The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 68 : Eating Melons

Chapter 68 : Eating Melons

What kind of melon is a watermelon?

When the Jin army appeared in the lands of the Western Rong, the Great Khan of the Western Rong was shocked and enraged upon learning of it. He kicked over a table, drew his sword, and hacked wildly at the wooden table he had just overturned, venting his fury.

Should he kill those who had allowed the Jin army to enter the Western Rong?

If so, there would be few left alive among the Western Rong.

They had chosen to betray him. The Khan threw his sword to the ground, breathing heavily as he realized the hearts of the Western Rong people had already leaned toward the Jin Kingdom. He collapsed weakly into his seat.

Noticing that many of his subordinates had been frequently interacting with his son, Bars, the Khan suddenly grew alert. His nails dug into his palms, and his sunken eyes gleamed with malice.

The Khan roared with force, “Someone! Bring Bars to me!”

Those nearby sensed the danger and hurried out to report to the Khatun, “Khatun, the Khan intends to kill Tegin Bars. He has already sent for the Tegin. Please take the Tegin and leave quickly.”

The Khatun gasped in surprisethe Khan had truly gone mad.

Upon hearing that the Khan had summoned Bars, the Khatun immediately stood up. “I’ve heard the Jin army hasn’t left yet. I will take Bars to seek refuge with the Jin Kingdom. At least we can preserve our lives and live in peace. Let us pack quickly and surrender to the Jin.”

If Bars were killed, other tribes would come to contend for the Khan’s position, and the Western Rong would descend into chaos.

The Khatun, desiring only a stable life, made a decisive move and left the Western Rong with her son.

Sure enough, not long after their departure, the Khan died, and the Western Rong fell into turmoil. Meanwhile, the Khatun had already safely reached the Jin army camp.

Zhang Keqian stared blankly at the long list of surrendersnearly half of the Western Rong had defected to the Great Jin. Their only request was to end the war and allow them to herd peacefully in the Western Rong.

He Chongguang entered and, seeing his dazed expression, asked, “What is it? What are you worried about?”

Snapped out of his thoughts by He Chongguang’s words, Zhang Keqian sheepishly set down the list, stood up, and walked toward him. “General, does this mean we can soon return to the capital in triumph?”

He Chongguang thought for a moment and said, “With the help of the Western Rong, it should only take a few days. We can draft a victory report to the court now.”

“So quickly…” Zhang Keqian couldn’t help but marvel. Aside from a few real battles while clearing out the remnants of the Northern Barbarians, he hadn’t even had to throw a punch the rest of the time.

He Chongguang hesitated, a sour taste in his mouth as he reevaluated Zhang Keqian. With Zhang Keqian present, they had subdued the enemy without fighting and pacified the Western Rong in less than a year. He wondered if the Emperor had deliberately assigned Zhang Keqian to the army for this very reason.

Whatever the case, he needed to remain cautious.

Zhang Keqian picked up his brush to write the victory report but hesitated, unable to put a single word to paper. How should he phrase it?

“Your Majesty, we were ordered to campaign against the Western Rong, and they voluntarily surrendered, so there is no need to pacify them”?

That would make it seem as though the Jin army had contributed little, merely gaining the Western Rong without effortwhich didn’t look favorable.

After dawdling for a long time, Zhang Keqian carefully considered his words and finally wrote: “Your Majesty, we report success in the campaign against the Western Rong. We discovered a fruit with green skin, red flesh, and black seeds. It is crisp and refreshing, sweet and juicy. We have named it ‘watermelon.’ We respectfully offer it for Your Majesty to taste.”

Zhang Keqian breathed a sigh of relief after writing, gently set down his brush, reviewed the document once more to ensure there were no errors, and began sealing it.

After finishing the victory report, Zhang Keqian went to take stock of the watermelons in the army camp. Most had been gifted by the common people of the Western Rong. Worried they would spoil during transport to the imperial capital, he specially selected several soldiers to carry the watermelons on their backs and deliver them swiftly to Youzhou on fast horses.

