I placed a hand on Zheng Baobao's shoulder and sighed, "Baobao, remember, once you reach the Yang world, if you encounter similar orders, you have the option not to execute them."
Zheng Baobao scratched her head, "What do you mean?"
She still didn't understand.
I would never issue such an order, but there's no guarantee that people from Shabia wouldn't, especially Bai Qingcheng. I felt that she and the King of Hell were somewhat similar in personality.
Seeing my somber expression, Zheng Baobao savored my words and perhaps realized something was amiss. However, it involved the King of Hell's authority, and she couldn't analyze it too deeply. She changed the subject, "Chengfeng-daren, how do you plan to deal with the cavalry outside?"
"They won't attack," I replied. I walked along the city wall for a stretch, avoiding the fire, and found a place to descend from the gate tower to look for Bingbing and Xiao Nu.
I learned that the King of Hell had returned to the northern palace, and I led Bingbing and Xiao Nu to pay our respects. Inside, palace servants were carrying away fallen soldiers, and bloodstains were everywhere. After I rescued the King of Hell, a bloody battle had ensued here. Judging by the distribution of bodies on the ground, about two hundred rebel soldiers had died, and around six to seven hundred court soldiers. This indicated that this group of rebels had indeed been deliberately infiltrated into the city by the opposing side as part of a decapitation plan.
The palace servants guided us into a side hall to the west. The King of Hell sat on the dragon throne, staring blankly at a point in the distant air, seemingly lost in thought.
"Your Majesty!" I knelt on one knee, "I—"
"Do not speak of the Grassland Canyon incident. I do not wish to argue with you," the King of Hell interrupted me.
But I hadn't intended to bring it up. Did she also realize that her decision was flawed?
To correct one's mistakes is excellent news.
"Your Majesty, I have come to ask for someone," I said.
The King of Hell looked at Xiao Nu behind me, "If you give such an excellent artillery commander to him, what will I do?"
"Your Majesty, you may not know, but I have already arranged a better one for you, named Dai Lu. Xiao Nu is merely one of Dai Lu's students, correct, Xiao Nu?" I said with a smile. (httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět)
Xiao Nu quickly kowtowed, "Yes, Your Majesty. I am the most foolish among Commander Dai's students."
After speaking, Xiao Nu muttered to herself, "Oh dear, will I be beheaded for deceiving the emperor?"
We were quite far from the dragon throne, at least twenty meters away (the palace servants would not let us get too close), so the King of Hell likely did not hear.
"I know of that Commander Dai," the King of Hell nodded. "Since that is the case, I shall grant your wish, my subject. Take him away. As for the formalities at the Yin Messenger's Office, it is not too late to handle them later."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Then, we shall take our leave. Zheng-daren, may I also take her with me?" I asked for permission. With the King of Xiliang here, there was no shortage of people to lead troops in battle.
"Granted."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Then... we shall meet again."
"You will see me again soon," the King of Hell said with a smile, her words carrying a deep implication.
Could she be cursing me to die soon?
Dying would mean "going to see the King of Hell."
Although she was beautiful, her Yin energy was indeed much heavier than that of ordinary ghosts. Even the palace servants around her carried a significant Yin energy. Moreover, during this trip to the underworld with Bingbing, we had been mixed with the army and encountered far too many ghosts, causing us to feel unwell. We really should return.
After bidding farewell and leaving the palace, Zheng Baobao rode her horse over, her face beaming, "Chengfeng-daren's foresight is amazing! The rebels have indeed retreated!"
"The crisis in this city has been resolved. Baobao, you will come with me too. His Majesty has agreed."
"Alright, Chengfeng-daren. I will go and inform His Majesty." Zheng Baobao entered the great hall but did not emerge for a long time.
A palace servant swept away three cigarette butts from around my feet. Seeing me light another one, he could only stand nearby, holding his cleaning tools, waiting.
"...You can go and attend to your duties?" I frowned. Being watched made me uncomfortable. It was fine for Xiao Nu to stare at me, as she was beautiful, but this gentleman seemed to be a eunuch.
I detested eunuchs the most, especially authors who abandoned their novels.
"Lord Wu, this humble servant dare not. His Majesty has ordered that not a single leaf is allowed to be in the courtyard of the great hall!" the eunuch said timidly.
I sighed, walked up to him, extinguished my cigarette in his scoop, and clapped my hands, "You may go now. I won't smoke anymore."
"Thank you, Lord Wu, thank you, Lord Wu!" The eunuch palace servant left with a pleased expression.
Zheng Baobao finally emerged from the great hall, her face radiant.