How To Survive as a Villain

Xiao YuAn, returning to the Imperial Palace from Jing Yang Palace, felt anxious all over. He was worried that a canon fodder villain would make a move, and because of that, he wanted to look after Yan HeQing. Therefore, he asked Guard Yang, an excellent and efficient bodyguard, to guard Jing Yang Palace every day, fearing that accidents might happen.

Less than a week later, something really did happen.

Xiao YuAn was having a meal at that time, but upon hearing Yang LiuAn’s report, he instantly rushed to Jing Yang Palace as soon as he put the bowl down.

This matter wasn’t big, but it wasn’t a small issue either.

A male concubine said that he saw Yan HeQing practicing the sword in the courtyard, and then went to the headmaster of Jing Yang Palace, Hong Xiu, to report it.

Jing Yang Palace had many rules and regulations, and practicing sword and martial arts has always been a taboo subject. First of all, the Emperor likes the soft and beautiful male concubines that know their place, which is to serve him in bed. Practicing the sword, with his identity being the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, Xiao YuAn is afraid that it will look like he wants to stab him to death.

At this time, Yan HeQing and the male concubine that reported him were in the courtyard, kneeling in front of Jing Yang Palace’s headmaster. Hong Xiu was looking at them with complicated eyes and a hesitant expression.

Several slaves were secretly exchanging glances, all of them wanting to watch the drama that will unfold.

According to Hong Xiu’s past temperament, if this matter resulted to be true, then what awaited Yang HeQing wasn’t just physical pain, but a broken hand or a disabled foot.

However, a few days ago, Xiao YuAn repeatedly told her about his plan on how winning Yan HeQing’s heart was better than resorting to violence. In fact, Hong Xiu didn’t want to be hard on Yan HeQing, even if she planned on punishing him with a whip lash.

But things became complicated because the male concubine that made the report was known for having a loose tongue, since he’s extremely fond of gossiping!

Before Hong Xiu knew about the situation, the news of Yan HeQing secretly practicing the sword had spread throughout the whole Jing Yang Palace. If the punishment consisted in a single whip lash, the authority of Hong Xiu will be questioned: it will look like she’s protecting Yan HeQing so he can kill the Emperor in the near future.

Hong Xiu’s eyes went back and forth between the two kneeling men on the ground. Finally, she stared at the male concubine: “You said that Yan HeQing was secretly practicing the sword, but, do you have any evidence?”

The male concubine raised his head eagerly and said without hesitation: “This slave couldn’t sleep at night that day, so I got up early in the morning to enjoy the snow. Unexpectedly I happened to see him practicing sword techniques. I’m aware that I shouldn’t speak without evidence, so the next day I called Qin Yu and the others to go with me secretly. As expected, he was practicing the sword again!”

Hong Xiu had a headache, and his name was Qin Yu. At that moment, Qin Yu knelt on the ground, he softened his voice and smiled mischievously: “Hong Xiu-jiejie¹, I can testify that everything that was said truly happened. Besides, what is his purpose of practising the sword these days, if not to harm His Majesty?”

Hong Xiu nodded and summoned the other male concubines involved, and as expected, every single one of them said the same thing.

Public opinion is powerful enough to melt metal², the defamation could destroy a man³. Yan HeQing was speechless.

Hong Xiu then looked at Yan HeQing. When she saw the indifference and lack of fear in him, she asked: “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Yan HeQing looked forward, his answer was complete silence.

The several male concubines kneeling on the ground exchanged gazes, a hidden smile adorning the corner of their mouths.

“Well then.” Hong Xiu nodded, “Someone sent him to…”

Before she could finish her command, a panicked slave ran inside the courtyard: “His Majesty is coming!!!”

As soon as Xiao YuAn stepped into the courtyard, everyone present fell to their knees trembling. Xiao YuAn instantly looked at Yan HeQing, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Why are you kneeling again!! If you kneel one more time, you will take 10 years away from his life!!

“Get up, all of you get up.” Xiao YuAn raised his hand.

Hong Xiu stood up and saluted Xiao YuAn: “Your Majesty, about this…”

“Yang LiuAn told me everything.” Xiao YuAn nodded, turned around and walked towards Yan HeQing, smiling amicably he asked him: “Are you really practicing the sword?”

Yan HeQing hadn’t answered yet when he was interrupted by the male concubine who reported him: “Your Majesty! It’s true, if you don’t believe me, you can ask…”

All of a sudden, the male concubine was slapped by Hong Xiu, silencing him immediately.

Xiao YuAn waited patiently for Yan HeQing’s answer. Yan HeQing looked at him with eyes as calm as a lake, and nodded slowly.

Footnotes:

Footnotes

1. 姐姐 jiě jie; Older Sister.
2. 众口铄金 zhòng kǒu shuò jīn,; It’s a Chinese idiom, it means that the public clamor can obscure the actual truth / Mass spreading of rumors can confuse right from wrong. From 《国语·周语下》(guó yǔ zhōu yǔ xià), “Mandarin: The Complete Dialect”.
3. 积毁销骨 jī huǐ xiāo gǔ; It’s a Chinese idiom, it means that rumors can get someone killed / When everybody speaks against a person, it makes them tired of life. From 《史记·张仪列传》(shǐ jì·zhāng yí liè zhuàn), “Historical Records: A Biography of Zhang Yi”. Written by (司马迁 sī mǎ qiān) Sima Qian [145-86 BC], a historian from the Western Han Dynasty [206 BC-8 AC], also known as the Father of Chinese Historiography.