[Wuxia] The Number One Ding Under Heaven (Complete) - 40

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Chapter 305 Bloodshed at the Prince's Mansion

Early in the morning, just as dawn broke, a deafening banging echoed outside the Prince of Beihai's mansion.
"Open the door! Open the door for me! If you don't open it, the soldiers will smash this place up!"
The arrogant and domineering voice was clearly that of a lawless thug from the capital.
A thug? Even the most lawless thug dared to cause trouble in front of the Prince of Beihai's mansion?
The gatekeeper was surprised and cursed as he pushed open the door: "Who is it? Which battalion of soldiers? Are you blind? Daring to cause trouble at our Prince of Beihai's mansion? Watch out, sir..."
"Sir, you bastard!" The door had barely opened a crack when a foot kicked in, sending the gatekeeper sprawling on his back.
"You damn blind dog... Ahhhhh!!!!"
The gatekeeper scrambled to his feet, cursing, but before he could finish the word "dog," a flash of white light appeared before his eyes—a knife. The knife slashed down, striking his neck squarely, spurting out a spray of blood, and then he could no longer speak.
Yes, you read that right. This group of thugs stormed into the Prince of Beihai's mansion and killed the gatekeeper with a single blow.
"Good, Brother Han, well done!" Amidst the laughter, a handsome and imposing figure gracefully entered—it was none other than Pang Yu.
As for the one who did the killing, it was naturally Han Qi. (*) "Serving the lord, we will not hesitate!" Han Qi thumped his chest. He wasn't tall, but his roar was thunderous, clearly indicating that his killing was justified and righteous.
"Hey, how is this doing my job?" Pang Yu's face hardened. "You need to understand, we're here to arrest traitors. Arresting traitors is for the court, for our Great Song Dynasty. The man you just beheaded obstructed our investigation. Since he's obstructing our service to the country, doesn't such a guy deserve to die?"
"Yes, yes, you're right, sir." With the national cause at stake, Han Qi's courage grew. He raised his cleaver and shouted at the dumbfounded servants of the Prince's mansion, "If you know what's good for you, hand over the traitors right now, or else, hmph, don't blame this captain for being merciless and executing you all on the spot as a warning to others!" The servants of the Prince's mansion
looked at each other, wondering what he meant by "traitors."
"What the hell are you pretending for!" Behind Han Qi, a servant dressed in the uniform of the Grand Tutor's mansion jumped out and slapped the dumbfounded servant in front of him across the face, crippling half of his face. He knelt on the ground, coughing up blood. And there was more. (**) The one who made the move was certainly not Fourth Brother—have you ever seen the eldest brother jump in and beat people up so easily? Nor was it Chuixue or Wanrendi; it was Pang Baoju, a servant whom Fourth Brother had recently promoted from among the servants in the manor.
Baoju, just from the name, you can tell what kind of person he is: black-hearted, ruthless, and vicious. He never stops until he achieves his evil goal, and that's exactly why Fourth Brother promoted him. Sure enough, this slap was vicious, cruel, and ruthless, so shocking that no one dared to move, leaving only the one who had been beaten lying on the ground whimpering.
"What's going on? Who's causing trouble in the front yard? This is outrageous!!!" Before long, Zhao Defu, the head steward of the inner courtyard, arrived with a group of guards. Upon seeing the scene before him, he was furious.
"You, you all, you're incredibly audacious, daring to cause trouble in our Prince's mansion..." Before he could utter a single word, he was slapped across the face by Pang Baoju, knocking out all his old teeth. Before he could even order the guards to apprehend him, Han Qi swung his sword, grazing his scalp and embedding it in the wall behind him. (**)
Zhao Defu was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Hey, Steward Zhao, don't you find this strange?" At this moment, Fourth Brother finally spoke slowly, "What am I doing leading such a large group of people to your Prince's mansion so early in the morning? Fine, then I'll let you die knowing why." He clapped his hands, and two Imperial Guards, one on each side, led a man who looked like a vegetable vendor forward.
"Lord Tian Ding!" The vegetable vendor shouted as soon as he saw Pang Yu, "I saw it, I saw it! Around midnight today, a man in black carrying a bow and arrow entered the Prince's mansion!"
Zhao Defu was taken aback: "What man in black? What bow and arrow? Pang, don't make false accusations."
Fourth Brother didn't even look at him, coldly snorting: "Brother Han, you explain it to him."
Han Qi swung his cleaver and plunged it hard into Zhao Defu's crotch, scaring him so much he almost wet his pants: "Just last night, the patriotic, loyal and courageous..." Lord Tian Ding was attacked by assassins somewhere in the north of the city. Fortunately, we brothers fought desperately to protect him and kept him safe. (*) However, one of the assassins escaped. This person had previously attacked Lord Tian Ding with a sneak arrow. Not only we brothers, but General Yang of Tianbo Prefecture can also testify to this. Moreover, it was General Yang who intervened in time to save Lord Tian Ding. Steward, I have to ask you, one of the assassins escaped and shot a sneak arrow. Just last night, someone carrying a bow and arrow entered your palace. How do you explain this?
"This...this...this is a frame-up!" Zhao Defu was stunned by the sudden accusation and didn't know what to do.
"Frame-up or not, search first!" Han Qi waved his hand. "Brothers, go in and search! Turn the palace upside down!" The Imperial Guards responded with a roar, each
grabbing their weapons and rushing in. His brothers, all passionate and loyal, couldn't stand the Prince's faction's actions in the capital. Unfortunately, their lowly status prevented them from fighting back, so they could only silently suppress their anger. Now, with Lord Tian Ding backing them up, what were they afraid of? They wouldn't rest until they found evidence of the Prince of Beihai's collusion with rebels!
"Who dares!" The Prince's guards were no pushovers either. Their leader roared, and dozens of fully armed guards surged in from all directions, equally armed and menacing. (**)
The two sides faced off in front of the screen wall in the Prince's mansion's front courtyard, neither giving way, a major battle imminent.
Fourth Brother gave a signal, and the newly appointed and trusted "Explosive Chrysanthemum Bro" darted forward and slapped him across the face. Before the head guard, who had shouted "Who dares?", could react, he was already spitting out blood and teeth. The head guard, clutching his face, jumped up, wanting to retaliate, but Explosive Chrysanthemum Bro glanced sideways and sneered, "My master is acting on the Emperor's decree to assist Grand Commandant Gao in investigating the rebels of Southern Tang. Anyone who dares to obstruct the investigation will be punished for treason, and their entire family will be exterminated!"
The head guard was instantly stunned, clutching his face and not daring to utter a sound.
"What are you all standing there for? Search!" Han Qi pointed his sword, and his Imperial Guards filed in, heading straight for the inner hall of the Prince's Mansion. Dozens of Prince's guards stood there dumbfounded, none daring to stop them. (*、*)
Fourth Brother gave a signal, and Pang Explosive Chrysanthemum Bro understood immediately, blending into the Imperial Guards and following them inside.
Isn't it obvious? Brother Baoju is carrying "evidence"—arrows identical to those found at the assassination scene, and the veil Fourth Brother casually took from the dead assassin. He can just toss it anywhere, and it'll look like it was found in the Prince's mansion. Even if Zhao Yunbi has a thousand mouths, he won't be able to explain himself.
What? You say Fourth Brother is playing dirty tricks? This is called an eye for an eye. Zhao Yunbi got wind of this from the palace and sent men to ambush him, so don't blame Fourth Brother for retaliating.
"My lord," Han Qi didn't go in; he stood guard beside Fourth Brother with his knife and Long Wu.
"Hmm?"
"Last night, didn't you initially tell General Yang that those who assassinated you weren't Southern Tang rebels? How come you later told me it was definitely the work of rebels, and that the Prince of Beihai was involved? You asked me to go to the Prince's residence this morning to find out the truth, but then, coincidentally, a vegetable vendor came by on the way..."
(That's easy, last night when I got back, I had Long Wu sneak into the Prince's residence with a bow and arrows on purpose so people would see him.)
"I was afraid of Pai Feng—cough cough cough, I was afraid that if General Yang knew this matter was related to rebels, she wouldn't be able to resist joining the investigation. You know, General Yang works hard for the country, working tirelessly day and night on the border, often not even getting enough sleep. It's rare for her to be able to stay in the capital for a short rest, so let's not trouble her. If General Yang ruins her health, and one day the Liao army attacks, and there's no one in the court to resist, wouldn't we become sinners for all eternity? Isn't that right?"
Han Qi already knew that Fourth Brother and Yang Paifeng were having an affair, so this statement was understandable. Saying she didn't want to "trouble" was clearly just a way of wanting to find out the truth herself and surprise General Yang. Then she would only "love" Lord Tian Ding even more. Besides, since Lord Tian Ding solved the case single-handedly, no one in the Tianbo Manor would have any reason to oppose General Yang and Lord Tian Ding's affair. Lord Tian Ding's move was brilliant!
"As for the vegetable vendor just happened to see the rebel carrying a bow and arrow sneaking into the Prince's mansion, that's fate, fate!" Fourth Brother shouted a couple of times, then lowered his voice and whispered in my ear, "Think about it, the Emperor summoned me to the palace, and no one knows when I can come out, unless there are spies in the palace who can find out what the Emperor talked about with me and estimate when I will leave. Furthermore, the reason why your Imperial Guards arrived late was not because there were not enough people on night patrol, or because you, Brother Han, were negligent. Moreover, the location and time that the assassins chose to attack were exactly when your Imperial Guards were furthest away from there at night. Even if you, Brother Han, had heard the news and rushed over immediately, the assassins would have had enough time to kill me and then escape calmly."
"Brother Han, think about it carefully. Who else but Zhao Yunbi could have spies in the palace and know the patrol routes of your Imperial Guards so well? As the leader of the Prince's faction, it would be incredibly easy for him to investigate the Imperial Guards' patrol routes! And those assassins last night were willing to risk their lives to kill me. What kind of people or organizations could train such killers besides the remnants of the Southern Tang? So I wondered if the Prince of Beihai was colluding with rebels to eliminate me, his trusted confidant who had repeatedly thwarted his plans and opposed him. That's why I invited you here this morning." I was preparing for a three-way confrontation to get to the Prince of Beihai to clarify things, but fate had other plans. Zhao Yunbi's conspiracy was exposed, and the assassin who shot me with an arrow slipped back to the Prince's mansion and was spotted by a vegetable vendor. "Hmph, once the brothers find the evidence, let's see what Zhao Yunbi has to say!"

