Fei Zhong Arrived at Chentang Pass
Chentang Pass.
The city walls stand tall and majestic, and the banners flutter in the wind.
The sea breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, relentlessly battered this vital town that guards the gateway to the East Sea.
Da da da.
The rapid sound of horses' hooves shattered the tranquility before the pass.
A troop of elite riders adorned with black bird patterns escorted a carriage with minimal lavish decorations as they sped towards them.
Fei Zhong lifted the carriage curtain and was met with a mouthful of sand and dust.
He spat twice, but instead of being annoyed, his face showed an undisguised excitement.
This was a task personally assigned by the King.
If this is done well, it means Jian is on the emperor's side, and a meteoric rise to power is just around the corner.
Did I mess it up? I touched my own head; it was probably more unstable than the bricks on the city wall.
The commander on the city wall had already seen the banner representing the king's command, and dared not be negligent. The huge gate slowly opened.
The convoy entered Chentang Pass and went straight to the gate of the General's Mansion.
Fei Zhong poked his head out, his face, which usually carried three parts shrewdness and seven parts calculation, now displayed just the right amount of restraint and authority.
He straightened his wind-blown clothes and glanced at the vermilion gate.
This is the General's Mansion of Chentang Pass.
"Go and inform Commander Li."
"Tell us about the envoy from Chaoge, Fei Zhong; he has arrived."
The General's Mansion.
Li Jing, dressed in military attire, strode out.
Although he was in charge of a region and commanded a large army, he dared not show the slightest disrespect to the angels who came from Chaoge.
Moreover, he has a guilty conscience.
Or rather, there is worry.
The fact that the lady had been pregnant for two years without giving birth had already become the talk of the Chentang Pass, with some even saying that it was the reincarnation of a demon.
Now that someone has suddenly arrived in Chaoge, could it be... that the King has heard rumors and intends to punish us?
Li Jing's heart tightened, but his steps became even more steady.
Upon meeting, Li Jing clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed deeply.
"This humble official, Li Jing, General of Chentang Pass, greets Doctor Fei!"
"I was unaware that Doctor Fei had traveled from afar. I apologize for not greeting you properly."
Normally, Fei Zhong would have been arrogant and accepted the courtesy, then slowly and deliberately tried to get some benefits out of him.
But today is different.
Fei Zhong recalled the King's intimidating gaze before his departure, and his words, "If you harm my talented advisors, I will hold you accountable."
How could he dare to be so presumptuous?
Just as Li Jing was about to kneel down, Fei Zhong strode forward and firmly supported Li Jing's forearms with both hands.
His round face was filled with a warm, gentle smile.
"Oh dear, Commander Li, you flatter me!"
"We are both subjects of the same court, why should we perform such a grand ceremony?"
"Get up! Get up!"
Li Jing was stunned by this gesture.
Is this the legendary, greedy, and vindictive Fei Zhong Doctor Fei?
Why does it look different from what I've heard?
Taking advantage of the situation, Li Jing stood up, full of suspicion, and tentatively asked.
"Doctor Fei has traveled a long way and must be exhausted. What is His the King's decree?"
Fei Zhong cleared his throat, took out a scroll of silk from his sleeve, and slowly unrolled it.
"Commander Li."
"I have come here to deliver a decree from His the King. General, please receive the decree."
Li Jing's heart leaped into his throat.
He knelt down and kowtowed deeply.
"This humble general, Li Jing, respectfully receives Your the King's decree."
His lieutenants behind him also knelt down in unison.
The atmosphere in front of the General's Mansion was extremely solemn.
Fei Zhong looked at Li Jing kneeling on the ground, quite satisfied with the effect, and then slowly and loudly read the words aloud.
"By order of the King."
I have heard that Li Jing, the general of Chentang Pass, has guarded the border for many years, and has made great contributions and is extremely loyal.
"Li Jing and his family Chaoge specially summoned to Chaoge to serve under Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and protect the capital."
Li Jing was completely stunned.
Chaoge?
Join the Grand Tutor's ranks?
This isn't a transfer; it's a meteoric rise to power!
Who was Grand Tutor Wen?
The pillar of the Great Shang Dynasty, a master of the Interception Sect!
Serving under the Grand Tutor was a dream come true for many military generals.
But...
Why?
What merit or ability does Li Jing possess to earn such high regard from the King, who even specially dispatched Doctor Fei to convey his decree?
Li Jing received the Royal Decree with trembling hands, feeling as if the scroll of silk weighed an ounce.
"Your subject... accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"
He kowtowed deeply.
Fei Zhong looked at Li Jing's naive and unsophisticated appearance and secretly found it amusing.
"Commander Li, please get up."
"Doctor Fei, this humble official... this humble official truly does not understand."
Li Jing swallowed hard, but finally couldn't help asking the question.
"Although I have rendered some minor service at Chentang Pass, I dare not accept such favor from Your the King."
"Is there... some misunderstanding here?"
Fei Zhong took in Li Jing's astonishment, and his smile deepened.
There's no misunderstanding.
"Commander Li, I must congratulate you in advance."
"Your Li Family is about to produce an extraordinary figure!"
Li Jing was still somewhat dazed, staring blankly at Fei Zhong.
"Doctor Fei, what... what does this mean? I am ignorant and humbly request your explanation."
Fei Zhong patted his arm, looking like he was speaking from the heart.
"Commander Li, are you aware that the news of your wife's pregnancy, which has lasted for more than two years, has already reached the King's ears?"
Boom!
Upon hearing this, Li Jing's heart tightened again; it really was because of this!
This isn't about transferring him to Chaoge!
Your the King intends to escort his entire family back to Chaoge for trial!
Li Jing felt a chill run through his body. The anxiety that had been weighing on his mind for the past two years finally sank into an abyss.
His body trembled slightly, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.
Fei Zhong chuckled inwardly as he observed Li Jing's reaction.
"Commander Li, do not panic."
His tone shifted, taking on a reassuring quality.
"This summons to court is not for punishment, but for a momentous occasion!"
Li Jing suddenly raised his head, his face full of disbelief.
happy event?
At a time like this, what joyous occasion could there be?
Is this Doctor Fei perhaps just making fun of himself?
"Doctor Fei, my wife... my wife simply has an unusual constitution, she is by no means a demon..."
He hurriedly tried to explain, but a fine layer of cold sweat had already seeped from his forehead.
Fei Zhong waved his hand, interrupting Li Jing's panic.
"What are you thinking, Commander Li!"
"Upon hearing this, Your the King was overjoyed!"
"His the King says that while ordinary women carry a child for ten months, your wife has been pregnant for over two years; the child in her womb must be extraordinary!"
"This is Minister of Assistance bestowed upon my Great Shang Dynasty by Heaven, Qilin Child of my Human Clan!"
"His the King is eager for talent, and having heard that such a remarkable genius is about to emerge from your Chentang Pass, he has specially ordered me to summon your entire family to Chaoge!"
"Lord Li, the King intends to raise your unborn child as Pillar of the State!"
Li Jing suddenly raised his head, his pupils contracting sharply.
Pillar of the State?
Reincarnation of a Virtuous Person?
Not a monster?
The huge weight that had been pressing on his heart for the past two years was instantly shattered by these few light words.
"This... this..."
Li Jing was so excited that he became incoherent, and his eyes even turned a little red.
"Your the King... Does Your the King truly say so?"