Green Mountain

Chapter 528 391: Protecting the Sovereign

Plum Valley of Fragrant Mountain.

The Crown Prince was slowly riding his horse up the gentle slope, accompanied by Mr. Liao on both sides.

The Crown Prince no longer hunted, instead quietly admiring the yellow flowers of the plum valley, the early blooming winter sweet resembling small copper bells hanging on the branches.

Not far away, Prince Fu also didn't hunt.

He led the men of the Five Armies Camp ahead to drive away the prey, so that wherever the Crown Prince went, Prince Fu would lead people to drive the prey away early, ensuring that even the close attendants from the Eastern Palace couldn't see a rabbit.

Prince Fu laughed heartily, occasionally whistling past the Crown Prince like a wild horse that had broken free.

A close attendant from the Eastern Palace rode up and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Prince Fu is too much of a bully. If you let him act so recklessly, you might really return empty-handed."

The Crown Prince remained unchanged, and Mr. Liao remained calm with his eyes closed.

Seeing that the Crown Prince did not respond, the attendant thought it signaled permission: "Rest assured, Your Highness. I will lead the Eastern Palace attendants to confront him. That Zhou Kuang and the Five Armies Camp may not necessarily be a match for us. Moreover, with Mr. Liao backing us up, they will surely be humiliated."

Having said that, he planned to call the Eastern Palace attendants to crash into Prince Fu's team.

But the Crown Prince smiled gently and stopped him, saying, "Brother Xue Zui, there's no need for that. My royal brother loves to play, so let him have his fun, what does it matter?"

The attendant named Xue Zui frowned and said, "If you return empty-handed from the spring hunt, you may become a laughingstock. How can I sit by and watch?"

The Crown Prince shook his head: "I'm already a laughingstock, one more thing won't make a difference. While my royal brother is having fun, we might as well stay calm and enjoy the plum blossoms. After the written examination ends, countless scholars will come here in droves to admire the plums and compose poems. By then, they will make a mess of this plum valley, and such a beautiful scene will be gone."

Xue Zui was astonished, wondering how the Crown Prince could still be admiring plum blossoms at a time like this.

Mr. Liao slowly opened his eyes and praised, "Your Highness's composure and temperament have greatly improved."

The Crown Prince smiled and asked, "Mr. Liao, judging by the time, the scholars should have already entered the Imperial Examination Hall, right?"

Mr. Liao glanced at the sky: "Yes, Your Highness, the examination has already started. Today, they are testing three questions from the 'Four Books' and four questions on canonical interpretation."

The Crown Prince sighed deeply, "It's a pity that I no longer hold the position of Academic Administrator this year, and I can't see the scholars' essays earlier. It's a real shame... Mr. Liao, who do you think will take the top spot this year?"

According to past customs, after the written examination, the list would be published, and those admitted would be called 'tribute scholars,' about three hundred people.

The palace examination doesn't eliminate people, instead, Emperor Ning ranks these three hundred people, so being a tribute scholar is tantamount to being a 'scholar.' As long as they don't commit any wrongdoing before the palace examination, it's almost guaranteed.

During the palace examination, Emperor Ning appoints the top three ranks.

Three people in the first category receive titles of "First Scholar," "Second Place," and "Third Place," along with the degree of "scholar with honors"; several dozen people in the second category receive "scholar by merit"; and over two hundred people in the third category receive "scholar by common degree."

Mr. Liao said softly, "I believe that in this Imperial Examination, both Chen Wenzong and Yang Yuan have the potential to take the top spot."

The Crown Prince casually asked, "Why do you say that?"

Mr. Liao pondered for a moment: "Yang Yuan is a young talent selected by the Xu family from the South. The court's treasury is empty. If the Emperor still relies on the Xu family to collect taxes from the South, then Yang Yuan will take the top spot. However, in recent years, Wu Xiu has extended his reach to the South through the Weaving Bureau and the Transport Commissioner, even collecting salt taxes. Now that Official Xu is often muddle-headed... if the Emperor wants someone more competent, he might choose Chen Wenzong to imply something."

The Crown Prince smiled, "Mr. Liao hasn't given me an answer, you're still letting me guess."

Mr. Liao's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly affirmed, "Yang Yuan. Although Official Xu is muddle-headed, the Emperor has tacitly allowed Lord Zhang Zhuo to review reports and memorials on his behalf, which shows his favor. Xu family has successors, I think the Emperor will give them some face."

The Crown Prince murmured, "Lord Zhang, a talented person in governance. Unfortunately, despite my several invitations, Lord Zhang has avoided seeing me."

Mr. Liao comforted him, "After returning to the capital, I will think of a way..."

But at the next moment, the Crown Prince interrupted, "Mr. Liao guessed wrong, Yang Yuan cannot become the top scholar."

Mr. Liao was puzzled, "Why do you say that?"

The Crown Prince smiled, "You all misunderstand Lord Zhang. Lord Zhang is not of the Xu family; he is my father's person..."

Before he finished speaking, distant hoofbeats approached quickly, faster than ordinary hunting teams.

Mr. Liao immediately rode to stand in front of the Crown Prince and said solemnly, "Protect the Crown Prince."

More than ten Eastern Palace attendants drew their swords, glaring at the end of the plum valley.

Prince Fu also heard the hoofbeats in the distance, smiling as he led Zhou Kuang to ride over, teasingly saying, "What kind of presence scares the Crown Prince of the Ning Dynasty like this?"

...

...

On the eighteen bends of Fragrant Mountain.

Chen Ji paved the way, with Yangyang bringing up the rear, the seven of them held their breath and sped along.

