Hearing the screams, Xu Gong couldn't care less and rushed towards Ye Feng's direction.
After running a few steps, he suddenly stopped, threw off his shoes, drew his dagger, and roared at the sky.
"Sage above, your student has failed your trust today, please forgive my rudeness!"
Xu Gong abruptly raised his dagger, pulled up his robe, and cut off half of it, throwing it away.
Once he felt his movements were less restricted, he fled in a panic.
Ye Feng felt Yu Huatian slowly approaching him, then standing still. Without even looking up, he softly asked,
"Where did Xu Gong go? Why didn't he come with you?"
In an instant, Yu Huatian felt a chill down his spine. Ye Feng had instructed him on this matter, but he had felt Xu Gong was a burden and had abandoned him halfway.
"My lord, I!" Yu Huatian was about to speak when Ye Feng raised his hand to stop him, his voice filled with pain, "I treated you like a brother, and this is how you act?"
"Punish me as you see fit, my lord," Yu Huatian turned his head away, unable to meet Ye Feng's gaze.
"This concubine believes Xu Gong is slow and unreliable, not a good person. Forget him, even I would have abandoned him on the road," Diao Chan said, gently tugging Ye Feng's sleeve. "This matter should be rewarded, not punished."
Before she finished speaking, Diao Chan received a stern glare from Ye Feng. Diao Chan had never seen Ye Feng like this before, and her face suddenly changed.
"This concubine, this concubine..." Diao Chan stammered, unable to offer any defense. It was Yu Huatian who quickly spoke up.
"My lord, please don't be angry. I simply can't understand why my lord cares so much about a mere Xu Gong!"
Yu Huatian's face was filled with indignation. He had never seen Ye Feng like this.
"Yes, a single Xu Gong is indeed nothing, but behind him are the dignitaries of Jiangdong. If this is not handled well, it's one thing to become enemies, but what if they constantly make trouble and try to uphold justice?"
Ye Feng's rapid-fire questions left Yu Huatian momentarily speechless.
"But my lord is enfeoffed as the King of Chu by Emperor Ling himself. No one can fault that, how is it possible?" Yu Huatian retorted, his neck stiff.
"How is it possible?" Ye Feng snorted. "Yu Huatian, since you know the aristocratic families have long harbored the idea of replacing the emperor, what if Jiangdong is added to their ranks?"
Ye Feng sighed heavily. "You are too naive. By then, it will be like mud falling into your crotch – even if it's not excrement, it will be perceived as such. Do you and I, master and servant, have to explain ourselves to the world?"
These few words made Yu Huatian's scalp tingle.
Actually, Ye Feng did not mention the more important reason. In the current Three Kingdoms era, although it was chaotic, there were still capable forces to deal with foreign tribes.
If both sides were to ignite a true conflict and fight without regard for consequences, they might be taken advantage of by others. The Five Barbarians' invasion during the Eight Princes Rebellion might happen prematurely, which was also why Ye Feng was unwilling to push too hard.
Yu Huatian's heart sank. Only then did he realize the magnitude of his mistake. He couldn't care less and was about to get up to retrieve Xu Gong, but Ye Feng stopped him.
Yu Huatian was perplexed. "My lord, why is this?"
"What do you think of Xu Gong?" Ye Feng asked. "What would happen if you went to fetch him?"
"This man is arrogant and incompetent. Moreover, he is from Eastern Wu," Yu Huatian answered concisely.
"Precisely. If you go to fetch him, losing face is a minor issue. If he becomes self-important and disrupts the plan, that would be a major problem." Ye Feng pondered for a moment and then ordered the army, "Listen up, prepare wine and reward the troops!"
"Reward the troops! Long live the King of Chu!"
"Long live!"
The thunderous cheers from the camp reached Xu Gong's ears, making him quicken his pace as he hurried to the entrance of the camp.
Just as he was about to enter, he was stopped by the guards with knives and axes, who sternly demanded, "Who goes there!"
"Are you blind? I am a disciple of the Sage. If you stop me, you are disrespecting culture." Xu Gong angrily retorted.
The guards, having already been instructed by Ye Feng, took torches and circled Xu Gong, then burst into laughter.
"You're Xu Gong? Impossible! Not to mention how he looks, but his attire is so elegant. How dare a mere beggar like you imitate him? Are you tired of living? Get out!"
The guards cursed. Xu Gong smelled the aroma of wine and meat and couldn't help but lick his lips.
"How could a disciple of the Sage do such a thing? You're spewing nonsense, get out!" The guards drove him away again.
"You rascals, how dare you block my path? Do you believe I'll report you to the King of Chu?" Xu Gong placed his hands on his hips and angrily cursed.
"You, a disciple of the Sage? Nonsense."
"Hahaha, you look pitiful. Here, take this!"
Another guard was about to throw out a leftover flatbread when another caught it, tore off half, and threw it on the ground. "Go eat, quickly go eat."
