[Wuxia] The Number One Ding Under Heaven (Complete) - 29

Chapter 204 Using Their Own Methods Against Them

Chuixue was terrified and panicked, his face pale with fright. He desperately wanted to fully express his fear to gain his master's sympathy, and if he could even get some compensation to calm his nerves, that would be even better, hehehe.
Chuixue thought smugly.
"Slap—" A slap sent him sprawling to the ground.
"Fourth Brother!" Chuixue covered his face, looking pitiful and aggrieved, almost on the verge of tears.
Pang Yu coldly glared at him: "Are you pretending to be stupid or are you crazy? Don't you know that the Yang family is the mortal enemy of our Grand Tutor's Mansion? We should be happy that people from the Yang family army have died. We should celebrate, have a banquet or something. What are you afraid of?"
"But...but...the Palace Commander's Mansion, which cooperated with the Yang family army to search for rebels in the city, also had people killed...some of them were former subordinates of Third Master (Gao Ya Nei)...a few of them died too..." "
What!?" Pang Yu jumped up, leaping three feet high, "The people who killed Third Master have messed with me!"
His roar was loud and full of anger, but there was a cunning glint in his eyes.
(If a few of our men don't die, how can we blame it on those beasts from the Prince's Party? Besides, those who died weren't any good; they were all scoundrels who ate, drank, took, and didn't even pay for prostitutes. I'm doing this to rid the people of a scourge!)
"Damn it, who's in charge of this? I want justice for our fallen brothers!" As the "acting" leader of the Prince's Party, Fourth Brother naturally had to show the demeanor of the eldest brother. This wasn't just about demonstrating to the entire capital how much Marquis Anle valued this matter, but also... have you ever seen the murderer himself who kept demanding the government investigate the killer?
"Kaifeng Prefecture."
"Let's go! First..."
Fourth Brother rolled up his sleeves and led the way out.
"Let's have breakfast first. Also, send someone to tell Third and Fourth Brother to wait at the Kaifeng Prefecture gate in half an hour. We're going to get justice for our brothers who sacrificed their lives for the Party!"
In the main hall of Kaifeng Prefecture,
Bao Zheng sat solemnly, his face... well, how to describe it? Old Bao's face was naturally dark. Now it's even darker, a black tinged with purple, and purple tinged with black.
"Sir, the crowd outside the yamen is growing larger and larger. Not only are there members of the Crown Prince's faction, but also many ordinary people from the capital. Last night's events have really blown up; even the common people are demanding an explanation from you, sir." This was the fifth time the clerk had come in to report. During this time, Bao Zheng, his face grim, had solved six cases. He had just returned with his constables after investigating the crime scenes, receiving a total of seventeen corpses…
eleven soldiers of the Yang family army and six guards of the Imperial Guard, most hacked to death, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. Only their faces were clear—for easy identification. The rebels' intentions were truly vicious; it was pure revenge, revenge for the covert searches conducted by the Yang family army in conjunction with various yamen offices in the capital these past few days! To kill is one thing, but to hang them at the city gates as a warning is clearly intended to instill fear and misery in the people, to severely punish the Song Dynasty!
And then… When Yang Paifeng handed these corpses over to the Kaifeng Prefecture… His expression was clearly strange, as if he were forcibly suppressing immense anger. Based on his years of experience solving cases, he knew it wasn't simply because his men had been killed by rebels! He decided to subtly inquire with Yang Paifeng. Yang Paifeng surprisingly replied, "Lord Bao, examine the body as soon as possible and find the murderer. The rest, the Yang family army can handle."
Ten years had passed, and Paifeng's expression was filled with clenched teeth as she said this. It had been ten years since I'd seen her face like that. Ten years ago, it seemed some young prince had harassed a maid from the Yang family who was out shopping. At the time, the entire Yang family was fighting on the border, and apart from the elderly steward, there wasn't a single man in the manor. When Paifeng found out, she grabbed a fire poker and stormed the prince's house, beating him until he broke his arm and limped, leaving him sprawled on the ground. He, who was then an imperial censor, rushed over to stop her. When he arrived, Paifeng had this expression on her face, while the young prince was barely breathing, seemingly about to die. He survived, but was left with a lifelong disability, needing crutches for the rest of his life. This incident caused a sensation in the capital and even reached the emperor. The reigning emperor at the time was Emperor Zhenzong. Upon hearing this, he not only didn't pursue the matter but also praised her, saying, "Who says women are inferior to men?" Paifeng became famous throughout the land. Later, during the campaign against the Liao Dynasty, she rose from a fire poker maid to become the vanguard of the Yang family army, the second most important female general in the Yang family.
----Paifeng has not shown that gritted teeth expression for ten whole years. Could it be... that another young prince is going to suffer?
Bao Zheng was a little confused. The deaths of eleven soldiers of the Yang family army were clearly the work of rebels. Everyone could see that, and after his repeated investigation, it was indeed the case. So why does Paifeng's resentful look look so much like it did back then?
Even Bao Zheng, with his abilities, couldn't figure it out for a moment. He summoned his clerk and said, "The case is over. Go and invite the Crown Prince's faction and the common people in to speak."
"I did, but they won't come in. They insist that you, sir, go out and explain."
"What?" Bao Zheng raised his head, his dark eyes flashing sharply. "Since you've come to my Kaifeng Prefecture, why don't
you speak in court?" "Sir, the Crown Prince's faction says they want you to give an explanation in broad daylight, in front of everyone, to the brothers of the deceased Commander's Mansion and to the frightened people of the capital. So they won't come in, and they're inciting—no, threatening—the common people not to come in, and they're all gathering at the yamen gate to wait."
Seeing his flustered and helpless appearance, Bao Zheng could only sigh.
"Sigh—!"
He couldn't even handle a bunch of low-intelligence Crown Prince's lackeys; this clerk was utterly incompetent!
There was no other way. The original clerk of Kaifeng Prefecture was dismissed along with Wu Gongzheng. The current one… well, he was specially "carefully selected" by the Ministry of Personnel at the behest of Grand Tutor Pang. He was chosen from a large group of elderly scholars who had only passed the imperial examinations in their sixties, and was even a distant relative of Prime Minister Lü.
This move was incredibly ruthless. Grand Tutor Pang wasn't placing his own people in power; you can't say he was abusing his authority or trying to seize control of Kaifeng Prefecture. The Grand Tutor was promoting scholars, proving to the world through concrete actions that studying the classics was promising, very promising. As long as you passed the exams, you could have an official position regardless of your age!
