Interrogating Wei Xiaoping

Zhang Xiaoyan said, "Your Majesty the King, please ask whatever you wish. This humble official shall answer everything I know."

"Deputy General Zhang, please stand up and speak!" Huang Jingrui raised his hand slightly and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the King!" Zhang Xiaoyan stood up and said.

"Deputy General Zhang, as you have been nursing General Wei Xiaoping these past few days, how is General Wei Xiaoping's recovery coming along?" Huang Jingrui asked.

"Replying to Your Majesty, under the treatment of his master, Immortal Xuanzhe, and others, General Wei Xiaoping has recovered very well and is now able to get out of bed and walk," Zhang Xiaoyan said.

"Is that truly so? That is wonderful! Deputy General Zhang, you have worked hard taking care of General Wei Xiaoping these past few days! You, General Wei, and all the generals of our Qingfeng Kingdom are the shield of our nation's security. No matter who gets injured or what happens, We feel deeply for it! There may be battles to be fought once again very soon, so We hope General Wei Xiaoping recovers as swiftly as possible!" Huang Jingrui said.

Hearing from the side that Wei Xiaoping's injuries had healed to the point where he could walk on his own, Li Chaoqian immediately stepped forward to the center, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, since General Wei Xiaoping has now recovered from his injuries, he ought to face military law and punishment."

Huang Jingrui said, "Lord Li Chaoqian, if you hadn't brought it up, I nearly forgot! — Deputy General Zhang, is General Wei Xiaoping currently in the military camp?"

Hearing that there was an intent to punish Wei Xiaoping, Zhang Xiaoyan felt bewildered and thought to herself, *When on earth did my little brother make a mistake? Why haven't I heard anything about it? Could it be something he did these past few days? But that can't be right either—ever since he came back injured from the battlefield, he has been lying in bed recovering and hasn't stepped a single half-step outside his room!*

"Replying to Your Majesty, when this humble official just departed from General Wei's quarters, the General was still inside his dwelling—" Zhang Xiaoyan said with a skeptical tone.

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Xiaoyan's mind kept searching for what crime or fault Wei Xiaoping could possibly have committed for the King to punish him... After pondering for a long while, she truly could not think of any misdeed Wei Xiaoping might have done.

Hearing Li Chaoqian bring up Wei Xiaoping yet again to make an issue of things, Zhang Lingpu thought to himself, *What has gotten into this Li Chaoqian today? He has caused trouble for two generals under my command back-to-back! The tiny mistakes they made were not even worth the King's concern, yet this Li Chaoqian is deliberately nitpicking and making things difficult for both Wei Xiaoping and Zhang Xiaoyan. Fortunately, His Majesty is a relatively sensible man; otherwise, Zhang Xiaoyan might have faced severe punishment!*

"Deputy General Zhang, has General Wei Xiaoping's current condition only recovered to the extent that he can merely walk?" Huang Jingrui asked.

"Replying to Your Majesty, General Wei Xiaoping has recovered quite a bit. If Your Majesty has anything to ask him, I believe he is capable of coming here. However, as for having him perform other tasks right now, I dare not say for sure, since his body has only just recovered," Zhang Xiaoyan said.

"My dear ministers and lords, do you believe We may now summon General Wei Xiaoping to answer questions and discuss matters with everyone?" Huang Jingrui asked the assembled officials.

The ministers immediately replied, "We ministers believe we can indeed summon General Wei Xiaoping for questioning!"

"Someone come, go and invite General Wei Xiaoping back to the palace for questioning!" King Huang Jingrui commanded!

At that very moment, a soldier rushed in from outside the doors, knelt before the King, and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, General Wei Xiaoping is outside requesting an audience!"

Hearing the reporter state that Wei Xiaoping was right outside, Huang Jingrui thought to himself, *He has arrived at the most opportune moment!* He immediately shouted, "Hurry and invite him in!"

Before long, Wei Xiaoping walked in!

Seeing Wei Xiaoping enter the royal palace, all the ministers present cast various glances his way.

Noticing everyone looking at him with strange expressions, Wei Xiaoping also felt somewhat bewildered inside!

"Paying respects to Your Majesty the King!" Wei Xiaoping shouted loudly toward Huang Jingrui, knelt, bowed three times, and remained kneeling without raising his head!

"General Wei, please rise and speak!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty the King!" Wei Xiaoping stood up, felt that a figure on his right looked familiar, glanced over, saw it was Zhang Xiaoyan, and then turned his head back.

