Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 85 | The Fallen Envoy | Novela.app

In September, Emperor Wei led his civil and military officials to the West Mountain for a grand hunt. Aside from the envoys of two nations, the party included thousands of palace attendants and guards, as well as a large gathering of noblewomen. Ye Zhao was among the retinue, though if it had been up to him, he would have preferred to stay behind a thousand times over. A hunting ground was a place with a dangerously high risk factor. Throughout history, countless assassinations had taken place during such hunts. Not to mention the mysterious force constantly watching him, waiting for a chance to take his life; even the sudden arrival of the two foreign envoys felt suspicious. If they hadn't come because of him, Ye Zhao would have written his name backward! However... he truly could not refuse. The Emperor’s departure was a major event. Most of the capital’s guards followed the Emperor to the hunting grounds, leaving the city’s defenses hollow. Ye Zhao was actually safer being brought along than staying in the capital. As long as he didn't wander off, he would surely be out of harm's way. "Sigh..." Inside the carriage, Ye Zhao’s father looked at his son, who hadn't shown a hint of joy since they left home. He consoled him, "Son, if you don't want to hunt, you don't have to take the field. It’s not bad just watching the others with me." "Mhm." Unable to voice his inner gloom, Ye Zhao lowered his eyes and gave a soft response. He lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the long procession trailing behind, feeling somewhat relieved. Perhaps he was just being overly anxious... The army soon arrived and set up camp. The palace attendants and guards performed their respective duties. The young noblemen from the capital galloped off on their horses until they were out of sight, while the ladies gathered in small groups to admire the scenery, watch songs and dances in the camp, or observe the various competitions. Ye Zhao did not belong to the former group; he belonged to the latter. He accompanied his mother as they moved between various activity sites, acting as a rare sprig of green among a vast cluster of flowers. No, that wasn't quite right—there were also Pei Yunting and Xie Yusong. Ye Zhao turned around, wondering, "Why aren't you two out riding? Why are you following me?" Pei Yunting was dressed in a simple white riding outfit with cloud patterns today, looking very sharp and clean. He didn't seem like the type who enjoyed trailing after others, but Ye Zhao, who drew attention wherever he went, was the first to lose his patience. No extra emotion could be seen on his face as Pei Yunting replied, "There are many people and mixed company today. It is best if you do not wander." Ye Zhao: "..." He said with total sincerity, "I wanted to stay home in the first place." But what could he do when Wei Feng had personally delivered the Emperor’s oral decree? He was helpless. Pei Yunting kept a stiff face and remained silent, his expression appearing quite cold and stern. Xie Yusong gave a light chuckle and picked up the conversation. "Yunting is worried you might be in danger. Although we brought many guards on this trip, for your safety, it is best for you to remain within the camp and not venture out." Ye Zhao had no intention of going out anyway. He already had a poor impression of hunting grounds as high-risk zones; there was no way he would go looking for trouble. Then, he heard Xie Yusong continue, "If you happen to run into the envoys of the other two nations while strolling through the camp and they wish to spar or exchange martial insights with you, it is best to avoid them if possible. General Xiao, who inherited the title of Dongling’s God of War, needs no introduction regarding his prowess. I have heard that several members of the Beiyue delegation also wish to test their skills against you. What do you think, Ye Zhao?" ... Looking at the refined gentleman smiling so warmly, Ye Zhao thought: *You’re threatening me, aren't you? This is definitely a threat!* *I never realized you were such a "black-bellied" fellow.* Ye Zhao stood in silence for a long while. "Fine, I’ll just go back and stay in my tent..." *I won't waste any more of your leisure time.* Pei Yunting remained expressionless. Seeing this, Xie Yusong’s smile brightened further. "Since you are tired, go back and rest. I will accompany Madam Ye for a stroll; you may rest easy." Ye Zhao couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, forcing a stiff smile. *Ha... haha...