Qie Ranzhe finally figured out where he had seen this person. It was the man who had called him and Lin Jingxie trash in the forest the other day. Back then he couldn't settle the score but now the man had voluntarily fallen directly into his lap. A wolfish grin appeared on Qie Ranzhe's face replying, "I am the grim reaper," before tossing a sword in the man's direction.
His words shook Prince Anzhie to the core but he did a great job concealing it successfully catching the sword. Qie Ranzhe opted for a sword fights he intended to leave visible scars on this arrogant bastard. Whenever the man looked at these scars he would have to suffer the pain of knowing that he was defeated by a piece of trash.
Qie Ranzhe didn't even give him an opportunity to attack as the prince was on constant defence rather than offence. He would constantly retreat but just as he caught his breath, Qie Ranzhe would strike again. Prince Anzhie was slashed three times, two on his arm and one on his thigh with blood seeping out from underneath the fabric. Just as a limping Prince Anzhie retreated after losing his sword, Qie Ranzhe kicked him to the ground causing him to fall face first eating dust on his way down.
The prince grimaced in pain as he sat back up only to have a sword poke at his cheek. His face turned deadly pale when he realised the brat's intentions. He glared at the man with his bloodshot eyes but stubbornly refused to yield. This was the enemy he had dreamt of every night. The enemy who would steal everything from him. He had searched the whole of Qingsong for that stupid concubine and his evil spawn only to have the guy show up out of nowhere. His pride wouldn't permit him to yield and so the two were stuck in a stalemate sizing each other up.
It's only when Old Chen yelled, "That's enough," did Qie Ranzhe sheath his sword.
In a light chortle, he said, "That was a good fight," stretching his hand to help him up but Prince Anzhie swatted his hand and stood up on his own. The prince was soon surrounded by servants escorting him out of the arena. Prince Anzhie halted his footsteps when he reached the emperor as his father said, "Don't be disheartened, there is still room for improvement," in a gentle tone.
Prince Anzhie wanted to say something but swallowed his words and saluted his father with great difficulty before leaving the guild. Qie Ranzhe was left behind clearing things off the arena surprisingly in a good mood. He couldn't wait to tell Lin Jingxie how he beat up that bastard. A member of the guild suddenly came to inform him that the emperor wanted to see him while gesturing at the men behind him.
The member took over from him and Qie Ranzhe walked over but with each step, he took his heartbeat became erratic. He wasn't alone, the emperor's smile stiffened when he took a closer look at the youth slowly approaching him. Even the servants waiting upon the emperor couldn't help peep at this young man who resembled the emperor in every way apart from age.
Qie Ranzhe was confused not certain how to react and proceeded to kowtow before the emperor with bloodshot eyes and a clenched jaw. "Meili!" cried out the emperor as he collapsed to the floor. The servants tried to help the emperor up but he swatted their hands off before crawling over to Qie Ranzhe. With trembling hands, he raised Qie Ranzhe's head with a tear streaming down his cheek.
All his life he had loved one woman and that was the unattainable General Shao Meili. Because she did rather deal with bloody battlefields than the harem, she rejected him and left the capital. Something unexpected happened while defending the southern border, General Shao was shot with a poisoned arrow making her as weak as a little girl. Fearing that his daughter would die on the battlefield, Prime Minister Shao had her come back to the capital and married her off to the emperor. Finally having the woman of his dreams in his grasp, the emperor neglected the rest of the harem including the empress, Prince Anzhie's mother.
Emperor Qie was too blinded by love that he didn't sense the looming danger. One gloomy day his beloved just up and left leaving behind a letter to reassure him. He knew Shao Meili hated being part of the harem and assumed that she left of her own will as stated in the letter. The emperor had searched everywhere for her but Shao Meili simply vanished without a trace.
The heavens seemed to take pity on him bringing Shao Meili's son to him. He embraced Qie Ranzhe mumbling, "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much," under his breath.