Tsk, tsk.
Ling Shan listened silently, once again sighing inwardly at the power and influence of the Wang family.
Look, this young scion of the Wang family, still so inexperienced, dared to be so arrogant. He really didn't put Emperor Jun Wuyuan, the tyrant, in his eyes at all.
Was he really not afraid of incurring the wrath of the cruel, ruthless, and bloodthirsty Jun Wuyuan?
Sure enough, the next moment, Ling Shan heard Jun Wuyuan's cold inner voice.
[Fine. If you still have a life left later.]
"The Luo River runs swift. It's natural for the young to be hot - headed," Jun Wuyuan said with a smile on his lips. "Empress Dowager has seen the world. You should give him a good admonition. If one can't even stand steadily, then don't try to run when the water is swift. Otherwise, if one is not careful..."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager of the Wang family and the Sixth Young Master Wang couldn't help but darken their faces for a moment.
"Heng'er, quickly thank His Majesty for his teachings. The dragon - boat race hasn't even started yet. How can you be so arrogant? Hurry up and apologize to His Majesty," the Empress Dowager scolded. Naturally, the Sixth Young Master Wang obediently composed himself and knelt down to apologize to Jun Wuyuan.
He thought he would be humiliated again by this unpredictable tyrant, but unexpectedly, Jun Wuyuan smiled and told him to get up.
"Get up. If you can really lead the Wang family's dragon - boat team to win first place, I will surely reward you."
His tone and expression were extremely gentle, but somehow, it sounded like the call of a ghost from hell to the Sixth Young Master Wang. Especially when he met those amorous yet sinister peach - blossom eyes, a chill ran down his back.
—
Thud!
The feathered arrow in Jun Wuyuan's hand shot towards the golden ring hanging under the willow branch a hundred paces away and plunged straight into the willow tree.
With the emperor's arrow - shooting at the willow, the various dragon boats that had been waiting in readiness immediately shot out like arrows.
There were seven dragon boats in total, red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, all moving forward side by side, not yielding to each other.
The dragon boat in the middle of the Luo River Lake, flying a bright yellow flag, didn't strive for first place as everyone had expected.
Instead, it was like a boat full of recruits who didn't know how to row a dragon boat at all.
This was soon noticed not only by the common people, who were a bit stunned, but also by the Empress Dowager and the Wang family faction.
The drummer under the bright yellow flag was clearly aiming for the drummer of the Wang family's dragon boat.
The dragon - boat race tested the teamwork between the drummer and the rowers. They had to follow the drummer's rhythm and work together to reach the finish line.
The Wang family had dominated the dragon - boat races for many years not only because of their power and status but also because of their strength.
Having been so proud for so long, the Wang family didn't expect Jun Wuyuan to be so shameless as to not strive for first place but instead try to "go down together" with their dragon boat.
The guards selected from the Yulin Guards were all big and burly with hot tempers.
They were all from poor backgrounds or the descendants of fallen clans and noble families. They had long been dissatisfied with the arrogant and greedy behavior of the Wang family.
There was only so much room at the top of the pyramid. They had no hope of climbing up, let alone getting fair treatment.
No one wanted to be stepped on and treated like a beast for a lifetime.
The Sixth Young Master Wang had been humiliated on the high platform and naturally wouldn't let it go easily.
Before the race, he had openly humiliated and scolded the Yulin Guards selected by Jun Wuyuan. If it weren't for the upcoming race and the large number of onlookers, he would have been even more excessive.
However, these Yulin Guards were all hand - picked by Jun Wuyuan, and this dragon - boat race had another purpose.
Moreover, the Sixth Young Master Wang was really annoying, so the Yulin Guards used all their strength.
They rammed into the Wang family's dragon boat with all their might, and the drummer beat out a rhythm like a demonic sound to disrupt the enemy's morale.
So, everyone watched the chaotic scene on the lake in amazement.
As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.
The royal dragon boat didn't win first place, and the Wang family didn't even get the second place they had expected.
The token of the Sharp Blade Battalion of the Western Mountain Barracks, which they had been longing for, finally went to the Seventh Young Master of the Xie family in Jiangzhou.
The Langya Wang family had lost both face and prestige.
The tense situation in the past two days had already made the Wang family dissatisfied, and today's dragon - boat race was like a slap in the face in front of everyone.
The Empress Dowager and the Grand Tutor of the Wang family exchanged a look as they watched the token being given to the Seventh Young Master of the Xie family, communicating some kind of message.
Was this Jun Wuyuan, still so inexperienced, trying to run before he could even stand?
It was simply laughable.
Before killing the hen for the eggs, they had to see if Jun Wuyuan was capable enough.
It seemed that the Wang family had been too lenient recently.
After the dragon - boat race, everyone except the Wang family faction seemed happy.
Especially Jun Wuyuan. His usually cold and fierce face was like a spring flower in bloom as he patiently praised everyone one by one.
When it came to the Sixth Young Master Wang, whose face was pale and haggard, Jun Wuyuan's attitude became even more gentle and concerned.
"Sixth Young Master, are you feeling dejected? Young man, you should know that there is always someone better. Remember to be humble and not be impetuous. Take this failure as a lesson and come back stronger next year," Jun Wuyuan encouraged gently. "Sixth Young Master, don't be discouraged. Go back and train your arm strength and martial arts. The token of the Right Battalion of the Western Mountain Barracks is waiting for you next year."
The Sixth Young Master Wang: "..."
Everyone: "..."
[If there are still people from the Wang family alive next year...]
Ling Shan: "..."
I'm afraid the Sixth Young Master Wang wouldn't even live to see tomorrow.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern," the Sixth Young Master Wang gritted his teeth and thanked.
Jun Wuyuan smiled magnanimously and reached out to pat the Sixth Young Master Wang on the shoulder.
It should have been a harmonious scene between the monarch and his subject, but suddenly, a cold arrow bypassed the defense blind spot and shot straight at Jun Wuyuan standing on the high platform.
The arrow was menacing, but Jun Wuyuan's face showed no sign of panic.
He even had the energy to hold down the Sixth Young Master Wang with both hands while bending slightly. A smile appeared on his lips as he comforted him.
"Sixth Young Master, you are so loyal. You died protecting your emperor. I will ask the Empress Dowager to burn more paper money for you. So just go and die in peace."
The Sixth Young Master Wang's pupils dilated violently. Before he could react, he heard a whistling sound behind him.
A thought flashed through his mind, and then he heard a "puff" sound. Pain shot through his body.
He looked down and saw the blood - stained arrowhead pierce through his chest and stop a few inches in front of Jun Wuyuan.
"You... You... You're so... so vicious..."
"Protect the emperor!"
"Assassin! Protect His Majesty!"
"Protect His Majesty—Protect the Empress Dowager!"