Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 21 The little man's name is Zhang Dejun

"what?"

Wang Chengyan was stunned, not understanding what Zhao Dezhao meant by asking that question.

He's just a eunuch, so what if he gets beaten? It's no big deal.

Besides, his father, as the commander of the Palace Guard, was in charge of the imperial guards and security of the entire capital. If these eunuchs violated the prohibitions, his father could even execute them without reporting to the emperor!

"He...he talked back to me earlier!"

Unsure of Zhao Dezhao's true intentions, Wang Chengyan hastily fabricated a reason.

The eunuch behind him opened his mouth, as if to explain.

How could he dare to contradict Wang Chengyan? It was clearly Wang Chengyan who had tripped and fallen while leading the way, and Wang Chengyan, feeling embarrassed and angry, had nowhere to vent his frustration...

Can I explain it myself? Do I dare to explain it?

Today, a new dynasty replaces the old one, and many palace eunuchs will be dismissed.

Or... be buried in the ground forever.

As a lowly eunuch, he naturally dared not talk back to the son of the Commander of the Palace Guard.

Thinking of this, he pursed his lips, but ultimately lowered his head in fear and fell silent.

"Did I talk back to you?" Zhao Dezhao's eyes grew increasingly dangerous, then he looked at the eunuch and asked:

"Is what he said true?"

Upon hearing this, the eunuch was taken aback, as if he hadn't expected Zhao Dezhao to ask him for confirmation.

Even so, he dared not tell the truth, and could only show a miserable expression on his face. Just as he was about to nod in agreement, Zhao Dezhao spoke again:

"Tell me the truth. I can easily find out with a little investigation. If you're lying, I'll chop your head off!"

"If you're not lying to me, I guarantee you'll be safe and sound!"

Zhao Dezhao spoke those last words with particular force.

The eunuch raised his head in disbelief, looking at Zhao Dezhao with a complicated expression, as if trying to discern from his face whether what he said was true or false.

In the end, all he saw was sincerity.

He recalled the scene where he had knelt before the sedan chair, yet Zhao Dezhao refused to step on him to get off. He had already made up his mind. He took a deep breath and said in a high-pitched voice:

"Your Highness, what happened earlier was..."

He recounted the whole story in detail, without daring to embellish it in the slightest.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengyan's expression suddenly turned ugly, and a hint of violence and murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

He raised his head, about to make a few excuses, but Zhao Dezhao slapped him across the face.

Snapped--!

The sound of a slap rang out, and everyone present was stunned, staring at Zhao Dezhao in disbelief.

"Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner; besides, he's not a dog, he's a member of the royal family!"

Zhao Dezhao's voice was cold beyond his years, but upon hearing this, the eunuch seemed struck by lightning, and the way he looked at Zhao Dezhao changed.

I...I'm a member of the royal family?

Unbelievable, grateful, respected... a mix of emotions welled up in his heart, making his eyes slightly sting.

"You...you hit me?"

Wang Chengyan also realized what was happening. He covered his left cheek and pointed at Zhao Dezhao with a trembling hand.

He naturally dared not retaliate, but if word got out that he had beaten the son of a general without cause, Zhao Dezhao would certainly not have a good outcome.

He was already thirteen years old, so he naturally understood this principle, which is why he found it even more unbelievable.

You, Zhao Dezhao, actually hit me because of a eunuch?

"That's exactly what I'm going to do!"

Zhao Dezhao casually picked up a wooden stick from the weapon rack next to him and handed it to Li Jilong, who looked completely bewildered.

"Tyranny, he dared to speak ill of you before, get him!"

Li Jilong subconsciously took the wooden stick, glanced at Wang Chengyan who was a head taller than him, and then cast a bewildered look at Zhao Dezhao.

Me? Go for it?

"Go, Tyranny! The time has come to prove that you are an invincible general!" Zhao Dezhao encouraged.

Li Jilong was still a little apprehensive, not because he was afraid to do it, but because he was afraid he wouldn't be able to do it...

"This isn't over! You're dead!"

Wang Chengyan suppressed his anger, first glaring at the eunuch, then giving Zhao Dezhao a hateful look.

