Chapter 1517 - 810: Crushing Them with Academic Credentials (Triple Bonus Combined)

"Do you dare to kill the Crown Prince?"

At these words, the Daoist in front immediately showed a look of astonished shock.

Yu Wen Yuan, witnessing this situation, sneered coldly in his heart. These Han people are indeed timid; merely a word of killing and they become so alarmed.

On their grasslands, life-and-death struggles and battles over pastures and water sources are commonplace. Only the strongest can secure the richest pastures for their tribe and protect the most cattle and sheep.

Crown Prince? Taiji? In the eyes of real barbarians, there's nothing so sacred and inviolable. Killing a Taiji for the tribe today is like slaughtering a leader sheep to survive a harsh winter if necessary; they're all survival choices. Why make such a fuss?

His gaze swept over the two people in front of him like an eagle, then he glanced again and noticed that the seemingly naive sister, who always quietly followed their side, had a glimpse of excitement in her eyes after the initial astonishment. That wasn't fear; it was more like the thrill of smelling prey.

Seeing him remain silent, Yu Wen Yuan instead pointed toward Donggong Ruoshu, praising, "Your sister, such courage! A fine woman!"

Upon hearing this, the person seemed to come to their senses and bowed their head, saying, "My sister is young and naive. Han King, you overpraise her."

Donggong Ruoshu, being named, blinked but didn't show fear or hide behind the man.

Yu Wen Yuan took it all in, not probing further, but fixed his piercing gaze back on Chen Yi's face, pressing on, "Have you thought it through?"

The air in the study became stagnant, Wu Baha'er held his breath and lowered his eyes, Qiao Tumen placed his hand on his sword hilt, his gaze wandering around Chen Yi's neck. The distant hustle and bustle outside the window now sounded extremely far away. Yu Wen Yuan's eyes were sharp and confident, as if a mere flick of his eyes could strike down without a sound escaping.

Chen Yi patiently restrained the curve of his lips, a white wolf sneaking into a sheep herd, moving lightly to avoid exposure.

He also wanted to kill the leader sheep.

Not just the leader sheep, he wanted to tear open a seam in the Great Khan's tent to take a look.

He pondered for a moment, the time wasn't long, and after a while, he raised his eyes to meet Yu Wen Yuan's scrutinizing gaze, taking a deep breath as if finally making up his mind and said, "By joining the Han Prince Mansion, I already have the intent to serve."

Yu Wen Yuan saw this, raised his thick brows, then nodded. This Han, though he hesitated slightly just now, ultimately agreed cleanly. What was needed was this decisive recognition of the situation. As for the momentary fright... hmph, if one remained unmoved upon hearing words of regicide, that would be even more suspicious. The wolf cubs on the grassland also shrink back the first time they see blood, but they have sharp teeth.

"Good!" Yu Wen Yuan slapped the table, "Wu Baha'er, note his name. Qiao Tumen, take them to settle in, and treat them with the courtesy appropriate for capable guests."

"Understood." The two responded in unison.

Chen Yi bowed again, pulling Donggong Ruoshu, following Qiao Tumen out of the study, and as he turned, his gaze casually passed over the bloodstains on the ground not fully wiped away and the crushed remains of a cricket on the desk.

Truly someone who doesn't read books.

Makeshift reverence, burning no incense in leisure.

Do you know the Green Jade Case stems from "The beauty gifted me with brocade, how to repay with the Green Jade Case"?

Chen Yi rarely felt a sense of academic superiority.

Qiao Tumen was obviously familiar with the Han Prince Mansion, leading them through corridors, around corners, and to the guesthouse, but this person clearly was from the Inspection Department. Chen Yi observed this in his eyes, piecing together previous information, revealing the fragmented state of the current Western Jin Court.

"Wait here, His Highness will come for arrangements after he completes his lesson." Qiao Tumen's voice was thick and his tone deliberately hoarse, as if attempting to suppress his barbarian accent.

Having walked the Jianghu for many years, even at this level of cultivation, Chen Yi still instinctively paid attention to such details.

Chen Yi looked at Qiao Tumen and said, "Are you a barbarian?"

Qiao Tumen was taken aback, then firmly replied, "What if I am?"

"No, your accent doesn't quite sound like a barbarian, just a bit odd. I'm wondering if you're not a barbarian, why would the Han King value you so highly."

As his words fell, the annoyance in Qiao Tumen's eyes vanished instantly, a hint of joy appearing amidst the confusion.

Chen Yi saw it, this person didn't want to be considered a barbarian at heart.

The reason likely lies in the Western Jin's century-long adoption of Han practices, coupled with the Chang'an court's Han-centric nature, and the Confucian debate on Hua-Yi distinction has gradually formed a trend of looking down on barbarians.

"Are one of your parents Han? Your Han speech is so fluent."

"I actually taught myself entirely, through ear and eye exposure."

"Impressive, you even know idioms."

"Of course."

Qiao Tumen finished speaking, paused, then looked at Chen Yi suspiciously and said:

"Are you trying to pry words from me?"

"I wish to find a path to ascension through the Han King, afterward I must face the emperor, so I must understand a bit."

"Heh." Qiao Tumen coldly snorted, fiddling with his waist dagger, seeming to warn, "The court's political struggle isn't something you shamans should meddle in. You may defeat Pu Hui through your Fa, but you might not be able to stand in Chang'an by martial arts alone, not to mention you killed Pu Hui because he brought it on himself, setting up such a deplorable array."

"Then I need to know, how are you going to kill the Crown Prince?"

Chen Yi didn't ask why to kill the Crown Prince; the struggle for the Crown Prince perhaps was always like this.

Qiao Tumen's grey dusty face hesitated for a moment, at this time a barbarian maidservant offered milk tea, placing it on the desk, looked at Chen Yi a few more times; the latter smiled slightly in return, so she personally added some roasted rice for him, which suddenly agitated Qiao Tumen. Nowadays people's hearts are not what they used to be, even these women brought from the grasslands prefer Han scholars.

When various kings from the grassland brought their children to the capital to pay tribute, unmarried Commandery Princesses would ride horses and throw lassos to select husbands. Whoever they lassoed would be their Lord; now, it's been a long time since one lassoed a barbarian.