Chapitre 202: Punishing Xu An
As dusk settled and the sky grew dark, the city walls lit up with torches, casting a faint glow over the surroundings. In the distance, something silvery and white glimmered, advancing toward them, as if intending to pierce the darkened heavens. The earth trembled beneath the weight of approaching forces, and even the skies seemed to shudder.
The gates of Yecheng swung open. Xianyue stood there, looking toward the horizon. Behind her, Bai Pingting and Luyi waited, eyes bright with anticipation. Ten thousand soldiers were drawing closer, and though obscured by the night, she could almost see each determined face—a band of scholars turned warriors, driven by their dreams of heroism.
Cheng Qiang led the vanguard. Spotting the figure cloaked in white by the gate, he raised his whip and spurred his horse forward. Dismounting with practiced grace, he knelt before Xianyue. "This humble soldier greets the Queen."
Xianyue approached him, smiling as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "General Cheng, your journey must have been arduous."
As she helped him to his feet, Xianyue continued with a smile, "And General Cheng is as handsome as ever."
Luzhu and the others stifled their laughter at her words. Cheng Qiang, unaccustomed to Xianyue's playful demeanor, stood frozen, only coming to his senses when the laughter reached his ears. Blushing furiously, he could only offer a bashful smile, the hardened soldier suddenly shy in the presence of so many women.
"And where is Minister Xu?"
Yilan's voice was quick and vengeful as she mentioned Xu An, still seething over his past antics in the court, where he'd been a leading voice questioning Xianyue's loyalty and attempting to pressure the King into taking another concubine. Her grievance had been simmering for days, eager to settle the score, and now, with Xu An arriving in Yecheng under Cheng Qiang's escort, she felt a rush of excitement, anticipation etched across her face.
At the mention of Xu An, a flicker of humor crossed Cheng Qiang's usually stoic expression. Like Yilan, he held little regard for the minister, particularly as Xu An's corruption and extortion of the common people were well known. Before their departure from Lan City, Xu An had attempted to bribe him with the ill-gotten wealth of the people—a fortune Cheng Qiang accepted, but only to be repurposed as military funds. He'd given Xu no special treatment during the journey either.
Xianyue, noticing Cheng Qiang's expression, guessed that Xu An had suffered on the road. She knew his type well—a man quick to curry favor, servile to the powerful yet merciless to those beneath him. Cheng Qiang, however, had found a more fitting use for his silver, something Xianyue quietly approved of. Better to use it for the good of the troops than to let Xu An's family keep their ill-gotten gains.
"We would have arrived two days ago, if not for him." Cheng Qiang's tone betrayed his disdain.
On the very first day, Xu An had demanded a carriage, only to be refused. Barely managing a single day on horseback, he'd collapsed, unable to move, forcing Cheng Qiang to reluctantly permit him a carriage—but without slowing the troops' pace. Now, as they arrived, Xu lay inside, likely no better off than on his first day.
Xianyue, sensing his predicament, felt certain Xu An's condition was grim, though she knew it would have consequences if he were to perish en route. "Where is he?"
Her slight smile hinted at her satisfaction. With Xianyue's first steps forward, the others hurriedly followed, eager to glimpse the minister in his miserable state. For a man like Xu An, accustomed to comfort, such a journey would have been pure torment, and curiosity piqued as they anticipated his sorry appearance.
"Pingting, stay here and settle the troops," Xianyue instructed.
Her gaze shifted to Bai Zhanfeng, who had remained silent, watching her with an unreadable expression. She raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the oncoming forces. "Care to join me?"
Since the prior evening, Bai Zhanfeng had been avoiding Xianyue, uncertain how to face her. Though he'd resolved to wait at the camp, the arrival of Lan's army finally offered him the chance to stand beside her once more. Having heard about Xu An's actions in the court, he knew that his recent promotion within the Bai family meant he couldn't ignore matters of state. As for Xu An, it was clear to him that the minister was an unfortunate yet appropriate target for Xianyue's display of authority.
The military carriage was hardly luxurious—a simple wooden structure, lined with only the thinnest of blankets. Cheng Qiang, at the front, lifted the curtain to reveal Xu An sprawled within, moaning piteously, punctuated by curses directed at Cheng.
