Jiapingguan Chronicle

"Such a grand and solemn ceremony? Nine kowtows?" Shen Jiu blinked, her face full of curiosity, and asked, "Was it three kneelings and nine prostrations?"

"It's not that outrageous, it's just regular kowtowing, just a bit more often." Xiao Fengqi waved his hand at Shen Jiu, gave a wry smile, and said, "If it really is three kneelings and nine kowtows..."

"Killing people and destroying their hearts!"

"The general is right. That really is killing someone by destroying their spirit. Uhale can forget about returning to the tribe smoothly."

"Let alone whether they can return to the tribe, it's uncertain whether they can even leave Linhuang Prefecture alive or unharmed!" Third Master sneered. "If it really is a case of kneeling and kowtowing three times and kowtowing nine times, you should tie them up overnight and send them to the royal palace or the regent's palace. You should also keep their attendants under guard to prevent any unforeseen complications and to prevent the royal palace or the regent's palace from becoming suspicious of you."

“That’s true. Ever since the Empress Dowager appeared in the Xiao family, the palace has been keeping a very close eye on us. If something like this really happens…” Xiao Fengqi shook his head helplessly, “it would be hard to explain even if you had a thousand mouths. Fortunately, they were sensible and didn’t go too far, leaving themselves a way out. However, my great-aunt also said that once these nine kowtows are done, all grudges and affections will be wiped clean. If we meet again in the future, we will be strangers.”

"Huh?" Jin Miaomiao was taken aback. "So, you've become strangers already? It's just one-sided on your part?"

"It's not exactly one-sided, it's more of a tacit understanding. Things have already reached this point, they definitely won't be given any more support."

“As an annex of the Xiao family, Uhale has never really accomplished anything.” Qi Zhifeng, who hadn’t said much until now, snorted twice. “His own territory and tribe were eroded several times, and he still had to rely on the Xiao family to get back at them. So, after the two sides became like strangers, they were the ones who suffered.”

“That’s how it is.” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “Originally, when they came to Linhuang Prefecture, it was my great-aunt who sent them. She heard that there were a few vacancies in Linhuang Prefecture, and she wanted to take them to see the Regent to see if there was any chance to transfer them back. Even if Uhale couldn’t come back, perhaps his sons could. But in the end, this happened.” He spread his hands. “They got nothing, and it even led to a breakdown in relations between the two sides. It will be very difficult for them to come back in the future.”

"Besides these, is there any other compensation?" Shen Cha frowned slightly. "At least gold and silver are a must, just like I said before, we should make them feel the pinch."

“There should be.” Xiao Fengqi stroked his chin and thought for a moment. “Anyway, every year people from Uhale come to deliver things, mostly gold, silver and valuables. They’ve been doing this for many years. All those things are sent to my aunt’s silver shop as her private property.”

"That's alright." Shen Cha nodded, thought for a moment, and then said, "I have a guess about the reason for the falling out between the two sides, but I don't know if it's right."

"General, please speak."

"Before Uhal arrived, his son's attitude wasn't particularly good, which is why he was whipped. If he had just honestly admitted his mistakes, things wouldn't have ended this way, right?"

“The General is indeed incisive.” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “He not only failed to honestly admit his mistake, but he didn’t even think it was a mistake, and thought the Xiao family was making a mountain out of a molehill.”

"What? You don't think it's wrong?"

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi sighed. “Although my great-aunt didn’t tell me exactly what happened, I could tell that she was very dissatisfied with Uhale and his son. So, she later asked a few people who knew the inside story, and the answers were all quite consistent: Uhale’s son didn’t think there was anything wrong with the attempted kidnapping.”

"Is he denying it, or..."

"He admitted to his actions, but didn't think it was wrong. He even clamored that the Xiao family should give his aunt to him. Anyway, so many people saw it in broad daylight, and no one would want her in the future. It would be better to give her to him. Maybe he could give her a title because she is a daughter of the Xiao family."

"How could he say such a thing? Has he lost his mind? Uhale is just a small tribe that relies on the Xiao family for support. If it weren't for their unwavering support of the Xiao family, they might not have reached their current size. In fact, if it weren't for the Xiao family's strong intervention, their tribe would have been wiped out several times over. How could he say such a thing?" The Third Grandfather shook his head in bewilderment. "How exactly did Uhale raise his son?"

“Probably not!” Xiao Fengqi shrugged. “That’s not the worst part. What’s worse is that he not only doesn’t admit he’s wrong, but he also turns around and accuses his aunt of deliberately seducing him.”

"Seduce him?" Third Master sneered. "Does he think he's so handsome?"

"Isn't it good-looking?" Jin Miaomiao looked curiously at Third Grandfather, then at Xiao Fengqi. "Have you seen it before?"

