Chapter 30: Li Chengze Loses His Cool! Xie Bian Falls in One Move!
The backyard of the Wang Mansion.
There is a garden here, with a pond in the corner. The water of the pond cos from Qing Lake outside the mansion!
The royal and noble residences within the Shixin Gate were all built around Qing Lake.
Qing Lake is a natural inner lake of the capital, with clear water, managed personally by the royal family, hence the na Qing Lake.
At this mont, all the participants of the poetry gathering had temporarily left the mansion and gathered by the lakeside, as it was spacious and had beautiful scenery.
Besides, since they were out for a stroll after a al, it made sense to walk a bit more.
However, the weather was not cooperating. Although winter had already set in, a fine drizzle suddenly started to fall from the sky.
Luckily, the rain wasn’t heavy, just a light mist, so no one paid much attention to it.
At this mont, everyone was gathered in a half-circle.
In the middle of the half-circle stood Qingniao and Xie Bian, facing each other.
One held a spear, the other a sword!
In the center of the half-circle, the three princes stood together.
Li Chengze’s expression didn’t look good.
This was Li Chengyuan trying to provoke him.
If Xie Bian won, that would be fine. But if Xie Bian lost, not only would he lose face in front of Li Chengyuan, but he would also be utterly humiliated!
The most annoying part was that he couldn’t refuse.
What Li Chengyuan had said earlier in the room was nothing less than moral coercion.
Writing poems for either Qingniao or Xie Bian would have been fine.
But Li Chengyuan had promised that as long as Xie Bian fought, he would write a poem for each winner.
In this way, if Li Chengze refused, not only would he offend people, but his reputation would also be ruined!
When this matter spread, people would say that Li Chengze was afraid of Li Chengyuan.
Moreover, since Xie Bian didn’t fight, it would also an that Li Chengyuan wouldn’t write ten poems, making Li Chengze the “criminal” of the literary world!
Li Chengze couldn’t bear the consequences of that!
So, he had no choice but to let Xie Bian fight.
But the issue remained: beating up a maid wasn’t honorable, and losing to her would be even worse!
No matter what, he would lose!
The more Li Chengze thought about it, the angrier he got. Unable to hold it in, he walked past the Crown Prince and stood next to Li Chengyuan, lowering his voice as he said, “Third brother, did I offend you?”
The Crown Prince, upon seeing this, imdiately pricked up his ears and started eavesdropping with a serious expression.
Li Chengyuan, with one hand behind his back, casually replied, “Second brother, you’re joking. We’re blood brothers; how could there be talk of offense?”
Li Chengze coldly replied, “Then what’s the aning of this? As you said, we’re brothers, so if there’s any disagreent, we should be open about it. If you’re targeting , at least let understand why I’m losing!”
After a brief pause, Li Chengyuan said, “Second brother, have you heard about what happened outside the Shixin Gate this morning?”
Li Chengze’s expression froze, and he said in confusion, “Are you suspecting that I sent that person?”
Li Chengyuan smirked, “You know very well whether it was you or not.”
Li Chengze hurriedly said, “I know what? The third brother, that wasn’t my doing! You’re suspecting , but what proof do you have?”
Li Chengyuan shook his head and said, “Second brother, it seems you don’t quite understand .
I’ve always been the type who doesn’t wait to seek revenge.
If I’ve been wronged, I must retaliate; otherwise, I can’t sleep at night.
Whether or not you did it doesn’t matter.
Investigations need evidence; revenge only needs a suspect.
Since I suspect it’s you, I’ll get back to you.
If you feel wronged, it’s simple—you help get to the bottom of this.
If you can prove it wasn’t you, I’ll personally visit you to apologize and make sure you’re no longer upset. How does that sound?”
“Pfft!” The Crown Prince, who had been eavesdropping, couldn’t hold back his laughter.
Li Chengze’s face twitched, and he ended up laughing out of frustration.
This is just…
Li Chengze was genuinely at his wit’s end.
He had been fighting against the Crown Prince for so long and had grown accustod to resolving matters with evidence.
But now, Li Chengyuan was using a completely unreasonable approach!
According to Li Chengyuan’s logic, “As long as I suffer a loss, it doesn’t matter who did it. If I suspect you, I’ll beat you up!”
Forget evidence—he just needed to vent his anger first!
This way of doing things left Li Chengze both angry and helpless!
He had no idea what to do next.
Should he retaliate later?
That would only make it clear that he was behind it, which would provoke even fiercer revenge from Li Chengyuan!
As they say, “The fearless fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those with nothing to lose!”
Against a madman like Li Chengyuan who didn’t play by the rules, none of Li Chengze’s usual tricks seed to work!
Sighing silently, Li Chengze stopped talking.
He just hoped that after this battle, Li Chengyuan’s anger would subside.
As for the current situation… he would let it go.
After all, Li Chengyuan wasn’t wrong—he was indeed the one who sent that person outside the Shixin Gate.
He had wanted to give Li Chengyuan a “welco gift.”
He just hadn’t expected to shoot himself in the foot!
And it hurt quite a bit!
’
By the lakeside, Qingniao and Xie Bian had already been standing for a while.
The onlookers were growing impatient.
So, after exchanging so sharp words with Li Chengze, Li Chengyuan imdiately asked, “Are you both ready?”
Both Qingniao and Xie Bian nodded in response.
Seeing this, Li Chengyuan quickly said, “Then… begin!”
The mont Li Chengyuan’s voice fell, the two of them rushed at each other!
Both practiced fast, decisive techniques—one specialized in shana spear, the other in swift swordsmanship. They both aid to end the fight quickly!
But no one expected the battle to end so swiftly!
One move!
Just one move!
As soon as they closed in, Qingniao unleashed her Shana spear.
Although Xie Bian was fast, he was only an eighth-ranked warrior, far inferior to Qingniao, who was at the peak of the ninth rank!
He only saw a flash of cold light.
Before he could react, he felt an intense pain in his chest.
In an instant, a trendous force sent him flying into the air!
Not letting him off, Qingniao swiftly followed up, leaping into the air above Xie Bian and stomping down on his chest!
Thud!
Qingniao, with Xie Bian underfoot, landed on the ground, raising a cloud of dust!
It wasn’t until this mont that everyone realized the battle was over!
The result left the crowd in an uproar!
This was Xie Bian!
The fastest sword in the capital!
Anyone with any standing among the aristocracy knew how strong Xie Bian, the second prince’s right-hand man, was!
Yet this powerful man had just been defeated by a maid in a single move!
The outco left many people in disbelief.
Even the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were stunned.
Especially Li Chengze.
He had expected Xie Bian to suffer, considering Li Chengyuan wouldn’t make such a move without confidence.
He had guessed that the little maid might know so secret techniques.
But he never imagined that this seemingly insignificant maid could defeat Xie Bian in a single move with pure strength!
If that were the case, what would happen if Li Chengyuan sent this girl to assassinate him one day? Could Xie Bian protect him?
At this thought, Li Chengze felt an overwhelming sense of insecurity!
He was already beginning to regret provoking Li Chengyuan!*
’’
Footnotes:
Shana (刹那): Refers to a split-second, emphasizing speed and decisiveness.
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