Chapter 859: Sneaking Food Without Wiping His Mouth (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
The crowd parted like a tide.
The moment Madam Wu Xianzheng saw that group of people, her face contorted with rage, even her makeup couldn't conceal it: "What are you doing?"
The woman in white, who was at the head of the group, led her daughter forward.
The group, including their families, numbered about forty in total. They all followed the woman to the gate of Zhao Feng's residence, where they joined Zhao Feng's wife and her four children. Among them were elderly people in their fifties and sixties, all with white hair, while the younger ones were still being held and babbling in their arms. The several short children, though unaware of what was happening, had been instructed by their elders before leaving home. They clenched their teeth, tried to straighten their backs, and looked directly at their surroundings, bracing themselves not to show the slightest fear.
The woman in white held her daughter's hand with her left hand and carried a sword with her right.
"That's an interesting question, Mistress. You brought people here to interrogate us, and now you're asking us what we're here for? We're here to pack our belongings, so that you won't have to lead your men to search every house and arrest us. But I have a question: why are you here to arrest us?"
The atmosphere among the three women was tense and dangerous.
Anyone with a modicum of sense could smell the tension in the air. The bolder onlookers surged forward in layers, while the timid ones stayed put, craning their necks and looking up at the sky and the ground, their hearts pounding in their chests. Everyone was frantic with worry.
The First Lady sneered, "Why arrest people? You have the guts to do it, but not the guts to admit it? If you men had no intention of rebelling, why did you have such a guilty conscience and secretly move your families elsewhere so early? Yes, people strive for higher positions and water flows downhill. Zhaode can't stop you from climbing higher branches, but that doesn't mean you can eat what's in your bowl while eyeing what's in the pot! And you're still pretending to be deaf and dumb?"
Her decision to bring people here to cause trouble was not a rash, impulsive act, but rather to obtain evidence—proof that Zhao Feng, Qin Li, and others first evacuated their relatives in the rear, then broke with Wu Xian and joined Shen Youli! This is vastly different from first breaking with Wu Xian, then joining Shen Youli, and finally evacuating their relatives in the rear!
Despite the many conflicts between the wife and Wu Xian, and their seemingly harmonious relationship over the years, their interests are intertwined as long as it doesn't involve the internal interests of the powerful families. Naturally, they will unite against external threats!
Zhao Feng and others left Wu Xian because Wu Xian acted dishonestly and betrayed their loyalty, thus damaging Wu Xian's reputation. However, if evidence could be obtained proving that Zhao Feng and his group had long harbored the intention to leave, even before the incident involving their subordinate's family, what reason would Zhao Feng have to garner sympathy? Wu Xian's reputation could be completely salvaged!
It could even be used to attack Shen Tang's side.
This proves that Shen Tang had been secretly working behind his allies' backs, poaching their members.
How can this not be considered a backstabbing?
The First Lady didn't want them to step on Wu Xian and leave with a clean reputation! She just didn't expect that the relatives of several important members of Zhao Feng's faction would come. Instead of rushing to prove their innocence, they made trouble for her, and they all wished she would arrest them.
The woman in white furrowed her delicate brows.
Before he could even speak, Madam Zhao Feng pressed down on his shoulder.
She scoffed, "Madam, that's not right! What kind of person who's been framed finds evidence to prove their innocence?"
The surroundings were quiet, but the powerful voices could be heard by the crowd: "The moment the mistress arrives, she accuses my husband of plotting a rebellion and being disloyal to Lord Wu. What is the evidence? How can the mistress prove that the departure of our relatives occurred before, and not after, the righteous journey to join Lord Shen?"
The First Lady slightly lifted her eyelids, looking at the fearless woman, and said aggressively, "It's still wartime, and Tianhai is under strict surveillance, guarding against any suspicious individuals. If you truly have nothing to hide, why didn't you inform us? After all, Zhaode and your husband have had a relationship of lord and subject for several years. Now that things have come to an end, it's better to part amicably. Why sneak away like this?"