Someone who only passed the imperial examinations in their sixties—what kind of person was that? Someone who had become stupid from studying too much, knowing nothing but classical phrases and archaic expressions. Once they put down their books, they were half-brain-dead bookworms! Hey, you know what? People who have participated in the imperial examinations a lot are different; they're extremely careful and meticulous in their work—isn't that a good thing? Yes, it's quite good. While others can process a document in a moment, this "Master Zhu"... well, sorry, he has to read it five times from top to bottom, front to back, before he's finished. The reason, supposedly, is that he failed the imperial examinations because he didn't check his work enough times and missed the typos, a habit he developed ever since... Yes, this man is incredibly meticulous in his work, never making a mistake except for being slow. You couldn't find an opportunity to dismiss him and replace him. If
the master clerk is useless, what other subordinates are there? Yes, there are. When Bao Zheng was the Censor-in-Chief, he cultivated several capable assistants, but after his meritorious service in quelling the rebellion in Phoenix Island, when it came time to reward those who had contributed, the powerful Grand Tutor Pang, with a stroke of his pen, transferred all these people to remote border regions to farm and fish. You couldn't even accuse him of attacking a political enemy. Because all the transfers involved promotions. For example, one was sent to Lingnan to oversee farmland reclamation (a mid-level official from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection transferred to the provincial agricultural department head – a promotion, but that place is all mountains, so the reclamation will be slow). Another was sent to Bashu to oversee transportation (all treacherous mountains and plank roads, so transport everything). Yet another was sent to Yazhou… oh, that is, Hainan, to oversee drought relief (surrounded by water, you
're fighting drought). And yet another was directly sent to represent the Song Dynasty as an envoy to Japan. The current situation is that, of those around Bao Zheng, the military officials haven't been moved, but the civil officials have been completely stripped bare. No matter how capable Bao Zheng was, he's now like a wingless eagle – utterly worthless!
The Kaifeng Prefecture is now so poorly managed by Grand Tutor Pang that it's utterly lacking in talent—it's a disaster! Aside from this practically useless advisor, the only other official in charge of all government affairs is Ouyang Xiu, who can share Bao Zheng's burdens, and a great deal at that. But Ouyang Xiu is a top student of Prime Minister Lü, destined for a bright future; how could he possibly be relegated to a lowly advisor position in Kaifeng? Besides, he's on very good terms with Pang Si, a servant under the Marquis of Anle, and they're very close. How could Bao Zheng entrust him with matters related to the Crown Prince's faction?
"Alas—"
Bao Zheng sighed deeply. Now, he could only hope for a scholar recommended by his mentor, Wang Yanling. His surname seemed to be Dongfang… no… Sima… no, ah, it's Gongsun, and his given name… I think it's Ce.
Outside Kaifeng Prefecture, a large crowd surged. Some were princelings and their lackeys who had rushed there on orders from their "new boss," while others were still shaken by the two corpses hanging at the city gate that morning. A little instigation from Pang Yu's men had them all gathered at Kaifeng Prefecture, demanding an explanation from the benevolent Judge Bao.
Fourth Brother, so shrewd, deliberately led his unsuspecting brothers into the line of fire, even though he himself had committed the crime. Why not? It would be strange if they didn't. The Grand Tutor's Mansion and Bao Zheng were sworn enemies. By cleverly linking a bloody incident caused by Kaifeng Prefecture's negligence to the princelings (having once protected the guards of the Imperial Guards within the high cliff—wasn't that deliberately provoking trouble?), they were essentially kicking a man when he's down, inciting a group to cause trouble, using the situation as an excuse to deliberately make things difficult for Bao Zheng. Only if they didn't
do something like that would they feel guilty and suspicious.
"Hasn't the capital been peaceful all along? How could such a bloody incident suddenly occur? Lord Bao, you are our magistrate, you owe us all an explanation!"
"Lord Bao, there are rumors that last night's murder was committed by rebels from the Southern Tang Dynasty. Is this true or false? We also heard that they caused trouble and committed violence on Phoenix Island during the Flower Queen Contest, but the Kaifeng Prefecture suppressed the news to prevent us common people from knowing. May I ask, Your Honor, is this true or not?"
These were several loud-voiced "righteous men" specially recruited by Fourth Brother, standing on a makeshift platform in the middle of the road, shouting at the Kaifeng Prefecture. Of course, their aim was to incite anger and fear among the people, causing unrest in the capital. As the Prefect of the Capital, Bao Zheng would naturally not escape responsibility.
----On the surface, this is the Crown Prince's goal—very despicable and insidious, isn't it? No, Fourth Brother's real intention is to escalate things, just like how Zhao Yunbi framed him. What was clearly a trivial matter—the abduction of a woman—was repeatedly incited by Fourth Brother to create a public outcry, resulting in a petition demanding his execution. Fourth Brother's goal this time is the same: to escalate the situation, making it even bigger than before, until it's discovered that Zhao Yunbi was "colluding" with rebels. Then, would he have any chance of survival?
An eye for an eye, understand?

(Chapter 205: Escalating... escalating

it doesn't mean getting someone pregnant, it means causing trouble.)
Fourth Brother was determined to make a big deal out of the rebels' violent acts. He not only arranged for shills to incite the people, but also pre-selected reporters—a term Fourth Brother "created" in his own right, essentially "reporters" or "interviewers." Their task was to represent the general public at the scene of the incident, or to contact the parties involved, and to present the truth and its significance to the mass media, assisting the media in fulfilling its functions of observation, education, discussion, and entertainment.
These reporters sent by the *Great Song Dynasty Weekly* were elites carefully selected by Fourth Brother from over a thousand applicants. They possessed broad knowledge and strong writing skills. As for journalistic ethics, Fourth Brother only told them one thing: "Find trouble where there is none, turn small things into big things, big things into even bigger things. Boasting and exaggeration are acceptable, everything is necessary—all for higher weekly sales, all for higher salaries!" Only after grasping this point can one officially join the ranks of reporters for the grand "Great Song Dynasty Weekly."
Sure enough, the seven reporters present were all enthusiastically interviewing the people, determined to expose this major scandal of "Prefect Bao of Kaifeng disregarding the people's livelihood, watching them in fear without taking any action." They had even planned the headline for the next issue of the weekly—why were the people so terrified? They were demanding accountability from the Kaifeng Prefecture, questioning how such a case could possibly bring down the Prince's faction. But as long as the case remained unsolved, and no one could be found out, even if Bao Zheng had immense power, he couldn't clear Zhao Yunbi of suspicion as the mastermind. That was enough. One case after another, one bucket of dirty water after another—they wouldn't be afraid of not smearing these scoundrels.
