The two sides began a back-and-forth haggling, and at the crucial moment, Emperor Huian severely reprimanded Xiao Ruiyuan for his mishandling of the situation, not capturing the Wu Tuo spies. Had it not been for Chu Heng intervening on his behalf, Emperor Huian might have even stripped him of his Great General title.
Xiao Ruiyuan, having fought in campaigns for many years and established meritorious service in stabilizing Great Chu's territories, faced Emperor Huian's rebuke for the first time. Under the weight of his gloomy mood, he holed up in the General Mansion drowning his sorrows in alcohol, not stepping outside for several days, and naturally ignored the Uto People's urgency.
This matter became the talk of Jing City, with many in the know believing it to be a sign of Xiao Ruiyuan's fall from grace. The Uto People, upon hearing of this "unintentionally," saw it as a stroke of fortune from the heavens and even entertained the thought of persuading Xiao Ruiyuan to defect.
