Chapter 242 Scapegoat
The violent reaction of warrior No.3 aroused even stronger curiosity in the surrounding seats. The youngest princess of North Di, the Ninth Princess, ran over immediately and wanted to take a closer look. She then started crying after only a look at it. A twelve-year-old child only said things as she wanted, “This is an ugly monster. It looks too disgusting and terrible. Father, kill him soon.”
How could that be? In addition to the courage of the warrior Zhigu, his handsome and mature appearance was also admired by many women. How could he be as unbearable as the Ninth Princess said?
Zhigu lowered his head, his braids with intricate patterns hanging beside his cheeks, covering his face. A deeper red stain slowly oozed from the ring. It was blood dripping from Zhigu’s face. The thick bloody water carried an indescribable stench, which was similar to the smell of a corpse that could make people around fainted if they step closer. The one who suffered most was warrior No.3.
Grand Khan of North Di frowned and ordered, “Bring me his mask.”
His men picked up the silver mask that Zhigu threw on the side of the ring immediately. When Grand Khan saw it, his mood seemed to become even heavier. He thought of the person who appeared during his nap yesterday at noon. That man’s dress and tone, his own mental state as well as the surrounding environment, everything was suggesting to him that it was nothing but a dream. However, he knew it was more than that. He had come through a lot to be the Grand Khan of North Di.
To prevent him from being attacked when he was asleep, he had always put hexagonal wind chimes at the door and windows of the house before going to bed. This kind of wind chime could make extremely light sounds. On them, he applied the same strategy as blowing the whistle for training horses. It was impossible for humans to hear this sound. Only beasts could. But Grand Khan of North Di was born with the ability to hear this voice. The ability was also his magic weapon to unify the seven tribes so quickly.
He had clearly heard the sound of the hexagonal copper bells, which indicated that someone had come in. If it was only a dream, why would the person in his dream come in through the door or the window?
The man was wearing such a silver mask, and his physique was similar. Before that moment, Grand Khan had always thought that this strange man was the ugly man of the Fourth Prince’s Mansion, but now he saw Zhigu on the ring…
“Look up.” Grand Khan’s voice sounded like large bells ringing, and his questioning tone made the people present shivered.
Zhigu raised his head in pain and couldn’t help covering his face with his hands. He didn’t know what happened. For today’s game, he went to bed early yesterday to accumulate enough energy. But this morning he woke up with his face in a burst of fiery pain. He was miserable in the burning heat.
Seeing his bloody face in the basin, he almost collapsed. But when he hurriedly found a servant to report to Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince gave him a death order. He should participate in the competition in any case.
In desperation, Zhigu could only put on a mask temporarily. It was strange that the mask his new servant prepared for him was very suitable, and it fit him comfortably.
“Was the mask yours?” Grand Khan of North Di asked an obvious question.
With the mask gone, Zhigu’s wound became fiercely painful again. He nodded with difficulty, “It’s mine.”
Grand Khan answered in acknowledgment, and then just turned his head lightly and said, “Drag him down and throw him into the snake cave.”
Zhigu lifted his head in surprise, but he dared not argue with Grand Khan, so he could only look at Wanyan Ba for help.
Wanyan Ba was also confused. He tried to explain. After all, he bought Zhigu from a prince at a high price, but Song Lian on his side stopped him and told him the nightmare of Grand Khan yesterday at noon.
How could it be? That was Wanyan Ba’s first reaction. How would a prince be killed by an ugly monster? He was the most favorable contender for the throne of North Di. Many ministers had tacitly accepted him as the heir and were flattering him. Zhigu was his subordinate. He had always been loyal and had saved him from a wild wolf with one punch. How could he kill him?
For some reason, Wanyan Ba cast his eyes on Leng Changxi in the opposite seat. Leng Changxi stood quietly through the whole event, watching the dramatic scene with cold eyes.
Seeing that Zhigu, out of all recognition, was dragged out by a few powerful servants, there was not even one who spoke for him. The frightened Ninth Princess was still expressing that Grand Khan had done well.
“Such an ugly person should have been thrown into the wolf’s den long ago.”
Qin Yunuan listened to the princess saying such vicious words with her immature voice, thinking that she might grow up to be another sinister woman.
The following warriors seemed to behave poorly because of the shock. At the end of the competition, Leng Wu took first place. According to the rules, Grand Khan of North Di would bestow a golden belt to the victorious warrior, which symbolized infinite courage. Although the warrior of the Grand Prince’s Mansion won, Wanyan Ba looked a little gloomy for what happened just then. Zhigu was his most powerful warrior. Leng Wu was also good, but after all, he was from Qi. He was an outsider, an inferior person that he couldn’t bring on the table.
Other princes and nobles successively congratulated the Grand Prince. Wanyan Su, on the contrary, had been far away and only stayed in his seat.
