When Chu Yu uttered the word "kill," Sun Yi immediately understood.
She was not a cruel person by nature and would never resort to slaughtering an entire family unless absolutely necessary. Thus, he responded, "Rest assured, I will handle this matter properly."
By the time Chu Yu captured Luoshui City, Wei Yun had already had Gu Chusheng bound and was waiting at the agreed-upon location with Yao Yong.
Gu Chusheng’s foot injury had improved significantly, but kneeling was still inadvisable. However, since they were about to meet Yao Yong in front of so many people, if they treated Gu Chusheng too kindly now, he would truly have no reason to return.
Yet Gu Chusheng had many allies in Hua Jing. If he didn’t go back, it wouldn’t be long before morale wavered, and all the groundwork he had laid in the capital would be wasted. Moreover, even for the sake of disaster relief, he had to return.
Thus, Gu Chusheng decisively said, "I’ll kneel. The more pitiful I look, the better."
Wei Yun nodded but frowned. "Kneeling might damage your bones, making recovery difficult..."
"You don’t need to worry about me..."
"Then let’s hang you up instead."
Gu Chusheng looked up at Wei Yun, whose expression showed not a trace of guilt. After a moment, Gu Chusheng said flatly, "You’ve been thinking about this for a while, haven’t you?"
Wei Yun sighed. "Minister Gu, how could you think so poorly of me?"
"A petty man like you," Gu Chusheng sneered, "do you think I don’t know?"
Wei Yun lowered his head to sip his tea, feigning regret. Gu Chusheng expected him to deny it, but instead, Wei Yun said helplessly, "Since you’ve seen through me, I won’t pretend anymore." With that, his eyes curved in amusement. "Watching you hang does make me quite happy."
Gu Chusheng: "..."
Though Wei Yun’s words were harsh, Gu Chusheng had no desire to become crippled. So when Yao Yong arrived, he saw Gu Chusheng suspended high on a wooden frame in the middle of the battlefield, his face deathly pale as if he had endured immense suffering. The moment Yao Yong spotted him, he rushed forward in alarm. "Minister Gu!"
Then, turning to Wei Yun, he roared furiously, "Wei Yun, you little traitor! Minister Gu is a pillar of the state—how could you treat him like this? Have you no sense of honor left?"
Wei Yun remained silent, but Wei Xia, standing behind him, couldn’t help but chuckle. "General Yao, that’s quite the joke. In war, an enemy official is lucky to be alive at all. What more do you want?"
Yao Yong’s expression darkened as he glared coldly at Wei Yun. "Wei Yun, have you truly turned traitor?"
Wei Yun poured himself another cup of tea and said mildly, "Sit."
Yao Yong’s face stiffened, but he reluctantly took the seat opposite Wei Yun.
Dressed in wide-sleeved robes, Wei Yun moved with a refined elegance that was uniquely his own, a stark contrast to the rough and ruthless soldiers around him. Yet the more composed and serene Wei Yun appeared, the more uneasy Yao Yong grew.
If there was one person in the Wei family Yao Yong feared most, it was Wei Yun. To Yao Yong, the rest of the Wei family were straightforward and blunt—only Wei Yun remained an enigma. Over the years, Yao Yong had come to realize that neither he, Emperor Chunde, nor even Zhao Yue could truly see through the man before him.
Wei Yun calmly took a sip of tea, then glanced up at Yao Yong’s stern face with mild surprise. "General Yao, why aren’t you drinking?"
"No need."Yao Yong said coldly, "I’ve come today to discuss disaster relief with you."
Wei Yun nodded calmly. "Indeed. With Qing Province suffering and the court withholding grain, and General Yao unwilling to part with your own supplies, naturally you’ve come to borrow from me."
"Are those even your grains?" Yao Yong scoffed. "You begged for grain across the land, and who knows how much will remain after passing through your hands to mine. Do you think I don’t see your petty schemes?"
"Enough talk," Yao Yong said stiffly. "The first batch of grain has arrived. Hand it over today, and I’ll take it back for the people."
Wei Yun remained silent, idly stirring the tea leaves before him. Yao Yong’s expression darkened. "What do you mean by this?"
"General Yao," Wei Yun lifted his gaze, a faint smile on his lips. "Is this how you ask to borrow grain from this prince? Qing Province is your territory. Lending to you is a courtesy—do you truly believe I’m begging you?"
Yao Yong didn’t move. Zhao Yue’s letter flashed through his mind. Zhao Yue had made it clear: Wei Yun would always prioritize the people, so he must press him relentlessly and refuse any conditions.
So he stood and said coldly, "Do you think I care about the lives of these ants? If Prince Wei refuses to lend, so be it. I’ll return and let those people fend for themselves."
With that, Yao Yong turned to leave.
At that moment, Gu Chusheng spoke up weakly, "General Yao, you mustn’t!"
Yao Yong paused and turned back, gritting his teeth. "Lord Gu, today it’s not that I refuse to save the people—it’s Wei Yun who’s utterly detestable!"
"General Yao," Gu Chusheng gasped, "if you don’t take the grain today, I fear Qing Province will descend into chaos. How will you explain that to His Majesty later?"
Yao Yong hesitated. Gu Chusheng pressed on, "My lord..." His face twisted in pain. "Think twice!"
