At the foot of Great Python Slope, Qing Xinyao and his sister Qing Mulang had just received the news and hurried over.
They arrived just in time to see soldiers of the Xiongwu Army carrying Xue Henglu and his group of personal guards away.
On the simple stretcher, Xue Henglu’s buttocks and thighs were beaten to a bloody pulp. He looked extremely miserable.
Qing Xinyao quickly sent his personal guards to inquire about what had happened.
Learning that it was all Jin Feng’s doing, the siblings both fell silent.
After a long while, Qing Mulang said, “Brother, Xue Henglu probably will never stand again, right?”
“It’s far more than just not being able to stand.”
Qing Xinyao smiled bitterly. “From his appearance just now, his pelvis and thigh bones are likely shattered. It will be difficult even for him to survive.”
“Sir is not usually such an impulsive person. This time he must have been truly angered by Xue Henglu. But no matter how angry, he should not have done this.”
Qing Mulang said, “With sir’s contributions, he would definitely have been heavily rewarded this time. Now that he has beaten Xue Henglu like this, the Xue family certainly will not let it go. The Crown Prince will probably exert pressure behind the scenes too. Sir’s contributions will be greatly discounted.”
“Mulang, have you considered that Jin Feng might have done this deliberately?”
“Why?” Qing Mulang asked.
“Why did your brother Qing Huai break Zhang Qiwei’s leg?” Qing Xinyao countered.
“Because brother Qing Huai felt his contributions were too great. He…”
Qing Mulang paused midway, suddenly stunned. “Could sir be thinking the same?”
“It’s not impossible.”
“But that does not add up. Brother Qing Huai had already reached marquis and could not rise further, so he gave His Majesty an excuse for merits and faults to offset each other. Sir is still only a baron with much room for advancement. Why would he do this?”
“Jin Feng seems to have little interest in fame and titles. Perhaps in his eyes, baron or marquis makes no difference.”
Qing Xinyao said, “Moreover, he had no choice but to do this. Otherwise, more and more people would covet his war horses. So he must establish his authority, letting everyone know he is a madman. Anyone who sets their sights on his war horses, he will fight to the death.”
“What you say makes sense, brother. Xue Henglu is really unlucky, coming here to seek abuse himself.”
Qing Mulang suddenly understood, but still worried. “Xue Henglu is no ordinary person. I still think sir was a bit too harsh. Now he has formed a mortal enmity with the Crown Prince and Duke Xue. If they act against sir in court, what then?”
“Did Jin Feng not find a good reason before acting?”
Qing Xinyao said, “Xue Henglu, without permission from me or Meng Tianhai, unauthorised brought the Xiongwu Army to Great Python Slope. That counts as intruding into camp. Beating him with military sticks is perfectly reasonable and legal. Even if the Xue family sues His Majesty, we hold the right.
Moreover, whether Jin Feng or us, we are close to Wuyang. Wuyang has always supported the Third Prince. Even without this incident, the Crown Prince and his side would still attack us without mercy.”
“You think of so much.” Qing Mulang realised.
“It’s not that we think too much. It’s that you think too little!”
Qing Xinyao turned to look towards the capital. “In the coming period, the court should be quite lively.”
“Is it not just beating Xue Henglu? It should not be that serious,” the Ninth Princess said.
“It’s not because of Xue Henglu,” Qing Xinyao shook his head. “By timing, the messengers Wuyang sent back should almost have reached the capital.”
In fact, this Xichuan war was fought very hastily. It was far from the best time to launch a war.
Because at that time, the troops the Ninth Princess had mobilised had not yet arrived. She had only Jin Feng’s one thousand escorts. The chances of winning were very slim.
Yet the Ninth Princess still had the escorts proactively attack Jinma River and Mao’er Mountain.
This was not only because Meng Tianhai’s Weisheng Army could hold no longer, but more importantly because Emperor Chen Ji had a fickle personality.
With the Ninth Princess not in the capital, she could not guarantee the emperor would not muddle again and be swayed by the peace faction.
If a decree for peace negotiations arrived, the Ninth Princess would be in serious trouble.
To prevent this, the Ninth Princess made multiple preparations.
One was to instruct the messengers returning to the capital to deliberately delay.
By the time the emperor and ministers discussed and decided, then transmitted the news back, the fighting here would already have started.
Then, even if they were unwilling, they would have no choice but to concentrate resources and help her win the battle.
The messengers also excellently completed the task given by the Ninth Princess.
On the journey, they did not act like they were rushing back to seek aid, but more like sightseeing. They dawdled until today. The battle in Xichuan had ended, and only then did the three messengers reach the capital.
Before entering the city, the three found a dusty place, rolled around a few times, smeared mud on their war horses, creating a dishevelled appearance, and then entered the city.
The three messengers were former guards of the Ninth Princess and very familiar with the capital.
After entering, they went straight to the palace, presented the Ninth Princess’s token, and requested an audience with the emperor.
In the feudal era, communication was backward. The last news Chen Ji had of the Ninth Princess was hearing she had been attacked by river bandits and rescued by Jin Feng’s people.
Then there had been no news. Chen Ji had been worried about the Ninth Princess all along.
Hearing she had sent messengers back, he summoned them immediately.
“How is Wuyang now? Has she reached Tubo?”
Chen Ji asked anxiously before the messengers finished their salutations. “Is the marriage alliance proceeding smoothly?”
“This is the letter from Her Highness to Your Majesty. Your Majesty will know upon reading!”
The messenger knelt on the ground, took out an envelope from his bosom, and held it high above his head.
The chief eunuch went down, took the envelope, first checked the sealing wax, confirmed no issues, then passed it to Chen Ji.
Chen Ji eagerly took it and opened it at once.
The envelope was thick. In the letter, the Ninth Princess started from after arriving in Xichuan.
When he read that someone had spread rumours about the Ninth Princess’s improper conduct, Chen Ji flew into a rage.
“My Wen’er has always observed propriety strictly. If they do not want the marriage alliance, fine, but why spread rumours to sully my Wen’er’s reputation!”
Fuming, he continued reading.
Moments later, Chen Ji’s expression grew increasingly grim.
But when he reached the part where Ga Da planned to send troops to attack Xichuan City, Chen Ji was struck as if by thunder from a clear sky.
“Someone come! Summon the cabinet. Enter the palace at once!”
In Great Kang, morning court started at mao hour. Ministers usually rose at three or four to hurry to the palace.
Those who reached cabinet minister were generally older. Standing in Hongde Hall all morning left them exhausted.
After morning court ended, the cabinet ministers returned to their yamen, preparing for a nap, when word came from the palace. The emperor summoned them to enter at once.
Such things had happened before, but often the emperor had no major matter.
Perhaps he had gained insight from studying a painting and called them to appreciate it together.
The old fellows all wanted to curse, but with the emperor’s summons, they dared not refuse.
Only upon reaching the palace did they learn that this time the emperor truly had business.
And it was earth-shattering business.