Within days, Xu Ying received both the victory report and the watermelons. The soldiers delivering them said, “Your Majesty, Commandant Zhang mentioned that if these melons are placed in ice water for an hour or two before eating, their flavor will be even better.”

The sudden appearance of these green-skinned round melonsunseen for yearsmade Xu Ying widen her eyes in astonishment. It wasn’t just the watermelons themselves, but Zhang Keqian’s advice that surprised her. He had only recently discovered watermelons, yet he had already grasped the essence of eating themchilled watermelon!

Xu Ying clicked her tongue in disbelief, stood up, and reached out to touch the melon’s skin. Unconsciously, she tapped it with her knuckles, and a dull sound emanated from the watermelon.

It was ripe.

Satisfied, Xu Ying nodded and was about to order it taken away to be chilled when she lifted her head and noticed the strange looks from those around her. The moment she caught their gaze, they quickly lowered their heads.

Realizing her behavior was indeed peculiar, Xu Ying cleared her throat and said solemnly, “Fetch a bucket of well water and immerse the melon in it to test the effect. This evening, secretly invite Princess Huaiyang, Sun Wanyun, Gao Yun, Sun Zhuo, and Zhang Yu… along with the people from the Hall of Gathered Talents. Do not disclose this to outsiders.”

Mid-sentence, Xu Ying suddenly had an idea and immediately ordered her trusted aides to be discreetly summoned.

Eating watermelon was a luxury now. For the emperor to secretly enjoy melons with her close ministers behind the backs of other officials might seem trivial, but it actually revealed her distrust of others and the emperor’s pettiness!

If she had to hide even a single melon, what benefits could they expect from her? Those interest-driven officials would surely develop ulterior motives.

Xu Ying found this reasoning quite soundafter all, a long dike can collapse due to an ant hole.

The palace maids exchanged puzzled glances but complied with the order. One carried the watermelon away, while others sought out the people Xu Ying had named, quietly informing them of the emperor’s private summons that evening.

Late at night, Gao Yun, Sun Wanyun, Sun Zhuo, and the others, filled with confusion, arrived stealthily at the Azure Wave Study without alerting anyone.

In the study’s side room, desks and seating mats were arranged.

Gao Yun stepped over the threshold and, not seeing Xu Ying at the desk, found it odd. Just then, a woman’s voice came from the side room: “Is everyone here? Come in quickly.”

Xu Ying had already arranged for Xu Lang to be present and, under the nervous watch of the palace attendants, made the first cut into the watermelon. As Gao Yun and the others arrived, Xu Ying hurriedly called them in.

Zhang Yu hesitated, “Your Majesty, this is…”

Xu Ying gestured for them to sit, smiling as she said, “Take your seats. These are watermelons sent by Zhang Keqian from the Western Rong, soaked in water all afternoon. Watermelons are rare, and you are my most trusted people, so I called you here to share this melon.”

What kind of melon was a watermelon?

Everyone was stunned, exchanging glances filled with bewilderment. Setting aside what it was for the moment, they first bowed in gratitude before taking their seats, focusing intently on Xu Ying’s actions with curious expressions.

“Your Majesty, be careful with the knife.”

Xu Lang stood beside Xu Ying, closely watching the knife in her hand, fearing she might accidentally cut herself.

Zhang Yu’s heart raced. Glancing around, he confirmed that all present were indeed the emperor’s close confidantshe had gained the emperor’s recognition!

Understanding this, Zhang Yu was excited and wanted to stand up to help Xu Ying cut the melon, but as a subordinate, he couldn’t wield a knife before the sovereign without permission. To handle a blade, he needed special authorization from Her Majesty. Having just entered the ranks of close ministers, he couldn’t let his excitement make him forget his place.

Zhang Yu suppressed his eager heart and kept his eyes fixed on the round melon without blinking.

Beside him, Gao Yun silently observed, pondering the meaning behind Her Majesty’s actions. She could understand the inclusion of Sun Wanyun, Sun Zhuo, and the people from the Hall of Gathered Talentsbut why invite Zhang Yu? And why specifically emphasize Zhang Keqian?