Chapter 306: The Great Battle

. Investigating this kind of thing, if it's "arranged" properly, doesn't require much effort. Like this time, when Brother Baoju brought in evidence, it meant we were prepared for a quick and decisive battle. We would investigate immediately, find it immediately, and turn the Prince of Beihai's mansion upside down. "You bastard Zhao Yunbi sent people to ambush Fourth Brother, fine, I'll ransack your house in the blink of an eye! And then I'll throw a huge bucket of dirty water on you, let's see who's tougher!!!"
Fourth Brother estimated that from the start of the search to finding it, it would take about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, which means he could avenge last night's "arrow" in ten minutes. But less than half a cup of tea's time had passed, and all the Imperial Guard brothers who went in to search had come out, with Pang Baoju leading the way.
"What the hell does this mean? This guy is so incompetent!" Fourth Brother almost cursed. "Search! Search! You should at least search thoroughly! Even if you brought evidence in, just throw it in a secluded room and then 'discover' it. You don't have to come out so early! Isn't this telling everyone you went in to frame someone?!"
Fourth Brother was furious, but before he could reprimand anyone, a cold laugh suddenly rang out from the gate leading to the inner quarters: "Lord Tian Ding, what a mess you've made! You actually brought men to raid my residence so early in the morning!" Amidst the cold rebuke, a richly dressed young gentleman strode out—it was none other than Zhao Yunbi.
"Oh, so Your Highness is here." Pang Yu laughed heartily as he walked over, but inwardly he was chilled. He had thought that this guy, who had arranged for assassins to attack him last night, would deliberately find an excuse to hide elsewhere to clear himself of suspicion, but he hadn't expected the guy to dare stay in the mansion. "So, this is what you call being fearless, huh? You're convinced that even if I come knocking on your door, I can't do anything to you!!! "
(On another note, since Zhao Yunbi was in the mansion, it's understandable that Han Qi's imperial guards were forced to withdraw and dared not continue the search.
)
The two stood facing each other, their eyes meeting in mid-air, filled with resentment and aggression.
"Lord Tian Ding, what's going on here?" Zhao Yunbi pointed at the servant Han Qi had killed and demanded sharply.
"What's going on? Hmph, obstructing my investigation, he deserves to die!" Fourth Brother shrugged, walked over, and suddenly, with a swift kick, struck the corpse, sending its head flying towards Zhao Yunbi. Startled, Zhao Yunbi scrambled to the side, tripping and nearly falling flat on his face. Blood splattered under his robes. Compared to his arrogant and cool demeanor just moments before, Zhao Yunbi now could only be described in two words: pathetic.
Similarly... Fourth Brother's face also screamed arrogance!
"Your Highness, don't blame me for not reminding you. The investigation of the remnants of the Southern Tang is the court's top priority. The Emperor has ordered me to assist Grand Commandant Gao in this case, entrusting me with full authority. Within Bianliang City, no matter who is a member of the imperial family, a hereditary noble, or a high-ranking official, anyone involved in the case is subject to investigation. Anyone who dares to obstruct will be considered defying the imperial decree and deceiving the Emperor!"
With the accusation of "defying the imperial decree and deceiving the Emperor" slapped on, even the arrogant Zhao Yunbi had to restrain his arrogance as the leader of the Prince's faction. He tore at his blood-stained robe and snorted, "Lord Tian Ding insists that I colluded with rebels and sent men to assassinate me last night. Before I could defend myself, he forcibly led men into the mansion to search it. This is utterly outrageous!"
"Outrageous my foot!" Before Fourth Brother could even speak, Brother Baoju jumped up. "Last night, Fourth Brother was attacked by assassins. So many people, including General Yang of Tianbo Mansion, witnessed it. One of the assassins escaped with a sneak arrow. And coincidentally, some commoners saw a man carrying a bow enter the Prince's Mansion at night—Your Highness, don't tell me that someone in your manor likes to go hunting in the middle of the night?"
Zhao Yunbi was an expert at framing people. Hearing this, how could he not know that this was a blatant frame-up? What "a man carrying a bow entered the Prince's Mansion"? That's just grabbing someone off the street and bribing them to say that—no, if this matter escalates, the witnesses will definitely be interrogated. If he lies here, the chances of being exposed are too high. This guy must have been instructed by Marquis Anle to send someone carrying a bow to scale the wall and enter the Prince's Mansion, and then deliberately let a vegetable vendor see him!
He's not a landlord who sits and waits to be slaughtered. He immediately sneered, "Lord Tian Ding, if I remember correctly, not long ago, you strongly testified during the joint trial by the three judicial authorities that Lord Bao had misjudged my collusion with the rebels. How come you're bringing this up again now, overturning your own conclusion?"
Fourth Brother had anticipated this, and slowly smiled, "Yes, at that time, Your Highness might have truly had nothing to do with the rebels. However, after that, Your Highness, in accordance with the 'Three Laws,' transferred many of the Prince Party's properties to my Marquis. Members of the Prince Party also faced numerous restrictions when going out to spend money. In addition, Your Highness, in order to save your life, betrayed your kinsman Zhao Shiqing, which caused widespread resentment within the Prince Party. It's hard to guarantee that Your Highness wouldn't harbor resentment and collude with the rebels to take my Marquis's life..."
"This is slander!" Zhao Yunbi roared.
"Yes, that's why I asked Captain Han of the Imperial Guard to help investigate, fearing I might frame Your Highness. Oh, and by the way, there's something I need to tell Your Highness. The
Emperor has decreed that Lord Bao is reinstated to his original position, appointed as a Privy Council Academician and concurrently in charge of all affairs in Bianliang. The matter of the remnants of the Southern Tang will be thoroughly investigated again. Your Highness, you should be prepared. Your mansion might be raided by constables from Kaifeng Prefecture every day from now on. This time, I'm letting your men familiarize themselves with the 'business,' so they know how to avoid losing their heads when investigated. With experience, no one will die next time, hahahahaha—hahahahahaha!" Pang Yu laughed unrestrainedly. Zhao Yunbi's face turned from white to green, then from green to black, and finally almost turned purplish-red.
"Pang Si, don't be so arrogant!" he shouted, pointing at Pang Yu, gradually losing his composure.
"Am I arrogant? No way, I think I've been quite restrained.
" Fourth Brother chuckled, secretly calculating that since Zhao Yunbi was in the manor, framing him wouldn't work. If he were exposed on the spot, it would only cause him trouble. But he'd just killed a gatekeeper; he couldn't swallow the anger from last night. What to do?
Fourth Brother had a brilliant plan!
"Your Highness, after all this talk, are you going to let me search, or not?" he asked with a smile.
Zhao Yunbi replied with a dark face, "Hmph, how can you just find a vegetable vendor and claim to have seen some rebel assassin to search everywhere!"
"Oh dear, Your Highness admits to being a rebel assassin!" Fourth Brother's eyes widened. "This villager selling vegetables clearly saw a man in black carrying a bow, but he didn't say who it was. Your Highness immediately asserted that it was an assassin sent by the rebels. It seems there really is something to it."
"You!!!"
"Your Highness, you don't need to say more. Explanation is just a cover-up, a cover-up is just an implication, and an implication means: Your Highness did indeed collude with the rebels, ordering them to ambush me and take my life."
Zhao Yunbi was usually quite eloquent, but in front of Fourth Brother's sharp tongue, he was simply child's play. After a few words, he was choked to the point of almost vomiting blood.
Once a man gets angry, he loses his reason. This is his territory, where he has the most people, and he's used to being arrogant and domineering. Naturally, he'll yell "Attack!" and then the guards and protectors will all rush in, beating the person who angered the prince into a pulp—that's the effect Fourth Brother wanted. A group fight? What's there to be afraid of? We have Long Wu, and well-trained Imperial Guards brothers. How could we lose?
Violent resistance will make Zhao Yunbi look guilty no matter where he goes. Not to mention the Emperor has long disliked him and will definitely try to kill him when he gets the chance. He'll call his brothers to unleash a bloodbath, making the front courtyard of the Beihai Prince's mansion a river of blood! That's right, we need to teach him a lesson. Assassinating Fourth Brother will have consequences!
Zhao Yunbi was indeed furious. How could the high and mighty leader of the Prince's faction allow a mere servant to ride roughshod over him? With a flick of his sleeve, he pointed his halberd and roared, "Pang Si, you've gone too far! Men, tie up this audacious and lawless bastard and take him to the Grand Tutor's mansion to have his bastard master settle this score!"
"Swish, swish, swish!" A chorus of swords rang out in the courtyard. The Prince had spoken, and the guards, who had been too frightened to move, suddenly surged forward like ravenous wolfen, surrounding the area from all sides.
Seeing this, Pang Yu smiled and asked Han Qi, "Brother Han, look, these people from the Prince's mansion are defying the law. What do you think we should do?"
Han Qi's face turned cold: "Defying the law? Death without mercy!"
"Then kill them. To uphold the law and maintain order, a little blood is fine." Fourth Brother's smile remained bright, but the murderous intent in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.
Han Qi hesitated, raising his cleaver high above his head: "Brothers, charge! Fight to the death!"
An unprecedented battle was about to begin when suddenly, a melodious voice, like heavenly music, rang out from afar: "So early in the morning, are Lord Tian Ding and the Prince of Beihai training their troops in their mansion?" The words were so gentle and clear, without a trace of impurity, like a babbling brook in summer, softly flowing through everyone's hearts.
The tense atmosphere instantly crumbled after the voice rang out. Both sides, determined to fight fiercely, suddenly lost all fighting spirit, their weapons clattering to the ground.
Don't think this was a dream; it was truly happening right before Fourth Brother's eyes. Baoju didn't believe it, but when he turned around, he was instantly struck dumb, frozen in place, as if struck by lightning. Han Qi believed it too, but when he looked again, his cleaver fell to the ground with a "crack," and he stood there, equally stunned.
Zhao Yunbi was no better off. He stared blankly at the person, but unlike the others who stood there dumbfounded, he snorted coldly, his eyes burning with anger, his teeth grinding together.
Fourth Brother was the last to turn around. He was also surprised, but his surprise quickly turned into a smile, a very happy smile.
She actually came to the Beihai Prince's Mansion. Interesting, very interesting.

