"You must help think of a way for your father, I really can’t take it anymore, those soldiers are too barbaric," i Changfeng poured out all the grievances he had suffered in the past few days, gripping a handkerchief and weeping heart-wrenchingly at his old age, "The Emperor must be angry, not wanting to see your father, and tomorrow I shall go to the military camp, what should I do, my daughter?"
Concubine i, standing by, handed over a clean handkerchief, "Stop crying."
Although they were watched by her own maids, Lord i’s continued crying was endless, and Concubine i also felt extrely anxious.
Finally, i Changfeng cald down a bit. He crumpled several handkerchiefs into a ball and placed them on the table, making up his mind, "Since I cannot see the Emperor, I shall go to the dungeon to see Su Bai."
"Why would father want to see her?" the flash of panic in Concubine i’s eyes jumped.
Having sent soone into the dungeon with much difficulty, did father really intend to get her out?
"Using reason and emotion, I trust that General Su is not unreasonable. She will certainly lend a hand to help through this crisis." As long as he did not have to go to the military camp, he was ready to swallow his pride and seek Su Bai’s forgiveness.
Concubine i responded without thinking, "No, father cannot go."
"Why not?" i Changfeng widened his eyes.
"I hold a grudge against her and can’t stand to see her acting nonchalant and then enjoying all the privileges," Concubine i spoke bluntly, "She isn’t even a concubine and yet she lives in the inner palace. The Emperor sends for her from far away just for als, and she responds nonchalantly. None of the three thousand beauties in the harem receives this treatnt; why should she? It’s sothing I cannot tolerate."
"That is the Emperor’s business, what does it have to do with you?" i Changfeng didn’t understand, "Since you chose to enter the palace as a concubine, you should be open-hearted. Look at yourself now, feeling jealous, not adhering to the virtues expected of a woman, I really don’t know how your mother taught you at ho."
i Changfeng flared up, "Just for this grievance, you would watch your father suffer and struggle?!"
"Father, what are you saying, I am unwilling to see you in distress," i Changfeng’s words made Concubine i upset, "If it weren’t for venting anger on behalf of father, why would I have directly made an enemy of Su Bai? Now if father lowers his dignity to plead with her, where does that leave my dignity?!"
The last ti the Emperor decreed a punishnt, i Changfeng directly sent a letter of dismissal to her palace to help vent her anger.
Now, unable to bear the gaze of those soldiers, he pressures her.
"Stop talking about how my mother did this or that, there is no father like you in the world!" Concubine i blurted out.
The words left i Changfeng’s beard trembling with rage.
"What audacity you have, daring to speak to your father like this, don’t think being a concubine is so grand. You should know, without , you wouldn’t have had this opportunity, the i Family cos first, then you!"
These words indeed went too far.
They brought tears to Concubine i’s eyes.
"Father, how unreasonable to say such things. Since entering the palace, I have endured so much for the sake of our family, humbly compromising at every step, taking the long view in everything, speaking well of father before the Emperor, seeking developnt for the i Family. Now father, with just one sentence, you negate all my efforts. You are truly too selfish!"
"Unfilial daughter!" As soon as the words fell, i Changfeng slapped Concubine i.
Concubine i covered her face in disbelief, "You hit ?!"
The maids in the room all bowed their heads, fearful of being caught up in this familial storm.
Concubine i touched her face, feeling the burn on her cheek, and scoffed at herself, stumbling backward, tears gleaming in her eyes, "When have I been wrong, father? In your heart, there’s only yourself, never your daughter, never your wife! When you sent to the palace, you never asked for my opinion, and now you are only concerned with your own path. For you, children are just tools for your rise to power, you are indeed utterly selfish!"
"Shut your mouth!" i Changfeng had never been so defied by his own legitimate daughter, "You were born to , you should listen to . I gave you life, you should do as I say, not stand here saying things that anger . If you continue to defy like this, I will imdiately petition the Emperor to punish you for disrespect!"
"Go on, father, go to the Emperor now!" Concubine i shouted loudly, breaking completely down and sitting on a chair, "You go see if the Emperor will et with you!"
i Changfeng was incredibly furious, feeling like his Tianlinggai was about to burst.
Father and daughter stopped talking to each other, and the atmosphere in the room plumted.
Only the sobbing of Concubine i could be heard nearby.
After a long while, i Changfeng finally spoke. His tone was firm, "Your father has made up his mind, I’m going to find Su Bai right now. It’s best you think carefully before you act on behalf of the emperor, otherwise, you are no longer a daughter of the i Family."
As he was leaving, i Changfeng intensified his tone.
"A battle is imminent, and the emperor still needs Su Bai. Naturally, the scales will tip in her favor. If you don’t understand this, your father can explain it to you. I hope at this critical mont, you will not oppose her. It’s not in your best interest. If you don’t listen, then you will be left to fend for yourself."
Having said that, i Changfeng turned and left with a flick of his sleeves.
Concubine i was left alone in the hall, throwing things and cursing, starting to go mad.
i Changfeng, listening to the noise behind him, gripped his wrist and sighed.
He had always thought that his legitimate eldest daughter was sensible, but he had not expected that, even now, she was incapable of adapting.
What was the use of competing with Su Bai?
The emperor’s favor was all on her.
If Su Bai really wanted to target her, his daughter might already be in the Cold Palace by now.
Having served as an official in the court for so many years, so many more formidable than him had not outlasted him. Where was the problem?
It was because i Changfeng knew when to be yielding and when to be firm!
In the dungeon.
Su Bai had a good sleep, opened her eyes, and drank the tea brewed by the prison guard, she read an old scroll with great interest.
After finishing the scroll, the prison guard brought i Changfeng to stand before her.
Seeing i Changfeng with bags big and small, standing at the door with a radiant smile, Su Bai raised an eyebrow, "Well, the General must not be awake yet, to see Mr. i here."
The prison guard unlocked the door, letting i Changfeng in.
"What are you saying, General Su? You’ve suffered!" As soon as i Changfeng entered, he tried to find a place to put down the things in his hands, but looking around, whether on the shelves or the floor, everything was full of various gift packages, making what he brought seem sowhat inferior.
"I had not expected General Su to be living quite well here," he said dryly.
He had thought that with his approach, bearing gifts and showing goodwill, Su Bai, a re woman, would be moved, and then this matter would be resolved.
However, he had not expected that upon entering, the one making him uncomfortable was not Su Bai, but his own colleagues.
Truly, they were a bunch who knew how to observe the prevailing wind.
The way they steered by the wind was absolutely superb!
People had not even left the dungeon, but this group had already started courting favor.
Su Bai yawned, resting her chin on her hand as she leaned back in the chair, "Thanks to the blessings of Concubine i, the General was able to rest here."
She stretched lazily, "Since being appointed as General, I’ve been busy all year round; suddenly having a few days of rest is indeed comfortable, so comfortable that I don’t want to leave."
"You mustn’t speak carelessly," i Changfeng urged quickly. He placed the items on a visible spot on the table, then quickly walked to Su Bai’s side, looking for a place to sit, but with only one chair in the room, he had to stand.
"General Su cannot stay in this dungeon forever. You are the pillar of Chu Kingdom, and Chu Kingdom needs you now more than ever."
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