Chapter 445: Shooting Yang Yizun (One)
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Li Quanxin went to the palace to inquire about the situation, and Mingzhu also arranged for Su Lan, “Go to the Minister’s Residence and send these newly acquired cured meats from the manor to Xiangye and the Madam to taste.”
She balanced the news from both sides, preventing any inaccurate information from misleading her, and keeping the Fu family informed of the situation here in case of any sudden emergencies.
After Su Lan also went to the Minister’s Residence to inquire about the situation, Mingzhu took a stroll in the garden, enjoying the sun for a while. She also finished writing the twenty large characters that Yuwen Chu had asked her to write, feeling quite calm, at least meeting half of Yuwen Chu’s requirements.
Just as she was about to lie down for a while, she heard hurried footsteps approaching her, followed by someone shouting loudly at the door, “Your Highness, a lot of people have arrived outside, saying that Yang Dianjun from our manor is involved in a murder case, and they want to take him away for questioning!”
Su Lan and the others’ faces turned pale, but Mingzhu calmly stood up and gestured for them to assist her in dressing. “What’s there to be afraid of? It’s just a small matter. Let me see what’s going on.” Then she asked the messenger, “Who are these people?”
“It’s Yang Yizun, the deputy commander of the Longlin Guards,” the female steward who delivered the message said, her face pale with fear. She always felt that something big was about to happen in the manor. His Highness had been summoned to the palace by the emperor to inquire about Jiang Shanshan’s disappearance, and now the Longlin Guards were coming to the manor to arrest people. It seemed like there was going to be a big problem in the manor.
Yang Yizun, huh? Mingzhu smiled, raised her voice, and said, “Tell them that without my orders, no one is allowed to let anyone in! Don’t be afraid of dead people; I’ll handle everything!”
Yang Yizun was a person of low birth, promoted by Min Shixing, and was one of Min’s loyal dogs. He seemed ruthless but was actually spineless, bullying the weak and fearing the strong. She remembered this person; he played a very important role in the massacre of the Fu family back then.
The reason she didn’t trouble him was that she had to prioritize the most important matters. Otherwise, this kind of evil dog, tied to someone else’s rope, would bring one trouble after another. But it didn’t mean that if the vicious dog came to the door, she would let him leave. It depended on whether Yang Yizun would be sensible today.
Mingzhu instructed Su Lan in a low voice, “Don’t let Yang Dianjun come out. I’ll handle this myself.” Then she told Su Mei to inform Zhou Shuyi, “You go tell Zhou Changshi, let him do this…”
Su Jin and Su Mei both dashed out, while Mingzhu waited until everyone was ready before ordering Su Ju, “Keep an eye on the house.” She then called for Zheng Momo and Donghui, “Come with me to meet our guests outside.”
When Mingzhu arrived, the guards from the Longlin Guards and the attendants from Ying Wang Mansion had already drawn their swords, neither willing to yield to the other. Zhou Shuyi was calmly negotiating with Yang Yizun, “Yang Jing Song is not in the palace, and neither is His Highness. The Wangfei is nurturing her pregnancy and dares not let anyone enter.”
Yang Yizun, roughly in his thirties, was lean and strong, with thin lips and a high nose. His triangular eyes gleamed with coldness, and he arrogantly raised his chin as he coldly laughed at Zhou Shuyi, “I am ordered to arrest those wanted by the court. Do you dare to stop me? Are you defying the imperial decree?”
Zhou Shuyi smiled gently, “The imperial decree orders the capture of Yang Jing Song, but it does not mention searching the Ying Wang Mansion. If you want to arrest Yang Jing Song, you should go to his residence, not come to the Ying Wang Mansion.”
Everyone knew that although Yang Jing Song had a house outside, he lived alone and spent most of his time in the Ying Wang Mansion. Especially since Yuwen Chu entered the palace, he had not left the Ying Wang Mansion since last night. Where else would he be caught if not here? Yang Yizun was furious, “Yang Jing Song is right here. Of course, I have to come here to catch him! Anyone who dares to stop me is defying the decree! There will be no mercy!”
“What audacity! You speak so boldly, aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?” Mingzhu signaled for everyone to lower the sedan chair but remained seated inside. She ordered someone to lift the curtain of the sedan chair and sat steadily, asserting her dominance, “Who are you? How dare you search the Ying Wang Mansion and threaten to kill here? Who gave you such audacity?”
Yang Yizun squinted his eyes and did not take this delicate woman seriously. Arrogantly, he said, “Ying Wangfei, I am acting on orders. Whoever dares to obstruct me is defying the decree and disrespecting it. I hope Wangfei will manage her subordinates well to avoid causing harm inadvertently!”
“Bold! You don’t even pay respects to this Wangfei when you see her, and you dare to threaten me? Give him a slap!” Mingzhu’s voice was stern and decisive as she glanced at Donghui.
Donghui stepped forward and delivered two crisp slaps to Yang Yizun. After the slapping, without lingering in the fight, she quickly retreated to Mingzhu’s side, lowering her brows and eyes, appearing gentle and meek.
Yang Yizun did not expect Mingzhu to act on her words immediately. Completely disregarding his position as Deputy Commander of the Longlin Guards, he was almost driven mad with anger. Drawing his sword, he intended to strike Donghui. However, someone intercepted him with a diagonal thrust, catching his sword steadily. In a calm voice, they said, “Is Commander Yang intending to act against his superiors?”
It was Zhang Huan who made the move. He stared at Yang Yizun coldly, with the air of a fierce bandit, ready to fight at any moment. Yang Yizun shouted, “Rebellion! This is rebellion! You dare to conspire against me!”
“Ridiculous! Rebellion? You blind dog slave! How dare you utter such treasonous words? Give him another slap! Teach him some manners.” Having used the tactic once, it couldn’t be used again. Mingzhu was bluffing, not actually intending for Donghui to hit Yang Yizun again. She wanted to provoke him. She needed a proper excuse to kill him.
Yang Yizun became calm. He sneered, “Ying Wangfei, it’s said outside that you are arrogant and lawless. I thought it was just rumors until I saw it today. You’re harboring criminals. Do you have no respect for His Majesty?”
Mingzhu calmly responded, “You are not mistaken. His Majesty is indeed my cousin, and Ying Wang’s nephew. The hierarchy must be respected. As for harboring criminals, I have not seen any criminals from the court. I have only seen a dog slave who misinterprets the imperial decree. Remember, this is the first time.”
Answering the question indirectly but also appropriately, Yang Yizun sneered, “I will count to three. If Ying Wangfei does not step aside, I will arrest her for resisting the decree. Do not blame me for being ruthless.”
“One, two…” Yang Yizun was about to count to three, and seeing Mingzhu showing no intention of backing down, he couldn’t help but ask again, “Ying Wangfei, are you refusing to give in?”
Mingzhu glanced contemptuously at him and then looked at Zhang Huan. Zhang Huan nodded slightly, swiftly drew back his sword, and struck Yang Yizun’s back with the back of his blade. Then he quickly extended his foot forward and hooked it.
Caught off guard, Yang Yizun charged towards Mingzhu with his sword. He hadn’t expected the people of the Ying Wang Mansion to be so audacious. But he wasn’t a pushover either. He quickly stabilized himself and tried to stop, but Zhou Shuyi didn’t give him the chance. He rushed forward and hugged him, shouting anxiously, “Commander Yang, how can you attack the Wangfei in revenge? Stop quickly!”
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