CHAPTER 540: CHAPTER 539: MIST SURROUNDS, THE TRUE CULPRIT HIDES IN THE DEEPEST DEPTHS

"What is this?" Mei Changfeng asked the Deputy General, pointing at the old donkey.

Before the Deputy General could open his mouth, the soldier leading the donkey said, "Reporting to the official, this is an old donkey."

After finishing his sentence, he nodded seriously, his lips twisted so much they could barely contain his teeth.

Official Mei adjusted his hat, feeling a lump of frustration stuck in his chest, neither rising nor falling.

Were these rascals dragging out an old donkey to mock him?!

Mei Changfeng simply couldn’t swallow this insult.

"This is outrageous!" He didn’t wait for a second response before he mounted his own carriage. After a while, he suddenly flung open the curtain and pointed at the Deputy General’s nose, scolding, "I am going to seek a justification from His Majesty himself! You dare to insult me!"

He then dropped the curtain heavily, "Drive, to the palace!"

As they watched Official Mei’s carriage disappear into the distance, his subordinates looked at the Deputy General with concern, "Have we caused trouble?"

The Deputy General sneered, "We offered him the best horse in the camp and he didn’t want it. What right does he have to complain to His Majesty? Even if His Majesty issued an Imperial Edict, I wouldn’t be afraid."

That was exactly what he said upon arrival at the palace.

Inside the palace.

Chu Qi was feeling irritated as he watched Mei Changfeng, with tears streaming down his face, standing before him complaining about the unfair treatment he received in the military and how the soldiers had disrespected him.

Anyway, he spoke very convincingly, making it clear between the lines that he didn’t want to go back.

"Your Majesty, please be merciful, I am old and truly unfit for military camp. Please, do not send me back there."

Chu Qi tossed the food in his hand into the pond. The water’s surface was crowded with colorful fish vying to gobble it up.

He slowly twirled his finger around.

"At this moment, the Imperial Court is indeed in desperate need of personnel. Official Mei has always been a loyal and steadfast pillar of our Chu Kingdom. Now I am in need of loyal officials like you. Are you truly unwilling?"

"Old... this official certainly isn’t unwilling..." Mei Changfeng stuttered, terrified, "This matter is clearly..."

"But at first, didn’t someone bring you a fine horse which you yourself refused?" Chu Qi added.

Official Mei’s face gradually turned the color of liver: "But they can’t just bring out an old donkey, that’s obviously an insult to me."

"Could it be that things at home haven’t been comfortable for Official Mei?" Chu Qi deftly changed the subject.

Official Mei: "???"

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"Or else why would Official Mei always be so paranoid and misinterpret everything?" Chu Qi placed the plate on the stone table and stepped forward with hands behind his back, "In the military camp, it is only fitting to have towering, grand horses. These soldiers even managed to find an old donkey for you, which is an accomplishment in itself. Instead of appreciating their effort, you came to lodge a complaint. Did you also conduct yourself in such a manner before the late Emperor, my father?"

"This official wouldn’t dare!" Mei Changfeng immediately knelt down, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Wouldn’t dare?" Chu Qi’s tone became even more menacing, "It seems to me that you’re very daring indeed!"

This time Mei Changfeng didn’t even dare to raise his head.

"You previously skimmed from military provisions, and I had intended to strip you of your official cap. Su Bai pleaded with me on your behalf, citing your service as an old official, asking to spare your life. Yet, how did the Mei Family conduct itself? The Imperial Edict was issued in the evening; that very night, my Consort Mei pressed Su Bai to come forward, and Su Bai didn’t argue, granting the Mei Family plenty of dignity. But what about you? Far from being grateful, you were overreaching and trying to suppress someone who stood up for you!"

At these words, Mei Changfeng’s forehead nearly touched the ground.

His daughter had indeed acted in this manner; Mei Changfeng had no way to argue against it.

The Emperor was purposely sending Su Bai to prison to motivate him.

He almost made a huge mistake!

At this realization, Mei Changfeng’s entire body was soaked through, "This official is guilty, I beg Your Majesty for mercy!"

"Mercy?" Chu Qi suddenly let out a laugh, making Mei Changfeng’s spine tingle with an intense prickling pain.