He had already made up his mind to go back and spread the word that Zhao Dezhao had slapped the general's son without cause, showing arrogance and barbarity!

If His Majesty finds out, Zhao Dezhao will surely be punished!

Thinking of this, Wang Chengyan glanced disdainfully at Li Jilong, who couldn't even hold a wooden stick properly, and immediately prepared to leave.

But it was that last look from him that completely enraged Li Jilong.

Li Jilong recalled Wang Chengyan's expression when he called him a crybaby, and it was exactly the same as it was now. He felt even more indignant and tightened his grip on the stick.

Then he chased after him, jumped up, raised the stick high, and brought it down heavily while cursing like his father:

"You son of a bitch, let me show you! I'm not a crybaby!"

boom--!

A sharp pain shot through him. Wang Chengyan stiffly touched the back of his head, slowly turned his head, and looked at Li Jilong in disbelief. He was about to say something, but before he could open his mouth, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Shit...shit person, shit person!" Seven-year-old Han Chongxun panicked.

Li Jilong was also a little scared and subconsciously took a few steps back, causing the wooden stick to slip from his hand and fall to the ground.

"He's not dead, he's just passed out." Zhao Dezhao stepped forward to check his breathing and glanced at Li Jilong with surprise.

Using that much force... how much anger must they be harboring...?

But it's fortunate he didn't die, otherwise it would have been really hard to explain.

Zhao Dezhao breathed a sigh of relief, then waved to Han Chongxun: "Chongxun, come here and kick him."

"what?"

"Just kick it when I tell you to, stop talking nonsense."

"Oh……"

thump.

Han Chongxun carefully stepped forward and gently kicked the unconscious Wang Chengyan.

Zhao Dezhao smiled, glancing dangerously at the attendant and the eunuch beside him.

The attendants and eunuchs lowered their heads, looking as if they understood.

"Very good, we're on the same side now. If this gets out, no one can escape!"

Zhao Dezhao grinned and said to Han Chongxun and Li Jilong, "If anyone asks, just say this..."

The two little ones nodded repeatedly.

After saying that, Zhao Dezhao asked seriously, "Have you all remembered it?"

"Got it!" the two little ones stood up straight and answered loudly.

"Very good, this child is teachable."

Zhao Dezhao smiled with satisfaction, then pointed to Wang Chengyan on the ground and said to the attendant beside him, "Have someone drag him to the Imperial Hospital. You know what to say, right?"

"I know...I know..."

The servant nodded repeatedly with a strange expression, a thought involuntarily popping into his mind.

What grudge does Your Highness hold against Wang Chengyan that you would treat him like a Japanese person...?

Not long after Wang Chengyan was dragged away, Zhang Qiong, the leader of the Imperial Guards in charge of teaching martial arts, arrived. Seeing that one person was missing, he didn't take it to heart.

"First, practice horse stance for half an hour..."

Time slipped away quietly amidst the flow of sweat...

……

At noon, the sun was high in the sky.

Exhausted after a morning of study, Zhao Dezhao sat in the sedan chair, which was then carried towards Kunning Palace.

According to the prince's daily schedule, it should be lunchtime at this time.

Along the way, the eunuch who had spoken earlier looked at Zhao Dezhao's figure behind the sedan curtain several times and wanted to speak, but fearing that he would disturb the prince, he could only swallow his words of gratitude.

The sedan chair stopped at the entrance of Kunning Palace.

Just as the eunuch instinctively knelt down in front of the sedan chair, acting as a human stool, he saw a pair of silk cloud-patterned shoes stop in front of him. Immediately afterward, Zhao Dezhao's slightly dissatisfied voice rang out.

"Didn't I say we don't need to do that anymore?"

Upon hearing these words again, the eunuch no longer felt the initial fear; instead, a warm feeling washed over him. He hurriedly stood up and whispered:

"Your Highness, I thank you."

"No need for formalities. Let me ask you, what's your name?" Zhao Dezhao waved his hand dismissively.

As a time traveler, he was still not used to ordering someone around like this.

To be asked his name by Zhao Dezhao seemed like a great honor to this eunuch, and he quickly kowtowed again:

"Your Highness, my name is Zhang Dejun."

……