Chapter 757: A Worthy Successor!

"When the birds are gone, it's only a temporary situation; if they are flying birds, they were meant to fly - it is an indestructible, innate part of their nature. As for 'casting aside the good bow', the emphasis has to be on the words 'the good bow'. A good bow is a useful bow - and we most certainly should retain a useful bow, storing it in good condition to not let it lose its strength. Temporarily storing it away doesn't mean that the bow will be cast aside completely. Instead, when the time comes, it will be brought out again to eliminate the birds in a more effective manner."

Bao'er continued. "Uncle Yun then said, 'Immediate action is imperative to address this matter, but it also requires a particular way of approaching it. For example, say, if you retain a useful bow and keep it stored somewhere, what happens if it was not kept in a good condition, and covered all over with rust and mold? Consequently, when it is kept in storage, how can we ensure that the bow will be maintained at its most optimal condition? These are the most significant aspects to resolve.'"

When he finished, everybody lapsed into a deep silence.

The emperor stroked his beard, speechless. His gaze wavered slightly, the wrath and solemness in his eyes were long gone.

Qiu Jianhan and Fang Qingtian were in deep thought as well.

This was a problem that required proper consideration.

The army would slack after a war was done from the inaction, and their condition may not be as efficient and optimal as they were before. It would most certainly be tough to keep up with their former performance standards, a situation that would not be beneficial for the nation at all.

Through the lips of a child, Yun Yang had expressed the dire need to address this persistent problem. He had even pointed out a generally-acceptable direction to resolve this - one could say that he had certainly taken great pains to bring this up, and the underlying intent was well-meant, allowing the crowd to have some food for thought.

There was an overall sense of certainty in this established direction to address the persisting problem - the hostile atmosphere earlier was long gone.

Yun Yang sat in a corner, remaining silently oblivious as he smiled. Occasionally he would raise his cup to give Ling Xiaozui a toast, clinking cups with Dugu Chou, or carousing with Xiao Shaoqing; sometimes he would wink at Ji Lingxi and Shangguan Lingxiu, flaunting his charm.

After mulling for a long moment, the emperor then asked, "Bao'er, did Uncle Yun reveal the ways to retain the good bow after the birds are gone? What kind of methods should you adopt, generally speaking?"

Yun Yang was clearly seated in the same room, yet, the emperor did not address him. Instead, he directed the question to Bao'er - the underlying intent behind his actions was especially significant.

Bao'er blinked a few times. He then woefully said, "Uncle Yun said he wanted Bao'er to think about this problem of the future - he did not mention an answer. He said, 'This is your homework... Bao'er shall think about this nagging problem, and fill three large pieces of paper with the solution,' and could only be done when he's truly satisfied with my work!"

The emperor let out a hearty laugh. "So, have you finished writing?"

Bao'er lowered his head and replied, guiltily, "Not yet."

"Then how do you plan on writing it?" the emperor asked.

Bao'er babyish face reflected an expression of deep thought. "Summing up everything Uncle Yun has said, a good bow - no matter how well it has been preserved and kept - would rust given time. It will only function as good as new if it was used frequently. Bao'er has thought long and hard about this premise, imagining how can it be kept away, yet can still be put to use at the same time..."

The emperor felt his body suddenly quiver. He mumbled, "If it's already set aside, is there still a way to put it to use?"

Bao'er replied, full of innocence, "Bao'er has thought about this for the longest time. The intent to store it away was to not put it into use - even temporarily. Yet, using it and no longer hiding it away was downright contradictory. Hence, Bao'er thought, 'Why don't we just... not set it aside anymore?' With a functional bow and arrow, you don't have to only shoot at birds with a bow. You can use it to shoot at tigers, wolves... foxes, or even rabbits! Or if all else fails, you could shoot at rats or snakes, or— well, just shoot!"

The emperor's eyes shimmered as he echoed, "Yes, you could use it to hunt tigers, wolves, rats..."

For a moment he was lost in thought. The silence stretched for half a beat.

Qiu Jianhan and Fang Qingtian exchanged looks and smiled. Suddenly, the anxiety in their hearts had reduced, becoming half as worrying as it was just a moment earlier!

