Everything Came Out

At that moment, everyone's eyes fell on Grand General Xiong and Deputy General Liu.

Shock, disbelief, and utter frenzy.

Grand General Xiong, who had just been furious enough to kill, seemed to have turned to stone.

Deputy General Liu was still holding him, but his expression had frozen, and he stared fixedly at the censor.

An eerie silence fell over the room.

One second. Two seconds.

The others who had been gathered around Grand General Xiong instinctively backed away two steps.

It wasn't that they were repulsed. They just had a feeling that if they were a moment too slow, they might get splattered in the face with blood.

Suddenly, Grand General Xiong seemed to come to life as if a current had run through him. With a furious roar, he threw Deputy General Liu to the ground, staring fixedly at him with an almost savage expression, his chest heaving.

Clearly, he had connected the dots and confirmed the censor's words.

"What did you do to me?! What did you do?! You and that little bastard actually joined forces to humiliate me! I'll kill you!"

Deputy General Liu went deathly pale. "Y-you, listen to my explanation..."

Grand General Xiong paid him no heed. He brought his foot down hard, intending to crush Deputy General Liu's chest.

Deputy General Liu knew how to fight too. He turned over and rolled away.

"Father, calm down!"

"Don't you dare call me that again! Shut up, shut up!"

Grand General Xiong was even more furious than before. "I'll slaughter you first, then go back and slaughter that little bitch! You dared to harm me, you deserve to die!"

Deputy General Liu took several of Grand General Xiong's punches and spat out several mouthfuls of blood. His expression changed too, showing both anger and sorrow.

"I know you can't accept it all at once, but my feelings for you are genuine! All these years, I've served you before the saddle and behind the horse, giving you every bit of merit and every benefit. I've been so good to you! Couldn't you feel it at all?"

The people of Southern Xia: Ahhh, please stop talking!!

A confession at a time like this!!!

Crazy! Crazy, they've all gone crazy!!!

Shen Anxin: [Holy crap! It just came out in the open, fresh and juicy like that? Eating this melon on the spot-does it have to be this thrilling?]

Ever since things had taken a turn, the thrills had piled up one after another. Shen Anxin's mouth hadn't closed once, and her eyes had grown brighter and brighter.

Once the commotion started, it became rather hard to control.

Xiao Yanchen rose with Shen Anxin, raised an arm to shield her behind him, and backed away to keep her out of the fray.

The people of Great Qi also moved aside in unison to make room, every one of them flushed and brimming with excitement.

Especially when they saw the expressions on the faces of the Southern Xia delegation—it was enough to make them wake up laughing from a midnight dream.

Some even picked up sunflower seeds and snacks from the tea tables, eating as they watched the show.

The live version really was just too thrilling.

After stirring things up, General Wu quietly withdrew to the side, hiding his accomplishments and his name.

There was no need for a martial contest anymore. It could be considered subduing the enemy without fighting.

Emperor Hongyao did not order the guards to intervene, letting the Southern Xia delegation make as much of a scene as they pleased. It was another country's embarrassment anyway, so the more the merrier.

Over there, Deputy General Liu finished speaking.

Grand General Xiong felt even more humiliated. He had always thought Deputy General Liu was a weak piece of trash, which was why he had freely exploited him and snatched his military achievements. He had never imagined that Liu harbored such disgusting feelings.

Grand General Xiong's killing intent intensified, and his spear grew even sharper. In an instant, he flicked apart Deputy General Liu's topknot, nearly slicing into his head.

This thoroughly enraged Deputy General Liu, and he grew defiant.

"Enough! No matter what, I'm your man. Even one day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of devotion, yet you really want to kill me!"

When everyone heard that, a huge question mark practically appeared over their heads.

Had Deputy General Liu always been this bold?!

How did he dare?!

That was the Grand General Who Pacified the Nation, and his father-in-law in name!

Did he think Grand General Xiong's spear wasn't sharp enough?

Shen Anxin: [Emmm... So "wife" really is a position you're in? Even a big bear can't escape it. This Deputy General Liu's macho attitude isn't just strong—the stink has soaked him through.]

Chacha: [That's called one villain having another to grind him down. Eldest Miss Xiong picked him out carefully after learning his true nature.]