Yang Fang and Yang Xian both had crossbow arrows stuck in them, fearing to pull them out. Once they did, they would bleed profusely, and within thirty minutes, they would lose all strength.

The two always protected the flanks of the horse team, using their bodies to shield the slope. Should someone shoot arrows from the slope, they would be the first to bear the brunt.

Qi Zhenzhuo looked towards the two, worriedly asking, "Are you two alright? Should we treat those wounds?"

Yang Fang glanced at him, "No need."

Qi Zhenzhuo asked again, "You two need not shield us from arrows anymore; if you continue, you might die."

Yang Xian replied expressionlessly, "The order given to us is to shield you from arrows."

Qi Zhenzhuo suddenly realized that throughout, Yangyang had only given them one command: shield arrows. As long as they were not dead, those two words were above all else.

Yangyang jested at the rear of the group, "Do you know how my Longevity Army differs from you?"

Qi Zhenzhuo remained silent.

At the rear, Yangyang couldn't help but shout, "Chen family boy, where exactly are you taking us? Don't lead us astray like a headless fly."

Chen Ji ignored him.

At this moment, the sound of hoofbeats approached from behind, more numerous than before.

Yangyang's expression changed, "Quick, move, the assassins have caught up! Chen family boy, you better lead us right, or we'll be in trouble today!"

Chen Ji suddenly said, "We've arrived!"

Suddenly, they reached the end of the winding mountain path, and the scene opened up to reveal valleys full of Fragrant Wintersweet.

In Mei Valley, the Crown Prince and others turned at the sound of hoofbeats approaching.

Chen Ji shouted, "Someone is attempting assassination, protect the driver! Protect the Crown Prince, protect Prince Fu!"

Zhang Zheng was startled, "Hmm?!"

Yangyang was dumbfounded, "You..."

...

...

"Damn it! Zhou Kuang, come protect us!" Prince Fu shouted.

Zhou Kuang rode forward, leading the Five Armies Camp to encircle Prince Fu completely, while he himself stroked the hard bow hanging on the saddle, "Prince, should we go or kill?"

Prince Fu squinted slightly, "Let's watch first."

At this moment, Chen Ji and others rushed into Mei Valley, but behind them, a group of "Jiefan Guard" clad in straw coats and bamboo hats emerged from the corner of the winding mountain path.

The "Jiefan Guard" raised hand crossbows and fired; crossbow arrows rained down on Chen Ji and others, piercing the ground behind them.

Seeing Chen Ji and others approaching, while assassins closely pursued from behind.

When the assassins entered within sixty paces, Prince Fu coldly commanded, "Release arrows!"

Zhou Kuang raised his hand and pulled the hard bow, the Five Armies Camp fired in unison, feathered arrows flew over Chen Ji and others' heads like meteors, striking into the assassins' ranks.

The hand crossbow was ultimately far inferior to the hard bow, and in one confrontation, more than a dozen assassins fell from their horses. They reined in their horses and fled down the path they came, showing no desire to fight.

As they retreated, two assassins turned back with sinister expressions, silently staring at the increasingly distant Chen Ji until their vision was blocked by plum trees.

Prince Fu spoke deeply, "Do not pursue, be wary of falling into a trap."

While speaking, Chen Ji had already rushed to the front of the Crown Prince and Prince Fu, urgently saying, "Your Highness, this subordinate was late in protecting you! During the hunt, we discovered someone posing as the Jiefan Guard intending to assassinate..."

Prince Fu cursed, "What kind of protection is this? Why do I feel like you are leading the assassins? Aren't those assassins here to kill you?"

Chen Ji suddenly retorted, "Your Highness, why would someone go through so much trouble to assassinate me? I suspect these assassins were not targeting us but happened to be intercepted by us."

Prince Fu's gaze swept over Chen Ji, Yangyang, Zhang Xia, Zhang Zheng, Qi Zhenzhuo, and others, thoughtfully, "Yes, why would someone send so many Death Soldiers impersonating the Jiefan Guard to kill you? It's either not to kill you, or they came to kill me and the Crown Prince..."

Zhou Kuang was shocked, quickly riding back to Prince Fu's side, leading the Five Armies Camp to separate Prince Fu and the Crown Prince!

The Eastern Palace attendants paused slightly, also abruptly opposing the Five Armies Camp, firmly protecting the Crown Prince behind them.

Conflict was imminent!

Behind the crowd, Prince Fu touched his chin, joking, "Where did the assassins come from? Zhou Kuang, did you arrange this?"

Zhou Kuang grimly replied, "Your Highness, please don't joke about my nine tribes."

Prince Fu gave a long "Oh" sound, "Not you..."

He turned his head towards the Crown Prince and Mr. Liao, "Then is it you?"

Mr. Liao replied unhurriedly, "Prince Fu, do not make baseless speculations."

Prince Fu laughed heartily, "I was only joking, don't take it seriously!"

The Crown Prince slowly spoke, "Brother, now is not the time for jokes. Beneath the Emperor's feet, someone impersonating the Jiefan Guard is a crime of rebellion, we must dispatch someone to ride back to the capital immediately, report this, and bring the Jiefan Guard and the Spy Department to suppress the rebellion... Chen Ji, others may need two fast horses to switch for this journey, Miss Zhang Xia's mount is extraordinary, and you are familiar with it, why not ride it for this task?"

Chen Ji earnestly replied, "Your Highness, I protected you thoroughly in Guyuan, and during the Great Victory in Guyuan, you alone requested merit for me. Now there are assassins, how can I abandon you? Let me remain by your side."