Troublemaker

[Third Month of the Year 825 AD]

"Woah, the library was full today" I saw Chou Xi and Pei Hang walk into the room as I turned the page of the book I read. I watched as they were busy chatting while they sat down at their own study tables. Their sweat is visible when walking through the radiant warm season.

"You came from the library?" I asked them as my eyes were still glued to the book. Not looking at their tiresome faces due to the sun exposure. They just carry their way as if about to die out of exhaustion.

"That bad, huh?" I said, grinning inside as they tried to drop their books on their tables.

I heard they said yes in a murmur as I pour another tea on my cup, I have been reading my reviewers since yesterday as I made copies to be given to them too. I closed my reviewer and took the copied and put them over their tables. I gave them the copies as they looked at me in awe.

"What's this?" Pei Hang asked, fanning himself and drinking water.

"I won't let you go through the examination week unprepared. I made copies for you too. It will help you shorten the readings you need to review since I have already foreseen that the library will be filled by this time of the term and you won't be able to utilize the materials there."

They looked at each other as they hugged me and laughed.

"you're the best!!!"

I nodded, smiling as I push them away "all right go back to reading"

Laohu and Eun Jo were tasked to distribute supplies out of the Academy since they volunteered and said they already reviewed and are both ready for the exam, The Academe Masters agreed and let them do the task.

I saw the flowers are starting to bloom outside the dorm room. I opened the window and felt the sun coming in, inhaling the vibe the sun is giving as I closed my eyes. I decided to take a walk at the gazebo outside the dorms. I have always loved flowers even in the wild. While I was a bit of a warrior at the tribe, these little things make up the whole other Weicheng inside of me. The little things that matter even for a while.

Azaleas are most common in the capital especially during this time of the year and they're pretty to look at when you feel the world is weighing you down.

But, the field of Poenys at the North Palace is one of the prettiest fields I saw. I often go there when time and situation permits.

Several plum blossom tree blooms too.

"am I disturbing you?" Ji wok slowly took a view of the flowers as I said no.

"I never thought you'd be able to appreciate flowers," he said as his hands are behind his torso walking slowly. His gaze turns as he was starting to glance at each flower.

I just shrugged "it just happens"

"Azaleas" he lowered his body to touch the azaleas as he continued "Even though they are poisonous and toxic, people think they represent happiness and prosperity"

He stood up again as he looked at me "people like the thrill of beauty that came from hard work and they associate their obsession with the hope to be happy and to prosper"

I frown while listening, he never fails to put wisdom into his words.

he smiled a little "come to think of it, people who enjoy power are people who love azaleas. They are born to follow things that they think are pretty and valuable not thinking that it is poisonous or even toxic, it will lead to obsession and greed because they thought that by taking it will bring them happiness"

I frown, he is rationing that azaleas can be the equivalent of greed people, I sighed realizing that sometimes people tend to love things obsessively not thinking of how it will affect the majority. "what does constitute happiness?" my brows arched as I asked him

he scoffed "the question to happiness does not have the right answer" he was about to leave when he turned his back again, his robe swaying at his elegant movements.

"your happiness lies on your hand" I saw Tae Hua entered the scene he was looking at my right hand as if mocking.

I scoffed unbelievably as I caught his shoulders and turn him around and punched him.

"Wei-" Ji wok dis not even finish my name as his gaze widen, his cousin was on the floor trying to stand up, his nose bled as he tried to come after me again.

Ji wok shook his head and taking his cousin away. "stop mocking me again, Tae Hua"

I left the garden and madly closed the dorm room.

=====

[third person]

"Freshmen, today is your midterms, are you all well prepared?" most of them shouted as others just sigh. "after your exams you will be ranked again by cumulative grades and we will be porting it tomorrow at the centerboard at the quad, do your best"

The exam took a dreading 3 hours to finish with all the subjects included. When the exams were concluded they were allowed to go downtown to celebrate and go back before curfew at 11 pm. Attendance for every year level will be conducted when the clock ticks at 11.

Everyone changed to their ordinary clothes as they bid farewell.

Group 5 decided to go to the brothel as Weicheng wanted to drink wine and was tired of drinking teas inside the academy. The sun is starting to set as the horizon stretch to the twilight zone. They arrived at the familiar brothel where drinks are clinking and people are having the time of their lives.

Pei Hang happily caught Weicheng's arm as they sing-song and skip their way to enter inside, however, the three were hiding as if shy of the other's gazes, this could be the time where their names are tainted.