Lady Zhao Feng is not someone to be trifled with.
In her youth, she was the fiercest woman in the surrounding area, easily subduing even a man like Zhao Feng. Over the years, she has kept him in check, and even her eldest daughter and three sons have to be mindful of her tone when they raise their voices. What is this so-called mistress of the house compared to her?
I originally wanted to save face for them.
now?
snort!
"Madam, that's a strange question. Why did you sneak away? Don't you have any idea? It's because things got too ugly and undignified. We were worried about becoming hostages, about Tianhai going back on his word, about being controlled and making the men outside who are risking their lives to fight hesitant. So we frantically and clumsily tried to save ourselves... Madam, is this wrong?"
Her gaze swept over a group of onlookers.
He scoffed, "Is there anything wrong with that?"
His gaze then shifted to the first wife, whose face was ashen with rage. He smiled, spreading his arms slightly as if to invite her: "If you don't have solid evidence of disloyalty and injustice, it's best not to make hasty judgments, Madam! Whether it's loyalty or treachery, let Lord Wu and Lord Shen decide. If Madam still refuses to let it go, since everyone is here today, come on, let's arrest her!"
The wife's hands were trembling from being rebuked.
The onlookers hadn't forgotten the funeral procession at Zhao Feng's residence that day. He had driven a family of four to their deaths, and now he was coming to their door to coerce the elderly, weak, women, and children, trying to brand them as disloyal and treasonous—it was simply too arrogant!
Seeing that she still hadn't given any orders, Madam Zhao glanced contemptuously at the lackeys behind her, then pointed at the crowd: "The mistress has long lived in the inner courtyard of the mansion, and is adept at managing the household affairs and the inner quarters. She is a virtuous and capable assistant to Wu Gong. It's just a pity that she doesn't know what people's hearts are."
If we weren't still on their turf, she could have said something even harsher—either arrest them and put them in jail, or take them away. Standing here doing nothing, do they really enjoy being laughed at?
Finally, the First Madam looked up at Madam Zhao Feng.
His eyes flashed with a fierce light: "The evidence will be found naturally."
Madam Zhao, clutching the knife to her chest, turned to leave, saying, "Then we'll wait until you find the evidence, and we'll welcome you with open arms!"
The whole group entered Zhao Feng's residence.
The woman in white let out a long sigh of relief after the man had left.
"Ah Xiu, what should we do next?"
Madam Zhao Feng's tense back relaxed slightly, and she slammed her sword on the table, frowning as she said, "What else can we do? We'll just have to take it one step at a time. If Zhao Dayi can't even protect his own wife and son, he might as well die in battle, and the whole family can go to the underworld together..."
The woman in white quickly stopped her, saying, "That's bad luck!"
Her daughter beside her also said, "Auntie, ptooey!"
Looking at the girl's chubby face, and under the clear light of her eyes, Madam Zhao Feng's pent-up emotions eased considerably. She raised her hand and pinched the girl's cheek: "Yes, yes, Auntie won't lie anymore. Are you hungry? If you are, have someone go to the kitchen to make something... ah, no, all the servants have been sent away, so how about Auntie makes it for you herself? There's still chicken in the kitchen."
The woman in white sighed, "Now I just hope that Prefect Xu will act cleanly and that that woman won't find any fault with him... I was so unlucky to have sought refuge with this family back then!"
Her husband had also been a retainer of Qin Li, and through Qin Li's connections, he was recommended to join the army. After the fall of the country, he remained by Qin Li's side. She was grateful for Qin Li's care over the years, but, to be honest, the young master Qin had a poor eye for people.
The family had been doing well these past few years, but the husband had suffered mistreatment outside the home, and as his wife, she had naturally heard about it. How could she bear it? But she couldn't blame Qin Li or Zhao Feng; all her resentment was directed at Wu Xian. And now, she had to add Wu Xian's wife to the mix.
