Chapter 600: This Humble General Will Devote Himself Utterly, Even Unto Death

The residence of the Left Feathered Forest Army Commander.

Since it was the Right Divine Might Army Commander's turn on duty today, Left Feathered Forest Army Commander Zhang Haishen returned home the moment his own shift ended.

"Where is my wife?"

Upon returning to his residence and finding his wife absent, Zhang Haishen asked one of the household maids.

"Reporting to master... the mistress... she's gone out to buy pastries."

The maid answered slowly.

Only, her eyes darted back and forth as she spoke, carrying a guilty air.

"Buy pastries? At a time like this, she's gone out to buy pastries? What kind of pastries could our own household possibly lack, that she needs to go buy them herself?" Zhang Haishen said angrily.

The maid, hearing her master's scolding, dared not say a word, only pressing her hands together before her, lowering her head silently.

The household steward, witnessing this scene nearby, could not help but feel a certain weariness in his heart.

Their master, honestly.

He knew full well what kind of "pastries" the mistress had gone out for, and yet insisted on asking so pointedly. Wasn't this just inviting his own discomfort?

Why bother?

Seeing the maid say nothing more, Zhang Haishen knew there was no use scolding a mere servant girl, and with a sharp "Hmph" and a sweep of his sleeve, he strode toward the rear courtyard.

After bathing with the maid's assistance, Zhang Haishen sat in the courtyard, drinking wine while waiting for his wife to return.

About an hour later, Zhang Haishen's wife, Jinlian, walked into the courtyard.

"You're back so early tonight, husband?" Seeing her husband, Jinlian swayed her hips as she walked toward him.

Zhang Haishen looked at his wife's thoroughly satisfied, radiant appearance, and could not help clenching his fists, suppressing the anger rising within him, “Where did you go tonight?"

"To buy pastries, of course." Jinlian smiled, lifting the pastries in her hand, gesturing toward Zhang Haishen.

"Buy pastries?" Zhang Haishen said coldly. "These pastries, I suppose you bought them at the Chancellor's residence?"

Hearing her husband's words, Jinlian's expression changed at once, though she still spoke defiantly, “I don't know what you mean by that, husband. I'm rather tired, I want to go rest in my room!"

"Don't know what I mean?" Zhang Haishen suddenly seized his wife's wrist. "Don't think I don't know. These past years, you've often gone running off to that old wretch Yan Shan'ao! You shameless slut!"

"I'm a slut? You call me a slut?"

Jinlian, furious, tried to wrench her hand free.

"I'm a slut, then what are you? You knew full well I was going to Lord Yan's residence, but did you ever stop me? Did you ever go settle the score with Lord Yan? You didn't dare!"

"And what right do you have to curse Lord Yan? You can't even last a quarter of an hour yourself. What, if you can't plow your own field well, does that mean no one else should be allowed to?"

"Shameless whore!" Zhang Haishen raised his hand, striking Jinlian hard across the face.

"You dare hit me?! You actually dare hit me?!"

Jinlian covered her burning cheek, her eyes welling with tears, and turned her right cheek toward him.

"Come on, then! Go ahead and keep hitting me, if you've got the nerve! I'd like to see you beat me to death. Once you do, we'll see if my father comes to settle the score with you!"

"You—!"

Zhang Haishen raised his hand again, wanting to strike once more.

But remembering that her father was none other than the current Minister of Works, Yan Shan'ao's right-hand man, Zhang Haishen clenched his fist in fury instead.

"Get out!" Zhang Haishen roared at Jinlian.

"Fine, I'll get out!"

Jinlian scrambled up from the ground, running out of the courtyard in tears.

Zhang Haishen remained alone in the courtyard.

He sat on the stone bench, gripping his fists in fury, drinking cup after cup of wine, his body trembling faintly with anger.

"Master..."

An incense stick's time later, the household steward came to the rear courtyard, calling out softly.

"What now?" Zhang Haishen took a deep breath, trying to calm his troubled mood.

"Master, Eunuch Wei from the palace has arrived." The steward said quietly, as though afraid a third person might overhear.

"Eunuch Wei?" Zhang Haishen's expression carried great surprise. "This late at night, what could Eunuch Wei possibly want with me?"

"This... Eunuch Wei didn't say. He only kept insisting on speaking with you in person, master." The steward answered honestly. "Eunuch Wei is already waiting in the main hall. It seems to be a matter of some importance."

"I understand. I'll go at once." Zhang Haishen rose to his feet, immediately walking out of the courtyard.

Before long, Zhang Haishen arrived at the residence's guest hall, and found Wei Xun seated there, drinking tea.

"Eunuch Wei, forgive Haishen for failing to welcome you properly." Zhang Haishen said in a clear voice, his face carrying a warm, hospitable smile, though his tone held a note of apology as well.

"Oh my, Commander, what are you saying." Wei Xun quickly rose to his feet, bowing to Zhang Haishen. "This one visiting so late at night, it is I who should ask the Commander's forgiveness."

