Chapter 283
Chapter 283
Marquis Su Nan did not miss this golden opportunity and said.
“The delegation from the State of Jiang that burned down the Sacred Temple must be put to death. If we do not kill them, we cannot quell the people’s fury.”
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback. Just moments before, they had been clamoring for the death of the Jiang delegation, shouting, “This servant will take up my sword and slay the envoys from Jiang!” and “This servant will smash my head against the sacred shrine of their snowy mountains and die!” Yet, not a single practical word had been spoken. The State of Jiang was a nation of madmen, a country that would pick a fight with anyone they met. If their envoys were killed, the King of Jiang would stop at nothing, seeking revenge with relentless fury. If that were to trigger a war, who could bear the responsibility?
In this world, those who shouted the loudest about fighting and killing were often the ones least likely to act. Those who truly intended to fight would strike a powerful blow without a sound. Was it not with sudden, vicious force that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Germany blitzed Poland, and foreign invaders stormed Manchuria?
The Sacred Temple had been burned, so why did the King of Yue put on such a grand performance for days on end, desperately crying for death and war? It was to show the world that they were not indifferent to the matter, not because they truly intended to kill the people of Jiang. The King couldn't help but be surprised by Su Nan's words. For such words to be the first to leave your mouth. The King asked him.
“If we kill the Jiang delegation, will it not lead to war?”
“Our Su Clan will defend the border for Your Majesty and fend off the soldiers of Jiang.”
The King narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge his true intentions. His words could not be taken at face value; one had to look for the hidden meaning.
‘Su Nan will send troops to stop the soldiers of Jiang? Don't make me laugh. Aren't you two in cahoots?’
“Can the Su Clan’s forces truly stop the State of Jiang?”
“We shall ‘serve the nation with the utmost loyalty,’ and only in death will our service end.”
Su Nan's intention was clear. He was saying that the Su Clan would shed its own blood to appease the King of Jiang's fury. How much blood would be shed, and what price would have to be paid? That was for the Su Clan to handle. Your Majesty need not worry; simply execute the dozen or so envoys to display our righteousness to the world. The Su Clan will bear the rest.
At this crucial moment, Su Nan proved to be incredibly calculating. Without haggling, he immediately shielded his vital interests, giving the King no opening to strike a blow and draw their blood. But the King was not willing to let it go at that. The King said calmly.
“The people of Jiang burning our Sacred Temple is an attack on our faith and an attempt to subvert the authority granted by our ancestors. Is killing a few envoys truly enough?”
Marquis Su Nan said.
“Your Majesty should send an envoy to the State of Jiang with the severed heads of their delegation to rebuke their king. Demand that the King of Jiang write an official letter of apology to Your Majesty. Furthermore, compel Jiang to send men and funds to repair and restore the Sacred Temple in our capital, and also, command them to build a sacred temple for the saints of Yue within their own borders. Let the light of our saints civilize even those barbaric lands. In doing so, not only will we preserve the dignity of our State of Yue, but the saints watching from the heavens will have their anger appeased, and war will be averted.”
Hearing Su Nan's words, everyone was impressed, but inwardly they thought it was absurd. If the Jiang delegation were killed, the King of Jiang would surely be enraged and immediately lead his troops to attack, raiding and causing chaos in the Su Clan's border territories. And you expect that same King of Jiang to admit his guilt and build a sacred temple within his borders? What utter nonsense. Such a thing wouldn't happen even in a dream.
The people of Jiang were ruthless barbarians who fought with anyone and everyone. Their attitude was that if someone insulted them, they would strike back, no matter who it was. In the last hundred years, the State of Jiang had waged war with every single one of its neighbors. Send an envoy to such a country to rebuke its king? And with the severed heads of their own delegation, no less, demanding they build a sacred temple for the saints of Yue? The moment that envoy set foot on Jiang soil, he would be cut into eight pieces, boiled in a pot, and eaten. The King immediately recognized Su Nan's murderous intent. Just as he expected, Su Nan knelt once more and said.
“They say one should recommend the worthy, regardless of whether they are a relative or an enemy. The Jin Clan are our in-laws, but that man, Shen Lang, is overflowing with talent. He demonstrated world-shaking abilities in the battle of Raging Tide City. This old servant recommends Shen Lang as the envoy to carry out Your Majesty's will, to go to the State of Jiang, rebuke its king, demand the restoration of the Sacred Temple, and reclaim the dignity of our State of Yue.”
Upon hearing this, everyone was aghast.
‘So the old saying is true; the older the ginger, the spicier the bite. Marquis Su Nan shows no sign, yet suddenly he moves to kill a man. Yesterday, Shen Lang provoked the Su Clan, and today, Marquis Su Nan has found a righteous pretext to send him to his death. Are the Jin and Su Clans such mortal enemies that they cannot live under the same sky? Must this end only when one has killed the other?’
The King vaguely realized that a duel between masters had begun. On the chessboard of politics, Shen Lang and Su Nan were hell-bent on devouring each other, and this game would not end until one of them was dead. This was a true duel between grandmasters. How quickly they made their moves. Shen Lang had spoken of annihilating the Su Clan, and upon entering the capital, he immediately made his move. The moment the match began, he played a card that meant life for one and death for the other. Su Nan swiftly countered with a fatal blow of his own, and the moment he attacked, all the neutral officials stepped forward in unison.
