Chapter 115: My Lord, Please Punish Li Xiao

Early the next morning, Xiao Lintuo, along with Amo and numerous Thousand-Man Commanders and Hundred-Man Commanders of the nomadic tribes, arrived at the central army’s large tent, requesting an audience with Xiao Sima.

Although he arrived quite early, someone was even earlier than him.

“Who is the Prince talking to? Why hasn’t he come out after so long?”

Xiao Lintuo asked Xiao Sima’s captain of the personal guards.

“This…”

Considering Xiao Lintuo’s status, and that Xiao Lintuo would definitely see Xiao Yanyan when she came out later…

Plus, it wasn’t something that needed to be kept secret, so the captain of the personal guards said, “It’s Her Highness the Princess.”

“The Princess is back?” Xiao Lintuo was somewhat surprised.

He knew that Xiao Yanyan had been following Li Xiao touring the mountains and playing in the water all day; he hadn’t seen her shadow for two days.

Now, she was here to see Xiao Sima early in the morning.

Shouldn’t she be sleeping with Li Xiao?

For a young man like Li Xiao, having tasted the forbidden fruit for the first time, he would wish he could tie the woman to the bed all the time to be comfortable.

How could Li Xiao bear to let her leave?

So, Xiao Lintuo asked again, “Is it just Her Highness alone? Did Governor Li come?”

“Only the Princess alone,” the captain of the personal guards said.

Xiao Lintuo was thoughtful. Could it be that something happened to Li Xiao, or a change occurred in their relationship?

Regardless of which, it was good news for Xiao Lintuo.

“Best if it’s Li Xiao…”

Xiao Lintuo’s expression remained unchanged, but his thoughts were somewhat dark.

After all, power struggles had always been life-and-death situations.

Thinking like this, Xiao Lintuo called his trusted aide over and asked him to find a chance to meet the mole beside Xiao Yanyan.

To inquire if anything happened between the two in the past two days.

And just after he finished instructing, the captain of the personal guards came over and said, “Governor Xiao, you may enter.”

“Good, thank you.”

Xiao Lintuo nodded gently, then walked over with a group of people clattering behind him.

Because there were too many people, Xiao Lintuo could only take a few important tribal leaders into Xiao Sima’s large tent.

Those ordinary Hundred-Man Commanders could only wait outside the tent.

But since they appeared here, they had already shown their attitude.

Facing the surging sentiment of so many people, Xiao Lintuo believed Xiao Sima would definitely have to take it into consideration.

“Greetings, my Lord.”

Xiao Lintuo led Amo and three Thousand-Man Commanders into the large tent and bowed to Xiao Sima.

Looking around, there were four personal guards on both sides. Xiao Sima sat upright at the head, and standing beside him was precisely Xiao Yanyan.

Only looking at Xiao Sima’s face at this time, he seemed to be in a bad mood.

Sure enough, when Xiao Sima spoke next, it was like he had swallowed a knife.

“General Xiao Lintuo, you brought so many people to my large tent; you aren’t here to force my hand, are you?”

Xiao Sima snorted lightly, his indifferent gaze fixed tightly on Xiao Lintuo.

Just now, Xiao Yanyan had told him about the three moles.

It made Xiao Sima extremely annoyed.

Undoubtedly, Xiao Lintuo’s act of planting spies had touched Xiao Sima’s reverse scale.

There were three spies just around Xiao Yanyan; what about around Xiao Sima himself?

Wouldn’t there be even more?

Coincidentally at this time, Xiao Lintuo came to request an audience, making Xiao Sima even angrier.

What?

With his moles beside him and so many Thousand-Man Commanders and Hundred-Man Commanders brought by him outside, did he feel the weather getting cold and want to coordinate from inside and outside to add a piece of clothing for himself? (Metaphor for seizing power/rebellion).

Hearing Xiao Sima’s tone filled with hidden sarcasm, Xiao Lintuo said hurriedly, “I dare not.”

“What are you saying, my Lord? This subordinate has always been loyal to my Lord and the Xiao family, with absolutely no second thoughts.”

Xiao Lintuo sweated profusely in his heart, suddenly having a premonition that the situation was out of his control.

His gaze glanced at Xiao Yanyan aside.

It must be that she had just slandered him in front of Xiao Sima.

“Damn it, a daughter’s heart turns outward— indeed, they are all a bunch of ungrateful wretches,” Xiao Lintuo said angrily in his heart.

No matter how well a girl was raised, she would eventually be married off.

Once married, her mind would be on her husband’s side.

At this moment, Xiao Lintuo no longer harbored any illusions about Xiao Yanyan.

To bring down Li Xiao, Xiao Yanyan was an obstacle he couldn’t bypass.

“Then why did you bring so many people here? If not to force my hand, could it be you want to give this Prince a display of strength to show off your prestige, Great Governor Xiao?”

Xiao Sima snorted.

Hearing this, Xiao Lintuo cried out ‘bad’ in his heart.

What bewitching potion had Xiao Yanyan fed Xiao Sima? Xiao Sima’s attitude wasn’t right!

Thinking carefully, he didn’t seem to have done anything else.

“My Lord, your words are too heavy; this subordinate dares not.”

Xiao Lintuo knelt on one knee directly, looking terrified as he shouted to Xiao Sima.

Seeing this, Xiao Yanyan standing aside curled her lips slightly, revealing two little canine teeth.

With her head held high, she looked very relieved.

This old fellow actually dared to plant spies beside her; he must be punished severely.