"Ha ha ha, not late at all. Eunuch Wei, please, sit." Zhang Haishen helped Wei Xun sit down, then called for the servants to bring fresh tea.

"Might I ask if His Majesty has some matter he wishes to instruct me on?" Zhang Haishen asked.

Wei Xun did not answer immediately, instead glancing toward the several maids attending within the hall.

Zhang Haishen understood Wei Xun's meaning at once, waving a hand at the maids, “You may all withdraw for now."

"Yes, master."

The maids bowed and withdrew, leaving only Zhang Haishen and Wei Xun in the hall.

Zhang Haishen, being quite perceptive, even activated the formation array within the hall that blocked spiritual consciousness detection.

"Eunuch Wei, please, speak freely." Zhang Haishen made a welcoming gesture.

"In truth, it's nothing much." Wei Xun said with a smile. "It's only that His Majesty asked this one to come and inquire whether the Commander might have some interest in the position of Minister of War."

The moment Wei Xun's words fell, Zhang Haishen stared at him blankly, and the hall fell into silence.

"Eunuch Wei, what did you just say?" Zhang Haishen asked again, wondering if he had misheard.

"This one asked Lord Zhang whether he might be interested in the position of Minister of War." Wei Xun repeated himself once more.

Zhang Haishen said nothing, only picking up his teacup, taking a slow sip.

The current Minister of War belonged to the Yan faction yet Wei Xun was asking whether he himself had any interest in the position. The implication could not have been clearer.

Seeing Zhang Haishen remain silent.

Wei Xun was in no hurry either, simply waiting quietly for him to speak.

"I... don't quite understand His Majesty's meaning." After a long while, Zhang Haishen feigned ignorance.

"It means exactly what it says."

Wei Xun said with a smile.

"This one will speak plainly with you, Lord Zhang, no need to hide anything. This one knows of your relationship with the Chancellor, and knows that the Minister of War is the Chancellor's own protégé. But what if, say, something unfortunate were to happen to the Chancellor?"

"His Majesty might then, perhaps, let you have a turn at being Minister of War, Lord Zhang."

Zhang Haishen's brow furrowed, “And is Eunuch Wei not afraid that I might tell the Chancellor everything about tonight's visit?"

"What if you did tell him, Lord Zhang? Are you truly so devoted to the Chancellor, body and soul?"

Wei Xun laughed softly.

"These days, Yan Shan'ao has all but lost the backing of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, and within the harem, His Majesty now has the support of the Qin Kingdom's Eldest Princess as well. The situation is no longer what it once was."

"Of course, if Lord Zhang wishes to continue living under your good lady's shadow, content to be forever overshadowed by your father-in-law, willing to watch your own wife carry on nightly revelries with the Chancellor, then this one has nothing more to say."

"Oh, I've heard your good lady's skills in bed are truly extraordinary. Her elder sister was once a disciple of the Harmonious Union Sect, and she, too, picked up a few moves and techniques from her, practically a half-disciple of the Harmonious Union Sect herself. No wonder even the Chancellor finds himself so enamored."

"Crack!"

The moment Wei Xun's words fell, the teacup in Zhang Haishen's hand shattered.

"This one has said everything that needed saying."

Wei Xun rose to his feet, looking at Zhang Haishen, and gave a bow.

"This one will take his leave now. Should Lord Zhang reach a decision, you may come find this one at any time. But this one must say plainly to Lord Zhang, His Majesty's imperial aura is now truly extraordinary. Great Zhou will surely rise again, toward a golden age! As for how history will remember Lord Zhang's name in the chronicles to come, that choice remains entirely his own to make."

With these words, Wei Xun said no more, turning to walk out of the hall.

Zhang Haishen watched Wei Xun's retreating figure, step by step, his hand gripping the shattered porcelain tightly, his brow furrowed for a long, long while.

The Great Zhou Imperial Palace, the imperial study.

By now it was already deep into the night, yet Xiao Mo had not returned to his sleeping quarters, instead meditating with the curtains drawn in the front hall.

He was waiting for someone.

"Right Divine Might Army Commander Zeng Qiang! Summoned as ordered!" A robust voice rang out beyond the imperial study.

"Come in." Xiao Mo opened his eyes, speaking, his voice carrying an unspoken authority.

The door to the imperial study opened, and Zeng Qiang walked in.

"This humble general pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Zeng Qiang cupped his hands in salute.

"Mm." Xiao Mo nodded, looking at the man before him. "While cultivating the Dao deep within the palace, I had already heard that General Zeng possessed an impressive bearing and extraordinary presence. Seeing you today, the reports were indeed no exaggeration. Sili, bring a seat!"

Sili brought a chair out from behind the screen, placing it beside Zeng Qiang.

Zeng Qiang glanced at Sili, then at Xiao Mo, cupping his hands in thanks, “This humble general thanks Your Majesty for the seat!"

"No need for such formality, General."

With these words, Xiao Mo waved a hand toward Sili, who bowed and withdrew, leaving only Xiao Mo and Zeng Qiang within the imperial study.

