Chapter 373: Flying Cloud Tribe Master (2)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
At that time, the emperor acceded to the General’s Manor’s request. However, due to simultaneous border conflicts in the north, they refrained from permitting the General’s Estate to besiege the Flying Cloud Tribe themselves. Instead, the emperor dispatched a separate contingent of soldiers to encircle the Flying Cloud Tribe.
In the end, through Chen Yufei’s persuasive efforts, he successfully convinced the bandit leader to accept the imperial court’s offer of amnesty. Remarkably,
Chen Yufei managed to keep his true ident.i.ty concealed throughout this ordeal.
The General’s Manor, understandably embarra.s.sed by the situation, chose to keep the matter shrouded in secrecy. Even Chen Yufei’s siblings were largely kept in the dark about the events. To the public, they announced that Chen Yufei had embarked on an extended journey, during which he had not returned for an extended period. Some family members and outsiders, unaware of the truth, believed that he had pa.s.sed away, even going so far as to erect a memorial tablet in his honor.
Within the confines of the Flying Cloud Tribe, aside from the bandit leader and Missy, no one was privy to Chen Yufei’s true ident.i.ty.
Chen Yufei revealed that since the Flying Cloud Tribe embraced their newfound path under imperial sponsorship, they had begun to reform their banditry habits. Gradually, they transitioned to agriculture and endeavored to mend their ways. Those who were amenable to change were provided a.s.sistance; those who remained obstinate and disruptive were turned over to the authorities for due process. Privately, they also dealt with many intractable bandits.
Over time, the bandits underwent a remarkable transformation, blending seamlessly into the fabric of an ordinary town.
Chen Yufei’s ascendancy to the position of Flying Cloud Tribe Master was not a result of his affiliation with the General’s Estate or his status as the son-in-law of the bandit leader.
He earned the t.i.tle of Tribe Master through an election, a testament to his individual merit and capabilities.
Chen Yufei had the liberty to travel to the Flying Cloud Tribe to gather evidence.
One day, Chen Yufei’s son, Chen Ting, happened to witness the Third Prince being pursued by a group of menacing men in black. Enraged by the audacity of one of these impostors, who posed as a member of the Flying Cloud Tribe and brazenly committed a murder in the streets, Chen Ting took matters into his own hands. He rallied his a.s.sociates and managed to apprehend several of the men in black, including their leader.
Chen Ting then gallantly rescued the injured Third Prince and his master.
During this tumultuous period, the governor had dispatched his agents to search for the Third Prince and his mentor. However, the Third Prince and his master adamantly refused any a.s.sistance from the government, particularly the governor of the Guang Mansion, fearing dire consequences if they fell into their hands.
Chen Ting, instead, transported the severely wounded Third Prince and his mentor back to the safety of the Flying Cloud Tribe for recovery.
Upon interrogating the captured men in black, they uncovered that these individuals were in the service of the Crown Prince.
Chen Yufei was cognizant of the connection between the Third Prince and the General’s Estate, recognizing that the Third Prince was his grandnephew. Nevertheless, he understood the gravity of the situation, involving a life-and-death struggle between rival princes, which necessitated reporting to the Imperial Court.
Consequently, he made the resolute decision not to surrender the grievously injured Third Prince to any external authority.
Furthermore, Chen Yufei discerned that the men in black dispatched by the
Crown Prince must have possessed knowledge of his ident.i.ty, prompting them to impersonate members of the Flying Cloud Tribe in their pursuit of the Third Prince.
Their aim was to eliminate two targets with a single strike—both the Third Prince and the Flying Cloud Tribe.
After much deliberation, Chen Yu resolved that he must journey to the palace without delay. Accompanied by his aides and the few captured men in black, they disguised themselves as merchants and successfully reached the capital. Upon arrival, they promptly apprised the General’s Manor of the grave condition of the Third Prince.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the General’s Manor wasted no time and escorted Chen Yufei to the palace, where they candidly presented all relevant details to the emperor.
The emperor personally conducted an interrogation of the captured men in black, who readily confessed to being death warriors under the command of the Crown Prince. They revealed that the Crown Prince had dispatched a group of 30 death warriors to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Third Prince upon learning of his intention to visit the Guang Mansion for a specific purpose.
Enraged by this revelation, the emperor summoned the Crown Prince to the palace for a confrontation..