Chapter 30: The Bayonet Chooses Its Master, and Li Er Extorts!

“Where were we? Oh right, Yexu, Yisi, have you made up your minds yet? What will it be?” Li Yi walked up to the two boys with a half-smile, half-smirk, looking very much like a cunning weasel tempting its prey.

“We want the fan…” Li Yexu had already set his eyes on that fan, thinking how he’d boast about it later. Hmph! When the time comes, he’ll wave it in front of Changsun Chong and see if he dares act so arrogant! But before he could finish, Li Yisi stopped him.

“Brother, give us a moment, we need to discuss!” Li Yisi said, pulling Li Yexu aside.

“Why are you dragging me away? Don’t you want the fan?” Li Yexu asked, confused; his straightforward nature clearly missed the crux of the matter.

“You’re too naive! Listen, our eldest brother seems honest, but he’s full of schemes. He said he made seven fans, but now there are only two left, so obviously he’s given the rest away. Do you think he wouldn’t reserve one for himself? Since he’s offering the fan meant for himself, it means the gift he prepared for us is more important than the fan. That’s why he said, ‘Sacrifice yields gain.’” Li Yisi, usually steady and reliable, proved that honest people can have sharp minds; when they play their cards, few can match them.

“That’s right! Eldest brother—no, second brother—you’ve got a point. Eldest brother is really sly; I almost fell for it,” Li Yexu realized, smacking his head in frustration.

Li Yi, overhearing their conversation, rolled his eyes, itching to knock some sense into his younger brothers. “If you haven’t finished discussing, could you move a bit further? You’re too close—I can hear everything!” He shot them a look and turned away, preferring not to see.

“Hahaha! Apothecary, your two grandsons are sharp for their age, with such meticulous analysis—impressive!” Li Er was a third jealous, seven-tenths envious. How did that family produce such offspring? One eccentric, one genius, and another equally formidable. Compared to his own brood—well, best not to mention it.

“Your Majesty flatters them; they’re still young and need much guidance,” Li Jing replied modestly, always maintaining a non-confrontational approach in front of Li Er, which had kept him safe through the years.

“Eldest brother, we’ve decided!” The two boys blushed as they walked back, embarrassed by their earlier slip. Their skin wasn’t as thick as Li Yi’s yet.

“Speak! What do you want?” Li Yi turned around, this time expressionless, to avoid being called cunning.

“Since you’ve prepared a special gift for us, how could we disappoint your intentions? We want the gift you chose for us!” Li Yisi replied earnestly.

“You’re sure? No changing your minds?”

“We’re sure! No changing!”

Li Yi rolled his eyes, picked up the purple box resting nearby, and handed it to them. “Looks like all the cleverness ended up with you two. Take it—don’t disgrace them!”

The two boys eagerly opened the box, inside which lay two strange “short swords,” emanating a dark glow that seemed capable of devouring all things. Each took one, displaying them to the crowd.

Li Er and Li Jing were immediately captivated. Having both killed and shed blood, they recognized the extraordinary nature of the weapons at a glance.

“Boy, what are these?” Li Er asked, uncertain.

“Oh, I invented these three years ago. I call them bayonets. It was just for fun at first, so I asked my master to forge one for me. Unexpectedly, he used meteoric iron to forge three at once. At first, I thought it wasteful, but one later saved my life!” Li Yi recalled, cold sweat breaking out on his back. It had been a perilous moment—thinking about it still made him shudder.

“Oh? There’s a story there? Tell us!” Li Er smiled, intrigued. The Li family’s attention was now fully focused; clearly, none knew about Li Yi’s experience.

“It’s nothing much. You all know the incident—when we solved the Li Zihao case in Luoyang. Li Zihao, in his madness, used his own father as bait, flinging a dagger at Magistrate Li. I didn’t think, just threw my sword to save him. But Li Zihao’s true target was Dai Chunlin; he killed Dai in an instant and came straight at me. With no sword in hand, I nearly lost my life. Luckily, in that critical moment, I remembered the bayonet, drew it from my leg, and stabbed it into his belly from behind, killing him!”

“Monster, absolute monster! But wait, you just stabbed him in the belly—how did he die so quickly?” Li Er, sharp as ever, spotted the flaw instantly.

“That’s the bayonet’s merit. After the incident, I started to appreciate its worth and studied it closely. The bayonet, when thrust into the body, creates a triangular wound—mostly a square hole. The wound’s sides can’t compress to stop bleeding or heal. Just the length of an adult finger is enough to kill instantly, and when you remove it from the cavity, it’s effortless. So, for single combat, the bayonet is the king of weapons, especially these three forged from celestial meteoric iron. They are unparalleled.” Li Yi finished, surreptitiously wiping sweat, spinning his tale with utmost seriousness.

