Eternal Saber-Chapter 233 - 18: Harem Showdown

Yuan Taiping had just been left stunned, and only now was he beginning to snap out of it.

He immediately felt wronged and a trace of resentment arose within him. Seeing his father being held back by Yuan Qingmo, he couldn't help but say, "But when our family was suffering, who cared about us, who treated us as humans?"

"You!"

The anger that Yuan Qingshan had just managed to suppress surged back once more.

"Ping'er, hurry up and leave!"

Yuan Qingmu, worried that the conflict between father and son would escalate, quickly gave Yuan Taiping a look, signaling him to leave at once.

Seeing the displeased look on his father's face, and a sharpness in his gaze like never before, Yuan Taiping felt a surge of fear and scrambled out hastily.

Yuan Qingmu advised, "Brother, don't be mad. After all, Ping'er has suffered a lot outside before, so he harbors some resentment."

Yuan Qingshan shook his head and said, "He wasn't like this before. Since coming to the capital, he's been acting recklessly and arrogantly. At his age, there's no way he could come up with those words on his own. Someone must have taught him!"

After pausing for a moment, Yuan Qingshan looked at Chen Tang and said, "Since ascending the throne, I've been occupied with state affairs and have had no time to discipline Ping'er. Junior Brother, since you're staying in the capital for a while, I ask that you keep an eye on Ping'er in the harem these days."

Yuan Taiping was still a minor and remained living in the harem.

Yuan Qingshan said, "I suspect those words might have been taught by the other Grand Protector and Junior Protector."

Chen Tang asked, "There is another Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince?"

Yuan Qingshan nodded and said, "After I ascended the throne, it was decided by the State Preceptor. At the time, I didn't have a strong foundation and truly couldn't refuse."

Chen Tang seemed thoughtful.

In other words, the three mentors of Qian Country, the Grandmaster, the Grand Tutor, and the Grand Protector, are all from the Profound Celestial Sect.

"Could it have been taught by the Grand Tutor?"

Chen Tang asked again.

Yuan Qingmu said, "Unlikely. Though the Grand Tutor is nominally Ping'er's mentor, he rarely comes to the palace. However, the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and the Junior Protector often stay by Ping'er's side."

After pondering for a while, Chen Tang asked, "If it's indeed them who misled Ping'er, should we take some measures..."

Yuan Qingshan waved his hand and said, "You decide on your own. Whatever happens, I have your back!"

In fact, it would be best to remove the Profound Celestial Sect's people from the Crown Prince's side.

But Yuan Qingshan also knew that it was unrealistic.

"Understood."

Chen Tang nodded.

Not feeling entirely assured, Yuan Qingshan reminded again, "That Grand Protector Kong Cong of the Foundation Establishment Realm is a Mystic Master. Be extra careful. The Junior Protector is a Mystic Master of the Qi Condensation Realm, but his father is Marshal Zhou Haijian of the Profound Celestial Sect."

"That's nothing much."

Chen Tang shrugged slightly and said, "Sun Tianlu of the Profound Celestial Sect already resents me. Offending one more Marshal makes no difference."

In the capital, with the Emperor's support, and bearing the title of Lion-Tiger Arhat, even if these Marshals hated Chen Tang to the bones, they wouldn't dare do anything to him.

Chen Tang asked, "I shall go to the harem to have a look at Ping'er and get acquainted with him."

"I will take you there."

Yuan Qingmu said, "Let them stay here to study the laws of Daqian."

...

Rear Hall.

Qingquan Garden.

Covering his swollen red face, Yuan Taiping dashed to Qingquan Garden under the astonished gazes of palace maids and attendants, feeling increasingly wronged and holding in a breath with nowhere to vent.

Not far away, two palace maids noticed someone approaching and took a glance over.

Seeing it was the Crown Prince, the two palace maids immediately withdrew their gaze.

The notorious reputation of this Crown Prince had spread throughout the harem for the past few months.

Yuan Taiping coldly snorted, walked up to the two palace maids, and rebuked, "What were you looking at just now? Were you laughing at me?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The two palace maids, terrified, trembled all over and quickly knelt to explain, "Even if we had the courage of a lion, we wouldn't dare laugh at Your Highness. Please calm your anger."

"Hmph! I think you were laughing at me. See if I don't smash your mouths!"

Yuan Taiping's voice was still somewhat childish and sharp, but the words he said were extremely vicious.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Yuan Taiping swung his arm wildly, slapping the cheeks of the two palace maids.

He didn't stop until he had beaten the two palace maids unconscious, feeling unsatisfied.

From a distance, other palace maids and guards witnessed the scene but dared not approach, pretending not to see.

After venting his emotions, Yuan Taiping felt much better and walked away without even glancing at the two unconscious palace maids.

"Your Highness."

Arriving in the courtyard of Qingquan Garden, a man in his twenties walked over, holding a folding fan, and gave a slight bow.

Zhou Shuang, Junior Protector to the Crown Prince.

Zhou Shuang saw Yuan Taiping's swollen cheek and couldn't help but frowned and asked, "Your Highness, who dared to strike you so heavily?"

In fact, he was clear as day about it.

The only one who dared to hit the current Crown Prince in the Imperial Palace was none other than the current Emperor.

Yuan Taiping said indignantly, "Who else could it be? Father, without differentiating right from wrong, struck me just because I said a few words, and in the presence of others no less."

"It must be out of good intentions from His Holiness, a moment of impulse."

Zhou Shuang sighed and said, "Alas, just that... wasn't it a bit heavy-handed? I feel pain just looking at it."

Hearing Zhou Shuang say this, Yuan Taiping felt his face hurt even more and couldn't help but feel closer to Zhou Shuang.

