The 15" Dark Horse Breaks Through

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At the residence of Prince Yan, the Fourth Imperial Prince Jingting, a latrine worker had just left when a newly hired servant, Yan Xiaoyi, received a note.
Xiaoyi was not only handsome but also tactful and pleasing to others.
Unlike those dull-witted types, like old oil lamps that flicker dimly when touched.
Xiaoyi bought a roasted chicken, two pounds of braised beef, and a pot of Immortal’s Drunken Wine.
The steward, Chu Erhe, was a distant uncle of Lady Chu Qinghuan, the Prince Yan’s consort, and everyone called him Uncle Chu Er.
Chu Erhe smiled and asked, “Xiaoyi, you’re so handsome—why don’t you enter the martial marriage contest? If the Princess Royal takes a liking to you, you’d become a royal son-in-law.”
“Uncle Er, please don’t joke. I have no mind for marriage contests.”
“Oh? So our Xiaoyi does have thoughts,” teased Chu Erhe.
Xiaoyi seemed troubled and hesitated a long while, blushing as he said, “Uncle Er, only you can help me.”
He was about to kneel, but Chu Erhe, fond of his wine, stopped him.
Seeing this, he quickly reached out and pulled Xiaoyi, feigning concern, “Don’t rush, Xiaoyi, we’re family. Whatever it is, tell Uncle Er. Come, let’s drink and talk.”
Without further ado, he poured a cup and drank happily, smacking his lips before asking, “Xiaoyi, what’s going on? If Uncle can help, no need to hesitate. But if I can’t, don’t blame me.” Another cup followed.
Xiaoyi tore off a chicken leg and handed it to him, then refilled his cup before speaking: “It’s like this, Uncle Er. I have a lover at the Wan Hua Brothel, someone who was Mei Niang’s confidante.
Recently, the brothel was sealed off by the court. Her father is gravely ill, with little time left.
Mei Niang is dead, but there are secret ledgers recording unspeakable matters...
She begged me to hand the account books over to Prince Yan in exchange for her freedom.”
Uncle Chu’s eyes gleamed with delight—this was no plea for help, but a gift of merit!
Prince Yan’s power was weaker than that of the Loyalist Prince, making this the perfect moment to topple him.
He hurriedly asked, “Are the ledgers with you?”
Xiaoyi replied, “This is serious—I dare not act on my own. If you agree to help, I can retrieve them immediately.”
“Go quickly and bring them back safely! I’ll report to the Prince.”
In truth, Xiaoyi already had the ledgers. He said this both to allay suspicion and to prove he hadn’t read them.
Meanwhile, the Third Imperial Prince Jingming’s Qi Prince Mansion also received a parcel.

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After a round outside, Xiaoyi came back, panting heavily.
He handed over the sealed ledgers. Upon seeing them, Prince Yan’s face changed dramatically, then broke into a broad smile.
To Uncle Chu he said, “Quickly summon Marquis Yong’an and Minister of Justice Feng Changqing to discuss matters at my residence.”
Marquis Yong’an Chu He was Lady Chu Qinghuan’s father.
When they arrived in the study, Jingting handed them the ledgers.
Minister Feng said, “Your Highness, this evidence alone cannot directly prove the Loyalist Prince’s guilt.
It only shows that Pang Cong was involved in crimes and accepted bribes.
This man is unforgivable, utterly shameless.
Therefore, I will not participate in this case. At court, Your Highness should send someone to impeach the Grand Tutor.
I recommend Assistant Minister of Justice Pang Renmei to interrogate him. If Pang judges leniently, he will owe me a favor, and we can later charge him with dereliction of duty to bring him down.
If he judges harshly, his son will surely die, and he will harbor hatred towards the Loyalist Prince.
I don’t believe he would stand by and watch someone die.”
“Excellent, flawless and bloodless,” Jingting praised.
In the arena, Dayin Xiong Xin faced Dayu’s Xu Yong.
“Xiong Shi, the pride of the capital.”
“Xiong Shi’s Snowflake Divine Sword is unbeatable in the capital.”
“His Falling Leaves Slaughter kills without bloodshed.”
Before ten moves, a loud thud was heard as Xiong Xin was kicked off the stage, bleeding from his mouth...
The crowd gasped—Xiong Xin hadn’t lasted ten moves.
It seemed the Princess Royal’s hopes were bleak this time!
Emperor Hong’s face was dark with worry.
“Does Dayin have no one else? Who’s next?” Xu Yong howled.
This man was Xu Yong, the No. 1 Fiery Spear of the Burning Heaven Pavilion’s Seventy-Two Fiends.
Previously, many renowned young talents and heroes had become mere stepping stones.
Jingchen had disguised himself as a middle-aged man, with some gray hair, slightly yellowed skin, and a wispy beard reaching his chest.
On the third day of the contest, Jingchen tapped a companion’s shoulder, signaling it was his turn.

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A robust old man with a head of white hair, about Jingchen’s height, leapt onto the stage.
Jingwei, Nangong Feilong, and others burst into laughter.
Even Eastern Eagle rarely smiled, but when he did, his triangular eyes were eerie.
Xu Yong teased, “Old man, can that dried radish still stand tall and fight? Don’t just bring home a bride to stare blankly, leaving her anxious and tearful...” The crowd erupted in laughter again.
“Seeking death...” The old man wielded a silver spear, spinning it deftly. Within thirty rounds, he was thrown off the stage.
The crowd gasped once more.
“Name yourself!” Emperor Hong’s worry turned to joy.
“I am Lei Bao, the Leopard Head of Yanyun.” Lei Bao had undergone disguise, wearing a human-skin mask so lifelike it was the handiwork of a ghost doctor saint.
After winning the martial contest, Jingchen would take the stage wearing the mask for the literary contest.
This trick of substitution and deception was all part of Jingchen’s plan.
One challenger after another rushed to the stage—from the Northern Di, Xiliang, Piaoguo, to Nanzhao...
Watching the ninth challenger, Wen Tailai, dubbed “Thunder-Running Hand,” being flung by a silver spear in a humbling arc, crashing hard onto the yellow earth below, eliciting stifled gasps.
The tenth to enter was a burly man wielding twin axes, roaring loudly as he charged like a black bear crashing into a mountain.
Jingchen sidestepped the attack, then struck his knee with the spear like a venomous snake.
The brute howled, collapsing with a thunderous thud, then was struck precisely on the back of the neck by the spear’s tail, completely incapacitated.
“Quick, investigate this man’s origin! If he can be recruited, he’ll be a fierce general.”
“Where did this dark horse come from? A rustic villager, daring to ruin my plans!”
Jingwei was furious.
Jingting sent men to investigate...
Among the top ten, only two were from the Dayin Dynasty: Lei Bao, the Leopard Head of Yanyun, and Lu Jun, the Fire Qilin of Langzhou—both among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars.
The rest belonged to Jingwei.
Emperor Hong declared that three days later, there would be a banquet at the palace, followed by a literary contest before the hall, with all officials attending!