This couple knows how to be disgusting!
Lady Zhao Feng said, "How can anyone not make a mistake in their judgment?"
It's not a problem to misjudge someone; what's a problem is going down a dead end.
He then comforted her, saying, "Since that Prefect Xu helped us, we're all in the same boat. If we're caught cheating, it won't just be us who suffer; Xu Wenzhu won't be any better off either. Don't worry, everything should be fine!"
Since all the servants and maids in the mansion have been sent away, there are plenty of empty rooms, enough to accommodate dozens of people. We'll just have to live one day at a time for now. Once Zhao Feng and the others return, will Wu Xian refuse to release them?
Mrs. Wu Xianzheng was busy looking for evidence.
Meanwhile, Shen Tang was also busy looking for people.
A hand slammed onto the bronze table, leaving one handprint after another, making everyone's eyelids twitch uncontrollably. Their eyelids twitched wildly, and Shen Tang's veins bulged wildly: "Tell me—tell me, who got you pregnant!"
"If I hadn't found out, were you planning to give birth to this baby right there in the camp?" Shen Tang's voice was filled with undisguised despair—who would have thought that someone would get pregnant while the war was raging! She! Was! Pregnant!
"My lord, my lord, please calm down—"
Gu Chi forced himself to persuade Chen Tang to control her blood pressure.
Shen Tang flung her hand away: "I can't calm down!"
With his neck stiffened, he hissed, "How can I calm down like this!"
Gu Chi whispered, "My lord, why don't you listen to what she has to say? Perhaps, perhaps she has some difficulties?"
Shen Tang's face turned blue with anger, unable to vent it.
"Have difficulties? If you have difficulties, why don't you find someone to uphold justice and support you? Am I, your lord, dead? Would I allow my own people to be wronged?" She threatened the female soldier below, whose belly was slightly protruding, with a cold face. "Fine, Military Advisor Gu will plead for you, so I'll give you a little more patience—tell me now, who exactly insulted you? Do you know this person? Did he force you? Tell me!"
Bai Su was also exasperated: "Tell the truth! Otherwise, you'll be court-martialed. How many strokes can your body withstand?"
Because it started late, the women's camp has only been established for five years.
There's a very awkward place in the women's camp.
Those with low talent, despite their hard work, have not yet managed to cultivate martial courage, but drawing qi into their bodies can nourish their meridians and muscles. In addition, due to the many wars in recent years, the quality of the lower-level female soldiers is comparable to that of the male soldiers. Those with average talent are still in the growth stage, and there is a shortage of middle-level personnel in the camp. Those with talent like Zhao Wei, Yang Ying, and Lu Ji are still far from reaching the top and are still working hard!
To date, Bai Su has been the only female leader in the camp.
Bai Su has been working diligently all these years.
Having risen through the ranks from the bottom, and witnessing the pitiful plight of women during her years as a thief, no one understood the importance of power better than her. To wield power meant to hold the reins of one's life. The thousands of soldiers in the women's battalion were not only her subordinates, but also her comrades-in-arms, her fellow soldiers who could fight alongside her.
If her lord hadn't been there, her reaction would have been no less than Shen Tang's.
To this day, the identity of the father of the child in the female soldier's womb remains unknown. Which male soldier is the father, or is it someone from another family? Was she forced into it, or was it voluntary? Because she refuses to say! Does she even realize the magnitude of the consequences this matter will have?
This is crucial to the future development of the women's camp.
Although her colleagues had no objections and were even quite accommodating out of consideration for Lin (Liang) and Feng (Cao), it didn't mean there wouldn't be dissenting voices after their power expanded. One wrong move, and the women's battalion's reputation could be completely ruined—didn't she understand that?!
Bai Su clenched her fists, a strong killing intent rising in her heart—putting aside the fact that the female soldier was pregnant, she would definitely kill that man!
Gu Chi, who had already glimpsed part of the truth: "..."
