Chapter 518
Chapter 518
Just then, a sinister voice cut in. It was the Sixth Prince, Ying Jing, speaking coldly.
“Shen Lang, a rampant clown like you is fit to be a monarch’s plaything. In a moment, after Lady Zhong Shishi castrates you, you’ll be able to enter the palace. Why not go and serve as a low-ranking eunuch? But by then, you’ll find yourself wearing a green hat. With your tool no longer usable, your wives and concubines won’t be able to bear the loneliness and will all cheat on you.”
Ying Jing simply could not tolerate a worthless son-in-law like Shen Lang causing such a stir. Upon hearing his words, Shen Lang’s expression hardened. He spurred his horse forward and swung the whip in his hand at Ying Jing. Ying Jing grabbed the whip with all his might and said coldly.
“Shen Lang, you worthless son-in-law, how dare you commit insubordination and attack a prince? Do you want to die? Are you trying to rebel?”
Shen Lang looked at Ying Jing and spoke, enunciating each word.
“Fool. The entire Su Clan was wiped out by me, and you have their blood running through your veins. If I weren’t holding back for His Majesty’s sake, you would have been dead by my hand long ago. If you dare utter another word, I guarantee I will cripple you and make you wish you were dead.”
Shen Lang pointed at Ying Jing and shouted.
“Go on, Ying Jing. Say one more word. If I don’t cripple you, then I’m the son of a whore.”
The Sixth Prince, Ying Jing, was both furious and afraid, inwardly regretting his outburst. Why couldn't he hold his tongue and provoke this madman? Stared down by Shen Lang, he truly didn't have the courage to say anything more. After all, the Su Clan had indeed been annihilated by him. In that moment, the Sixth Prince’s gaze shifted to Eunuch Ye Eun, and he shouted.
“Little Eunuch Ye, did you see that? Did you see? Shen Lang committed insubordination and openly threatened a prince. This is an act of treason. What punishment will you mete out to him?”
Little Eunuch Ye said calmly.
“Young Master Shen, don’t speak nonsense. You might get a beating from His Majesty.”
Hearing this, Ying Jing’s face turned deathly pale. Shen Lang had openly threatened to cripple him, yet the King’s trusted confidant, Ye Eun, had only offered Shen Lang a lukewarm scolding. What did this mean? It meant that in His Majesty's heart, Ying Jing's status was lower than Shen Lang's. Ying Jing was instantly dumbfounded.
“Fool!”
Shen Lang snatched his whip back and immediately struck Ying Jing’s body.
*Crack!*
With Ying Jing’s martial skill, he could have easily dodged it, but stunned by Eunuch Ye Eun’s attitude, he stood frozen in place. In the end, he took a brutal lash from Shen Lang, leaving a deep wound on his body. The Sixth Prince’s body trembled, and a chill ran through him. Everyone around was stunned by the scene.
‘Has Shen Lang gone mad? To so brazenly whip the Sixth Prince, Ying Jing, in front of everyone?’
The Sixth Prince, Ying Jing, felt as if his head would explode. He remained frozen on the spot. He knew that with the fall of the Su Clan, his backing was gone. But he was still the King’s son, a lofty position no one could touch. Of course, no one had bothered to tear down the facade of the outwardly strong but inwardly empty Ying Jing, who did nothing but eat his fill all day. But at this moment, Shen Lang’s whip had cleanly ripped away all of Ying Jing’s masks and pretenses. For a moment, he seemed to have lost all ability to react.
The Fourth Prince, Ying Zhen, stepped forward, pulled Ying Jing back, and sat him down. As he regained some of his senses, the Sixth Prince, Ying Jing, gnashed his teeth and made a silent vow.
‘Shen Lang, you and I cannot exist together. This grudge will not end until one of us is dead! Shen Lang, I will tear you to pieces and kill your entire family.’
Ying Jing even began to resent his own father, Ning Yuanxian.
‘If Father didn’t dote on Shen Lang so much, how could he be so arrogant and reckless? Could it be that in your heart, I, your son, am worth less than that bastard son-in-law, Shen Lang?’
The Fourth Prince, Ying Zhen, said.
“Sixth Brother, don’t be angry. As the saying goes, whom the heavens would destroy, they first make mad. Shen Lang is just having a final fit before his death, it’s nothing. He will die soon. Originally, Zhong Shishi was only going to castrate him, but since he just insulted her, she will surely strike to kill.”
Ying Jing replied.
“That’s right. That bastard will surely die.”
Ying Zhen continued.
“Besides, Shen Lang brought this upon himself with his own vulgarity, so it’s only natural for him to be killed by Zhong Shishi. Why would you argue with a man who is about to die?”
“Even if he dies, I will never let his family go. I will repay the humiliation I suffered today a hundredfold upon his family.”
***
Shen Lang entered the barracks to make his final preparations before the duel. Gu Duhuan, disguised as an ordinary warrior, stood guard at the entrance. Little Eunuch Ye entered, glanced at Shen Lang with great pity, and said.
“Prince Ying Jing is His Majesty’s biological son. If you strike him so openly, His Majesty will be angry.”
“Isn’t it normal for children to fight? Besides, he has a foul mouth, doesn’t he?”