Shen Anxin: [Impressive!]

Everyone listened as if thunder were rumbling overhead. Grand General Xiong felt a mouthful of blood surge up, and in his fury, he hurled his spear.

Deputy General Liu only just managed to keep it from hitting a vital spot. The spear pierced straight through his shoulder.

Grand General Xiong charged forward, intending to finish him off.

The others hurried to stop him, but none of them could block the human tank with the highest combat power and his fury meter maxed out.

Emperor Hongyao could not actually let them kill anyone, and was just about to intervene.

Perhaps because he truly felt his life was in danger, Deputy General Liu could no longer muster those secret little thoughts of being "her man."

He immediately pulled the other Southern Xia delegates in front of him as shields, shouting as he dodged.

"Wait! I was wrong, but at least my feelings for you are genuine. What about the others?! Do you know that every time I went into your room, it was your wife who drugged you with incense so she could go out and meet the censor in secret? They started carrying on the day she married you!"

Sure enough, the best way to avoid danger was to redirect the aggro.

With a single declaration, Deputy General Liu instantly distracted Grand General Xiong.

But it clearly wasn't enough. Grand General Xiong froze for only a few seconds before fixing on him again, ready to kill him.

Clearly, the wound he had inflicted on Grand General Xiong was the deepest.

Deputy General Liu had no choice but to reveal the biggest secret.

"Your precious son and daughter aren't yours. They're the censor's! There were reasons why both children were born early, but those were lies to fool you! We all know about it. Your only biological child is the eldest miss you despise!"

In an instant, Grand General Xiong stopped moving altogether. His face was expressionless, and his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

What? His son, his daughter...

Images of his precious son and treasured daughter gathered around him flashed through his mind.

So warm, so harmonious.

But on closer thought, they... they did seem to look more like his "good brother."

Grand General Xiong abruptly turned toward the place where the censor was hiding.

The censor shook his head wildly, still trying to patch things up.

But in the next moment, Deputy General Liu delivered another blow.

"And you can't even have children! Eldest Miss secretly gave you a drug to end your line long ago. Your wife found out, but she didn't tell you either! So the children definitely aren't yours. If you don't believe me, you can have a Great Qi physician examine you. Surely the physicians here haven't been bought off by the censor to deceive you!"

Those words cut off every escape route the censor had.

The censor turned and ran.

The other Southern Xia delegates: What have we just heard? Ahhhhhh!

How are there so many more sordid secrets?

Please, all of you, shut up!

We can't take any more!

Southern Xia's minister of rites, the leader of the delegation, was utterly numb.

Why were his colleagues all like this?

Forget it. He was tired. Let it all be destroyed.

The people of Great Qi: There was actually a melon we missed!!!!

Shen Anxin: [The end of his line?! Chacha, why didn't you mention that?!]

Chacha: [In this melon, that wasn't a key point. I didn't get a chance to add it.]

Shen Anxin: [Chacha, you're the Gossip System. Please treat every melon with reverence! Next time, make sure you tell me everything!]

How could it leave out such a wonderful revenge!

Grand General Xiong had gone completely mad. He couldn't have children? His line had been ended? The children really weren't his!

All these years, all these years, ahhhhhhh!

Grand General Xiong charged over. His rage-fueled strength let him lift an entire tea table and fling it through the air like a sandbag.

With a bang, the tea table struck the fleeing censor in the back, knocking him flat on the ground and unconscious.

Grand General Xiong wanted to continue the killing, but something suddenly struck the back of his head.

Everyone looked over and saw the previously inconspicuous state preceptor, his face grim, still holding up a bronze ornament from nearby.

Grand General Xiong passed out in shock, but just before he lost consciousness, an image flashed through his mind.

When his first wife died, his eldest daughter had looked at him with boundless hatred and sworn to heaven that retribution would surely come for him: his family bonds would all be severed, he would suffer betrayal after betrayal, and he would meet a miserable end.

What had he done then? He had flown into a rage and struck her, nearly beating her to death, before throwing his daughter, with only a breath of life left in her, into the ancestral hall to kneel in punishment.

He had never expected her to survive in the end.

