Old Xiong, That Beast

Shen Anxin: [Wait, was this really the time to eat melon?]

Chacha: [Host, you're a civil official. This contest has nothing to do with you, so what else can you do but eat melon? This melon is worth quite a few points—a whole five!]

Shen Anxin was shocked. The points tied to a Southern Xia grand general were actually worth as much as the Empress Wei incident.

His status wasn't nearly as impressive, which meant whatever had happened to him must be explosive.

Shen Anxin's curiosity instantly went through the roof.

The others, dividing their attention between two things, couldn't help growing curious too. They all cast curious glances at Grand General Xiong, who was radiating domineering energy in the middle of the open space.

What kind of big melon could this man have?

Emperor Hongyao narrowed his eyes slightly. The situation was against them, but if the information in the melon Chacha spilled proved useful, perhaps...

Xiao Yanchen exchanged a glance with Emperor Hongyao and immediately called out to General Wu.

General Wu hurried forward, unable to resist sneaking a glance at Shen Anxin.

Though he wasn't afraid, he knew his chances of winning were slim. But as the foremost military commander, how could he stand by and watch the dignity of Great Qi's military officers be challenged?

If the Shen girl had a way to help, even by revealing Grand General Xiong's weakness, it could improve his chances of winning.

Xiao Yanchen didn't try to keep Shen Anxin from hearing him. He gave General Wu his instructions directly.

"General, when you enter the ring, try to stall for time first. Don't confront him head-on. Once you've figured out his fighting style, consider how to deal with him."

General Wu quickly grasped Xiao Yanchen's meaning.

Stalling would give Shen Anxin time to spill the melon. They might just get some useful information out of it.

Besides, General Wu and Grand General Xiong were different.

General Wu had spent half his life on the battlefield, whereas Grand General Xiong had hardly ever set foot on one in Southern Xia. At most, he had suppressed bandits.

Grand General Xiong might have considerable strength, but his stamina had never been tested in actual combat.

So even if the melon yielded no useful information, wearing down his opponent's strength could still improve his chances of winning.

It wasn't particularly dashing, but their opponent had already tried to exploit a loophole to beat them. Who would bother playing the gentleman with them?

General Wu nodded, indicating that he knew what to do.

Soon, General Wu and Grand General Xiong stood in the middle of the open space.

Grand General Xiong looked at General Wu, who seemed a little smaller than he was, and immediately curled his lip in a sneer full of contempt.

General Wu stared coldly back, an icy aura honed on the battlefield emanating from him.

General Wu cupped his fists. "Please enlighten me."

Grand General Xiong said, "I know you. I heard that when you were young, you led the destruction of three small kingdoms and fought with great courage and skill. But now that I see you... you really don't live up to your reputation."

The words were a slap in the face, instantly enraging the military officers on Great Qi's side. General Wu himself burned with fury and was nearly thrown off his plan.

Although Minister Zheng didn't get along with General Wu, at this moment he shared his hatred for the enemy.

And as the civil official most skilled at infuriating military officers at court, he rose to his feet and opened fire.

"You can't compare to Grand General Xiong. None of us have even heard of your military exploits, so it's hard to say whether your reputation is worse than the man himself, or the man is worse than his reputation."

His meaning was clear: what gave a showpiece general who had fought hardly any battles the right to judge a general who had truly fought and killed on the battlefield?

Shen Anxin had been about to eat melon, but the sight of such a splendid pre-match trash-talk showdown immediately piqued her interest.

[It has to be Minister Zheng. How did that saying go? Only we get to bully our own people.]

General Wu and Minister Zheng's expressions changed at once. Although they knew that by "our own people," Shen Anxin meant people on the same side, being lumped together still rubbed them the wrong way!

Minister Zheng: What rotten luck!

General Wu: Who the hell's being bullied?!

Everyone else: Sneaking glances...

Minister Zheng's words had indeed silenced Grand General Xiong.

The Southern Xia censor rose and gave a soft chuckle. "They were merely a few small kingdoms that were already on the verge of collapse. Unfortunately, our Grand General Xiong never had such an opportunity."

Grand General Xiong immediately exchanged a pleased glance with the censor. The two seemed to be the closest members of the envoy delegation, closer than either was to Southern Xia's minister of rites or imperial preceptor.

Minister Zheng said, "Then why not go find such an opportunity? Is it because he doesn't want one?"

The Southern Xia censor said, "Southern Xia is a nation of propriety. We value harmony with heaven, unlike Great Qi."

In other words, they were barbarians, and going to war violated the harmony of heaven.

Minister Zheng said, "That's quite a convincing reason. Why not give us a few more? Perhaps we'll be even more convinced that Grand General Xiong simply hasn't had the opportunity."

His meaning was: Go on, make things up. Keep making up more excuses.

The Southern Xia censor's expression stiffened. "Do you think I'm lying, sir?"

Grand General Xiong immediately snorted. "I simply haven't had a chance to show what I can do. Do you truly think I'm incapable?"

