Chapter Ninety-Seven: Humiliating Zhang Rang

Zhang Rang watched anxiously as several household servants carried Zhang Rong away, but the fading screams still stabbed at his heart.

When the last of them had vanished from sight, Zhang Rang finally came to himself. He fixed Zhang Fei and Liu Yao with a face dark with fury and said angrily, “Liu Yao—”

“Imperial Attendant Zhang, I am the Eldest Imperial Prince of Great Han, Grand General of the Cavalry, and Governor of You Province. Mind your address.” Before Zhang Rang could finish, Liu Yao cut him off and spoke from on high.

Zhang Rang did wield considerable power, but in the end he was only an attendant, a man of little consequence. Compared with Liu Yao’s status, the difference was like heaven and earth. If Emperor Ling of Han had not been so fond of the Ten Attendants, Zhang Rang would not even have had the right to speak. Others might fear the influence of the Ten Attendants, but Liu Yao did not care in the least, and there was no need for him to grant Zhang Rang even a shred of face.

“You...” Zhang Rang was livid, his face flushing red at once. First, over the matter of the Diocan Crown, Liu Yao had already humiliated him and forced him to execute one of his own men in apology. And now Liu Yao’s subordinate had crippled the only bloodline of the Zhang family. This was hatred that severed a man’s descendants and extinguished his line. Zhang Rang wanted nothing more than to flay Liu Yao alive, strip his sinews, and bleed him dry to sate the hatred in his heart.

But Zhang Rang was indeed a veteran of official intrigue. With Liu Yao’s status laid bare before him, if he were to show disrespect in front of so many people, Liu Yao might well accuse him before the throne. At that point, whose side Emperor Ling would take, Zhang Rang did not dare guess.

He let out a long breath, forcing down the rage in his chest, then said coldly, “May I ask why Your Highness would allow your subordinate to injure my nephew?” He especially stressed the words my nephew, the threat in them plain for all to hear.

“Zhang Rang, your nephew was riding wildly through the streets of Luoyang. If my men had not intervened, someone might already have died. And your nephew showed utter contempt for the law, even daring to demand that I tie his shoes. Do you think these reasons are enough?” Liu Yao said icily.

Zhang Rang drew in a sharp breath. He had no fear of reckless riding or violence; which noble sons in Luoyang had never done such things? Even if a life were lost, a little money could usually make it go away.

What truly startled him was that Zhang Rong had actually dared to order Liu Yao to tie his shoes. Had he truly said such a thing, he had utterly offended Liu Yao to death. Liu Yao’s identity was so noble; how could he possibly endure such humiliation? If word of this reached Emperor Ling’s ears, insulting the imperial bloodline would likely see Zhang Rong torn apart by five horses, and it was not even certain that Zhang Rang himself would not be implicated.

“I will apologize to Your Highness on behalf of my nephew.” Zhang Rang bowed deeply to Liu Yao. Then he pointed at Zhang Fei and said, “Might Your Highness hand this man over to me?”

This time Zhang Rong was clearly in the wrong, and Zhang Rang truly could not contend with Liu Yao. But the dark giant who had laid hands on Zhang Rong—Zhang Rang was determined to have him dragged apart by five horses if only to vent the fury in his chest.

Upon hearing Zhang Rang’s words, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Shi A all looked toward Liu Yao in unison. Though they knew Liu Yao would never hand Zhang Fei over, they still could not help but look.

“Ha. Imperial Attendant Zhang, I fear I cannot accept your apology.” Liu Yao smiled as he spoke, then his expression hardened. “But as for handing over Wing Virtue, you are dreaming. You, Zhang Rang, are not yet qualified for that.”

At once Zhang Rang flew into a rage. Liu Yao was showing him far too little respect.

“Your Highness, would you really make an enemy of me, Zhang Rang, for the sake of a mere servant? If you are willing to hand him over, I, Zhang Rang, will surely befriend Your Highness in the future. Otherwise...” He did not finish, but the threat in his tone was unmistakable.

To Zhang Rang’s mind, Zhang Fei was nothing more than one of Liu Yao’s servants. If it were him, trading a servant for the support of a powerful faction would be an easy bargain, one he would accept without hesitation.