"General Wei, have your injuries fully healed?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This humble official's body is no longer in any serious condition!"

"Recovered so swiftly? Immortal Xuanzhe's medical and magical skills are truly extraordinary! General Wei, another day when you see Immortal Xuanzhe, please convey Our gratitude to him! Thank him for healing the wounds of Our beloved general in such a short time!"

"I am deeply grateful for the King's concern for this humble official and my master. This humble official will certainly pass the King's kind words along to my master!"

"Good! — General Wei, We have matters to ask you now, and you must answer Us truthfully!"

Wei Xiaoping immediately cupped his hands again and said, "Please ask your questions, Your Majesty. This humble official shall answer all that he knows!"

At this moment, Li Chaoqian stepped forward from the side, cupped his hands toward Huang Jingrui, and said, "Your Majesty the King, please allow this humble minister to question General Wei on your behalf!"

Huang Jingrui said, "Very well! Since you were the first to raise this matter and understand it better than Us, you may question General Wei in Our stead!"

Hearing Li Chaoqian volunteer to question him on behalf of the King, Wei Xiaoping cast a doubtful glance in Li Chaoqian's direction.

As he looked at Li Chaoqian, despite having known him for five or six years and being thoroughly accustomed to his face—holding no fondness for either his face or the man himself, and thus rarely speaking to him—Wei Xiaoping now felt that Li Chaoqian bore a striking resemblance to some other familiar facial structure deeply embedded in his mind.

*Why do I suddenly feel that Li Chaoqian looks like someone whose face is etched in my memory? Who is this familiar face in my mind? Who could it be...?* Wei Xiaoping recalled rapidly! At a speed flashing nearly a thousand frames per second, he searched his brain for another facial structure that bore an uncanny resemblance to Li Chaoqian.

A moment later, a light flashed in Wei Xiaoping's eyes. In his mind, there instantly surfaced the events from his previous life—which had appeared in his dreams after he fell unconscious from his recent injuries—when he and Wei Xiaofang used to attend middle school together. He recalled his past life involving Wei Xiaofang, Zhang Xiaoyan, Zhang Liying, Li Bufan, and Li Chaoqian...

Thinking of this, Wei Xiaoping closed his eyes for a long moment and thought: *Could it be that Li Chaoqian from my past life was also transmigrated or reincarnated into this world where I currently reside? Otherwise, why would he look so remarkably similar to the Li Chaoqian of the Qingfeng Kingdom right now? Even his name is the same! The only difference is his age; the present-day Li Chaoqian seems quite a bit older than me, and his attire is different, but his appearance has not changed. Outwardly, he simply looks more seasoned and mature than the Li Chaoqian of my previous life!*

Wei Xiaoping remembered once more that Wei Xiaofang, Zhang Xiaoyan, and he himself had all transmigrated into this world, so it was entirely possible that Li Chaoqian from his past life had also crossed over into this realm and was now serving alongside him in the same kingdom!

...

"General Wei, you have been a soldier in our Qingfeng Kingdom for about six years now, haven't you?" Li Chaoqian asked.

"Nearly six years!" Wei Xiaoping looked at Li Chaoqian with skeptical eyes, wondering what this man was up to.

"I recall that the very reason General Wei was appointed as a deputy general upon entering our Qingfeng Kingdom was because, after passing layer upon layer of examinations, the King and the ministers unanimously agreed that you were a rare and formidable talent, exceptionally well-versed in both leading troops into battle and strategic wisdom. Therefore, the moment you arrived, the King and ministers unanimously recommended that you be directly appointed as a deputy general!" Li Chaoqian said.

Quickly running through his memories, Wei Xiaoping said, "It is indeed just as Lord Li has stated! I thank the King, Lord Li, and all the lords and ministers for their past recommendations!" Wei Xiaoping cupped his fists and bowed in salute to the King and all the ministers present. As he finished speaking, he wondered what kind of mischief Li Chaoqian was up to—instead of asking about the main issue, why bring up these past events?

"However, Lord Li, instead of raising the primary question first, why are you bringing up these past occurrences?" Wei Xiaoping asked.

King Huang Jingrui also chimed in, "Quite right, Lord Li! What do these matters you are asking about have to do with today's agenda?! Hurry up and ask the main question!"

