Note: Prequel to "Nirvana in Fire/琅琊榜". Emperor Xiao Xuan is emperor, ruling over the Liang Kingdom.
Young Prince Jing and Lin Shu join Prince Qi on a simple training mission. Nothing should go amiss, right?
Disclaimer: I do not own "Nirvana in Fire/琅琊榜"
Prince Jing
"Xiao Shu… is he going to be ok?"
Jingyan wanted to hear the physician say something positive as he had with his elder brother, Prince Qi. Hours ago when he had first reached the outer gates of the capital, he had feared his elder brother would not make it. He had lost a lot of blood, his face ghostly pale. Jingyu had taken an arrow to the shoulder but thankfully it had not gone clean through, only to the muscle. Xiao Shu had at the time made a makeshift bandage to slow the bleeding. In all respects, it should have slowed a little, but for some reason, it didn't clot. Instead, the bandage was completely soaked through even before Jingyan was halfway back to the city gates.
Jingyan was no stranger to wounds sustained in battle, and this condition immediately made him suspicious that something else was wrong. His brother's face had looked feverish and his breathing was hitched. Jingyan also started to notice he was starting to feel the same way. He had a wound that was also not clotting and had a strange lightedheaded feeling. He knew it was for this reason, that Xiao Shu had been so hard pressed on having him leave with Jingyu instead of him fighting along side him.
The attack had come so suddenly, thought Jingyan. But it was incredibly organized. It was too organized, as if the enemy knew where they would be, what their formation would be. They had barely a chance to escape, had Xiao Shu not remembered a winding passage that the two of them along with Nihuang had discovered in their youth, they would not have had time to compose a plan.
Once they had found the hiding place, it was then that Xiao Shu had time to inspect Jingyu's wound. His brows were furled in concentration as he removed the arrow and then bandaged the wound with a ripped rag torn from his clothing. And then he had looked at Jingyan's minor cut on his arm and moved to also bandage it. Xiao Shu looked far too concerned, and even more so when Jingyan said it was nothing that needed tending, it didn't even hurt. Xiao Shu had then touched the bleeding wound. Jingyan had thought he would at least flinch at it, but he didn't, and that surprised him as well.
Xiao Shu had been quiet for a moment looking at the wound and wrapping far more tightly than Jingyan thought that was needed. And then when he spoke, he said that he and Jingyu had to make haste back to the capital now. He wasn't sure what it was, but something about the wound wasn't natural. He told him the plan would be to use himself and the last two surviving recruits, who were at the moment standing guard at the entrance to the passage, as a distraction for them to get away.
Jingyan had wanted to argue but he had always trusted Xiao Shu's instincts. While he did not think too much of the wound, he did feel uneasy about how his elder brother was still unconscious. He had fallen from the impact of the arrow, but he should have regained consciousness already. Jingyan conceded and followed Xiao Shu's distraction strategy to make their way out of the Lan Seng passage undetected by the enemy
When Jingyan had made it to the gates, he immediately alerted the guards to send aid as well as notice to General Lin Xie about the Lan Seng passage ambush. Jingyan had wanted to follow the calvary, but he knew that the condition he was in, he would only be a hindrance.
Xiao Shu would be okay, he had thought. He had promised he would be okay.
But this, thought Jingyan now, as he stared at his unconscious friend, was not okay.
Jingyan swallowed the lump that was in his throat.
Looking at the pale and very still Xiao Shu, Jingyan's mind drifted back to details the day's events.
9 hours ago
Prince Jing
Jingyan heard about Prince Qi running a training mission with new recruits. After having been assigned to literature readings for the past two weeks, Jingyan had began to feel restless. He was used to doing more active things, but as a Prince, he had to be well rounded. Prince Qi had said that it was important to cultivate the mind as well as the body. Jingyan always listened to his da-ge. He was his mentor, someone that he himself strived to become like one day. But sometimes it was difficult, simply sitting there for hours, just reading.
That was why Jingyan was surprised that his friend Xiao Shu was able to do just that. For someone like Xiao Shu who excelled in martial arts, it was a rare trait to be able to sit so idly and calm reading about philosophy and classic literature. Master Li Chong, the Imperial tutor, also regarded as one of the most highly respected teacher in Jianghu, favored Xiao Shu and often praised him for his insightful mind. Jingyan had to admit, he was a little jealous at that considering that he too was being tutored by Master Li Chong. Prince Qi was also regarded highly by Master Li Chong. This of course had motivated Jingyan to be more studious. Or attempt to be anyway.