The military officers on Southern Xia's side immediately voiced their support, especially the young deputy general who had originally been seated behind Grand General Xiong. He looked ready to slam the table and leap to his feet.

Amid the clamor, Shen Anxin couldn't help inwardly grumbling.

[These people are really something. For a hundred years, they haven't even had the courage to reclaim their lost territory. After settling for a corner to call their own, they still deceive themselves and look down on what others have achieved. They think it isn't that they don't fight, but that they're civilized?]

Chacha: [That really is what they think. They haven't been on a truly brutal battlefield for a long time, so their military officers are very arrogant. They think that if war really broke out, they wouldn't necessarily lose. In human terms, they don't know how many pounds and ounces they weigh.]

Shen Anxin: [No wonder Grand General Xiong is so arrogant. He doesn't think he's incapable at all—he thinks he hasn't had a chance to show what he can do. The more ignorant, the more arrogant. He's never been beaten up and schooled by reality.]

Everyone: Exactly!!! Ignorant and arrogant.

Looking at the people across from them who appeared to be Southern Xia military officers, they really did seem like the sort of second-generation heirs who didn't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth.

There was no reasoning with people like that. They would probably have to be dragged onto a battlefield for a real confrontation before they could face the gap between their fighting abilities.

As for Southern Xia's predominantly civil officials, they weren't fools. They naturally knew better than to actually fight Great Qi on the battlefield; at most, they would wag their tongues.

The Southern Xia censor immediately raised a hand to calm the military officers. It was enough not to lose ground in the war of words; going too far and defeating their own purpose would be bad.

"There's no use saying more. If this drags on, we'll have to wonder whether General Wu is afraid to enter the ring."

General Wu snorted coldly. "Then let's fight. Bring me my spear!"

Someone quickly brought General Wu his long spear.

As a mounted general, his opponent also used a long spear. Grand General Xiong waved a hand, and the young deputy general who had been waving the flag and cheering earlier immediately came rushing over in excitement with a long spear on his shoulder.

He rushed up in front of Grand General Xiong, his face full of admiration. "Father, your Overlord Spear!"

Grand General Xiong frowned. "Deputy General Liu, use my title when we're out!"

Deputy General Liu said, "Yes, Grand General!"

Soon, with a clang, the two long spears struck each other in the arena, sending sparks flying.

Following Xiao Yanchen's advice, General Wu fought very conservatively, spending most of his time dodging and retreating.

This made the Southern Xia side grow cocky, and they began smugly spouting trash talk.

Great Qi's side should have been angry, but... most of their emotions were being held in suspense by Shen Anxin's inner voice.

Shen Anxin: [What?! The young deputy general who just called Grand General Xiong "Father" isn't his son, but his legitimate eldest daughter's husband? His son-in-law?]

Chacha: [That's right, but he actually treats his legitimate eldest daughter very badly, so he doesn't like this son-in-law either. He's even been taking credit for his son-in-law's work suppressing bandits and quelling unrest all along.]

Shen Anxin: [That doesn't add up. His son-in-law clearly looks like he worships him. Oh~ I know! He's bowing and scraping and pretending to admire him, planning to act sweet and secretly get back at his father-in-law! People who can endure like that are the most calculating.]

The melon-eating crowd: ????

No one understood what acting sweet to secretly get back at him meant, but they could roughly work it out from the context.

Grand General Xiong treated his son-in-law badly, so by rights his son-in-law shouldn't have been very respectful toward him, yet...

Everyone looked over and saw Deputy General Liu watching the two men fight with a tense expression, looking as though he were terrified his father-in-law might get hurt.

He was so... filial. Could he be another person whose acting had reached divine heights?

No, no, no, this wasn't the time to be curious. So far, there didn't seem to be any useful information.

Chacha: [You guessed wrong, host. His legitimate eldest daughter does want to get back at Grand General Xiong, but this son-in-law's feelings for Grand General Xiong are "sincere."]

Shen Anxin: [No, no, no. Old Xiong stole his credit, which means he has no intention of helping him advance. Anyone would resent that. How could his feelings be sincere?]

Chacha: [No, no, no, host, you've misunderstood me. That kind of sincere isn't this kind of sincere. You know.]

The melon-eating crowd: ????

Know what? Why did it all sound so baffling?

Quite a few people sneaked curious glances at Shen Anxin. They saw her go from bewilderment to gradually widening her eyes, then blushing scarlet, and finally holding it in so hard that her expression turned ferocious.

The melon-eating crowd: Wait, what exactly did she understand? Why did she look like she was caught between life and death?

Shen Anxin swallowed the scream lodged in her throat. [Is... is it what I think it is?]

Chacha: [It's what you think it is!]

Shen Anxin: [Are they a pair?]

Chacha: [They are that pair.]

Shen Anxin: [Ahhhhhh, so he doesn't resent having his credit stolen. Could it be that he earned all that credit just to make Old Xiong happy?

Right, was working for the darling of his heart really work? That was giving of himself in bliss!]

