Duke Chu smiled provocatively at Lai Chenglong, then flicked his sleeve, striking Lai Chenglong’s face with it.
Before Lai Chenglong could react, the Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him all drew their embroidered spring blades in unison, glaring furiously at Duke Chu, displeased that he would treat their lord so rudely.
Duke Cheng was about to speak but hesitated. Although he had come to speak on Duke Chu’s behalf out of old friendship, that didn’t mean he wanted to offend Lai Chenglong.
This young man was truly dangerous.
He coughed to smooth things over: “Seventh Brother, don’t stoop to the level of a young hothead. Since His Majesty has summoned us, we should hurry to the palace.”
In their view, Emperor Yongchang had always been lenient toward those old veterans who had followed him from Min.
Over the years, the tea mountains of Fujian had practically been divided up among these noble families. Did His Majesty not know?
Of course he knew. He simply turned a blind eye, out of consideration for their shared history of conquering the realm together.
It had always been this way in the past, and they believed it would always continue.
After all, they didn’t dare to cross truly outrageous lines. They had merely been greedy and enjoyed some luxuries. How could the emperor ever eliminate them completely?
Everyone thought Lai Chenglong was about to attack. Chen Hao even stepped forward to grab Lai Chenglong: “You little brat—back when your father was picking up scraps behind us, you were still running around in split-crotch pants with a runny nose! And now you dare to put on airs in front of us?”
This time, Lai Chenglong didn’t hold back. His face cold, he stepped back and with a swift motion slashed his blade toward Chen Hao’s hand.
Everyone was stunned.
Luckily, Chen Hao was an old battle-hardened general and quickly pulled his hand back. Otherwise, it really would have been severed.
Even so, his sleeve was sliced clean off, fluttering to the ground.
Chen Hao gasped sharply and then exploded in rage: “F*** your mother! You little b*stard! I gave you a little face out of respect for your parents, and you really think you can walk all over me now? I’m going to report you to His Majesty!”
Lai Chenglong gave him a cold, mocking glance and stepped aside to make way.
Go ahead?
Then let’s all go.
These old men resting on their past glories, their noses pointed to the sky—one by one they had already enjoyed enough benefits over the years. It was time to let them see the reality of the current situation.
Just then, Eunuch Xia arrived right on cue to urge Duke Chu forward.
Chen Hao, still fired up, cursed loudly and shouted: “Seventh Brother, don’t be afraid! We’ll all go with you! You’ve taken blades and shed blood for His Majesty, your merits are undeniable. With us old brothers at your side, let’s see who dares to touch you!”
Qi Yuan sneered coldly in her heart.
As expected, power is intoxicating. When people enjoy good times for too long, they lose their judgment. This bunch was ridiculously arrogant.
But…
She also glanced at Lai Chenglong.
This commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a deeply calculating figure. Just now, if he had truly wanted to injure Chen Hao, even if he couldn’t completely sever the hand, he definitely would have left a wound.
But he didn’t.
It was obvious he had deliberately provoked Chen Hao.
Seems like he’s someone who always repays grudges.
When she looked at Lai Chenglong, he also seemed to sense it, and his sharp, hawk-like eyes instantly landed on Qi Yuan. Across the distance, their gazes locked.
Then, he raised his brows slightly in surprise.
He had killed countless people, and most would show some fear when facing him. But this girl, while calm and composed, even looked him over as if she were evaluating and assessing him.
Xiao Yunting had also noticed Lai Chenglong’s attention and stepped forward without a word, shielding Qi Yuan firmly behind him.
The interest in Lai Chenglong’s eyes deepened.
The fact that the Imperial Grandson appeared here today made it clear that this massive storm triggered by the return of Liu Wangfei was definitely connected to the Eastern Palace.
The girl he was protecting…
Lai Chenglong turned and gave a meaningful glance to his subordinate.
The subordinate instantly understood and quietly left.
Duke Chu, urged along by Xia Gonggong, had already mounted his horse.
Zhu Bin, Chen Hao, and the others also followed closely behind.
Only Duke Cheng remained. For some reason, when he looked at Lai Chenglong, he felt a vague sense of unease. After careful consideration, he found an excuse to return home to change his clothes and did not go with the group.
The crowd gathered around Duke Chu’s residence gradually dispersed.
Some scholars and common folk began to openly discuss the incident.
As for the commoners, there was nothing more to say—they all condemned Duke Chu as cruel and deserving of death.
The scholars, however, knew a bit more.
Thinking of today’s trial at Shuntian Prefecture regarding Jiang Yanzhen’s men attempting to assassinate Hu Yichuan, they looked down on Duke Chu even more.
They whispered to each other, saying things like, Even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, How pitiful Liu Wangfei is, and Madam Jiang’s fate is truly tragic.
The crowd gradually left in small groups.
Old Marquis Qi lowered his voice: “Whether it’s life or death depends on how the emperor responds tonight.”
He couldn’t help glancing at Qi Yuan.
Qi Zhen lowered his voice and asked: “Your Highness, do you think His Majesty will really make up his mind to deal with Duke Chu’s estate and… and Noble Consort Xiao Liu?”
Xiao Yunting’s expression was grim. There was no trace of the satisfaction one might expect after avenging a great enemy.
He looked at Qi Yuan: “You’ve heard of Princess Baorong, haven’t you?”
Qi Yuan raised her eyebrows at the mention of Baorong and responded with a calm “Mm.”
Of course she knew.
In her previous life, she and Princess Baorong had fought like mortal enemies—locked in fierce, inescapable conflict.
Qi Wang had constantly wavered between them, torn between trusting his sister or his favored consort.
In the end, he chose to believe Qi Yuan and placed Princess Baorong under house arrest.
He allowed her to retain the title and dignity of a princess but no longer permitted her to participate in politics.
Thinking back, Qi Yuan gave a fair evaluation: “A very formidable opponent.”
……
Qi Zhen stumbled a step.
Someone could still be called formidable in front of Qi Yuan?
As a father, Qi Zhen thought he should be steady and composed.
But for some reason, he blurted out almost involuntarily: “Did she kill a lot of people?”
More than Qi Yuan?
As soon as he spoke, Old Marquis Qi, Xiao Yunting, and Qi Yuan all turned their heads to look at him.
Qi Zhen immediately felt awkward: “I—I was just asking casually.”
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yunting answered seriously, his expression grave: “In the third year I was exiled to Jurong, she fell gravely ill. During her illness, she coughed up blood continuously… later, it was discovered that someone from Jurong’s Mao Mountain had used her birth date to curse her.”
Qi Zhen shuddered on the spot.
He realized something.
Xiao Yunting sneered: “Do you know how many people died on Mao Mountain that time?”
Qi Yuan picked up the thread with a calm tone. As Princess Baorong’s old enemy, of course she knew. In her past life, Qi Wang and Noble Consort Xiao Liu had once boasted to her that during that incident, over a thousand people died on Mao Mountain.
All of them were executed under the charge of cursing a princess—a grave crime of treason.
Xiao Yunting looked at Qi Zhen: “Now, Marquis, do you still think she killed fewer people than Qi Yuan?”
Qi Zhen cursed silently in his heart.
The girls in this capital are all aiming for the skies! Each one is more terrifying than the last!
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