"My father will definitely kill me if he knew this" Eun Jo said in a murmur as if imagining his father's wrath and anger.

"My grandmother will have a heart attack if she heard this" countered Chou Xi as he just shrugged and tell on his own that he's a big boy already, he tapped his chest and nodded as if talking to himself.

Laohu just tiptoed his way inside.

They were laughing and enjoying their time when someone threw a glass at their table, which broke the glasses and threw all the food on their table. A drunk Weicheng stretched her hands and crank her neck, she knows that this is a suicide, but her eyes drifted to the other table, where few men are laughing because of spilled wine and food. There she saw the man she previously fought with as she realized what is about to happen, she just hoped to have a lesser punishment after this.

The man stood and went to their table mischievously laughing. His hair is tied up in a messy bun as his teeth are crooked, his right hand is covered by metallic gloves. He countered the 5 boys who are laughing at his side.

"Dan Weicheng," he said in a rough voice knocking his left knuckles.

Weicheng just scoffed as she tilted her head to Yao.

"Long time no see"

she just side-glanced and continued drinking "I don't want to fight today"

"Well, sure you do" Yao started laughing that made the four looked at him annoyed.

"I am here for a drink, do not even start with me" She poured another wine not minding the guy behind her.

"I don't think you forgot what happened to my hand"

"I don't. I remember it all too well," she said out of convenience

he took a dagger out of his pocket as he threw it on the table and landed on her glass. She just rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Oh, you still have it" she took the dagger and put it back on the cover as she was about to look for other seats and find another table when she was pushed to sit again by Yao.

He laughed as she put her glasses down that almost broke the table, people started to move away and her friends are furious and were about to avenge when she held her hand out to stop them.

"I can manage" she smilingly said Laohu's face was proudly and laughingly look at her, he was about to clap his hands as if knowing she does not need help and stopped the three from interfering.

"So, you want to be pierced at your left hand? or do you prefer to be immobilized forever, should I just disable you real quick?"

As if not hearing it correctly the smile of Yao suddenly became grimaced, His eyes were suddenly enraged as to what he heard as he reached for the table and overturns it making the 5 of them stood up as Weicheng caught his robe. He stopped and look at her.

Weicheng pulls his robe as she punched him real hard, His lip bled as he was about to punch back.

"I told you, I am not here to fight, but you kept on insisting" the other men who were with him eventually rammed her friends as they created another scene inside the brothel. They had a fair share of insobriety and they're about to be punished later by the academy, but they kept on smiling as if looking for additional pain in their bodies.

The men including Yao was eventually scattered by the floor as Weicheng clapped her hands to the four of her friends, she tapped each one of them as if winning a lottery.

===

They were immediately thrown back to school earlier than the other students as they smiled at each other's fair share of silliness.

"You always prove yourself to be the most troublemaker, Dan Weicheng" Hill Master confronted them upon arriving. He traveled from the border for months by an order of the emperor, he massaged his forehead and sighed "Your name kept on being dragged down inside the palace and even at the market scenes"

The Hill Master returned from his trip and he was greeted by market people's concern as his few students were engaged with blatant violence inside a brothel. He just shook his head as if disappointed. The five students have sobered up when they were taken back by the palace guards back to the academy.

"You will all have 5 points deduction to your exams, your rank will greatly be affected by this tomorrow, and you will be grounded from going out and going to brothels from now on"

They all nod as they were asked to go back to their dorms when they were about to leave, a siren from the Imperial hall rang as if an emergency. Since they were the only students are inside they gathered up and went down to the academy as they saw their Master Pu running too.

"Master!!" They shouted as he looked at his students. He's holding his sword.

"What's happening?" Eun Jo asked

"There was an assassination attempt at the Empress' palace" as if they were shocked they all went to their master and asked if they could help. Since they are well practiced, their efforts will not go in vain. Their master nodded his head, trusting his students.

They went inside the Imperial Palace as the Eunuchs and Maids were gathered at the inner court. The empress is still inside her palace as the door was trapped by a huge ceiling. The people are shouting as they call for the empress' name.

A moment later, the Emperor runs off to see what is happening. Several Palace Guards were looking at the scene. The empress was saved from the burning palace as they gather to treat the empress' wounds. She was about to faint due to the smoke.

Weicheng's eyes flew at the roof, there's a side which cannot be seen by the naked eyes, that side is too dark, it's the easiest way to hide, a loophole.

