Chapter 277: Continuing the Dance

The Great King spoke of this at court the next day; he previously would not bring it up directly, but now these people all follow him, huh, the Great King has shown them respect.

The Great King also didn't expect anyone to come up with a solution; Youzhou has only this many people—even a clever housewife can't cook without rice. He just wanted everyone to be more vigilant lately, united as one, but this probably isn't that simple.

After court, the Chancellor spoke bluntly: "Your Highness, have you considered that this might also be a deliberate attack on Youzhou? I know the Southwest Border Army stationed in Changzhou is also called the Wei Family Army; it's destined not to be usable for oneself, a hindrance to anyone. I don't know whose hand is behind this, maybe more than one."

"Who let the court not support them? These years it's been the Wei Family smashing pots and selling iron to sustain the border troops! Alas!"

Actually, the Great King knows this as well.

As he was leaving, the Chancellor reminded him again that the palace eunuch is still in Youzhou.

"I'll have someone throw him out right away!... Wait, maybe I should see him first."

The Great King went back and set up a banquet in the garden, planning to put on a grandiose 'extravagant' spectacle, to indulge a bit and open Eunuch Xiao's eyes.

Who knew, arranging the banquet was easy, and the grand spectacle was easy too.

There's no garden in the palace as extravagant as his.

The key is he wanted to learn his father Emperor's decadent, gold-laden extravagant style, but in the end he discovered the Prince You's mansion had neither musicians nor dancers.

The Great King sat down in the pavilion, saw the stage in the waterside pavilion meant for performances was completely empty, and stood there dumbfounded: 'Am I just supposed to eat and drink?' This is really lacking in dignity!

The dog-headed military advisor Wei Shen gave him an idea: 'You can't find anything in Youzhou right now; how about this: I'll have the Owl Cavalry perform a sword dance?'

"No good, no good—this would just confirm that the Great King is fond of martial prowess."

"You don't understand this; wait while I screen them first."

Wei Shen had someone bring a drum and summoned several dozen Owl Cavalry: 'This time it's a sword dance performance, not a fight. No need for strength, nor for masculine vigor—just liveliness, got it?'

Several dozen people shook their heads together.

Wei Shen: ……

"Come, let's hold a tryout. We need liveliness and visual appeal—something that makes you want two extra bowls when you watch while drinking. Come, beat the drum, pick a segment and dance together in a line, start!"

Each burly fellow could normally wield his sword with vigor, but this time, aiming for liveliness, their hands suddenly weren't their own.

They succeeded in making the vexed Great King laugh.

"Hahaha, and even more hahaha~"

Owl Cavalry: ……

The Great King laughed as he called out names: "First from the left, you ate too much—eliminated! Third, you're not supposed to kill people, this is for entertainment, understand? Too serious. Fourth, fifth, ninth—eliminated! Your expression control fails, you're too happy—don't you get that you should enjoy it? Twelfth and thirteenth, you two are also eliminated! Your dance is too good, making the Great King look too solemn."

Wei Shen said: "Didn't I tell you on the way? You're supposed to be the officially organized Personal Guard Battalion, but the Great King forced you to dance swords for fun—is it appropriate to grin that wide? You ought to feel unwilling! Do you get the feeling of being forced into prostitution?"

Great King: ……

Upon another look, those who heard they'd been miserably eliminated grinned even more brightly—being eliminated is great!

Acting is far harder than killing!

Seeing the remaining ones looking ready to imitate, the Great King hurriedly said: "Those who can stay will be rewarded with a multi-function knife, the kind sold in Myriad Phenomena City."

Ah, this?!

That definitely has to be kept.

"Your Highness, whatever feeling you want, I can learn it!"

"Your Highness, I can too!"

"Your Highness, I just didn't perform well; could those eliminated be given another chance?"

Wei Shen: ……

Your fickleness is frightening.

Eunuch Xiao once again requested an audience with Prince You, and as usual got only a few white eyes from the palace servants.

Just as he thought he'd have to be casually dismissed again after a while, like the past few days, realizing this wasn't a solution, he figured he must find a way to meet Prince You face‑to‑face, otherwise he'd have trouble explaining his return—who would have thought Prince You actually agreed to see him this time!

Eunuch Xiao was led by palace servants to the East Road Corridor, where Tongchen personally came to meet him.

