C54. Thank You.
Chu Hechao knew how capable Jian Shaoning was, so he couldn't believe that there was anything urgent enough to make a man with a broken leg and four horse-drawn carriages hastily leave before the new year.
Even if it were urgent, Yuan Li's nature wouldn't have allowed them to leave overnight.
Listening to the cries for mercy became increasingly intolerable to Chu Hechao, who stood with a cold expression, commanding, "Silence them."
After a moment, the clamor ceased.
As the group approached Ji County, the soldiers guarding the city immediately sent word to the Prince Chu Estate.
Upon learning of Chu Hechao's return, Yuan Li and his men had already extinguished the fire in the backyard of the estate.
He involuntarily looked back at the estate, now mostly burned down, with the building's collapse and the scent of charred debris filling the air, a scene of devastation.
The black ashes floated for miles, covering the snowy ground in a thin layer of gray.
What could be done now, especially considering that it was Chu Hechao's residence?
Yuan Li forced a bitter smile; Chu Hechao would surely be furious.
He had let Chu Hechao down.
Promising to pacify the rear, Yuan Li had inadvertently destroyed half of someone else's estate. He knew he had to apologize to Chu Hechao.
But before Chu Hechao arrived, Yuan Li had other matters to attend to.
He thanked the townspeople who had come to help extinguish the fire and urged them and the soldiers to return home to avoid the cold.
The efforts of the firefighters and townspeople had left them disheveled, with half-burned clothing or drenched from fighting the flames. Many of them had suffered burns, as well as frostbite from the icy water used to combat the fire.
The winter water was icy cold to the touch, causing pain that felt like a knife's edge. Despite the risk of frostbite, they continued to fight the fire, resulting in injuries.
Yuan Li noticed that many had swollen, frostbitten hands with blisters forming, including his own, which were turning blue and stiff, causing a dull throbbing sensation.
The townspeople were taken aback when the magistrate expressed gratitude towards them, feeling unexpectedly honored. Their weariness, coldness, and discomfort from their wounds seemed to ease momentarily, as they quickly waved off any thanks, though secretly pleased.
Without lingering, they dispersed in groups of two or three, returning to their homes.
Some townspeople regretted their careless actions, particularly those whose clothes had caught fire, leaving them with nothing to wear.
Yuan Li instructed Lin Tian, "Have the kitchen prepare ginger soup for these townspeople and soldiers later. Have a physician bring herbal remedies to tend to their injuries, addressing any frostbite or burns to prevent further complications. The medical supplies are in the warehouse for them to use. Also, check who needs new clothing and provide them with replacements."
Lin Tian acknowledged the instructions and hurried off.
Taking a deep breath, Yuan Li hastened with the remaining people to the front gate, observing Chu Hechao and his party approaching in an orderly fashion from a distance.
In the past, Yuan Li could adopt a respectful demeanor when facing Chu Hechao. However, at this moment, he felt insecure about facing him.
The Prince Chu Estate had been severely damaged by the fire, making it uninhabitable for the time being. They would have to relocate to another estate.
Yuan Li contemplated many things, including how Chu Hechao would react. For the first time, he felt a sense of discomfort as Chu Hechao's horses finally came to a halt, prompting him to say, "General, I..."
As Chu Hechao gazed at him, a surge of anger ignited within him, his expression darkening. Dismounting from his horse, he strode over to Yuanli, demanding, "What is the meaning of this?"
Clearly, he was furious.
Yuan Li felt deeply remorseful, blaming himself, "General, due to my lax oversight, a fire broke out in the mansion, resulting in the partial destruction of the estate. I will arrange for repairs as soon as possible, but given the harsh winter conditions, it may have to wait until after the new year...I have let you down."
"I'm asking you," Chu Hechao's temples bulged with veins, suppressing his rage as he sternly questioned, "Who the hell gave you permission to mess with the burnt mansion?!"
Yuan Li looked up at him in astonishment.