Those words carried unspoken weight. Gu Chusheng’s eyes were full of worry, and even without him saying more, Yao Yong understood.
If he didn’t take the grain today, it would be as good as handing it to Wei Yun for free. And if he returned, he’d have to use his own reserves for relief. If he didn’t, the starving masses would revolt, joining forces with Wei Yun, and Qing Province would be lost.
That Wei Yun was still willing to save lives at all was a testament to his moral character.
Yao Yong fell silent. Gu Chusheng quickly added, "Your Highness, state your terms plainly. General Yao doesn’t treat the people as ants—if it’s within his power, he will agree!"
Yao Yong had just referred to them as "ants," and now Gu Chusheng threw the words back at him—a clear jab. Yao Yong’s expression soured further. Wei Yun’s gaze settled on him as he said calmly, "I will send five hundred men to escort Princess Qingping and the grain into Qing Province for relief. You will allow the princess to publicly audit the accounts."
"Does Prince Wei distrust me so?"
"Have you forgotten what you’ve done?" Wei Yun’s eyes turned icy, his quiet voice peeling back Yao Yong’s facade like a blade. "How dare you speak to me of trust?"
Yao Yong froze. Suddenly, he remembered—the man before him was of the Wei family.
The family that had been wiped out six years ago because of his cowardice and selfish retreat.
Wei Yun stood, his movements graceful and composed, but Yao Yong’s heart leaped into his throat."What I mentioned earlier was only the first condition. That was official business. For me to provide the grain, there's a second condition."
"What do you want?"
Yao Yong feigned composure, while Wei Yun calmly stated, "Kneel down and slap yourself a hundred times until you draw blood."
"You..."
"Minister Yao," Gu Chusheng interjected calmly, "Do not act impulsively."
Yao Yong panted heavily, glaring at Wei Yun, who returned his gaze steadily without yielding an inch.
"My terms stand. Give me your answer before I enter the city gates. Once they close, I'll assume Minister Yao intends to resolve Qing Province's affairs on his own."
With that, Wei Yun turned and walked toward Qing Province. Seeing his resolute departure, Yao Yong anxiously shouted, "How could Wei Zhong have raised a son like you?! Look at what you're doing!"
Wei Yun halted and turned back, his icy gaze fixed on Yao Yong. "Before questioning my actions, reflect on your own. You and Zhao Yue shouldn’t assume that just because I bear the Wei family name, I’ll help you unconditionally."
A faint smirk curled his lips. "Yao Yong, surviving has made me entirely different from those who perished."
Yao Yong fell silent, staring blankly as Wei Yun decisively strode toward the city gates.
He cared nothing for the common people.
He was nothing like Wei Zhong, Wei Jun, or the other Wei family members he had schemed against. Wei Yun... was no different from them.
The backbone of Great Chu had truly been broken; its spirit was lost.
Yao Yong couldn’t define his emotions. For a fleeting moment, he even felt regret. But it was just that—a fleeting moment. The years had passed too quickly, too much had been done. The boy once relegated to counting grass in the rear had grown into a regional warlord. There was no room left for remorse.
He could only watch Wei Yun’s retreating figure as Gu Chusheng roared, "Yao Yong, are you a fool?! He’s itching for you to refuse so the grain falls right into his hands! With only Qing and Yan Provinces left under Your Majesty’s control, if you lose Qing, what will you possibly have to repay His Majesty?!"
Yao Yong remained silent, his mind in turmoil.
He needed the grain—desperately. But to let Wei Yun escort Princess Qingping into Qing Province with five hundred men, and to kneel...
Struggling internally, Yao Yong finally cracked as Wei Yun was about to enter the city. "Fine!" he bellowed.
Wei Yun turned back, his expression unreadable.
After a pause, he instructed Wei Xia, "Bring my father and brother here."
Wei Xia acknowledged the order. Returning to his position, Wei Yun regarded Yao Yong’s seething resentment and remarked coolly, "I’ll have the grain counted now. General Yao, wait a moment."
Clenching his fists in humiliation, Yao Yong demanded, "How... do you want me to kneel?"
"General Yao, wait."
Wei Yun raised a hand to stop him. Moments later, seven Wei family soldiers jogged forward, carrying black memorial tablets.
They arranged the tablets in a row on the seats. Wei Yun stood to the side while Yao Yong stared at the names inscribed, his lips parting soundlessly.
Wei Yun lifted a cup of tea and poured it before the seven tablets. Then, his voice softening, he said, "Father, elder brother, your son has brought Yao Yong to atone before you."
At these words, Yao Yong’s face twisted in fury. Gu Chusheng, suspended high above, felt his hands ache as if they might snap. Squinting through the windblown sand, he watched Yao Yong slowly kneel before the memorial tablets."Hit."
Wei Yun spoke, and Yao Yong raised his hand to slap himself across the face. Wei Yun said calmly, "Harder."
Slap —another sound. Wei Yun suddenly raised his voice, "Hit harder!"
Slap, slap, slap…
The sound of slaps rang out one after another. Wei Yun lifted his gaze to the sky.
The sky was a clear, pristine blue, with an eagle circling overhead.
Father, brother.
Wei Yun thought, sooner or later, he would make every wrongdoer pay with their heads.
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