Moreover, instead of simply bestowing the melon, why did Her Majesty order secrecy and personally cut it herself?

Sun Zhuo, who shared the same doubts as Gao Yun, watched as the sharp blade sank into the round melon. With a crisp sound, the melon split open, oozing a pale red liquid.

Sun Zhuo immediately narrowed his eyes. Could it be… this was a hint that Her Majesty was about to take action against someone?

Who did Her Majesty want to eliminate?

Sun Zhuo’s spirits lifted, his eyes locked intently on the opened melon. The bright red flesh was striking, and he began to pay close attention to every word Xu Ying uttered.

The scholars from the Hall of Gathered Talents had initially thought this was simply about eating melons and were relaxed in body and mind. But catching sight of Zhang Yu’s strained smile and enigmatic demeanor, and noticing Gao Yun and Sun Zhuo pressing their lips together with serious expressions, they held their breaths and inwardly lamented.

Who would invite others to eat fruit in the dead of night for no reason? They hadn’t grasped such a simple truth, failing to understand Her Majesty’s deeper meaning. Recalling that Her Majesty had specifically mentioned they were her most trusted people, they realized those words were meant to alert themyet they hadn’t caught on earlier.

Feeling ashamed, the scholars immediately straightened up. Even if they didn’t understand now, they had to pretend to be deep in thoughtit was a matter of attitude.

Xu Ying skillfully cut the watermelon into crescent-shaped pieces, giving each person two slices, and had the palace maids serve them one by one.

“We’re all among ourselves here, no need to stand on ceremony,” Xu Ying said as she straightened up. Seeing everyone looking solemn and sitting stiffly upright as if attending some state affair, she immediately urged them to relax.

To her surprise, her words only made them frown more deeply, each lost in serious contemplation, much like her former classmates in school who dreaded being called on by the teacher.

Puzzled, Xu Ying tried to recall what she had just said. Surely she hadn’t given them any difficult questions?

After distributing the melon, Xu Ying said, “Everyone, help yourselves.”

Picking up a slice of watermelon, Xu Ying lowered her head and took a bite. The room fell into complete silence, with only the sound of her crunching. Startled, she stiffly looked up to find the atmosphere heavy and tense.

Uncomfortable, Xu Ying blinked rapidly and parted her lips. The eerie feeling of everyone watching her without eating made her uneasy. After a long pause, she finally managed to say, “…Hurry and eat, it won’t taste as good if it sits too long.”

Sun Zhuo thought to himself, “Delaying the kill would spoil the matter. Her Majesty means we must act swiftly.”

Gao Yun quickly grasped and summarized the key points: an urgent, important matter, and a thorn in Her Majesty’s side.

At Xu Ying’s prompting, everyone gradually picked up their watermelon and took small bites, but their expressions remained largely unchanged, each burdened with heavy thoughts.

Xu Ying asked, “What’s wrong? Does it not suit your taste?”

Could it be their first time trying it, and they’re unaccustomed to this fruit?
“Not at all. It’s my first time trying this, so I need to savor it slowly,” Xu Lang explained, setting down the melon and wiping the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief. He commented, “This melon is coolingperfect for relieving summer heatand delightfully sweet. The only inconvenience is how easily the juice stains, leaving a slightly sticky feel on the hands.”

Xu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and said with a laugh, “We could cut it into smaller pieces to eat individually, but I lack the knife skills for that. I’m afraid everyone will have to wash their hands again after eating.”

Author’s Note:

Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solutions between 2023-05-25 23:40:44 and 2023-05-26 21:54:19~

Special thanks to irrigation contributors: Ancient Candy Bamboo (50 bottles), Rabbit-Eating Fish (30 bottles), Warm Sunshine (2 bottles), Ice Cream, Arrogance, Novel Reader, Xiao Jing, Zhang Jing, Samoyed, and Mu Mu (1 bottle each).

I’m deeply grateful for your support. I’ll keep working hard!