CHAPTER 241: CHAPTER 240: DEPUTY COMMANDER XIA

"Who the hell are you?"

Even a fool would realize they had stumbled into serious trouble.

Xia Tingfeng couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him.

The dagger, shimmering with silver light, traced a beautiful arc through the air. With the force of splitting bamboo and the speed of lightning, his dagger rose and fell, each slash whistling fiercely through the air.

The sharp dagger repeatedly slashed at Fan Changsheng’s vital spots.

He scrambled to flee, raising his sword to block.

But Xia Tingfeng’s dagger attacks were as swift as lightning and as relentless as a storm. His offense and defense were impeccable, each move deadly.

Fan Changsheng was forced to retreat step by step until he was cornered, barely able to defend himself.

To have survived this long against Xia Tingfeng, Fan Changsheng was clearly not entirely incompetent.

Backed into a corner with no way to retreat, defeat and capture seemed imminent.

Just then, a troop of soldiers burst through the door.

General Chen charged in at the lead!

"Men, surround this place and search thoroughly!"

In an instant, chaos ensued.

Xia Tingfeng instinctively glanced towards the door.

In that split second, Fan Changsheng seized the opening, swinging his broadsword at Xia Tingfeng’s groin.

"An arm for your third leg? I’d still be getting the better end of the deal!"

"Watch out, Guard Xia!"

It was a critical moment!

A wicked smirk touched Xia Tingfeng’s lips as his dagger spun with a flourish in his hand.

With a flick of his slender fingers, the dagger, imbued with immense power, shot out with a chilling glint.

Grazing Fan Changsheng’s scrotum by a hair’s breadth, the dagger plunged into the base of his thigh!

Simultaneously, Xia Tingfeng executed a perfect dodge with a light tap of his toes.

"Brilliant!"

"Excellent work, Guard Xia!"

Naturally, what followed was a scream a hundred times more agonizing than that of a pig being slaughtered.

"Tie him up and take him away!"

"Yes, sir!"

Ten Imperial Forest Army soldiers obeyed, swiftly binding Fan Changsheng securely with ropes.

"Take him away!"

With that, they prepared to depart.

"Wait!"

General Chen looked displeased.

"Is there something else, General Chen?"

Xia Tingfeng had no desire to engage with this fool.

How could such an imbecile survive on the battlefield, let alone earn accolades? Xia Tingfeng found it baffling.

But General Chen, as oblivious as ever, stated with an air of entitlement, "Guard Xia, while you found the criminal first, our Primus Camp also arrived. So, the credit for the capture isn’t entirely yours, is it?"

He then looked down at Xia Tingfeng, his expression full of superiority.

What is he trying to pull? Xia Tingfeng was speechless. Is he implying I stole his credit? Just moments ago, I couldn’t fathom how he earned his military merits. Now, I think I’m starting to understand. Such audacity!

At this thought, Xia Tingfeng offered a slight smile.

"General Chen is right! The capture of the criminal is indeed largely thanks to General Chen’s strong support. Rest assured, General, I will be sure to sing your praises before His Majesty!"

"After all... His Majesty will surely hold someone accountable for losing the prisoner in the first place!"

You’re the one who lost the prisoner. Now that I’ve caught him, you want to steal my credit? Do you really think you can have all the good things in the world? Dream on!

With that, Xia Tingfeng ignored General Chen, whose face alternated between flushed anger and pale dismay.

He simply gave the order.

"Take him away!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Imperial Forest Army soldiers escorted Fan Changsheng to a prison cart and set off for the Capital City that very night.

When General Chen made to follow, Xia Tingfeng cut him off.

"General Chen, perhaps it would be better for you to round up the remaining local ruffians before returning. That way, when His Majesty calls for an accounting, you’ll have some merits to offset your demerits!"

With that, he nimbly mounted his horse and galloped off.

General Chen was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood, almost suffering internal injuries from suppressed fury.

"Damn it! Where did this brat come from? How dare a mere upstart be so insolent to me!"

