Imperial Decree

Inside the Yulin County Office, Chen Bingting had safely seen off the two distinguished guests, and he was in an excellent mood.

He lounged in a round-backed armchair in his room, holding a cup of strong tea and slowly sipping it by his lips. Before him, a dancer specially invited from the Dream Red Pavilion moved her graceful figure to a melodious, lively tune.

One enchanting body after another intertwined and shifted, leaving Chen Bingting dazzled. He could not stop singing their praises.

"Lord Chen! Something terrible has happened!"

Suddenly, a crude shout exploded through the room. The music stopped abruptly, and the dancers lost their rhythm.

Chen Bingting had been narrowing his eyes in enjoyment, and the shout nearly startled him out of his chair.

His refined mood shattered, every whisker on his beard bristling. He gripped his teacup and slammed it heavily onto the table. With a sharp crash, tea spilled across the surface in a wide puddle, steaming hotly. "What happened? Why are you making such a fuss?"

With those two gone, Yulin was now his to command. He truly could not believe anything could happen.

The dancers clasped their hands before them, lowered their heads, and stepped aside. Before long, Constable Yan barged in and got straight to the point. "Lord Chen, Young Master Chen has been detained by the Hundred Flowers Sect!"

"Wh... what?" Chen Bingting's expression stiffened. Only after a moment did he process the meaning of those words. He asked incredulously, "Did you just say the Hundred Flowers Sect detained my son?"

"That is correct." Constable Yan reported the facts honestly. "Young Master Chen originally led troops to capture Jiang Shuo, but he happened to run into Feng En on his return. The other side detained him afterward."

"Bastards!" Chen Bingting shot to his feet, flames of fury raging in his chest. "Does the Hundred Flowers Sect want to rebel? Constable Yan, gather every available man in the County Office. I'm going with you to demand his release!"

The Hundred Flowers Sect had always treated the sick and saved lives, and it had never interfered with the County Office. Chen Bingting had sent his son to join the Hundred Flowers Sect as a favor to them, yet they had actually pushed their luck and wanted to shit on his head? How could he possibly tolerate that?

"Our Yulin Hundred Flowers Sect is only a branch. Its headquarters are in the Capital, and it also has the Imperial Court behind it. Lord Chen, with this matter... shouldn't we consider our actions carefully?" Constable Yan hesitated before speaking.

"Bullshit! It's merely a Martial Arts Sect, yet it dares oppose an official of the Imperial Court like me? Are they trying to rebel?" Chen Bingting refused to listen to Constable Yan's advice at all.

Having failed to dissuade him, Constable Yan could only go and gather the men. Before long, more than two hundred yamen runners and soldiers filled the County Office courtyard, fully armed and ready to depart.

Standing atop the steps, Chen Bingting surveyed his forces. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he swept his hand and ordered, "Set out!"

"L-Lord!" Just as the large group was about to move, a yamen runner stumbled inside, his face panicked as he shouted.

"What has you so frantic?" Chen Bingting roared furiously. Why had everything chosen to happen at once, leaving him not a moment's peace?

"L-Lord... outside..." The yamen runner knelt at Chen Bingting's feet, gasping for breath after running so hard that he could barely speak. Whether from urgency or fear, his face was deathly pale and his forehead was drenched in sweat.

Already furious, Chen Bingting kicked him to the ground. "You useless fool! Are you trying to worry me to death?"

Even then, he was not satisfied. He had just raised his hand to strike when a tall, imposing figure suddenly entered through the doorway. The moment he saw the newcomer, Chen Bingting hurriedly lowered his hand, concealing the doubt and anger in his heart as he forced a smile and went to greet him. "General Meng, why have you returned?"

Meng Xiong gave Chen Bingting a cold look, his eyes carrying a frostiness that kept people a thousand miles away. "Chen Bingting, County Magistrate of Yulin, receive the Imperial Decree."

Chen Bingting froze for a moment. He saw that the soldiers filling the courtyard had already knelt on the ground, and only then did he react. He hurriedly knelt and touched his forehead to the ground. "The County Magistrate of Yulin receives the Imperial Decree."

Countless scenes flashed through Chen Bingting's mind in an instant. Thinking that he had made no mistakes in his conduct, he could not help secretly rejoicing. Could it be that I'm being promoted and given a raise?

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Chen Bingting, County Magistrate of Yulin, has treated human lives as grass, deceived his sovereign, and acted in defiance of the throne. He is hereby stripped of office and reduced to commoner status, escorted back to the Capital, and handed over to the Ministry of Justice for punishment!" Meng Xiong read aloud, every word ringing clearly into the ears of everyone present.

Everyone there could not help revealing shocked expressions as they raised their heads and secretly glanced at Chen Bingting.

By contrast, the yamen runner who had reported the news in advance remained relatively calm—before entering, he had already seen the prison carts behind Meng Xiong.

After those few dozen words were finished, Chen Bingting seemed to have every bone pulled from his body in an instant. His backside tilted to one side, and his whole body collapsed to the ground like a puddle of mud.

Meng Xiong put away the Imperial Decree, looked down at Chen Bingting, and ordered, "Take him away!"

Several soldiers immediately stepped forward and hoisted Chen Bingting up by both arms, then removed the black official hat from his head. A foul mess lay beneath him—he had been so frightened that he had lost control of his bladder.

He had been dragged halfway away when Chen Bingting seemed to remember something. Twisting his bloated body, he began shouting that he had been wronged. His hair was disheveled and his expression hideous; he looked exactly like a madman, with none of the imposing arrogance he had displayed moments before.

Only after Chen Bingting had been locked into a prison cart and taken away did the soldiers in the courtyard rise one by one. They looked at one another, utterly leaderless and not knowing what to do.