Wang Shengqiu, the Censor-in-Chief, stepped forward and said.
“This servant agrees with Marquis Su Nan’s opinion. I recommend Shen Lang as the envoy to the State of Jiang.”
The Minister of Revenue also stepped forward and said.
“This servant also supports this opinion. I recommend Shen Lang as the envoy.”
“This servant supports it as well!”
“As do I!”
Dozens of officials stepped forward one after another. The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.
‘Shen Lang is a thorn in my side. Wouldn't this be a good opportunity to get rid of him?’
Soon, the officials from the Crown Prince's faction also stepped forward one by one.
“This servant agrees!”
“This servant also supports this opinion!”
Finally, all the officials from the Third Prince's faction also came forward.
“This servant also recommends Shen Lang as the one to rebuke the King of Jiang, compel him to build the Sacred Temple, and restore the dignity of our State of Yue.”
The scene was so overwhelming, with the force of toppling mountains and overturning seas, that everyone was in awe.
‘Marquis Su Nan is truly a master of turning the tables!’
The King was furious. This was Su Nan. Despite being in the most disadvantageous situation, he had managed to turn the tables in a single move. He was still a difficult old fox to handle.
‘That old fox, that venomous snake.’
In that instant, the King felt a burning animosity, as if he and Shen Lang shared a common enemy.
“Understood. We shall decide on this matter! Do any of you have anything else to say? If so, speak. If not, this court session is adjourned!”
And so, the court session ended.
***
After returning to his study, King Ning Yuanxian felt a wave of fatigue and anger. During today's court session, he had failed to control the situation, and that feeling was deeply unsettling. When he entered the study, Shen Lang was not kneeling but was laughing and joking with Princess Ning Yan, conversing with the utmost intimacy. Seeing this, the King's expression turned cold, and he spoke in an angry voice.
“Men and women should not be overly familiar with each other. What is the meaning of this display?”
‘Shen Lang, your little game is shattered. Marquis Su Nan launched a fatal counterattack in court, pushing you toward your death with the force of mountains and seas.’
Just then, a junior eunuch standing nearby knelt and said.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Shen Lang was just constantly harassing Princess Ning Yan, and even touched her improperly. He is a man utterly without shame!”
At that, the King could no longer contain himself and shouted in a rage.
“Drag him away and kill him.”
The junior eunuch was overjoyed and said.
“Did you hear that? Guards! Drag Shen Lang away and kill him.”
The old eunuch muttered silently to himself.
‘You fool. You're about to die and you don't even know it, still acting like an idiot!’
The King pointed at the junior eunuch and said in a furious voice.
“Drag this wretched creature away and beat him with a rod until he is dead!”
The junior eunuch was instantly aghast.
‘Why... why does he want me beaten to death? Shen Lang was clearly the one who misbehaved! That bastard acted brazenly in front of the palace, cheated during his flogging, and even laid his hands on Her Highness the Princess! His Majesty favors me the most because I'm the best at tending to his orchids. There were three beautiful orchids, and that old man Yeo Jun killed one, but I saved the other two. That's why His Majesty chose me to attend to him in his study. I'm clearly his most favored eunuch, so why does he want me beaten to death?’
But contrary to his thoughts, four guards approached and dragged him out. The junior eunuch shrieked.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! It was Shen Lang who did wrong! He just touched Princess Ning Yan's chest!”
Hearing this, Shen Lang was so enraged his hair felt like it was standing on end.
‘Damn it, this lowly bastard is trying to drag me down with him even as he dies?’
The King's gaze, quick as lightning, shot toward Shen Lang's hands. At that moment, Shen Lang felt as if his hands had been chopped off.
“Your Majesty, do I not have merit for caring for your orchids? Why are you killing me? Why?”
The King's brow furrowed for a moment at the eunuch's cries, and Yeo Jun stepped forward, took something out, and stuffed it into the junior eunuch's mouth. Instantly, his screams were muffled. After dragging him out into the courtyard, the old eunuch Yeo Jun said.
“You worthless thing. You haven't been serving in His Majesty's study for long, and you've already been stealing things to sell outside, haven't you? You've truly brought this upon yourself. Thirty strikes with the rod, and let the last one kill him.”
“Yes, sir!”
The four guards replied, then pulled down the junior eunuch's trousers and brought a thick, heavy wooden staff down hard upon him.
“Agh!”
A wretched scream emerged from the depths of the eunuch's throat. This was beyond severe pain; it felt as if he were being completely shattered. With just one strike, his femur had been broken.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
Following that, two guards took turns bringing the wooden staff down. Shen Lang watched the scene for a moment, then quickly averted his gaze. It was too brutal. This wasn't a disciplinary punishment; it was the most cruel way to kill a person.
After the first strike broke his thigh bone, the rod came down on his shins, knees, thighs, and buttocks. With every blow, all sorts of bones were shattered. After a full twenty-nine strikes, the eunuch's entire lower body had been beaten flat against the ground. The pain was indescribable, yet he was still conscious. He would have rather died on the spot; he absolutely did not want to live. The final strike came down.
Crack!
The last blow struck the back of his head, instantly snuffing out his life.