Moreover, Liu Yao was already at odds with the Yuan clan and He Jin. With Zhang Rang’s help, Liu Yao’s chances would only grow stronger. Conversely, if Zhang Rang also turned against Liu Yao, then Liu Yao would surely be thrown into confusion and have only one fate left: defeat.

“Wing Virtue is not a servant. He is my brother, and all of them are brothers who have stood with me through life and death.” Liu Yao spoke with unwavering conviction. From the beginning, he had already regarded Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and the others as his brothers. If not for the limits imposed by his own status, he too would have liked to perform a sworn brotherhood in the Peach Garden.

Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and the others were deeply moved when they heard this. Tears trembled in their eyes. What more was there to say when they had met such a lord—one who valued them, cared for them, and treated them as family? All they could do was devote themselves fully, fulfill their lord’s wishes, and help restore Great Han to glory.

Then Liu Yao cast Zhang Rang a contemptuous glance. “And another thing: what I hate most is when people threaten me. Just now, Zhang Rang, it seemed you were threatening me.”

As he spoke, Liu Yao slowly walked toward Zhang Rang, drawing the Scarlet Heaven Sword from his waist. “For those who threaten me, I prefer to erase the threat before it ever takes root.”

Seeing the Scarlet Heaven Sword in Liu Yao’s hand, Zhang Rang panicked so badly he dared not move. He knew all too well the sword’s authority. As for the household servants behind him, if even Zhang Rang did not dare act rashly, how could they dare?

Liu Yao laid the Scarlet Heaven Sword against Zhang Rang’s throat and asked casually, “Imperial Attendant Zhang, what do you think of my earlier proposal?”

“You... you... you cannot kill me. Unauthorized execution violates the laws of Great Han. Even a prince who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as a commoner.” Zhang Rang’s legs trembled as he stammered out the words.

“No matter. Let us make a bet instead. Let us bet that if I kill you, whether my imperial father would punish me for a dead man. How about that?” Liu Yao smiled brightly.

Yet in Zhang Rang’s eyes, that smile was nothing less than the grin of a devil. Swallowing hard, he said in a weak, halting voice, “Your Highness, please do not jest. I was the foolish one just now. I beg Your Highness to spare me this once.”

By the end, his voice had grown so faint it was nearly inaudible.

What a joke. If he died, what use would winning the bet be? At most, Emperor Ling would simply find another man to replace his position. How could he possibly punish Liu Yao over a dead man? And given Liu Yao’s reckless nature, he was absolutely capable of doing it. For the sake of his own life, Zhang Rang had no choice but to lower his head and beg.

Even if Zhang Rang’s voice were softer still, Liu Yao could hear him clearly enough. But he only continued to mock him. “Imperial Attendant Zhang, my apologies. I spent too long on the battlefield a few days ago, and my ears have gone a bit dull. With your voice so light, how could I possibly hear you? Could you say that again?”

As he spoke, he even lifted a hand and theatrically picked at his ear.

Zhang Rang naturally understood that Liu Yao was humiliating him. In his heart, he wished he could kill Liu Yao on the spot. But under the pressure of events, he could only grit his teeth and say, “I was foolish earlier. I beg Your Highness to forgive me this once.”

“What was that? Louder,” Liu Yao said, continuing to disgrace him.

And so Zhang Rang was forced to repeat it five or six times. By the final time, he completely broke down and roared, without caring who heard him, “I was foolish earlier, Lord Prince! Please spare me this once!”

His distinctive voice like a mangy duck’s cry rang out through the entire street of Luoyang. At that moment, even if Zhang Rang had wanted to remain obscure, it was too late.

“Ah, ah, I heard you. Imperial Attendant Zhang, there was no need to shout so loudly—you nearly blew out my ears.” Liu Yao rubbed at his ear and spoke with feigned grievance, looking every inch the man who had gotten the better of another and still wanted to act innocent.

Then he took back the Scarlet Heaven Sword and said carelessly, “Since Lord Zhang was merely muddled earlier, let us regard this whole matter as though it never happened.”

After that, Liu Yao called to Liu Xin and Guo Jia, who were inside the tavern. “Let us go.”

Without looking back, he departed the street of Luoyang beneath the admiring gazes of the common people. Since his identity had already been exposed, he had no desire to remain here and be stared at like some strange beast.