Chapter 20

As Wei Wang's voice echoed, everyone turned their gaze toward Gu Jinnian.

Prince Li Shan of Qin stood up, a smile on his face, and nodded at Gu Jinnian, acknowledging his presence.

Prince Li Xuan of Wei walked over directly and pulled Gu Jinnian, saying, "Uncle Jinnian, it's been a while. Want to play together?"

Li Xuan's words revealed that both he and Li Shan were well aware of the Gu family's status in the court, so they had been instructed to be polite to Gu Jinnian. It wasn't just for show; they genuinely wanted to form a connection.

Young people have their own social circles. If Emperor Yongsheng hadn't been close to Gu Jinnian's father back then, he wouldn't have received the full support of the Gu family. Without the Gu family, the establishment of Jiande might have failed.

This was a strategic move.

Prince Qin understood this, and so did Prince Wei. However, the Crown Prince didn't understand, which was understandable. After all, he was destined to be the future emperor, and a bit of arrogance was normal.

Indeed, with Gu Jinnian's arrival, everyone's attention was on him. Li Ji was somewhat displeased, feeling that Gu Jinnian was disrupting the mood, and he sat there, clearly annoyed.

"Your Highnesses, I have seen you."

Gu Jinnian smiled. Although they addressed him as "uncle," he couldn't act too presumptuously, given the royal status.

Then he shook his head and said, "I won't play. This thing is too childish."

His words were polite at first, but then he belittled the game as too immature.

When he finished speaking, some people were indeed unhappy. Gu Jinnian's words were like a mockery of their immaturity.

His main target was Li Ji.

To take revenge on the Minister of Rites, he had to provoke Li Ji.

Sure enough, Li Ji's voice rang out, "Then I'd like to ask, what isn't childish? Horseback riding and archery? Or wrestling?"

Li Ji's voice was filled with dissatisfaction. He already had no good feelings toward Gu Jinnian, and now Gu Jinnian was calling his games childish?

This was extremely humiliating for him, who considered himself the bravest warrior in Daxia.

"Your Highness, don't be angry. I was just speaking casually."

"But to claim the title of the bravest warrior in Daxia based on such a toy is a bit childish, isn't it?"

Gu Jinnian said with a smile.

These words made Li Ji even angrier, especially the use of "uncle."

Gu Jinnian was only a month older than him, and this repeated use of "uncle" was unbearable.

"Then what should it be based on?"

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

Li Ji sneered. He was willing to do all of these.

"Never mind, I was just talking nonsense. Your Highness, don't take it to heart."

"You are the bravest warrior in Daxia, and I acknowledge it."

Gu Jinnian's face was calm, but his words sounded strange and uncomfortable.

Li Ji, being a bit hot-headed and with his royal status, was used to everyone giving in to him, which had made him quite arrogant.

Now, with Gu Jinnian's words, he was even more furious.

"Why do I need your acknowledgment?"

"If you can't come up with a reason, just shut up."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Li Ji's voice was almost a command. He almost wanted to tell Gu Jinnian to get out of the palace, but for Gu Jinnian's status, he held back.

Seeing Li Ji getting angry, Gu Jinnian stopped being sarcastic and looked at Li Ji calmly.

"Proving yourself as the bravest warrior in Daxia with a toy, I naturally can't agree."

"As the future emperor of Daxia, you should have the demeanor of a king and prove your courage."

"To do that, you need to use the right means."

"So, I ask you, Your Highness, do you dare to throw a stone at the Minister of Rites? If you dare, I'll recognize you as the bravest warrior in Daxia. If you don't, don't deceive yourself. By the way, the Minister of Rites is in the Wanli Courtyard nearby."

Gu Jinnian's eyes were fixed on the Crown Prince.

He added, "It has to draw blood."

As he spoke, the courtyard fell silent.

Not only Li Ji, but also the Princes of Qin, Wei, and Jin, along with other princes and princesses, and the surrounding eunuchs and maids, all fell silent.

Especially Eunuch Bai Ying.

He thought Gu Jinnian was cautious and knew when to back off, but he didn't expect this.

Inciting the Crown Prince to throw a stone at the Minister of Rites?

Wasn't this ridiculous?

If it really happened, the Crown Prince would face severe punishment.

"Insane."

Li Ji's response was immediate.

He didn't think at all and rejected the idea outright.

Throw a stone at the Minister of Rites?

And draw blood?

Do you think I'm a fool?

The Minister of Rites is a high-ranking official. If I really did it, my grandfather wouldn't let me off.

Even my father couldn't save me.

He felt that Gu Jinnian was treating him like a fool.

Hearing Li Ji's response, Gu Jinnian was somewhat disappointed.

It seemed the Crown Prince wasn't a fool, and he had underestimated him.

This was unexpected.

But Gu Jinnian had a plan.

He had a Courage Charm, and now was the time to use it to see if it worked.

Thinking this, Gu Jinnian shook his head, approached Li Ji, and placed a charm on his shoulder.

Instantly, the charm turned into a beam of light and entered Li Ji's body.

"I was just joking."

"Everyone, please continue to entertain the Crown Prince."

"I'll go back first. Come visit the Duke's residence when you have time."

Noticing the charm had entered Li Ji's body, Gu Jinnian smiled and turned to leave, with Eunuch Bai Ying leading the way.

The charm was in place.

Whether it would work was up to fate. If it did, it would prove his "golden finger" was useful.

If not, it was fine. The road ahead was long, and he could take his revenge slowly.

Thinking this, Gu Jinnian left with Eunuch Bai Ying.

The Crown Prince, now with the Courage Charm, showed no immediate change, except for a growing annoyance with Gu Jinnian.

