CHAPTER 539: 538

Su Bai listened to Mei Changfeng’s words. Although she smiled, the smile didn’t reach her eyes, and she neither agreed nor disagreed, leaving Mei Changfeng standing there somewhat awkwardly.

"General Su?" Mei Changfeng tried tentatively, calling her again.

Only then did Su Bai focus on him. "Such words are mistaken, General Mei. The Chu Kingdom is not lacking in talents. Talents like you, who are knowledgeable in both astronomy and geography, should indeed be heavily relied upon by His Majesty," she said with narrowed eyes. "I have heard that His Majesty has already assigned you to a key military post. It seems he intends to promote you further. Congratulations indeed."

She raised her hands, her face full of happiness for Mei Changfeng.

Mei Changfeng indeed suffered silently.

"General Su, please stop jesting with this old man. The military post is filled with murderous aura, and this old man can hardly bear such heavy responsibilities," he sighed heavily. "To be honest, this old man shamelessly came here today because you were implicated by my good-for-nothing daughter. I have just gone to the palace to reprimand her... I hope, General Su, that you would not hold grudges for this minor’s faults and not take this matter to heart."

Su Bai held a cryptic smile as she stared at Mei Changfeng, listening to him speak.

A major battle was imminent, and Chu Qi would not give up on her no matter what.

But Mei Fei, misinformed of the reasons, wanted to avenge her father, coming up with a scheme to frame her.

Well, she might as well admit it.

This unlooked-for long vacation, she wouldn’t let it go to waste.

Whoever likes fighting can go ahead.

Anyhow, she, Su Bai, would not fight.

She yawned openly, "General Mei, what are you talking about? Mei Fei is intelligent and wise, and moreover, this matter was adjudicated in front of His Majesty. You must not speak carelessly; if word gets out that you doubt His Majesty’s judgment, it could lead to great losses."

After finishing, she gestured to the prison guard with her hands: "It’s getting late, please escort General Mei out soon. At his age, staying up is bad for his health."

The prison guard stepped forward and addressed Mei Changfeng, "General Mei, if you please."

Mei Changfeng’s lips moved up and down, but in the end, he did not manage to utter a single word and was dejectedly escorted out by the prison guard.

He met with disappointment and returned to the Mei Family.

This Su Bai clearly intended to discredit him, as if giving him the cold shoulder repeatedly—just like he had done before.

It really proved that saying, "What goes around comes around; the time just hasn’t come yet."

One day, the consequences of what he had done would catch up with him.

"Master, please try this ginseng soup. You’ve had a hard day," said Mei Fei’s mother, entering with a maid, carrying a tray with a bowl of chicken soup.

The soup smelled rich, but at the moment General Mei had no appetite at all.

Even the sight of Mrs. Mei irritated him.

"It’s all your fault. If you hadn’t meddled and sent that divorce letter to the palace, your daughter wouldn’t have done something so foolish as to offend Su Bai!" he pointed directly at Mrs. Mei’s nose and scolded.

Mrs. Mei was baffled by the scolding.

She let the maid put down the chicken soup and hurried out.

"It was Su Bai who complained that got the master scolded by His Majesty. I just had our daughter give her some trouble; what’s wrong with that?" Mrs. Mei was puzzled.

"Such a woman’s perspective!" General Mei was even angrier.

Mrs. Mei was displeased. "Earlier, the master also deliberately ignored Su Bai. Now that Su Bai has been thrown into the dungeon, it’s bad enough that you don’t praise your wife and daughter’s actions, but to display such an attitude is indeed hurtful. From now on, I’ll mind my own business."

"Please, mind your own business!’" General Mei was so angry he almost rolled his eyes. "If it weren’t for your meddling, how would I have been assigned to the military camp!"

He didn’t know what to do tomorrow.

The first day of his assignment, he couldn’t call in sick.

If the Emperor took hold of that, severe punishment would follow.

After much thought, he still had to go tomorrow.

"If you won’t meddle, then don’t. Who cares anyway." Mrs. Mei picked up the chicken soup from the table, drank it in one gulp, put down the bowl heavily, and stormed out through the door.

General Mei looked at the empty bowl on the table.

"Mad, everyone’s mad!"

The poor old man was both angry and anxious and did not sleep well the whole night.

In the early morning, with his eyes bloodshot, he directly got into the carriage.

He hadn’t been rocked by the carriage for long before he fell asleep.

"Master, Master!" His shoulder was gently shaken.

Mei Changfeng was sleeping comfortably and completely ignored it.

"Step aside, let me handle this." The servant was pushed aside.

The Deputy General clad in Soft armor stepped forward, slamming his scabbard fiercely against the carriage wall, causing the old man to shudder: "Assassins! Protect the carriage—!"

He ducked inside the carriage, yelling loudly.

The surrounding soldiers burst into derisive laughter.

Although the Deputy General had a hint of contemptuous laughter in his eyes, he didn’t show it. Scanning the area, he clenched his fist, and instantly, the laughter stopped.

Mei Changfeng’s fright had barely settled when he was ridiculed, his face turning shades of green and white.

"What’s the matter?" He put on his official airs.

The Deputy General bowed slightly with hands clasped and began, "We are approaching the military camp. The carriage can’t go further, and you must switch mounts, sir."

"Switch to what?" Mei Changfeng was utterly confused.

He steadied himself with help from his servant and descended from the carriage, only to face a towering horse.

The horse’s mouth hung right at the level of his official cap.

Mei Changfeng turned sullen.

It wasn’t that he had never ridden a horse, but such a horse, it was indeed his first encounter.

"What on earth does this horse eat to grow so large?" He feigned composure as he reached out to pat the horse’s flank.

The Deputy General answered truthfully: "Grass."

What did he expect the horse to eat, meat?

Looking at these civil officials who shrank back timidly, really turned his stomach.

Mei Changfeng found his question lonesome and let out a forced chuckle. The horse’s spine was taller than his shoulders. How was he, an old man, supposed to mount it?

Even if he managed to get up, how would he come down?

These rascal soldiers were clearly taking revenge on behalf of Su Bai.

This was exactly why His Majesty had ordered him here.

Also, to avenge that wretched Su Bai.

But now, Mei Changfeng was too aggrieved to speak, and could only swallow his complaints.

"Is there another mount? I’m afraid of heights," Mei Changfeng coughed dryly, stating matter-of-factly.

Not sure if he heard the Deputy General snicker, but when he turned his head to look, the Deputy General’s expression was unchanged: "All the horses here are big like this one. If Mei Changfeng doesn’t mind, you can share a horse with me."

Share a horse?!

If word got out, how could he face anyone?

Mei Changfeng directly shook his head.

"The camp is so large, there must be some smaller horses. Look for one, and from now on, I’ll use that one. These strong horses are better left for the soldiers to use on the battlefield; truly, it’s a waste for me to ride one."

The Deputy General was shocked by his thick-skinned request.

Typical of a civil official, preferring to lose face than endure hardship.

To share a horse was one thing, but insisting on finding a smaller, more delicate horse, and he even found such a good excuse.

Such smooth talking, no wonder they sent their poor General Su to the dungeon.

With this thought, the Deputy General motioned to his men: "Go find one for Mei Changfeng."

Since that was the case, they couldn’t really blame them.

A quarter of an hour later,

An aged donkey, as old as they come, was led over.

Mei Changfeng: "..."