Chapter 49

Qixue bid farewell to the Jia Ning County Princess and rode in a carriage back to the imperial palace. Wei Huai, under the pretext of escorting the Noble Consort, led a group of Zhu Huai Guards flanking the carriage on either side, seeing Qixue all the way to the palace gates.

On the road, Qixue was lost in thought. Even when Wei Huai tried to strike up a conversation, he responded indifferently, constantly replaying Ji Yuheng’s shattered gaze in his mind. He felt increasingly unwilling to let it go and somewhat regretted not staying to comfort him.

The human heart was such a strange thing.

In truth, Qixue had originally despised Ji Yuheng and tormented him in all sorts of ways. Yet Ji Yuheng had always been so gentle and tolerant toward him. Gradually, Qixue stopped hating him so much. Now, upon learning that Ji Yuheng admired him, he felt even more embarrassed to hold onto that dislike. Instead, he developed a favorable impression of Ji Yuheng—even, one could say, a bit of fondness.

Moreover, Ji Yuheng had no intention of becoming the Crown Prince and would leave the capital in a couple of days. Qixue had already separated him from the image in the original novel. The Ji Yuheng in the book was certainly loathsome, but the one he knew was quite good. They were two different people.

Back in his sleeping palace, Qixue changed clothes and prepared to visit Xu Taifei at Cuiwei Palace. But he saw Wei Huai appear in the hall. After escorting Qixue to the palace gates, Wei Huai hadn’t left; instead, he had sneaked into Chenglu Palace.

Wei Huai frequented the imperial palace, so the Nightmare Demons offered him no resistance. Qixue glanced at him but said nothing, heading straight out of the hall.

Seeing Qixue ignore him, Wei Huai knelt without a word. His knees struck the ground with a dull thud.

Qixue finally turned back to look at him, but instead of telling him to rise, he sneered, “The Great General looks like he has sturdy bones, but his knees are so soft. Why do you always kneel to me? I can’t bear it.”

“It’s my fault,” Wei Huai said meekly, pleading, “A Xue, don’t be angry with me.”

Qixue ignored him. “Since you like kneeling so much, kneel then. I’m going out.”

He truly paid Wei Huai no mind and took gifts to visit Xu Taifei, staying at Cuiwei Palace for the entire afternoon.

Lately, Xu Taifei had people make many new dresses for Qixue but few for herself. In return, Qixue had Dong Yuan send her a set of new jewelry. Xu Taifei was delighted and insisted on wearing the heavy pieces even for her afternoon nap, refusing to let the palace servants remove them.

Once she woke, Qixue returned to Chenglu Palace. As soon as he entered, he found Wei Huai still kneeling in the same spot, his posture unchanged, as if he hadn’t moved at all.

Over two hours had passed. Qixue’s heart finally softened. He walked over and nudged him. “Alright, I said you like kneeling, but you don’t really enjoy it, do you? Get up already.”

Wei Huai didn’t rise immediately. Instead, he kept his head lowered and apologized. “I was wrong to act on my own and let Ji Yuheng spy on our… affair without considering your feelings.”

Hearing him reflect on himself, Qixue paused and let out a light hum. “And?”

Wei Huai hesitated. “I shouldn’t have punished Ji Yuheng on my own and made you angry.”

“And?”

“…” Wei Huai fell silent. After a long while, he said, “Are you blaming me for not respecting Ji Yuheng?”

Qixue replied, “Not exactly that.”

Because on that point, he had gone even further than Wei Huai. He was the one who disrespected Ji Yuheng the most, so what right did he have to criticize Wei Huai?

“I just think that since you knew Ji Yuheng admires me, you shouldn’t deliberately trample on his feelings.”

Qixue pulled Wei Huai to his feet and gently admonished him. “Put yourself in his shoes. Imagine if I or His Majesty tied you under the bed and made you listen to us making love. How would you feel? Could you bear that kind of humiliation?”

Wei Huai’s expression changed. His hands slowly clenched into fists, as if the mere thought pushed him to the edge of losing control.

“You’re right. I couldn’t bear it.”

He exhaled heavily, calming his churning emotions. “Don’t do that to me, A Xue. I’d really die.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Qixue touched the side of his face. “So don’t do it to others. I actually like seeing you jealous for me and don’t mind you driving away my admirers—just don’t go too far, or it’ll put me in a tough spot. Promise me, okay?”

“I promise you.”

Wei Huai agreed without hesitation, then abruptly changed the subject. “But A Xue, don’t you think His Majesty went too far with me? Out of jealousy over my past with you, he forced me to kneel and bow to you, calling you ‘Noble Consort.’ My heart broke then too. Shouldn’t you teach His Majesty a lesson?”

Qixue asked puzzledly, “Why teach His Majesty a lesson? So what if your heart broke? Do you think I’d get angry with His Majesty for your sake?”

The moment Helan Ji was mentioned, Qixue became a different person, biased beyond reason. “This isn’t the same thing at all. How can you or Ji Yuheng compare to His Majesty?”

“Don’t ask me such a stupid question again. You might as well knock yourself out and dream that I fall out with His Majesty over you—that would happen faster.”

“…” Wei Huai felt a pang of bitterness and gave a wry smile. “You really don’t hold back, do you? So heartless.”

