Chapter 307: Confession
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
As the bandit leader of a faction, Feng Yu was beheaded by Qi Haoran. Because of the urgency of the matter and the fact that the county magistrate was the witness and supervised the execution, although he did not report the verdict to the Ministry of Justice, it was still somewhat in line with the usual procedure.
The leader of the other rebel faction, Jiang Zhong, was escorted back to the capital for trial. This was more in line with the procedure.
But what was going on with Tang Jing and Yuan Hui?
Although those 40,000 people did not injure anyone, they did rob the Imperial Court’s granary. Although the law did not punish the masses, more than half o them were let go and the remaining half was taken by them. As the bandit leader, he had to be escorted into the capital no matter what.
However, Tang Jing was killed on the way back to Xingzhou Prefecture while trying to escape, and Yuan Hui became a monk under duress.
Others might not be able to tell whether Tang Jing did die because of his escape, but it couldn’t be hidden from Qi Xiuyuan. Moreover, after Yuan Hui arrived at Xingzhou Prefecture, he directly moved into the general’s residence. Never one to believe in gods and Buddhas, when had Qi Haoran ever treated a monk so politely?
Qi Haoran choked. He couldn’t possibly say that Yuan Hui said that Big Brother might become the Emperor in the future, and he silenced Tang Jing because he knew too much, right?
He scratched his head. In the end, he felt that this matter was too crucial and exceeded his ability to deal with it. Therefore, he decided at the last minute to return to Xingzhou Prefecture today and come to Hanzhong Prefecture to look for Mu Yangling tomorrow.
Qi Haoran mounted his horse and said, “Big Brother, let’s talk as we walk.” Frowning, Qi Xiuyuan waved his hand at the back, and the bodyguards immediately retreated. The two brothers rode side by side. After leaving the city gate and entering the main road, Qi Haoran gradually stopped the horse and let it move slowly.
Knowing that their masters had something important to say, the bodyguards behind all reined in their horses and followed from afar, just near enough to keep the two of them in sight.
Qi Xiuyuan didn’t expect his brother to be so cautious, so he scolded jokingly,
“Alright, isn’t it just a bandit leader? Hurry up and tell me.”
Qi Haoran said with a serious expression, “Big Brother, you know that I’ve never believed in supernatural powers, but Yuan Hui is very strange. He seems to really be able to read people’s physiognomy and palms. When I infiltrated back then…”
Qi Haoran explained the situation. Seeing that his big brother’s expression had also changed, he said, “Big Brother, either he has seen me before and knows about our family’s situation, or he can really foretell the future.”
However, Qi Xiuyuan didn’t believe in such things. A cold glint flashed across his eyes as he said, “You should have dealt with him like you dealt with Tang
Jing back then.”
However, Qi Haoran had a strange feeling in his heart. He whispered, “Big
Brother, I don’t think he’s lying.”
Stunned, Qi Xiuyuan looked at his brother seriously. Qi Haoran also nodded seriously. “Big Brother, I couldn’t feel any malice from him.
Qi Xiuyuan fell silent. He knew that his brother’s intuition had always been very accurate. He could sense danger and people’s emotions very clearly.
Perhaps it was because he had lost his mother since he was young. But in short, he was more sensitive than ordinary people.
When he was only two years old, he knew that his wet nurse did not like him. Although she had never abused him, nor had she said anything unpleasant in front of him, nor had she shown any coldness on her face, he could tell from his instincts that this wet nurse did not like him.
It was also because of this that he found out that his younger brother’s wet nurse was actually arranged by that woman, despite the fact that their relationship was very secretive.
At that time, he thought that it was because the child was sensitive or because he had a pure heart, so he could sense others’ emotions more clearly. However, although this talent of his slowly weakened with age, it was always there, especially when it came to sensing danger.
When Haoran said that, Qi Xiuyuan couldn’t help but become serious. “Even though he doesn’t have any ill intentions towards you on the surface, it doesn t prove that what he said is true.
“Haoran, although Great Zhou is weak, our situation is clearly improving. We’re only having a small-scale conflict with the Jin Kingdom and West Xia now.
How can it be… So forget about this matter and obediently be your little general. This time, you’ve made a great contribution in quelling the rebellion. I will officially request a decree from the Imperial Court to reward you.” Qi Haoran thought about it and felt that it was too early to think about this. Even if Big Brother really became the Emperor, it might be decades later. He might even be old by then because from the looks of it, the situation in Great Zhou indeed did not appear too bad.
Even though there were many natural disasters this year, the chaos was only in a small area. Under the suppression of the Imperial Court’s army, peace should be restored soon.
Qi Xiuyuan calmed his brother down. The first thing he did after returning to his residence was to see Yuan Hui. His expression was a little cold. He felt that he couldn’t keep such a person around, lest he instigated his brother to make a mistake he shouldn’t have made.
Yuan Hui’s assertion did not cause any ripples in his heart. It was not that Qi Xiuyuan was not ambitious, but because even if the world was in chaos, it would not be his turn, right?
In front of him was General Yuan, who controlled an army of 200,000 soldiers, as well as the Zhu and Xiao families. Any one of them could easily suppress Qi
Xiuyuan.
Whether it was his family background or his current power, Qi Xiuyuan could only barely stand in the middle position.
Therefore, his intuition told him that Yuan Hui had merely coaxed his younger brother in order to survive.
Qi Xiuyuan pushed open the door with a bang and met a pair of emotionless eyes. He was stunned momentarily. When Yuan Hui saw him, he smiled and stood up calmly. Pressing his palms together, he bowed slightly. “Benefactor Qi, Yuan Hui has been waiting for you for a long time.
Qi Xiuyuan frowned. “You’re the one who coaxed my brother?”
Yuan Hui smiled and looked straight at Qi Xiuyuan. After a moment, he sized him up and nodded. “Benefactor Qi, it’s you, indeed.” Qi Xiuyuan’s face darkened even more. He laughed sinisterly. “How dare you lie to me in my face?”
“Benefactor, no one doubts your loyalty. However, if the heavens want to destroy the Great Zhou, what can a general like you do?” Qi Xiuyuan frowned. Yuan Hui looked at the sky outside and sighed. “This year’s drought and flood is only the beginning. It will only become more and more chaotic in the next few years. General, you should be prepared.” “Don’t you people who know how to foretell the future say that the secrets of heaven can’t be leaked? If it’s leaked, won’t it reduce your lifespan? Why don’t you mind at all?”
Sadness flickered across Yuan Hui’s eyes. “Because I’m different.
Qi Xiuyuan couldn’t tell what was different about him, but he touched the scabbard and hesitated for a moment. In the end, he didn’t pull it out. He snorted and said, “Master, it’s best not to say such things again. Others aren’t as kind as me.”
Yuan Hui couldn’t promise him, so he could only say, “As long as others don’t ask me who the next Emperor is.”
Qi Xiuyuan’s heart skipped a beat as he strode out.
The next Emperor?
He was already 42 years old. How much longer could he live? If he was the next successor, did that mean the world was about to descend into chaos?
‘No, no, I don’t believe it…’
Although Qi Xiuyuan didn’t want to believe it, his heart was still in a mess. He locked himself in the study and thought hard.
On the other hand, Qi Haoran felt refreshed after telling him about the matter. He did not feel conflicted at all. The next day, he came to look for Yuan Hui and asked him to accompany him to Hanzhong Prefecture. “Don’t you know how to read fortunes? Then you definitely know how to read feng shui. Help me take a look at the feng shui of a cattle farm..”
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