Chaotic Times and Disasters: I Hunt Down Martial Arts Masters and Become a God

Fu Qing glanced at Chen Jingde, then turned back to face Ling Yushu.

"Your Majesty, my sister-in-law, Madam Song, was strolling around town with my two children today when Chen Yulang harassed her in public on Suzaku Avenue. My Leo nature was revealed, and he was driven away..."

"When Chen Yulang's advances failed, he summoned the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, who, under the pretext of 'spy of the demon race,' imprisoned my wife's younger sister, my two children, and my mount in the Ministry of Justice's jail."

"When I arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison, Chen Yulang was in the cell preparing to humiliate my wife's younger sister. I was so enraged that I couldn't help but kill him."

After listening, Ling Yushu placed the teacup on the imperial desk and then sighed.

"Fu Qing, Fu Qing, you were too impulsive... I know about your Leo mount; it's a demon general you subdued in the Southern Frontier, not some demon spy..."

"Chen Yulang harassed your wife's younger sister in the street and colluded with the Imperial Guards to frame the family of a loyal official. He deserves to be executed—even I am furious when I hear this."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more reproachful.

"But you couldn't just kill him on the spot. You could have kept him under guard and handed him over to me. How could I not give you justice? You insisted on doing it yourself, causing the old Duke heartache."

Fu Qing was slightly taken aback.

He originally thought Ling Yushu would take advantage of the situation, after all, he had killed the son of the Duke of Liang. The Duke of Liang was a long-established hereditary duke who had been operating in Jingjing for countless years and whose influence in the court was deeply entrenched.

Although Ling Yushu's words ostensibly criticized Chen Yulang's impulsiveness, they actually sealed Chen Yulang's guilt:

Harassing respectable women, colluding with the imperial guards, and framing loyal officials—any one of these three crimes carries a death sentence.

Ling Yushu said, "The crime deserves to be punished by death," which means that the crime was decided in public.

Fu Qing didn't understand why the emperor would act this way. He was clearly a man who would exchange the lives of 60,000 soldiers for a seal, yet today he publicly humiliated the Duke of Liang for the sake of a Shengjing general he didn't trust.

But since the emperor is willing to protect him, he will accept it.

"Your Majesty's reprimand is correct..."

Fu Qing cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his tone sincere, "It was I who acted rashly."

Chen Jingde finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He slammed the teacup down heavily on the small table beside him, the lid popping off, then gritted his teeth and spoke, his tone still relatively restrained.

"Your Majesty, whether my son Chen Yulang did that thing or not is still uncertain, as he is now dead and there is no way to verify it. Even if he is guilty, he should be handed over to the three judicial departments for joint trial and sentenced according to the law."

"The General of Shengjing has been carrying out executions on his own, killing people within the Ministry of Justice. It's simply..."

"His Majesty..."

Fu Qing interrupted Chen Jingde and turned to Ling Yushu, as if suddenly remembering a trivial matter.

"An old friend came to my house today, saying he came from the northern border. This man calls himself Tuoba Gui and says he's come to acknowledge me as his relative. I wonder if there is such a person in the northern border?"

"This is absolutely gratifying!"

The anger on Chen Jingde's face vanished completely in an instant.

He stood up, and his old face, which had been so gloomy it looked like it could drip water, suddenly broke into an extremely enthusiastic smile, his eyes crinkling with wrinkles, as if he were announcing some great joy.

The old duke laughed heartily, walked around the chair, grabbed Fu Qing's hands and shook them vigorously, his eyes filled with the joy of reuniting with an old friend.

"General Fu, there's no need to ask His Majesty! I know General Tuoba, the deputy commander of the Feng family army in the Northern Border! Two hundred years ago, I fought alongside him against the demon race on the border!"

"That battle lasted for seven days and seven nights. General Tuoba stood alone at the mouth of the canyon with only his sword, managing to hold off an entire vanguard battalion of the demon race!"

"I haven't seen him since that battle, and I thought he had long since retired from the army. I never expected he was still alive! Please ask General Fu to introduce me to him another day! I want to have a good chat with General Tuoba!"

