Chapter 256 Blocking the Road

The next day, Sima Jun was summoned to the palace by the crown prince.

As expected, Yu Yi did not agree to the prince's request. He only bowed his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. My heart is in the mountains and I am afraid I can't do anything for you."

Sima Jun followed Sun Wei's advice and advised the prince not to act too hastily.

"Bo You has only just returned to the capital. Why not give him some time to think it over?"

The prince looked at his expression and thought that he had a plan, so he stopped forcing him.

After bidding farewell to the crown prince, Sima Jun and Yu Yi left the palace together.

Yu Yi said, "After yesterday's conversation, I thought Ziheng wanted me to leave. Why is he helping the Crown Prince persuade me to stay in the court?"

"Private matters are private matters, and they should not be used to override public ones. I believe that the Crown Prince really needs someone like Bo You who possesses both reputation and talent to assist him. If Bo You can stay, it will be a great blessing."

Yu Yi smiled and said, "Then how does Ziheng plan to persuade me?"

"No need to persuade him." Sima Jun said, "Madam said that Boyou will figure it out on his own."

"Oh? Why do you think so?"

"Madam, you always rely on counting on your fingers, there is no reason." Sima Jun said, then asked, "Does Bo You believe it?"

Yu Yi was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Even though I don't believe it, I'm still curious. Since that's what Madam said, I'll wait and see what happens with Ziheng."

——

On the way back to the palace, Sima Jun was still thinking about Sun Wei's words.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

"Prince, it's Sun Qiao." Deng Lian outside whispered.

Sima Jun was surprised and looked out of the car.

As expected, Sun Qiao was standing in front of the car. When he saw him appear, he quickly saluted.

There were many people talking in the streets, so Sima Jun ordered Sun Qiao to get on the carriage and continue on his journey.

"Have you forgotten what I told you earlier?" Sima Jun asked seriously.

"I remember." Sun Qiao's face flushed. "The prince told me not to come to him without permission."

"So what are you doing now?"

"I've come to seek the Prince's guidance." Sun Qiao met Sima Jun's gaze and stuttered even more. "I... I've been practicing archery for many days, but I still can't get the hang of it... The arrow just can't hit the target no matter what I do, so, so..."

Sima Jun interrupted: "Didn't you say you were good at archery?"

Sun Qiao said with a sad face, "I... I was afraid that the prince would dislike me, so I lied to him! In fact, I only know how to use a slingshot, not archery. I thought that archery and slingshot are similar, and as long as I practice more, I will be able to do it. But who knew..."

His voice became smaller and smaller, and finally, under Sima Jun's gaze, he could no longer speak.

Sima Jun felt helpless.

He was the one who looked down upon people who were arrogant and overconfident.

"Is the prince angry?" Sun Qiao said pitifully, "I apologize to the prince, please forgive me."

Those eyes were 70% similar to Sun Wei's. But Sun Wei had never admitted her mistake in front of him like this before.

Sima Jun took a deep breath and asked, "You mean, if I spare you, then I won't go to the competition?"

Sun Qiao quickly shook his head like a rattle: "I want to go! I want to serve under the prince!"

"Let me see your hands."

Sun Qiao was stunned and opened his palms.

There were marks all over it, and the skin was rubbed off in several places.

Sima Jun said nothing, took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to him.

"This is the medicine I use daily. Take it home and change it every day. Remember to bandage it with a cloth."

Sun Qiao looked at the porcelain bottle, thanked him, and took it obediently, his eyes still looking at him.

"Practicing martial arts is hard work. It hurts your body and your heart. Joining the army is not an easy task. You must think it through."

"I've thought it through!" Sun Qiao seemed to muster up his courage, "It's just...it's just that I'm in need of a master!"

Sima Jun laughed angrily.

"Do I need to solve the test I set for you?" he said. "If you can't do it, why bother with the competition? Go back, I won't help you. I said I'll only accept you as my disciple if you get the top three. A gentleman's word is as good as gold."

Sun Qiao pursed his lips and murmured "yes".

After saying that, he sat aside in silence, not knowing what he was thinking.

The carriage continued to rumble along the road. After a while, Sima Jun suddenly asked, "Have you moved back to your original place?"

Sun Qiao nodded.

Sima Jun looked out the window and said, "I remember that a few days ago, the concubines of Sun Zhubu's family came to visit the palace and said that someone in the family was sick. Is everyone well again?"

"My cousin is sick, but she seems to be getting better."

"Oh?" Sima Jun asked, "I heard from Madam Fang that she was seriously ill. Did she find a good doctor to cure her?"

"It wasn't a good doctor who cured him," Sun Qiao said. "My second aunt said that my cousin Sun Zhi's fate palace was in conflict with my cousin's, so she sent him to Mount Kuaiji to cultivate."

"Sun Zhi?" Sima Jun thought for a moment. "Is that the one I met outside your house last time?"

"That's right," Sun Qiao said, feeling rather disappointed. "My cousin is a good man. He always thinks of me and takes me on trips. It's a pity that my second aunt treated him badly and drove him away."

"If he is so good, why did your second aunt drive him away?"

"Because he was not Second Aunt's son, but a concubine's son, he was not favored by Second Aunt."

"That's all?" Sima Jun asked, "Do you know if he's done anything bad?"

"How could such a good man do such a bad thing?" Sun Qiao shook his head. "I've never heard of it. If only he were still in Jiankang, maybe he could find an archery master for me."

He kept talking about becoming a disciple, and Sima Jun thought to himself, I wonder who he inherited this persistent character from.

"Really?" Sima Jun asked, "You've only just arrived in Beijing. How much do you know about him?"

Sun Qiao was a little surprised.

"Is it possible that the prince is very familiar with my cousin?"

"I'm not familiar with the place, just asking casually." After saying that, Sima Jun saw that they had arrived at a secluded place ahead, so he asked Deng Lian to stop the carriage and let Sun Qiao get off.

"Don't mention what happened today to anyone," Sima Jun said. "Don't forget our agreement. Go."

Sun Qiao looked frustrated, responded softly, saluted Sima Jun, and turned and ran away.

"Prince, are you going back home?" Deng Lian asked.

"Well," Sima Juan looked at Sun Qiao's back and said, "How is Xie Xiao's injury recovering?"

"He's almost fully recovered," Deng Lian said. "I visited him a few days ago, and he can walk and jump. But the doctor said this isn't an ordinary injury, and he needs another month of recuperation. General Xie said he'll come to visit the Crown Prince before the New Year, and after that, he'll be on duty in Jiangzhou."

"He must be getting bored staying at home. Go to his house in person and ask him to teach Sun Qiao archery starting tomorrow."

Deng Lian showed an expression of disbelief.

"The prince wants to thank the general for teaching Sun Qiao?"

"Isn't it possible?" Sima Jun said, "Let Xie Xiao come up with a solution on his own. He can't reveal his identity, and he can't say it was me who said it."

"But if General Xie asks who Mr. Sun is related to the Crown Prince, how should I answer?"

"It's not someone." Sima Jun said, "I just said that I saw that Sun Qiao has extraordinary strength and bones, so I plan to take him as my disciple and let Xie Xiao teach him well."

Deng Lian: “…”

"Let's go back home."