Factional struggles weren't just about power, but also about winning the hearts of the people. Fourth Brother's move was to make the Prince's faction, the Kaifeng Prefecture, and the Yang family army fight like dogs. He, meanwhile, was happily watching the show from the sidelines.
The princelings had already gathered no fewer than two hundred men. Gao Ya Nei, Qian Shicai, and a whole bunch of hapless second-generation officials and playboys were all eagerly awaiting Fourth Brother's arrival to take charge. But the appointed time had long passed, and not even a trace of the Grand Tutor's carriage could be seen.
Yes, Fourth Brother had broken his promise! Fourth Brother, who always kept his word, had broken his promise!
How could this be? Fourth Brother, who always valued integrity above all else, would actually stand up his underlings?
Fourth Brother absolutely never imagined such a thing. *(/**He's just a bunch of trash, but if he follows him, he has to fulfill his responsibilities as the eldest brother. Brother Four carries that sense of brotherhood wherever he goes. But a huge matter has prevented him from coming—Fairy Sister has disappeared! Isn't this a huge deal?
After washing up, Brother Four first called Xiu Xiang to have breakfast together, casually asking her questions like, "Did you sleep well last night?" and "Did you hear any strange noises?" This made the girl blush again, and she sweetly told her sweetheart that she slept very soundly last night.
Then Brother Four took her to visit Fairy Sister. No, it was Xiu Xiang who brought breakfast to Fairy Sister. Brother Four followed along to show his concern. With Fairy Sister's skills, she single-handedly killed all the masters in the capital, leaving them pale with fear. Last night, how could someone not hear something from half a courtyard away? What happened? If I don't go with her, what if the Fairy Sister tells Xiuxiang? Wouldn't that ruin her perfect image of my older brother?
Of course. When I told Xiuxiang this, it became, "Big brother is afraid you'll get tired by yourself, so I'll go help too"—that's the truth. The absolute truth. For example, the heavy work of changing the Fairy Sister's clothes, wiping her body, and bandaging her wounds after removing her outer garments. Fourth Brother was more than happy to do it.
But unfortunately, when Fourth Brother eagerly pushed open the door to the Fairy Sister's room before Xiuxiang, it was completely empty. There was no trace of the Fairy Sister!
The room, which was filled with the fragrance of orchids and osmanthus, was empty. The pillows were neatly folded, the bedding was cleaned, and there was no sign of anyone having slept there. The dressing table was empty. Not even a hairpin was left. It was indeed deserted.
"Fairy Sister...she...she just...gone like that!?" Pang Yu stood there, stunned. A deep sense of melancholy and loss welled up inside him.
Marquis Anle was a renowned womanizer in the capital, having slept with countless women. Now that his fourth brother had taken over, his horizons had broadened even further. He had seen and slept with all sorts of beauties. The girls he had recently slept with (Hua Xiangrong, the little princess, Zou Xiyun, and the beauty in yellow) were all ordinary beauties. The emptiness and loss that lingered in his heart now was definitely not because the fairy-like beauty who had moved into his home and given him ample opportunities had suddenly run away and he could no longer seduce her.
"Fairy Sister is gone... her injuries haven't healed yet..." Fourth Brother muttered to himself, pushing open the window. The courtyard was lush with greenery, and a long bamboo pole stretched between two trees, hanging a silver-white night-clothes garment. It was almost a man's size, but the trousers were much narrower. It was the same garment Fairy Sister wore when she assassinated him. Although it had been washed clean, there were still faint traces of blood on the silk fabric at the shoulders, which made Pang Yuyi's heart ache. Damn
Mu Guiying, damn the Yang family, they caused my Fairy Sister to suffer such serious injuries. I wonder if her martial arts will be affected after she recovers. Damn it, I'll make sure you all die!
"Brother Pang..." Xiuxiang called softly from behind.
"Fairy Sister's injuries haven't healed yet, and she's already gone. Don't worry, she'll be alright protecting herself." Pang Yu gently stroked her head, offering tender comfort, but his heart was filled with worry.
The people he'd just killed yesterday, coupled with the publicity he'd arranged beforehand, meant the Southern Tang rebels' affair couldn't be concealed any longer. He feared a city-wide manhunt would begin before today. Where could Fairy Sister hide? What if she accidentally revealed herself… Fairy Sister was still seriously injured; surrounded by a group of experts, how could she escape!
He gritted his teeth, making a firm decision.
—Find her! No matter what, he had to bring Fairy Sister back!
This wasn't because he was possessive and wanted to keep a fairy at home to enrich his harem. It was because he wanted to repay a debt of gratitude, to see it through to the end. Repaying a debt of gratitude meant waiting until Fairy Sister was completely safe. Besides, he'd promised Xiao Yunyun he'd take good care of Fairy Sister; a man's word is his bond!
A man's word is his bond!
Fourth Brother had agreed with his underlings to cause trouble in Kaifeng Prefecture, so naturally he had to take charge. Although he had specially gone to Qixiufang to inform Zou Xiyun about the Fairy Sister's matter and asked her to send people to find her quickly, which had delayed him quite a bit, thanks to the fast horses of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, Fourth Brother still arrived at the scene before noon.
Good heavens! Fourth Brother had originally planned to gather two or three hundred people, but when he arrived at the scene, he was shocked to find that there were two or three hundred, more than two or three times that number, over a thousand people!
Since the boss hadn't arrived, none of the Crown Prince's faction dared to make a move, so they just waited at the gate. But the longer they waited, the more people there were, and the more they waited, the more people there became. Not only did they obstruct traffic, but they almost completely surrounded Kaifeng Prefecture. Occasionally, a reporter from the "Great Song Dynasty Weekly" could be seen interviewing people in the crowd, constantly taking notes and collecting firsthand information on the spot.
"Fourth Brother, you're brilliant! You're truly brilliant!" Gao Dawei and Qian Dajin, the two lackeys, saw Fourth Brother arrive from afar and slapped their behinds to greet him, bowing and scraping with fawning expressions.
Pang Yu immediately flew into a rage, raised an eyebrow, and Chuixue, who had been following behind him, jumped out with a whoosh. "Slap!" "Slap!" One of them slapped him across the face.
"Fourth Brother? You should call me Fourth Master!"