"Hmm," the Third Grandfather pondered for a moment, "It shouldn't be said that it's not good-looking, but rather that it's extremely ugly."

“Very ugly?” “Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “Every year, Linhuang Prefecture ranks the sons of the chiefs of various tribes according to their appearance. This includes not only the sons of the chiefs of tribes in Linhuang Prefecture, but also those from other prefectures. However, Wuhale is always at the bottom every year, which is enough to explain the problem.”

"Then why did he..." Jin Miaomiao said with a look of disgust, "Don't he have any self-awareness?"

“If he had known better, he wouldn’t have said those things.” Xiao Fengqi sighed. “He said that his aunt was too beautiful, that he was instantly attracted to her and wanted to possess her. If she wasn’t so beautiful, he wouldn’t have done that. It’s all his aunt’s fault.”

"This is framing someone and making the victim bear the blame." Chu Han sneered. "Because the girl is too beautiful, dressed too well, has a beautiful voice, and has a graceful demeanor, she seduces men and makes them lose their minds. This is not the man's fault, it's the girl's fault. If they didn't do this, wouldn't this problem not have occurred? Some extreme people even think that these girls should be locked up to prevent them from harming others."

"Beauty is a curse."

“That’s right.” Chu Han nodded at Shen Cha. “The first person to say that word is the most disgusting. They can’t control their animalistic instincts and push all the blame onto girls. They even think that it’s an honor for you that they can provoke you, and that you should kowtow three times and be grateful. How can they turn around and blame others!”

“My benefactor is right. That’s exactly what Uhalle’s son said, even more bluntly and with a more contemptuous attitude.” Xiao Fengqi took a deep breath, drank some cold tea, and forced himself to calm down. “What he said next was very unpleasant. Don’t pass it on to Fourth Master.”

“Okay!” Shen Cha nodded, glancing at Jin Miaomiao, Xia Jiu, Shen Jiu, and Xue Mu and Mei Lin on the side, and said, “Keep your mouth shut.”

Seeing everyone nod, Xiao Fengqi continued, "Uhale's son was extremely rude to my great-aunt. Although he was so scared when he was arrested that his legs went weak and he was dragged into the Xiao residence, he seemed to come back to life after seeing my great-aunt. He started to act recklessly and spout nonsense again. He said things like he doesn't talk to women, that women are not capable of holding power, and that once a family is in power, that family has no hope."

"Ouch!" Third Grandfather rubbed his knee. "How dare you talk like that?"

"It's because he was ignorant. Please don't mind him. He has already paid the price for it."

"Those who weren't raised properly at home are all like this. It seems Uhale isn't as bad as the rumors say."

Xiao Fengqi made a reassuring gesture towards the Third Grandfather and continued, "Not only did he say that, but Uhale's son also said that it's absolutely impossible for the Xiao family to expect Uhale to serve them for generations based on the little favors they've received in the past. The fact that they've taken a liking to the Xiao family's daughter and reluctantly agreed to let her be his concubine is already a tremendous favor. They should hurry up and thank him. Instead, they dare to kidnap him. Once he becomes the leader of Uhale, he will make the Xiao family regret it immensely."

"What makes the Xiao family regret their actions?" Shen Cha raised an eyebrow. "Is it just his stubbornness?"

"Pfft!" Xiao Fengqi tried to hold back, but couldn't help it and burst out laughing. "It's such a pity that my great-aunt didn't meet the Great General before she left, otherwise you two would definitely have gotten along well!"

"Is it the same as what your great-aunt said?"

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “The people I asked all said that my great-aunt said at the time, since you’re so stubborn, let’s see how long you can keep it up. That’s why Uhale heard about the punishment later.”

"Use a whip, right?"

"Yes, my great-aunt also said that if someone is truly tough and upright, then no matter how many lashes they receive or how much pain they endure, they must not cry out or make a sound. If they do, they will never be a real man again. Uhale's son agreed without much thought, but as soon as the beating began, he howled so loudly it shook the heavens and the earth."

“People like him are usually spineless and must be used to a life of luxury. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have done something so outrageous as soon as they arrived in Linhuang Prefecture.” Jin Miaomiao nodded and looked at Xiao Fengqi. “I suppose he did similar things a lot when he was in the tribe. The victims in the past dared not speak out, so he didn’t restrain himself even after arriving in Linhuang Prefecture.”

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “That’s what I thought too. However, this time he’s met with a tough one. His great-aunt whipped him fifty times.”

"Wouldn't that guy be crippled?"

“Not quite.” Xiao Fengqi shook his head slightly. “The person who did it was very careful. It looked very scary, but it didn’t actually cause any serious injury. Moreover, he can still move normally. However,” he sneered, “when Uhale entered the main hall, his son had already fainted, whether from pain or fear.”

(End of this chapter)