Several ministers echoed in agreement, "Indeed, Lord Li! Just ask about the main matter directly; what is the point of bringing up the past? His Majesty the King is still waiting to dismiss the court! His Majesty has already been presiding over state affairs for an hour or two since this morning! The King's health is paramount!"

Zhang Xiaoyan, standing to the side, felt extremely indignant upon hearing the King say that it was Li Chaoqian who first brought up the matter of punishing Wei Xiaoping. She thought to herself, *What is wrong with this Li Chaoqian today? He is deliberately targeting me and Big Brother Xiao just the same!*

Li Chaoqian said, "Your Majesty the King, please wait a moment. My questioning of General Wei regarding past events is naturally not without purpose. — General Wei, in our memory, ever since you joined the military as a deputy general, rose to the rank of general, and right up until the recent Battle of Twin Mountains, you have experienced countless wars, achieved numerous military exploits, rarely suffered defeat, and rarely sustained severe injuries, is that correct?"

After pondering for a moment, Wei Xiaoping said, "This general is not nearly as miraculous as Lord Li makes me out to be. In my memory, I have suffered defeat several times and was even nearly captured by the enemy!"

Li Chaoqian continued, "All those past battles proved that General Wei is a hero skilled in warfare with extraordinary courage and resourcefulness! However, in this recent battle at the foot of Twin Peaks, even Deputy General Huang Xianlin was able to defeat the enemy general, yet why did you suffer such catastrophic devastation at the hands of the very enemy general defeated by Huang Xianlin? Moreover, the exact location of your wound was a direct piercing through your heart by a sharp weapon, punching straight through your chest from behind! How could the enemy have struck with such uncanny precision?"

As soon as Li Chaoqian finished speaking, the gathered ministers immediately broke into a heated discussion: "Lord Li makes a valid point! Even Deputy General Huang Xianlin could defeat that enemy general, so why was General Wei defeated by him? And how came the wound to be so accurately struck? It is truly baffling!"

"Indeed! What on earth happened to General Wei in this battle?"

"To be stabbed by the enemy general with such accuracy is as if he had deliberately positioned himself to be run through!"

"If he truly allowed the enemy to injure him on purpose, then he is treating the lives of his own soldiers as child's play!"

"How can someone who treats his own life so frivolously be fit to serve as a general leading troops into battle?"

"It is said that although General Wei led the troops into battle this time, he was heavily wounded by the enemy general shortly after the fighting began and had to be dragged back by Da Huang. In the end, it was Deputy General Huang Xianlin who defeated the enemy general, boosting our army's morale and routing the enemy. Yet this also resulted in heavy casualties for our forces! If General Wei had not been wounded by the enemy general so quickly at the start, our army might not have suffered so many casualties!"

"To be stabbed with such precision and depth—could it be that General Wei wasn't wearing his armor?"

...

Hearing Li Chaoqian reach this point and listening to the officials' discussions, Wei Xiaoping finally understood why Li Chaoqian had been asking those questions!

Seeing the ministers arguing noisily, King Huang Jingrui called for silence. Once the officials quieted down, he said, "General Wei Xiaoping, Lord Li Chaoqian's words are extremely reasonable, and the ministers' arguments are equally logical. Please provide a reasonable explanation!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoyan understood what really lay behind Wei Xiaoping's injury, and a wave of anxiety washed over her. After all, what Li Chaoqian said was true, and the ministers' arguments made sense!

Listening to Li Chaoqian's inquiries, Zhang Lingpu thought to himself, *Indeed, when I first heard that Wei Xiaoping was injured, I thought at the time that Wei Xiaoping is a man, not a god, and getting wounded on the battlefield is a perfectly normal occurrence! I myself have been defeated and wounded by the enemy on the battlefield too! But now, hearing Li Chaoqian put it this way, I also feel that Wei Xiaoping's injury this time is indeed somewhat difficult to fathom! After all, given Wei Xiaoping's exceptional martial prowess and strategic wisdom, it was impossible for him to be defeated by an enemy general whom even Huang Xianlin could defeat, let alone sustain such severe injuries!*

Zhang Lingpu glanced toward his daughter Zhang Xiaoyan and saw that she too was staring at Wei Xiaoping with a worried gaze. *The girl must know what really happened!* he thought with a pang of regret. *I should have thought of this earlier. Had I realized it sooner, I certainly would have asked this girl how on earth Wei Xiaoping got hurt!*