* *What a beautiful, kind-hearted, thorough, and flawless Young Master Yusong.* Since even walking around the camp was discouraged, Ye Zhao was forced to retreat to his tent. As he and Pei Yunting were walking, they passed a certain area when an arrow shot toward them from an angle. It nearly hit Ye Zhao, but Pei Yunting reacted in time and caught it firmly. Seeing the arrowhead stopped just a foot away from his arm, Ye Zhao was startled. The two of them turned toward the direction where a crowd had gathered. Amidst low murmurs of discussion, Pei Yunting looked at the people stepping forward. His gaze locked onto one man holding a longbow, and he said coldly, "What is the meaning of this, Envoy Hu Han?" The Beiyue delegation all hailed from the northern wilderness and had lived as nomads for generations. Each was built with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear—strong and sturdy. This Hu Han was even taller and broader than those around him. His muscles were knotted and interlaced, making him look like a black bear that had attained human form. His facial features were rugged and terrifyingly fierce. He stepped forward slowly, eventually stopping two paces away from the pair. He looked down at them, though Pei Yunting had already stepped in front of Ye Zhao the moment the man approached, shielding him. The three of them stared at each other; no one spoke. Pei Yunting’s icy face held a trace of gravity. "Hahahaha!" Hu Han suddenly burst into a roar of laughter, then spat out a string of words that Ye Zhao couldn't understand at all. "???" It didn't matter that Ye Zhao didn't understand; a translator accompanying them immediately translated the original words. Only then did the two learn that the man was expressing his apologies, saying the arrow had accidentally veered off course. Then, the translator continued, "Lord Hu Han says he wishes to invite you to a wrestling match to show his apology and convey their friendship. In Beiyue, wrestling between warriors is not only a competition of strength but also a way to foster mutual friendship." Then the man said something else with a face full of provocation. The translator followed up in a timely manner, asking, "Do you dare?" Ye Zhao... did they really have to ask if he dared? He smoothed over the confusion and bewilderment on his face, looked at the "black bear spirit" who was itching for a fight, and replied calmly, "I do not know martial arts. In our Great Wei, games that involve bullying frail scholars are not in fashion." After speaking, he paused and looked at the martial-trained Pei Yunting, asking for his opinion. "Do you want to wrestle with him?" Pei Yunting glanced back at Ye Zhao and coldly uttered a single word: "No." With that, he grabbed Ye Zhao’s sleeve and walked away, ignoring the sudden clamor that erupted behind them. He returned to Ye Zhao’s tent without looking back. The Beiyue envoys were blocked by the Wei guards in the camp. They shouted curses in a language those around them couldn't understand, but they could only watch helplessly as the two fled. Undoubtedly, this unexpected interlude was merely a small scheme the other party had intentionally directed at Ye Zhao. Pei Yunting and Ye Zhao were right not to take the bait, but hearing the exceptionally foul language used by the other side still sparked a flame of anger in the hearts of many Wei people. However, no one expected that Hu Han would be dead the very next day. He died right inside his own tent. "Killed with a single blade strike. The killer acted with extreme decisiveness; no useful clues were found." In other words, finding the person who held the blade would be very difficult, because anyone could have been the one holding it. Inside the tent, Pei Yunting and Ye Zhao sat opposite each other. After Pei Yunting finished speaking slowly, he saw Ye Zhao bowing his head as if deep in thought. Worried, he spoke again, "The Emperor has decided to return to the capital shortly. During this time, stay in your tent and do not go out under any circumstances." "Don't you think..." Ye Zhao frowned. Pei Yunting heard him whisper a few words before stopping. He asked, "What?" "No. It’s nothing." Ye Zhao shook his head gently. "Perhaps I am overthinking." Pei Yunting didn't pay it much mind, but after a moment, he cautioned, "If you hear any