Chapter 6: The Sword and the Silence
1921 Words
The intelligence competition had finally come to an end.
The princes returned to the Crown King's residence, but the atmosphere was very different from the previous evening.
Lan Yuze had won again.
First archery.
Then intelligence.
And tomorrow, the swordsmanship competition awaited.
Several princes gathered together in one of the palace rooms. Cups of wine were placed across the table, but their expressions were far from cheerful.
One prince slammed his cup down.
"That Lan Yuze has become a real problem."
Another prince frowned.
"First he defeats Prince Shen Lie in archery, and then he wins the intelligence competition."
"He has already embarrassed us twice."
A third prince laughed coldly.
"Don't worry. Swordsmanship is different."
He leaned back.
"He may be intelligent, but he looks too delicate to fight properly."
Another prince nodded.
"Exactly. He looks like he would break if someone pushed him."
They laughed.
"We only need to defeat him tomorrow."
"If he wins again, what face will we have left?"
One prince lowered his voice.
"Perhaps we should do something before the competition."
Just then—
A cold voice came from the doorway.
"What are you talking about?"
Everyone turned.
Shen Lie stood there.
The room immediately became quiet.
The prince who had been speaking swallowed.
"Nothing."
Shen Lie walked inside.
"Nothing?"
He looked around the room.
"Then why were you talking about removing someone from your way?"
No one answered.
Shen Lie's eyes became colder.
"Was it Lan Yuze?"
The princes quickly looked away.
One finally forced a smile.
"Of course not. Why would we say anything about him?"
Shen Lie stared at him for several seconds.
"Good."
The prince immediately picked up another cup.
"Come, Young Master Shen. Sit with us and have some wine."
Shen Lie glanced at the cup.
"Not tonight."
"Why?"
"My mood isn't right."
He turned toward the door.
"Drink if you want. And prepare yourselves for tomorrow."
After Shen Lie left, the princes remained silent.
The moment he disappeared, one of them clenched his fist.
"He thinks he's above everyone."
Another prince whispered,
"Forget him for now."
He gave a cold smile.
"First we'll deal with Lan Yuze."
"And then?"
The other prince smiled.
"Then we'll see about Shen Lie."
---
That night, the palace became quiet.
Lan Yuze stood beside his window as he did every night.
The moon was bright.
He wore a simple white robe, and his long black hair fell freely over his shoulders.
He looked peaceful beneath the moonlight.
Across the courtyard, Shen Lie had just returned to his room.
He stopped when he saw the familiar figure.
Lan Yuze.
Again.
Shen Lie smiled faintly.
He entered his room, but his eyes remained fixed on the window.
Why do I keep looking for him?
He shook his head.
"What's wrong with me?"
He tried to turn away.
A moment later, he looked back.
Lan Yuze happened to glance in his direction.
Their eyes met.
Neither moved.
Shen Lie's lips curved into a small smile.
Yuze remained completely silent.
Then he slowly turned away and walked back into his room.
Shen Lie stared at the empty window.
"He ignored me?"
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"Fine."
His eyes narrowed playfully.
"But I won't let you get away that easily."
The next morning, the entire palace was filled with excitement.
The swordsmanship competition was about to begin.
All the princes gathered in the large training courtyard.
At the center was a wide platform surrounded by guards and spectators.
The Crown Prince stood before everyone.
"Today, we will test the swordsmanship of our young princes and martial artists."
He raised a box filled with wooden slips.
"Each contestant will draw a name. The two names selected will compete against each other."
The princes became excited.
The Crown Prince smiled.
"Let's see who is truly worthy of being called the strongest."
The first slips were drawn.
Two princes stepped forward.
Then another pair.
The matches continued.
Finally, the Crown Prince reached into the box again.
He pulled out a slip.
"Shen Lie."
The courtyard became silent.
Shen Lie stepped forward.
Another slip was drawn.
The Crown Prince read it.
"Prince Han."
Prince Han stepped onto the platform.
He looked nervous.
Everyone knew how strong Shen Lie was.
The fight began.
It lasted only a few minutes.
Shen Lie defeated him easily.
Another match.
Then another.
Eventually, the final draw came.
The Crown Prince reached into the box.
He unfolded the paper.
"Lan Yuze."
The courtyard erupted in laughter.
"What?"
"Lan Yuze?"
"He's fighting now?"
"Against whom?"
The Crown Prince pulled another slip.
He read it.
"Shen Lie."
The laughter became louder.
"That's impossible!"
"He's going to fight Shen Lie?"
"Lan Yuze is finished!"
Lan Qingshan and Mei Lian exchanged worried looks.
Lan Yichen's expression became serious.
He knew how strong Shen Lie was.
And he had never seen Yuze fight seriously.
Yuze quietly stepped forward.
Shen Lie stood on the opposite side.
For a moment, he simply looked at Yuze.
Then he walked closer.
"You can refuse."
Yuze looked at him.
"Why?"
"You could get hurt."
Yuze's expression remained calm.
"You should concentrate on the fight, not on me."
Shen Lie smiled.
"So you're worried about me too?"
Yuze immediately looked away.
"I didn't say that."
Shen Lie laughed softly.
"Alright."
He stepped onto the platform.
The two stood opposite each other.
Shen Lie wore black.
Yuze wore white.
The contrast between them made the crowd even more interested.
The Crown Prince raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Shen Lie moved first.
His sword came forward quickly.
Yuze raised his own sword.
Clang!
The blades met.
The crowd fell silent.
Yuze stepped back.
Shen Lie followed.
Another strike.
Yuze blocked it.
Another.
Blocked again.
Everyone began to realize something was strange.
Shen Lie was not attacking with his full strength.
He could have ended the fight quickly.
But he didn't.