After he spoke, one of his subordinates, who had been standing stiffly behind him like a wooden post, leaned in.

Expressionless and in a dead-serious tone, the subordinate informed him, "General, that’s one of the top three experts in the Imperial Forest Army. It’s rumored he’s about to be promoted to Deputy Commander! The top three positions in the Imperial Forest Army are one Imperial Guards Commander and two Deputy Commanders. Even if he hadn’t secured the top command, he was still assured the rank of Deputy Commander. In the Three Great Camps of the Capital, that rank is equivalent to a Vice-Commander. Not someone a mere General of the Primus Camp like yourself can afford to offend."

General Chen immediately deflated, his anger vanishing.

He rubbed his nose and turned back, barking angrily, "Meddler! Does this general need you to tell him what to do?"

"Make camp! Tomorrow, we must round up all remaining criminals. Then, we depart for the Capital!"

"Yes!"

「Three days later, Capital City.」

Fan Changsheng was brought back in a prison cart.

He was taken directly to the Ministry of Justice’s Prison.

Xia Tingfeng returned to the palace to report on his mission.

「Imperial Study Room」

Emperor Zhao Junyao was delighted and praised him highly.

"Good!"

Xia Tingfeng bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, you praise me too highly."

Emperor Zhao Junyao said, "Fan Changsheng is the Empress’s brother. I have tolerated him for a long time. This time, he has taken a life. My patience has run out!"

Xia Tingfeng bowed his head.

"Your Majesty speaks the truth."

Such lowlife scum indeed deserve to die. The difference between those in the underworld and common ruffians boils down to two words: trust and righteousness. Upholding trust and righteousness is what defines the underworld. Otherwise, one is merely a ruffian. If Fan Changsheng, after losing the gamble, had actually chopped off his own arm, I would have respected him as a man of his word and might even have let him go. Of course, if he were truly such a man, he wouldn’t have killed someone in the first place. It’s a contradiction in itself, nothing more to ponder.

Emperor Zhao Junyao stepped forward, patting him on the shoulder.

"Alright, leave this matter to the Ministry of Justice!"

"If there’s nothing else, you may leave now, Deputy Commander Xia!"

"Yes!"

Xia Tingfeng bowed his head. Upon hearing the last phrase, he suddenly looked up, his face full of astonishment.

"Your Majesty?"

Emperor Zhao Junyao nodded, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"What’s wrong? Don’t you want the position?"

Xia Tingfeng’s astonishment turned to joy.

"I do!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

What true man doesn’t aspire to achieve greatness and success? There’s no shame in that. He has earned it through his efforts, and it is only right and proper!

As he emerged from the Imperial Study Room, the first rays of the early spring sun touched him.

His silver armor seemed coated in a layer of gold, shimmering brilliantly in the light of the rising sun.

He turned slightly, squinting as he looked toward the south.

He closed his eyes, savoring the beauty of spring, feeling the chill around him slowly dissipate.

He was slowly engulfed by warmth.

Mother, my sisters... My elder sister is in the palace, safe for now. But what about my younger sister? And Mother?

「Qingya Residence」

With the Lantern Festival approaching, Xia Ruqing finally received the news.

She could hardly believe it.

"Emperor, is it true?"

"Did my brother really... become Deputy Commander of the Imperial Forest Army?"

The good news came so unexpectedly.

Emperor Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow.

"What do you think?"

Xia Ruqing suddenly didn’t know what to say.

In her heart, she thought: He has waited so many years, and his wish has finally come true. Maternal Aunt Wen will be overjoyed when she finds out.

"Emperor?"

"Hmm!"

Xia Ruqing looked at him earnestly.

"Your Majesty, did you promote my brother because of me, your concubine?"

Emperor Zhao Junyao lowered his gaze to meet hers.

"Yes!"

Xia Ruqing felt a pang in her heart and was about to kneel, but Emperor Zhao Junyao quickly lifted her up again.

"Why are you so agitated? The man I promoted is no incompetent!"

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"But..."

"There are no buts!"