35 Poured soup over the rice

For Feather Fan Scholar herding horses in a sea of people was more manageable than herding Kun Bian in the direction he set.

After witnessing how Bian covered up the actual events and faced the old couple, he realized. Kun Bian was like a clam, hard-shelled but soft inside. He wanted to use that softness to pull him out of the Crown Prince seat for good. 

He uses his best weapon, a mouth. But he had to be careful, or it would bite him later. 

"Aiya, I admire the way you dealt with the old couple at the pagoda. The Crown Prince is the best example of how nobles should behave."

Kun Bian smiled. A smile that hid the fragility in his heart. "Thank you."

Yan Liang pointed to some little kids playing jump rope. "His father was one of the greatest soldiers who died. His mother died giving birth to him. Our country is supporting him. But, how can he be a good boy without parents?"

Kun Bian's grip on the horse's rope tightened. He smiled bitterly, wondering what it was about the muddy road they were traveling on that drew his eyes there. 

He closed his eyes, his steps slowing down. A glimpse of the memory of when seven troops gave him coins flashed. He squeezed his chest.

The victory was in Yan Liang's mind, reflected in his smile. He put on a straight face as Kun Bian opened his eyes to peer over his shoulder.

Kun Bian's voice trembled slightly as he replied, "I'll make sure he gets guidance. I'll be his father."

"That's a good idea. The Crown Prince is indeed great and generous. I salute you."

Again, Yan Liang turned their path to the edge of the capital. "That's where the troop's family lives. You know, after he died, his parents had a hard time taking care of their grandchildren." He pointed random child.

The farther Yan Liang took Kun Bian around, the more he realized that almost fifty percent of what he said was made up. He didn't have time to research all the victims' families.

Yan Liang's every word was like a sword that repeatedly slashed his heart. Bian needed help to understand what Feather Fan Scholar meant.

He saw Feather Fan occasionally close his chubby lips, sometimes those eyes watching, occasionally he saluted and praised. It was sickening. Kun Bian wanted to get away, far, far away from his disagreeable voice.

"Tell me what you mean by talking about all this in front of me?" Kun Bian forced Yan Liang to stop walking. His red face was enough to tell what his heart was feeling. "Do you want to make me feel guilty, make me take care of all of them?"

Bian's high voice forced Yan Liang to tremble, bowing so profoundly that his fan nearly fell off. "I didn't mean it that way. I just want to make you realize the hardships of their family and... yes, I want you to take care of them."

Yan Liang ventured to look directly at Bian's flushed face, a face that looked like someone had drunk too much wine in a hot tub. Yan Liang continued his sentence in a voice that was almost a whisper.

"The state took care of it, but still they lost a figure who should have been a role model. Their life path changed because of that figure's departure. The figure of the seven heroes!" 

Bian was lost in the play of his mind and heart. No words were spoken, his lips locked neatly under his black mustache. He observed some small children playing by the roadside.

They would still be alive if I hadn't made the wrong decision.

Just one more push and Bian would have fallen. 

"I have never questioned the Duke's decision, but, if a Duke makes a wrong decision, not only the lives of the seven heroes, but the Dukedom will bear it."

"What do you mean?"

Yan Liang answered while bowing in a weak voice. "When the father cannot make a wrong decision, the family would crumble. When the village chief makes the wrong decision, the entire village feels the effects. When the general makes the wrong decision, the entire company is in trouble. When the Duke makes the wrong decision, the whole Dukedom would suffer. And so on..."

Bian sighed. Now he understood. Now he was sure. His decision was indeed wrong. However, after hearing about the enlightenment, he questioned his own ability. In the future, if he made the wrong decision when he became the Duke, what would happen?

Yan Liang grinned wanly behind his fan. He was sure that Bian was beginning to understand what he should do.

Bian rode his gallant black horse. His gaze at Yan Liang was mixed. He still did not understand the purpose of their conversation, but one thing was sure. One thing was imprinted in his heart...

"If you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to, goodbye Master."

"Thank you for your time, Crown Prince."

Yan Liang used his fan to cool down. With a satisfied smile, he looked smugly at Kun Bian, who was moving away.

"The soup has been poured over the rice. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the rice to absorb all the gravy." Yan Liang bowed to Kun Bian. "I apologize for this, Master Bian."

Yan Liang rode his horse away from there. Without him realizing it, a shadowy figure watched from the alley between the two buildings.

The shadow carried a vegetable basket and ate a red apple.

"A mouth sharper than a sword, this is the first time I've seen a mouth destroy a Dukedom."