Logging into the Game World Early and Starting with a Royal Marriage to the Empress - Chapter 14

Inside the military tent, a young man with a robust build stood up. He shook the playing cards in his hand, a smile emerging on his face as he looked at Xia Chen. Not only was there no sign of fear, but there was even a hint of provocation.

This was Zhao Yu, the brigade commander of the Imperial Guards, the third son of Marquis Jinwu, and Xia Chen’s direct subordinate.

Xia Chen had already learned about the backgrounds of the several officers under Zhao Yu’s command. The Marquis’ mansion had sent him the information on these individuals yesterday, with special emphasis on Zhao Yu.

Xia Chen was aware of why Zhao Yu harbored such animosity towards him—it was because Xia Chen had taken his position.

Had it not been for Xia Chen’s sudden appointment as a commander, Zhao Yu, being the son of Marquis Jinwu, would have been a shoo-in for the position of commander.

Zhao Yu had already boasted in front of his subordinates that once the official military appointment came down, he would treat everyone to a meal.

However, just three days later, the situation changed dramatically. Xia Chen was directly appointed, which naturally made Zhao Yu resentful. Since yesterday, he had been leading the troublemaking, skipping drills and instead engaging in entertainment within the camp.

His aim was to give Xia Chen a hard lesson. He had thought he would have a few more days to wait, but unexpectedly, Xia Chen arrived at the camp to take up his post on the second day.

Zhao Yu looked at Xia Chen with eyes that seemed to be on fire. The military uniform should have been worn by him, but now it was on this so-called “waste,” who was famous for being a disappointment.

“Do you know what crime it is to lead gambling in the military?”

Xia Chen ignored Zhao Yu’s glare and directly confronted him with the question.

It was true that he was an outsider appointed to the position, but how much better was Zhao Yu? Didn’t Zhao Yu also directly assume the position of brigade commander when he joined the Imperial Guards?

Everyone hates privilege, but at the same time, they also hate not having it themselves.

His privilege was earned by his ancestors, generation after generation, through their lives and blood. For six hundred years, have there been few people from their Xia family who have sacrificed themselves for the country?

This is nothing more than the Zhao family being no match for their Xia family, so he was pushed head first and parachuted directly into this position.

“Since there’s no mission now, we’re just entertaining ourselves in our spare time. Does Young Master Xia have any objections?”

Zhao Yu retorted, still unconcerned.

“Address me by my rank when on duty!”

Xia Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Zhao Yu.

“Moreover, I’m the one asking the questions here!”

Xia Chen’s voice was very calm, but for some inexplicable reason, Zhao Yu felt an intense sense of oppression. This feeling was something he had only experienced in the presence of his father or some high-ranking officials in the court. This caused Zhao Yu’s face to flush with embarrassment, as he felt ashamed that he had been intimidated by just a single sentence from this so-called “waste” of the Xia family.

“Is that so, Commander? You’ve just taken up your post today, and you want to make an example of me to establish your authority?”

Zhao Yu’s eyes revealed a fierce look. His family had already warned him to stay out of trouble for a few days, but he still couldn’t swallow his pride.

Both he and Xia Chen were children of marquis families. Although Xia Chen was the legitimate eldest son, Zhao Yu had two elder brothers. But he was well aware that Xia Chen was not favored in the Marquis of Zhen Dong’s household. The Marquis of An Dong’s indifference towards his eldest son had long been the talk of the capital.

Moreover, Xia Chen was famously known as a “waste,” which was considered a disgrace to their military descendants.

Therefore, Zhao Yu did not believe that his status was lower than Xia Chen’s. Ignoring his family’s advice, he was determined to challenge Xia Chen.

“Humph, by not giving him any face in public, I can undermine his credibility. Once I open this gap and set an example for others, how will he be able to stand firm in the Imperial Guards in the future?”

Zhao Yu’s plan was simple: he intended to trample on Xia Chen’s dignity on his first day of taking office.

