Chapter 32 (2/2)
“This bracelet, I don't, don't like it either.” Su Yang shook his wrist and said, “Can't you take it off?”
Jing Cheng spoke consolingly, “Wait a few more days. Once Deputy General Cao returns, I'll take it off.”
Su Yang asked, “Then, Cao Cao, he, when is he coming back?”
Jing Cheng took in a deep breath, then sighed it out. “He'll be back soon, very soon…..”
The war ended before Cao Rui returned. The hostile forces at the South China Sea have been defeated. As what Jing Cheng had previously stated, in less than half a year, he had completely annihilated the Wokou pirates's forces, beaten them back, and forced them to agree to his terms of surrender. They were now va.s.sals of Greater Ming, and had to pay a handsome sum as yearly tribute.
Amidst the cheering and singing of the Yancheng folk, the troops withdrew and set off to return to the Imperial City in triumph.
Unlike the peaceful and high-spirited atmosphere in the city of Yancheng, right now in Jianzhou, everybody was in fear for their lives. No one could have foreseen that Wu Xingde would immediately stage a rebellion after Jing Cheng left, and had the entire Imperial City surrounded.
Jing Qian was seated on the throne, bl.u.s.tering with false courage, “Wu Xingde, zhèn has always treated you fairly and generously, how dare you repay zhèn this way!”
{T/N: zhèn (朕) – I, imperial}
Wu Xingde was heavily clad in armor, his eyes filled with hate and enmity.
“Very generous indeed!” Wu Xingde drew his double edged sword and brought it down on the Emperor's desk, cleaving it in half. Then he pointed a finger at Jing Qian and spat, “The territory that you Jings are lording over, half of it was fought and won by me, Wu Xingde. Jing Ming is the one who should be indebted to me!”
“Wu Xingde! How dare you speak the late Emperor's name!” Jing Sheng shouted from the side.
{T/N: 名讳 (mínghuì) – A naming taboo is a cultural taboo against speaking or writing the given names of exalted persons in China and within the Chinese cultural sphere. Not respecting the appropriate naming taboos was considered a sign of lacking education and respect, and brought shame both to the offender and the offended person. The general populace is expected to avoid or even change their names, if the name characters match with the Emperor's)
Wu Xingde's lips lifted in a sneer. “To speak of that beast's name is to sully my own mouth. Once, he and I were sworn brothers, and we treated each other as such. All that fatuous drivel and promises about sharing the land and nation between us, but in the end, he begrudged the Death exemption plate and the Tiger tally in my possession! My two sons died such wretched deaths ah, they were only seventeen and eighteen years old. Now that the trees planted over their grave-sites have already grown tall, it is also time for you to go down to meet them.”
{T/N: 虎符 (hǔfú) – two-piece tiger tallies (pic), were used by the Emperor/official to command and dispatch the army. The right piece was retained in the central government while the left piece was issued to the local officials or commanders. If someone wanted to dispatch the troops from a certain area, he had to show the right piece of the tiger tally in order to obtain authorization; both pieces of the tally had to match each other.}
Jian Qian's face turned ashen from terror. He scrambled down from the throne and pointed a shaky finger at Wu Xingde. “General Wu, for every debt there is a debtor, all those were done by the late Emperor, you would gain nothing from killing zhèn ah!”
{T/N : Idiom, when settling disputes, one should not involve third parties}
Jing Sheng chimed in, “General Wu, ever since my Imperial Father ascended to the throne, he has always treated you courteously, and deferred to you for all matters big and small. By biting the hand that feeds you, how are your actions different from the late Emperor's?!”
Wu Xingde's sharp eyes swept over the father and son, and the corner of his mouth tilted up mockingly.
“Child, you are quite shrewd, but you mistake me for a good man. Did you think that I am not aware of your intentions to make use of me to go against Jing Cheng? After having eliminated the Róng Qīnwáng's army when they return, your next step would be to wipe out the entirety of my Wu family!!”
His voice suddenly rose to a roar. Jing Qian's terror made his legs turn weak. Jing Sheng, who was after all, still young and inexperienced, broke into a cold sweat on the spot.
Jing Qian's voice quivered. “General Wu, General Wu, please calm down, zhèn…… zhèn did previously think of taking take back the Tiger tally, but if you're not willing to part with it, zhèn will obviously not force you. What's more…… what's more, your Wu bloodline, was not ended by zhèn, but by Jing Cheng ah….”
Wu Xingde narrowed his eyes at him in suspicion and barked, “Speak clearly.”
Jing Qian trembled and said, “Previously, zhèn sent some people to invite Young Master Tao to the Imperial Palace for a chat. In the palace hall, he suddenly collapsed for no reason. Zhèn was very worried, and requested the Imperial Physician to check on him. Apparently….. Young Master Tao did not seem to have a pulse, it was very peculiar. According to the Imperial Physician, it is known as—– dead pulse!”
Wu Xingde's expression changed, and he pressed his double edged sword against Jing Qian's neck. His eyes burned with rage as he demanded, “What is this dead pulse? You tell me clearly!”
“Gen-General Wu, the blade has no eyes, you……” He turned pale, and stammered, “Dead pulse is-is-is……”
{T/N: Means, be careful how you wield that thing.}
Jing Sheng spoke up from his side, “General Wu, according to the Imperial Physician, dead pulse is an extremely fatal type of pulse. In short, the person no longer has a life force, and could die anytime.”
Wu Xingde's face was ugly, and the blue veins on his hands stood up in sharp relief. ”If the both of you spoke a single word of untruth…..”
Jing Qian immediately swore, “May we be d.a.m.ned to die without an intact corpse! General Wu, Young Master Tao has been living in the Rong Wáng's residence all this while. Given how he had previously grievously offended Jing Cheng, who could believe what the ma.s.ses say of him being favored by Jing Cheng. I'm afraid that it is more likely that he has been suffering abuse and persecution instead!”
{T/N: A body buried with missing limbs/pieces is believed to affect the fate of their descendants. That, and it's horrible to look at.}
Wu Xingde withdrew his double edged sword, and thundered, “Men, look well after these two, on the day Jing Cheng returns to the Imperial City, have them publicly beheaded!”
“Yes, General!”
Wu Xingde left the Heaven and Earth palace hall, and mounted his horse. Without further delay, he rushed over to the Róng Wáng's residence.
If what was said was true, Jing Cheng, you and I will be enemies for life!
Note: Two more chapters till the end of this arc guys!
Thanks for reading.
-Syeki
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