Volume One, Chapter 17: Leaving the Palace (Part 1)

Hearing this, Yuanbao could not help but be stunned: "But, but didn't you previously say that he was highly suspicious and needed a thorough investigation?"

Li Jiuxiao was one of the commanders of the Imperial Guards. At thirty-two years old, he possessed remarkable ability and was the only one among the three commanders without a prominent background, which was why Shen Ran had always trusted him more than the others.

Yet, unexpectedly, it was during this very trip outside the palace with him that things went wrong. Coupled with the constant whispers in his ear from Liu Ruyi, Shen Ran had ended up alienating and distancing him, despite a lack of any concrete evidence. In the end, Li Jiuxiao, feeling discouraged and unappreciated, resigned from his post and returned to his hometown to farm.

After a moment of silence, Shen Ran gave a soft laugh: "That was because I had just been assassinated and my mind was clouded. But now, I have realized that one should not employ someone they doubt, and one should not doubt someone they employ."

In his past life, blinded by a misplaced sense of affection, he had been subservient to that woman, Liu Ruyi. But now, thinking back carefully, everything that Liu Ruyi had gone to such great lengths to target could, in one way or another, be associated with the word "loyal."

Amidst the swirling, intoxicating scent of incense in the hall, Shen Ran said faintly: "Go ahead and summon Li Jiuxiao. As for Zhao Yuanzhuo..."

The image of the young man surfaced before his eyes, and Shen Ran curled his lips with an air of indifference: "Even if he truly harbors resentment toward me, at this critical juncture, he would still lay down his life to protect me."

Yuanbao looked bewildered: "This servant does not understand."

"It does not matter if you do not understand." Shen Ran had no interest in explaining. "You are my Grand Eunuch; it is enough that you know how to follow my orders. As for other matters, they are not for you to worry about."

...

As the Grand Eunuch, Yuanbao might have been lacking in other areas, but he was certainly efficient. He soon had Li Jiuxiao brought to the Weiyang Palace.

Li Jiuxiao was a sturdy man, eight feet tall, with a dark complexion and a robust build. Unfortunately, he looked quite haggard, a testament to the difficult days he had endured recently.

Li Jiuxiao knelt to pay his respects: "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

The eunuch who had been sent to deliver the imperial decree was tight-lipped, and not knowing the intent behind Shen Ran's sudden summons, Li Jiuxiao’s eyes were shadowed with deep anxiety. Since ancient times, the suspicions of an emperor could be fatal.

Shen Ran gave a faint "Hmm" and went straight to the point: "Take a few men and accompany me out of the palace."

This was completely unexpected for Li Jiuxiao. Because of Shen Ran’s inexplicable assassination, Li Jiuxiao’s movements had been restricted since their return to the palace; he hadn't even been allowed to leave his room for the past few days. He never imagined that Shen Ran would order him to accompany him outside the palace again.

However, despite his surprise, Li Jiuxiao immediately replied: "Your Majesty has only just been assassinated. If you truly must leave the palace, I fear it would be unwise to take only a few men."

"Since ancient times, when a small force ventures deep into dangerous territory, it is better to be elite than numerous."

"Besides, the more people we bring, the larger the target, making us more likely to attract attention."

Shen Ran lowered his gaze to look at Li Jiuxiao, saying lightly: "Li Jiuxiao, I trust you; you won't let me down this time, will you?"

A single, understated word of "trust" swept away all past grievances. Li Jiuxiao, who had been living in fear for days, felt as though a great stone had been lifted from his heart by this sudden turn of events. He kowtowed heavily and said loudly: "This subject will do everything in his power to protect Your Majesty's safety!"

...

The capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty had always been prosperous. Even at night, the streets were bustling with merchants and travelers, lively and vibrant.

Shen Ran wore a mask and held a folding fan, dressed as a dashing and affluent young gentleman. Yet, with his face covered, his glass-like eyes appeared all the more strikingly brilliant; occasionally, when he met someone’s gaze, it felt as if they were being drawn into them.

Zhao Yuanzhuo followed by Shen Ran's side. To coordinate with Shen Ran, he also wore a very ordinary mask, his dark hair tied up high with a ribbon. Although his attire was casual, he was filled with an irrepressible youthful spirit.