Outside the military tent, many soldiers were lying low by the tent, eavesdropping.

From the moment Xia Chen entered the camp, they had already been waiting to see the drama unfold. More and more people gathered outside the tent, and almost everyone who was not drilling had come over.

In the center of the camp, two middle-aged men were sitting here, drinking tea.

“Should we intervene?” one asked.

“Just pretend we don’t know and keep drinking our tea. Conflicts between children of marquis families are none of our business,” the other replied.

“But Xia Chen is, after all, the legitimate son of the Marquis of Zhen Dong and the son-in-law of the emperor. We are the emperor’s personal guards. If we let Zhao Yu continue to cause trouble, it might not end well,” a square-faced general said, sipping his tea with a worried expression.

“No need to rush. Precisely because of his special status, we should be even more cautious about interfering. Today is his first day on the job. If he can’t even control his own men, it might disappoint some people,” the general sitting at the head of the table, dressed like a civil official but with a fierce look on his face, spoke in a deep voice.

“General, are you saying that someone is watching Xia Chen? Is it the emper…,” the square-faced man, whose name was Qin Mu, was about to say something when the general sitting on guard suddenly looked at him sharply. He quickly stopped himself and fell silent.

“We are the emperor’s personal guards. Although it’s customary for children of military families to join us, who comes in and how they come in are of utmost importance. Without the emperor’s approval, even the Marquis of Zhen Dong would find it difficult to place someone here,” General Li Wenzhong said, gazing into the distance as if he could see through the camp to the ongoing conflict.

The square-faced general, Qin Mu, nodded in understanding.

…

“Disrespecting a superior, leading a disturbance, and gambling in the camp—do you know what the punishment for these three crimes is?”

Xia Chen’s voice echoed in the military tent, carrying far enough for everyone eavesdropping outside to hear.

Zhao Yu frowned. Xia Chen remained calm throughout, and his tone made Zhao Yu extremely uncomfortable, as if a high-ranking dignitary was looking down on him.

“Does he really think he’s a big shot?”

Zhao Yu snorted inwardly, becoming even more dismissive. After all this talk, what could Xia Chen possibly do to him?

“Commander, you wouldn’t really want to punish me, would you? Just you?”

Zhao Yu laughed loudly. As he laughed, some soldiers gradually moved closer to him, standing behind him and creating an intangible sense of intimidation.

Xia Qian and the other three men instantly unleashed their own momentum, no longer suppressing their vital energy.

“For the three crimes combined, according to military law, you shall first receive a hundred strokes of the military rod and be expelled from the camp. Anyone who obstructs me will be considered equally guilty!”

Xia Chen remained calm, as if he hadn’t sensed the change in the atmosphere. But as soon as he finished speaking, his momentum changed instantly.

His blood became viscous, his entire body felt scorching hot, and the boiling vital energy coalesced into a blazing sun behind him.

He directly drew a scarlet long knife from behind his back and, with a single stroke, slashed towards Zhao Yu.

This stroke was like a blazing sun cutting through the void. Zhao Yu’s body hair stood on end instantly, and he felt a sense of being torn apart, sensing a mortal danger.

“Defend!”
Zhao Yu immediately drew his military knife, infusing it with his internal energy, trying to block Xia Chen’s strike.

He hadn’t expected that this so-called “waste” from the capital would actually dare to draw his blade against him in public.

Why did this strike feel so terrifying!

Intense sparks ignited on the edge of Zhao Yu’s knife.

As soon as they clashed, Zhao Yu’s face changed dramatically. He felt an overwhelming force transmitted through the blade. In the next moment, he let out a cold snort, his face flushed instantly, and then, a mouthful of blood sprayed out violently.

He was thrown backward, crashing into the tent and flying out of it, landing on a soldier who had been eavesdropping outside the tent. The two of them tumbled out onto the open ground outside.

In an instant, the entire camp fell silent, with everyone frozen in place.