Bao'er few words had already revealed the two different solutions to resolve this issue. To him, storing it away and putting it in use were two contradictory situations - it was not possible to adopt both solutions at the same time. However, in the eyes of the governing ministers, there was still a large, workable potential to be explored, and there were still unimaginable prospects when it came to hunting the so-called tigers, wolves or just anything in this world. It was spot on - the underlying meaning behind it stretched far deeper than the surface!

The two rascals could not help themselves but burst out in laughter simultaneously. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations indeed!"

The emperor shook his head as the smile on his face expanded. Suddenly, he burst out in loud laughter as well, "Hahaha..."

The three of them - the ruler and his accompanying ministers - raised their goblets at the same time. The emperor exclaimed, very loudly, "Today, I am remarkably happy. I must be totally inebriated with my two brothers here tonight - nobody leaves if they aren't dead drunk!"

Both Qiu Jianhan and Fang Qingtian proclaimed happily at the same time, "We also desire to get totally drunk today, and we shall hence sacrifice our humble selves to join Your Majesty - none of us shall leave if we are not totally plastered!"

The three downed their drinks to the last drop.

Then, they caroused, raising their cups ever so frequently to drink and toast, their indescribable delight unable to be captured in the form of words.

A cup of wine in hand, the emperor suddenly asked, "Bao'er, whatever you said just now - how much do you truly understand of it?"

Bao'er blinked. "Uncle said, 'Everything will be well, as long as the heroes do not lose faith.'"

The emperor laughed once more, his laughter skyrocketing through the roof. "Well-said, well-said! Well-said indeed!"

With three consecutive 'well-said's, he raised his cup and roared suddenly, "Young Master Yun, my good man—today, I shall grant you a toast!"

Yun Xiaoyao relaxed as he let out a smile. "This bastard is full of nonsense, he doesn't deserve a toast! Your majesty, my brother - don't you spoil him."

"No, no, no. I am toasting this cup of wine on my own willing accord!"

Yun Yang laughed heartily in response. "Thank you, Your Majesty-- I shall join you for however many cups you down today!"

The emperor grew even merrier upon hearing his words. Without wasting another breath, he drained the entire cup in one gulp.

After this drinking session, His Majesty was not the only one who was completely plastered - Qiu Jianhan and Fang Qingtian were also light on their feet from the alcohol. However, endless streams of laughter could be heard throughout the night - it was a joyful and merry atmosphere indeed!

Even up till the point where he was escorted up the royal palanquin, he was still seen yelling, "Fetch me more wine! I'm feeling absolutely elated today! Let's get thoroughly wasted— nobody leaves without getting wasted..."

Yes, he was drunk to the core - it was the time to leave!

...

In the Residence of Yun, Yun Yang asked the little fellow with a solemn face. "Who taught you to say all that?"

Bao'er pointed his little face up, and replied, "Heroes aside, Uncle Yun, you of all people cannot lose faith; uncle, you have to be forever happy - this will make Bao'er the happiest of all!"

Yun Yang stared at Bao'er with a somber expression, and gently said, "A good boy shouldn't reveal too much of his wit."

Clearly, Bao'er's early development and maturity came much sooner than Yun Yang's expectations. Yun Yang could already envision it - if Bao'er kept this up, there was a possibility that his honorary title of being the think tank would be passed on to Bao'er in the future!

Bao'er nodded eagerly. "Whatever Uncle Yun says, Bao'er will remember them with full attention, and never forget them!"

He then raised his little head, and said, gently, "Still, Uncle Yun will leave Bao'er sooner or later, no?" He then lowered his head sadly. "Bao'er will miss uncle a lot..."

Yun Yang lapsed into silence. He caressed Bao'er's head as if he wished to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.

In the span of these few days, the movements of Li Yingqiu and the rest were controlled and supervised strictly by Yun Yang. Whoever who came into contact with Bao'er, and whatever they had said - at every single moment - was under his surveillance.

He was certain that there was not a single place that had been overlooked.

He was very sure that nobody taught him that.

If that was the case... was all that had been said purely conjured by Bao'er's mind?

As the image of Bao'er youthful little face surfaced in his mind, Yun Yang's gaze paused at a point in midair.

There was both joy and sorrow in his gaze.