The two boys, hearing of its power, hugged the weapons tightly, as if they’d obtained priceless treasures.

Li Er’s eyes gleamed. As a military man, he understood the significance of such a new weapon. “Nephew, what do you think?”

Li Yi knew trouble was coming. “Your Majesty, you don’t mean to ask for my bayonet, do you?”

“What are you saying? This is a symbol for you three brothers; I wouldn’t take it. Besides, I have celestial meteoric iron myself. I just need a sample to forge more, so I hope you’ll lend me yours for a few days. What do you say?” Li Er rubbed his hands, his old face reddening like a child asking for a treat. Even someone as thick-skinned as Li Er couldn’t help it; clearly, he was desperate for the bayonet.

“Your Majesty, it’s not that I refuse, but you know what those people are like. Li Zihao became that deranged because of them; obviously, they’re all lunatics. So I need to keep the weapon for protection!” Li Yi smiled bitterly, regretting his own bravado—now he’d drawn their attention and might be attacked at any moment.

“You’re right. Hmph! Those beasts, so arrogant. Nephew, how’s your plan coming along?” Li Er’s eyes blazed, clearly those scoundrels had crossed a line.

“Your Majesty, I’ve been busy since last night, no time to write yet!”

“Hmm! It’s a tight schedule, but time waits for no one. I need your plan by tomorrow—can you manage?” Li Er straightened, serious and authoritative, as if conducting state affairs, though Li Yi held no official post.

Li Yi gritted his teeth, knowing the matter couldn’t be delayed—a night without sleep was nothing. “Your Majesty, by noon tomorrow, the plan will be delivered!”

“Good! I like your decisiveness. You may be a bit unconventional, but you’re reliable!”

“Was that a compliment?”

“Haha! You figure it out. Here’s a token—use it to enter and exit the palace freely.” Li Er smiled proudly, turning his back to Li Yi, finally regaining some dignity before the young man. Then he walked over to Li Yexu. “Nephew Yexu!”

“Your Majesty, I’m here!” Li Yexu was caught off guard, his face flushing with excitement.

“Ahem! Would you lend me your bayonet for a few days? I’ll have your eldest brother make you a folding fan in exchange. How about that?” Li Er, sly as a fox, eyed Li Yexu. Li Yi was about to speak but was silenced with a glance.

Still caught in excitement, Li Yexu heard mention of a folding fan and, overcome with eagerness, handed his bayonet to Li Er without hesitation. Li Er took it, gave Li Yi a victorious look, and strode off in triumph, laughing heartily.

Li Yi was dumbfounded, turning to Li Yexu and scolding him. “You fool! You just let him trick you? Such a perfect chance for extortion, and you missed it! Now the bayonet’s gone—infuriating!”

Li Yexu replied, aggrieved, “He’s the emperor—how could I refuse?”

“You could’ve asked for something in return! You’re just a child; haven’t you heard of ‘the innocence of youth’?”

“He promised me a folding fan, didn’t he?” Li Yexu retorted.

Li Yi slapped his forehead, thoroughly defeated. “Grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, I’m off to write the plan!”

Li Jing’s face grew serious. “Go on! Focus, don’t make any mistakes.”

“Don’t worry, grandfather. Yisi, show me to my courtyard.” Yisi agreed and left with Li Yi.

Once Li Yi was gone, Li Dejian couldn’t hold back, grabbing Yexu for a thrashing… on the backside. “How could you be so foolish? Isn’t the fan also your eldest brother’s? Such a good chance wasted!”

Yexu realized he’d been duped and meekly asked, “Can I get my bayonet back?”

“Ahem, Yexu, don’t listen to your father or brother. Your eldest brother may be able to deal with the emperor that way, but you can’t. You did right—don’t worry, His Majesty won’t keep your bayonet.” Li Jing, unable to watch any longer, intervened. What a family—neither the elders nor the juniors acted their age.

“Why can eldest brother do it and I can’t?”

“Heh, that’s your brother’s cleverness! He’s of the same nature as Cheng Zhijie, both sly as foxes.” Li Jing’s eyes flashed, offering praise, but seeing Yexu’s confusion, he smiled gently. “Don’t dwell on it—you’ll understand someday.”

Lady Hongfu, silent since the emperor’s arrival because she was a woman and thus kept her silence, finally spoke up. “Shuirou, prepare some food for Yi’er. He seemed hungry just now.”

“Yes, I’ll go at once.” Madam Cui replied and left.

“Grandfather, what about my folding fan?” Yexu was still dissatisfied, sensing the mood had lightened, and asked again.

“You little rascal! You want a folding fan? Don’t run—come here or I’ll tan your hide!”

“No way! Hmph! You can’t catch me!”

Li Jing and Lady Hongfu sat calmly, sipping tea and watching the father-son chase unfold.