Little Eunuch Ye was at a loss for words. He knew well that although the King didn't show it, he was also angry with the Sixth Prince, Ying Jing, because of Su Nan's rebellion. In the past, Ying Jing had thrown his weight around everywhere, relying on the Su Clan's influence, and had even acted arrogantly towards the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, which displeased the King.
‘Was your status as my son not enough for you to flaunt your power? Did you have to borrow the prestige of the Su Clan as well? Isn’t that looking down on me, Ning Yuanxian? You, my son, have a different heart than I.’
In truth, Ying Jing had indeed intended to use the Su Clan's influence to look down on others.
‘The status of a king’s son is of course noble, but there are too many princes. The prestige of being the King’s son is mostly held by the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, so when would it ever be my, Ying Jing’s, turn?’
Now, in the King’s eyes, Ying Jing was merely a son by blood, one he was displeased with, just one among many. In contrast, behind Shen Lang stood the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate and the Heavenly Dao Society. Most importantly, the King felt that Shen Lang was of one mind with him. Not only that, Shen Lang was also the King’s confidant; he even saw a reflection of himself in Shen Lang, feeling as if Shen Lang’s unrestrained actions were his own.
Over the past year, Shen Lang had achieved many merits and done many things for the King, yet he never asked for rewards. The King felt he owed Shen Lang too much, and the debt seemed to be growing. So, no matter what trouble Shen Lang caused, the King would rarely punish him. At most, he would issue a royal decree reprimanding Shen Lang with a few words, or at worst, sentence him to ten lashes while he wore armor, a punishment he wouldn't even feel.
Little Eunuch Ye said.
“In any case, be prepared to be flogged when you return.”
“Little Eunuch Ye, last time it was the senior eunuch who whipped me. That old man didn’t know what he was doing and actually hit me once, I almost fainted from the pain. Why don’t we discuss it? Can you do the whipping this time? I think you’re a much nicer person.”
Hearing Shen Lang’s words, Little Eunuch Ye almost fainted from anger.
‘My brother protects you in every way, and in the end, you call him an old man who doesn’t know what he’s doing?’
“Just you wait. I guarantee I’ll beat you to a pulp. This wretched fellow’s problem is his foul mouth.”
Then, Ye Eun spoke solemnly.
“But are you sure there will be no problem with the duel? There must be absolutely no room for failure due to carelessness. Just now, you infuriated Zhong Shishi, so she will really try to kill you. Even if she doesn’t kill you, she will castrate you. Of course, I wouldn't object to you becoming a eunuch and entering the palace, but you might feel it’s better to be dead. So there must be no mistakes, not even one in ten thousand.”
“Eunuch Ye, don’t worry. There won’t be a single mistake!”
Eunuch Ye Eun stared at Shen Lang for a long time before continuing.
“Very well. Remember, you must not take her life! If Zhong Shishi dies, no one can bear the responsibility. No one.”
Shen Lang nodded.
“I know!”
Hearing Shen Lang’s reply, Eunuch Ye Eun immediately walked out of the barracks.
“Wu Lie, come help me put on my steel underpants.”
Hearing this, Little Eunuch Ye’s footsteps quickened as if he were fleeing the scene.
***
Inside Zhong Shishi’s barracks.
She felt like she was about to explode. The two bowls of honey water she had drunk churned in her stomach, undigested from her sheer fury. Her chest heaved continuously with anger, threatening to split the soft armor she wore. The sight alone was enough to stir a man’s heart.
Zhong Shishi asked.
“Is that bastard Shen Lang always so vulgar and reckless?”
Xue Xue nodded. Yes, she was the one—the adopted daughter of Sword King Li Qianqiu, the very woman who had poisoned the Sword King’s wife and stolen his secret manual. As a female disciple personally taught by Yan Nanfei, her martial arts were formidable. She had now become the Third Prince Ying Qi’s concubine. She appeared gentle and delicate, a fragile beauty. Unlike Zhong Shishi, whose beauty radiated in all directions, Xue Xue’s figure and face were as slender as a willow. Her eyes were as clear as a lake, framed by long lashes and shaped like curved bows. Every part of her seemed supple. Her watery flexibility was beautiful to the bone.
Zhong Shishi said coldly.
“Then in a moment, I will first castrate that bastard, then cut off one of his arms, and then I will cut out his tongue.”
Xue Xue said.
“His Majesty is very fond of him. If you really do that, you won’t be able to stay in the capital any longer. You’ll have to return to Zhenxi Province or Yan Capital immediately.”
“I’ve decided!”
At that moment, Little Eunuch Ye’s voice came from outside.
“Lady Zhong Shishi, His Majesty has issued a decree. The duel is to stop at the striking of acupoints. There must be no loss of life or injury.”
Zhong Shishi said coldly.
“I heard you. Get lost!”
That phrase, “get lost,” was extremely arrogant. Little Eunuch Ye’s face twitched slightly, but he bowed and retreated. It was the first time someone had berated him and told him to get lost. Yet, Xue Xue did not stop Zhong Shishi from acting this way; she even let it happen.
The two great clans, the Xue and the Zhong, held power that could blot out the sky, but they had always maintained an attitude of loyalty and respect. However, the emergence of a lawless person like Zhong Shishi was not necessarily a bad thing. Even if they were the King’s hunting dogs, they couldn't appear too weak. Besides, Zhong Shishi was just a girl; her slight rudeness could be attributed to her youth. Little Eunuch Ye couldn’t stoop to her level.