Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 34 | A Challenge Amidst the Blooms | Novela.app

The imperial palace of the Kingdom of Wei boasted a plum garden, said to have been planted by the late Emperor for a favored consort. Plum blossoms of various species had been transplanted there at great labor. Amidst the world of ice and snow, they bloomed in vibrant reds and yellows, braving the bitter cold. They were beautiful, certainly, yet crowded together in that small garden, they seemed to be jostling one another in a silent, colorful competition. At a glance, the branches were heavy with blossoms, a riot of hues that dazzled the eyes. Ye Zhao gently pushed aside a flowering branch dangling above his head. His gaze settled as a thought struck him. "Does the Grand Princess prefer yellow plum blossoms?" Eunuch Babao walked beside him. Hearing this, he replied, "She does. How did Young Master Ye know?" Ye Zhao offered a small smile. "On the day she passed, I went to see her off. As I entered, I saw the plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, so I plucked one and gave it to her." As they strolled slowly, taking in the scenery, he continued his reminiscence. "She seemed very happy to receive the flower, so I guessed she might like them." Babao glanced at him, his peaceful face betraying no emotion. He simply replied, "Perhaps... Young Master Ye went to see the Grand Princess one last time; she must have been joyful." Babao knew of the events that day. More than the flower itself, it was likely the person delivering it who had brought the Grand Princess the most joy. Hearing Babao’s words, Ye Zhao inferred the underlying meaning. He asked, "The Grand Princess was calling out for Lord Tianshu until the very end. What kind of person was Tianshu, to make so many of you remember him so fondly?" Beyond curiosity, there was a trace of gloom and helplessness in his heart—the frustration of being treated as a substitute, a vessel for their lingering sentiments. Alright, he admitted it; perhaps there was a bit of jealousy too, a slight psychological imbalance. In any case, a cocktail of emotions prompted him to ask this question. When he had first asked it, he had received a thunderous, nonsensical answer from Wei Xiyang. Now, he wanted to hear Babao’s version. The two stopped beneath a red wintersweet tree. Babao gazed at the red flowers flecked with crystalline white snow, sinking into deep thought. After a long silence, he did not answer Ye Zhao’s question directly. Instead, he asked, "Does Young Master Ye know what the Kingdom of Wei was like thirty years ago?" This was recent history, and Ye Zhao knew it well. "Teetering in the wind and rain, the people destitute, the state on the verge of collapse." "Yes. That was the Kingdom of Wei before Lord Tianshu appeared." Babao paused. "And then, there was the Kingdom of Wei after Lord Tianshu appeared." Before and after. Ye Zhao fell silent, understanding the weight behind those two simple sentences. The history of a nation had been bisected by a single man. He remarked, "He was a hero." He was the hero in the hearts of everyone in Wei at that time. Babao smiled faintly. He looked at Ye Zhao’s profile before turning away, his voice calm and gentle, filled with both lament and nostalgia. "Indeed... a hero. To save the masses from fire and water—he achieved it. In just five years, he brought about earth-shattering changes to Wei. I fear no one who comes after will ever stand as his equal..." Ye Zhao agreed. A titan of that caliber was likely one of a kind. Then he heard Babao add, "However, in this old servant’s heart, he was not just a hero to the masses. He was the benefactor of my entire life." "Hmm?" Ye Zhao turned to Babao, his eyes filled with confusion. Babao’s ears suddenly twitched as if he had heard something. His expression remained unchanged as he looked at Ye Zhao, but he gave a mysterious little laugh and whispered, "That is this old servant’s secret. I cannot tell Young Master Ye." Looking at that baby face—which remained fair and adorable despite the man being middle-aged—Ye Zhao could only sigh indulgently. He laughed helplessly. "Fine, a secret told is no longer a secret. You keep your little secret then, Eunuch Babao." His "you’re cute, so you’re right" expression made Babao chuckle, while also stirring a sense of nostalgia within the eunuch. In the next moment, a snowball thudded against the hem of Ye Zhao’s robe. "?!" Ye Zhao looked down at the snow on his clothes, shook it off, and looked up—it was the Fourth Prince. Truly, "enemies often cross paths on a narrow road." The child, dressed in glittering golden winter garb, stood with his chubby hands on his hips and his legs spread wide in a defiant stance, glaring fiercely at Ye Zhao. However... Ye Zhao did not feel the aura of a pint-sized tyrant. He only felt like his eyes were being blinded. The boy was draped in thick gold chains; his clothes and shoes were studded with massive pearls; and a literal ring of jade pendants and emeralds hung from his waist... *Good grief!* Ye Zhao was hit full-force by this overwhelming "nouveau riche" style. He was so envious and jealous he could hardly bear to look. He forced a stiff smile and bowed. "Greetings, Fourth Prince." "Hmph! Why are you everywhere?" the Fourth Prince grumbled, looking thoroughly displeased. Babao smiled kindly, subtly stepping in front of Ye Zhao. "Has the Fourth Prince also come to admire the plums?" Without waiting for an answer, Babao’s gaze sharpened. He stared at the maidservants beside the prince and snapped, "Do you not see what weather this is? To let the Fourth Prince run out dressed so lightly—if he catches a cold, can any of you bear the responsibility?" Though his voice wasn't loud, the eunuchs and maids behind the Fourth Prince turned pale. They fell to their knees instantly, pleading, "Eunuch Babao, have mercy! We know our fault!" The Fourth Prince hesitated, glancing at his servants, then turned back. "Eunuch Babao, I’m not cold!" Then, catching sight of Ye Zhao, he blurted out, "Don't even think about making me go back." He quickly darted around Babao to stand before Ye Zhao. First, he stood on tiptoe with his hands on his hips, baring his teeth and glaring for a while. Then, he suddenly scooped up a handful of snow and hurled it at Ye Zhao, shouting arrogantly, "Come on! Weren't you just moping because no one would play in the snow with you? This Prince will play with you!" "..." A string of ellipses practically hovered over Ye Zhao’s head. Honestly, if you don't like me, just say so. I haven't reached the point where I need a toddler who barely turned five to keep me company. Ye Zhao knelt down, wearing the smile of a warm-hearted older brother, and spoke to the round little child. "Fourth Prince, the weather is cold. Playing with snow makes it easy to fall ill. You should—" *Thwack.