Looking at the old face in front of him, which was all smiles and wrinkles, Fu Qing sneered inwardly.

This old man changes his tune faster than flipping through a book. Just a moment ago he was gritting his teeth and saying that Tuoba Gui had no regard for the law, but now that he heard that Tuoba Gui had arrived, he immediately became a reunion of old friends.

He smiled slightly, stood up, and shook Chen Jingde's hand, his tone sincere as if it came from the bottom of his heart.

"Since the old Duke has such intentions, I will certainly convey them to General Tuoba and arrange for you to meet him another day. However, I acted impulsively and accidentally killed your son, causing the old Duke to bury his son. I feel very guilty..."

As he spoke, Fu Qinghu's eyes filled with tears, as if he were about to cry.

"General, you're mistaken..."

Chen Jingde shook his head and offered some words of advice.

"That little beast bullied men and women, committed countless evils, and I have wanted to kill him several times to cleanse the family, but he was my own son and I couldn't bring myself to do it... Now it's all right, General, you have cleaved him in two, which is also ridding the people of a scourge. I am more than grateful and must not blame myself!"

He patted Fu Qing's hand, his tone as earnest as if he were comforting an old friend, as if he himself was not the one who had slapped Fu Qing away in the prison cell.

Fu Qing squeezed out two tears and wiped them away. "Was the old Duke speaking the truth?"

These are my heartfelt words!

Chen Jingde pressed his hand to his chest, his expression one of deep sorrow and profound sincerity.

"I have failed in my duty to raise my son, and I am ashamed before the court and His Majesty! General Fu has cleaned up my mess; I feel only gratitude and hold no resentment whatsoever!"

Ling Yushu put down her teacup and looked at the two people in front of her. One of them had been beaten to the point of vomiting blood by the other just a few days ago, and the other's son had been cleaved in two by the person in front of her just the same day. Now they were holding hands and pouring out their hearts to each other.

A relieved smile appeared on his face, and he chuckled softly.

"Alright, alright, both of you are my pillars of society. It is truly a good thing that you have reconciled your past grievances, and I am very pleased!"

"I have already reached a conclusion regarding Chen Yulang's matter. He has committed three capital offenses: harassing a respectable woman, colluding with the Imperial Guards, and falsely accusing a loyal official. Although Minister Fu acted impulsively, he has upheld the law for me. This matter ends here. Anyone who brings it up again in the future will be doing me a disservice!"

"As you command!"

...

The two left the Taiji Hall and walked side by side on the palace path.

Chen Jingde, arm in arm with Fu Qing, wore a warm smile as they walked, chatting about his past experiences fighting in the northern border when he was young...

It is said that the snowstorm in the northern border was so severe that it could bury people. Tuoba Gui was the best drinker among that group of generals, but unfortunately General Fu was not good at drinking, so he arranged for General Tuoba to drink with him another day.

Fu Qing smiled and echoed, saying he would definitely tell General Tuoba that the old Duke still remembered the wine from back then.

The imperial guards and palace servants along the way were dumbfounded.

This morning they were privately discussing how the Duke of Liang's mansion and the General of Shengjing's mansion had become mortal enemies, and that something big was about to happen. But now the Duke of Liang is arm in arm with the man who killed his son, chatting and laughing, as if they had become sworn brothers.

A centurion of the Imperial Guards guarding the palace gate rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.

The lieutenant next to him muttered something under his breath.

"What the hell is going on? Wasn't it said that the General of Shengjing killed the Duke of Liang's son? Did I mishear?"

The centurion glared at him. "Shut up!"

The two left the palace gate and stood in front of the stone lions at the entrance.

Chen Jingde released Fu Qing's arm, straightened his clothes, bowed to Fu Qing with his hands clasped, and his smile remained warm.

"General Fu, I am very pleased that we have resolved our differences today. I would like to invite General Tuoba to my residence another day. I will prepare wine and food, and we will drink until we are drunk."

Fu Qing returned the greeting with a cupped hand, "I will certainly convey the old Duke's kindness. I was also at fault in today's matter, and I hope the old Duke will forgive me."

The two smiled at each other, then turned and walked in opposite directions.