"Yes, yes, Fourth Master, you're amazing, you're truly amazing!" Even after being hit, the two men were still full of energy, covering their faces and shamelessly flattering him, "Fourth Master is incredibly resourceful and insightful. My young master waited for you for so long and thought you deliberately delayed him—no, I mean, I thought you were held up by something. It turns out you foresaw this all along, knowing that the longer they waited, the more people would gather, and the more Bao Zheng, that meddlesome official, would lose face. Fourth Master, you're amazing, you're truly amazing, you're practically the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang, the second Jiang Ziya..." Fourth
Brother hated being flattered and almost slapped him, but as the eldest brother, he had to maintain his dignity. Hitting his underlings was too undignified, so he suppressed his anger and asked, "What's the situation now?"
"What's going on? Oh, it's gotten really bad, a complete mess! Who told them to find such a horrifying corpse hanging at the city gate this morning, all bloody and disgusting! I heard some righteous people gathered at the Kaifeng Prefecture gate demanding justice, so they all came here, wanting Lord Bao to solve the case quickly and give the people an explanation."
Pang Yu looked at the surging crowd around him, very satisfied.
"Where's your young master?"
"It's too hot, so he waited a while and went to find a brothel nearby to relieve his heat. "
Just as Fourth Brother was about to curse, the sound of hooves suddenly rang out, and a cavalry of more than ten riders galloped down the street. Wherever they went, the already congested crowds retreated to both sides, avoiding them as if they were in a hurry. Anyone who was even half a step slower could hear the "crack," "crack" of being whipped, mixed with pig-like screams. "Holy crap
, is this some kind of cavalry that's so arrogant?" Pang Yu was slightly startled, thinking it was another member of the Prince's faction coming to their death. But when he looked closer, he was immediately stunned. It turned out to be a cavalry composed entirely of young girls. Knights, dressed in brightly colored, dazzling samurai outfits, appeared like clusters of colorful clouds drifting from the distance along the long street. They seemed to be competing in horsemanship, passing carriages and riders alike, arriving in an instant.
Leading the charge was a tall, graceful young woman, radiating youthful energy, with a crimson cloak, vermilion skirt, orange shoes and socks, even her riding whip was bright red.
Interesting! Fourth Brother's eyes lit up.
The Yang family army, it seems, is even more impatient than expected.

Chapter 206: The Lecherous Servant, the Yang Family's

Female Warriors! ?
No, no, no, this is... The female bandits of the Yang family, or the rebellious girls of the Yang family.
Aren't they? A dozen or so riders charged forward, completely disregarding the crowd blocking their way. Anyone who dared to obstruct them was attacked! They didn't even blink, their curses interspersed with vulgarities like "bastard" and "your mother"—words only used by commoners in this era. Weren't these a bunch of young rebellious girls?
Leading the charge was naturally Yang Yan. While her figure wasn't as fiery as the Flower Fairy, the tight-fitting warrior's outfit and embroidered gold belt still accentuated her curves, making her alluring and captivating. Her slender, graceful waist and full, rounded breasts seemed about to burst forth from her clothes. A pair of red flowing sleeves were bound by wrist guards, and her slender, alabaster-white hands, rounded yet beautiful, steadily held the reins. Her shapely legs, spread wide on either side, were encased in trousers and boots, revealing their smooth, graceful curves. Now, galloping at full speed, she radiated youthful energy.
The accompanying "female bandits," while not as beautiful as her, each possessed absolutely stunning figures, clearly the result of extensive exercise and relentless training (battlefield combat?). Pang Yu could hardly tear his eyes away, secretly marveling at the many outstanding women the Yang family produced.
Yang Yan galloped in on horseback. Her eyes blazed with barely concealed fury, yet her beautiful face still wore a proud and smug smile, as if all men in the world were only fit to be stirrups for her, Miss Yang. Men on the street, seeing her, all lowered their gazes, daring not to look at her despite her stunning beauty. The other man was about to fall off his horse and get covered in dust. However, the whip-wielder was a beautiful young woman, and her chivalrous heart made him spare her.
Yang Yan glared fiercely at her, cried out, and pulled back forcefully. Fourth Brother steadied himself and braced himself against her. This beautiful young woman's strength was truly remarkable. The deer sinew whip straightened instantly. Pang Yu met her resentful gaze head-on; their eyes met, only a few feet apart—the length of the whip plus two arms. When
Fourth Brother unleashed his power, the princelings rose up. However, they all watched from afar, none daring to approach. The other commoners fled as if seeking refuge, fearing being innocently caught in the crossfire.
With a sharp shout, the thirteen Yang family henchwomen following behind spread out in a fan shape, reining in their horses and surrounding Pang Yu in the middle of the street. Their synchronized movements were no less impressive than a well-trained army.
Yang Yan gritted her teeth, fiercely... She was pulling at her fourth brother. The steed beneath her stood firmly, its hooves like iron, completely still. Pang Yu was prepared to wear her down, to see who had more energy and patience. His thieving eyes, of course, didn't hesitate to scan Yang Yan—well, right in front of her, a normal look.
This young lady of the Yang family, who was confronting him, had a wild and arrogant air about her. Anyone lucky enough to become her husband, without the power of her fourth brother, wouldn't be able to control her; they'd be whipped and crying in bed every day. Both had fiery tempers, but Yang Yan's figure was far superior to the little princess's, most obviously... Of course, her most alluring feature was a pair of plump, voluptuous breasts, second only to the Flower Fairy in terms of sexiness. Her slender waist, barely encircling her waist, was devoid of any excess fat due to her extensive exercise. Any man who saw her would be abnormal if he didn't feel the urge to embrace and caress her. Miss Yang, already brimming with youthful energy and boundless vitality, now, as she exerted herself in the struggle with Pang Yu, her delicate skin glowed with a healthy, radiant red, exuding a unique girlish charm.
Having watched the whole thing unfold, Pang Yu, as was his habit, lowered his gaze, trying to probe the skirt. Unexpectedly, he suddenly pulled on the reins, and the warhorse, as if guided by an extension of its limb, retreated.
"Oh ho, this is strange. Miss Yang isn't satisfied yet, she's actually willing to stop?"
Fourth Brother didn't believe it a million times, and deliberately let go of the whip to let her lash out again.
"Hmph, this young lady has other important matters to attend to today, I won't bother with you, you wretched servant." Yang Yan's cute and proud, sharply defined lips pouted high, her phoenix eyes filled with disdain and disgust as she gave a cold glance.
"Go there!" She raised the whip and pointed towards the main gate of Kaifeng Prefecture. The Yang family's young ladies responded in unison, turning their horses around one after another. Yang Yan tightened the reins, her long, slender legs squeezing the horse's belly. The white horse had barely taken a half step when, without warning, she twisted her body, her bulging breasts, about to burst from her torn clothes, swaying in front of Pang Yu (a swaying breast, how wonderful!). The whip, which had been aimed at the horse's rump, suddenly changed direction, wrapping around his neck. If it caught, a slight pull would rip off Fourth Brother's head on the spot.