And now... was this retribution?

Had all her curses come true?!

Once Grand General Xiong fell, the scene settled down.

Southern Xia's minister of rites rushed trembling to Emperor Hongyao and knelt before him.

This time, his kneeling was much more sincere.

Before he could apologize, Emperor Hongyao gave a cold snort. "How splendid! Has the Southern Xia delegation taken my Great Qi imperial palace for a stage? You truly have put on a fine play. I see you did not come to discuss matters, but to make fools of Great Qi!"

This high ground had to be seized.

The Southern Xia delegates were drenched in sweat. They hurriedly kowtowed, begging Emperor Hongyao to calm his anger.

If the phoenix bird incident had been an accident, this time they had truly made Southern Xia lose all face.

They knew perfectly well that on this trip to establish diplomatic relations, the repeated scandals had placed Southern Xia utterly at a disadvantage, with no chance of turning things around.

For now, all they could do was limit the losses.

But after saying that, Emperor Hongyao paid no attention to their kowtowing. He rose and left, maintaining an unwavering stance.

After Emperor Hongyao left, Xiao Yanchen stepped forward to clean up the mess. One was firm and the other gentle; they worked together seamlessly.

"Crown Prince Xiao, we... we truly did not mean to offend the heavenly majesty of Great Qi. This really was an accident, an accident!"

Southern Xia's minister of rites had already cursed those walking disasters eight hundred times in his heart.

What sins had he committed to serve at court alongside this lot? And in the end, he still had to clean up their mess.

His colleagues were all fucking idiots. Kill them, kill them all!

It had to be said, the minister of rites was in a truly wonderful state of mind now.

Xiao Yanchen wore an amiable expression and looked easy to talk to, but his words actually left no openings.

"Imperial Father attached great importance to this meeting and prepared many matters to discuss with you. Unfortunately...

"Imperial Father is truly angry now. Of the nine nations of the past, Western Rong and Northern Di included, not one dared to treat a meeting with Great Qi so lightly."

A chill ran down the Southern Xia minister of rites' back.

It was as though he could already feel Great Qi's abundant military might.

"I suggest that you first settle your internal affairs before coming to see Imperial Father again. I can buy you three days. I hope that when the negotiations take place, the Southern Xia delegation can show genuine sincerity. Please do not disappoint us again."

What could the Southern Xia minister of rites say? He could only nod frantically.

Watching Southern Xia's minister of rites from up close, Shen Anxin could not help sighing inwardly.

[Looking at his face, it's hard to imagine this is the same arrogant, haughty official who entered the Hall of Heavenly Mandate earlier. I almost feel sorry for him. First his brother-in-law screwed him over, and now his colleagues have done the same. When he gets back, the Southern Xia emperor will surely hold him accountable too. Life isn't easy for a working stiff.]

Chacha: [In human terms, it's not a godlike opponent you need to fear, but piglike teammates.]

The melon-eating crowd eavesdropping nearby could not help looking at the Southern Xia minister of rites and his mournful face.

They had to admit, the description was spot-on.

The minister of rites had been completely dragged down by the others.

They watched as the Southern Xia delegation finally left the imperial palace, supporting one another.

They watched the minister of rites' lonely, forlorn retreating figure.

They could not help sighing: if things went badly at court or work in the future and they felt their lot was bitter, they could think of this Southern Xia minister of rites.

At least what they faced would not be this outrageous—so outrageous that even if one wanted to deal with it, one wouldn't know where to begin.

Southern Xia's minister of rites indeed had no idea how to deal with it.

Earlier, when he came out, he had tried to seek help from Jixia Academy's deputy dean, but the latter had immediately cut ties with them.

"Your private conduct is corrupt! Your stench is unbearable! We are ashamed to be associated with the likes of you! We came only for academic exchanges. Do not ask us to support you in your political dealings again!"

Those words dealt the minister of rites a crushing blow.

So he simply stopped trying to intervene. When Grand General Xiong woke up and started causing trouble again, he returned to the delegation's quarters, buried himself in writing a letter explaining the situation, and sent it back to Southern Xia by swift horse.

By the time he came out again, it was over.

