novelraw Chapter 1048 - 1037: Ever-Victorious General
Chapter 1048 - 1037: Ever-Victorious General
"Returning to the capital?" Mei Wanwan and Lin Jiao were surprised, "Why so suddenly?"
"This is just my speculation for the moment. The Crown Prince has died."
"How could this happen? How could the Crown Prince die?"
"The Second Prince and the Third Prince joined forces with the Princess to force the Emperor’s hand. The Crown Prince died under the Second Prince’s sword. Fortunately, the Emperor awoke in time, and reinforcements brought by the Prime Minister arrived just in time to capture the Second Prince’s party. The Second and Third Princes have been imprisoned in the great prison. In one night, the capital’s aristocratic families were eradicated to prevent a court upheaval. I speculate that the Emperor will summon me to the capital."
"Then we should start packing now."
"No." Ye Qiu stopped his two sisters-in-law, "The situation in the capital is still unstable. I’ll go back on my own, and I’ll feel more at ease with you staying at the border."
"But with the situation so complicated now, how can we be at ease with you going alone?"
"I’m certainly not alone. It’s not me that intimidates them, but the Ye Family Army behind me. Please don’t worry, I’ll be fine."
"As long as you have a plan. By the way, Hu Bin has been loitering outside our mansion recently. Do you want to do something about it?"
"No need. He won’t be coming much longer." Ye Qiu said expressionlessly, thinking mockingly to herself that at this point, Cheng Hu, who has nowhere to turn for help and is covered with injuries and poison, should be returning too. By then, while they are embroiled in conflict, who will have the energy to come looking for her?
Upon hearing that Ye Qiu had returned to the mansion, Hu Bin once again came to the General’s Mansion only to be turned away again. As he was racking his brains for a way to meet Ye Qiu, he turned back to see a man covered in wounds with a sinister look in his eyes.
"Cheng Hu? You’re back?" he exclaimed in surprise.
"You seem disappointed? I’m back. Aren’t you going to invite me in for a little reunion?" Cheng Hu said, baring a grim smile.
"Sure, my home is here." Despite feeling, on a subconscious level, that Cheng Hu was dangerous, Mingming agreed when he heard him speak about having a reunion.
Hu Bin felt something was very wrong with him recently, and this wasn’t the first time. Last time, when a thief broke into his home, after he caught the thief, the thief wept and begged for mercy, claiming great difficulties forced them into such acts.
Though he knew thieving was wrong, inexplicably he softened, not only letting the thief go but also giving him some silver.
Since then, his home experienced repeated thefts, and whenever someone spoke kind words, even when he intended to report them to the authorities, he would immediately be at a loss for what to do and then let them go.
Today was no different. Although he subconsciously felt that Cheng Hu was dangerous for him, he still let him in.
Cheng Hu never imagined Hu Bin would actually agree. Having maneuvered through schemes for years, even giving his own masters a push towards ruin, he was far from simple-minded. Almost instantly, he sensed something was wrong with Hu Bin.
Two days later, Ye Qiu heard that Hu Bin had done many foolish things and now everyone knew that the once-famous Military Adviser Hu was nothing but an empty name. It was because of his constant errors in judgment that led to the Ye Family’s misfortune back then.
Some didn’t believe it and tested his knowledge in public, and he couldn’t answer a single question.
Everyone felt wronged for the Ye Family, saying they trusted a fraud. Fortunately, the present General Ye was wise and expelled him from the army.
An utterly humiliated Hu Bin knew it wasn’t like that. Those things he did know, so why couldn’t he articulate them when it mattered? Why couldn’t he express himself?
"I’ve often seen him hovering in front of the General’s Mansion. Does he still want to deceive General Ye?"
"It’s General Ye’s mercy. If it were me, I’d have that fraud, who harmed his own family, skinned alive."
"I used to support him so strongly, even saying that General Ye’s expulsion of him was a loss for the Ye Family Army. How utterly wrong I was! How hateful, for this person to deceive us so!"
"Spit! What godly strategist, what talented man—all false pretenses he created."
"Fraud, get out of our Eyun City!"
Hu Bin, with a pale face, looked at the crowd condemning him, unable to understand why things had turned out this way. He wanted to tell them it wasn’t like that—they weren’t like that. He had real skills learned from Hengqing Valley after all.
However, when the words came to his mouth, all that emerged was "It’s not" as the well-thought-out reasons turned into a muddled mess.
Cheng Hu watched this unfold with eyes wide, his heart full of satisfaction. He was unhappy, and would not let Hu Bin, who harmed him, be happy either.
He thought when his treasonous evidence was uncovered, he’d have no chance for revenge. But who could’ve known Hu Bin would turn into such a fool now!
Yet with the thrill of revenge came the fear of Ye Qiu. For he knew, only Ye Qiu, likely having contact with Hengqing Valley, could turn Hu Bin into this state. Only Hengqing Valley had medicine that could turn a person into an idiot.
Cheng Hu preferred things as they were now rather than becoming muddle-headed like Hu Bin, deceived by everyone.
He dared not go out, fearing Ye Qiu would find him, lurking like a rat in dark corners and night streets.
He hated Hu Bin’s misjudgments and also blamed Ye Qiu for being ruthless to him, hating himself for being so hasty.
Had he not coveted the glory of the Ye Family Army, had he not lusted for military power, he would still be the chief general under the Ye Family, still renowned and powerful as General Cheng.
Perhaps, once Ye Qiu got married, he could have seamlessly taken over the Ye Family Army. What would it matter if the Ye Family child grew up? He was a senior officer, respected in the army, wouldn’t he still be respected?
But by the time he realized all this, it was too late. Everything was beyond redemption, and he didn’t even dare see his family, fearing Ye Qiu would vent her anger on them because of him.
Living in daily regret, Cheng Hu’s heart grew narrower. Unable to go out, he took out his frustrations on Hu Bin. Watching Hu Bin scramble with no way out was the only time he laughed with satisfaction.
Ye Qiu had long known he’d returned and everything he did to Hu Bin. She occasionally went to observe their situation when she had nothing to do. Only by seeing them torture each other did she feel some revenge for her family.
The old Emperor didn’t make Ye Qiu wait long. Within a month, the imperial decree reached the border, appointing her as National Guardian General and granting her a superior Duke title.
Amidst opposition from various courtiers, the old Emperor appointed the five-year-old little prince as Crown Prince. Two months after the Crown Prince’s appointment, the Emperor left a heap of chaos upon his passing.
The major powers were stirring up, but with Ye Qiu there, and the Ye Family Army standing guard, the unrest quickly subsided.