She smirked as she saw the assassin at the northern side of the roof, this time aiming yet again for the Emperor by an arrow. The assassin was covered by a silk mask and his eyes beam with the intensity of the fire. She immediately went to the side of the emperor who is still oblivious as she took her dagger and aimed for the arrow which dropped to the ground as well as her dagger, because of that, the guards piled up to see the assassin, she took the dagger as she aimed again, this time at the legs of the assassin.

Several arrows were released to the assassin's side as he runs off to the ceiling. Weicheng narrowed her eyes and aimed for the legs right away. His groan was heard as he almost lost his balance. The emperor turned his heel as he saw how the student caught the leg of the assassin. Weicheng shouted to the guards

"Guard the Emperor. Now!"

She was about to follow the assassin when she was halted by her master and Laohu "We'll take it from here" her master said as she was dumbfounded. "take care of the Highness"

She just nodded as the Palace guards and her friends followed through.

"What's your name?" The Emperor asked

She bowed her head as she introduces herself, the Majestys are smiling at the kid who managed to save them.

"You have a delicate face for a man" The empress smiled as she just bowed her head.

The Empress is fond of beautiful things and people. Her eyes smiled upon watching the kid in front of her.

"So you're the Ace Archer of the batch?" The Emperor asked as if proud of the boy in front of him who just slightly nod "that explains your eyesight and accuracy for far targets"

"Oh, I heard a lot about you." The empress said "My son might be annoying you a lot" hearing from the imperial kids she heard how her son is treating this boy at the academy, his cousin Ji Wok also advises that Tae Hua should stop his childish games and let Weicheng be in peace. The Empress can see he is just a simple and promising student, her son might be looking for someone to annoy since his brothers are not close to him. She shook her head as if laughing inside, her son might be annoyed by his aura and how he carries himself with dignity.

"My son said, you used the Cursed bow and aimed it accurately?" The emperor gushes at her as she shyly looked at the floor

"Oh, you'll be a good protector and a promising officer of the palace." The empress said, still amazed. "I want to invite you next time for tea, I heard you love tea?"

she panicked "Uhm" as she just nodded

"of course you wouldn't disappoint me, right?"

she just smiled forcefully as the palace guards and her friends as well as her master returned empty-handed. The assassin got away. "What happened?" The emperor asked

"He got away as he jumped to the cliff." her Master answered on behalf

"he won't be able to walk properly," Laohu said as he bowed "his left leg was damaged from Weicheng's dagger."

"Weicheng aimed a vital part of his left leg and he won't be able to walk again, right now his blood might even drain." Eun Jo also answered, "if we order to close the capital and inspect each of the outgoing and entering the capital we can be ensured that there would be good news soon."

The emperor took the advice of Eun Jo and ordered strict contact of people entering and leaving the capital, he also made an order for search at the cliff and nearby riverside.

"As for these students, Master Pu. I want them to attend the ceremony at the end of the month and will grant them presents"

The students and their master bowed their heads "We do not deserve your grace, your majesty"

The emperor beaming as he said "Of course you do"

we all walked back to the academy tired "I heard from the hill master you caused trouble again?" Their Master Pu asked

they all just shrugged and laughed "we did"

"you troublemakers"

====

By morning, the results were officially posted at the board of announcement, Weicheng went to the post where students from different year levels are gathered. She stopped at the far back waiting for others to finish when Laohu took her arm, still yawning as he went to her side swaying her arms. He just grimaced as Laohu kept on smiling as he pushed people to make way.

When we arrived at the front of the post, the other students are towering over us as I read the announcement.

"You placed third," Laohu said, stating the obvious

Bai Ku Ji got first place, Ji Wok as second, and Weicheng as third.

Pei Hang shouted as everyone congratulated Bai Ku Ji "If we weren't just deducted 5 points, our leader will surpass Ku Ji in a 2 mistakes result."

The students stopped talking as they realized that Weicheng indeed finished his exams with two mistakes mark. Even the higher years looked at them and stared at Weicheng.

"He really is capable," one of the students said

Weicheng just went back as she was not really bothered by the result and congratulated the top. Although Bai Ku Ji took it from the heart. He realized that Weicheng's score exceeds his competence even though he studied well. Weicheng scored 98 but was deducted 5 points for his trouble, making him place fifth. While his score is just 95, he started doubting how he can beat Weicheng.