Say It; Do It! . . .
"In fact..." Second Prince began to speak.
Cha Eun Xiao had seemingly drawn a conclusion, but the prince was determined to salvage the situation and restore his men's pride.
"I understand. Truly," Cha Eun Xiao responded sincerely. "In truth, there has never been any discord between you and me. It's these lackeys who act like ignorant fools, failing to comprehend their master's intentions. They shout like rabid dogs, disturbing the harmony. They sow discord."
Cha Eun Xiao cast an intense gaze to the side. "It's a source of great frustration for a master to have such inept lackeys. I always hope they can learn quickly. Even if they are akin to dogs, they should be good dogs, not mad ones. Mad dogs are destined for a swift demise. They disrupt our plans, yet we must continue to feed them. We have plenty of food for them, but..."
Every word he spoke targeted Wang Zhong directly. Wang Zhong had made the initial error, leaving him with no words to defend himself. He could only endure the verbal lashing.
"A lackey remains a lackey!" Cha Eun Xiao declared with a cold, disdainful stare at Wang Zhong. "Disgusting! So useless! Why show any mercy? Beat him to death, I say!"
His insults grew increasingly venomous as he continued to berate Wang Zhong.
Second Prince's countenance darkened considerably.
Wang Zhong's eyes flared with fury. He shot a fierce glare at Cha Eun Xiao, gritted his teeth, and retorted, "Lord Cha, there are limits to everything! Even a dog has its pride! Don't you keep dogs in your household?"
With those words, Wang Zhong glanced meaningfully at the guards surrounding the courtyard, a sly smile curling on his lips.
It might have appeared as a feeble defense, but it was a well-laid trap, designed to force Cha Eun Xiao into a difficult position. If he agreed, it would imply that the guards in his house were lowly dogs, deeply wounding their pride. If he denied it, he would be contradicting himself.
Wang Zhong sought to lead Cha Eun Xiao into making a mistake, whichever way he responded.
Unperturbed, Cha Eun Xiao countered with a confident chuckle, "A fine question! In my household, there are no lowly dogs! This man here is our steward, a former soldier who served under my father's command. He is also my father's sworn brother and my uncle! Those men out there are all my father's comrades, brothers who fought together on the battlefield. They live and die for my father, just as my father would for them!"
"The entire kingdom, the entire army, knows this truth!"
"These are warriors who defend the kingdom. They've weathered countless battles, bearing scars that narrate their heroic tales."
Cha Eun Xiao then fixed a stern gaze on the individuals behind Second Prince. He continued in a cold tone, "Who dares label these brave men as lowly dogs? Take no offense. Allow me to ask, do you bear the marks of battles on your own bodies?"
His gaze swept over the trio.
All three hung their heads in silence.
Who would dare call them lowly dogs?
Not even the king would dare to utter such words!
The scars they bore were symbols of their valor in countless battles.
General Cha had sworn brotherhood with his steward and fought alongside his soldiers, confronting death together. Could the same be said for the prince? Would the prince's father pledge such brotherhood and face death alongside them in battle?
Cha Eun Xiao fell silent, his words echoing in the air. The guards of the House of Cha stood tall, their eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Since the young lord holds us in such regard, we are willing to lay down our lives for him!"
"We always knew General Cha never considered us mere servants. He treated us as true brothers. Now, we understand that the young lord sees us the same way!"
"We are soldiers in the battle!"
"We are heroes in the House of Cha!"
"We are not lackeys! We are not lowly dogs!"
"We are not lowly dogs either!" Wang Zhong's scheme had crumbled. Frustrated and visibly agitated, he sought to defend himself.
Cha Eun Xiao regarded him with disdain, refusing to engage further in conversation and openly mocking him.
"Brother Cha, you truly carry yourself with the valor of a tiger's offspring," Second Prince commended, feigning sincerity. He cast a discreet glance at the House of Cha's guards and inwardly mused, ["These individuals are nothing more than lowly dogs; Cha Eun Xiao has simply elevated their status forcibly. Soldiers...even soldiers are lowly dogs in our eyes, and so is the House of Cha."]
Yet, he would never voice such thoughts. He dared not, nor would his father, the king, dare to make such a declaration.
"Second Prince, kindly get to the point," Cha Eun Xiao asserted, his patience wearing thin. Second Prince maintained an air of nobility but continually glanced furtively at Bing-Er. Cha Eun Xiao gave a direct order, "Bing-Er, go to my room and tidy up my bed. I will retire soon. Attend to me as I rest."
Bing-Er blushed and obediently complied, leaving with lowered eyes. The words were laden with implications, leaving no room for doubt. They confirmed her status as the young lord of the House of Cha's companion, a declaration of ownership that dispelled any illusions others might entertain.
Other men could dismiss their hopes; Bing-Er belonged to the young lord of the House of Cha.
Second Prince's countenance grew darker as he observed Bing-Er's departure.
"Is this lady your concubine, Brother Cha?" He inquired with a forced smile, unwilling to relinquish hope.
Cha Eun Xiao responded with disdain, his thoughts seething, ["You wretched individual, how dare you harbor any designs on my Bing-Er? What a futile dream!"] He let out an indignant huff and responded, "Hmm. She is my sixth wife, newly arrived, and still unfamiliar with the household's customs. Her shyness upon your arrival was merely a matter of courtesy."
Second Prince's disappointment was unmistakable this time, no longer concealed.
Wang Zhong, however, sported a malevolent smile as he interjected, "Lord Cha, you might be mistaken. I look at this young lady, and I see tightly arched eyebrows, flawless skin, clear and innocent eyes. She appears to be a maiden. Lord Cha, you spoke too soon."
Second Prince's interest reignited upon hearing Wang Zhong's words.
Cha Eun Xiao had reached the limit of his patience. "Enough of your meddling, you wretched cur!" he exclaimed, delivering a harsh slap to Wang Zhong's face. "You loathsome beast, how dare you comment on my woman! Show some decorum! Someone, remove this detestable mutt from the premises. The House of Cha has no room for such vile animals!"