What a vicious, ruthless move! The "other important matter" was just a feint. Miss Yang's real attack was to personally strangle the
wise and mighty Fourth Brother. How could he let her succeed? He sneered, and with a slight dodge, he avoided Miss Yang's killing move. She was going all out, so Fourth Brother didn't need to hold back. He flashed behind the white horse, raised his Fish Intestine Sword high, and brought it down heavily, sending a blue-white arc of light flying through the air.
"No—" Yang Yan, already aroused, gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
(No my foot! Daring to slap Fourth Brother's face, you'll get your comeuppance.)
Fourth Brother's movements were lightning fast; with a single, decisive strike, he slashed down, accurately and forcefully piercing the horse's rump.
"Hiss—!" The white horse, in pain, kicked and thrashed wildly, its neigh echoing through the street. Yang Yan could no longer maintain her balance and was violently thrown off, headfirst.
The Yang family's young ladies cried out in unison, rushing to her aid, but… it was too late; she was about to be smashed to pieces, her brains splattered, dying a gruesome death on the spot. At the crucial moment, a hero appeared to save the beauty! A figure in green swiftly rushed to the point where she had fallen from her horse, letting Yang Yan's beautiful face crash into his broad chest, then using his strong, powerful hands to catch her around the waist, steadily stopping her fall.
A hero saves the beauty! This was the scene many suffering girls longed for. No, not only the suffering girls, but even the onlookers couldn't help but cheer. However, the rescued Miss Yang, instead of feeling happy and ecstatic, immediately started cursing as soon as she recovered from her shock: "Let me go, you shameless, damned servant!" Not only did she curse, but her little hands also waved and grabbed wildly. It was just a pity that her fourth brother, who had planned everything perfectly, had already torn off and thrown away the horsewhip when he picked her up. Otherwise, the evil deed of whipping her benefactor after being rescued, which greatly praised Miss Yang's "unruly nature," would have happened in public
. Her hero was her fourth brother, who was quick and swift, holding Miss Yang firmly without hurting a hair on her head.
After embracing her, Fourth Brother didn't move. As a gentleman, he despised and disdained taking advantage of her. However, as Yang Yan struggled, her high, protruding breasts bounced up and down, inevitably rubbing against Fourth Brother's arm. The sensation of the caress was quite pleasant; they were plump, firm, and elastic.
Yang Yan's body was extremely sensitive. The slightest touch on her breasts made her entire chest tingle and itch. Her pink face flushed red, and even her breathing became rapid. She was unaware that she was the "culprit," thinking that Pang Yu was deliberately taking advantage of her. She desperately twisted her body to try to break free, but the more she twisted, the more she rubbed against him, making her cheeks look like they were smeared with rouge, and her red lips parted as she breathed heavily.
"Let go... If you don't let go... this young lady... will... kill... kill you..." Her voice grew increasingly breathless, and a dizzying sensation suddenly spread between her legs, like snakes crawling or ants moving, or like being lightly scratched by feathers; when she came to her senses, she realized that her inner thighs were cool and slippery, and the bottom of her skirt was slightly sticky and wet.
In broad daylight, in front of everyone, Fourth Brother couldn't keep holding her after rescuing her. He silently recited the mantra of a virtuous gentleman many times, lingering at the distance of a step from beastly desire for a long, long time, before finally gritting his teeth and hardening his heart, he released her plump waist, resisting the urge to indulge in that creamy, smooth texture.
"You...you lecher!" Not content with a simple thank you, Miss Yang cursed, breaking free of Pang Yu's hand (even though it was Fourth Brother who released her). Using her forward lean, she rose on her right foot, twisting and hooking her body; her toes barely touching the ground before her left foot followed, hooking twice in the blink of an eye, showcasing her slender waist and long, graceful legs—a movement as beautiful as a dance.
—If one were only focused on watching, Fourth Brother would be dead by now, because Miss Yang wasn't dancing, but rather kicking him hard in the face!
Miss Yang was skilled in two martial arts: first, the Yang Family Spear, a family heirloom used in battle to kill the Liao dogs; and second, a Jianghu martial art that Mu Guiying had specially sent her to Taiyuan to learn from a master. This move, "Lonely Mountain Reflecting the Moon," was one of them, and its most ruthless killing move. It was inspired by two scenic spots in Hangzhou: Lonely Mountain and Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. While seemingly poetic and graceful, it concealed a chilling killing intent. Usually, after one strike, the user was still standing while the enemy lay dead on the ground. Without a second thought, Miss Yang unleashed her flying kick, her sole purpose being to decapitate Pang Yu!

(Chapter 207: The Best Weapon to Instantly Kill a Woman)

Miss Yang unleashed her fierce power, determined to kick Pang Yu, who had "humiliated" her, to the ground.
But was Fourth Brother so easily ambushed?
As soon as Yang Yan broke free (it was clearly Fourth Brother who let go!), she twisted her firm yet fleshy waist and launched a fierce kick. Her beautiful toes flew swiftly, but Fourth Brother was still a step ahead. He leaned back in a stunningly handsome pose, easily dodging the kick. With two swishes, his skirt swirled above his head like an umbrella, revealing his smooth, beautiful legs, full breasts, dark and curly hair, even the thin layer of sweat on his snowy skin and the oily, sticky substance at the base of his thighs. All of this came into view, making Fourth Brother's eyes widen. He even forgot to brace himself and fell straight to the ground, a warm substance under his nose, and blood was flowing.
"You—!"
Miss Yang was filled with shame and anger. Her anger didn't diminish. With a whoosh, her right foot stomped straight at his groin!
The most vicious heart is a woman's. This kick was clearly meant to kill Fourth Brother and the Pang family!
Pang Yu lay on the ground with his legs wide open, like a fish on a chopping block, completely at his mercy. But just as Yang Yan was about to stomp on his testicles, he suddenly hooked her left ankle, using only his waist strength to prop himself up, bending his knee to meet her right foot. Miss Yang lost her balance and fell into his arms with a "whoosh." \\\ He'd just taken a couple more sips of her firm, tender skin; wasn't that showing mercy?
Yang Yan trembled slightly, clearly feeling the force in Pang Yu's hand, but surprisingly, she didn't resist. Instead, she cried even harder. "
No way, I didn't do anything wrong," Fourth Brother wondered, his mind racing with questions.
"My eyes... sand... there's sand in my eyes..." Miss Yang covered her eyes. "Huh!?"