Xu Gong touched his rumbling stomach and reached for it, but a guard stomped on it fiercely. "Eat, do you think you're worthy of standing to eat!"
"Ye Feng, get out here, I want to see you!"
Xu Gong struggled to stand up and cursed loudly. Instantly, the camp became chaotic.
Everyone wanted to see who this brave man was who dared to curse the King of Chu.
The guards exchanged a look, and in an instant, two long sabers were placed on Xu Gong's neck from left and right.
The cold winter air was biting. Xu Gong exhaled, and his breath condensed into frost. He said timidly, "Good sirs, what are you doing? I, I, I misspoke for a moment. Please, good sirs, bear with me."
The guards exchanged a look and pressed on. "Who do you think you are, daring to address the King of Chu by name? If not for the King of Chu's usual benevolence, we would have killed you!"
Feeling like he had narrowly escaped death, Xu Gong repeatedly nodded and agreed. Just as he turned to leave, a guard called him back and nodded towards the food, "Where's the food? Where are you going?"
Xu Gong could no longer care about the taste and smell, tears welling up in his eyes. He slowly picked up the flatbread and was about to put it in his mouth when he saw Ye Feng approaching with Diao Chan and others.
"How can such a thing happen under the King's rule of peace and prosperity? Quickly, you two, bring some food and give it to this person. Also, bring all the winter clothing," Ye Feng instructed.
Hearing this voice, Xu Gong, with half a flatbread still in his mouth, rushed towards Ye Feng, his face covered in dust. Yu Huatian blocked them. "You shameless wretch! The King treats you like this, and you still want to do something?"
"I, it's me..." Xu Gong forcefully swallowed the flatbread in his mouth. Seeing Ye Feng's continued look of confusion, he slowly knelt on the ground, put down a bundle, and carefully took out a headdress, placing it on his head.
Ye Feng feigned surprise and quickly helped Xu Gong up. "Sir, how have you fallen to this state? Rest assured, this king will surely grant you a good horse and send you back to Jiangxia."
Xu Gong saw clearly. In this era, wealth without soldiers made one a target. He shook his head like a rattle drum, refusing Ye Feng's offer.
"King of Chu, if you are going to Jiangxia, I will go with you. If you are not, I would rather not go!" Xu Gong declared resolutely.
Ye Feng looked troubled. "But sir, you are from Jiangxia..." He leaned closer and whispered, "If you don't go, and His Majesty blames us, it might be difficult to explain."
Xu Gong pondered for a moment, then his gaze fell upon the two guards outside the camp gate. He became angry.
"My King, you must uphold justice for me." In a flash, Xu Gong recounted the entire incident clearly. The two guards fell to their knees with a thud.
"My King, spare us! My King, spare us! We didn't know he was your distinguished guest!"
"My King, you must deal with these two severely. They have insulted culture. If word gets out, it will damage your reputation," Xu Gong quickly added fuel to the fire.
"Yu Huatian, what do you think?" Ye Feng feigned difficulty and asked Yu Huatian.
"This matter should have resulted in their execution outside the camp!" The two guards turned as pale as death. They were unable to help themselves as Ye Feng passed the blame to them.
"However," Yu Huatian said, seeing their resolve to die, and then changing his tone, "these two have enforced the law impartially. If they are executed, it might be difficult to manage. Perhaps a small punishment, a fine of one month's salary each."
Xu Gong was dumbfounded and wished he could grab Ye Feng and make him listen to what Yu Huatian was saying.
An execution had turned into a fine, and only for one month. In essence, it was bullying the honest ones.
They would find an excuse to make it back later, meaning only he had suffered a loss.
"We, two brothers, are deeply grateful for our lord's great kindness and will never forget it."
Yu Huatian patted their shoulders and slowly said, "Brothers, please rise. Your sincere confession should be rewarded. Three months' salary each!"
So, they even earned two months' worth?
Xu Gong ground his teeth in anger, but he was powerless.
Everyone was acting, and he was the clown.
"Yu Huatian, escort the sir down and ensure he is well treated, and that all courtesies are observed!" Ye Feng deliberately emphasized the last few words.
As soon as Xu Gong left, the two guards chuckled.
"Thank you, my lord, for your reward. We brothers are willing to ascend mountains of knives and descend into seas of fire for you, to charge forward and capture wives."
Facing the grinning pair, Ye Feng said solemnly, "Did you retrieve anything, or any letters?"
One of them quickly presented a letter. Ye Feng eagerly opened it and his brows immediately furrowed. Diao Chan thought something was amiss and decided to throw caution to the wind, letting Ye Feng be happy for a while.
"You two brothers have done well. If you encounter beggars in the future, dismiss them with a flatbread. Never cause trouble again. As for today's matter, I, this lady, will reward you with ten taels of silver, how about it?"
"Thank you, madam, thank you, madam."
When Diao Chan turned to meet Ye Feng's gaze, Ye Feng slowly raised his head and said, "Things are bad. Sun Jian has already reached Emperor Ling's side."