Chapter Eighteen: This Is Reality
Di Chao’s sudden appearance took everyone by surprise.
“General!”
As one of Di Chao’s old subordinates, Chu Haiyuan was naturally the most excited. Rising to his feet, he strode directly over to Di Chao, his expression brimming with emotion.
“Haiyuan!”
With a smile, Di Chao patted Chu Haiyuan on the shoulder.
“Who dares enter this courtroom without my permission!”
“Li Wei, how dare you!”
Seeing Li Wei show disrespect to Di Chao, Chu Haiyuan’s anger flared immediately.
“General Chu, don’t forget that Di Chao is no longer the Grand General of the Nation!”
“He’s nothing more than an old man half-buried in the earth!”
Li Wei sneered mockingly.
“Li Wei, you’re courting death!”
Chu Haiyuan’s fury surged as he prepared to rush forward, but Di Chao stopped him.
“Li Wei, though I am no longer the Grand General of the Nation,” Di Chao said calmly, facing the sneering Li Wei, “even Cao Renjie wouldn’t dare speak to me like that!”
“You…”
Li Wei’s face changed instantly. Facing the calm Di Chao and the furious Chu Haiyuan ready to fight him, Li Wei could only grit his teeth. Finally, he stood and bowed respectfully.
“I am Li Wei, paying respects to Old Master Di! May I ask the purpose of your visit?”
Seeing Li Wei submit, Di Chao wasted no more words.
“I am here to take someone with me.”
“Who?”
“The young master of the Qin family.”
This declaration stunned everyone again. Even Qin Song looked at Di Chao with surprise.
“When did the Qin family become allied with Di Chao?”
Li Wei and Lin You exchanged glances on the stage, each seeing the same incredulous question in the other’s eyes.
“Old Master Di, Qin Song today…”
Seeing Li Wei still rambling, Di Chao interrupted.
“Qin Song is involved in a major military secret of Great Xia. I am here to take him away now.”
“A military secret?”
Li Wei scoffed coldly, unwilling to let Di Chao take Qin Song.
“Old Master Di, you are no longer the Grand General of the Nation. How can there be such a thing as a military secret?”
“Li Wei, you are but a mere governor of Jiangnan Prefecture, yet you dare to be so insolent before Old Master Di!”
Chu Haiyuan was seething with rage, itching to chop off Li Wei’s head.
“You are the insolent ones!”
“Old Master Di, out of respect for your former merits to the court, I allow you to enter!”
Ignoring Chu Haiyuan’s warning, Li Wei sneered and shouted at Di Chao,
“If you continue to cause trouble here, don’t blame me for being rude!”
“Who dares to disrespect Lord Di here?”
Before Li Wei’s words finished, a sharp yet soft voice came from outside.
An elderly man in a red dragon robe entered the courtroom, accompanied by several others.
“Eunuch Su?”
Li Wei’s face paled in shock as he hurriedly approached the elder with Lin You, wearing a fawning expression.
The elder was Su Peigui, Chief Steward of the Imperial Household in the Great Xia Dynasty and the emperor’s personal eunuch.
“Lord Li, quite the display of authority!”
“Eunuch Su, this subordinate…”
Though the position of Chief Steward bore no official rank, no minister in the court would dare disrespect Su Peigui.
“Lord Li, throughout all of Great Xia, who dares to disrespect Lord Di?”
Su Peigui cast a cold glance at Li Wei, utterly dismissing the Jiangnan Prefecture governor.
“Though Lord Di is no longer the Grand General, His Majesty has just appointed him as the Chief of the Privy Council!”
“This visit to Yuezhou is specifically to proclaim His Majesty’s imperial edict!”
This announcement hit Li Wei like a thunderclap, leaving him stunned.
The One Hall and One Court were the highest institutions in Great Xia.
The “One Hall” referred to the Political Affairs Hall, the supreme administrative body led by the Left and Right Prime Ministers, along with three deputy prime ministers and numerous officials and subordinate agencies.