While Fourth Brother was both amused and exasperated, Yang Yan gathered her skirt and got up. She looked away. She hastily tidied her hair, her pretty face flushed with two rosy cheeks.
"Young Miss, let's go back, look..." The closest young girl dismounted and quietly tugged at her, pointing worriedly around. Sure enough, the crowd that had been blocking the Kaifeng Prefecture had all gathered around. Some were covering their mouths and laughing, some were watching the spectacle, and others were whispering and secretly amused. In short, everyone was happy to see the eldest daughter of the Yang family, who had rushed over in a frenzy, riding recklessly and blindly whipping people without even looking, made a fool of herself. \\*\
"What are you looking at? Get lost!" The eldest daughter wiped away her tears, pulled out a red silk handkerchief from her bosom, and wiped away the grit from the corners of her eyes. In an instant, she reverted to her spoiled young lady temperament. With a flick of her sleeve, her crimson cloak fluttered, and her cold, sharp phoenix eyes swept across the scene—wow, wherever she looked, people shrank back with a "whoosh," some even turning tail and running away. It was just like the look in her fourth brother's eyes last night.
The difference was that Fourth Brother could only wail alone, while Miss Yang's shouts were immediately met with whips and shouts from her female bandits. The Yang family's female bandits were in full force! The civilians Fourth Brother had painstakingly gathered to "make trouble" were instantly terrified and scattered. They'd all run away; he'd lost face by taking it out on the common people! Seeing the innocent people being driven away, Fourth Brother couldn't bear it any longer and indignantly stopped Yang Yan. She curled her lips disdainfully and sneered, "This young lady came to settle accounts with the Kaifeng Prefecture, to seek justice for our fallen brothers. These guys are blocking the way; shouldn't they be beaten?" As she spoke, she opened her eyes wide in anger, glaring at him fiercely, her beautiful face radiating a fierce and resentful charm.
"Seek...justice? Seek what justice?" "
My brothers from the Yang family army died under mysterious circumstances. The Kaifeng Prefecture, under the pretext of investigating the case, has detained their bodies and refuses to return them. Tell me, shouldn't I, this young lady, come to seek justice!" "Yang Yan shouted loudly, as if afraid no one would hear her, or perhaps deliberately taunting the Kaifeng Prefecture officials guarding the gate. In short, Miss Yang was furious, and the consequences would be severe! After giving Pang Yu a look that said, 'I'll settle this score with you later,' Miss Yang leaped onto another horse, cracked her whip, and led a group of female bandits straight towards the Kaifeng Prefecture gate. \/*/\\
(The dog-eat-dog fight has begun.)
Fourth Brother stretched and leisurely watched the show. The little bandit who had stayed behind to bandage Yang Yan's mount made a face at her. This was truly a 'little' bandit; she was the smallest among the group of female bandits, and her smile was incredibly cute. Her large eyes, disproportionate to her size, sparkled with excitement, mischief, and pride.
'You're dead meat! If you anger Miss Yang, you'll be collecting your own corpse.' Her voice was soft and sweet, extremely pleasant.
" "Collecting a corpse?" "How am I supposed to collect my own corpse?" Fourth Brother was utterly bewildered. "...This..." The little delinquent twisted her delicate pink hands, suddenly speechless, two little red clouds rising on her flawless, tender face, making her even more adorable. \*\
"Ah! I understand, jewelry, you mean jewelry, right?" Fourth Brother was always kind and amiable to the little girl, winking at her with a grin, and magically producing a pair of crystal earrings. Holding them up to the sunlight, they sparkled and shone—well, just like always having candy to amuse a child, as the number one playboy and charming young master of the Song Dynasty, Fourth Brother always carried jewelry with him.
"Wow—" A little girl is a little girl, even if she dressed like a delinquent, she was still a little girl. Upon seeing the sparkling crystal earrings, she immediately covered her face, completely captivated. In her sweet, soft exclamation, Pang Yu could even feel red hearts popping out of her big eyes.
"Here, little sister, this is for you." Fourth Brother grabbed her soft little hand and stuffed the crystal pendant into the little delinquent's hand.
"Really, really for me?" she stammered softly, a little incredulous, but her little hand gripped the crystal earring tightly, as if afraid it would be snatched away.
"Yes, you look just like my cousin. Seeing you reminds me of her. It's only right for a big brother to give his little sister a gift." Pang Yu smiled gently at her. Although he was still dressed in a blue robe and hat, his handsome face, strong physique, and the melancholy look in his eyes were simply irresistible, making the young delinquent, who was just beginning to experience love, swoon.
"Oh, by the way, little sister, what's your name? You're so cute, I think your name must be very nice too, right?"
"Um...yes...ah no...I...also..." The little girl blushed even more, shy and happy, awkwardly shuffling her body as if ants were crawling all over her. It took her a while to recover a bit, and she bit her lip and whispered, "I...I'm surnamed Meng...and called...Chanrui..."
"Chanrui? Hmm—The morning sun shines through the curtains, sleep marks still cling to her fragrant cheeks, she leans lightly against the phoenix terrace with a smile. The fading red, the even green of the night, flowers bloom all over the mirror. A delicate cicada's hair, tucked in a branch, pale stamens and sparse plum blossoms." Fourth Brother smiled and recited a little poem, even with his name embedded in it, which made the little girl blush...oh my, even more beautiful than the peach blossoms in full bloom in spring.
"Little sister, what's your name?
" Fourth Brother was about to continue teasing when he suddenly heard a disgusting, lewd, and sarcastic voice deliberately mimicking his behind him. It lacked any of the warmth, tenderness, or brotherly concern in his voice; instead, it was filled with lewdness and baseness, a sleazy voice that clearly harbored ill intentions. Fourth Brother
was enraged and slapped him across the face.
—Based on the lewdness, baseness, and sleazy nature of the voice, it was obvious who it was without even looking. He struck the man squarely, and the man flew through the air like a sandbag, crashing into the princelings watching behind him, knocking down seven or eight in a row.
"Hey, Brother Pang, you don't have to be so cruel to your own servants." A sleazy figure flashed and appeared in front of Pang Yu. It was none other than Ren Huang! Fourth Brother was stunned for a moment. When he turned around, he saw that the one he had slapped and sent flying was Chuixue! That Ren Huang is really cunning. He dodged too quickly. He reminded himself to control his impulse and not to rush over and beat Ren Huang up in front of everyone, which would damage his glorious image in the eyes of his brothers.
But Ren Huang's face was just too damn despicable and deserved to be hit!
"Hey, hey, hey, Brother Pang, who is this little girl? She's pretty pretty. She must be thirteen. Let me flirt with her. You have my princess's distant cousin, that's enough. Give one to me."
