Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 12 | A Striking Resemblance | Novela.app

Two quarters of an hour later, the banquet drew to a close. As the guests streamed out of the palace doors, many were greeted by the sight of two people sitting side-by-side on the stone steps, laughing heartily. Before them lay a plump bird, so exhausted it looked like a feathered corpse. One of them was undoubtedly the former Grand Councilor, Pei Shian, who had left the banquet midway. But the other...? "Who is that?" "The one sitting with the old Grand Councilor?" "I don't recognize him. His build doesn't look familiar. They seem to be having quite a pleasant chat." Doubts and whispers rippled through the crowd. Ye Zhao’s father, Ye Yuan, emerged a step behind the others. Seeing the crowd huddled at the entrance instead of leaving, he found it strange. "What’s going on?" A man beside him pointed to the two figures below. "Look at that person. In all these years, I’ve rarely seen the old Grand Councilor so happy. I wonder which family’s young master has managed to catch his eye." Others chimed in, "Indeed, indeed..." "But he truly looks like a stranger..." As the people around him chattered, Ye Yuan squinted at the distant back of the youth. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed. He raised his voice and gave a tentative shout, "Son—!" Hearing that familiar call, Ye Zhao turned his head almost instinctively and answered loudly and clearly, "Dad!" *Boom—* The crowd erupted. Ye Yuan was startled himself; it really was his son! "Who? Who just shouted?" someone asked. Most eyes immediately locked onto the portly Ye Yuan. "Master Ye?!" Someone else was confused. "Which Master Ye?" Ye Yuan’s presence in court had always been low-key. Those who didn't recognize him immediately soon realized who he was after a few whispered explanations. "It’s Master Ye Yuan, the Vice Minister of Revenue!" Then, the logical conclusion followed naturally: "That’s Ye Zhao?!!" "Who? Ye Zhao?! That precious, profligate brat?" "No way! How could that be Ye Zhao!" "Doesn't Master Ye only have one son? Who else could it be but Ye Zhao?" "..." As the two figures slowly walked up the steps together, the crowd's previous doubts vanished, replaced entirely by astonishment. However, as they looked closer, the expressions of some became increasingly subtle. "My boy!!! What happened to you?" Ye Yuan squeezed to the front of the crowd, staring at his pitiful-looking son. Ye Zhao still held a chicken drumstick in his left hand. A large bruise marred his forehead, looking as if someone had pinned him to the ground and given him a beating. His clothes were a mess of dirt and grime. Ye Yuan’s eyes instantly welled with tears. Those standing near him couldn't help but rub their ears at the sheer volume of his wail. "My boy, who bullied you?! How did you end up like this?" "Are you hurt? Where are you injured?" "Which bastard did this?! I’ll skin him alive!!!" Ye Zhao was spun around this way and that by his father. He barely managed to stop his father from trying to strip his clothes off to check for wounds. "Dad, Dad, I’m fine, really! I just took a tumble." Only then did Ye Yuan cease his display of fatherly concern—a display so saccharine it made the onlookers' teeth ache. They all thought: *Master Ye truly is a fanatic when it comes to doting on his son.* But clearly, they had still underestimated the extent of Master Ye’s devotion. Noticing the drumstick in Ye Zhao’s hand, he had a sudden realization. "My boy, are you hungry? Come, the dishes at Dad’s table haven't been cleared yet. We can go back in and eat!" The crowd was speechless. "..." *Why does this feel like he’s trying to scrounge leftovers from a royal banquet?* As Ye Yuan started to pull Ye Zhao back inside, Ye Zhao hurriedly refused. "No, no, no, it’s fine, Dad. I’m full, really. Pei An just had someone bring me lots of delicious food." Ye Yuan’s first reaction was relief that his son wasn't hungry. His second reaction was: "Hmm? Who is Pei An?" Upon hearing this, Ye Zhao immediately introduced his new little friend. "There, this gentleman. Pei An!" Indeed, after their brief time together, Pei Shian had managed to glean most of Ye Zhao’s background, and the two had even progressed to the point of calling each other by name. However, after Ye Zhao spoke, the area fell silent. Many faces went numb, and some looked as if they had just swallowed a fly. Pei Shian stood quietly, holding the thin chain attached to the parrot. Hearing his name, he offered a proactive smile to Ye Yuan. "Greetings, Master Ye." *No, no, no, I don't deserve it!