Standing together, even with masks and understated clothing, the two still frequently attracted the attention of passersby. When young women passed, their eyes would involuntarily drift toward Shen Ran or Zhao Yuanzhuo, and they would blush uncontrollably.

For the accompanying guards, this was not a good thing. Li Jiuxiao’s heart was in his throat, and he dared not relax for even a second. He followed a few paces behind them, his hand never leaving the weapon hidden at his waist, while the other guards dispersed to keep a close watch on the surroundings for anyone suspicious.

Just then, a commotion broke out across the street, followed by the faint sound of an argument. As the crowd surged, Li Jiuxiao became immediately vigilant, but upon looking toward the noise, he saw that an elderly vegetable vendor had accidentally soiled the clothes of a man in fine silk.

The old man, with white hair and beard, was clearly very elderly and had trouble walking. He approached in terror, trying to help wipe the man's clothes, but was kicked to the ground by the man: "Get away! Is a stray dog like you fit to touch this young master?"

The old man immediately spat blood. The little girl beside him burst into loud, wailing sobs.

The man in silk, having had his clothes dirtied, was initially furious, but upon looking down and seeing the little girl, a strange smile appeared on his face. He leaned over and whispered a few words to his servant.

The servant immediately went over, grabbed the little girl by the arm, and hoisted her up: "My young master's clothes are something a stray dog like you couldn't afford to pay for in ten lifetimes. You should be chopped up and fed to the fish, but since our young master is kind-hearted, we’ll let you pay with this girl instead."

The little girl was terrified and struggled desperately. But how could a six or seven-year-old girl struggle against an adult man in his twenties? A slap to the face left her instantly subdued.

The old man, kicked to the ground, scrambled up tremblingly to reach for her: "Niuniu! Niuniu! Give Niuniu back to me! Ah—"

Before he had taken two steps, he was shoved to the ground by the man, knocking out two of his front teeth. The man in silk clearly looked wealthy and powerful; although there were many onlookers, none dared to step forward.

Zhao Yuanzhuo’s temper had always been straightforward, and he was burning with anger at the sight. But, mindful of his duty and the safety of Shen Ran, he dared not act rashly and could only huff in frustration.

Shen Ran, however, acted as if he saw nothing, continuing to stroll along while leisurely waving his fan.

Only Zhao Yuanzhuo, after enduring and enduring, finally could not stand it anymore amidst the girl’s heart-wrenching cries. Picking up a few pebbles from the ground, he waited for a moment when no one was looking and sent one flying at the man and another at his servant.

The martial arts he had practiced day and night since he was four or five years old made his movements clean, fast, and fierce.

The man in silk was in the midst of his triumph when he suddenly saw a flash of cold light, followed by a sharp pain in his forehead. His servant suffered the same fate, each left with a red, swollen bump on their head.

The man in silk looked around furiously, but he couldn't tell which direction the pebbles had come from. He had always been a bully who feared the strong, and seeing this, his expression shifted. He hurriedly led his lackeys and fled in a panic.

The old man crawled over to embrace his granddaughter. The grandfather and granddaughter clung to each other, sobbing.

Seeing the man leave, people in the crowd finally stood up with righteous indignation, condemning the man's heinous and shameful behavior. Others placed a copper coin or two beside the old man, sighing and urging him to buy a steamed bun or a bowl of hot porridge.

There are rarely absolute saints or villains in this world. Much like when there is no danger and their own interests are not at stake, most people will still show a bit of kindness.

Shen Ran tilted his head slightly, looking at Zhao Yuanzhuo beside him with a faint, inscrutable smile.

Hidden behind his mask, Zhao Yuanzhuo could not see Shen Ran’s expression, nor could he discern any obvious emotion in the other’s eyes. He could only lower his head and plead guilty: "Just now, this servant acted impulsively without the young master's permission. Please punish me, young master."

When out and about, Zhao Yuanzhuo, like the others, addressed Shen Ran as "Young Master," while he himself posed as the "page boy" serving him.

"Knowing the rules yet breaking them—the crime is doubled."

Shen Ran laughed lazily, nonchalantly tossing the question back to Zhao Yuanzhuo: "Tell me, how should you be punished?"

Zhao Yuanzhuo: "..."