Fourth Brother really wanted to hit him, beat him to death!!!

Chapter 208 Ren Huang's Wrath

In public, Fourth Brother slapped out and accidentally injured and sent his follower flying. This was a very shameful thing. Even if Fourth Brother had a good temper, if he didn't show something at this time, he would still chill the hearts of his brothers.
He turned and glanced sideways at Chuixue, who was lying on the ground groaning and pretending to be dead. Chuixue immediately stood up, chuckling to herself that she wasn't hurt at all. Then, Fourth Brother raised an eyebrow and gave Ren Huang a chillingly cold look.
"Little sister, it's here?"
Ren Huang, initially a little guilty from his glare, took a step back, but upon hearing this, she immediately jumped forward, leaned closer, and chuckled, "My princess's distant cousin... she's not feeling well these past few days, she's... recuperating at home. I'll send it over to you in a few days, don't rush." Her tone sounded like that of a criminal, and as she spoke, she shamelessly patted Fourth Brother's shoulder, as if the two were old friends.
"Slap!" Fourth Brother
slapped her again. This time, he wasn't wrong; Ren Huang's hand, which had been slapping him, was knocked aside, and she grimaced, clutching it in obvious pain.
"Why aren't you serving the princess? What are you doing here?"
"Watching the show. The capital was peaceful just a couple of days ago, and suddenly this big thing happened, and some Southern Tang rebels have appeared..."
"Hey!" Fourth Brother hated pretentious men the most. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him over. "You weren't there during the courtesan competition, you saw everything you were supposed to see, so what are you pretending for?"
Ren Huang still grinned: "I saw you, and I even saw you with a woman..." His body lightened, and Pang Yu stopped grabbing his clothes. Instead, his neck tightened, and he started choking him!
"Hey, be gentle, be gentle, what are you doing? Hey! Hey! Hey!"
"If you don't want another headless corpse floating in the Bian River tomorrow morning, don't talk nonsense." "Fourth Brother's voice was very low. So low that no one but Ren Huang could hear it, but it was effective. The guy immediately shut up—no, he changed the subject. Getting this guy to shut up was harder than getting Fourth Brother to stop teasing the little girl.
"Don't you know the Emperor has issued an order..." He also lowered his voice, "Anyone who dares to openly mention what happened that night will be beheaded!"
Damn, Fourth Brother! Didn't you bring it up first?
Pang Yu despised this kind of person and almost slapped him again. Ren Huang interrupted, "Do you know who did this? I heard from the princess that the Emperor learned about it at court this morning and was furious. He ordered the Kaifeng Prefecture to investigate thoroughly, thoroughly, and thoroughly. Once the murderer is found, he must be executed."
"Even a fool would know it was the Southern Tang rebels who did it."
"That's right, but it's definitely not just them; there must be accomplices in the shadows!" Ren Huang shook his head. He suddenly became serious. "On the surface, the capital is calm, but in reality, the Yang family army, the Imperial Guard, and the people of Kaifeng Prefecture are secretly conducting searches. It's already difficult for the Southern Tang rebels to hide their whereabouts, let alone commit murder in the streets. I think there must be some big shot in the capital colluding with them in secret, providing cover, which is why the rebels dared to commit crimes against the wind."
(Oh yeah! Correct answer. There are accomplices, and I am one of them.)
Fourth Brother was just thinking about how Ren Huang had suddenly become so clever. He could even think of something so "profound," when suddenly he heard Ren Huang blurt out, "Hey. You're not colluding with them, are you? You were the one who saved me that day..." This time, before Pang Yu could make a move, Ren Huang had already shut up, but his thieving eyes were still fixed on him, with a smug look that said, "I highly suspect you" and "If it's not you, then it's your master," which was extremely annoying.
"I admit, my master has a grudge against Bao Zheng."
"Bao... Bao Zheng? That's an interesting name." Ren Huang almost laughed out loud.
"But please use your brain. The current emperor is my lord's brother-in-law. If the imperial concubine gives birth to a prince, he will be my lord's nephew. My lord is just bored and would join forces with the Southern Tang rebels to rebel against his own nephew?"
Ren Huang was stunned, thought about it and realized it made sense, then asked, "Then who do you think would be their accomplice?"
"Is that even a question? Of course it's..." Pang Yu almost blurted out "the prince's party," but such a slanderous act was too obvious. Fourth Brother was a smart man; how could he do something so stupid?
"...I don't know either. If I knew, would I need Bao Zheng to solve the case?" Fourth Brother rolled his eyes. "But when it comes to concealing one's whereabouts and evading the triple search of Kaifeng Prefecture, the Yang Family Army, and the Palace Commander's Mansion, there are only a handful of people in the capital with that ability." "Don't ask me, I don't know anything." "
You must know."
"I really don't know."
"Lying is immoral."
"Making up lies is even more despicable."
"Boom!" The two were still arguing when suddenly a loud crash was heard. They turned to see Miss Yang, riding her warhorse, forcefully breaking through the guards' blockade and heading towards Kaifeng Prefecture. The people inside hurriedly closed the doors. Miss Yang, enraged, grabbed a bronze rod she'd snatched from someone and slammed it against the door with all her might. "Boom—!" The two large doors instantly split into three pieces. The
broken half of the bronze-clad wooden door flew out, startling the guards who had rushed out to help. The half crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Wow—!" "Fourth Brother was excited, almost clapping and cheering. This Miss Yang is so fierce, so exciting! He really wanted to see what she would do when she found out the assassin had entered the Beihai Prince's mansion, and Zhao Yunbi just happened to be standing in front of her. At the very least, she'd give him a chokehold, a stab to the head, and a backstab, making the Beihai Prince bleed five steps away. He was even more excited, pointing towards the gate and jumping up and down, shouting, "Look, look, look! Who says women are inferior to men? After Yang Paifeng, there's now Yang Yan, and there's another one in the palace... cough cough, our Great Song Dynasty is truly full of talent! Let's see how Bao Heizi handles this..." He suddenly stopped halfway through his shouting, barely suppressing a laugh with a face full of schadenfreude.
As the dust settled, an extremely dark face appeared in everyone's astonished sight. It was none other than the long-awaited Prefect of Kaifeng, Lord Bao. Stepping on the collapsed door panel, Lord Bao, his face black with rage, walked step by step to the front of Miss Yang's proudly standing warhorse.
