The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Honor

Wen Hao looked in the direction indicated by his hand, his expression changing.

Huangfu Jingchen had taken him to a high vantage point.

Since an isolation zone was established, a lookout point was naturally built. This lookout was on the eastern side of the isolation zone, initially to prevent epidemic patients from escaping. Shang Jingwang had dispatched household soldiers here to keep watch in shifts.

The isolation point was situated on a naturally elevated area, and this lookout was three stories high, providing a broad, unobstructed view.

What Wen Hao saw were scenes of soldiers driving villagers away.

The soldiers received orders to drive villagers from various areas towards the isolation point, in groups here and there.

Some villages were near, others far, so not much could be seen for now, but even so, it was evident that the soldiers were taking action.

Huangfu Jingchen’s gaze landed on Wen Hao, whose expression was unpredictable, and he slowly shook his head, saying, ”I thought leaving General Wen here, without his command, his stationed troops wouldn’t act rashly. I didn’t expect, with or without General Wen, these troops actually obey Lord Yu instead!”

Already somewhat displeased, Wen Hao’s face changed even more.

He was held hostage here, and as soon as Yu Shikui arrived, he could command his subordinates.

Moreover, instead of ordering his subordinates to rescue him, everything proceeded according to the original plan.

Could it be that Geng Shikui didn’t think that he might have encountered some mishap?

To them, his life meant nothing; all that mattered was military power?

As a commander, having his soldiers follow someone else’s orders ignited a fury in Wen Hao’s heart. Huangfu Jingchen’s words only fueled his resentment.

Huangfu Jingchen pointed southward again and said, ”General Wen, look this way!”

To the south, several Generals were escorting someone towards the Wangshan Town post. Wen Hao had pitched his camp half a mile from that post.

Now, those people were evidently ready to enter the town.

Standing high above, Wen Hao could see clearly that the person in the center was Yu Shikui, and beside him, fawning and flattering, was his military strategist, while those protecting Yu Shikui were Generals.

Although if he were present, he too would protect Yu Shikui, the fact was that he wasn’t there now.

Seeing Wen Hao’s face become increasingly grim, Huangfu Jingchen spoke in a voice as calm as a still lake, ”General Wen, do you think if we inform Lord Yu that you’re in the isolation zone, he would retract the order and spare those villagers?”

Wen Hao clenched his molars, but this time it wasn’t directed at Huangfu Jingchen; he was pondering the possibility mentioned by Huangfu Jingchen.

However, he frustratingly realized he didn’t have that much weight.

Yu Shikui was merely using him!

Now that Yu Shikui could mobilize his troops, Wen Hao’s life meant even less to him.

Huangfu Jingchen shook his head and sighed, ”I thought General Wen, with a military background and elevated to Fourth Rank, had limitless prospects. Who would’ve thought you’d end up dying here with the villagers of Wangshan Town? It’s their honor, but your misfortune!”

Wen Hao’s nostrils flared, his lips twitched, his eyes dark, and his face clouded.

He couldn’t utter a single word.

Huangfu Jingchen said, ”From the discovery of the epidemic in Wangshan Town until now, it’s been over a month. Look at this isolation zone; it’s been established for a month as well. All epidemic patients have been concentrated here for treatment, and now there’s already a cure. The villagers are on the brink of escaping the epidemic’s threat and returning to health. Yet, when Lord Yu and General Wen received the report submitted by Lord Shang, their first reaction was to send the army in.”

Wen Hao’s voice was filled with resentment, ”I was merely cooperating with Yu Shikui! Moreover, Shang Jingwang’s report wasn’t sent to me, so I knew nothing about the situation here!”

He only found out yesterday, but he wouldn’t oppose Yu Shikui for the villagers of Wangshan Town.

Huangfu Jingchen ignored him, speaking indifferently, ”Do you know that those villagers being driven to the isolation point by your soldiers are uninfected? Do you understand their fate once they arrive here?”

Of course, Wen Hao knew, he knew even before coming here, as Yu Shikui had clearly explained the outcome to him.

So much kerosene, saltpeter, so much firewood...

He had once asked, wasn’t it true that not everyone in Wangshan Town had contracted the epidemic? Yu Shikui, with a cold expression, had said, ”In a fallen nest, how can an egg be intact? In the midst of an epidemic, they can only blame their misfortune!”

He had thought the same at the time; those seeking great achievements shouldn’t be bogged down by trivialities. In the effort to eradicate the epidemic, the involvement of a few innocent people didn’t matter much, did it?

But he hadn’t expected to find himself here now.

Huangfu Jingchen coldly remarked, ”I understand, under the pretext of an epidemic, as long as all villagers in Wangshan Town perish, you can claim anything about the epidemic. You can exaggerate, say the area is out of control, claim all villagers are infected, and that such drastic measures were necessary to prevent the spread. No one in the Capital City would know, and you’d be lauded for your efforts. In your eyes, human life is cheap. What I didn’t expect was that Mr. Wen’s life is equally cheap.”

Wen Hao’s lips moved, and with difficulty, he said, ”I... didn’t know the treatment here was this effective!”

Upon hearing his feeble defense, Huangfu Jingchen turned his gaze to fiercely stare at Wen Hao, ”If you hadn’t been brought here, if all villagers had indeed been set ablaze, didn’t you realize they were all living beings? Didn’t you consider there were epidemic patients as well as innocent villagers untouched by the disease? In the dead of night, aren’t you afraid of being haunted by the souls of the innocent?”

Wen Hao shuddered, his eyes flickering, ”I... what could I do? All of this is Yu Shikui’s decision!”

At this moment, he wouldn’t admit he was complicit.

His eyes were filled with hostility; Yu Shikui, that bastard, intended to burn him along with everyone else.

He looked at Huangfu Jingchen, beseeching, ”Young master, release me. Once back, I’ll definitely restrain my subordinates and prevent Yu Shikui from succeeding!”

Huangfu Jingchen gave him a glance.

To show his sincerity, Wen Hao added, ”I know everything about the isolation zone. I’ll report the situation in detail. As the Military Commander, I’m the only one who can restrain the soldiers. If you don’t trust me, you can accompany me back!”

Huangfu Jingchen shook his head and smiled, yet the smile didn’t reach his eyes, ”What Mr. Wen says makes sense, but we both understand that Yu Shikui aims to destroy this town’s villagers for his accolades. He can command your troops even in your absence, going there would be futile. The villagers of Wangshan Town having a Fourth Rank General as a companion in death is their honor!”