Chapter 47: Anticipation
A sudden commotion broke out among the imperial guards outside Zhongbi Mansion. Shield-bearers raised their armor, arrows nocked.
A lone rider galloped to the mansion gates. The man in crimson armor dismounted and strode toward the entrance as if no one existed.
"General Cheng!" Huo An blocked him with blade drawn. "His Majesty has ordered no one enters Zhongbi Mansion!"
Zhongshan glanced at him and said coolly, "Instructor Huo, might you do me a favor?"
"Forgive me, General, but I too am following orders."
Though this Protector of the Nation General struck terror in enemies on the battlefield—renowned as the Invincible Demon God—in Yuanliao City he was famously easygoing, nicknamed the Smiling General.
Huo An held no fear of this Smiling General, especially since he wasn't carrying those two凶噬 massive hammers.
Zhongshan lifted his foot to proceed. Huo An waved, and the imperial guards formed ranks, layers upon layers blocking the gate.
Zhongshan sighed. "Very well then. I won't make things difficult for Instructor Huo."
Huo An nodded repeatedly.
Zhongshan smiled magnanimously. "Instructor Huo, I have a question for you..."
Huo An frowned and stepped closer.
Zhongshan suddenly seized his forehead, murderous fury blazing in his eyes. He bellowed: "Don't move if you value your life!"
Huo An's soul nearly fled his body. His legs trembled as he nearly knelt. He knew that with just a flick of Zhongshan's fingers, his brains would be scattered across the ground!
Zhongshan's fierce gaze swept the surroundings. He roared at the stunned guards: "Move aside!"
Worried for their instructor's life, the guards parted to form a path.
Zhongshan gripped Huo An's head as he passed through the gate. He leaned close to Huo An's ear and threatened: "If even half a guard dares to disturb me, I'll make your entire family die without a whole corpse to bury."
With that, he released his grip. Huo An tumbled down the steps in terror. Zhongshan cast him a dismissive glance, then strode directly toward Mancheng's quarters.
He pushed open the door with anxious urgency—only to find Mancheng sitting composedly at the table. He smiled easily. "You're back!"
Zhongshan froze.
"Zhongshan?" Mancheng didn't rise, merely smiling. "What are you standing there for?"
Zhongshan stepped forward and took his hand. He wanted to smile for him but couldn't. "You didn't do it. Why didn't you explain?"
"How do you know I didn't do it? You weren't even in the city—what could you possibly know?"
Zhongshan laughed bitterly. "I know perfectly well what you would do and what you wouldn't. Your eyes told me everything!"
"If he were like you, I wouldn't be under house arrest." Mancheng turned away, gazing blankly. "He's been with me over twenty years, yet he's still not like you."
Lan Xing pushed open the door and entered. The moment she saw Zhongshan, she cried out in惊喜: "General Cheng, you've finally returned!" Tears welled in her eyes.
Noticing the message in her gaze, Zhongshan asked: "Lan Xing, has His Majesty been here?"
Lan Xing shook her head. "His Majesty hasn't come at all." She silently set a medicine bowl on the table. Mancheng lifted the bowl and drank its contents in one gulp.
Zhongshan asked: "He sent imperial physicians to examine you? Nothing serious, right?"
Mancheng gave no answer. Lan Xing suddenly knelt, weeping: "General Cheng, please beg His Majesty! If General Xia keeps drinking this medicine, he will—"
"Lan Xing!" Mancheng immediately silenced her.
Lan Xing continued crying, tears streaming. She had no choice but to withdraw from the room.
Medicine?
"Mancheng?" Zhongshan asked in alarm. "What kind of medicine is this?"
Mancheng gave a desolate smile. "Medicine that leaves me too weak to kill him."
Zhongshan took his hand—only then did he realize his arm was soft and limp. He hadn't stood this whole time, which meant he couldn't stand! Anguish seized Zhongshan's heart. He furiously shouted: "Damned fool! Why would you drink this? Keep taking it and you'll become a cripple!"
Mancheng ignored him, head bowed.
"Mancheng..." Zhongshan knelt on one knee before him, embracing him, suppressing endless pain as he pleaded: "Mancheng, he's treated you like this—why would you still be attached to him? Mancheng, stop being foolish and drinking this poison! I'm begging you... just nod, and I'll take you far away from here!"
Mancheng stroked Zhongshan's face, breathing lightly. Again and again, he never spoke.
Inside Yaojidian Hall, Lu Tong presented the intelligence from the Yongzhao Army. He spoke with concern: "Your Majesty, although Fang Guangda suffered a severe setback, most of the Yongzhao Army's forces are under He Mingpei's control. The eastern territories have already fallen to Yongzhao, and now this army is secretly advancing toward Dudong."
Zhangzhou's eyes were bloodshot from sleepless nights. He quickly scanned through the military reports. "They come with aggressive ambitions. Even if they take Dudong, they won't be satisfied—they'll cross the river to seize Gangshou Gorge and march on Yuanliao."
Lu Tong shook his head. "Your Majesty worries too much. Gangshou Gorge isn't so easily taken. Those landlocked soldiers wouldn't dare cross the river. However... since they've concentrated their forces in the east, we must cooperate with Dudong to weaken their strength to the lowest possible degree. Even if we can't kill He Mingpei, we must force them back to Yongzhao for several years."
