Song of Adolescence

Chapter 350 Eyes Opened with Clear Mind

White Prince Residence

The counselor, Ling Shaohan, sat in the courtyard, and in front of him stood a swordsman dressed in white. He was Xie Yanshu, a disciple of Snow Moon City. Ling Shaohan looked at the note in his hand and pondered for a long time. "This was sent by Yong\'an Prince."

Xie Yanshu smiled, took out a steamed bun and took a bite. "I don\'t know any Yong\'an Prince or sixth prince. But, it’s not from Xiao-shidi anyway. It’s from Miss Ye."

"Miss Ye?" Ling Shaohan raised his head. "Ye Ruoyi, the young miss of the General’s Residence?"

"Presumably." Xie Yanshu took another bite of his steamed bun. "Really, the steamed buns in your Heavenly Revelations City are not as good as those in Snow Moon City. Snow Moon City’s meat buns are the most delicious."

Ling Shaohan probably realised that there was nothing he could discuss with the person before him and he nodded. "Thank you for taking the trouble, Young Master. Please return and inform Miss Ye that Shaohan gives his thanks."

"Just that?" Xie Yanshu raised his eyebrows.

Ling Shaohan frowned and considered his words for a while. Then, he added, "Just one more thing. Although he’s trying to sever the White Prince’s arm, once the White Prince regains his eyes, he’ll have one more wing."

"I don\'t get it. But Miss Ye should understand." Xie Yanshu finished his steamed bun and cupped his fist. "Farewell."

"Send off the guest." Ling Shaohan nodded.

After Xie Yanshu left, Ling Shaohan returned to his study and the ninth prince, Xiao Jingxia, showed himself. "Why did Ye Ruoyi suddenly send someone here to talk to you? Could he be thinking of forming an alliance with us?"

"In the battle to seize the throne, there is only victory or defeat. They are all princes with the Prince title, who would be willing to form an alliance with another?" Ling Shaohan sighed. "The letter said, Hua Jin can cure the White Prince’s eyes. An eye transplant is required, and the donor must be sincere and willing. If there’s even a trace of hesitation, both will lose their eyes."

"The genius doctor Hua Jin is coming to the residence this afternoon, but he already knows the outcome of the meeting." Xiao Jingxia frowned. "If she can really cure huang-xiong’s blindness, that will be best. Huang-xiong is virtuous in all aspects and has high expectations from all the government officials and people. If it weren’t for his blindness that would obstruct him from governing, forget the Red King Xiao Yu, even compared to Xiao Chuhe, how far off could he be? But at this critical juncture, the eye transplant will take some time. What if the situation in Heavenly Revelations suddenly changes during this period?"

"What if, during this period, the genius doctor Hua Jin is no longer available? Since Xiao Chuhe already knows this information, considering his character and his relationship with the genius doctor Hua Jin, he won’t try anything. But, if Xiao Yu finds out about this, then the genius doctor Hua Jin will be in danger any time." Ling Shaohan shook his head. "This matter needs to be done as soon as possible."

"However, the letter also said that the donor of the eyes must be sincere and willing. Otherwise, if there’s even a trace of hesitation, both will lose their eyes. If there weren’t such a condition, we could have easily found a prisoner to use. But, who in this world would be willing to give up their eyes for someone else?" Xiao Jingxia sighed. "Although huang-xiong and I share the same mother and we’ve been close since I was a child. But, if I really asked myself, even I’m not willing."

Ling Shaohan placed the note into the candle flame and burnt it to ashes. "Shaohan is willing."

"Mister, no! You’re huang-xiong’s right arm. He can’t lose you." Xiao Jingxia was shocked.

"Now that the Hidden River has betrayed us, Xiao Yu\'s wings have grown wider while Xiao Chuhe is eyeing us like a tiger watching its prey." Ling Shaohan sighed. "My plans have been ineffective and now we’re trapped. Only by letting His Highness White Prince regain his eyesight can we put the officials in the court at ease. Xiao Yu is a dandy and Xiao Chuhe is too arrogant. Neither are the sort of rulers the officials hope for. But, His Highness White Prince is. As long as he can regain his eyesight, we can reverse the outcome."