Instead, he kept allowing Yuze to attack.
Yuze moved gracefully.
His swordsmanship was completely different from what everyone expected.
There was no unnecessary force.
Every movement was controlled.
His white robes moved with him, making him appear almost like a shadow beneath the sunlight.
Shen Lie watched him with a faint smile.
Yuze attacked.
Shen Lie blocked.
Yuze attacked again.
Shen Lie stepped aside.
The fight continued.
Several princes became confused.
"What is Shen Lie doing?"
"Why isn't he attacking?"
"He could defeat him."
Lan Yichen noticed too.
His eyes narrowed.
Shen Lie is holding back.
On the platform, Yuze suddenly changed his movement.
He attacked from the side.
Shen Lie blocked.
Yuze turned and attacked again.
This time, Shen Lie stepped closer.
Their shoulders almost touched.
For a brief moment, Yuze's long hair moved across Shen Lie's face.
A faint fragrance reached him.
Shen Lie's expression softened.
That familiar scent.
The same one he had noticed before.
He liked it.
Perhaps too much.
Yuze stepped away quickly.
Shen Lie followed.
Their swords continued to clash.
Then Yuze attacked once more.
His blade was meant for Shen Lie's shoulder, but Shen Lie moved at the last moment.
The sword missed him—
but the edge caught his arm.
A small cut appeared.
The courtyard became completely silent.
Shen Lie looked at his arm.
Then at Yuze.
Yuze's expression changed immediately.
"I..."
He lowered his sword.
"I'm sorry."
Everyone stared.
How had Shen Lie been injured?
More importantly—
why hadn't he avoided it?
The Crown Prince stepped forward.
"Enough!"
Shen Lie's sword slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
The Crown Prince looked at both contestants.
"The rules are simple. The sword has fallen from Prince Shen Lie's hand."
He raised his voice.
"Lan Yuze is the winner."
The crowd erupted.
The Lan family was shocked, then filled with happiness.
Lan Yichen smiled.
Mei Lian looked relieved.
Lan Qingshan proudly watched his youngest son.
But Yuze didn't smile.
His eyes remained fixed on Shen Lie's injured arm.
He didn't feel like celebrating.
Because someone had been hurt because of him.
That evening, the Crown Prince held a large celebration for Lan Yuze's victory.
Music filled the palace.
Food and drinks covered the tables.
Everyone congratulated Yuze.
But he remained quiet.
His mind was elsewhere.
Eventually, he quietly left the celebration.
He walked through the palace corridor until he reached Shen Lie's room.
He stopped outside.
His hand rose toward the door.
Then stopped.
He didn't know if he should knock.
What if he's resting?
Yuze lowered his hand.
He was about to leave when the door suddenly opened.
Shen Lie stood there.
He looked surprised.
"Yuze?"
Yuze froze.
"You..."
Shen Lie glanced at the celebration in the distance.
"Shouldn't you be there?"
Yuze lowered his eyes.
"I brought something."
Shen Lie noticed the small medicine box in his hand.
"What is that?"
"For your arm."
Shen Lie looked at the medicine.
Then back at Yuze.
"You came here just because of this?"
Yuze nodded.
"I'm sorry you were injured."
Shen Lie smiled.
"It wasn't your fault."
"But you were hurt."
"Just a small cut."
Yuze held out the medicine.
"Please use it."
Shen Lie didn't take it.
Instead, he said,
"You should come inside."
Yuze looked surprised.
He had heard that almost no one entered Shen Lie's private room.
"Me?"
Shen Lie smiled.
"Who else?"
Yuze hesitated.
Then quietly stepped inside.
Shen Lie closed the door.
Yuze looked around.
The room was simple and neat.
He placed the medicine on the table.
"Give me your arm."
Shen Lie raised an eyebrow.
"You'll apply it?"
Yuze nodded.
"You were injured because of me."
Shen Lie slowly extended his arm.
Yuze carefully applied the medicine to the small wound.
His movements were gentle.
Shen Lie remained completely still.
His eyes stayed on Yuze.
Yuze didn't notice.
He was focused entirely on the injury.
"Does it hurt?"
"No."
Yuze looked at him.
"You're lying."
Shen Lie smiled.
"Maybe."
Yuze continued applying the medicine.
His long hair fell over his shoulder.
Shen Lie quietly watched him.
The same faint fragrance surrounded him again.
He couldn't help smiling.
Yuze finally noticed.
"Why are you smiling?"
Shen Lie looked at him.
"Nothing."
"Then why?"
Shen Lie's smile grew slightly.
"I just think..."
He paused.
"You are different from what everyone thinks."
Yuze lowered his eyes.
"So are you."
Shen Lie seemed surprised.
"Me?"
Yuze nodded.
"Everyone says you're very frightening."
"And you?"
Yuze thought for a moment.
"I don't know yet."
Shen Lie laughed softly.
"Then you'll have to spend more time with me."
Yuze looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The room became strangely quiet.
Shen Lie's expression softened.
"You came all the way here just to treat my wound."
Yuze looked away.
"I didn't want you to leave it untreated."
Shen Lie smiled.
"Then I'll remember that."
Yuze finished applying the medicine and carefully closed the box.
"The wound should heal soon."
He stood.
"I should go."
Shen Lie watched him.
"Yuze."
Yuze turned.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Yuze gave a small nod.
"Good night, Shen Lie."
"Good night."
Yuze walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he glanced back once.
Shen Lie was still watching him.
Their eyes met again.
Yuze quickly looked away and stepped into the corridor.
The door closed.
Shen Lie remained standing there.
He looked down at the bandage on his arm.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
For once, he didn't mind having a wound.
Because this time, the person who had caused it—
was also the person who had come to heal it.
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