The female soldier kneeling on the ground faced her furious lord and her restrained female battalion commander. The more nervous she became, the less she could say the words stuck in her throat. Her face turned pale and her eyes were filled with panic.
"Mark, mark below... mark below is not..."
He stammered, stuttered, and hesitated.
Seeing this, Gu Chi felt helpless and simply spoke for her: "She wanted to say that she didn't know who the child's father was either."
Upon hearing this, the temperature inside the tent dropped sharply.
Shen Tang said in a sinister tone, "Oh, forced? Hmph, she may not know who the man is, but she should at least remember where it happened! He bullied my people, and let alone this audacious man, if he really angers me, I'll dig up his ancestral graves and whip his corpses one by one!"
The female soldier looked even more flustered.
So panicked that he was speechless.
Gu Chi sighed and said, "It wasn't forced."
Having said that, the tense atmosphere of impending battle abruptly ceased. The turn was so sharp that Shen Tang nearly fell flat on her back.
Seven or eight pairs of eyes in the tent all fell on him, and the female soldier also cast a grateful glance at him. Gu Chi braced himself and continued, "It seems that when the fighting had calmed down, she was ordered to go out and comfort the refugees, and happened to see a man she liked."
Everyone: "..."
The female soldier shrank her neck.
The panic on her face turned into embarrassment.
Shen Tang nearly choked on her breath at this turn of events. She tried to catch her breath and continued, "And then? And then?"
Gu Chi said, "The sky and the earth are the only options..."
The female soldiers' feelings suddenly became rich and varied.
Seriously, the entire screen is filled with knowledge points.
Shen Tang stared blankly and murmured, "Under the open sky?"
Gu Chi raised his sleeve to cover his face.
"...Yes, they no longer know what heaven and earth are."
This is clearly not the time to make fun of the lord's thoughts; otherwise, one might say something like, "That bellyband is on that waist..."
Everyone: "..."
Shen Tang sat in the main seat and took a deep breath.
"You really know how to surprise me!" What she feared most was that a male soldier stronger than the female soldier would force himself on her; such a scandal would make her lose face. But the current situation wasn't much better. "Tell me everything, exactly what happened!"
Simply put—
Since the female soldier cultivated her martial spirit and became a low-ranking noblewoman, her body no longer experienced menstruation. Although menstruation ceased, her body would sense it around the time of her period each month. Martial arts training invigorates the blood and energy, making the spirit exceptionally high. Inexperienced women might not feel this as strongly, but experienced women would experience certain emotions much more intensely.
She saw that the man was really handsome and had a thought.
certainly--
After the female soldier calmed down, she regained her ability to speak.
"There was absolutely no coercion involved in the bidding! It was entirely consensual!"
She pointed three fingers to the sky and swore an oath.
The two of them really did ask the man's opinion before they sat under the open sky!
Shen Tang covered her forehead.
She didn't understand why her lord had to deal with these things and listen to these things: "It was consensual, there was no coercion, I'll believe you for now—but this is still a violation of military discipline! You stole food, and you didn't even wipe your mouth after you stole it!"
Stealing! Eating! And! Not! Wiping! Their! Mouths!
|ω`)
I'm planning to take some time to polish the beginning of "The Empress". Although it's an old book from 2016, which is 7 years ago, the plot seemed fine back then. But readers have been recommending this book and some people have warned me about how Peng Peng's opening is. I think I should revise it.
P.S.: This is a female empress novel from 2016. Back then, the female empress fandom was quite barren (and it's not that lively now either). Mushroom was one of the first authors to try this genre, so it's normal for her to be criticized. Without criticism, there would be no precedent to learn from, right? Besides, authors' thinking also grows and changes. After all, it's like going from sixth grade to sophomore year of college—such a big leap.
P.S.: If you had trouble getting into the Empress arc at the beginning, it actually gets much better starting from chapter 369, the Earthquake arc.
(End of this chapter)
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