His appearance was pitiful, with his face smudged with soot, eyes red and dry from the smoke. The edges of his clothing were burnt from the ground fire, his damp sleeves nearly frozen. His hair was disheveled, and he appeared utterly disheveled.
Yuan Li's strategic prowess often overshadowed his youthful appearance, but in this moment, Chu Hechao keenly realized that Yuan Li was only eighteen, soon to turn nineteen.
Chu Hechao was a whole eight years older than this young lad.
An inexplicable surge of emotions welled up in Chu Hechao's chest, causing a dull ache. His expression fluctuated uncertainly, reaching out to touch Yuanli, but realizing he had gloves on, he removed them, wiping away the soot on Yuan Li's face.
"Who did this?"
His palm felt as if it held fire, his rough fingertips causing pain as they rubbed against Yuan Li's cheeks.
Despite the rough treatment, Yuan Li couldn't help but feel a moment of unjustified grievance.
Sensing this moment of distress, Yuan Li was alarmed, internally reminding himself that it was just a fall, nothing to get upset about. How many times had he stumbled in past lives? It wasn't worth getting emotional about now that his body was only eighteen years old.
Don't cry, absolutely don't cry, it's too embarrassing, you're a tough guy.
With subordinates nearby, reliant on him, how could he cry just because Chu Hechao wiped his face?
Yuan Li held back his emotions, but his reddened, dry eyes couldn't hide their moisture, tears threatening to fall.
To save face, Yuan Li quickly turned his head, muttered quietly, "That hurts."
Looking at Yuan Li's reaction, Chu Hechao assumed it was his rough hands causing discomfort, swallowed his words about being "finicky."
He turned to Liu Jixin, his face cold and demanding, "Explain, what happened?"
Liu Jixin glanced at Jian Shaoning beside him, then recounted, "Six months ago, a strategist seeking refuge with Master Chu caused chaos in the prisoner camp, set fire to the mansion and soap factory, then escaped in the commotion."
Chu Hechao noticed the glance exchanged between Liu Jixin and Jian Shaoning, his gaze turning grim as he stared at Jian Shaoning, his voice laced with dread, "Is this your doing?"
Jian Shaoning's lips were tinged blue from the cold, his face pale. He had already figured out that Xia Ce was the mastermind behind everything, nodding silently and admitting, "He was one of my strategists."
The flames of anger were extinguished in an instant, and Chu Hechao thought of the group of people he had bound on the way here, his expression somewhat subtle.
He asked again, "What kind of person is this?"
Liu Jixin replied, "This person has a thin and pale face, with a slightly yellow complexion, and has also lost a pair of legs... General, your expression seems to suggest something deeper."
Indeed, Chu Hechao's expression was very profound.
Before coming here, Chu Hechao felt that he had not lived up to Yuan Li's words and had lost quite a bit of face as a man. He had been somewhat restless before seeing Yuan Li, but now, Chu Hechao's intuition told him that he had achieved a "great feat."
This "great feat" might make Yuan Li look at him with new eyes.
Chu Hechao glanced at Yuan Li and raised his voice, "Bring the person up."
Who?
What person?
Liu Jixin and the others were puzzled, but when they saw the group of people being dragged down from the carriage by the soldiers, their eyes widened and they exclaimed in surprise.
Yuan Li was intrigued by the noise and turned to see the soldiers bringing Xiao Ce and the others to him!
These people looked at him with fear and started to struggle frantically.
Yuan Li looked at them in disbelief.
Suddenly, he looked back at Chu Hechao, his eyes shining as if they were hiding flames, "General!"
Chu Hechao's mouth curled slightly, lazily saying, "When I arrived in Jixian, I found them acting suspiciously, so I suspected them and brought them back bound."
This dramatic turn of events left almost everyone stunned for a moment. After reacting, they were overjoyed. Liu Jixin laughed heartily, pointing at Xiao Ce with excitement, "Xiao Ce, didn't expect this, did you? How did you not expect to see us so soon!"