The melon-eating crowd: ...

They must have been hearing things.

?????

Had... words that shouldn't appear in this context just appeared?

They were definitely hearing things. Haha, sincere... sin... cere...

They all looked at Deputy General Liu again. His eyes followed the fight, his fists were clenched, and his teeth were tightly gritted. He breathed in and out with every move of the man he adored... as though his heart could hardly take it.

!!!!!

That was the expression of someone worried about his father-in-law... That's too much, brother, too much! That's your father-in-law!!!!!

Not just the civil and military officials-even the normally unflappable Emperor Hongyao and Xiao Yanchen couldn't take it the moment they understood. Their scalps went numb.

The passion of the cut sleeve was nothing unusual, but this sort of relationship between family members certainly was.

This was more than an ordinary secret.

Did Southern Xia's military officers all play this wildly?

General Wu, still fighting, had been dividing his attention. Though he was a beat slower to react, he finally understood.

His stomach nearly turned, almost causing him to lose the match on the spot.

Faced with a choice between being disgusted and quickly thinking of a way to deal with Grand General Xiong, everyone chose to suppress their disgust while thinking of a solution.

Exposing it on the spot could stop the match, but if the other side denied it, they had no evidence. Being accused of spreading such rumors about another country's guardian grand general, especially over a matter involving family relationships, would be serious.

Besides, to be honest, no matter how they looked at Grand General Xiong, he didn't seem like that sort.

Shen Anxin: [Wait, let me sort through this melon. You just said Old Xiong doesn't like his son-in-law, so the feeling isn't mutual? His son-in-law's love is one-sided?]

Chacha: [That's right. Old Xiong doesn't know how his son-in-law feels.]

Shen Anxin: [Old Xiong is straight!]

Chacha: [Straight as steel.]

Shen Anxin: [Then does Eldest Miss Xiong know? Old Xiong treats her badly, and if she knows her husband has ulterior motives too, that's just too miserable.]

Chacha: [Eldest Miss Xiong knows.]

Shen Anxin: [Shocking first reveal! A powerless wife and daughter?! Let me shed a bitter tear for her.]

The melon-eating crowd: This young lady... sigh~

Chacha: [Oh, there's really no need for that. When Eldest Miss Xiong was choosing a husband, she learned Deputy General Liu's secret, and that's exactly why she insisted on choosing him. They're open with each other about it.]

Shen Anxin: [...Huh? Huh?]

The melon-eating crowd: There really must be something wrong with our ears. Everything we're hearing is backward.

Shen Anxin: [Are you sure your system isn't malfunctioning?]

Chacha: [Nope. Eldest Miss Xiong wants to take revenge on her father. She and Deputy General Liu are husband and wife in name only, and she deliberately takes her husband to stay at her natal home for long stretches, giving him chances to get close to Old Xiong in secret.

Even this time, when he traveled with the envoy delegation, it was Eldest Miss Xiong who used her connections to get her husband a place.]

The melon-eating crowd: Are... those... human... words?????

That's his daughter? His own daughter? No matter how badly her father treated her, she couldn't...

Shen Anxin: [What utterly deranged thing did Old Xiong do to make his own daughter treat him like this?]

Chacha: [He caused the death of his first wife, Eldest Miss Xiong's birth mother.]

Shen Anxin: [...Oh, then I understand.]

The melon-eating crowd: ...Come to think of it, taking revenge for her mother did seem only natural.

Shen Anxin: [What exactly happened? Doesn't anyone do anything about a man harming his wife?]

Chacha: [He caused her death indirectly. Without evidence, it's hard to do anything.

Back then, Old Xiong took a fancy to another noble young lady of Southern Xia. Given her status, there was no way she could become a concubine, so Old Xiong wanted to cast off his wife.

But Southern Xia's rules on such matters were fairly strict on the surface. If a wife had done nothing wrong, even if her natal family had fallen into decline and her husband's power was at its zenith, he had no right to propose an amicable separation or divorce her.

Old Xiong had a bad temper and vile character, so he took his anger out on his innocent wife, finding excuses to beat her at every turn.

After beating her, he wouldn't get her a doctor, and so her health grew worse and worse.

In the end, new injuries piled atop old ones, and her lingering ailments wouldn't heal. She soon died of illness.

But Old Xiong hadn't laid a hand on her just before she died, so naturally it didn't count as murder.

Eldest Miss Xiong was still young then. She watched everything happen before her eyes, powerless to stop it.

When she went out crying and making a fuss, her father's power cast a shadow over everything. It was all dismissed as a child talking nonsense and causing trouble. She had nowhere to seek justice, and her pleas for help came to nothing.

In the end, she watched her mother die. Then, before her mother's bones had even grown cold, she watched her father joyfully welcome a new wife and have sons and daughters, while she, the true legitimate eldest daughter, lived like a lowly invisible person and suffered every kind of cruelty.]

Shen Anxin: [...I suddenly feel that Eldest Miss Xiong's subtle revenge is letting that beast off easy!]