Zhangzhou nodded repeatedly. "The Prime Minister speaks wisely. It seems the only solution now is to ignore the local rebellions for the moment, quickly recall forces from all regions to Yuanliao City, rest and recover to gather our military strength."
Lu Tong observed Zhangzhou's expression and said quietly: "Your Majesty, what about the Weizhen Army?"
Zhangzhou's face darkened.
Lu Tong hastily continued: "If you refuse to release General Xia, I'm afraid only General Cheng in the city can command the Weizhen Army..."
Before he could finish, *clang*—the doors of Yaojidian Hall burst open. Zhongshan strode through the main hall, moving like the wind. He stopped before them, glaring at Zhangzhou with pressing intensity.
Zhangzhou coldly regarded him. "General Cheng arrives at the perfect moment. Prime Minister Lu, brief General Cheng on the Yongzhao Army's recent situation so he can prepare."
Before Lu Tong could speak, Zhongshan said: "I didn't come to discuss public affairs."
"Private matters?" Zhangzhou gazed at him with arrogance, speaking lightly: "I'd forgotten—General Cheng just returned from a great achievement. I haven't had time to reward you yet!"
Zhongshan sneered. "Excellent. How about you award me Mancheng?"
Zhangzhou's face instantly twisted with rage. He swung a fist at Zhongshan. Zhongshan didn't dodge. The blow landed squarely on his face, sending him flying.
Lu Tong watched these two men vying over one man—this shameful matter was not something he should linger to witness. He hastily withdrew with hands clasped.
Before Zhongshan could rise, Zhangzhou seized him again, shouting: "Cheng Zhongshan! If it weren't for Mancheng protecting you, you'd be dead long ago!"
Zhongshan bared his teeth in a contemptuous snort. "I should be the one saying that! If I wanted to fight you... hmph, whether armed or barehanded, you're no match for me. And without Mancheng, do you think the Weizhen Army would obey you or me?" He shoved Zhangzhou away, shouting sharply: "If you secretly continue feeding Mancheng Songluo Powder, I guarantee you won't have a single peaceful day!"
Zhangzhou staggered back, caught off guard by the push. He roared: "Cheng Zhongshan, if you want to rebel, I'm ready anytime!"
Contempt filled Zhongshan's eyes. "Go ahead and gamble with your dragon throne if you dare."
He strode out of the main hall and came face to face with Peng Hong.
Zhongshan clasped his hands in greeting. "Thanks to His Highness's concern, Zhongshan kept his life and returned."
Peng Hong coldly hmphed. "You should thank Mancheng. If not for you, how would things have escalated to this point between those two!"
Zhongshan froze. Everything became clear. His heart blazed with passion. He had no more to say—turning away, he departed Yaojidian Hall.
Peng Hong entered the main hall. His face阴沉, he berated: "Zhangzhou, I think you've lost your mind! Secretly forcing Mancheng to drink Songluo Powder!"
The fire from Cheng Zhongshan's provocation hadn't yet faded, and now Peng Hong was rebuking him—Zhangzhou couldn't help but fly into a rage. He bellowed: "What if I want to turn him into a cripple?!"
Peng Hong stared at him in disbelief, fury written across his face. He roared: "Who in this world can truly trap Mancheng? Who can force him to drink poison? If he hadn't loved you with all his heart, why would he drink that poisonous medicine daily knowing what it does? Do you have any idea how much you owe him? How could you treat him this way!"
Zhangzhou's gaze suddenly went hollow.
Chang Jinlu heard Zhongshan had returned. He rushed to the Protector of the Nation General's mansion in agitation, but couldn't find him. He flew into a rage, shouting at the servant girl: "Where did Cheng Zhongshan go?"
The young maid feared him, trembling as she explained: "General Cheng never even returned to the mansion."
"You damned turtle's egg!" Jinlu cursed, turning on his heel. Just as he stepped outside the gate, a fast horse appeared—Zhongshan had arrived in an instant.
"Zhongshan!" Jinlu grabbed him, trying to advise: "Why did you come back? From what the Prince said, His Majesty will never forgive you!"
Zhongshan didn't hear a word. Dismounting, he pushed past Jinlu and rushed into the mansion. In the weapons room, he grabbed two massive hammers.
Jinlu blocked him. "Cheng Zhongshan, what are you doing?"
"I'm taking Mancheng away from here."
"Cheng Zhongshan!" Jinlu laughed and cried, trying to reason: "Are you serious? He's not a woman. If he were willing to listen to you, how could it have waited until now?"
Zhongshan hesitated.
Jinlu sighed. "If he wanted to leave, who could stop him? Why would he need you? You can sweep through His Majesty's imperial guards, yet you still can't take him away."
Infinite sorrow flowed through Zhongshan's eyes. After a silent moment, he said softly: "Even if he refuses to go, he absolutely cannot resist me now. That fool Zhangzhou has given me this perfect opportunity. I won't waste it!"
Jinlu stared at him in disbelief. "You... have you gone mad?"
Zhongshan's expression remained unchanged. He pushed Jinlu aside, vaulted onto his horse, and galloped toward Zhongbi Mansion.