* A snowball plastered itself across Ye Zhao’s face. The Fourth Prince poked him. "Are you in or not?" Ye Zhao declined the handkerchief Babao offered. He raised a hand to stop the eunuch from scolding the prince, then calmly wiped the snow from his face. "I’m in." He smiled thinly, his voice gentle but his words ruthless. "Come then, Fourth Prince. Let us have a contest to see who can make the biggest snowball. No one is allowed to help. Then, we use the snowballs to 'kill' each other. What do you think?" *Great! That’s exactly what I wanted!* The Fourth Prince’s little head whirred, and he shouted excitedly, "Bring it on! Who’s afraid of you? If you’re a man, let’s settle this one-on-one!" The boy’s tone carried a distinct echo of Wei Xiyang’s bluster. Ye Zhao nodded. "Very well. The time limit is one hour. If you win, I’ll call you 'Big Brother.' If I win, you call me 'Big Brother' and I'll call you..." "Ugh, enough, enough!" The Fourth Prince’s head ached from Ye Zhao’s circular logic about who would call whom what. He cut him off impatiently. "Whatever! Are we doing this or not?" "We are!" Ye Zhao was suddenly fired up. If he didn't make this kid cry for his daddy today, he’d write his name backward! Babao and the others stood aside in silence. They replayed Ye Zhao’s words in their heads, feeling that something was definitely off... On the other side of the plum grove, the Crown Prince and Prince Rong watched the commotion. Each sipped his tea, neither speaking. The warm, social atmosphere from the side hall had vanished completely. Caught in the middle, the Third Prince felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. Thinking of his fourth brother, who had been goaded into bothering Ye Zhao by just a few words from these two, he felt even more terrified. Third Prince: "...Imperial Brothers, the pastries are finished. I’ll go find someone to bring two more plates." He was the one who had eaten them all. Just as he was about to slip away, the Crown Prince spoke blandly. "Third Brother, such matters can be left to the servants. Why trouble yourself to go personally?" His voice was clear and polite, the very image of a caring elder brother. Prince Rong glanced at the Third Prince and snorted, spitting out a single, disdainful word: "Glutton." The Third Prince’s face flushed slightly, looking embarrassed, though he didn't actually feel that way. He was about to agree with Prince Rong and do exactly what a glutton should do—continue looking for food. But the Crown Prince spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval. "Second Brother, as an elder, how can you speak of our Third Brother that way?" Before Wei Ling had been enfeoffed as Prince Rong, what he had hated most was this "virtuous elder brother" act. It was hypocritical and nauseating. Now that he was Prince Rong and possessed the power to rival the Crown Prince, he saw no need to force himself into polite pretenses. "Oh? If you don't want Third Brother to have that title, perhaps the Crown Prince would like to take it for himself?" The Crown Prince, Wei Ze, maintained his benevolent expression, though his eyes were cold. "I wouldn't dare." Wei Ling’s features were sharp and deep-set, carrying a wild edge. His lips curled into a smirk that was half-mockery, half-malice. "And here I thought the Crown Prince liked the title. I was just about to gift it to you." Wei Ze smiled thinly. "No need. Better to leave it for Second Brother. I feel that, compared to anyone else, that title suits Second Brother best." Their gazes locked in a silent clash. Though they were smiling, the Third Prince sitting beside them was breaking into a cold sweat, wishing he could just drop dead. Could he just run away? Running was impossible. At least, not until these two nodded and let him go. The Third Prince mourned his fate. He didn't understand what these two were trying to achieve, but whatever it was, why did they have to drag him into it? Just as he was thinking this, Prince Rong spoke coolly. "Third Brother, who do you think that title suits best?" In an instant, the Third Prince found himself pinned by both their stares. "..." He gave a dry, hollow laugh. "Me! It suits me best! I love to eat; being a glutton is exactly what I’m meant for!" One had to admit, his survival instinct was remarkably strong. Indeed, the Third Prince of Wei, Wei Yan, fit the title perfectly. While his two elder brothers were busy fighting for the throne, his only focus was eating—or finding a place with a good view where he could eat. He had successfully eaten his way into becoming a round and happy man. Hearing this, the Crown Prince lightly averted his gaze. Prince Rong gave him a bored roll of the eyes and stopped staring. The Third Prince exhaled: *Disaster averted!* *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 梅园 | Plum Garden | The imperial garden where the chapter takes place. 天枢 | Tianshu | A legendary figure from 30 years ago, often compared to Ye Zhao. 四皇子 | Fourth Prince | The youngest prince mentioned, known for his gaudy dress. 太子 (魏泽) | Crown Prince (Wei Ze) | The eldest prince, known for a facade of benevolence. 荣王 (魏凌) | Prince Rong (Wei Ling) | The second prince, known for his aggressive and wild nature. 三皇子 (魏延) | Third Prince (Wei Yan) | A prince who avoids politics in favor of food. 饭桶 | Glutton / Rice Bucket | Literally "rice bucket," a derogatory term for someone who only knows how to eat and is otherwise useless.