As Xing was wondering what the Emperor was planning, he waved his hand when a balled up cloth was brought up and when the Emperor nodded, the soldier who brought that up, threw it in the ground when the head of that Lilai Tribal Chief rolled out of the cloth and his deformed and bloodied face got covered in the mud.And the other men whose tendons Xing cut last night were brought there in b.a.l.l.s and chains like how slave traders would bring their slaves. The way they struggled to walk by the pain and inability to stand straight was pitiful to watch.
Xing was surprised that it was the Emperor who had ordered them to be brought this way. Why is he doing this again?
Seeing their Chief and their best men in that position, their tribesmen who were kneeling got provoked and they all stood up from their kneeling positions.
The Lilai tribe is the most violent tribe who had ever lived in their kingdom and the other tribes weren"t considered humans by them. In the previous war it was them who betrayed the Sima Tribe leading to their destruction. They are lawless hooligans who only looked out for themselves and they were greedy for more wealth that they will resort to robbing even along with their usual job of rearing cattle. Only their leader they elect with their customary brutal challenges would command their respect until he is strong enough to lead them and they will follow him blindly until the .
Now they had lost their leader who had promised them immense riches of gold and jade if they partic.i.p.ate in this war. He was so sure when they commanded them last night to fight bravely in the war tomorrow because he was going to make the one who had humiliated him pay him back and the Wind Kingdom will not be able to recover from his attack and they can rob the scrawny people from the wind kingdom for riches.
So why is our leader dead? What will happen to our promised riches?
The Emperor asked for a translator and Chief Batukhan agreed to take that role. The Emperor asked him to translate word for word what he says in the language of the Lilai Tribe and chief Batukhan agreed even though he was caught surprised by the imposing aura of the Emperor.
"Those who belong to the tribe of Lilai will be executed with no life spared. Sima Tribe, since they have followed our terms of not joining the war in exchange for their entry to the wind kingdom will be the only tribe allowed inside our Kingdom. Others will stay outside this trench and will become tribute nations of ours. This is us being gracious towards you all and you all will forever serve us with grat.i.tude "
The Emperor with his black robes fluttering in the wind and the beads of his crown making tinkling noises, stood with his chin up and back straight and addressed the people who were on the other side of the tunnel now getting filled with water of the Quingze river gradually.
Xing who was in bright red clothes suitable for an Empress and was still wearing the mask the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor gave her that made her look like a tiger as intended by him looked at the Emperor in awe as what he said was translated to the tribals by Chief Batukhan.
Must he give this speech right this instant? Xing thought. And why is he risking his life by srandimg this close to the enemies. Just because they knelt doesn"t mean that they mean to Serve!
As expected, a commotion broke out on the other side of the trench with everyone shouting and screaming as the two women Chief came in front of the crowd and knelt as they agreed to the Emperor"s terms in return for his protection as they are his people from then on. Them and their tribe were escorted to safety by the Zhong army and only the Lilai tribe was left and without their leader, they were confused as to what to do.
Why are they the only ones who have to face death?
Someone from inside their group said something out loud making others sneer and mock and Xing was confused seeing them laugh at her.
" Word by word, chief Batukhan ! ", the Emperor reminded him and he was squirming and Xing wondered if he"d dig water looking the way he was digging hole with his feet.
Geez! What"s with the suspense? Xing thought . Just tell us and get over it!
"Your Majesty must forgive me. Even translating what they are telling me will be considered treason. Please excuse me... "
"You won"t be held accountable for what that person said", the Emperor spoke in an affirming tone and Xing wondered what this is all about. She had an intuition that the Emperor knows what he is doing and he is expecting this to happen.
Why am I looking like the dumb one now?
"He said quote, " Why? You were cuckolded and your Empress is now carrying our blood in her womb? Are you going to kill your wife next?"",saying this Chief Batukhan bowed his head and dared not to look up.
Xing raised her eyebrows. So this is what is this all about!
Minister Zai who was standing beside them got extremely angry by those words. He saw what happened last night entirely and no one even laid a finger on the Empress. How can they defame her like this!
The Emperor stood fisting his hands by the vile accusation against Xing and he looked at her, standing there with not much change in expression and the corner of his lips curved up slightly.
If this was anyone else they would be kneeling on the ground pleading that the accusations against them are all lies and would be begging to carefully consider the truth. Here she is still calm!
Xing knew what kind of heavy accusation this is and the effects this would bring. Just as she expected, there were some high ranked offices in the Imperial army started murmuring among themselves.
"I knew this woman would bring trouble!"
"Women are a bother in the battlefield"
"Could the accusations be true?"
"Huang family is finished...!"
"Why is she still not apologising?"
The ones who were in chaos caught on the drift and agreed that they indeed molested the Empress the previous night and it added fuel to the flame.
Everyone had their opinions they spoke freely without thinking twice making Minister Zai angry.
" I was there, The Emperor stopped them before they get to do anything!", he screamed. He wanted to respect her wishes to not let her sword skills known to everyone and at the same time if the Empress is accused of misconduct, with her father being Huang AoTian, The entire kingdom will be ruined. With them winning the war, this seems to be an intentionally brought problem to ruin the reputation of their nation.
"Enough!", the Emperor roared making the entire place silent. Xing who was standing beside him was startled by his sudden shout.