The “One Court” was the Privy Council, the highest military institution, led by the Chief of the Privy Council.
“Are you Qin Song?”
Ignoring Li Wei, Su Peigui fixed his gaze on Qin Song.
“You know me?”
Surprised that Su Peigui called him by name, Qin Song instinctively looked toward Di Chao.
“Right Prime Minister’s nephew,” Su Peigui stated directly, “The items you’ve developed are remarkable. If produced, His Majesty will surely be pleased!”
“From now on, our Great Xia army will be invincible in every battle!”
“Qin Song, why not thank His Excellency?”
“Your Excellency! Your Excellency!”
Although Wu Shi, sitting nearby, did not fully understand the situation, she quickly approached Su Peigui and bowed.
“I am Qin Song’s biological mother.”
“Your Excellency traveled thousands of miles to Yuezhou. The journey must have been exhausting!”
As she spoke, Wu Shi discreetly slipped a stack of silver notes worth over a thousand taels into Su Peigui’s sleeve.
“It is all for the service of His Majesty. How can it be tiring?”
Su Peigui accepted Wu Shi’s gesture with a broad smile.
“Lord Di, our family is still waiting to return to the capital to report. I hope you will return soon!”
“I shall depart for the capital early tomorrow morning.”
“Very well!”
Hearing this, Su Peigui nodded in agreement.
Glancing at Qin Song once more, Su Peigui finally said,
“Don’t forget those items, Lord Di.”
“To have such a prodigy in the Qin family, His Majesty will surely be delighted!”
Having accepted the generous bribe, Su Peigui naturally spoke kindly.
“Rest assured, Chief Steward Su!”
With Di Chao seeing Su Peigui off, the latter departed in haste.
“Congratulations, General!”
Once Su Peigui left, Chu Haiyuan quickly saluted, his voice filled with excitement.
“Lord Li?”
Di Chao glanced at Li Wei and asked, “Do you have anything else to say?”
“Lord Di, Qin Song was injured by the young master of the Cao family!”
Despite Di Chao’s imposing presence, Li Wei gritted his teeth.
“So what?”
“The young master of the Cao family tortured two women to death. Such a beastly act—if it happened in the army, I would have already dragged him out and beheaded him!”
At this moment, Di Chao exuded undeniable authority, stating bluntly,
“Today, I will protect Qin Song!”
“If Cao Renjie has doubts, let him come to me personally!”
“Li Wei, don’t forget what Eunuch Su just said!”
Realizing the gravity, Li Wei’s heart sank.
His expression was as if he had swallowed a fly; though unwilling, he conceded,
“Since Qin Song is involved in Great Xia’s military secrets, of course the Chief of the Privy Council may take him!”
Wu Shi, hearing this, was naturally overjoyed.
“Lord Di!”
Just as Di Chao was about to speak, Qin Song, looking somewhat emotional, interjected.
But before Qin Song could say more, Di Chao cut him off.
“I can only take you.”
“Why?”
Qin Song, wanting to bring Yang Xiu and Zhang Pengyuan along as well, looked puzzled.
“If you came for those fifty thousand sets of uniforms, the Qin family can give you a hundred thousand more!”
“If it’s about those things, I—”
“Qin Song!”
Before Qin Song could explain that he had something better in mind, Di Chao interrupted coldly.
“When a man errs, he must pay the price!”
“Then why come for me?”
Facing Qin Song’s question in front of everyone, Di Chao said plainly,
“Because what you hold is worth my involvement!”
“If you want to save them, you can only rely on yourself!”
Qin Song fell silent, knowing he could not save Yang Xiu and Zhang Pengyuan.
“If you, like me, possessed enough power, no matter who makes a mistake, if you are willing, they can be forgiven!”
“Even if you yourself err, you can be forgiven!”
“But such power is never gained by mere words!”
Though Di Chao spoke plainly, everyone present knew exactly what he meant.
Qin Song, filled with countless objections, opened his mouth but ultimately remained silent.