Chapter 307 Beauty Like Jade,

Number One Under Heaven Chapter 307 Beauty Like Jade
Below the main gate of the mansion. (Reader Bar) ★Net updates quickly (), complete novels★ Two charming and beautiful women.
The beauty on the left. Born with unparalleled beauty. Stunningly beautiful. Like a match made in heaven. Wearing a pink jacket. A light green pleated skirt. Her shoes moved lightly. The hem of her clothes and skirt. The fine pleats spread like water ripples. With the autumn wind, they fluttered behind her, making her even more graceful. Like a green wave. And her charming figure. Truly like a plum blossom blooming in the snow. Her beauty and allure were beyond description; the words "stunningly beautiful" were insufficient. She was truly a celestial being descended to earth. No one present would disagree.
She walked gracefully towards them, bathed in the morning light, her elegance and refinement even more striking. Her beauty captivated everyone, leaving them speechless.
It was Nangong Qin Yi! Nangong Qin Yi! Their goddess!
A moment of utter silence—no, not silence. Hearts pounded. The heartbeats of nearly a hundred people pounded like drums. The Imperial Guards, the Prince's guards, and even Bao Ju Ge and Han Qi—all felt their blood boil, their hearts pounding as if they would burst from their chests. But Fourth Brother's attention was completely unaffected by Nangong Qin Yi; it was fixed on another "girl" standing beside her, acting as her protector.
The "young girl" was dressed in a dignified and luxurious man's outfit, yet she possessed delicate features and fair skin. Her long, black hair, tied up with a hair ornament, was as dark as ink. Her face was a pointed oval shape, and her appearance was exquisitely beautiful. Walking alongside Nangong Qinyi, her elegant gait accentuated her graceful figure. She was as soft as jade and as delicate as a flower.
In terms of looks, this "young girl" was truly no less beautiful than Nangong Qinyi. They were like spring flowers blooming amidst cold trees, equally stunning. If she were dressed as a woman, she would truly be like a celestial maiden descended from heaven, not of this world. Especially her seemingly innate and magnificent aura; even Zou Xiyun, a descendant of Xiao Zhouhou, paled in comparison!
But don't misunderstand. What you see is not a pair of breathtakingly beautiful young women, but a woman and a man—what? A man? How could a man be so beautiful?!
Ah, even Fourth Brother doesn't believe it. A man can be so beautiful. But it is indeed true. The escort accompanying Nangong Qinyi was a man named Zhao Xuanhuang.
The handsome Prince Chen, whose beauty surpassed even that of a rosy-cheeked woman!
Xuanhuang walked with Nangong Qinyi, exuding an innate elegance. The morning breeze stirred his long, soft black hair at his temples. His flowing robes accentuated the delicate curves of his waist. His snow-white shoes were pointed and delicate. He was like a fairy. Even the fourth brother, who loved beautiful women and was completely averse to men, couldn't help but think: if Zhao Xuanhuang were dressed as a woman, he might even have the urge to pounce on him and kiss him!
And with the Prince Chen, more beautiful than any woman, and Nangong Qinyi…
Zhao Yunbi saw only jealousy in Zhao Xuanhuang's eyes. This man, from birth, was destined to possess unparalleled honor that no one in the world could attain. Fame and power were within his grasp. He was only one step away from the throne! And he, Zhao Yunbi, although also a member of the royal family… But he only had a father who was a Prince of Peace, not the indifferent Prince Eight who relinquished the throne to the late emperor!
Zhao Xuanhuang was born as the eldest son of the Prince Eight. The Prince Eight was willing to give up the throne. The late emperor and the current emperor trusted him implicitly. His eldest son, Zhao Xuanhuang, would naturally have no doubt about his ability to enter the court and wield power. The entire royal family would support him. The current emperor had no sons. After his death, he might even have to pass the throne to Zhao Xuanhuang!
And what about Zhao Yunbi? If he didn't strive and fight, he would only ever be a Prince of Peace.
What use is wealth and glory to a man? A true man should be able to hold power over the world and enjoy the company of beautiful women!
Zhao Yunbi held onto this belief, which is why he formed the Prince's Party to gain the trust of the royal family and create an opportunity for him to enter the court and seize power. Zhao Xuanhuang was an insurmountable mountain in his path. How could he not feel resentment?
"Yunbi, what's going on here?" Zhao Xuanhuang walked straight towards him. His eyes, brighter and clearer than a mountain stream, swept over the entire area. "Why are there so many people? Swords drawn. What are you all up to?"
A flash of resentment crossed Zhao Yun's eyes. He said calmly, "Oh? Nothing. Lord Tian Ding accused me of colluding with rebels, leading the Imperial Guards into my residence, killing people, and even wanting to search for evidence.
Well, my brother is here. Let him judge this. Does a sixth-rank servant have the right to arbitrarily enter my residence..."
"Seventeenth Brother, you're mistaken." Zhao Xuanhuang interrupted Zhao Yun before he could finish speaking. "Lord Tian Ding is no longer a sixth-rank official. The imperial decree issued this morning at court promoted Pang Si to a third-rank Tian Ding, appointed as an imperial envoy to tour the land on behalf of the emperor. This time, he will accompany the three most beautiful courtesans to Jiangnan to demonstrate the emperor's power and virtue."
Touring the land on behalf of the emperor?!
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Yunbi gasped.
What did "tourizing the land on behalf of the emperor" mean? Simply put, it meant acting as the emperor's double, inspecting various regions in his place. In more detail, wherever Pang Si went, it meant the emperor himself
would be there, and the entire Jiangnan region would have to treat him like an ancestor! A land of plenty, a prosperous region, overflowing with beautiful women—no, it was the three most beautiful courtesans accompanying him—he would be indulging in endless pleasures and romantic bliss. If he weren't enjoying the emperor's favor, so incredibly popular, how could a mere servant like him possibly have such a wonderful position?!
If Zhao Yunbi were a wise man, he would absolutely not continue to argue with Pang Yu at this point. Zhao Xuanhuang's words likely meant for him to swallow his anger and not escalate the situation. An imperial envoy assassinated before even leaving the capital would be a disgrace to the court and the Song Dynasty!
Zhao Yunbi was a wise man, but he couldn't swallow this insult. He and the Marquis of Anle could previously fight to a draw; how could he be trampled underfoot by a mere servant of the Grand Tutor's mansion!
He was furious, but not to the point of losing his temper. Zhao Xuanhuang's appearance calmed him down. He smiled faintly and asked seemingly casually, "Brother, what brings you to my residence today? And with Nangong Dayi? Could it be to inform me of Lord Tian Ding's appointment?"
Zhao Yunbi emphasized the words "Brother," intending to remind Zhao: we are both descendants of the Zhao family, and should stand on the same side. Why would he side with this servant instead?
"Seventeenth Brother. Xuanhuang is serene and rarely meddles in worldly affairs. This time, I'm simply stating the facts and not taking sides." The young prince, whose beauty surpassed even that of a woman, took a small step forward. His phoenix eyes were as still as water. "On my way here, news of Lord Tianding's assassination attempt last night has spread throughout the capital. Everyone knows that you, Yunbi, and Lord Tianding have always been at odds. It's understandable that Lord Tianding suspects you."
"A mere 'suspicion' is enough for him to lead the Imperial Guards to my residence, commit massacres, and even attempt to forcibly search it while I'm away? Brother, you are the head of the imperial family. You must stand up for Seventeenth Brother!" Zhao Yun was truly cunning, shrewd, and shameless. Seeing that Pang Yu was enjoying the Emperor's favor, his popularity soaring, he knew he couldn't avenge the attack on the Prince's residence, the killing, and the forced search. If word got out, it would be a disgrace, not to mention... His prestige within the Prince's faction was about to plummet. So he changed his tune, pulling Zhao Xuanhuang to his side.
Zhao Xuanhuang seemed to have anticipated this, a slight smile playing on his lips. He exchanged a knowing, ambiguous glance with Nangong Qinyi before speaking softly, "Of course. Lord Tianding also has his faults in this matter. This morning, the Emperor decreed that Lord Bao be reinstated to his original post, overseeing all affairs in the capital region. The task of suppressing the rebels was naturally transferred from Grand Commandant Gao and Lord Tianding, who was assisting Grand Commandant Gao in the investigation, to you. Lord Tianding must have known about this yesterday. Since you are no longer in charge of this matter, you have no right to mobilize the Imperial Guards to search Seventeenth Brother's residence. Am I right?" (The rest of the text is nonsensical
and appears to be a separate, unrelated comment.)
"You, Zhao Xuanhuang, came here to sabotage my future brother-in-law. Why did you have to drag Qin Yi into it too? Were you deliberately trying to embarrass me?
If anyone else had offended Fourth Brother like this, he would have slapped them across the face long ago. But looking at Zhao Xuanhuang's 'beautiful face' so close to his, he couldn't muster any anger at all.
" "Lord Tian Ding—" At this moment, Nangong Qin Yi spoke up. She turned her head slightly, first smiling at Pang Yu, then composed herself and gracefully stepped forward to bow. Her voice was clear and melodious. "You are a loyal minister of the state, promoted by the Emperor. You should prioritize the nation's interests above all else. Why not give the Prince some face this time? Let's let this matter pass—Your Highness, you too. Many members of the imperial family follow your lead. You should be modest and self-respecting, setting an example for the clan. Why argue with Lord Tian Ding?"
These words of advice, spoken by Nangong Qinyi, would surely have been accepted by any man. Zhao Yun, however, merely snorted, remaining noncommittal. His sharp eyes glanced sideways at Pang Yu.
"Fourth Brother doesn't care. I'll play along." He crossed his arms, chin held high.
Neither master was willing to yield. But their men had lost all will to fight. Looking at the elegant and ethereal Han Qi, the imperial guards, and the guards of the Beihai Prince's mansion, they all had only one thought: to recklessly wage war in front of Nangong Qinyi was a sin. An unforgivable sin!
Nangong Qinyi's beautiful eyes swept around, taking in the "performances" of both sides' underlings. She pursed her cherry lips, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.
"Lord Tian Ding," she smiled sweetly, like a peony blooming in the dead of winter, making the stars in the sky pale in comparison. "Qinyi has a favor to ask. I wonder if you would grant it, sir?"