Xiao Jingxia shook his head and said, "But Mister, you…"

"He treated me as a noble man of the state, I will repay him as a noble man of the state." Ling Shaohan walked to the door. "When I first met His Highness White Prince, I was just a scholar who had no ambitions, but I was satisfied with that. It was His Highness who gave me a chance to use this pair of hands to stir up a storm under Heaven. Now that the storm has arisen, I ended up not being able to do anything for him. In the end, I only wish to give up this pair of eyes and support His Highness to ride the wind and rise!"

Yong\'an Prince Residence.

In the courtyard, Sikong Qianluo and Lei Wujie were duelling each other while Ye Ruoyi watched from the sidelines. Xiao Se walked up to Ye Ruoyi and said mildly, "I heard that you sent a letter to the White Prince Residence and gave it to Ling Shaohan, the White Prince’s counselor?"

Ye Ruoyi nodded. "Yes. Ling Shaohan is the White Prince’s most valuable advisor. Over the years, he has been the one to provide critical advice for the White Prince. Otherwise, as a blind man, he couldn’t have won the hearts of the court officials."

"How did he respond?" Xiao Se asked lazily as he tucked his hands into his sleeves.

"He said that although we’re trying to sever the White Prince’s arm, once the White Prince regains his eyes, he’ll have one more wing." Ye Ruoyi smiled. "He claims to be the White Prince’s arm. After he loses his sight, the White Prince’s arm will be broken, but after the White Prince regains his eyesight, he’ll be like a tiger that has grown wings."

"He’s very loyal," Xiao Se sighed in admiration.

"These are merely thoughts of fantasy. I’ve asked Hua Jin. Even if they undergo the eye transplant, recuperation will take more than a month before he can see again. Within a month, the storm in Heavenly Revelations will change unpredictably. Without the help of his counselor, the White Prince Residence will not be able to stay in the game," Ye Ruoyi said lightly. "Our next steps will become more and more risky. Getting rid of one strong contender is good news for us."

"Actually, this huang-xiong of mine is a very benevolent person," Xiao Se remarked. "When I was young, he treated me the best among my elder brothers. Unfortunately, because of his blindness, he had been oppressed all this time. But, he had a firm and unyielding wisdom and was tireless in his studies. That’s how he became the first prince to be granted the title of Prince. Although he’s tried to kill me several times, he was forced by circumstances and I don’t blame him for it."

"Aren’t you broad-minded, then. Next to you, I look all the more vicious and ruthless." Ye Ruoyi grinned.

"You must be kidding." Xiao Se shook his head.

White Prince Residence.

A swordsman armed with a huge sword and wearing a cloak and hat walked in from outside.

White Prince Xiao Chong hurried to the door under his page boy’s guide. "Da-shifu, you’re finally back!"

Yan Zhantian took off his hat, and he actually seemed to relax a little at the sight of the White Prince. Although it was only a very slight relaxation, it was completely different from his usual ruthlessness. "Something happened on the road, so I was delayed."

"What could have delayed da-shifu?" Xiao Chong asked.

"Kui from the Hidden River, and seventeen heaven-class assassins." Yan Zhantian curled his lips. "That Su Changhe has really put his blood on the line."

"I was going to tell da-shifu, but looks like da-shifu already knows." Xiao Chong sighed. "Several days ago, the Hidden River killed Tang Lian and one of Xiao Se\'s old friends, Jiu Jiudao, deliberately causing our dispute to deepen. Now, the Hidden River has turned against us and is following the Red King Xiao Yu."

"I’m definitely going to kill this Su Changhe," Yan Zhantian said angrily.

"This time, da-shifu was delayed for so long. Were the assassins difficult to deal with?" Xiao Chong asked worriedly.

"A few paltry assassins? I beat them into retreat within four hours. But, I was really mad and after thinking about it, I turned around and chased after them. Killed thirteen of them, but the last four and Kui escaped," Yan Zhantian said in a deep voice. "Once I started chasing them, it ended up taking more than ten days so I was delayed."

Xiao Chong was stunned, and then he sighed. "Da-shifu, this bad temper of yours still hasn’t changed."