His elder brother Prince Qi, Jingyan knew, was the hope of the Kingdom. Learning from him was a privilege. Even though many did not say it, nor did they dare say it, but Prince Qi was made to be the ruler of the land. While Jingyan loved his father, in terms of capability of ruling the empire, he was lacking. His decisions often times biased by his emotions, disregarding important matters of state because they were not on his radar. While the enemy borders were gathering into small factions, gaining power, his father did not try to quell this strength. He did not sit down with Lin Xie nor Marquis Yan to discuss options. He simply ignored, pushed the issues aside.
General Lin Xie could not act without the approval of his father. But what he could do was prepare for it. And also speak with Prince Qi about it. Prince Qi had taken a few harsh hits by their father, but he stood firm, telling their father what needed to be heard, not what he wanted to hear. The enemy were starting to gain power. They needed to stop it in its infancy before it grew to great. Jingyan remembered how angry their father was. It took a few days and much of both his mother and Noble Consort Chen to calm him to forgiving Prince Qi's directness.
His father enjoyed himself far too much, instead of ruling the country. As the Crown Prince, Prince Qi, had to leave often to different countries to build relationships and connection with their leaders. This way it ensured that Da Liang remained informed and on top of things. Because of these responsibilities, it also made Prince Qi leave the capital for long periods of time. Seeing him in the capital was a rarity so Jingyan wanted to take advantage of it when he could. Besides, the training Prince Qi was doing was located by the mountain side, it was a place he was familiar with since it was practice area for him, Xiao Shu, and Princess Nihuang.
Jingyan missed his older brother's company and this was a good chance to just to follow him without intruding too much. He knew Xiao Shu probably couldn't come since lately Uncle Lin Xie had assigned piles of reports and documents to review. But Jingyan also knew that it would not take too much to convince Xiao Shu to skip out on those tasks and come join him and Prince Qi.
Jingyan headed over to the Lin Manor to tell his friend to come. His opening lines to Xiao Shu was Prince Qi was due to set out in two weeks, so it may be a while before they would have another chance to see him. Uncle Lin Xie wouldn't mind Xiao Shu postponing some documents if it meant learning more under the guidance of their da-ge Prince Qi. Also Xiao Shu loved teaching new recruits a thing or two – not always in the nicest way, but the lessons learned would save their lives.
Xiao Shu had laughed and said that Jingyan really didn't need to go into so much detail what he needed to do to get out from doing the reports. He was Lin Shu after all. Jingyan could see the evil ideas popping up into his friend's mind for Prince Qi's recruits. Jingyan suddenly felt a little sorry for them. Only a little. Jingyan actually rather found it amusing to see new recruits being tested by Xiao Shu. He was also pretty sure Prince Qi liked it too, but always put up a disapproving front so that he wouldn't get in trouble by the Uncle Lin Xie.
They had gone quickly over to the Qi Manor, after Xiao Shu finished convincing his father to let him go on the training mission. It took really one line from Xiao Shu: it would be a good to see different training strategies since Xiao Shu himself had recently formed and taken command of his own army, the Chiyu battalion. Jingyan was impressed. Xiao Shu was always a person who knew how to get things done - the way he wanted it done. A leader's trait.
At the Qi residence, they found their Jingyu da-ge in his study, pouring over some documents with his brows furled in concentration. At their entrance, he looked up and a pleasant smile graced his face.
"What brings the two of you here?"
While Xiao Shu bowed in greeting, Jingyan went straight to asking if he could join him on the training mission.
"Can we join you, brother? You know, Xiao Shu is great with teaching new recruits."
Prince Qi glanced at Xiao Shu, his brows lifted slightly and in a mock tone, though not unkindly, "I am sure he is." Xiao Shu only grinned broadly back at him, feigning an air of innocence.
"Da-ge, you know the way I teach, sometimes learning the hard way is better. Gives them more preparation of what being a real soldier is about."
Prince Qi nodded in agreement and then asked, "How is your training with the Chiyu battalion coming along?"
At that, Xiao Shu's grin became even wider. "So far so good. The man you recommended to me, Wei Zheng, is a very skilled soldier. I have promoted him already to left vanguard."
"That is good to hear," said Prince Qi, pleased that his selection worked out for Xiao Shu.
"As for the two of you coming along on my training mission, you are welcome to join. But," added Prince Qi turning his attention back to the stack of reports on his desk and sighing, "I must finish reviewing these before we leave. I will meet both of you in two hours at the training grounds."
Jingyan noticed the frustrated look on his elder brother's face. It was a rare expression; to see it on him, it must have had to do with Them.
"Brother, is it the Xuanjing Bureau again?" asked Jingyan curiously.
Prince Qi nodded, but did not look up from his report.
"Jingyan, let us leave da-ge to finish his reviewing. We can take this extra time to gear up and do some practicing at the yard beforehand," said Xiao Shu
Jingyan didn't want to leave but at Xiao Shu's insistence, he relented. "Da-ge, we will meet you at the training yard." Both he and Xiao Shu bowed and took their leave from Prince Qi's study.