* Ye Yuan’s fat trembled in fear. He hurriedly cupped his hands and offered a fawning smile. "Greetings, Grand Councilor! My son is uncouth; please do not take offense." *Wait, what?* Ye Zhao turned back to look at his new friend. Who? Grand Councilor? If he remembered correctly, the State of Wei only had one "Old Grand Councilor"... Pei Shian! *Holy crap!* Ye Zhao finally realized. Pei Shian spoke up. "It is no matter. Your son and I felt like old friends from the moment we met. There is no need for such formalities between friends. Wouldn't you agree, Ye Zhao?" Meeting Pei Shian’s gaze, Ye Zhao felt a slight pang of panic but forced himself to remain calm. "...Yes, that’s right." What else could he say? It was a surprise, certainly, but looking back at their interaction and then at Pei Shian’s words—"old friends from the moment we met"—perhaps it really was something like that... Or so Ye Zhao thought. Ye Yuan paused for a moment, gave a dry laugh, and exchanged a few more pleasantries. Surrounded by so many eyes, Ye Zhao hadn't expected to make such a famous friend. However, his expression remained as casual as ever. His right index finger idly stroked the ribs of his folding fan. A drunken voice drifted over from the right. "Eh? Why do I see Lord Shu?" Everyone turned toward the sound. It was Song He, the Minister of Works. Beside him were several other Ministers emerging one after another. Ye Zhao turned to look as well. The moment they saw his face, several of them were shocked. "Lord Shu?!!!" The exclamation stunned the entire assembly. Before Ye Zhao could deny it, a man rushed straight up to him, cupping his face and staring intensely. He muttered, "...How can it not be there?" With that, he roughly brushed aside the stray hairs on Ye Zhao’s forehead, his thumb rubbing the spot between his brows. He used considerable force, pressing right down on Ye Zhao’s bruise. Ye Zhao winced in pain and hurriedly pushed him away. "Hiss... Let go, let go! What are you doing?!" The fiercely protective Ye Yuan saw this and lost his temper. He didn't care who was grabbing his son; using his physical bulk to his advantage, he grabbed the man and shoved him back several steps without a word. Pei Shian turned to look at Ye Zhao, whose brow was now rubbed red. He frowned. "Wei Xiyang, what are you doing?" As he spoke, he moved, intentionally or otherwise, to stand in front of Ye Zhao. After Pei Shian retired, he had been titled the Duke of Anguo. The man called Wei Xiyang was the Great General who had once performed legendary feats for the State of Wei. Like Pei Shian, he had retired early and was titled the Duke of Zhenguo. Unlike Pei Shian’s refined and gentle demeanor, Wei Xiyang retained a fierce and arrogant aura even in his old age. His sharp gaze pierced through to Ye Zhao behind Pei Shian, but his words were directed at the former Grand Councilor. "Look closely. That person is not Tianshu. No matter how much they look alike, look at his brow—where is the Red Flame Mark?!" "Pei Shian, have you grown so old that your eyes are dim and your heart is blind?" He questioned him so sharply that the atmosphere suddenly froze. When the Duke of Anguo and the Duke of Zhenguo clashed, who would dare intervene? Ye Yuan, after realizing who he had just shoved, felt a moment of sheer terror. He then proceeded to act as if he had done nothing at all, remaining as quiet as a mouse. Ye Zhao, however, was in a foul mood because of the man’s actions. Anyone would be upset if someone came up and pressed on their injury while speaking so rudely. Pei Shian’s expression was cold. Ye Zhao stepped out from behind him, irritably snapped open his fan, and began to fan himself slowly. He looked directly at Wei Xiyang, his tone unreadable. "And may I ask who you might be? When did I ever say I was Tianshu? Since you, old sir, are neither blind of eye nor heart, why the unnecessary hands-on approach? You truly are... vigorous for your age!" *Hiss—* That was the Duke of Zhenguo! Several people couldn't help but gasp. Listen to that tone—it was full of twists and turns, layered with meaning and dripping with sarcasm. Especially those last few words; the irony hit everyone right in the face. Was Ye Zhao looking for a beating? As the crowd stood in shock, Ye Yuan hurriedly shielded his son behind him, wearing a kind and innocent smile. However, Wei Xiyang and the others weren't focused on the words. Instead, their eyes were entirely drawn to the fan in Ye Zhao’s hand. Wei Xiyang licked his dry lips, his voice tight as his gaze followed the movement of the fan. "You... where did you get that fan?" The others wanted to ask as well. Ye Zhao replied casually, "This? It’s my family’s property, of course." He answered with breezy indifference, but his words stirred a massive wave in the hearts of the old men. "Nonsense! Impossible!" Wei Xiyang immediately retorted, but he was interrupted before he could say more. "Ye Zhao? