Duke Chengen’s face was utterly grim. If the one standing in front of him had been any ordinary official instead of Xiao Jingzhao, he would have scolded him outright for speaking so recklessly.
But with Xiao Jingzhao saying this, wasn’t that equivalent to directly convicting Tian Baoci?
Did Nanan County Prince have a personal grudge against their family?!
Zhou Wang’s mood instantly soured as well. He said sharply, “I brought quite a few men with me. Get them to help subdue the dogs—no matter what, we cannot allow more injuries!”
Once commoners were involved, this was no longer some minor scandal.
So many civilians had been hurt, not to mention numerous noble scions and scholars—there was no way this could be covered up.
He immediately told Xiao Jingzhao to get back to handling the crisis and summoned his own guards to join the effort.
Only then did he turn to Duke Chengen: “Tian Bozhi, what the h*ll is going on? If your son wants to keep dogs, fine, but who the h*ll keeps six or seven hundred dogs?! Your family has so much silver you don’t know what to do with it, is that it?!”
Tian Bozhi was full of rage too—but not toward his son.
Tian Baoci had always been frail and sickly, plagued by illness and near-death experiences since childhood. After several of their other children died young, the entire Tian household had come to treat this “precious treasure” like their very lifeblood.
And besides, the boy didn’t have many hobbies. He liked raising dogs—so they let him.
No, Tian Bozhi was angry that someone had dared provoke Tian Baoci.
If no one had angered him, today’s disaster never would’ve happened.
He had no desire to argue with Zhou Wang. Instead, he anxiously grabbed Xiao Jingzhao, who was about to leave. “Your Highness, where is my son?!”
At a moment like this, Tian Bozhi didn’t ask how many people had died or been hurt, didn’t care how to soothe the victims or manage the aftermath—his first concern was still his son.
Xiao Jingzhao’s view of the Tian family dropped to rock bottom. He sneered coldly, “He’s locked in his own courtyard. Better that than being torn apart by the furious crowd.”
Nanan County Prince’s stance toward the Tian family was now crystal clear.
Zhou Wang frowned deeply and shook his head disapprovingly: “Tian Bozhi, really now! Just keep spoiling him, go on!”
Indulging a son is like killing a son—how did he not understand such a simple truth?
Tian Bozhi was no less impatient: “I’m going to check on him. You know how his temper is—what if he got agitated and triggered his heart condition?”
Zhou Wang couldn’t say anything more.
After all, this was his future son-in-law. He could only follow after Tian Bozhi.
But along the way, seeing the dogs still running wild all over the place, Zhou Wang couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
He thought about his own daughter.
Luochuan wasn’t known for her patience—and she hated vicious dogs.
These two were bound to fight all the time in the future.
He sighed, lost in thought, when he saw Tian Bozhi stop in front of a courtyard. With a creak, the door opened.
Inside, Tian Baoci was sprawled on the ground.
Tian Bozhi rushed in, dropping to his knees in panic. “Bao’er, why are you lying on the ground? Get up, get up now!”
Zhou Wang felt something was off.
Tian Bozhi wasn’t blind—he had to know how serious the situation was. And after Xiao Jingzhao’s attitude just now—practically murder in his eyes—how could he still act like this wasn’t a big deal?
Yet here he was, calling out “Bao’er, Bao’er” without a care in the world.
Did he really think the Emperor wouldn’t hold him accountable?
Even with the Empress Dowager’s backing, how many times could he use that protection?
He was simply too arrogant.
Zhou Wang began to wonder if this marriage alliance needed to be reconsidered.
But before he could think too far, Tian Bozhi suddenly let out a shout: “Bao’er! Bao’er! What’s wrong, Bao’er?!”
Zhou Wang leaned in with suspicion. Tian Bozhi had just rolled Tian Baoci over—only to reveal that his face was purple-blue, with blood oozing from his ears and nose. He was clearly already dead.
Zhou Wang jumped, hurried over, and knelt to check for breath.
Moments later, he exclaimed in disbelief, “…He’s—he’s already dead…”
Something wasn’t right.
Xiao Jingzhao had just said Tian Baoci was locked up in the courtyard—alive.
How could he be dead now?!
Zhou Wang reached out and tried to pull Tian Bozhi back. “Old Tian, calm down. I—I’m sorry for your loss… but please, compose yourself…”
Compose himself?!
How could he possibly do that?
Tian Bozhi was shaking with rage and grief, sitting beside the corpse like his soul had left him.
This child had not come easily.
When he was young, the old matriarch of the Tian family insisted on sleeping beside him every night. She would wake constantly to check that he was still breathing—terrified something would happen to him.
The whole household had raised him with trembling hearts, fearing he wouldn’t live to adulthood. And now—he was dead.
They had protected him all these years. He had lived long enough to talk of marriage and children—and now it was over.
Tian Bozhi’s mind was in chaos, like fireworks exploding beside his ears. He couldn’t think, couldn’t react.
Finally, Zhou Wang shouted, “Old Tian! Calm down!”
Tian Bozhi suddenly leapt to his feet, stormed out, grabbed a guard, and beat him mercilessly—fists and kicks flying, until the man collapsed to the ground.
But even that wasn’t enough to vent his fury. He roared, “What happened?! You were supposed to protect the Sixth Young Master—what the h*ll happened?!”
The guard had taken a beating. Dazed, weeping, he stammered out: “N-no, it wasn’t us, Duke! It—it was Nanan County Prince—he got so furious, he beat the Sixth Young Master, then ordered us to drag him inside… and told us to help with the rescue efforts…”
That was all they knew.
Nanan County Prince!
Tian Bozhi’s temple throbbed violently. Without a word, he stormed outside.
Zhou Wang followed closely. “Old Tian, think rationally! We—we don’t even know what really happened yet!”
But Tian Bozhi couldn’t calm down.
His face was stone-cold, storming forward. When he saw Xiao Jingzhao still speaking with the local prefect, he charged up to him.
“Your Highness! Even if my son did wrong, it should’ve been left to the officials to arrest him, investigate the charges, and render a verdict. How could you take justice into your own hands?!”
He had completely lost his mind, consumed by grief and rage.
Even though he was facing Xiao Jingzhao, the son of the crown prince and a duke ranked far above himself—he no longer cared.
