CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 80: SELF-REPROACH EDICT_3

His voice suddenly dropped as he addressed Zheng Fan, "Colonel Zheng, now that you have returned, do you carry any orders from the Earl of North Border’s residence?"

This line... it was so much like someone asking, ’Are there any instructions from the hometown?’

Zheng Fan shook his head, saying, "My lord, it is not that I distrust you, it is... it is..."

"What is it?"

"It is that I have already been assigned a new task by the Princess."

"A new task?"

"Yes, the Princess has instructed me to go to the South. If there are no surprises, in a few days, an order should arrive from the Ministry of War. Furthermore, the Princess has equipped me with a group of soldiers and military equipment unrelated to the North Border Army through other channels. She wants me to bring them with me to the South."

Zheng Fan now felt as if this was an opportunity to launder as much black money as he could.

"The South? Is... is the Princess making arrangements for future events?"

"I am unsure, my lord. I said I wanted to stay by the Princess’s side, but she did not allow it. The Princess said that the soldiers of the Li family know only one thing: military orders are absolute!"

"Alas, it seems she is truly making arrangements."

Hui Wenzu shook his head, sighing, then continued, "Colonel Zheng, rest assured, when you take up your southern post, this official will help you in every possible way. After all, good things shouldn’t go to outsiders."

"I am grateful for your kindness, my lord!"

"Colonel Zheng, normally, this official should not have so rudely come to your residence. However, I was too restless. Look, this is the Self-Reproach Edict issued by the Emperor yesterday..."

As Hui Wenzu spoke, he reached into his robes and pulled out a sheet of paper. It was obviously not an official document but a transcribed copy.

Zheng Fan took the Self-Reproach Edict and read it through.

The beginning followed basic etiquette, acknowledging how difficult it was for Yan to be established and praising the merits of previous emperors.

The middle part described how, after he ascended the throne, he had exhausted himself, striving to govern well, and how incredibly difficult it had all been.

Finally, it discussed the increasingly unrestrained hooligans in the North, who were becoming more and more audacious and had already become a grave threat to the Yan State! This was his dereliction of duty as emperor; it was his failings that had allowed such villains to emerge in the country!

These northern hooligans, according to the official interpretation, definitely referred to the barbarian tribes.

But the barbarian tribes had been beaten so badly by the Yan people that even their own mothers wouldn’t recognize them. How could they still be considered a grave threat?

Anyone with discerning eyes could see at a glance that these ’northern hooligans’ actually referred to the Earl of North Border’s residence!

Zheng Fan held the paper, took a deep breath, and said excitedly, "This is not a Self-Reproach Edict at all, this is clearly..."

"A declaration of war!"

"A declaration of war!"

Hui Wenzu and Zheng Fan spoke in unison.

The Imperial Court, His Majesty, the Yan Emperor, were about to take action against the Earl of North Border’s residence!

"That’s why this official said that the Princess asking you, Colonel Zheng, to go South is probably a consideration for preserving the Li family’s lineage. Colonel Zheng, this time you go south, you will have to be extra cautious, and in the future..."

As he said this, Hui Wenzu clenched his teeth and continued, "The Earl’s residence cannot lose!"

"This South, I’m not going! This Yan Emperor has gone too far!!!"

Zheng Fan stood up, tore the "Self-Reproach Edict" into pieces, and threw them on the ground.

"Colonel Zheng, you mustn’t, you mustn’t!"

Hui Wenzu immediately rose to his feet, placing both hands on Zheng Fan’s shoulders.

Snot, tears, grease...

Zheng Fan took a deep breath. Deep breath. *Don’t get angry, don’t get angry, don’t get angry!*

"Colonel Zheng, this is the Princess’s arrangement for the future. Colonel Zheng, you must not let down the Princess’s expectations."

"The Princess, the Old Mistress..."

Zheng Fan knelt on the ground. His knee slammed heavily onto the brick floor. Tears welled in his eyes.

His knee hurt so much!

"Colonel Zheng, this official understands your difficulties, this official understands..."

On the roof of the hall, Siniang and Liang Cheng were seated on the tiles.

Liang Cheng asked somewhat curiously, "Who did My Lord learn his acting skills from?"

Siniang chuckled and said, "He learned from you old pros, of course."

"What about us?"

"You flatter people against your conscience every day; isn’t it natural he’d pick up some acting skills from you?"

"And you?"

Siniang shot Liang Cheng a glare, stretched out her delicate hand, holding it up to the afternoon sun, and said, "Presumptuous."

"What’s wrong?"

"You have to call me ’Mistress’."

"Heh, then wouldn’t Mo Wan have to call you..."

"Shut up!"