His attitude wasn't great either: "When the palace servants just reported, our Highness was in an okay mood and agreed to see you. Don't go spouting nonsense later and make our Highness angry—because of the Emperor's affairs, our Highness is feeling upset right now."

Who knew that after walking down the long corridor, the view would suddenly open up to a splendid, magnificent garden!

Prince You's mansion actually has a garden of this scale!

They followed the artificial lake, circled for half a day, then passed through a long corridor; as they walked, they saw the buildings on both sides exquisite, paired with rocks, grass and trees—every step a scene, none not beautiful.

Having struggled all his life in the inner palace and thinking he'd seen the world, Eunuch Xiao felt his eyes weren't enough—this Prince You… what enjoyment!

What an extravagant, lascivious rebel king!

At the end of the corridor, turning left, he could see in the distance a pavilion by the lake surrounded by people.

Upon approaching, he saw a group of palace maids and eunuchs circling the central seat where Prince You sat, passing dishes, pouring tea, fanning—

It's only early June, yet the brat isn't afraid of catching a chill from the wind!

Right after, Eunuch Xiao noticed the drumming—the beat went from slow to fast—then he realized there was an outdoor platform in front of the pavilion's waterside pavilion, where a row of soldiers were… performing a sword dance like mourners at a funeral.

They wore the standard black armor of Great Jin soldiers, each holding a sword, dancing with a grim, expressionless face.

It looks like these are the personal guards the Prince You brought from Eternal Peace.

Don't let their poor complexion fool you—their movements are fairly uniform, but… they lack any military bearing.

Between bites, the Great King even shouted an approving "Good!"

... What an ignorant little brat!

Eunuch Xiao noticed that after the Great King finished his cheer, the guards' faces looked even worse. He stroked his chin—this Prince You really has a knack for humiliating his personal guard.

Tongchen ran over with a fawning smile to report to the Great King: "Your Highness, Eunuch Xiao from the palace has come."

The Great King didn't even glance at him—his eyes were either on the food or on the lifeless 'sword dance' ahead—he said offhandedly: "Come on in, just say what you need to and then scram! Baili Jin made my father Emperor furious; I'm ashamed to be associated with him. That Eunuch Xiao, stand far away! How unpleasant!"

Eunuch Xiao took a deep breath, standing under the eaves, and sincerely bowed to the Great King: "I pay my respects, Prince You."

The Great King said: "Huh? Doesn't Baili Jin usually call me the Rebel King, yet you address me as Prince You? Never mind—what do you want? Hurry up and speak, don't waste my time."

Eunuch Xiao thought, "You have no proper business—have the Imperial Guard Battalion do a sword dance for you to watch? You're not training them to fight, just having fun with sword dancing here?"

"The Crown Prince issued a verbal order: Prince You must depart immediately for Chang'an to attend the late emperor's burial rites."

The Prince lowered his face and said, "Not going! Baili Jin made the late emperor die of anger and even ceded Youzhou to the Xianbei. Now, tricking me and my second and fourth brothers to return—is it to wipe us all out so he can become the legitimate crown prince? Do you think I'm stupid? After returning to the capital, the Earl of Dongdu won't be able to protect me. You came just for this? Then you can leave; I won't leave Youzhou."

"Please, Your Highness, reconsider! The late emperor's burial in the imperial mausoleum is a major affair, yet only the Crown Prince is present among the children—it's overly bleak."

The Prince finally lifted his head and looked at him, "Aren't the Fifth and Sixth Princes his own sons?"

The Prince shocked · JPG

Eunuch Xiao was instantly choked by this guy.

This rebel prince is truly treasonous!

He again took a deep breath, "... Your Highness, don't joke! If you insist on not returning to the capital to attend the late emperor's burial, you will inevitably earn a reputation for unfiliality."

The Prince laughed, "Compared to being alive, being unfilial is… I believe Father will understand me. Come, take Eunuch Xiao back! Really bothersome."

Tongchen waved his hand; a few dismissed Owl Cavalry rushed up, grabbed Eunuch Xiao, and walked out.

After leaving the Prince's sight, Tongchen dropped his fawning expression and again resumed his earlier arrogant, smug demeanor.

"Throw them out of Youzhou! Notify the city guards, don't let them come back, lest they upset Your Highness again."

"Yes!"

The Owl Cavalry, having heard that Eunuch Xiao still had subordinates at the inn, rushed to the inn and threw the entire party—people and luggage—out of Youzhou city.