Leng Changxi observed the lively celebration from a distance. He didn’t look at Wanyan Su and asked, “Why don’t you go, Your Higness?”
Wanyan Su shook his head, “They’ve always pushed me out. What should I do there? It’s better to look at them from afar, seemingly in harmony, but nobody knows how many knives they have stabbed each other behind their backs.”
“Right.” Leng Changxi nodded, thoughtfully knocking his chin with his fingertips, “Anyway, the Grand Prince will come to you even if you don’t go to them this time.”
Wanyan Su’s hand paused for a moment holding the golden wine glass. Leng Changxi was thinking the same thing on his mind.
Leng Changxi raised his head slightly, “Don’t worry. Proud as the Grand Prince might seem now, many people are stabbing his back just like you said. When he comes to you, you just have to deal with all kinds of changes with the same principle. There is no need to panic.”
Qin Yunuan nodded, “That’s right. A man like the Grand Prince who became the most favored prince only by empress’s will and her love had an unstable status. In addition, he acted arrogantly and domineering. Now that the empress had passed away for many years, Grand Khan wouldn’t hand over North Di to such a person even if he had deep feelings for his mother. If this goes on, not only the people of North Di will suffer, but also Khan’s other sons will be hard to escape. Grand Khan is very clever. He could think about what we think of.”
Wanyan Su raised his head and looked at the couple who were cooperating perfectly, “So you’ve killed two birds with one stone. Not only did you rule out my father’s suspicion, but you also dragged my eldest brother into the muddy water. Although Father didn’t show it, his hurried execution seemed to be a defense of my big brother. In fact, he must be suspicious.”
The three people had become highly consistent in views. Sure enough, within half a cup of tea, when Wanyan Su was about to leave, Wanyan Ba came directly from the opposite side, followed only by Song Lian and two or three servants. His facial expression was very amiable, different from his usual arrogance. It was the first time in so many years that Wanyan Su could see Wanyan Ba so similar to a real big brother.
“Are you in a rush?” Wanyan Ba approached, laughing.
Wanyan Su tilted his head. Without looking at him, he said leisurely, “I remembered someone once said that a man with Qi’s blood like me was not worthy of being a prince.”
Wanyan Ba had the same facial expression, but his tone was sullen, “How could you be not worthy? Your people are playing my men around.”
Wanyan Su smiled, “I don’t understand, big brother.”
Wanyan Ba turned his head, “You don’t need to understand, you don’t have the ability to. I only need him to understand!” Wanyan Ba pointed at Leng Changxi harshly, “I don’t care how noble it is to be a Tuoba in West Xia. I only tell you that North Di is my territory, don’t mess around with me.”
Leng Changxi put on a face that was devoid of feeling, “Your territory? I had always thought that North Di was in the hands of Grand Khan.”
Wanyan Ba was irritated, “Don’t play word games with me,” he said, throwing a porcelain bottle held by the servant behind him at the feet of Leng Changxi, “My man found it outside Zhigu’s House. In it was a potent poison that could cause disfigurement, and the painting above was a green bamboo snake unique to West Xia.”
Leng Changxi picked up the bottle on the ground coolly, “Everybody can draw green bamboo snakes. It may not be made in Xixia. Even if it is, not only Xixia people can buy Xixia bottles and Xixia poison.”
“You…!”
Compared with Wanyan Ba’s anger, Leng Changxi was very calm, “Your Highness, to arrest people, you must first have evidence. Your mansion was heavily guarded. Crowds of guards jammed your house that even a sparrow couldn’t fly in easily. Rather than worrying about me, you might as well check if something is wrong with the people in your mansion.”
Of course, something went wrong. Leng Wu was his ace card, standing on Leng Changxi’s side while living in Wanyan Ba’s mansion.
Wanyan Ba’s self-esteem was greatly challenged, “No one of my people will betray me. Tuoba, don’t try to provoke the relationship between me and my men. In short, we are now enemies. Sooner or later, I will double my revenge back to you.” After speaking, he flicked his sleeves angrily and left.
On the way back, Wanyan Su kept thinking about the conversation between him and Leng Changxi after Wanyan Ba left on the carriage.
“With your ability, you shouldn’t have left such obvious clues to my brother. Could it be that you did it on purpose?”
“You are now thinking, Your Higness. Yes, I did it on purpose.”
“Why? My brother was grumpy. Did you know how dangerous you could be?”
“Is it dangerous? He should be the one who feels dangerous. Khan hasn’t gone. We were surrounded by Grand Khan’s informers. He dared to threaten you in front of so many people. Would Khan think us wrong or take him as domineering?”
Thinking of this, Wanyan Su took a deep breath. Leng Changxi was too powerful, and he was a prophet in strategy. It seemed that it was time to tell Leng Changxi a secret.