Grand General Xiong had beaten the censor to the brink of death. Perhaps out of revenge, he had focused his attacks on the man's third leg. The censor would probably have to change careers and become chief palace eunuch from now on.

Afterward, he and Deputy General Liu had slashed at each other, both intending to kill the other. But since both knew martial arts, they had ended up wounded and unable to move.

It was said that Grand General Xiong had shouted that he would not be a man if he did not kill Liu, while Deputy General Liu had cried in heartbreak, saying he had completely given up on Grand General Xiong and no longer loved him.

The minister of rites and the state preceptor could not bear to look anymore. After a brief discussion, they sent people to take the men back home first.

They sent a physician along, not to cure them, but only to keep them alive, lest they cause more trouble and disgrace themselves on the way.

Although public opinion in Great Qi was surely beyond their control, they might still be able to suppress it somewhat in Southern Xia.

They could not let the common people of Southern Xia think Great Qi was better than Southern Xia. After all, Southern Xia was the source of rites and propriety, whose culture had never been interrupted.

But he had not expected that, when it came to spreading public opinion, Great Qi had just discovered a new technique.

The former court diarist duo, who had also eaten their fill of melons at the state banquet, were summoned separately by Emperor Hongyao before they had even left the palace.

After receiving their orders, they returned to the Hanlin Academy in high spirits and began writing about the tale of love, hatred, and vengeance among Southern Xia's important officials that simply had to be told.

It was a story about how he loved him, but he loved her, while she actually loved him.

They also came up with a good idea. They would publish two books, one true and one fictional.

In the fictional one, they would make the "love" real. There would be no hatred here, only helpless love that broke through society's conventions.

Then it would be more than just a scandal; it would be a wonderful storybook. Once the common people over there matched the characters to the real people, the delegation would be unable to explain it away even if they tried.

As for all the fighting and killing, love taken to its extreme became hate. That was perfectly reasonable.

Releasing both books together would also spark more discussion and generate greater buzz.

This combination of moves would muddy the waters completely. Even if the delegation saw the truth, they wouldn't be able to explain it clearly when they returned. Truth and lies would mingle, without end.

And in the eyes of the common people of Southern Xia, it all came down to one word: chaos.

The officials at the top really were in far too much of a mess.

Southern Xia had never abandoned its desire to destroy Great Qi, so how could Great Qi let Southern Xia have an easy time of it? The war of public opinion was only the beginning.

Far away in Southern Xia, the Grand General's residence received the news. Eldest Miss Xiong had imagined that when the truth came to light, she would get to see that man in utter agony. She just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

Still, it didn't matter. They had messed up their performance in Great Qi and brought shame on Southern Xia. Their political enemies at court wouldn't let them off, so she would make arrangements before they returned.

The new madam hurried over to discuss the matter with her. Fortunately, she and Eldest Miss Xiong had a reasonably good working relationship. After all, she had had nothing to do with the late madam's death back then; she was merely an unlucky woman who had caught his eye.

The new madam had thought they would move their valuables elsewhere and then leave, but to her surprise, Eldest Miss Xiong had no intention of going.

Her revenge was not yet complete. That man had only lost everything, but her mother had lost her life!

When Grand General Xiong returned gravely injured this time, having lost the royal family's favor and the court's protection, she would have a way to leave him paralyzed at home, slowly enduring his days. Just as her mother had before she died.

Seeing that Eldest Miss Xiong had plenty of methods and backup plans, the new madam immediately felt reassured. She might as well stay. As for whether Grand General Xiong would be angry, as long as he couldn't get to his feet, he couldn't do anything to them.

Eldest Miss Xiong was already looking forward to the moment she saw her father. There were plenty of "good days" ahead.

Three days later, the Southern Xia delegation once again appeared at court.

This time, only the minister of rites and the imperial preceptor led them.

The imperial preceptor was the first to speak. He began with an apology, then said, "To express our apologies, I am willing to sacrifice years of my life to divine the fortunes of Great Qi."

Chacha: [Host, Host, that's him! He's the one who linked the great disaster a year from now to Great Qi's fortunes. He's the one who started the rumor.]

Everyone from Great Qi: ??? It was this pointy-mouthed, monkey-cheeked old bastard!!!!