Yan Hucheng's lips twitched. At last, he summoned the courage to say, "A fine bird chooses a worthy tree to roost in..."
Zhang Ziqian's expression suddenly hardened. He raised his hand and dealt Yan Hucheng a vicious slap, leaving him standing there in a daze.
Zhang Ziqian's fury seemed enough to send his hair bristling through his crown. He roared, "A subject must put loyalty and filial devotion first! Never so much as mention such words in my presence!"
Yan Hucheng pressed his lips together. "I only feel that you've been wronged, Godfather."
"Get out!"
Yan Hucheng turned and strode out of the tent. A figure darted out of the shadows ahead-it was Zhu Jingyao, leader of the Four Heroes of Western Sichuan. One look at Yan Hucheng's expression told him what had happened. Yan Hucheng said nothing and marched onward. Zhu Jingyao followed him to a grassy knoll within the field camp.
Only after making certain no one was nearby did Zhu Jingyao cautiously ask, "General, what did the adviser say?"
Yan Hucheng shook his head.
Zhu Jingyao said, "Can't he see where things are heading?"
Yan Hucheng replied dejectedly, "It isn't that he can't see. He sees all too clearly. Whatever happens, he will never abandon his original convictions."
Zhu Jingyao said, "There's plainly no hope left. Why does he still persist? Didn't you tell him that Li Honghan slandered him before the Commander-in-Chief, accusing him of colluding with Hu Xiaotian?"
Yan Hucheng nodded.
On this journey to the Fragrant Kingdom, Zhu Jingyao had been responsible for Li Honghan's safety and served as one of his personal bodyguards. He was the source of all the inside information Yan Hucheng had received. Zhu Jingyao sighed. "On the surface, the Commander-in-Chief trusts the adviser, but appointing him army supervisor this