JIAN Shaoning looked at Xiao Ce complexly.
Xiao Ce, with his crippled legs and being supported by two soldiers, changed his expression several times when he saw Yuan Li and the others, eventually calming down, "Young Master, Lord Yuan, Brother Longyue, long time no see."
Liu Jixin smirked and said, "Indeed, Brother Liemu. But to see you at this moment, my heart is full of joy, very happy."
Yuan Li was also very happy. Besides joy, the anger that had been suppressed in his heart suddenly flared up. He let out a sigh and sincerely thanked Chu Hechao, "Thank you, General, for bringing them back."
Chu Hechao raised his eyebrows, unable to hide his delight, "No need."
Yuan Li smiled, then put away his smile, "General, may I borrow your waist knife?"
Chu Hechao swiftly handed him the ring knife.
Yuan Li held the knife and walked up to Xiao Ce personally.
Xiao Ce's expression fluctuated very subtly, but Yuan Li saw fear of death in his eyes.
Yuan Li stared coldly at him, raising the knife.
Xiao Ce quickly said, "You should not personally kill me. You have always been renowned for your kindness and love for the people. The dirty and tiring tasks should be delegated to others. As a wise lord, you should not dirty your hands with blood."
Yuan Li lifted his eyelids to look at him, his eyes momentarily filled with a decisive aura of killing, showing no hesitation in response to his words.
Xiao Ce was stunned by this firmness.
Yuan Li's knife remained steady in the air, without a tremor. He calmly said, "You burnt down my workshop, the Prince Mansion, caused chaos among the captives, and attempted to take away craftsmen and the soap recipe. If I don't personally kill you, others will think I am a coward."
At that moment, he had an unwavering determination to kill Xiao Ce, making it clear to him that all the explanations that Xiao Ce had prepared were now useless.
Xiao Ce's face changed immediately, and he looked at Jian Shaoning, "Young Master, save me!"
But Jian Shaoning was no longer the Zhan Shaoning who had been manipulated half a year ago. Jian Shaoning sighed and said, "If you didn't do it, just explain yourself. If you really did it and disregarded my situation to do such a thing, where do you find the face to ask me for help. Xiao Ce... Xiao Ce, do you really not understand the implications of what you have done?"
Just by stealing the soap recipe, Xiao Ce was a ingrateful thief!
Even though Jian Shaoning had many feelings for him, he had no face to ask Yuan Li to spare Xiao Ce this time.
"I just hope you don't continue to deteriorate!" Xiao Ce suddenly became emotional, veins bulging on his neck, "Look at yourself! Since arriving in Youzhou, what have you done? Do you remember the massacre of the entire Jian Mansion by the court? You are indulging in a comfortable life day and night, but have you done anything to avenge or seek justice?"
Jian Shaoning clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, "You don't know anything—"
Xiao Ce sneered, "A fledgling bird hiding behind others in an attempt to find temporary peace will never become an eagle. Our paths diverge, but if you ask me why I did this, I have something to say. Do you know that my legs were broken by the person you considered a benefactor?"
Jian Shaoning was shocked and looked at Yuan Li.
Yuan Li seemed to have anticipated he would say this, even smiling slightly, "Xiao Ce, you know what you have done. You know why I broke your legs. Was the death of Jian Shaoning's nephew truly an accident?"
Xiao Ce's face darkened.
Jian Shaoning's lips trembled, what did this mean?
Yuan Li raised the knife even higher, "Initially, I wanted to ask you how you convinced my craftsmen to join you, how you found the former members of Jian Shaoning's troop scattered among my men. But now, I no longer want to ask."
"I've heard about your reputation, knowing that you are skilled at winning people's hearts, and I have seen that. The events have unfolded, and the outcome is before me. The process is no longer important. Because I will not spare a single one of you who left with him."
With that, the big knife came down swiftly.
"Wait!" Xiao Ce finally panicked, unwilling to die, and hastily grasped at the last straw, "I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you! By now, you should have seen my abilities. As long as you spare me this time, I pledge to serve you as my lord, loyal and unwavering, willing to do anything for you!"
