Martial King's Retired Life

“I don’t expect all of my sons to be accomplished. The people of old said, ‘One would rather a foolish son than one who suffers misfortune.’ The same goes even for me. I only wish that they can live a happy life free from misfortune. It’s popular for one to wish their children stand out, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. All my brothers were capable and qualified to succeed my father. How did they end up? They ended up fighting each other viciously and plunging the world into tragedy for ten years. Even I was not spared from their hostility when they held me in their arms when I was a kid… took me out on hunts, taught me and showed me their crushes.

“I haven’t wanted to talk about these things since I was crowned. It breaks my heart, but I have no idea who to blame. Eventually, nobody wanted to talk about. The mere mention of it would make my face long for days. Perhaps it’s due to age, or perhaps I’ve overcome imposter syndrome after ruling for so long. Whatever the reason, I’ve finally found the courage to reflect. I don’t know how brothers who hunted together, carried each other’s bows, carried jugs and pots of wine together, doing what servants would do as if they had to personally do everything, could turn on each other like that.

“My eldest brother… was a very laid-back person. He spoke slowly, liked to laugh and didn’t like violence. He was affable with us brothers as you’d expect from an elder brother. He took us out to play. When we made mistakes and Father was going to hit us, he’d shield us. After he got married, we three brothers made a trip to Beiping to find him rare stuff as gifts. He laughed hysterically when he saw our pathetic states upon return, but he angrily told us to never do it again after he saw our injuries. The four of us… drank a lot that night.

“Second Brother was the man. He was in every fight, so it wasn’t surprising that he also took a lot of damage. He only cared about backing his brothers and friends, though. His mansion was a gift from Father, but he gifted it to me since he knew I liked it. He said he preferred living in the army barracks, so there was no point in giving it to him. At the time, I promised myself to build him a mansion ten times bigger than any other mansion once I had enough money regardless of what anyone told me. That was why I personally spent a long, long time inspecting the estate when Northern Wondrous Warrior Manor fell…

“Third Brother was a graceful gentleman, but I knew he was a kind man who could think for himself. When a big bear charged at me one autumn hunt, I just ran for it since even Second Brother was hurt, yet Third Brother stood his ground. Being smarter than all of us, he knew all four of us would’ve perished if he fled, as well. He alone stalled the bear until the guards found us.”

As he so seldom recounted the stories, Emperor Yuansheng had to take breaks in between here and there to string together comprehensible sentences, but the moist in his eyes showed he meant every word he said.

“I always wondered what triggered their change. I see the same old brothers in my dreams. No matter how long I spend thinking, I just can’t work out what motivated them to strive for the throne so much. That’s not who they were… I’m telling you all this to let you know that, although I do hope they excel, I’m okay if they don’t as long as they can live a healthy and happy life.” Emperor Yuansheng set down his cup and smiled.

“I won’t force you. Besides Chi’er and Qing’er, you can choose to take any of them under your tutelage. I’m counting on you.” After he said that, Emperor Yusheng patted Ming Feizhen on the shoulder and left, telling Wang Tushui to come in and fetch Ming Feizhen.

“… and that’s how it went,” stated Ming Feizhen, squatting by a wall whilst munching on a handful of dry herbs.

The herbs helped offset the side effects of Ming Feizhen’s recent sleep deprivation. Plus, it didn’t taste too shabby. Most importantly, he felt uncomfortable discussing things if he didn’t have something to eat while he was talking. Since he didn’t have enough time to drop into the kitchen, he therefore went to the pharmacy.

“I had tried to turn down the job, but I couldn’t walk off when His Majesty was pouring his heart out. You guys can’t imagine it. If I walked out, I wouldn’t even be able to call myself a human being. That sly coot. Guess that’s why he’s the Emperor.”

Covering the fist mark on his eye, Tang Ye was still dealing with the aftereffects of being woken from his sleep with a fist and being told, “Piss off. Piss off somewhere far away.”

“Big Bro, have you recovered your ability to fight?”

“You only just realised? How are you supposed to come drink all the wine in the world and court all the chicks in the world with me if you’re so slow?” grouched Ming Feizhen.

“… I feel like a lot of big things happened last night.”

“You’re imagining things. Someone farting is a big deal in this day and age. Focus on analysing for me. I’m counting on you.”

“Okay.” Tang Ye grabbed his rattling head to try recall the information, then requested, “Could you repeat it one more time?”

“…”

Tang Ye got the real combat training he always asked for.

By the time Ming Feizhen repeated himself, Mountain Monster, Shen Kuang, Su Xiao, Liu Yuan and even Zha Pi were in attendance. Basically, save for Song Ou and Shen Yiren, who were busy with the banquet in the palace, everyone who had some degree of authority at Liu Shan Men was present. They weren’t a group that would gather unless Ming Feizhen was present. As soon as they got together, though, they had no qualms gossiping. In no time at all there were melon seed shells, tea leaves, fruit peels and the sort all over the ground.

Ming Feizhen harrumphed. “That’s how it is. Two brains are better than one. Help me brainstorm an idea. Young Master Kuang, you start.”

Shen Kuang started choking on the tea he was drinking, while Su Xiao patted his back. “… Thank you, Xiao Han. I, uh… I don’t know much about the topic, but I think the Princes are pretty strong in their stances, so I don’t think it’s necessarily a job to be envious about. His Majesty is eager, though. You must think it through carefully, Brother Ming.”

Ming Feizhen nodded.

Munching on melon seeds, Mountain Monster opined, “Since red and cyan are off the table, that means there are four left. The orange one is gone, right?”

Also munching, Zha Pi opined, “Green is a bad idea, too. After all, it’s a terrible colour and not good for Head Constable Ming’s reputation. That leaves yellow and blue.”

Liu Yuan shook his head. “Don’t forget there’s also Prince Zi, who will soon officially be conferred the rank of Prince. That leaves you with at least three options.”

Mountain Monster: “Oh, pick one easy to control, then.”

“Slow down,” interjected Ming Feizhen. “When did I agree to taking a Prince under my wing?”

Mountain Monster spat out a melon seed. “What? Too good for it? Besides, I’m not the one telling you to teach one. Would you actually dare to oppose the old man?”

“Stop, stop, stop. You’re a villain. Your opinion doesn’t count. Tang Ye, you have the looks and background of an orthodox sect disciple. You tell me.”

Tang Ye: “You can’t refuse His Majesty as she said.”

“Screw the lot of you! Xiao, what say you?!”

Su Xiao wrinkled his face. “Big Brother Ming, you have to refuse if you don’t want to do it!”

“That’s m-”

“You can’t just kidnap an innocent girl and demand her to marry you.”

“… There’s something wrong about that.”

“Plus, who’s responsible if Big Brother Ming turns him into a stupid Prince? Would we be implicated as his colleagues?”

“Refuse. Make sure to refuse, or resign first, okay?”

“Thank you, you, you, and the rest of your families, so much.” Ming Feizhen put a full stop on the topic and decided to wait for Shen Yiren to return.

If there was truly no option but to accept the role, Ming Feizhen was planning to do what they said in the first place. Those were the only three Princes who had room for him to do anything. He didn’t know much about Yellow Prince, but Blue Prince would’ve been a tough nut to crack. As for Purple Prince, he was a suitable candidate in all facets, except he was young. In saying that, Ming Feizhen wanted to minimise interactions with Zizi since he knew his mother.

Ming Feizhen decided to leave the issue for later as there was still one more person he needed to speak to.