He said, "I sent you to the military camp to soothe the soldiers, and you complain about them insulting you with a donkey. You refuse the way out I personally offered you, Official Mei. Well, then I’m afraid I can’t help you."

Having said that, Chu Qi turned and walked away.

Kneeling on the ground alone, Mei Changfeng watched Chu Qi’s imperial yellow figure recede and felt like crying without any tears.

What am I to do with this?

I’m hitting walls at every turn.

With no other options, Mei Changfeng had no choice but to seek help from his daughter once again.

When Concubine Mei heard from the palace maid that her father was waiting outside, she tossed aside the embroidery in her hands.

They had parted ways on bad terms last time, her heart deeply wounded by her own father.

Yet, now that her father was truly in trouble, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Indeed, as he had said, if the Mei Family fell, it would benefit her not at all.

She hadn’t been in the Imperial Court’s favor for long, and rumors had already started circulating in the palace.

If the Mei Family fell, how could she maintain her position within the palace?

"Summon him," thought Concubine Mei, instructing the palace maid to quickly bring her father in.

As soon as Mei Changfeng entered, a smile immediately spread across his face.

"My daughter, your father apologizes. In my haste, I misspoke and hurt your feelings. After returning home and reflecting upon my words, I felt great remorse and thus made this special trip to the palace to see you."

Concubine Mei felt a slight sense of relief, "Father, what are you saying? We are a family after all. I haven’t taken your words to heart."

"You truly understand the ways of the world; you are indeed your father’s legitimate eldest daughter." Mei Changfeng breathed a sigh of relief, having thought he would need to cajole her further. To his surprise, Concubine Mei was not angry this time. It seemed her time spent in the palace had honed her temperament. Had she been at home, she might have sulked and made a fuss for days or even weeks.

Concubine Mei nodded and beckoned Mei Changfeng to sit, signaling for the palace maids to prepare tea.

"Father, did you see His Majesty today during your visit to the palace?"

Mei Changfeng nodded, his expression somewhat troubled.

"Is His Majesty still protecting that Su Bai?" Concubine Mei felt extremely uncomfortable at the mere mention of Su Bai.

Mei Changfeng let out a long sigh, "There’s something I want to ask you, and you must be honest with me."

"Please ask, Father."

"You had no conflict with Su Bai before, so what exactly is the reason that you suddenly latched onto her and refused to let go?" Before coming, Mei Changfeng had thought the issue over and realized the problem lay with his own daughter.

A hint of unease flickered across Concubine Mei’s face.

"It’s because of Princess Wuyang."

"What do you mean?" Mei Changfeng frowned slightly, "She has not shown herself from the beginning to the end of this affair. What does it have to do with you?"

"I overheard Princess Wuyang’s maid chatting with someone, saying that His Majesty had unsuccessfully sought to wed Su Bai. In a secret chamber, he even kept her portrait to pine over. I was overtaken by emotion upon hearing this and that’s why..."

At this point, Concubine Mei actually had long suspected it might have been a trap.

But it was her own irrationality that led her into this game; she had no one to blame but herself.

After hearing this, Mei Changfeng fell into deep thought.

"Princess Wuyang has long fallen out of favor. Her petty schemes are truly tiresome, but the ultimate beneficiary of this situation isn’t her. My daughter, think carefully, in whose sleeping quarters has His Majesty been residing these days?"

Concubine Mei had a sudden realization.

In these past days, Chu Qi had actually been staying in Concubine Chen’s palace!

"I remember now, it was she who led me there that day, where I overheard those maids’ conversation. I never imagined that this vile woman would end up being the one to profit from fishing in troubled waters," Concubine Mei said, slamming her hand down on the table. Her palm ached, yet it did nothing to quell the rage in her heart.

Seeing her like this, Mei Changfeng shook his head with regret, "Not necessarily, Concubine Chen’s brother is under my command; she may not have thought up such a scheme."

"Then, Father, who do you suggest is responsible?" Concubine Mei was confused.

She felt her mind spinning, unable to keep up.

Mei Changfeng shook his head, "I do not know; the situation is still obscured by mist, unseeable. But for us of the Mei Family, whoever it is bodes no good."