Zhou Shuang approached Yuan Taiping, took out a small bottle of ointment from his bosom, and said, "Your Highness, here I have medicine to dissipate bruises and reduce swelling. Applying a little will have quick effects."

"Alright!"

Yuan Taiping said.

Zhou Shuang dabbed some ointment on his little finger and gently applied a layer to Yuan Taiping's cheek.

Yuan Taiping immediately felt a wave of coolness, and the pain indeed lessened.

"This medicine is indeed remarkable, even better than those in the palace!"

Yuan Taiping praised.

Zhou Shuang smiled and said, "If His Highness likes it, I will give this bottle to you. Apply it once in the morning and once in the evening, and the swelling will fade in three days, restoring as before."

"Good, good, good!"

Yuan Taiping took the medicine bottle and said, "Protector Zhou, you're always so kind to Ping'er."

"It's my duty."

Zhou Shuang smiled slightly.

At this moment, Chen Tang and Yuan Qingmu entered from outside.

"Eldest Princess!"

Seeing Yuan Qingmu, Zhou Shuang's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward to salute her, smiling.

The reason he pleaded with his father, and even went to the Profound Celestial Sect Protector, determined to enter the palace and become the Junior Protector to the Crown Prince, was largely because of Yuan Qingmu!

At that time, the moment Zhou Shuang saw Yuan Qingmu, he was captivated by her beauty, lost his appetite, and couldn't sleep at night.

With the Crown Prince residing in the harem, he became the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, staying by the Crown Prince's side every day, which afforded him more opportunities to see the Eldest Princess.

Yuan Qingmu did not look directly at him, merely nodding, then looked at Yuan Taiping and frowned, "Were those two palace maids outside knocked unconscious by you?"

"They mocked me."

Yuan Taiping snorted lightly.

Yuan Qingmu shook her head.

The palace maids and attendants had long been aware of Yuan Taiping's notorious reputation, and avoided him whenever possible. Who would dare to mock him?

Chen Tang sneered and said, "It seems His Holiness went too easy on him."

Yuan Taiping was annoyed upon hearing this.

But given Chen Tang's status as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, he didn't dare to retort.

Zhou Shuang felt a bit uneasy seeing Chen Tang and Yuan Qingmu entering together.

Yuan Qingmu had consistently ignored him, increasing his displeasure.

Upon hearing Chen Tang's words, he sneered, opened his folding fan with a flick, and said in front of Chen Tang, "Who are you to make such scornful comments towards His Highness, the Crown Prince!"

Before, he had always been in the harem, accompanying the Crown Prince.

He hadn't participated in the great battle or the banquet, so naturally, he didn't recognize Chen Tang.

Yuan Qingmu glanced at Zhou Shuang and coldly said, "This is Chen Tang, the Lion-Tiger Arhat of Qian Country, the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, mind your words when speaking to him."

Zhou Shuang was taken aback.

Although he had never met Chen Tang, the title "Lion-Tiger Arhat" was well-known, even in the harem it was often whispered about.

The Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, a rank above his own.

Yet, seeing Yuan Qingmu speak for Chen Tang and be cold to him, he couldn't help but feel the flames of jealousy!

A brat not even twenty years old, rising above him overnight?

Zhou Shuang had heard some rumors about Chen Tang, though not in detail.

It was said this man had made several enemies within the Profound Celestial Sect.

If he could find an opportunity to take this man down, it would surely be a significant achievement in the Profound Celestial Sect!

"So it is Grand Tutor Chen."

Zhou Shuang saluted, speaking with indifference, "I am Zhou Shuang, my sight deceived me, please forgive me, Grand Tutor Chen."

Yuan Taiping's eyes flickered with a cunning idea, and he suddenly said, "Grand Tutor Chen, Junior Protector Zhou, you practice the Martial Arts and you practice the Mystic Skill, which is stronger?"

Before Chen Tang could answer, Zhou Shuang smiled and said, "I naturally admire Grand Tutor Chen for defeating the Barbarians."

"It's just that, His Highness might not know, compared to Mystic Skill, Martial Arts is mere child's play and simply not worth mentioning."

Yuan Taiping widened his eyes, feigning surprise, and asked, "Is the gap that big?"

Zhou Shuang laughed, "Among those of the same rank, a Mystic Master can easily slay several, even dozens of Martial Artists. Based on cultivation aptitude alone, anyone in the world can practice Martial Arts, but those eligible to practice Mystic Skills are one in tens of thousands."

"Ah?"

Yuan Taiping looked at Chen Tang, incredulously asking, "Grand Tutor Chen, is this true?"

Chen Tang smiled.

This little duo's double act, their intentions couldn't escape Chen Tang's notice.

But this was good, it saved him the trouble of finding an excuse.

Zhou Shuang asked, "What, Grand Tutor, do you disagree with my statement?"

"I disagree."

"Want to test it?"

"How do we test?"

"Between you and me, let's have a match in front of His Highness and the Eldest Princess. I am eager to experience the methods of the Lion-Tiger Arhat!"

"Alright, alright!"

Yuan Taiping clapped his hands repeatedly, his face full of excitement.

He missed the arena battle yesterday.

Today was a chance to see what this Lion-Tiger Arhat was truly worth, and what justified him being the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince!

Yuan Qingmu frowned and said, "Ping'er, Chen Tang just had a big battle yesterday and is injured, not fully recovered. It's unfair to fight now."

"Grand Tutor Chen isn't afraid, is he?"

Yuan Taiping pretended not to have heard, looking at Chen Tang and smiling, "After all, you outrank him by one level; if you don't even dare accept Junior Protector Zhou's challenge, it's difficult to convince the people."

"It's fine to have a match."

Chen Tang said calmly, "However, I don't hold back."

Zhou Shuang chuckled, raising his voice, "All the better; since it's a duel, let's cut loose. Stopping just at the point would be meaningless!"