Heir of Duke Wuwei

Heir of Duke Wuwei

"Commander Chen, not everyone has arrived yet, and you're already starting the council?"

At Zhang Yang's voice, two men walked into the side hall. They seemed utterly oblivious to the stares around them, as though everyone had naturally been meant to wait there for them.

The speaker was a young man. His gorgeous, eye-catching ceremonial robe with its flowing sleeves stood utterly at odds with the armored warriors around him. Qin Mo could even smell a trace of face powder. The other man, slightly older, wore the standard attire of an Imperial soldier, save that he bore no insignia denoting military rank.

The man in military dress saluted Commander Chen, then walked straight over and sat beside Qin Mo. He remained silent throughout, his face frosty. Though he had not neglected proper etiquette, his hostility toward Chen Xuanji was plain for all to see.

"Who stands before this hall? How dare you speak so flippantly in a place of military deliberation? Do you take the Central Military Office for a theater?" Chen Xuanji did not flare up at the man's frivolous words, but this calm, lukewarm questioning placed even greater pressure on everyone. All could feel his bearing soaring higher and higher; he was no longer the old man on a street corner.

"Wang Renbi, heir of Duke Wuwei, greets Commander Chen." The young man gave an exaggerated military salute, declaring his identity. He wore an heir's ceremonial robes yet offered a military salute, an awkward sight no matter how one looked at it. The surrounding crowd stirred, and murmuring discussion rose in the previously silent side hall.

Wang Renbi immediately swept his gaze across the hall, making no effort to hide the ferocity in his eyes. Wherever his gaze passed, the buzzing gradually died away. Qin Mo found this quite strange. What kind of vicious man was this Wang Renbi, to possess such imposing authority?

Bang! With a thunderous crash, the table before Chen Xuanji shattered across the floor. It was clearly made of hard ironwood. A heaven-filling pressure spread through the entire side hall. In Qin Mo's eyes, the vital energy emanating from Chen Xuanji was almost tangible, carpeting the entire space.

At first, Wang Renbi stood where he was, smug and self-satisfied. But soon sweat beaded on his brow, and his legs began to tremble as though he could no longer remain standing. Clenching his teeth, he roared, "Chen Xuanji, are you trying to murder this heir? You dare harm even Imperial kin—are you rebelling?"

The hall was full of nobles and meritorious families. They looked at one another, silently exchanging questions with their eyes. Just what sort of formidable figure was Wang Renbi? In the end, everyone quietly reached a consensus: this fellow was the sort of goods Duke Wuwei's household could casually toss out to plug the teeth of the beastfolk.

Duke Wuwei hailed from the Longxi Wang Clan, a great family of Great Xia's northwest since ancient times, with talented people emerging generation after generation. Within Great Xia, the Longxi Wang Clan was one of the foremost aristocratic houses. Since Duke Wuwei's eldest daughter had married the current Emperor and become Empress, the clan's influence had become unparalleled for a time.

"Hehe... I, Chen Xuanji, have fought dozens of great battles for the country, yet today I am accused of treason by a brat like you. How laughable. Men... drag him out and give him forty heavy strokes." Rather than becoming angry at Wang Renbi's words, Chen Xuanji laughed and directly ordered the guards to seize him.

"Let's see who dares!" Wang Renbi kept circulating the vital energy within him. Yet most of Chen Xuanji's pressure was bearing down upon him. No matter how he struggled, not a glimmer of light appeared over his body. His cultivation had clearly not reached the Mysterious Realm—how could he break free of Chen Xuanji's restraint? He was promptly dragged outside by the guards. Moments later, miserable screams rang out. When the beating was over, the guards dragged him back in and tossed him into a chair.

"Now we begin the council. Since you have all come here today, you must have received the summons. Have you brought your full complement of retainers?" Chen Xuanji paid Wang Renbi no mind and began questioning them on his own.

"My sister will not let you off... Chen Xuanji... you're finished... This heir guarantees that you're finished..." Wang Renbi sprawled in his chair, glaring viciously at Chen Xuanji. Great Xia's military rods were not easy to endure. They were all crafted by the Imperial household; regardless of one's cultivation, they ensured pain that pierced to the bone marrow.

