CHAPTER 538: CHAPTER 537: IF YOU DON’T LISTEN, THEN FEND FOR YOURSELF

"You must help think of a way for your father, I really can’t take it anymore, those soldiers are too barbaric," Mei Changfeng poured out all the grievances he had suffered in the past few days, gripping a handkerchief and weeping heart-wrenchingly at his old age, "The Emperor must be angry, not wanting to see your father, and tomorrow I shall go to the military camp, what should I do, my daughter?"

Concubine Mei, standing by, handed over a clean handkerchief, "Stop crying."

Although they were watched by her own maids, Lord Mei’s continued crying was endless, and Concubine Mei also felt extremely anxious.

Finally, Mei Changfeng calmed down a bit. He crumpled several handkerchiefs into a ball and placed them on the table, making up his mind, "Since I cannot see the Emperor, I shall go to the dungeon to see Su Bai."

"Why would father want to see her?" the flash of panic in Concubine Mei’s eyes jumped.

Having sent someone into the dungeon with much difficulty, did father really intend to get her out?

"Using reason and emotion, I trust that General Su is not unreasonable. She will certainly lend a hand to help me through this crisis." As long as he did not have to go to the military camp, he was ready to swallow his pride and seek Su Bai’s forgiveness.

Concubine Mei responded without thinking, "No, father cannot go."

"Why not?" Mei Changfeng widened his eyes.

"I hold a grudge against her and can’t stand to see her acting nonchalant and then enjoying all the privileges," Concubine Mei spoke bluntly, "She isn’t even a concubine and yet she lives in the inner palace. The Emperor sends for her from far away just for meals, and she responds nonchalantly. None of the three thousand beauties in the harem receives this treatment; why should she? It’s something I cannot tolerate."

"That is the Emperor’s business, what does it have to do with you?" Mei Changfeng didn’t understand, "Since you chose to enter the palace as a concubine, you should be open-hearted. Look at yourself now, feeling jealous, not adhering to the virtues expected of a woman, I really don’t know how your mother taught you at home."

Mei Changfeng flared up, "Just for this grievance, you would watch your father suffer and struggle?!"

"Father, what are you saying, I am unwilling to see you in distress," Mei Changfeng’s words made Concubine Mei upset, "If it weren’t for venting anger on behalf of father, why would I have directly made an enemy of Su Bai? Now if father lowers his dignity to plead with her, where does that leave my dignity?!"

The last time the Emperor decreed a punishment, Mei Changfeng directly sent a letter of dismissal to her palace to help vent her anger.

Now, unable to bear the gaze of those soldiers, he pressures her.

"Stop talking about how my mother did this or that, there is no father like you in the world!" Concubine Mei blurted out.

The words left Mei Changfeng’s beard trembling with rage.

"What audacity you have, daring to speak to your father like this, don’t think being a concubine is so grand. You should know, without me, you wouldn’t have had this opportunity, the Mei Family comes first, then you!"

These words indeed went too far.

They brought tears to Concubine Mei’s eyes.

"Father, how unreasonable to say such things. Since entering the palace, I have endured so much for the sake of our family, humbly compromising at every step, taking the long view in everything, speaking well of father before the Emperor, seeking development for the Mei Family. Now father, with just one sentence, you negate all my efforts. You are truly too selfish!"

"Unfilial daughter!" As soon as the words fell, Mei Changfeng slapped Concubine Mei.

Concubine Mei covered her face in disbelief, "You hit me?!"

The maids in the room all bowed their heads, fearful of being caught up in this familial storm.

Concubine Mei touched her face, feeling the burn on her cheek, and scoffed at herself, stumbling backward, tears gleaming in her eyes, "When have I been wrong, father? In your heart, there’s only yourself, never your daughter, never your wife! When you sent me to the palace, you never asked for my opinion, and now you are only concerned with your own path. For you, children are just tools for your rise to power, you are indeed utterly selfish!"

"Shut your mouth!" Mei Changfeng had never been so defied by his own legitimate daughter, "You were born to me, you should listen to me. I gave you life, you should do as I say, not stand here saying things that anger me. If you continue to defy me like this, I will immediately petition the Emperor to punish you for disrespect!"

"Go on, father, go to the Emperor now!" Concubine Mei shouted loudly, breaking completely down and sitting on a chair, "You go see if the Emperor will meet with you!"

Mei Changfeng was incredibly furious, feeling like his Tianlinggai was about to burst.

Father and daughter stopped talking to each other, and the atmosphere in the room plummeted.

Only the sobbing of Concubine Mei could be heard nearby.

After a long while, Mei Changfeng finally spoke. His tone was firm, "Your father has made up his mind, I’m going to find Su Bai right now. It’s best you think carefully before you act on behalf of the emperor, otherwise, you are no longer a daughter of the Mei Family."

As he was leaving, Mei Changfeng intensified his tone.

"A battle is imminent, and the emperor still needs Su Bai. Naturally, the scales will tip in her favor. If you don’t understand this, your father can explain it to you. I hope at this critical moment, you will not oppose her. It’s not in your best interest. If you don’t listen, then you will be left to fend for yourself."

Having said that, Mei Changfeng turned and left with a flick of his sleeves.

Concubine Mei was left alone in the hall, throwing things and cursing, starting to go mad.

Mei Changfeng, listening to the noise behind him, gripped his wrist and sighed.

He had always thought that his legitimate eldest daughter was sensible, but he had not expected that, even now, she was incapable of adapting.

What was the use of competing with Su Bai?

The emperor’s favor was all on her.

If Su Bai really wanted to target her, his daughter might already be in the Cold Palace by now.

Having served as an official in the court for so many years, so many more formidable than him had not outlasted him. Where was the problem?

It was because Mei Changfeng knew when to be yielding and when to be firm!

In the dungeon.

Su Bai had a good sleep, opened her eyes, and drank the tea brewed by the prison guard, she read an old scroll with great interest.

After finishing the scroll, the prison guard brought Mei Changfeng to stand before her.

Seeing Mei Changfeng with bags big and small, standing at the door with a radiant smile, Su Bai raised an eyebrow, "Well, the General must not be awake yet, to see Mr. Mei here."

The prison guard unlocked the door, letting Mei Changfeng in.

"What are you saying, General Su? You’ve suffered!" As soon as Mei Changfeng entered, he tried to find a place to put down the things in his hands, but looking around, whether on the shelves or the floor, everything was full of various gift packages, making what he brought seem somewhat inferior.

"I had not expected General Su to be living quite well here," he said dryly.

He had thought that with his approach, bearing gifts and showing goodwill, Su Bai, a mere woman, would be moved, and then this matter would be resolved.

However, he had not expected that upon entering, the one making him uncomfortable was not Su Bai, but his own colleagues.

Truly, they were a bunch who knew how to observe the prevailing wind.

The way they steered by the wind was absolutely superb!

People had not even left the dungeon, but this group had already started courting favor.

Su Bai yawned, resting her chin on her hand as she leaned back in the chair, "Thanks to the blessings of Concubine Mei, the General was able to rest here."

She stretched lazily, "Since being appointed as General, I’ve been busy all year round; suddenly having a few days of rest is indeed comfortable, so comfortable that I don’t want to leave."

"You mustn’t speak carelessly," Mei Changfeng urged quickly. He placed the items on a visible spot on the table, then quickly walked to Su Bai’s side, looking for a place to sit, but with only one chair in the room, he had to stand.

"General Su cannot stay in this dungeon forever. You are the pillar of Chu Kingdom, and Chu Kingdom needs you now more than ever."