"Might I ask what important matter Your Majesty wishes to discuss with this humble general?" Zeng Qiang asked.

Xiao Mo rose from the couch, hands folded behind his back, pacing slowly beside Zeng Qiang as he spoke, “I have heard that General Zeng's father, Zeng Ren, received the previous emperor's favor, and was a most loyal and righteous official, and that General Zeng, too, was taught from childhood to serve his country with utmost devotion. Is this true?"

"It is." Hearing His Majesty mention his father, Zeng Qiang lowered his head, a flicker of remembrance passing through his eyes. "And not only this humble general's father. In this humble general's youth, I, too, received the previous emperor's cultivation and advancement."

Xiao Mo turned, looking at Zeng Qiang, “Yet I have also heard that General Zeng, having accepted bribes from Yan Shan'ao, joined the Yan faction, and that your honored mother repeatedly urged you not to associate with Yan Shan'ao, but General Zeng would not listen, and in the end, your honored mother..."

Xiao Mo did not finish the sentence, instead observing Zeng Qiang's expression.

Though Zeng Qiang still appeared relatively calm, his eyes had reddened slightly, his hands clenching into tight fists.

"In truth, I know..." Xiao Mo let out a heavy sigh.

"No small number of people speak of General Zeng behind your back, criticizing you harshly, calling you unrighteous and disloyal, unfilial, all for the sake of power."

Xiao Mo continued, his voice growing louder.

"But I know that General Zeng is no such man at all."

"General Zeng..." Xiao Mo bowed deeply toward Zeng Qiang. "I thank General Zeng, for safely escorting Official Wang Can to his place of exile, protecting such a pillar of the state!"

"Your Majesty, please, there's no need for this." Zeng Qiang froze in shock, never having expected that His Majesty would know of what he had done.

He hurried to rise, kneeling on one knee, “This humble general truly cannot accept such an honor from Your Majesty!"

"You can, why couldn't you?" Xiao Mo said earnestly, his own eyes reddening as well. "Had it not been for pillars such as General Zeng, our Great Zhou would already have been lost!"

"Your Majesty..." Zeng Qiang's eyes trembled, wanting to say something, but being unskilled with words, his lips only trembled ceaselessly instead.

"General Zeng..." Xiao Mo gripped his shoulders tightly.

"At this moment, our Great Zhou hangs by a thread. Yan Shan'ao grows ever more excessive, and should this continue unchecked, our Great Zhou will surely be stolen away by this traitor. I do not fear death, but I fear having no face to meet our ancestors!"

"I wonder if General Zeng would be willing to lend me his strength! To reclaim power! To restore the glory of the House of Zhou!"

"This humble general!"

Zeng Qiang stepped back, bowing deeply to Xiao Mo.

"For Your Majesty! For the House of Zhou! This humble general will devote himself utterly, even unto death!"

"Good!" Xiao Mo clapped Zeng Qiang firmly on the shoulder, helping him to his feet. "These words from you, my loyal subject, are enough. Come, my friend..."

Xiao Mo pulled Zeng Qiang over to his desk.

In the time that followed, Xiao Mo laid out his plans for what was to come.

The more Zeng Qiang listened, the brighter his eyes grew.

It was not until the sky began to lighten that Zeng Qiang finally left the palace, returning to his own residence.

Before the memorial hall, Zeng Qiang gazed blankly at his parents' spirit tablets, lost in thought.

"My child, your mother is already old and frail, with little time left. Now that the House of Zhou has grown so weak, confronting Yan Shan'ao and his traitorous faction head-on simply will not work."

"And though you are the Right Divine Might Army Commander, my child, you have no backing, and because your father's loyal reputation is well known, Yan Shan'ao will never truly trust you, and will instead work to remove you."

"And so, my child, from this day forward, you must sully your own name."

"For the House of Zhou, for the current Emperor! You must become Yan Shan'ao's dog, and wait for your opportunity."

"Your mother believes that our Great Zhou's fortune has not yet run out! When the opportunity comes, you must help His Majesty root out these traitors!"

His mother's words echoed ceaselessly in Zeng Qiang's mind.

From that day forward, Zeng Qiang visited the Yan estate frequently, showing his loyalty, sinking into corruption alongside Yan Shan'ao!

His mother, too, repeatedly "urged" her son to turn back from this wrong path, but Zeng Qiang would "not listen."

One day, when his mother lay gravely ill, she summoned the household's maids and guards, "bitterly denouncing" Zeng Qiang for his disloyalty and lack of righteousness, declaring that he was no longer her son, and in the end, hanged herself.

After that day, Zeng Qiang continued his life of drink and indulgence, sunk in dissipation.

But it was also after that day that Zeng Qiang finally won Yan Shan'ao's complete trust.

"Father, Mother... rooting out the treacherous and villainous, restoring the House of Zhou! Your child! Has never once forgotten!"

Zeng Qiang lit an incense stick, bowing again and again before his parents' spirit tablets.