The Chaos War, Chapter 100: Into the Dungeon

During the night, Prince Ming had his servants carry the drunken Li Qiutong to an empty guest room.

"Your Highness, is there something you need here?" asked a night watchman, looking at Jingning with confusion.

Jingning pointed to the box in her hand and whispered, "General Li is drunk. I brought him something to help him sober up."

"A minor matter like this should be left to the servants. How could we allow Your Highness to do it yourself?"

Jingning looked at him with a gentle smile. "It's the middle of the night, and you servants have been busy all day. You must be exhausted; I couldn't bear to trouble you further. Besides, General Li is a grand general of the court, so it is only proper that I attend to this personally. I am staying just next door anyway, so it is very convenient."

"Your Highness is truly benevolent. If there is anything you need this servant's help with, please do not hesitate to ask."

"No need. Nothing else will happen tonight, so there is no need to continue your patrols. Go back and get some rest."

The servant was filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness. Please take care. This servant will take his leave now."

"Go on." Jingning watched him until he vanished from sight, then turned and walked toward Li Qiutong's room.

Inside the room, Li Qiutong was fast asleep, snoring softly and completely unaware of her presence.

Setting down the box, Jingning walked slowly to the edge of the bed.

"You aren't bad-looking," she murmured, gazing down at him. "Just a bit too arrogant. This princess will teach you a proper lesson today."

With that, she tore at her own garments, exposing a swath of snow-white skin and making herself look thoroughly disheveled. Anyone else would have found the sight breathtaking, but Li Qiutong remained lost in his pleasant dream.

When Li Qiutong woke up the next morning, he realized someone was lying beside him. He turned over and gasped in shock. Wasn't this Princess Jingning? Why was she sleeping in his bed? His mind raced with a thousand questions.

Just then, Jingning opened her eyes. The moment she saw him, she hesitated for a fraction of a second before bursting into tears.

"Return my innocence! Do you have any idea what you did to me last night?" she wailed in grief.

Li Qiutong scrambled out of bed, only to realize he was completely naked. He hurriedly snatched a bedsheet to cover himself.

"What are you talking about? Don't speak nonsense!" he protested frantically.

But Jingning ignored him, continuing to wail at the top of her lungs, leaving Li Qiutong utterly bewildered.

Her loud cries eventually drew the household guards and servants. Looking at the scene, there seemed to be only one logical explanation.

"Hey, what are you doing?" several guards demanded, brandishing their weapons as they closed in on him.

Before Li Qiutong could unleash his energy to push them back, a terrifying wave of Martial Essence surged toward him. Caught off guard before he could form a defense, he was blasted backward, crashing straight through the wall. Amid a cloud of dust and debris, Li Qiutong landed in the courtyard garden, still wrapped in the sheet.

Standing before him was a hulking warrior with a ferocious face, brandishing a pair of massive war hammers. His arms were as thick as pillars, with bulging, defined muscles. Though he was not as tall as Deng Zhanxuan, his sheer bulk was far more intimidating.

"Uncle Yuanba, you must avenge me!" Jingning wailed from inside the room. Her voice sounded so pitiful that even Li Qiutong found himself almost feeling sorry for her.

Li Yuanba glanced back at his tear-stained niece, and fury surged within him. Pointing a hammer at Li Qiutong, he roared, "How dare you defile my niece! You must be tired of living! If I don't grind you into mincemeat today, my name isn't Li Yuanba!" He charged forward, brandishing his twin hammers.

Forced to defend, Li Qiutong hastily gathered his Black Tortoise Martial Essence to block the blow. But with his body still recovering, he could not summon his energy to its peak. Moreover, his opponent was a formidable Saint Warrior at his peak.

With just a single clash, Li Qiutong was sent flying dozens of meters backward, his arms trembling so violently he could barely lift them.

"You survived one strike. You have some skill," Li Yuanba grunted. "But now, I'm getting serious."

"Yuanba, stay your hand for a moment!" The scheming Prince Ming chose this perfect moment to intervene, rushing into the courtyard.

Li Yuanba had never liked his royal cousin. He barked, "What? Do you expect me to spare this shameless scoundrel?"

"Not at all. I, too, wish to tear him to pieces," Prince Ming replied smoothly. "But he is the General Who Guards the North. We cannot execute him without authorization. We must leave his fate to His Majesty."

Li Yuanba paused, pretending to consider it—though he likely didn't think much at all. Glaring at Li Qiutong, he barked, "Kid, your good days are over. I will personally escort you to the palace!"

Li Qiutong had calmed down by now, finally realizing he had been set up. He had no choice but to surrender quietly. Even if he were at peak condition and armed with his Yin-Yang Dragon-Coiled Staff, he might not be a match for Li Yuanba, let alone now when he was unarmed and injured.

In the side hall of the Daming Palace, Emperor Tang gazed furiously at Li Qiutong, who was heavily bound in chains.

"General Li, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Li Qiutong glanced around the room, noting the faces present: Prince Ming, Li Yuanba, Emperor Tang, and Princess Jingning.

"So, the whole family has gathered to frame me," Li Qiutong remarked, his expression remaining remarkably calm.

Emperor Tang glared at him, then turned his stern gaze to Prince Ming. "Tell me, what exactly transpired last night?"