Seeing Xiao Lintuo’s appearance, the anger in Xiao Sima’s heart was indeed slightly doused.

Thinking of how Xiao Lintuo and this group of old officials never abandoned him after his grandfather passed away, following him firmly…

Xiao Sima’s achievements today were indeed inseparable from the support of Xiao Lintuo and this group of old officials.

After so many years of storms, Xiao Sima was no longer young, and Xiao Lintuo was likewise no longer young.

Old age had already appeared on his face.

Thinking of his merits and hardships over these years, Xiao Sima felt somewhat unbearable in his heart.

Although the matter of planting spies was egregious, it wasn’t a crime deserving death.

Thus, Xiao Sima made a decision in his heart. Sitting high on the folding stool, he asked in a faint voice, “Rise!”

“This Prince still believes in your loyalty. But in the future, put your mind on the right path—don’t always take crooked ways.”

Xiao Sima beat him with words neither lightly nor heavily.

Xiao Lintuo felt depressed in his heart—until now, he still didn’t understand where he had offended Xiao Sima.

He intended to plan before acting, waiting for Xiao Sima to calm down completely before talking about the Wuliji Tribe matter.

But at this time, Xiao Sima asked again about the purpose of bringing people here.

Xiao Lintuo knew he had to give an explanation, so he decided to follow the original plan and accuse Li Xiao.

“Reporting to my Lord, this subordinate just learned of a matter.”

“Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji is dead, killed by subordinates of Governor Li Xiao.”

“This person is the son of Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji.”

“He wanted to come to Wuya Village to ask my Lord to uphold justice, but unexpectedly encountered the pursuit of unidentified cavalry on the road.”

“His guards were all killed, and he himself escaped to Wuya Village with great difficulty.”

“Upon hearing this, Thousand-Man Commander Wumeng and I, along with others, were filled with righteous indignation.”

“Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji was a man of merit. In the war with the Naimans, he led the charge and killed countless enemies.”

“Dying at the hands of his own people like this is truly inappropriate.”

“Therefore, we came to implore my Lord to uphold justice for Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji.”

Xiao Lintuo narrated the whole story in one breath, kneeling again, looking like a righteous person pleading for his subordinate.

Subsequently, Wumeng and the other two Thousand-Man Commanders also knelt at the same time, shouting, “We also ask my Lord to uphold justice.”

Hearing this, Xiao Sima’s face darkened instantly.

He glared fiercely at Xiao Yanyan.

This is the good man you found—reckless and relying on favor to be arrogant.

He actually killed a Thousand-Man Commander personally appointed by me just like that.

Is there anything else in Jin Prefecture he dares not do?

Thinking like this, Xiao Sima felt it was indeed necessary to dampen Li Xiao’s spirit.

After all, this kid’s power in Jin Prefecture was indeed a bit too big.

If this continued, it would be easy to form a situation where he dominated alone in Jin Prefecture.

Promotion was promotion, appreciation was appreciation, but he couldn’t leave his control.

“What is your name?”

Xiao Sima asked in a low tone, looking at Amo kneeling on the ground.

“Replying to my Lord, this subordinate is Amo,” Amo answered honestly.

“Was your father killed by Governor Li Xiao’s subordinates?”

But in the next second, Amo raised his head, looked at Xiao Sima, shook his head, and said, “No.”

As soon as this word came out, it was as if the pause button was pressed instantly in the entire large tent.

Time seemed to freeze.

Xiao Sima was stunned; the words he planned to say were directly choked in his throat.

Xiao Lintuo was shocked. He turned his head abruptly, looking at Amo with an expression of disbelief.

On his old face full of wrinkles and hair, the muscles were trembling frantically.

His eyes widened round, and his trembling finger pointed at Amo: “You… you… you…”

The three Thousand-Man Commanders behind him were equally dumbfounded.

The script was wrong!

How did it turn into Wuliji not being killed by Li Xiao?

Among them, that Khitan Thousand-Man Commander knew the situation and cried out in his heart that things were bad.

But Wumeng and the other Thousand-Man Commander were not Xiao Lintuo’s trusted aides and were completely kept in the dark. At this moment, they felt confused.

Looking at each other, not understanding why.

Only Xiao Yanyan aside showed a smile on her face, revealing her canine teeth at the corner of her mouth.

“This show is really exciting.”

Except for her, everyone looked at Amo with disbelief.

Like his father, Amo was a person with an arrogant personality who stubbornly stuck to his views.

Facing everyone’s astonished looks, he instead stiffened his neck, looking unrepentant.

“You… do you know what you are saying?”

“What you told me before was clearly that the people who killed your father were Li Xiao’s subordinates.”

“Are you lying to me?”

Xiao Lintuo looked furious, as if he wanted to eat people.

But inside, he was very calm.

He had realized that he had probably fallen into a trap.

So, the best way was to deny it to the death, extricating himself from this matter.

He was deceived by Amo, harbored justice to uphold fairness for Wuliji, and came to accuse Li Xiao without knowing the truth.

But facing Xiao Lintuo’s hypocritical appearance, Amo accused loudly, “If I hadn’t said that at the time, I probably wouldn’t have seen today’s sun.”

Subsequently, Amo kowtowed to Xiao Sima, crying with red eyes, and said, “My Lord, please decide for my father and our Wuliji Tribe.”

“The person who caused my father’s death was not Governor Li Xiao.”

“But him…”

Saying this, Amo pointed his hand at Xiao Lintuo and said fiercely, “Xiao Lintuo.”

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