Chapter 108 The Empress Destroyed Your Country (34)

Ayimu chuckled and said, “Atulu, I never thought you would also have a day of being beaten.”

Atulu raised his head, ignoring Ayimu.

Song Zhi spoke in a deep voice, “My lord, I am not injured. As for Atulu, I gave him a whip, and tonight, I will send someone to deliver medicine to him.”

Ming Changrong followed, “My lord, Zhizhi didn’t mean it. It was Atulu who deliberately provoked and harassed her.”

Atulu became even more disdainful of Ming Changrong. The little lady didn’t say much, but he had a lot to say.

“My lord, I am a rough man. This is how it has always been in the desert. I forgot that women in the Central Plains have thin skin. I, Atulu, apologize to General Song. If General Song wants me to clean the toilet for you, I will do it. We men of the desert always keep our promises.”

Atulu was very sincere.

Bai Tang said, “Let’s both take a step back and broaden our minds. Atulu, this is the Central Plains, and you also need to watch your words. Otherwise, it may bring trouble in the future. General Song, you should be calm. It’s a big taboo for a commander to take action just because they are provoked.”

Song Zhi also realized her mistake, “My lord, Song Zhi knows she was wrong and will go to receive the punishment tonight.”

Ming Changrong pleaded, “My lord, it was Atulu who went too far, so Zhizhi reacted that way.”

Bai Tang wasn’t very satisfied with Ming Changrong, so she gave him a second look and said, “Ming Changrong, as a strategist, you are not very qualified. If you were to be considered as Song Zhi’s lover, you are also not qualified.”

Song Zhi’s face turned pale but she didn’t say anything.

“Tonight, you two come to my study.”

Bai Tang didn’t want to see Song Zhi, whom she had once favored, become a love-struck fool and be taken away by Ming Changrong like this. For Ming Changrong to be able to rise to this position, Song Zhi must have had selfish motives.

Wen Yueqing’s face changed, “My lord, I know I was wrong and will go to receive the punishment myself.”

“Go ahead. Eat dinner first and then go.” Punish where it was needed, reward where it was due.

“Starting today, Ming Changrong will no longer serve in the army,” Song Zhi said, avoiding eye contact. It was her fault. She had been too enamored with beauty and had forgotten military regulations.

Ming Changrong was very surprised and didn’t understand. “Zhizhi, what… what did I do wrong, my lord?”

Bai Tang’s eyes were cold as she said, “Do I have to spell it out for you, Ming Changrong?”

Ming Changrong was unwilling to accept it. “My lord, you have treated me unfairly, and I refuse to accept it.”

“Only those with both talent and virtue are suitable for the appropriate positions,” Bai Tang said, waving her hand. “Moreover, you are no longer my subordinate from now on. Your position does not match your virtue. I don’t believe that there is no favoritism from Song Zhi and Wen Yueqing in your current position. Your strategies have not been outstanding, yet you tend to push off responsibility. Are you truly unaware of the rules, or are you pretending to be? Before joining the military camp, you called Song Zhi ‘General Song’, but after joining, you started calling her ‘Zhizhi’. Come, take him away.”

Song Zhi and Ming Changrong were originally in a superior-subordinate relationship.

Song Zhi bit her lip and struggled but didn’t say anything.

Atulu cast a smug look towards Ming Changrong. The lord had a discerning eye for talent, and why would she let someone who only knows to accuse others stay in the military for long? He had his eye on that little lady, and no one could take her from him.

After Ming Changrong was taken away, Song Zhi seemed disinterested, and Bai Tang was not satisfied. After they had dinner together, Wen Yueqing went to receive punishment first, and Ayimu followed Bai Tang to the study.

Song Zhi knelt on the ground, looking unhappy.

“Get up, don’t catch a cold.” Bai Tang helped her up. “These years have been hard on you. Little sister Wen said that you trained tirelessly. Are you still working as hard as before?”

Song Zhi hesitated for a moment. “Not like before.”

“Yes… not like before.” Bai Tang stood with her hands behind her back and sighed.

“I remember the first time I met you was six years ago on an evening when I made a pact with it¹.”

——

1. TL/N: Refer to chapter 76, where Bai Tang silently conversed with the Heavenly Dao of this world. ↩︎

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