Eunuch Bai Ying also sighed in relief.

He was afraid the Crown Prince would really do something foolish, but fortunately, the Crown Prince had some sense.

"Your Highness, please."

They left.

The courtyard resumed its playful atmosphere.

However, Li Ji soon lost interest.

He couldn't shake off the image of Gu Jinnian, with his mocking eyes, which made him even angrier.

His frustration grew, and his mind was elsewhere, causing his fingers to be pinched repeatedly, making him even more irritable.

After a while, with Li Ji being pinched three times in a row, the Princes of Qin and others burst into laughter, and Li Ji finally lost his temper.

"I'm not playing anymore. It's boring."

He threw the toy aside, causing the others to frown.

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

"Losing and quitting, and still claiming to be the bravest warrior in Daxia?"

Several voices chimed in, filled with emotion.

They were all nobles, and some were older than the Crown Prince, so they didn't hold back.

"I can handle it."

"It's just that I find it too childish, and winning all the time is boring."

Li Ji defended himself.

"Childish?"

"If you really think it's childish, why not go and throw a stone at the Minister of Rites?"

"Exactly, if you think it's childish, do you dare to throw a stone at the Minister of Rites?"

Prince Qin was also angry. The toy was his, and he didn't mind Gu Jinnian's comments, but now Li Ji was also calling it childish.

Young people are competitive and don't back down easily.

As the conversation continued, Li Ji's frustration grew, and he didn't know why.

At that moment, a strange force appeared, making him feel inexplicably agitated.

This feeling was odd, making him very frustrated, as if his thoughts were blocked. The words of the others felt like needles, making him very uncomfortable.

But soon, he felt a sense of invincibility, as if he could do anything and was an all-powerful being.

"Will you be convinced if I throw a stone at the Minister of Rites?"

Li Ji looked at the others and asked.

"Yes, if you dare, I'll really be convinced."

"A high-ranking official like the Minister of Rites, if you dare to throw a stone, you're the bravest warrior, not just in Daxia."

The others responded, but their words were partly out of frustration, knowing Gu Jinnian wouldn't dare.

It was just a way to argue.

Like children daring each other to jump from a bridge to prove their bravery.

But Li Ji, at that moment, felt a surge of confidence.

With their responses, Li Ji stood up, looked at the others, and walked toward the Wanli Courtyard without a word.

The others were stunned but quickly followed, curious to see what Li Ji would do.

Li Ji walked quickly, constantly encouraging himself.

He thought, "I am the Crown Prince, the future emperor of Daxia. Throwing a stone at the Minister of Rites might be excessive, but the worst that could happen is a beating."

"I've been beaten before."

"But after this, who among the nobles would dare to defy me?"

Thinking this, Li Ji grew bolder and more courageous.

He even thought, "If I get beaten, I'll just run to my grandmother."

Maybe I won't even get beaten.

Thus, Li Ji arrived at the Wanli Courtyard.

Sure enough, he saw Yang Kai admiring the koi fish.

At that moment, Yang Kai was looking at the pond, but his eyes showed no appreciation, only a sense of disappointment.

He thought the royal family was wasteful and inhumane.

He wanted to recite a poem to criticize the royal extravagance.

But before he could, he sensed someone approaching.

Turning around, he saw Li Ji.

Yang Kai frowned, not knowing why Li Ji was there.

But he bowed, as was proper.

"Old man, I greet Your Highness..."

"Ouch."

Before he could finish, a heavy object hit his head.

"Ouch."

Yang Kai couldn't help but gasp, clutching his head as blood flowed from his hand. The pain made his body tremble, but more importantly, he was confused.

He didn't know what he had done to offend the Crown Prince.

Why did he get hit with a brick out of nowhere?

Damn, you don't play fair, do you?

But before Yang Kai could think more, a dizziness overcame him, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

The perpetrator, Li Ji, looked at the fallen Yang Kai, his body trembling.

Not from fear, but from a strange feeling, a sense of being a king.

Before he threw the stone, he was nervous and had to reassure himself.

But now, he felt no fear, only a sense of achievement.

An indescribable sense of achievement.

It made him feel incredibly good.

Looking back, he saw the Princes of Qin and others standing dumbfounded.

They were wide-eyed, not believing that Li Ji had actually thrown a stone at the Minister of Rites.

This was insane.

But Li Ji was still immersed in that indescribable feeling.

After a while, he looked at the others, his eyes filled with contempt.

"I am Li Ji."

"The bravest warrior in Daxia."

Li Ji's voice trembled with excitement.

This feeling was amazing.

What he most wanted was for Gu Jinnian to see this.

To see if he was truly the bravest warrior in Daxia.

But everything changed with a sudden exclamation.

"It's bad."

"The Crown Prince injured Minister Yang."

In the Zhaixin Palace.

When the news came, Empress Guo was incredulous.

Empress Dowager Zhou was stunned.

Princess Ningyue was speechless.

Their first reaction was that they had heard wrong.

But the maid's reaction confirmed it was real.

In the palace, Gu Jinnian was also stunned.

Li Ji actually dared to throw a stone at the Minister of Rites?

How much courage did it take to do that?

Li Ji.

The bravest warrior in Daxia.

At that moment, Gu Jinnian was truly impressed.

He didn't think it was because of the Courage Charm but believed Li Ji was genuinely brave.

Extremely brave.

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The previous chapter's generation issue has been corrected. Apologies for the mistake during the writing process.

And the draft is gone~ I'm feeling Spartan~

Deduction 1, three updates tomorrow.

Deduction 2, two updates tomorrow.

Please leave comments~ ah... this~

The main plot of the book is clear. The Daxia Academy storyline will soon appear,