"Your Majesty, yesterday the Princess approached me, saying she had learned from you that General Li was coming to Chang'an," Prince Ming explained. "She asked me to invite him to my manor for a gathering. Her main hope was to ask about Yang Ruiyun, whom she still longs for. However, General Li refused to speak of the matter last night and did nothing but drink. Once he was heavily intoxicated, I had no choice but to let him stay the night. I never expected..."

Emperor Tang turned to Jingning. "Jingning, tell me, why were you in his room?"

Jingning wiped her tears and sobbed, "Last night, I wanted to make a good impression on General Li, so I went to the kitchen myself to prepare some soup to help him sober up. But the moment I opened the door, General Li lunged at me... How could a weak woman like me resist him?" She dissolved into tears once more.

As his daughter spoke, Emperor Tang's fury burned hotter. "Summon the guard who was on duty last night. I want to know why no one heard the Princess's cries for help!"

Prince Ming bowed quickly. "Yes, Your Majesty. I shall have him brought in immediately."

Before long, the servant who had spoken to Jingning the previous night was escorted into the hall.

"Long live the Emperor! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!" The servant fell to his knees trembling. It was his first time seeing the Emperor, and he was paralyzed with fear.

"Speak. What exactly happened last night?" Emperor Tang demanded in a low, booming voice.

"Last... last night, while I was on patrol, I encountered Her Highness," the servant stammered. "She was bringing a sobering remedy to General Li. Seeing that I was tired, she kindly told me to retire early and rest. I never imagined that this beast would do such a horrible thing to our gentle Princess!" He turned to glare at Li Qiutong, shouting, "You brute! You beast in human form! You are unfit to be a general of the empire! How could you commit such an atrocity?"

Li Qiutong rolled his eyes inwardly, completely speechless.

Emperor Tang's face was as dark as a thundercloud. "Li Qiutong, do you have any defense?" No matter how exceptionally talented the young general was, what use was a genius who refused to be ruled? At this moment, Emperor Tang was resolved to kill him.

Li Qiutong looked at Emperor Tang, shrugged, and smirked. "I don't have much to say. I'm just curious—did Her Highness enjoy herself last night? Could someone fill me in? I was so drunk I don't remember a thing."

Emperor Tang's fury finally erupted. "Li Qiutong, you vile beast! Guards! Throw this man into the death dungeon! He shall be publicly beheaded in five days!"

A day later, news spread across the realm: General Li Qiutong, having violated Princess Jingning's purity in a drunken stupor, was sentenced to be executed in five days. Overnight, Li Qiutong's name became known to every household in the Kingdom of Tang. Many pitied the Princess, lamenting that such a pure maiden had been defiled. Yet, there were also those of a baser mind who envied him, whispering that to die for a beauty was a worthy way to go.

Inside the Daming Palace.

"Your Majesty, this minister believes this matter warrants further consideration," Qin Shubao urged. "General Li is, after all, a pillar of our military, and..."

Before he could finish, Emperor Tang cut him off. "Beloved Minister Qin, speak no more of this. My decision is final."

The absolute tone left Qin Shubao speechless.

Emperor Tang sighed, his voice softening slightly. "Qin, I know Lady Hongyu has adopted him as her stepson, and that you share a close bond with him. But put yourself in my shoes. What father could tolerate such an outrage against his own daughter? If I pardon him merely because of his talent, the realm will judge me as a ruler without principles. I want my people to know that I am a just emperor, a loving father, and a ruler who upholds the law. Therefore, such a man must be cast aside."

"This minister... understands."

"Furthermore, you must assemble the army immediately. The moment Li Qiutong is executed, you will march straight to Northern Tong Pass."

"Your Majesty intends to attack Northern Tong Pass?" Qin Shubao asked, startled.

"Indeed," Emperor Tang said firmly. "Those rebels must be eradicated sooner or later."

"Your Majesty, please reconsider. Many of the defenders at Northern Tong Pass are still soldiers of our kingdom. We cannot condemn them all simply because of Li Qiutong's actions."

"There is no need for further discussion. The order stands," Emperor Tang replied coldly, brooking no argument.

Back at the Qin Manor, Qin Shuyu rushed to meet her elder brother the moment he crossed the threshold. "How did it go? What did the Emperor say?"

Qin Shubao shook his head with a sigh. "His Majesty is unyielding. What is worse, we have been ordered to march on Northern Tong Pass immediately after the execution."

"What? How can he do this?" Shuyu cried. "Our Tong would never do such a thing! How can the Emperor condemn him without even investigating?"

"What choice does he have?" Qin Shubao replied wearily. "One is his own daughter, the other is your foster son. Whom do you think he would believe?"

"No, I won't let this happen. I must save him!"

Seeing his sister turn to leave, Qin Shubao quickly grabbed her arm. "What are you planning?"

"I hold the Emerald Silver Needles, which gives me the authority to rally the realm's physicians," Qin Shuyu declared resolutely. "If I reveal that Tong is the grandson of the Divine Physician Li Baicao, every healer in the land will rise to demand justice. Let us see if Emperor Tang dares to cross the entire medical community!"

Qin Shubao gasped in horror. "You mustn't! We kept his identity and the needles a secret precisely to protect him. If you expose this now, every greedy soul in the world will hunt you down for Li Baicao's legendary medical manuals. You will be in far greater danger!"

"I don't care about the danger! I will not stand by and watch Tong die!"

"Wait! Let me think of another way."