Chapter 308: Qinyi, who seduced Fourth Brother,

has a favor to ask. I wonder if you would grant it, sir?
When a peerless beauty, whose beauty surpasses all others, asks you this softly and tenderly, her gentle smile like a blooming flower, like the sunrise over the eastern mountains, dazzling and radiant, surely out of a hundred men...
a hundred of them would have impure thoughts!
Naturally, Fourth Brother also had impure thoughts.
What favor is it? Just say it.
Fourth Brother chuckled magnanimously, "Qin Yi, you're being too polite. We're like family, right? Let's talk about it back home. Why bother in front of so many people..."
Before he could finish, Nangong Qin Yi frowned slightly, her beauty undiminished, but her voice was slightly cold, "Qin Yi and Lord Tian Ding are perfectly aboveboard; there's nothing we need to discuss in private."
(Oh, if we're not going to talk, why are you smiling at me? Aren't you just trying to use your beauty to seduce the innocent Fourth Brother and get him to let Zhao Yunbi off the hook?)
"Qin Yi wants me to back down?" Fourth Brother was so direct, asking right away.
"Qin Yi was simply invited by Prince Chen to his residence to discuss some musical instruments, and happened to stop by the Beihai Prince's residence on the way." Nangong Qin Yi's beautiful eyes swept over him indifferently. From the side, she appeared aloof and reserved, exuding an icy quality, but Pang Yu felt a strange, captivating charm in her eyes.
"What Lord Tian Ding wishes is none of Qin Yi's business. Qin Yi simply wants to..." Her cherry lips parted slightly. Her melodious voice, like a whisper in Pang Yu's ear, trailed off slightly, exuding an irresistible allure, yet without a trace of vulgarity. "Since Lord Tian Ding has been ordered to accompany us three beauties to Jiangnan, shouldn't you prioritize this matter and arrange all matters, large and small, for the journey south as soon as possible? Don't delay. Otherwise, if the important national matter of pacifying Jiangnan is neglected, Lord Tian Ding will be held fully responsible." Seduction combined
with demands!
Fourth Brother has finally realized a truth: the more beautiful a woman, the more cunning she is, and the more you must be wary of her. See? Just now, either he was resolute and of pure character, or he was so infatuated that he lost his mind and impulsively agreed to let Zhao Yunbi go—bah! Fourth Brother won't let this man who wishes him dead get away with it!!!
Offending Fourth Brother comes at a price.
"Your Highness." He directly abandoned Nangong Qinyi, the goddess in everyone's hearts, whom no one could refuse. He walked towards Zhao Yunbi with a cold smile. "You must give me an explanation for what happened last night. Otherwise, even if it goes to the court, I will pursue it to the very end!"
Fourth Brother spoke each word with imposing authority. If it were an ordinary villain, they would probably be terrified and kneel down begging for mercy. However, Zhao Yunbi was not so easily subdued. He took a step forward, raised his proud head, and glared coldly at Fourth Brother, who was a head taller than him. His eyes flashed with a cold light as he met Zhao Yunbi's gaze. "Since the Emperor has already issued an edict appointing you to investigate the rebels, what right do you have to search my residence without authorization!"
"Is that so? But last night I was, after all, an imperial envoy tasked with assisting in the investigation of the rebels, and the assassins attacked Lord Tian Ding, who was also tasked with assisting in the investigation—"
Han Qi understood immediately and quickly replied, "Therefore, seeking justice for Lord Tian Ding is the duty of every member of our Imperial Guard. Even if Lord Tian Ding is no longer responsible for suppressing the rebels, we, the brothers of the Longxiang Camp, will still obey Lord Tian Ding's orders!" His sword flashed, and the crowd immediately responded in unison, their shouts shaking the heavens.
Han Qi's men were the elite of the Imperial Guard, possessing exceptional qualities, abilities, and future prospects. Like Xue Rengui's eighteen cooks, each one was a talent, each with a limitless future. Otherwise, how could he have entered officialdom through military prowess, served three emperors, supported two emperors, and held power for ten years, becoming as famous as Fu Bi? People at the time said of him, "In the face of major events, he made crucial decisions, holding his official hat and tablet with composure, maintaining the stability of the nation like Mount Tai; he can be called a minister of the state!"
—These are all nonsense, because following Fourth Brother, Han Qi's achievements will only be greater and more magnificent than in history. And today, following Fourth Brother to cause a ruckus at the Beihai Prince's Mansion is the first brilliant stroke on his glorious official career!
Zhao Yunbi's face turned green with anger. Nangong Qinyi, who had been ruthlessly dumped, looked at Pang Yu with some surprise. She originally thought he was just a little clever servant who "did evil" everywhere and was lawless, relying on his master's power. But she never expected that so many elite members of the Imperial Guard would be willing to serve him!
(I really underestimated him before. This Pang Si, this Pang Si, he... really... really is not an ordinary man...)
Thinking this unintentionally, Nangong Qinyi's face actually felt a little hot. When she realized it, she suddenly felt Zhao Xuanhuang looking at her with a playful, faint smile on his lips.
The elegant, beautiful, and otherworldly Nangong Qinyi, at this moment, acted like a little girl, glaring at him angrily before quickly composed herself. In an instant, she regained her aloof and unapproachable demeanor, though a hint of melancholy inadvertently flickered in her beautiful eyes as she looked away, like a lonely fairy in the moon palace, lost in her own sorrow. Seeing
Fourth Brother's effortless composure and manipulation of his opponents, Zhao Yunbi's dwindling rationality and the gradual erosion of his confidence, and Nangong Ran's
subtle yet genuine changes in expression, Zhao Xuanhuang's beautiful phoenix eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light as he stared at Pang Yu's profile, his playful smile deepening.
"You can search, but..." Zhao Yunbi, true to his name, despite being repeatedly provoked by his fourth brother, could still suppress his anger. His livid face softened considerably as he nodded, replaced by a hateful smile. "However, only the Imperial Guards can search. Your men will stay obediently outside. And before the search, Lord Tian Ding must make it clear to me in front of my brother that if no evidence is found, Lord Tian Ding will compensate me!" Indeed
, this hit a nerve with his fourth brother.
Zhao Xuanhuang almost laughed, eager to see how Pang Yu would handle the situation.
His fourth brother dealt with it easily, rolling his eyes with a utterly shameless expression: "If we can't find anything, we can't find anything. Your Highness, you've cleared your name of colluding with rebels—oh, temporarily cleared it—isn't that enough?"
"That's it?" Zhao Yunbi glared at him coldly, asking coldly, probably already on the verge of another outburst.
"What else do you want?" Fourth Brother looked very surprised. "Does Your Highness want me to personally search the place a second time? Fine, since Your Highness has so sincerely requested it, then I will reluctantly agree..."
"Insolence!" Zhao Yunbi finally suppressed his anger, flicked his sleeve, and said angrily, "Do you think my residence is just some random family's house? You think you can just search it and leave?"
"You can't blame me for that. Someone saw a man in black carrying a bow climbing over the wall into the residence in the middle of the night."
"Based on the testimony of a mere vegetable vendor, you think you can..."
Before Zhao Yunbi could finish his roar, Fourth Brother retorted, "That Ren Youxian is a professional grave weeper, Your Highness. Didn't you also rely on his one-sided testimony to incite the entire city's people to submit a petition of tens of thousands of words demanding the Emperor execute my Marquis?"
Zhao Yunbi suppressed the urge to strike and said in a deep voice, "I am acting in accordance with the will of the people!"
Fourth Brother gave a heavy "Oh," and immediately added, "I am also acting on behalf of Heaven, clearing out rebels, eliminating traitors, repaying the Emperor's kindness, and being loyal to the Great Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Xuanhuang was about to vomit blood. Facing Pang Yu, he truly realized that his eloquence, which he had been proud of since childhood, was no match for this rogue servant. Reasoning with him was simply asking for humiliation, self-torture, and being a masochist.
There was no reasoning with him. Zhao Yunbi knew he was no match, so he decided to use force. Even a hero can't overcome numbers. The Prince's residence was his and the Crown Prince's faction's stronghold, full of guards and thugs. No matter how elite and capable these Imperial Guards were, they were only a dozen or so men. In a brawl, a hundred or two would be enough to overwhelm
him. He wasn't afraid of losing. At most, he'd just avoid these rogue servants (he was an imperial envoy, on behalf of the Emperor, and even Zhao Yunbi couldn't afford to offend him). What was it to a mere prince like him beat up a few ignorant Imperial Guards?
Would the Emperor really reprimand him for such a trivial matter?
Zhao Yunbi, feeling emboldened, was about to order his guards and thugs to attack and beat them up without hesitation when he inadvertently caught sight of Zhao Xuanhuang, who was watching the two sides confronting each other with great interest, his beautiful phoenix eyes narrowed. A surge of disgust welled up within him, a feeling of being treated like a monkey in a play. Although he was incredibly angry and jealous, he was still too young to openly confront this undisputed first noble of the royal family. He could only force a smile and ask, "Brother, since Lord Tian Ding insists on searching, what do you think about this matter…?"
Zhao Xuanhuang and Nangong Qinyi exchanged a glance, and Zhao Xuanhuang smiled nonchalantly, "I will not take sides." A slight upturn of his rosy lips revealed a refined yet wicked beauty.
With the person he feared most speaking up, what more could Zhao Yunbi possibly ask for? He waved his hand and shouted, "Listen up, all of you! Give these blind, troublemaking soldiers a good lesson!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the head guard excitedly yelled, "Brothers, charge! Fifty strings of cash for a broken head, one hundred for a broken leg, two hundred for a paralyzed one, and five hundred for a life!" He must have been used to leading his men in such wicked deeds; the way he shouted it flowed smoothly, and his eager, impatient way of waving his fists almost made Gong Qinyi burst out laughing.
Fourth Brother, too, longed to laugh out loud.
(Of the 180,000 Imperial Guards in the capital, apart from the Shence Battalion guarding the palace, Han Qi's Longxiang Battalion is the strongest and best-trained. Han Qi and his brothers are also the strongest platoon within the battalion. Even two hundred guards from the Prince's mansion wouldn't be enough to fill their teeth. Just wait and see the show.)
"Oh dear, the Prince is so ruthless, so arrogant! The Prince's faction always bullies others and acts like this, doesn't it?" Fourth Brother, fearing Zhao Yunbi might suddenly back down, kept trying to provoke him. Having learned his lesson from last night, he was wiser. He carried lime, silver bricks, and the Fish Intestine Sword with him at all times. If a fight broke out and he accidentally "injured" someone, cutting off a couple of their testicles would vent his anger from last night.
Anyway, he'd already castrated one earlier; casting another one wouldn't make a difference.

