"It’s my fault! I am guilty! I was wrong! General, please forgive me!"
The man’s pleas, accompanied by the ’smack smack smack’ of flesh being slapped, echoed within the tent.
Banlai knelt on the ground, a seven-foot-tall man, trembling like a sieve, and his rough hands kept slapping his own face, each slap louder than the last.
The man sitting in front of him, with eyes as sharp as an eagle’s, was colder than ever before.
Banlai had never seen, nor could he have imagined, that the General would treat this brother, who had faced life and death alongside him, with such indifference!
Yet, Banlai felt he had no right to harbor even the slightest resentment.
The General had entrusted him with the entire security of the General Mansion, and yet such a big incident happened right under his nose!
When Miss Nalan barged into the General Mansion, he had already failed in his duty.
But the General, after hearing his explanation, forgave him for the time being because Miss Nalan was the General’s own sister! She had always had free access to the General Mansion! Who would have thought that in such a short time, things would change?
And the General had not particularly instructed him beforehand, so he was pardoned once.
But this time...
Banlai was truly frightened!
The second concubine was poisoned and disfigured right within his area of protection...
He didn’t dare to imagine what would have happened if this had occurred to the Great Xia Princess, or to his own sister!
"You have greatly disappointed me."
The calmer the General’s voice, the more frightened Banlai became.
If he had been furious, or had beaten or scolded him, Banlai wouldn’t have felt terror; it was this cold and calm attitude that made him feel doomed.
The General had always treated him like a brother; even if he made a mistake, the General would at most punish him.
For him to show this attitude meant either rebels or prisoners of war...
Disappointed! The General said he was disappointed in him!
Banlai slapped his own face until it was swollen. Hearing these words, he stopped, almost breaking into tears, "General! I dare to swear to the heavens! After Miss Nalan left and you reprimanded me, not a single outsider has entered the General Mansion since then!
Could it be... could there be a problem within the General Mansion? General, have you investigated the maids around the second concubine?"
Banlai wanted to exonerate himself, but what he got in return was the General’s even colder voice.
"Do you take this General for a fool?"
Banlai: "..."
Oh heavens above!
Everything he said was wrong!
It was true; whatever he could think of, the General had definitely thought of too...
Wait!
So the General might already know the culprit? And is just here to inquire about his dereliction of duty?!
Banlai swallowed hard, just about to continue his plea, wondering if the Great Xia Princess could be involved.
Fortunately, before he could speak, a girl’s voice from outside saved his life.
"Brother, brother! Come on, deal with them for me... You’re so annoying! The Deputy General is my brother, why can’t I go in? Let me in, or I’ll start hitting people!
You guys are so annoying! Brother, brother! I’m Qiao’er! I can’t find the General! The Princess has urgent business; can you help me find him?"
Banlai heard his sister’s voice and before he could respond, he saw the General stand up immediately upon hearing the word ’Princess’ and personally went out to greet her.
Qiao’er was being held outside the tent, anxiously arguing with two men.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up when she saw the tall figure coming out, pushing aside the tent’s curtain, "General, General! The Princess sent me to find you! To tell you..."
As she spoke, she glanced to the side.
The two men, upon the General’s orders, immediately let Qiao’er through.
Qiao’er ran over and hurriedly whispered in Yelyu Lie’s ear, "General, the Princess said that the second concubine knows who the culprit is. You don’t need to be too angry; just wait for the Central Plains Doctor to bring the second concubine back, and the culprit will reveal themselves!
However, the Princess also said, the second concubine might have truly suffered for her sake, and regarding the culprit, she might not want to speak, hoping the General would let the Princess visit the second concubine..."
Qiao’er had been looking for the General for so long, she almost forgot the Princess’s complete instructions to her.
Only when she couldn’t find anyone did she think of her brother to call for reinforcement.
Did not expect the General to be here!
Excited, Qiao’er continued speaking, while Yelyu Lie furrowed his brow, finding what she said increasingly off, "What do you mean by asking me to let her go?"