Chapter 13: Beaten to Death with a Cudgel
A lowly servant, someone who probably never knew what it meant to eat their fill in their entire life, ignorant of the wider world, utterly clueless about how things were done.
And yet, he dared to be arrogant before me, even plotting against me openly?
He truly had no idea how death was spelled!
Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, the door opened, and Zhao Dezhao stepped out.
Eunuch Qian hurried forward, bowing to await orders.
“Go summon four imperial guards,” Zhao Dezhao commanded.
Eunuch Qian promptly obeyed, running without a care for the snow piled on the ground.
His eyebrows practically shot up with excitement, his heart blooming with joy.
Excellent! Just as I suspected, this treacherous servant’s life was about to end!
Hadn’t the prince already ordered the imperial guards to be called in?
What else could be done but to deal with this insolent servant?
That wretched servant thought that by attaching himself to the princess, he could soar like a phoenix perched atop the highest branch?
Little did he know that his schemes paled in comparison to a trusted aide at the official’s side—a mere word from me was enough!
After watching Eunuch Qian disappear into the wind and snow, Zhao Dezhao turned and returned inside.
He refused to stay outside; he feared that Li Xiao Lang and his own father might clash again, potentially costing Li Xiao Lang his life.
That would be unacceptable.
As for Eunuch Qian... if he died, so be it.
How dare he stir trouble openly in front of His Majesty and me, attempting to use others to do his dirty work? He deserved death a hundred times over.
Compared to Li Xiao Lang—who was almost certainly a traveler from a thousand years in the future and aware of many things yet to come—this treacherous eunuch was nothing at all...
...
“Your Highness, Second Prince, the imperial guards have arrived.”
Not long after, Eunuch Qian’s voice sounded from outside.
He had gone and returned with astonishing speed—quicker than he ever moved on any official errand.
He couldn’t wait a moment longer; he wanted nothing more than to see that wretched servant die as soon as possible.
He longed to witness the servant’s panic, despair, and tears—a sight he knew would be most entertaining.
The door opened, revealing Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Dezhao, and Li Cheng.
Eunuch Qian’s heart soared with joy; he was elated beyond measure.
He was ready and waiting, just for the official’s command to charge in and tear that wretched servant limb from limb!
“Seize that eunuch named Qian, silence him, beat him to death with sticks, and execute him immediately!” Zhao Kuangyin’s voice rang out, laced with anger.
---
With a thunderous crack, as if a bolt of lightning had struck, Eunuch Qian froze in place.
He looked as if he had been immobilized by magic; the expression on his face in that fleeting moment was indescribably vivid.
Panic, shock, disbelief, terror—all these emotions flashed across his features in rapid succession.
Not only Eunuch Qian, but even the four imperial guards who had come with him were stunned.
Yet their surprise lasted only a moment.
This was an order from the official himself, the sovereign ruler of the realm, who held supreme military power.
Whoever the official commanded to be killed would be killed.
After a brief hesitation, the four guards swiftly and decisively wrestled Eunuch Qian to the ground.
“Your Highness! Your Highness! I am wronged, Your Highness!
I have always been loyal and have never betrayed you!
Your Highness, I—sob, sob—”
Eunuch Qian cried out desperately in his defense.
Before he could finish, his mouth was covered.
“Wronged? What nonsense!
You, whom I trusted, dared to flatter me in private while deceiving me openly, speaking lies, twisting the truth, trying to use me as your pawn.
You’re nothing but a lying, treacherous wretch!” Zhao Kuangyin spat out the curse.
Though since ascending the throne Zhao Kuangyin had generally been mindful of his image and seldom cursed, his rough upbringing in turbulent times and years in the military had left its mark.
In his fury, he cared little for propriety and lashed out.
“Don’t drag him away; beat him here.”
The guards, who had intended to carry Eunuch Qian aside for execution, halted at the command.
Two of them pressed their spears against his body, pinning him immobile.
The other two wielded their spear shafts like clubs, striking him without mercy.
With every blow, Eunuch Qian arched his body like a shrimp out of water.
Before he could fall, another brutal strike forced his body to straighten.
Zhao Kuangyin’s actions served two purposes: first, to ensure Li Cheng witnessed Eunuch Qian’s death with his own eyes.
This prevented any suspicion that the officials were covering for the eunuch, claiming he was executed when in truth he was secretly spared.
Secondly, it was a grim lesson—to show the youth that death was not to be feared.
To be unafraid of death or imperial authority.
Pain overwhelmed Eunuch Qian’s mind; he was utterly confused and terrified.
He never understood why the situation had turned so drastically.
Zhao Dezhao had told him to call the imperial guards, but not to kill that wretched servant—instead, to kill him?
How could this be?
He was supposed to be the official’s trusted aide!
Why did the official distrust him and believe someone who had clearly displeased him before?
What on earth had happened?
Until his last breath, he never fathomed the reason...
---
“Carry him out and bury him,” Zhao Kuangyin ordered.
The four guards carried the beaten, lifeless Eunuch Qian away from the flower pavilion.
A few drops of blood stained the snow—bright red blossoms against the white, like blooming plum flowers.
After watching them leave, Zhao Dezhao closed the door.
“Feeling better now?” Zhao Kuangyin asked Li Cheng.
He regarded Li Cheng with a new perspective.
He had thought the gruesome execution would intimidate the young man, but to his surprise, Li Cheng watched unflinchingly, his expression unchanged—no fear, no terror.
Only the satisfaction of seeing an enemy beaten to death.
Li Cheng clasped his hands in thanks.
“Much better, Your Highness. Thank you for making this possible.”
His words were heartfelt.
Though Zhao Kuangyin’s behavior differed somewhat from what he had imagined—he tended to frighten people for no reason—one could not deny that the handling of Eunuch Qian’s matter had been very satisfactory.
“Well done indeed.”
“Good. Now, answer my earlier question: Did the Great Song really exist for three hundred and nineteen years?”
Li Cheng nodded solemnly.
“Your Highness, you are correct. It did indeed last for three hundred and nineteen years.”
Seeing a trace of joy on Zhao Kuangyin’s face, Li Cheng prepared to add some extra details.
After all, the official had tried to scare him earlier, after all.
“However, Your Highness, this three hundred and nineteen years is the combined duration of both the Northern and Southern Song dynasties...”