Chapter 309 The Emperor's presence made

a fierce battle inevitable. Both sides drew their weapons and kept a close eye on Zhao Yunbi, their hands behind their hips, ready to draw their daggers at any moment. As soon as the fighting started, they rushed in and chopped off his testicles. (
A great battle was about to erupt. The playful look in Zhao Xuanhuang's beautiful eyes deepened.)
"Attack!" Zhao Yunbi gave a single gesture, and instantly seven or eight men roared and charged towards Pang Yu. Fourth Brother gave a signal, and Long Wu watched coldly, unmoving.
Seven or eight men, seven or eight knives, were about to chop Pang Yu into pieces. Han Qi, seeing the situation was dire, drew his knife and bravely shielded Fourth Brother. But this was just a bluff. Zhao Yunbi didn't dare touch Fourth Brother, who was now "an imperial envoy, acting on behalf of Heaven." He only wanted to lure Han Qi out and cripple the captain leading the group.
—A snake cannot function without a head. If Han Qi was crippled, no matter how capable or elite the Imperial Guards were, they would only be trampled upon.
The guards of the Prince's manor were no pushovers. Having committed many misdeeds, they were experienced and their feigned attack was quite convincing. Han Qi, focused solely on protecting his fourth brother, had a major opening in his back. A burly guard with a menacing face seized the opportunity and, "Whoosh!" swung his blade heavily.
Han Qi, preoccupied with protecting his fourth brother, couldn't block in time.
"Whoosh—" Another sound, louder and more devastating than before. This time, it wasn't Han Qi who was struck, but rather his burly guard who was kicked away like a sandbag. Like
the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, the burly guard had launched a sneak attack while Han Qi was wide open behind him. Just as Han Qi could take advantage of his focused attack to deliver a follow-up kick from the side.
"My lord!" Han Qi was so grateful that he almost cried, never expecting that it was the Heavenly Sergeant who had saved him.
Fourth Brother nodded righteously at him, "It's only right, it's all for the country." Glancing at Zhao Yunbi, what else could Han Qi think? For the country—what a noble ideal! Suddenly, all his strength surged forth. With a roar, he drew his sword and charged at Zhao Yunbi, determined to capture this traitorous prince who had colluded with rebels, to serve his country.
Zhao Yunbi, accustomed to pleasure, knew nothing of martial arts. Seeing Han Qi charging towards him like a tiger, completely disregarding his status as a prince, and with his guards unable to stop him, he was terrified. His former bravado as the leader of the Crown Prince's faction and his royal bearing vanished into thin air. If it weren't for the watchful eyes of Zhao Xuanhuang, whom he hated intensely, and Nangong Qinyi, whom he had long coveted, he would have already turned tail and run.
"Quick, quick, protect me!" he shouted as he staggered backward, but the moment Fourth Brother, who had charged forward alongside Han Qi, unleashed his divine weapon, these well-trained strongmen could only clutch their faces and scream as they fell to the ground—no matter how skilled they were, one blow could take them down. That's why lime powder is called a divine weapon.
Five steps, four steps, three steps… one step, and Han Qi was in front of Zhao Yunbi. He didn't slash with his knife, but reached out to press Zhao Yunbi's shoulder, preparing to capture him alive. Fourth Brother, however, showed no mercy, his gleaming Fish Intestine Sword clearly aimed at his target.
Yes, he was going to stab him
in the balls. "Stop!" Before the knife could strike, a shout suddenly rang out from the gate. Han Qi instinctively turned around, but Fourth Brother didn't care. The momentum of his knife didn't increase but decreased, and in an instant, he was less than half a foot away from Zhao Yunbi's crotch. Half a foot
—a distance that can seem both far and near. In a battle between two masters, even a difference of just one-tenth of a foot could be crucial to victory or defeat. But at the same time, that one-tenth of a foot is a distance a master can cover in an instant.
Fourth Brother wasn't a master, but his ability to crush someone was undeniably that of one. In other words, in just a moment, the second eunuch prince since the founding of the Song Dynasty would be born under Fourth Brother's hand.
"Stop!" The command rang out a second time.
But two words were added before it, two words that even Fourth Brother couldn't stop:
"Stop for me!!!"
As the four words were uttered, the knife had already crossed the final half-foot.
However, Zhao Yunbi simply stood there, stunned. His face, besides astonishment and disbelief that Fourth Brother dared to publicly castrate him, showed no sign of pain.
Why was that?
Because Zhao Yunbi flinched. Just before the knife crossed the last half-foot, his manhood recoiled by half an inch in fright. It was that half-inch that preserved Zhao Yunbi's dignity as a man.
Zhao Yunbi's face turned pale with fright, not only because of the knife that almost castrated him, but also because of the shout "Stop for me!!!" In the vast land of China, the Great Song Dynasty, only one person dared to shout like that.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" He knelt down with a thud, prostrating himself on the ground, not daring to look Emperor Renzong in the eye.
According to the military system of the Great Song Dynasty, the highest commander of the Imperial Guards in the capital was the current emperor. To openly shout at the Emperor and order his men to beat the Imperial Guards to death would be a crime of treason!
"Your Majesty, I (Qin Yi) pay my respects to the Emperor and the Princess." Zhao Xuanhuang and Nangong Qin Yi also came over to pay their respects. Accompanying Renhuang was not only his personal bodyguard Ye Gucheng, but also
their spoiled little princess Zhao.
"Oh, this isn't the imperial court, no need for such formalities." Emperor Renzong personally helped Zhao Xuanhuang up, demonstrating his respect for this truly first noble young master among the imperial clan (Zhao Yunbi was merely a pseudo-"first"). Zhao also went over to help the gracefully bowing Nangong Qinyi, saying with a sweet smile, "Sister, please rise. My brother the Emperor took me out of the palace to play and just happened to stop by. There's no need for any formalities." Today, she wore a light yellow silk dress, her pretty face flushed, as if it could drip water if pinched (Zhao Yunbi was merely a pseudo-"first"). Her hair was not adorned with any superfluous pearl ornaments, only two small, round, crystal-clear pearls dangling below her ears. She nestled against Nangong Qinyi's slender hand like a little bird, and anyone who didn't know better would think she was an innocent, charming, and adorable young girl.
"Your subject Pang Si greets Your Majesty—" Fourth Brother sheathed his knife and followed suit to pay his respects. This was in public, with dozens of eyes watching. He couldn't greet his brother-in-law, the Emperor, with a frivolous smile like he did in the Imperial Study. Otherwise, it would be too lawless and ruin his image as a loyal and righteous minister.
Emperor Renzong didn't even glance at him, walking up to Zhao Yunbi with a faint smile: "Yunbi, what are you doing? Are you training your troops in your residence? You have so much free time to practice with my imperial guards?"
If he had rebuked him angrily, it would have been fine, but this forced smile only revealed his inner anger. Zhao Yunbi knelt on the ground, fearing that the entire process had been seen by the emperor, exposing his ambition to disregard the court and the army. He was terrified and sweating profusely, repeatedly explaining, "No, no, nephew, I just... just..."
Before he could think of an excuse, his fourth brother had already shouted, "Your Majesty is wise and sagacious. Your incognito visit, your understanding of the people's hearts, and your ability to distinguish between treacherous and sycophantic officials are truly the actions of a sage ruler throughout the ages, a model for future generations. Long live the Emperor! Your Majesty..." Before his
fourth brother could finish shouting, Emperor Renzong turned around with a "whoosh."
"And you, Pang Si! I have already dismissed you from your post, yet you still dared to privately mobilize the Imperial Guards and search the residences of royal family members without authorization! You are utterly audacious!" The emperor's brother-in-law, with a stern face, began to use the art of imperial control, punishing both sides equally, scaring Zhao Yunbi and then his fourth brother. "
Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with Lord Tian Ding!" Han Qi actually took the blame for his fourth brother, kneeling on the ground and bravely raising his head, "It was this humble general who, seeing the attack on the Tian Ding, was outraged and led his brothers to the Prince's residence to find the traitors and seek justice for Lord Tian Ding." He was just a lowly captain, a minor military officer, yet he dared to take responsibility before the current emperor. Not only was his fourth brother surprised, but even his emperor brother-in-law was greatly astonished.
"You... are from the Longxiang Camp?" He stared at Han Qi for a few seconds and asked.
"Yes, this humble general is Han Qi, serving under General Zou in the Longxiang Camp..."
Emperor Renzong glanced at him a few times, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, from now on, you no longer need to stay in the Longxiang Camp."
Upon hearing this, Han Qi's whole body trembled violently, frozen in place as if struck by lightning.
You no longer need to stay in the Longxiang Camp.
Ruined, just those words, his entire life was ruined. The Emperor's golden words, ordering him to leave the Longxiang Camp, meant stripping him of his military rank and demoting him to a commoner!
"What, are you not satisfied?" Emperor Renzong snorted, staring at his pale face.
"This humble general..." Han Qi gritted his teeth, his eyes red, taking a few quick breaths, but he didn't defend himself, bowing his head and choking out, "This humble general is guilty, I accept the punishment!"
"Your Majesty, this is my responsibility, you cannot blame Lord Han." Fourth Brother wasn't the kind of scoundrel who would make a mess and then have someone else take the blame; he stood up abruptly and took all the blame himself.
"My lord!" Han Qi was moved to tears, almost kneeling down on the spot.
"Brother Han!" Fourth Brother was equally moved, his eyes red, and pressed Han Qi's shoulder. "What you did was all on my orders. I will take full responsibility. You are a righteous man of the Song Dynasty, a loyal subject of the country. You cannot be punished. Demotion, dismissal, or being reduced to a commoner—I will bear it!" "
My lord!" Han Qi called out again. This tough man's eyes were actually moist. Yes, at this moment, he was determined to follow Fourth Brother, serving him faithfully until death!
"Han Qi—" Fourth Brother didn't have time to finish speaking when his brother-in-law, the Emperor, spoke up. "
This humble general—no, this commoner, this commoner is here." Han Qi hurriedly prostrated himself.
Emperor Renzong stared at him for a while, stroking his mustache in a lewd manner, but his words were astounding: "I had long heard from General Huyan, the Commander of the Palace Guard, that there was a captain named Han Qi in his Longxiang Battalion, shrewd, capable, and utterly loyal. Seeing him today… well, indeed. I hereby appoint you as a Xiaoqiwei (銀骑尉), with the rank of a fifth-grade official. This time,

