of courage does it take to dare do that? Li Ji.

He is also the number one warrior of Da Xia.

At this moment, Gu Jin Nian was convinced.

He was truly convinced.

He didn't think it was due to the courage talisman; he believed even more that this was Li Ji's bravery.

Extremely brave.

(End of chapter)