But in the next moment, the big knife continued mercilessly, descending on his neck.
At the moment Xiao Ce's head flew, Yuan Li said, "With so many talented people in the world, what makes you so special?"
As his head rolled far across the ground and reached the three craftsmen, they were so terrified that they screamed and urinated in fear.
Blood splattered all over Yuan Li, and the crimson blood droplets slid down his brow bone. Yuan Li turned to them, his usually gentle face suddenly showing a dangerous and menacing edge. He narrowed his eyes, lifted the knife, and walked towards the craftsmen.
In the eyes of the craftsmen, he seemed more terrifying than any monster.
Chu Hechao's gaze was fixated on him and couldn't look away.
The craftsmen trembled on their knees, continuously begging for mercy. They knew Yuan Li was kind-hearted, so they kept mentioning their elderly parents, young children, and crying profusely, pleading desperately.
Yuan Li clenched his jaw and listened to their cries. When the three craftsmen cried until their throats were hoarse, their tears dried up, and they could cry no longer, Yuan Li lowered his eyelids and asked calmly, "Why have you stopped crying?"
The three craftsmen felt a chill in their hearts and begged earnestly, "Young Master Yuan, considering that we came to Youzhou with you from Ruyang, please spare us this time. We truly understand our mistake, we were deceived by the thief, please spare our lives!"
Yuan Li smiled, his gaze clear, as though he wasn't committing a killing deed, "I won't make the same mistake twice."
Soon, the three craftsmen could no longer cry out.
This was the first time Yuan Li had wielded his blade against ordinary people.
It wasn't like the indirect methods that caused Wang Er's companion to bleed to death or the arrow that ended Ma Renyi's life facing the rebel forces.
He personally chopped off the heads of these people, taking their lives, yet Yuan Li's mood was surprisingly calm.
Behind him, Liu Jixin, Wu Kai, Wang Er, and others watched his back.
In a daze, they felt like they had witnessed Yuan Li's transformation.
The scene was silent, with blood flowing like a river. Yuan Li lifted his robe to wipe the blood off the knife, then handed the large knife back to Chu Hechao, saying, "General, thank you for your knife."
Chu Hechao looked at the smile on his face, took the knife, and replied in a low voice.
After a while, Jian Shaoning hoarsely asked, "Yuan Li, what do you mean my nephew's death was not an accident?"
Yuan Li turned to look at him, and upon seeing the pain and fear on Jian Shaoning's face, slowly revealed his past speculation.
It was no longer mere speculation, considering Xiao Ce's reaction just now, it was clear Yuan Li had guessed correctly.
Upon hearing this, Jian Shaoning fell silent for a long time, then suddenly punched the pillar beside him in rage. He took a deep breath, hatred clouding his eyes, realizing the truth, the bitter truth...
Through gritted teeth, he said, "Yuan Li, hand over Xiao Ce's corpse to me."
Yuan Li responded, "Certainly."
Jian Shaoning emotionlessly carried Xiao Ce's body away, while the palace's servants silently cleaned the bloodstains outside.
Guo Lin whispered, "Lord, General, the estate is no longer suitable for residence. Please relocate to the countryside estate."
Yuan Li sighed, "The estate is not like the palace. You've worked hard, General."
Chu Hechao furrowed his brow, "You should go change your clothes first."
Only then did Yuan Li realize the chill, shivering after the anger subsided, feeling discomfort wash over him. He nodded hastily and went back to the mansion to change into fresh clothes.
When he emerged in his new attire, the carriage was already waiting at the gate, with servants bustling around to move things to the countryside estate without Yuan Li needing to say a word, everything was well-organized.
The tall man stood outside the mansion like an unyielding pillar.
Guo Lin couldn't help but express his gratitude, "We owe a lot to the General today."
Indeed.
Yuan Li couldn't help but nod, thankful for the General's presence today.