Emperor Pang

Si is on a hunting expedition, accompanied by Princess Anle and the three most beautiful courtesans, on imperial orders to travel south. You will lead three hundred imperial guards to escort them along the way. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you responsible!"
The Emperor's brother-in-law's words stunned everyone present.
Xiaoqiwei!?
A fifth-grade official!?
This must be a joke!
Don't be fooled by the seemingly small difference between "first" and "second." Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, aside from the fourth brother and a bunch of hereditary nobles and officials, no one else of Han Qi's age has ever jumped from a seventh-rank colonel to a fifth-rank cavalry captain!
The fifth rank is a title. A military officer of that rank could be appointed as a commander, militia commander, or prefect of various states. In today's terms, that's equivalent to a high-ranking military officer, a major general! The cavalry captain was originally only a sixth-rank official. Emperor Renzong gave Han Qi a half-rank promotion. That means a colonel with only a dozen or so men suddenly became a high-ranking officer capable of commanding at least one state's troops.
First, he was dismissed. Then… the emperor's move was lewd!
I almost cried out, but Emperor Renzong's harsh treatment left me speechless, secretly gloating. Zhao Yunbi, who had been thinking, "I'll get my comeuppance when I'm old," was utterly dumbfounded. What a joke!
They were supposed to be "punished" equally, but instead of punishing him and Pang Si, he was given a minor official position as a captain in the Imperial Guard, and even assigned to be Pang Si's bodyguard. Wasn't this compensation?!
"Your Majesty!" Zhao Yunbi protested angrily, pointing at Qi. "This man is just a captain, a low-ranking officer. His abilities are unknown, and he has no frontline combat experience. How could he be promoted three ranks from the seventh grade..."
"Who told you that the captain's 'abilities are unknown'?" Emperor Renzong's face hardened.
"This... he's merely a patrol captain. He only has a dozen or so men under his command. He's only been in the army for a few years, so even if he had the talent to lead troops, I can't see it now..."
Emperor Renzong coldly interrupted him: "I asked the Commander of the Palace Guard (the highest commander of the central government's direct forces), Lord Huyan, who is qualified to escort Pang Si on his imperial tour south. Lord Huyan strongly recommended General Yang (the Fire Marshal's sister). I then asked who could serve as his deputy. Lord Huyan suggested Han Qi."
"I don't know this person. So I asked why. Lord Huyan's exact words were..."
Emperor Renzong paused. He looked Han Qi up and down and slowly said: "Han Qi is a man of great ambition from a young age. He is dignified and taciturn. He is pure in nature, loyal and respectful. He is studious and diligent, well-versed in archery and horsemanship, and well-versed in military strategy. He has the demeanor of a scholar-general. Considering the 100,000 soldiers of the Imperial Guard in the capital, his talent should be ranked first!"
Even Zhao Xuanhuang was a little surprised. He originally thought Han was just lucky. Relying on the Emperor's favor towards Pang Yu, he rose to prominence. Unexpectedly, the usually taciturn and strict Commander of the Palace Guard, Huyan Shouxin, held him in such high regard.
"That's for sure," Fourth Brother said, rubbing his nose. He thought of the five great ministers of the Song Dynasty: Ouyang Xiu and Wang Anshi, who managed internal affairs, implemented reforms, and administration; Di Qing, who managed external affairs, pacifying the four directions; and Han Zhongyan, a scholar and a civil official, who commanded troops and were renowned for their achievements. The court relied on them as a bulwark, and the world called them "Han and Fan!" (
My plan to cultivate the backbone of the Song Dynasty... the first batch of underlings is almost complete!)
"With Han in the army, the Western Xia tremble with fear. With Fan in the army, the Western Xia are terrified." Thinking this, Fourth Brother began humming a song. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew behind him. He quickly dodged.
"Whoosh—" A kick came straight at his buttocks from behind. The little princess missed.
"Are you stupid?" she asked, staring with her big, round, dark eyes.
"Nothing. Just... hehehe." Fourth Brother scratched his head, smiled at her, and said ambiguously, "I'm thinking about how to play with the princess along the way."
"Playing" has many meanings. It could mean going out to play. It could mean playing in bed. The innocent Fourth Brother, of course, wanted to accompany the princess to Jiangnan for sightseeing and fun. But the lewd and vulgar Zhao Yunbi immediately had a different idea. He also thought that the relationship between the little princess and Pang Si was a bit unusual. He thought that if this "playing" trip turned into him becoming the princess's consort, how would he get revenge later? Don't be fooled by the faction of princes who wield power in the capital. They seem very powerful (and in fact they are). But if Fourth Brother became the husband of the emperor's most beloved sister and the most unruly princess of the Song Dynasty, who would dare to touch him? And who would touch him?
Zhao Yunbi was so anxious that smoke was rising from his head. He shouted urgently, "Go! The princess is of noble birth, and... and is still unmarried. How can she follow a mere servant like Pang Si down to Jiangnan..."
"Smack!" Before he could finish, a small foot flew over.
It was a princess, of course. Kicking people was commonplace for her. The prince kicked just as hard.
Zhao Yunbi didn't have his fourth brother's quick reflexes, so naturally he was kicked. However, he still had a few loyal subordinates. Zhao's kick was fast,
its speed and power no less than that of a martial arts master. Wang Fu
Dafu bravely stepped in front of his master, intending to take the blow for him, to show his unwavering loyalty and gain his master's trust.
Yes, indeed. He took the kick, a solid blow from the little princess. Then, he was sent flying, crashing into Zhao Yunbi with a thud, both of them falling face-first into the mud.
"Master...I...I didn't...do it on purpose..." His attempt to plead loyalty failed, only making his master even more embarrassed. Zhao Defu panicked, frantically trying to get up. "Smack!" Another blow sent Zhao Defu tumbling down with him.
"You audacious dog! What are you? How dare you challenge this princess!" Daring to oppose the little princess's outing, Zhao Defu, who had been eagerly awaiting her turn, exploded. Her snow-white, jade-like little finger poked Zhao Defu's face. The haughty aura cultivated over time instantly emanated from her pretty face. A cold, fierce light flashed in her dark eyes. Before Zhao Defu could kneel in apology,
another kick landed on his face. This time, he flew sideways, crashing to the ground with blood streaming down his face.
Yes, Zhao Defu was now a raging tiger cub, baring its sharp fangs. And Zhao Defu, tragically, had taken his master's place. He became the prey, brutally violated by the little princess.
Zhao Yunbi's face was extremely ugly.
Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner. This wasn't beating a dog; it was beating him! But it was his dog. It had merely blocked the little princess's kick!
What could Zhao Yunbi do? What could he do? Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to confront the emperor's most beloved sister, the most honored prince of the Song Dynasty. Instead, he angrily rebuked his subordinate, who was almost beaten beyond recognition: "Nonsense! The princess and I are just joking. What are you, a mere servant, doing blocking her way? Get out!"
Pity Zhao Defu, who had failed to prove his loyalty and was even scolded after being beaten. He didn't even have the strength to crawl anymore, lying on the bed groaning in pain. The princess was still not satisfied—she probably remembered that this guy had bribed Douzi to secretly monitor her. With a stomp of her little foot, she jumped up and kicked him in the face. The kick sent Zhao Defu flying like a kite with a broken string, flying a long way with the wind. When he crashed onto the bed, everyone present clearly heard the sound of bones breaking. Fourth Brother, Zhao Xuanhuang, and Nangong Qinyi already knew how fierce she was, so it was fine. Han Qi and his gang of brothers were completely dumbfounded. They were stunned and could not believe that this little girl who was more hateful and ferocious than them when she beat people was actually the noble and elegant little princess that the emperor's own sister had imagined.
"Hmph. You dog. You deserve to be beaten to death!" Zhao proudly raised her round and delicate chin, looking smugly at the group of dumbfounded men around her. A smug, boastful smile played on her lips. She then strode over to Pang Yu's side, her head held high, pouting her rosy lips. "Hmph. If I don't have a good time on this trip to Jiangnan, your fate will be the same as his!"
Given the situation, what could Zhao Yunbi say? Refuse? He might really become the next Zhao Defu. But giving in to a little girl wasn't his style.
"Princess, rest assured. This trip to Jiangnan will surely make you linger," he readily agreed. But then he added, "But I'm afraid someone... hehehe, will deliberately cause trouble along the way, intentionally ruining your fun." He said this, his eyes clearly fixed on Zhao Yunbi.
Zhao Yunbi was so angry he wanted to pounce on him, even bite him to the death. But he couldn't, especially in front of the Emperor and the little princess. He could only force a smile: "No, absolutely not. We all want the princess to have a good time. Who
would dare disturb her? Lord Tian Ding's journey south will surely be smooth sailing." His hatred for Pang Yu only intensified. The words "smooth sailing" couldn't hide the threat. Emperor Renzong understood, but remained silent, stroking his mustache with a lewd grin. He let Pang Yu threaten him, shrugging casually: "That's right. Only a stupid pig and a brain-dead idiot would do such a despicable thing, even having a son who's castrated. Right, Your Highness?"
Zhao Yunbi gritted his teeth in hatred, but could only agree: "Yes, yes. Lord Tian Ding is right." He secretly thought, "Pang Si, don't leave the capital. If you do, even if your son is castrated, I'll have someone kill you halfway there!
" "Alright!" Emperor Renzong swept his sleeve, ending the standoff.
"Yunbi, you just spoke of how you would deal with the Imperial Guards. It was a moment of anger, an unintentional mistake. I will not pursue it," Emperor Renzong reassured him. Then he immediately turned to Pang Yu and said in a deep voice, "As for you, I have something to discuss with you privately."