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home?" The female family members of the various households were exiting from another door. Seeing the men gathered in a crowd instead of leaving, they grew curious and wandered over in small groups. Madam Ye was surprised the moment she saw Ye Zhao. After the surprise came suspicion. She walked over and looked him up and down; seeing his state, she had a bad feeling, and her expression turned serious. The moment Ye Zhao saw his mother walking over, he thought, *Oh no!* He instinctively hid the fan behind his back. "I... I... I..." He "I-ed" for a long time without being able to say anything coherent. His father might not press him on these issues, but his mother wouldn't be so easy to bypass. Thus, the crowd watched as the Young Master Ye, who had just dared to snark at the Duke of Zhenguo, suddenly withered, looking incredibly nervous. Madam Ye didn't dwell on the first question. She paused, noticed his movement, and asked, "What are you hiding behind your back?" With everyone watching, Ye Zhao lied through his teeth. He swung his hand around, pulling out the almost-forgotten chicken drumstick, while simultaneously waving the fan toward Pei Shian behind him. His intent couldn't have been more obvious. He smiled obediently. "A drumstick. Mom, do you want some?" The officials who had witnessed the entire process: "..." *If we hadn't seen it all, we might actually believe him.* Madam Ye was not so easily fooled. She kept a stern face. "The other hand." Behind him, Ye Zhao signaled frantically to Pei Shian. The old Grand Councilor was only a second slow before he actively cooperated in front of everyone, taking the fan from him. Ye Zhao then confidently extended his empty, fair palm and smiled. "Mom, the banquet is over. You came to find me and Dad to go home, right?" Only then did Madam Ye remember her purpose. "It’s getting late. We should go home." "Okay." Ye Zhao walked over and took his mother’s arm, turning back as if saying goodbye to a friend. "See you next time." Pei Shian smiled, slowly tucking the fan into his sleeve, fully understanding Ye Zhao’s hint. "Alright, I will certainly remember." And so, Ye Zhao left with a sigh of relief. Madam Ye, however, found Pei Shian a bit unfamiliar yet strangely recognizable. She had been sitting far away during the banquet and couldn't see his face clearly. She asked suspiciously, "Who is that...?" For a moment, the crowd remained silent. Madam Ye’s gaze caught a small section of the fan’s ribs and the pendant hanging from it peeking out of the man’s sleeve. Her mind raced, and she suddenly remembered something. "Isn't that fan...?!" She whipped her head around to look at Ye Zhao, first in shock, then with a complex expression. Clearly, she not only knew the origin of the fan but also knew that Ye Zhao was the one who had brought it out. Though she bit back the rest of her words, it left much to the imagination. Ye Yuan, of course, sided with his son. "What fan? What’s wrong with his fan?" *Another master of playing dumb!* the others thought as they watched Ye Yuan’s performance. After he asked, the crowd saw Madam Ye’s expression toward Pei Shian become increasingly hesitant. She looked like she wanted to say something but held back. Her eyes kept darting toward the object in his sleeve, as if she wanted to ask for it back. Finally, whatever she thought of, she shot a sideways glance at Ye Zhao. "Let’s go. Home." That look seemed to be one of forced endurance. Ye Zhao sensed his mother’s mood was off and followed her obediently, looking very much like a child who had done something wrong. The three members of the Ye family walked out of the circle under the varied gazes of the crowd. "Gua... Gua... Boss, Boss... Big Brother..." The parrot, which had been lying like a corpse at Pei Shian’s feet, started