rumors, do not take them to heart." "What rumors?" Ye Zhao was startled, sensing there was more to the words. Pei Yunting stared at him, pausing for a moment. His gaze was so calm it felt profound. "Some say that our Great Wei sent someone to assassinate Hu Han because of you." Ye Zhao’s expression slowly froze. "You had a conflict only the day before yesterday, and he nearly injured you. Thus, you sent someone to assassinate him. Of course, some say it might not have been you who sent the killer, but perhaps Uncle Wei, Uncle Xie, or even... the Emperor." Pei Yunting’s voice dropped at the end, his eyes filled with gravity. The two looked at each other. In Ye Zhao’s eyes, the other’s stern, cold face was clearly reflected. He moved his slightly stiff fingers and, after a long while, said in a heavy voice, "So, this matter cannot be explained away now, can it?" Pei Yunting did not answer that question. He only said, "The blade that killed Hu Han has been found. It is a blade from our Wei military." Ye Zhao: "The Emperor and the others..." Before he could finish, he saw the change in Pei Yunting’s gaze. Fine, he was overthinking; he shouldn't have doubted them as well... "Sigh... taking the blame for no reason. Who do you think actually killed Hu Han?" Ye Zhao asked gloomily. "Regardless of who killed him, he is now dead in our Great Wei. If the true culprit is not found, I fear the Beiyue side will not be appeased." While they were discussing the matter, several others were deliberating on it elsewhere. Hu Han’s sudden death had caught everyone off guard. "The Beiyue side has been temporarily pacified, but if we do not find the perpetrator soon and give them an explanation, I fear it will damage the diplomatic relations between our two nations," Xie Mingyuan reported, sitting below Emperor Wei. "Duke of Anguo, what is your view on this?" Emperor Wei asked, looking at the man sitting on the other side. Pei Shi’an had been in deep thought for a long time. Hearing the question, he spoke slowly, "If we cannot find an answer that satisfies them, Ye Zhao will become their primary suspect. At that time, if we protect Ye Zhao, it will only be seen as a cover-up." "A conspiracy aimed at Ye Zhao. The person behind it could be from Dongling, or perhaps someone from the old aristocratic families in our court who have been watching Ye Zhao." Pei Shi’an’s gaze darkened slightly. "Or, it could be a play directed and acted out by Beiyue themselves. After all, there are so many in this world who hate Tianshu; it is only natural they would not want to see his return." The tent suddenly fell silent. Pei Shi’an was right. Setting aside the faction within Wei that had repeatedly targeted Ye Zhao, among the people of the other three nations, who would want to see Tianshu—the former guardian deity of Wei—reappear in the world? No one. They wished for nothing more than to never hear the name "Tianshu" again. After a long time, Emperor Wei sighed and turned to ask, "Where is Ye Zhao?" Eunuch Babao, standing beside him, bowed and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Young Master Ye is staying safely within his tent." Although it was unclear why Emperor Wei had suddenly thought to ask about Ye Zhao, the relief on his face was quite evident. Xie Mingyuan pondered slightly. "I have already instructed Yusong and Yunting to look after Ye Zhao. I expect no accidents will occur." "Mhm." Thinking of those two children, Emperor Wei felt at ease. At the same time, he was satisfied with Xie Mingyuan’s thoroughness. Duke of Mingde, Xie Mingyuan, was usually a low-profile man of few words who didn't show off his talents, but he was a man who could always complete a task perfectly before you even spoke, leaving you with nothing to worry about. *He is indeed as Lord Tianshu described...* Emperor Wei recalled the praise Tianshu had once given the man in his presence when he was young. Thinking of the many things Xie Mingyuan had done for him over the years, he smiled. "You have worked hard." Sensing a slight difference in the emotion behind those words, Xie Mingyuan looked up and gave the Emperor a barely perceptible glance. "It is my duty." With no immediate leads on the matter, the group moved past the topic, only to realize... "Eh? Where is the Duke of Zhenguo?" Emperor Wei asked in surprise. Only then did the others recall that they hadn't seen a sign of Wei Xiyang since they began discussing the matter. And where had Wei Xiyang gone? ***