(Chapter 311: Another Slap on Zhao Yunbi's Shoulder

)
Emperor Renzong spoke solemnly.
Therefore, it was only natural that Zhao Yunbi would offer up his space for the Emperor to have a private talk with his mortal enemy.
Although he desperately wanted Pang Si dead, the sooner the better, as the entire Beihai Prince's mansion would celebrate his death, the arrogant Zhao Yunbi in the capital could only obediently comply, "lending" the most elegant and quiet study in his mansion to the Emperor, even knowing that the discussion was likely aimed at him.
He could only obediently let the Emperor and Pang Si "discuss" their plans.
"Your Majesty," the fourth brother exclaimed, jumping up and urging, "you've long disliked Zhao Yunbi and the Prince's faction, haven't you? Why not take this opportunity to imprison Zhao Yunbi and punish him severely, so he won't be so obsessed with seizing power and ruling the world?" Before the emperor's brother-in-law could even speak, the fourth brother continued, his voice trembling with urgency.
The emperor's brother-in-law glared at him. "Impeach him? Humph, strip him of his title and execute him, is that it?"
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is brilliant! Brilliant! This plan is decisive and swift, a permanent solution. It is truly the judgment of an emperor, the strategy of a ruler. I admire you, I prostrate myself before you, I bow down in reverence, I shout 'Long live the Emperor!'"
"Screw you!" Emperor Renzong slapped him across the face, which his fourth brother dodged, of course. He stared in astonishment at his angry brother-in-law, the Emperor. "Brother-in-law, what are you doing? We're relatives. You're my brother-in-law, my elder brother-in-law, and I'm your younger brother-in-law. You can't lay a hand on me..."
Emperor Renzong whirled around, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "You're my younger brother-in-law, and Yunbi is my cousin by seniority. If I were to arrest and imprison him for such a trivial matter, what would my uncles, elder brothers, and princes think! The Song Dynasty doesn't belong to me alone; it belongs to the entire Zhao family, the Zhao family's empire. Do you think I'd abandon the stability of the empire and the peace of the people just to vent your anger?" "
It can't be that bad!" the fourth brother muttered, scratching his head, clearly confused. "It's just a show, arresting him and locking him up for a few days. To give a warning to the lawless princes."
"It can't be that bad?" Emperor Renzong frowned, his eyes blazing with fury. "The Liao Kingdom is invading from the north. Quanfu is causing trouble in the southwest. And there's Konghuan in Jiangnan, ready to rise up at any moment. If I rashly punish Zhao Yunbi, the imperial family will surely be thrown into turmoil. And some people with ulterior motives will take the opportunity to instigate rumors, causing panic in the capital. With internal and external troubles, the Great Song Dynasty will be in danger!"
"No, no, no." Fourth Brother shook his head desperately. "Qixiufang is already under close surveillance. Xi has followed me south home. Konghuan is practically useless in the capital. What 'people with ulterior motives' are there? Your Majesty only needs to use swift and decisive measures to throw Zhao Yunbi into death row, and then announce to the world that he..."
"I'm telling you!" The Emperor's brother-in-law slammed his hand on the table. His lewd expression was completely gone. "At this time, the capital is in chaos, but it cannot be in chaos. I will not do anything that could cause unrest among the people until the wars in the north and south are completely over.
" He spoke each word with absolute authority. The emperor's majesty was on full display. But no matter how I looked at it, Fourth Brother felt that this scene was very similar to when Li Hongzhang said those words to Sheng Xuanhuai in "Towards the Republic"—"The court is about to review the troops. Stability is the most important thing. "
Damn it! Brother-in-law, you are the emperor. You are the Son of
Heaven of the Great Song Dynasty. The whole world belongs to you. What are you worried about? Chop off Zhao Yunbi. Would these princes and nobles really give up their wealth and honor to rebel against their own family? "I have said... the Great Song Dynasty does not belong to me alone. The land and its people belong to the entire Zhao family." Emperor Renzong's tone suddenly softened, his gaze fixed on the boundless sky outside the window, his eyes filled with helplessness, sadness, and a sigh reminiscent of a young hero whose ambitions were never fulfilled.
Fourth Brother suddenly thought of something. The great emperor of history, Liu Che, the Han Wudi, a man of great talent and ambition, a ruler of both civil and military achievements, who created countless glorious deeds and whose name shines for eternity, wasn't he also constrained and worried about many things when he first ascended the throne? His mother, his brother-in-law, the late emperor's loyal ministers, and the Empress Dowager forced the ambitious Han emperor to sometimes act as a mere mouthpiece in matters of national policy…
Could it be that his brother-in-law, the emperor of the Song Dynasty who ruled the entire country, was also subject to some kind of constraint that he couldn't suppress, so that he could only turn a blind eye to Zhao Yunbi's attempt to seize power and rebel…?
—No way, his brother-in-law has been on the throne for thirteen years, and besides, his father isn't the kind of rebellious minister who clings to power and wants to usurp the throne. Fourth Brother, unable to understand, naturally continued to persuade him: "Your Majesty, even punishment has its degrees of severity. It doesn't necessarily have to involve arresting and imprisoning him. We can confine him to his quarters or have him reflect on his actions behind closed doors. This prince's faction has been too arrogant; we must teach them a lesson to uphold the law, rectify the order, demonstrate Your Majesty's might, subdue the world, and secure China's stability."
Truly, Fourth Brother had never flattered anyone like this before, but to deal with Zhao Yunbi first and ensure a completely safe trip south—lest things escalate halfway and a fire breaks out at home, causing time, mental strain, and self-torture—Fourth Brother was completely determined to go all out and grit his teeth to become a sycophant.
Even with his sincere flattery, his brother-in-law, the Emperor, still sneered: "The Crown Prince's faction is just as lawless lately."
"It's even worse than before. Should I lock you up too?"
Upon hearing this, Fourth Brother jumped up and down in a panic: "No, brother-in-law, I've already done my best to restrain them, but men, aren't they just looking for a dashing life and saving face in front of women..."
"Enough! My mind is made up. No need for further words. Even if you're eloquent, shut up!" Emperor Renzong didn't have time to listen to his nonsense. With a wave of his sleeve, he said decisively, "Listen to me. The most urgent matter is not for you and Zhao Yunbi to compete and try to use me to trample him underfoot, but to 'wipe out' all the remnants of the Southern Tang in the capital as soon as possible, so that the people of the capital can live in peace. Understand?"
"Ah, how do I wipe them out? Your Majesty, didn't you promise to leave the Seven Show Pavilion behind..."
"Stop playing dumb with me! You can 'fabricate' witnesses to drag Zhao Yunbi down. What's so difficult about staging a drama of the downfall of rebels in the capital?" The emperor's brother-in-law was so angry he almost kicked him, but refrained for the sake of his image. The fourth brother, of course, understood perfectly, nodding knowingly and grinning, "Hehe, that's right, that's right! I've been waiting for Your Majesty to say that. Now I can rest assured. Acting, harming people, framing, shifting blame—I'm an expert! Ahahahahaha—" His laughter was as lewd and obscene as could be. Before the emperor's brother-in-law could grab a cup to smash him, he slapped his behind and ran away.
The next day, at the morning court, Emperor Renzong issued an edict, launching a new round of investigations and crackdowns throughout the city, ordering Kaifeng Prefecture to capture all the rebels within three days, or else Bao Zheng would be stripped of his official hat and imprisoned again.
The edict shook the entire court; more than three-quarters of the officials... They all petitioned the Emperor to reconsider and not push Judge Bao so hard, but in truth, at least half of them were secretly gloating.
Three days to catch them all?
Catch them all, my foot! Bao Zheng wasn't a god. To find and capture all the rebels who had gone through two large-scale searches in three days, without a single clue, was simply an impossible task!
If he failed, great! He'd be back in jail! These officials secretly cursed him. Who told Bao Zheng to be so incorruptible? He'd offended so many colleagues. Apart from a dozen or so upright officials from the Lü clan, every civil and military official in the court wanted Bao Zheng to lose his post and go back to prison.
Indeed, Bao Zheng wasn't a god, so he investigated for two whole days without finding anything.
"What did you gain? Fourth Brother acted as a go-between, reaching an agreement with the Emperor. The court will temporarily leave the Seven Beauties Quarter untouched, but all its members will remain in the capital as prisoners in exchange for the young master's 'freedom.' If Bao Zheng were to discover and destroy the Seven Beauties Quarter at this point, Emperor Renzong's grand plan to pacify Jiangnan would be completely ruined.
Was Emperor Renzong that foolish? No. Even if Bao Zheng was incredibly capable, investigative, and skilled at solving cases, with the Emperor interfering, what the hell could he possibly investigate?
By the third night, Bao Zheng still had nothing to show for it. He and everyone in Kaifeng Prefecture hadn't slept for three days and two nights, searching every street and alley in the capital, not to mention the south..." The remnants of the Southern Tang dynasty were nowhere to be found.
It makes sense, considering the Seven Show Pavilion's current protector is the Emperor, the Son of Heaven of the Song Dynasty. How could a mere Bao Zheng, not a god, possibly understand the hidden secrets?
Bao Zheng isn't a god, but someone else is.
That very night, a man carrying a package arrived at the chaotic Kaifeng Prefecture.
The man was Fourth Brother, and the package contained evidence and clues about the possible hiding places of the Southern Tang rebels.
Indeed, Fourth Brother found the package; it was all thanks to him. Upon receiving the package, Bao Zheng immediately led all the constables of Kaifeng Prefecture, along with the Imperial Guards at his disposal, and rushed towards the north of the city. At a certain mansion,
when the army arrived, the house was engulfed in flames. It burned all night. As soon as the fire was extinguished, Bao Zheng personally led men into the ruins to search. They discovered an underground chamber, several corpses, Li's memorial tablet, and numerous weapons and clothing of the same type used by rebels who died in the battle of Fengling Pavilion. The initial assessment was that the rebels had engaged in internal strife, were suddenly attacked by another force, killed them all, and then set fire to the house in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Although it was hard to believe such a sinister thing could happen, it just so happened that at the very last moment of this final day, the remnants of the Southern Tang were in turmoil, and an unknown force took the opportunity to completely eliminate them. However, the evidence provided by Pang Yu was also... The physical evidence found at the scene completely proved that the charred corpses were those of the Southern Tang rebels. Bao Zheng could only report the truth at the court meeting the next day: the Southern Tang rebels who had caused chaos in the capital and unrest among the people for months had been completely wiped out, Bianliang was now peaceful, the world was at peace, and the people of the Song Dynasty could rest assured. In fact, this was what the court posted and "announced" to the people the next day. The truth was that after the morning court meeting that day, Bao Zheng, together with Lu Yijian, Yan Shu and other court officials, jointly submitted a memorial to the emperor. The content was lengthy, but in fact it was only one sentence.
—The remnants of the Southern Tang dynasty were destroyed, seemingly due to Zhao Yunbi's cover-up.

