Prince and His Fool

Chapter 25: Marry Ying Tianshi or Fight Giants?

Having this girl hanging around was equally as dangerous as being caught by those two and he knew he needed to get rid of her as soon as possible so he asked, "Why are you following me around, don't you have some chores to do?" in a scolding manner.

"Well I certainly do but who knew I would run into Zian-ge so it's natural that l drop everything to tend to you," she said tagging his sleeve with such mesmerising sparkly eyes which startled him when he glanced in her direction.

'This girl is dangerous,' he thought before responding, "You are truly heartless. If your brother sees you with me he will surely murder me with no witnesses."

"He won't kill you, not with my uncle and His Highness around," she said reassuring him as she kept up with his pace, "Zian-ge wait! Where are you going the main hall is that way," she said, holding his arm as though guiding him in the right direction but Rong Zian resisted as he could see the exit right in front of him. "Are you running away?" asked Ying Tianshi with a brooding look.

"No I am taking a stroll outside the village," he said in a sarcastic tone, "of course I am running away. That's such an obvious question."

With a wry expression, she finally had an epiphany, "I know why. Is it because you heard about the giants beyond the border? I would run too, I heard they can swallow a person whole and-"

"Sorry, excuse me? What giants?" interrupted Rong Zian with an intense black countenance.

"Well, well, well, you were right Your Highness, he took the cowards way out," said Ying Tie as he and the prince suddenly showed up in front of them just as they reached the gate. The two seemed to have anticipated Rong Zian's move and had been waiting patiently for him to step outside.

Rong Zian was momentarily stupefied but quickly recovered to further inquire about the so-called giants, "Why didn't any of you mention giants?" He was extremely terrified and now had one more valid reason to run off. Besides in books and movies, he never thought one day he would come face to face with a giant. Though frightful he couldn't help being curious wondering if it would look anything like the Titans, gigantic humanoids from Shingeki no Kyojin or maybe like Kua Fu, that mythological giant that tried to catch the sun?

The prince cut off his train of thought with an icy stare, "I give you two options, stay here and get married to Ying Tianshi or fight giants?" in an indifferent tone, "take your pick and I can make arrangements now." Wu Yange only suggested this because he was confident that this fool would rather die than get tied down.

Wu Yange couldn't let Rong Zian runoff especially when he had signed a contract with the emperor. If he hadn't signed that document he would be ok if Rong Zian stayed behind, Wu Yange could understand why he would be terrified to deal with giants. But a blood contract had been signed and the penalty would be Rong Zian being beheaded in the public square but he couldn't bring himself to mention that to him. At least granting marriage might reduce the severity of the punishment though it pained him making such a suggestion.

Ying Tie desperately wanted to protest but swallowed his words with great difficulty as he couldn't defy the prince's command. He had absolutely nothing to worry about because Rong Zian was resolute in the choice he would pick. There is no way he was getting married and living his life in this isolated village even if he agreed and ran away after the wedding, Ying Tie and his uncle would never spare him. He wouldn't know peace until he rests in peace (RIP). Maybe encountering giants wouldn't be so bad, at least if he dies it would be a cool death. He could almost imagine his obituary, 'Rong Zian, the selfless hero, died fending off giants protecting the innocent,' that sounded pretty hard-core.

But with his personality, he wasn't going to make it easy for the prince so he replied, "No," silencing Ying sibling's loud quarrelling.

"What do you mean no?" asked Ying Tie with a perplexed expression but an aggressive deportment.

Folding his arms, all nonchalant he replied, "I refuse both of these options."

"You are such a coward Rong Zian!" uttered Ying Tie seeing the pained look on his little sister standing next to Rong Zian tagging his sleeve.

"Tsk..honestly, if I marry your sister, I am a coward and if I come along with you I am still a coward. I am a coward either way so no, I pick either options," said Rong Zian in an assertive tone.

Gesturing to Ying Tie the prince commanded, "Then giants it is then." The strongest man didn't waste any time, he grabbed Rong Zian carrying like a sack of potatoes for the second time attempting to place him on the mounted horse but the idiot kept resisting.

"Wait, wait, wait," said Rong Zian grasping everyone's attention, "I don't know how to ride a horse." The two sighed in frustration, how is that even possible that a child from nobility couldn't even ride a horse.

Though he was telling the truth he silently hoped this could be his way out but he didn't expect Wu Yange to say, "I will ride with him." Gasping for air, he could barely breathe as he was carelessly tossed onto the steed. In all honesty, he was terrified of horses, donkeys and camels, the sense of insecurity made him unease and what if the animal decided to throw him off and trample his delicate organs, who would save him from such a tragedy?

He struggled to sit up and the horse started acting up as though it sensed the rider's lack of confidence. Wu Yange got on to the horse with ease and settled behind him which changed the terrifying feeling to an extremely uncomfortable one, at this point he would rather face the giants than be in this compromising position. They bid farewell to a tearful but hopeful Ying Tianshi as they rode off towards the mountains.

She might have been deeply saddened by Rong Zian's rejection but when she thought of his journey ahead made her optimistic that a near-death experience would make the nave man realise what was important. By the time Rong Zian came back, he would be willing to marry in fear of having no seed on earth when he dies, that was enough for her to go back into the village on a cheerful note.