"Heir Wang, answer me this: does Great Xia's Imperial family bear the surname Qin or Wang? Does the Great Xia military follow Great Xia's laws, or the rules of your Wang Family?" Chen Xuanji had returned to his deadpan expression. He spoke slowly and deliberately, but every word struck at the heart.

"You..." Wang Renbi could no longer speak. Only his beastlike eyes continued to glare viciously at Chen Xuanji, like a starving wolf at death's door.

"I will ask once more. Whose retainers are not yet complete? Speak now. In consideration of the fact that you are all pillars of Great Xia, I will give you another chance. But when the generals are appointed and the army marches out, do not blame me for showing no mercy."

The hall fell silent, and no one answered. Even those whose retainers were short in number secretly resolved to find a way to fill the vacancies within a few days, lest they touch this ill omen.

"Chen Xuanji, gathering enough retainers is no difficult matter. As commander, you inspect only the numbers and let those deceitful men falsify the count as they please. Is this how you fulfill your duty to Great Xia?" That arrogant voice rang out again. The nobles had truly had their eyes opened today. This Wang Renbi really was a tough piece of gristle that no blade could cut; he would not settle down for even a moment.

"Oh? Which household does Heir Wang mean has falsified its numbers? If it proves true upon investigation, I shall count it as a report to your credit."

"Naturally, I mean His Highness the heir of Prince Heng of Dayuan... Hahaha... More than half his retainers are Fusang dwarves... If they were sent to amuse people in a theater, they might be quite skilled. But if they were to fight... it would truly make people laugh their teeth out..." Wang Renbi began laughing as he spoke. His sinister face, together with that chilling laughter, made him seem like a venomous snake.

Qin Mo froze. What the hell? I was sitting here minding my own business. Did I provoke you? Are you using me to divert attention? Even if you drag me through the mud... can it wash away the disgrace you brought upon the Wang Family today?

"Your Highness, heir of Prince Heng, is what Heir Wang says true?" Chen Xuanji glanced at Qin Mo and asked casually.

"Dayuan lies in a remote region. Most of the retainers led by my late father have already grown old. It is true that this heir recruited Fusang people as retainers. However, they are warriors. Heir Wang's accusation that I padded my ranks with inferior men is utterly baseless." Qin Mo had many Fusang people in his ranks, and he could not hide it from those who cared to look. He might as well admit it openly.

"Warriors... Wahahaha... Warriors as tall as children? This heir is truly dying of laughter..."

"Wang Renbi, you mad dog, what are you trying to do? What the hell is it to you how tall other people's retainers are? With your conduct, you should count yourself lucky if you can keep your own private army in order." Qin Yumu could endure no more. Forgetting that this was the Central Military Office's council hall, he rose and berated him.

"He has an Empress for an elder sister, after all! Hehehe... I simply wonder how many younger brothers Her Majesty the Empress has." Qin Yuanze also rose to his feet. He waved his folding fan with carefree elegance, his words accompanied by smiling laughter.

"You..." Hearing Qin Yuanze's laughing words, Wang Renbi reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He leapt straight out of his chair, tugging at his wounds and making him bare his teeth in pain.

"Silence. Great Xia law has never forbidden nobles from recruiting people of other races as retainers. This matter is settled! Now distribute the marching deployment plans. If anyone has objections, raise them promptly." Chen Xuanji stopped the bickering and instructed his staff and attendants to distribute the booklets bearing the marching plans.

"I object. Since Imperial clansmen and nobles are the pillars of Great Xia, they should lead by example. If deceitful men are allowed to run wild and do as they please, would that not chill the hearts of all officers and soldiers?" Before the booklets had even been distributed, Wang Renbi loudly raised another objection.

"Wang Renbi, in consideration of the many martyrs and heroes of your Wang Clan, I have shown you forbearance. Do not fail to appreciate kindness." Chen Xuanji finally erupted, anger blazing across his face, his aura terrifying.

"Qin Mo, if your Fusang retainers are truly warriors, do you dare compete?" Wang Renbi no longer dared provoke Chen Xuanji and instead turned his spearhead toward Qin Mo.

"How do you wish to compete?" Qin Mo had also been roused to genuine anger. He asked coldly.

"Simple. My retainers against yours. Excluding cultivators, each side selects fifty men to fight."

Boom! This time, everyone erupted. The hall filled with whispering and loud clamor as people shook their heads and exchanged words.