Chapter 312: Departure, Journey

to Jiangnan. The story goes like this: Bao Zheng accidentally discovered a half-burnt letter from Beihai Prefecture, almost reduced to ashes, with only the signature "Respectfully submitted by Yunbi" barely discernible in the ruins.
Previously, when they first suspected Zhao Yunbi of being a traitor colluding with rebels, the yamen runners of Kaifeng Prefecture had found similar "evidence," and not just one or two pieces, but many. But this time, however, the letter was unique in that it bore Zhao Yunbi's seal at the end. The seal was the imperial seal issued by the court to various nobles and relatives, impossible for ordinary people to forge. Bao Zheng, fearing he had misread it, dared not consider it conclusive evidence and ordered his men to investigate further.
What they discovered was astonishing: the large mansion that had burned down in the north of the city had once belonged to Zhao Yunbi, and had only been sold to a tea merchant surnamed Wang six months prior. Bao Zheng urgently ordered his men to find the merchant and demand an explanation, but they only found a cold corpse and a suicide note.
The note stated that the Wang merchant had lost money in the tea business. Having lost all his wealth, he contemplated suicide. But this year, tea prices had soared, the market was booming—what a loss!
Murder to silence him—this was a classic case of murder to silence a witness!
Bao Zheng, with his keen intuition, immediately judged that Zhao Yunbi had indeed colluded with the Southern Tang rebels. Because the Emperor had ordered Kaifeng Prefecture to solve the case within a limited time, he feared that the rebels' hiding place would be discovered, implicating him. So, he deliberately created internal strife, taking the opportunity to send men to kill all the rebels, burning their bodies and houses. To destroy the evidence and end it all.
Having learned his lesson, Bao Zheng wouldn't be foolish enough to rush to the court and publicly report the matter, making it public knowledge and causing a stir. He feared he might have made a mistake in his judgment, as the three-day deadline was fast approaching, and he couldn't afford to think too deeply. So he went to the palace to seek the Emperor's judgment.
Upon seeing the remaining letter he submitted, Emperor Renzong immediately declared: "Yes, that's right, this is the royal seal I bestowed upon Yunbi years ago. With this signature, the letter cannot be a forgery." "
See? The Emperor has already confirmed that the seal and signature are genuine. What else could Bao Zheng possibly be worried about? On one hand, he was following the Emperor's orders to post notices everywhere, informing the people that the rebels had been defeated and that they could now live in peace, hoping to boost morale and restore order to the capital as quickly as possible. On the other hand, he was secretly gathering people to investigate Zhao Yunbi, determined to bring this treacherous prince, who had colluded with the enemy and disrupted the government, to justice!
Of course, in the list of merits for suppressing the rebels, it was only natural that Fourth Brother, who arrived at the last minute to deliver the news, would be ranked first. Without Fourth Brother's information, even if Bao Zheng were a god, he wouldn't have been able to destroy the rebels' stronghold!"
Fourth Brother was a humble man. He always had been. At his repeated requests, his name was not included in the list posted to the public by the court. Instead, all the credit was given to Bao Zheng. This humble act earned him a good reputation in the court. Many ministers who had previously believed he had risen through the ranks by currying favor with the emperor changed their minds drastically—suppressing the rebels was a monumental achievement. If the emperor wished, he could have easily bestowed upon him a marquisate. Yet, Pang Si yielded it, voluntarily requesting his name be removed from the proclamation. What kind of spirit is this? This is selflessness and dedication to the country! Such noble qualities, such lofty beliefs—how many officials in the entire court possess such qualities?
Fourth Brother was selfless, giving up the credit. But the wise people of the Song Dynasty would not forget him. Less than half a day after the proclamation was posted, news began to circulate. It was widely known that it was Lord Tian Ding who truly found the decisive evidence and uncovered the rebels' lair. Lord Tian Ding relinquished the credit to Lord Bao!
The news spread rapidly, becoming the talk of the town in less than half a day. No one came forward to refute it, nor was there any official explanation. As the news continued to circulate, Fourth Brother's prestige soared once again. The people all felt that where Fourth Brother was, there was peace, stability, and their harmonious and happy lives—the Song Dynasty needed him, Pang Si. The people could not live without Pang Si!!!
Bearing the expectations and worship of millions, Fourth Brother should have continued his investigation, rooted out Zhao Yunbi, the "culprit," brought to justice, and executed him, deterring all those with ill intentions. But Fourth Brother disdained such "beating a drowning dog." He continued the investigation, a thorough one. To expose Zhao Yunbi's crime of colluding with rebels—that was Bao Zheng's task. It had nothing to do with him. The investigation was causing Bao Zheng a huge headache, and Zhao Yunbi and the Crown Prince's faction were also in a state of utter chaos. That was what Fourth Brother most wanted to see. What Fourth Brother needed to do now was to set off. To
depart.
To take half of his future harem south to the south. Three days later, the grand procession of the three most beautiful courtesans set off for south. Besides the three top courtesans and their personal maids, each in a carriage, there was also the little princess and Yang Paifeng, who was nominally responsible for protecting the princess but was actually Pang's personal bodyguard, as well as three hundred elite imperial guards led by Han Qi to escort them along the way. Fourth Brother didn't bring Xiuxiang with him, not because he didn't love his good wife and wanted to keep her alone, but because the main task of this trip south was to persuade Kong Huanqi to submit to the court. If the other side refused and a violent conflict broke out, the pure and innocent Xiuxiang, who knew nothing about martial arts, would be too easily endangered! Loving her meant not letting her get hurt; this was Fourth Brother's principle. Therefore, he would rather give up his tender moments with Xiuxiang than let her stay in the capital, in the safest place, the Grand Tutor's Mansion. When they left the capital, Emperor Renzong personally escorted them to Renhe Gate, accompanied by the entire court. The grandeur was no less than that of an imperial tour. When the news reached Jiangnan, the people were undoubtedly even more grateful for the emperor's benevolence. With Emperor Renzong's cooperation in the first step of maintaining stability in Jiangnan, the rest was up to the Fourth Prince. The latest issue of the *Great Song Dynasty Weekly* provided detailed coverage of the preparations for the "Three Beauties' Journey to Jiangnan," vividly portraying the court's extreme importance attached to it, the emperor's wise decision, and the past achievements of Imperial Envoy Pang Si. It sold a whopping 80,000 copies on the first day, making a fortune for the Fourth Prince before his departure. The back cover promised that the weekly would send a reporter to provide full coverage of the "Three Beauties' Journey to Jiangnan," offering the public the freshest and most detailed firsthand news. Zhao Yunbi was also among the departing party. Emperor Renzong hadn't punished him for what happened that day, and for the sake of stability within the imperial family at this crucial moment, he had even found another reason to bestow numerous rewards upon members of the Prince's faction. This made him arrogant, thinking that even the Emperor wouldn't dare touch him, and that he was incredibly powerful. During the farewell, he acted all refined and elegant, but his words were incredibly arrogant. In front of all the civil and military officials and the entire court, he said to him, "Lord Tian Ding, I am only representing the young members of the imperial family to wish you a safe journey south!" He emphasized the words "safe journey," his teeth grinding together. Could Fourth Brother not guess what he meant? The journey wouldn't be peaceful; given Zhao Yunbi's vengeful nature, he would absolutely not let them have an easy time. Sure enough, traveling with beauties should be such a romantic and pleasant thing. Four beautiful women: one he could tease, one he could have an affair with, one whose heart was almost in his grasp, and another who was already his private favorite, to be cherished by a benevolent ruler. Add to that a spoiled and fierce but still incredibly cute little girl… Seriously, while I wouldn't say the journey would be harmonious, it would definitely be joyful and fulfilling, with plenty of "sexual bliss." But Zhao Yunbi just had to sabotage it! For three days since leaving the capital, Fourth Brother hadn't slept a wink. He'd encountered everything imaginable: mountain bandits, thieves, robbers, and lecherous thieves stealing his lover's scent. Several times, he'd managed to trick the little princess into keeping Nangong Qinyi occupied, and Sister Paifeng and the Flower Fairy were exhausted and asleep. He'd carefully sneak into Zou Xi's room, strip naked before getting into bed, barely having time to even smell the fragrance of a perfume before the outside was suddenly flooded with light, and countless dark figures rushed out shouting "Charge!" "Kill!" "Steal the woman!"... It was like this every day. What was Fourth Brother supposed to "do"?! In three days, this had happened eight times. There were mountain bandits, outlaws, gangsters, and local gangsters, all eyeing either the large amount of gold and silver they were carrying (ordered by the emperor to be distributed as rewards to the prefectures of Jiangnan) or trying to steal the woman. These bastards are absolutely audacious! They dare to mess with a convoy escorted by three hundred elite Imperial Guards. They come in droves, one after another, dying and coming back, determined to keep Fourth Brother from having a moment's peace. In this prosperous and peaceful era, how could things have fallen into such chaos? It's no surprise that Zhao Yunbi bribed these people to risk their lives for Fourth Brother's unrest! Putting aside the frustration of not being able to "do" anything, the occasional robbery is actually quite interesting. Sometimes, a hundred or two fully armed men come, and Fourth Brother orders everyone to stay put, just protect the vehicles, and then gives Han Qi thirty of the least capable soldiers he could pick from the Imperial Guards to deal with them. This was a test, a test of Han Qi's leadership skills. Han Qi did not disappoint his fourth brother. Although each battle was fought on completely unfamiliar "battlefields," with the enemy holding the upper hand in terms of timing, terrain, and manpower, he always managed to perfectly withstand all their attacks, turning the tide and capturing these bandits and thieves in one fell swoop. Afterwards, the losses were always zero, with only a handful of soldiers wounded. "General Han truly possesses the talent to lead troops. Although these battles were small in scale, they were enough to demonstrate his strategy and tactics. His Majesty's entrustment of him with such an important task truly shows his discerning eye," said Yang Paifeng, a true master of military command and a seasoned strategist, after watching Han Qi command several fierce battles. His fourth brother, watching her curvaceous figure riding on horseback, pointing out the battlefield with her alluring beauty, couldn't resist the urge to ride over. With a fawning smile, he said, "Good wife, from now on, you'll obediently follow me and be a good Marquis's wife. Leave the leading troops and battles to Han Qi—"

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