The three scouts, filled with deep confusion and bewilderment, set off back to Kucha with the imperial edict, without even getting a meal or a drop of water at noon.
The three of them dared not linger for a moment, and sped through the night, just to return to Kucha as quickly as possible and personally deliver the imperial edict to the wicked man.
......
Kucha, the residence of a wicked man.
Inside the magnificent, brightly lit lobby.
The atmosphere was lively and festive, with toasts and laughter filling the air.
"Only such a life is worthy of being ennobled and appointed as a general!" The wicked man downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, his expression becoming dazed as he gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman dancing gracefully in the center.
When he first came into this world, he was a country boy who worried about finding food every day. Now, however, he has become a powerful and wealthy man, enjoying riches and honors.
If it weren't for that "cheat code" that allowed him to gain 300 pounds of strength every year, he wouldn't be as dashing as he is today.
Now, he's no longer just selling things on the street; he's entered the mainstream!
"I wonder... what expressions the King and his officials will have when they hear about our income?" Huan Yi suddenly laughed.
Everyone smiled upon hearing this. They had imagined this scene countless times in their minds, but unfortunately, they couldn't see it with their own eyes.
The wicked man laughed, "You all dare to think wildly! It wouldn't be surprising if the king jumped up and down on the spot!"
"Ha ha ha ha...."
A burst of laughter erupted, accompanied by shouts of "Keep drinking, keep playing music, keep dancing!"
The atmosphere became even more lively, and soon everyone was drunk with glazed eyes.
However, just as they were reveling in the prosperity before them, there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the three scouts have returned, carrying His Majesty's decree!" A guard rushed into the hall, panting, interrupting the joy of the banquet.
The wicked man frowned and gestured for the guards to step forward and report.
The guard leaned close to the wicked man's ear and whispered a few words. The wicked man's face instantly turned gloomy. He stood up abruptly and smashed the wine glass in his hand to the ground.
"Grand Commandant, the three scouts have returned. What news did they bring?" Huan Yi's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.
No wonder they were having wild thoughts. This imperial edict from Xianyang actually made the wicked man behave like this. Could it be... that something has happened in the capital?
The guard dared not say anything more, but simply bowed his head and withdrew.
The wicked man took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and strode towards the door, intending to meet the three returning scouts.
Seeing this, everyone lost their appetite for drinking and got up to follow the wicked husband.
Outside the door, three scouts stood with solemn expressions, their bodies covered in dust and showing signs of the hardships of their long journey.
The wicked man, like a ghost, silently approached them and stood before them. He took a deep breath, and his sharp gaze, like two swords, mercilessly swept across each face, as if trying to see through their hearts, quietly awaiting the message they were to convey.
"Your Majesty commands me, Grand Commandant, to return to Xianyang?" The wicked man's voice was deep and powerful, like a muffled thunderclap, breaking the deathly silence around him.
The lead scout nervously took out the imperial edict from his robes, and respectfully handed it to the wicked man as if holding a priceless treasure. Then, in a voice softer than a mosquito's buzz, he said, "His Majesty commands us to return immediately and order the Grand Commandant to return to Xianyang at once."
The wicked man took the imperial edict, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds in his hands. His gaze swept over the words like a hawk's, his brows furrowed tightly, as if they could trap a fly. "Do the three of you know why His Majesty hastily summoned this Grand Commandant back? Has something happened in Xianyang?"
The lead scout swallowed hard and nervously replied, "Grand Commandant, it seems... His Majesty and the officials are overwhelmed with affairs and unable to manage them all, and wish to summon you back to assist..."
The three men looked somewhat evasive, after all, this matter was inextricably linked to them. If they didn't speak, how would the King and the other officials know how carefree the wicked husband was here?
Upon hearing this, the wicked man's face darkened further. He gripped the imperial edict tightly, his eyes darting back and forth between the three men. "Why are you dodging and weaving? Do you want to be punished by military law?"
The three swallowed hard, pushing and shoving each other, none of them daring to speak.
Seeing their reaction, the wicked man became even more convinced that the three boys were hiding something from him, and immediately shouted sternly, "Speak!"
The three were startled and quickly recounted what had happened inside the inner hall.
Of course, this also includes how they described the wicked man's carefree life in the Western Regions.
"call...."
Upon hearing this, the evil man and the others breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the king was alright, they were relieved. They had thought something terrible had happened.
"Grand Commandant, that's all. Please forgive us!" The three looked at the wicked man cautiously, appearing extremely humble, more like frightened little white rabbits.
The wicked man snapped out of his daze, looked at the three men, and sneered, "Do you think I'm that kind of person? You're just telling the truth. Get out of here!"
Upon hearing this, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief, beamed with joy, bid farewell, and turned to leave.
Just as I reached the door and stepped out, a thunderous roar came from behind me.
"Men, seize these three and give them thirty lashes!"
The three men were struck dumb, slowly turning around, their faces deathly pale. The scout in the middle asked, "Grand Commandant...you...didn't you promise...you wouldn't pursue the matter against us?"
The wicked man's grin deepened, and he said mockingly, "That's right, I, the Grand Commandant, will not pursue the matter, but who told you to step out with your left foot?"
The scout in the middle almost cried; he was going to get a beating just for stepping out with his left foot?
Such a lame excuse, you might as well just say you want revenge!
The two scouts on the left and right exchanged a glance, a hint of joy flashing in their eyes. They had both stepped with their right feet, thus avoiding the punishment of being caned.
It is said that when people are happy, the corners of their mouths tend to turn up uncontrollably, and this was exactly the case for the two of them.
Still laughing?
"You dare to laugh when your comrade is punished?"
"You dare to step out with your left foot?"
"Consider these two guilty of multiple offenses and give them fifty lashes each, so they'll learn their lesson!"
The wicked husband pointed at the two of them and launched into a tirade of abuse.
The smiles on their faces froze, slowly turning into bitterness, and tears welled up in their eyes.
Fifty strokes!
That's fifty strokes!
They knew the wicked husband wouldn't kill them, but after those fifty lashes, they wouldn't dare lie down or sit for at least three to five days.
"Hahaha, serves you right!"
The scout in the middle chuckled. As the saying goes, misfortune is less painful if you have someone to share it with, but if someone is even more unlucky than you, then you should be happy.
That's his mindset right now.
"Are you still laughing?"
The wicked man smirked and said softly, "Then you should go and get fifty lashes too."
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