“You’re wrong again. I’m too soft-hearted and too affectionate, that’s why I haven’t cut ties with you.”

Qixue tiptoed to kiss his cheek and hugged him soothingly. “Seventh Brother, remember this: I like you. As long as you don’t get greedy or make me angry, and stay my good little dog, I’ll always accept you. Understand?”

Wei Huai lowered his eyes and held Qixue’s hand. “I understand.”

–

The next day.

The final examination for selecting the heir to the throne was the riding and archery test at the Imperial Riding and Archery Field on the western side of the imperial palace.

Qixue accompanied Helan Ji to the Moon Terrace, where palace servants attended them and dozens of Zhu Yan Guards stood guard behind.

Below the Moon Terrace stood the imperial clansmen and nobles participating in the examination. Ji Yuheng, with the top scores, stood closest to the emperor, visible to Qixue at a glance.

For the sake of convenience in riding and archery, Ji Yuheng had abandoned his usual wide-sleeved robes for a misty mountain-colored narrow-sleeved short jacket. He lost some of the refined elegance of a noble son but gained a striking, heroic air that was equally pleasing to the eye.

Yet he kept his eyes downcast, his expression tinged with melancholy. Qixue sighed silently and decided to meet Ji Yuheng alone after the examination to have a proper talk.

When the time came, the examination began.

The chief examiner announced the rules: three rounds in total. The first was stationary targets, the second moving targets, and the third an optional bonus round of fighting demons, which was dangerous and could be skipped.

After the examination, officials would tally the scores from all days, rank and evaluate the candidates, then present the memorial to the emperor for the final decision on the heir.

That morning, Qixue had specially asked Helan Ji about his preferred candidate. Helan Ji answered honestly: his top choice was still Ji Yuheng, but since Ji Yuheng had no interest in the East Palace position, he had to select others. About five were passable, but none came close to Ji Yuheng.

Helan Ji named the five, but Qixue had never heard of them, confirming they weren’t important in the original novel.

Qixue didn’t care who the five were. Anyway, he would bear Helan Ji’s child, and his own son would become emperor in the future. Whoever was chosen as Crown Prince now was irrelevant—as long as it wasn’t Ji Yuheng.

Amid his thoughts, the clansmen had taken their positions. The first event was shooting stationary targets a hundred paces away. Everyone used zhe wood longbows, differing only in draw weight, which each could choose based on their strength.

Ji Yuheng selected a two-stone longbow and stood before the white line.

He exhaled the crisp morning air deeply, steadied his mind and spirit, focused his gaze on the target, prepared himself, and slowly drew the bowstring.

Archery was his strongest skill, so he wouldn’t lose.

Not only would he win—he would win spectacularly, becoming the most impeccable candidate for heir and forcing the emperor to select him.

He had to claim that position.

Whoosh—

The sharp arrow flew from the string with a fierce wind, striking dead center. Its force drove the arrowhead deep into the target face, the fletching quivering nonstop.

The next two arrows, three arrows—five in total—each hit the exact same spot. Each subsequent arrow split the one before it. His exquisite technique left everyone stunned, speechless in shock.

The second round: moving targets.

Man-shaped straw targets were dragged by galloping horses across the field, bundles of branches tied to the horses’ tails kicking up thick clouds of dust that severely obscured vision.

Candidates still had five arrows, but hitting a horse meant immediate disqualification and deduction of prior scores.

Many poor shots simply abandoned it, firing arrows into the ground to complete the round. A zero was better than deductions.

Only Ji Yuheng scored perfectly again. Every arrow hit the same straw target, each piercing the previous one.

His archery had reached an unimaginable, otherworldly level. The crowd’s hearts turned to ashes. The gap was too vast—even the bonus round couldn’t close it. They might as well pack up at the government hostel and head home.

Just as everyone thought the third round unnecessary, Ji Yuheng requested to participate.

“Do you truly intend to fight the demons?” From the Moon Terrace, Helan Ji asked coolly, his emotions unreadable. “Have you thought it through?”

“Yes,” Ji Yuheng replied with lowered head. “I have, Your Majesty.”

In the original novel, Ji Yuheng hadn’t taken the third round. Qixue didn’t know why he changed his mind and worried for him. “Ji Shizi, you don’t need to. You’re already first—why make things harder on yourself?”

Ji Yuheng said, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Ladyship, but I am resolved. Please permit me to take the test, Your Majesty.”

Helan Ji said, “Approved. Have the Zhu Yan Guards prepare.”

The demons were ferocious and violent; ordinary soldiers couldn’t control them, so the Zhu Yan Guards released them.

Qixue heard the demons’ terrifying roars from afar and trembled inwardly. Helan Ji noticed and held his hand. “It’ll be fine, Yuan Yuan. Don’t be afraid.”

“But Your Majesty…” Qixue whispered, “why agree to Ji Shizi’s request? There’s no need for this round. It’s too dangerous—someone could die. You could have stopped him.”

“I won’t stop him,” Helan Ji said. “He’s doing this to prove something to me.”

“What?” Qixue asked.

“He’s changed his mind.”

Helan Ji continued, “He wants to prove he’s not the same person anymore. He wants to become Crown Prince.”

“Now he has the matching ability and ambition. The position belongs to him. No one else can contend—he will thoroughly trample them underfoot.”