In the brief month since they'd last seen him, the once-proud official had been reduced to a shadow of himself. His face was unkempt and gaunt, with dark circles under his eyes. His arms, bruised and swollen, showed evidence of many painful jolts along the road. Though his age would inspire sympathy from a kinder heart, his incessant cursing made Xianyue find him simply unpleasant.
Initially, Xu hadn't noticed her presence, craning his neck and recognizing only the hand holding the curtain—a hand he knew all too well. "Cheng Qiang!" he spat, voice full of venom. "I'll have you punished for this—I swear, the Queen will hear of your cruelty!"
As he moved to sit up, pain overtook him, and he fell back, groaning. Bai Zhanfeng, watching, found himself growing ever less patient with the man, scarcely able to restrain his disgust.
"Queen? And which Queen do you plan to inform, Minister Xu?"
All day, Xu An lay in the carriage, feeling as though he was in constant torment, with no idea of how many days had passed. He hadn't realized they'd already reached Ye City. A wave of relief washed over him, and hearing Xianyue's voice, he felt as if he had come back to life. Summoning what little strength he had, he managed to prop himself up.
The "queen" he referred to was none other than Gong Shaohua. Xu An couldn't understand why she, who had always held him in high regard, had agreed to send him to this forsaken place. Clever as he was, he knew Xianyue held a grudge against him, and hearing her voice both pleased and unsettled him. His expression grew uneasy as he looked at her, filled with apprehension.
"Minister Xu, may you be well," Xianyue remarked, her gaze piercing. She knew that Xu An, accustomed to a life of luxury, would struggle with the hardships of army travel. Confident that Cheng Qiang would not be swayed by Xu An's bribes, she had intentionally assigned him the task of escorting Xu An. If he had traveled with her, any strict treatment would have appeared as a personal vendetta or heartlessness on her part.
"Our kingdom has but one queen," Cheng Qiang said respectfully, giving Xianyue a reverent nod and a sidelong glance at Xu An.
Xianyue remained unfazed. "Ah, but I could hardly compare to the queen of Lan Yin Temple, could I, Minister Xu?"
Xu An's body ached in every joint; his hands trembled as he gripped the edge of the carriage. He dared not move again. He had, after all, insulted this queen in the Grand Hall of Lan, which had surely influenced his current predicament. To Xu An, Xianyue was someone best avoided. He'd thought that joining Cheng Qiang might afford him some leniency, but he had found none. The journey had been pure torment, and all he wished for now was to return to Lan City.
"Trembling with fear, Your Majesty," he replied with utmost respect, not daring to show the slightest neglect.
"Oh dear, Minister Xu, do you feel our princess unworthy of your obeisance? What kind of attitude is that?"
Yilan stepped forward, giving Xu An a light tap on the arm. He yelped in pain, collapsing onto the carriage.
"Ha! He looks like a dog eating dirt!" Ya'er covered her mouth, laughing heartily. None of them were the type to forget grudges, especially against those who dared to speak slander about their princess.
"Ya'er, hush! This is Minister Xu we're talking about—how can you call him a dog?" Lvzhu drew out each word mockingly, sticking out her tongue at the end to mimic a dog.
The entire group chattered and teased, leaving Xu An's face flushed an angry shade of purple. Furious but unable to retaliate, he knew that any retort would only provoke more insults from them.
"Enough! Calling people pigs and dogs—what kind of decorum is that? Don't make me call Sister Pingting over to reprimand you all." Xianyue's tone held a slight edge, as if she was fanning the flames further.
"Minister Xu, the journey has been exhausting. I commend you for your efforts."
"All of this is my humble duty," Xu An answered, fully understanding her intent. But here, he was entirely at her mercy. He had no allies, no recourse, and could only bear the silent humiliation. This was but a taste of the trials he was bound to face; Xu An was not one to die for honor—he would proceed with extreme caution.
"Yilan, find someone to take proper care of Minister Xu."
Overjoyed at this "honor," Yilan eagerly accepted. "Yes, Princess."
"Queen." Before Xu An could protest, Xianyue cut him off, turning to Yilan. "In a few days, we will set out for Bi Luo River. Make sure Minister Xu recovers quickly—we cannot afford any delays."
While she had no qualms about punishing him, she would not allow him the satisfaction of finding grounds to criticize her.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone