Chapter 156: You Are Not In Exile You Are Clearly Traveling!

 Chapter 156: The Ruse

"Father, are we just letting him go like that?"

"Of course not!" Master Chen shook his head. "It's just not the right time to act."

He then patiently explained the nuances of human nature and societal perceptions to Chen Xue, who might not fully grasp these intricacies.

"People often side with the weaker party, shouting for justice, without truly understanding the situation. They never ask why or if the weaker party is genuinely weak, or who is truly right or wrong."

Chen Xue, not being the naïve person she once was but rather someone with experience from a past life, understood this well.

Many people sympathized with the Zhang family, viewing them as weak. On the other hand, she was seen as a celestial, a strong figure. If they acted against the Zhang family, many would oppose them in the name of justice. This opposition wouldn't be because of any loyalty to the Zhang family but simply due to sympathy and a dislike of perceived injustice.

The dissatisfaction of the prisoners might not affect them immediately, but if they wanted to eventually win over these people, the incident would become a thorn in their side.

"Even if people fear your celestial status and don't dare to oppose you, not everyone will remain silent. Some resent us, and if Zhang Yiquan stirs them up or offers rewards..."

This could lead to a group uprising, turning a personal grudge into a larger conflict with the prisoners. This conflict would be hard to resolve without casualties.

If the Chen family backed down, they would lose their authority, and no one would respect or obey them in the future. On the other hand, if they suppressed the prisoners, it would deepen the resentment, making it harder to win them over later.

In conclusion, this situation had to be handled carefully.

Master Chen was determined not to let Zhang Yiquan off easily. The latter's reaction and behavior confirmed his guilt. His wife and daughter were his weak points, and Zhang Yiquan had crossed the line again, infuriating him. He resolved not to let Zhang Yiquan go unpunished.

...

Zhang Yiquan was pleased with the success of his ruse, thinking that Chen Xue, the so-called celestial, wasn't so formidable after all. Confident that he had tricked them, he decided to stay low and wait for the Chen family to forget the matter before plotting his next move.

However, he soon noticed something strange. The other prisoners were looking at him oddly, not just a few but most of them. Their gazes were predatory, making him very uncomfortable.

Confused, he returned to his wife's side, ready to use her as a shield if necessary. She had already been deemed mad, so if she accidentally killed someone, it would be seen as an accident.

The day passed uneventfully, although the stares continued to make him uneasy. As night fell, the convoy stopped to prepare dinner. Prisoners rushed to the officers' fires, as only they could light fires in the snow. Getting there early meant more food; being late meant less.

Zhang Yiquan tried to join them but was blocked by a group of men.

"Well, well, Master Zhang, long time no see!"

Among the exiled, only Master Chen and Zhang Yiquan had high ranks. The rest were mostly their subordinates or minor officials. These men knew Zhang Yiquan well.

"So, it's you guys!" Zhang Yiquan recognized his former subordinates and wasn't concerned. "What is it? I'm busy. Talk later."

"You don't get to decide, master Zhang!" One man stopped him, making Zhang Yiquan angry. "Have you forgotten your place?"

"Hahaha!" The men laughed derisively. "Looks like master Zhang has forgotten his place!"

"We call you master Zhang out of respect, but you're no longer our superior."

"Look at yourself now! Do you still think you're in charge? Zhang Yiquan, has your wife kicked your brains out?"

"Hahaha!"

Their laughter was full of mockery, making Zhang Yiquan's face darken. He almost forgot his current status. Suppressing his anger, he said, "I treated you well before. Is there any need to humiliate me now?"

"Well?" The men's laughter ceased, replaced by anger. "You treated us well? Whenever we asked for favors, you always demanded bribes. Thousands of taels, and you still didn't help us!"

Their grievances were many, with Zhang Yiquan taking bribes but failing to deliver.

"We forgot our grudges, but now we can settle them!"

The men rolled up their sleeves, their shackles clinking ominously, making Zhang Yiquan tremble.

He was no match for them alone and quickly warned, "You know the rules! Fighting is forbidden, and violators are punished."

"These are General Xie’s rules. Aren't you afraid?"

"Hahaha!" The men laughed again. "So what? General Xie isn't here. No one can stop us."

"Enough talk!"

They dropped their smiles, revealing fierce expressions, and threatened, "Hand over your valuables, or we'll show no mercy!"

"What valuables?" Zhang Yiquan was confused, thinking they wanted revenge but realizing they were after something specific. 

Exiled, he had nothing of value left.

"I don't know what you mean!"

"Fine, seems you want the hard way!" They approached menacingly.

Continue Reading on |🔴 Patreon

▶▶You Are Not In Exile You Are Clearly Traveling!(COMPLETED)

:This Novel is already completed read it in patreon

Next Chapter▶▶