being noisy again. It waddled a few steps after Ye Zhao, but was held back by the silver chain on its ankle, flapping its wings desperately. "Gua... Gua... Master... Master..." "Gua gua... Papa..." Ye Zhao’s step faltered suddenly. A flash of inspiration crossed his mind, but he didn't know what it represented. His expression was dazed, and he seemed to want to look back, but Madam Ye pulled his arm. "Hurry up!" Ye Zhao had no choice but to give up. Those last two words seemed to sound a bit different, but when he listened again, it was just a headache-inducing "Gua gua gua." *Maybe I heard wrong,* Ye Zhao thought. As Ye Zhao’s back grew more blurred in the distance, the parrot stood straight, its bead-like black eyes darting around. It puffed out its chest and continued to squawk, "Scum... scum... a bunch of scum..." After shouting that several times, it uttered a long sentence: "You foolish humans... foolish humans... you..." In an instant, the faces of several people turned colorful. This parrot had truly made them relive the sting of that phrase from years ago. "Shut up!" Wei Xiyang was the first to lose his patience. Unexpectedly, the parrot seemed to have gained a soul. "Duel... duel..." It flapped its wings as if it wanted to charge at Wei Xiyang, though it could only flutter in place. The old General Wei was no longer the young General Wei of the past; he wouldn't lower himself to argue with a stupid bird. He reached out his hand. "Give me the fan." Pei Shian struggled to pull the silver chain and didn't move. "You saw it just now, didn't you? What are you still doubting?" Many officials present had never seen the Duke of Zhenguo look like this. His expression was indescribably complex—nostalgic yet conflicted, joyful yet sad. He stood in silence for a long time, and tears actually welled up in his eyes. After a long while, they heard the old Grand Councilor sigh softly. "Look, even Xiao Er knows, yet you don't?" He has returned. Tianshu has truly returned. The parrot at Pei Shian’s feet was considered quite elderly for a bird. After being exhausted for so long, it no longer had the strength to cause a fuss. He bent down to pick up the parrot. Pei Yunting stepped out from the crowd. "Father, let me." The bird looked heavy. Pei Shian avoided his son’s hand and simply said, "No need." Then, he slowly walked down the stone steps. Behind him, the crowd fell into a sudden silence. Many didn't understand what had happened, but seeing the shock on the faces of those who *did* understand, they knew it was no small matter. But none of them expected it to be *this* big. Minister Song had long since sobered up from the shock. Only now did he lose his composure and blurt out, "Could that be Lord Tianshu’s son?!!" "Lord Tianshu has a son?!!" The sheer volume of his voice, filled with utter disbelief, echoed through the crowd. It was earth-shattering; at his age, his composure had completely collapsed. Immediately, it was like a thunderclap. In disbelief, he turned to ask his old rival—the Minister of Revenue. "Did you see that? That young man looks exactly like Lord Shu! And he even has..." The Minister of Revenue was a shrewd little old man. He stroked his goatee, his calm demeanor forming a sharp contrast with the frantic Minister Song. "I saw, I saw... I’m not blind!" Perhaps cooled by his cold reaction, the elderly Minister Song gradually regained his calm, though his heart was still pounding wildly. "Hmph, I won't say more to you." With that, he flicked his sleeves and left. Wei Xiyang seemed to be jolted awake by his words. He looked up at the departing Pei Shian, then lowered his eyes, his thoughts unknown. Without a word, he also walked away quickly. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 安国公 | Duke of Anguo | Pei Shian's title after retirement. "Anguo" means "Peace/Stability of the State." 镇国公 | Duke of Zhenguo | Wei Xiyang's title. "Zhenguo" means "Protector of the State." 卫西扬 | Wei Xiyang | The former Great General and current Duke of Zhenguo. 赤焰红纹 | Red Flame Mark | A specific physical trait (mark/tattoo) associated with Tianshu. 小二 | Xiao Er | The name of the parrot. Literally "Little Two" or "Waiter," but here a name. 渣渣 | Scum / Dregs | A derogatory term used by the parrot to insult the officials. 天枢 | Tianshu | The name/title of the legendary figure Ye Zhao resembles. One of the stars in the Big Dipper. 枢大人 | Lord Shu / Lord Tianshu | A respectful way the officials refer to Tianshu.