"Get down!" He reined in his horse, his dark, cold face radiating an imposing aura. The young women who had rushed in with Yang Yan all retreated in fear, but Miss Yang remained unfazed, raising a delicate, arched eyebrow: "Hmph, Lord Bao. You've finally come out. So, are you going to give us an explanation?" "
I'm telling you to dismount—" Bao Zheng repeated in a deep voice, not loud and slow, yet carrying a chilling pressure that made one's legs weak and heart tremble with fear.
Miss Yang, fearless and unyielding, was not intimidated by a mere Bao Zheng. Her pretty face tense, she coldly glanced sideways: "Lord Bao, what a display of power! In the past, when aggrieved parties came to plead for justice, you would act like this, throwing your weight around and making a ruckus, even daring to smash up the gates of the government office! Utterly arrogant and presumptuous! If it weren't for the fact that you are a woman, I would have arrested and brought you to justice immediately!" These
words were tantamount to touching Miss Yang's sore spot, and Yang Yan's anger intensified. She glared at him sideways, pointing her slender finger at him, her almond-shaped eyes filled with disdain: "What's wrong with women? Without my Yang family's female warriors fighting on the frontier, you'd be better off going to the Khitans' tent and talking to them."
Bao Zheng, who had handled countless cases, had never seen such a sharp-tongued and unreasonable woman. He was stunned and speechless for a moment. Yang Yan was unyielding. She lightly snorted with her delicate nose and sneered: "My Yang family's soldiers are loyal to the country. This time, we traveled thousands of miles from the frontier to protect the emperor and eliminate traitors. Last night, eleven brothers were killed by rebels and died tragically in the streets. Lord Bao took the bodies and has remained unmoved ever since, neither arresting the suspects nor questioning witnesses. Is it because you think my Yang family has no connections in the court and are deliberately protecting the murderers?"
Bao Zheng feigned surprise: "Miss Yang, what makes you say such a thing? Your brothers were killed by rebels from the Southern Tang Dynasty. We are currently investigating the rebels' hiding place together with your army. Why would we... " "
Investigate what?" Yang Yan angrily flicked her riding whip, pointing her spear and scolding, "Among the brothers who died last night, some risked serious injury to follow the rebels. They witnessed firsthand that after they finished killing, they joined another group of assassins returning from elsewhere and entered the Beihai Prince's Mansion together!"
These words caused an uproar, except for Pang Yu, who smirked smugly in the back.
—Miss Yang, why are you being so cooperative? Looks like I have no choice but to marry you!
"The Prince of Beihai's mansion? How could that be?" A cold laugh flashed by, and a fraction of a second later, Fourth Brother jumped up, shouting at the top of his lungs, "The Prince of Beihai at most only wants to be the second Eighth Prince, how could he possibly rebel against his own family? She must be lying!"
Having been "bullied" by Pang Yu time and time again, Yang Yan hated him to the bone. Hearing this guy defend Zhao Yunbi, she immediately became anxious and angrily shouted, "You're talking nonsense! These are the dying words of my Yang family army brothers, how could they be false!"
Fourth Brother was "frightened" by her fierce and shrewish appearance, and muttered with his head down, "It's obvious, on the day I was beheaded, Zhao Yunbi told me personally that his ambition was to control the court, use the emperor as a puppet, and cover up the whole thing with one hand, so that the Song Dynasty would be his. Why bother to rebel?" "He muttered loudly, loud enough for everyone around to hear, and Ren Huang, like a shill hired to help him, pulled him aside and asked curiously, "Hey, hey, hey, what did Prince Zhao... Prince Beihai say to you at the execution ground?" Since
the other party had asked so sincerely, how could Fourth Brother not tell the truth? He immediately embellished the story of Zhao Yunbi's ambition that he had revealed to him before his execution, saying that he had established the Prince's Party to gain the trust of the imperial relatives; after gaining their trust, he would take the opportunity to enter the court and seize power; once he had power, he would eliminate his opponents until he controlled the entire court, then put the emperor under house arrest and issue orders himself, finally forcing the emperor to abdicate and making himself emperor... Oh right, he also wanted to take the Imperial Concubine and make her empress."
"You have the audacity to do this!!!" Before Fourth Brother could finish speaking, Ren Huang suddenly flew into a rage, his eyes wide with fury, his teeth clenched, and a murderous glint flashing in them!

Chapter 209 The Woman the Emperor Favors Brother

Huang's roar sent shivers down everyone's spines. Those closest to him—Chui Xue, Gao Dawei, and Qian Dajin—were all considered worldly servants, but even they trembled like leaves at Ren Huang's shout.
Fourth Brother couldn't stand it anymore and patted him on the shoulder, earnestly admonishing him: "Hey, hey, hey, stop pretending. What good does shouting do? The Emperor isn't here; he won't know your loyalty."
Ren Huang, after being "reminded" by his fourth brother, immediately realized his mistake and abandoned his childish behavior of shouting and acting without understanding the situation. He leaned closer, raised an eyebrow, and asked in a lewd manner, "Hey, is what you said true? Don't spread rumors and slander. I've always seen the Prince of Beihai being very humble in front of my... my princess. Are you saying this to frame him because your master has a grudge against the Prince of Beihai?"
"Frame him?" The fourth brother was furious, feeling greatly humiliated. "Do you think I'm lying? Or is it that Zhao Yunbi, with his arrogance, wouldn't dare to reveal his ambition to someone who offended him and is about to die? What I said is absolutely true. If there is a single falsehood, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"
He had sworn an oath, so what reason was there not to believe him? Ren Huang stopped questioning and looked up at Yang Paifeng, who was still shouting and arguing with Bao Zheng. An unusually cold glint flashed in his eyes. " Ah
, right." Fourth Brother suddenly remembered something and pulled Ren Huang aside to ask quietly, "You know the palace better than I do. Let me ask you, isn't there a beautiful female imperial physician? Fourth Brother isn't an irresponsible lecher, but since we've already 'done it' and don't even know her name, wouldn't that be like playing one-night stands?
" "Oh, you mean Physician Wen? Wait a minute, what did you just say, beautiful?" Ren Huang was greatly startled, her eyes widening as she stared at him, her astonished expression as if he had just heard a huge, huge fallacy!
"You're talking nonsense!" she blurted out, actually swearing.
"Physician Wen's natural beauty and stunning looks cannot be described by the word 'beautiful' alone. She is clearly a beauty that could topple kingdoms, extraordinary and otherworldly, heaven on earth. There is no one like her. What Xi Shi, Diao Chan, Yang Guifei, Wang Zhaojun, all of them can get out of the way. Even the goddess of the Luo River and Chang'e in the moon cannot compare to her!" "Imperial Physician Wen..." Ren Huang seemed to be on steroids. He showered her with praise, spittle flying everywhere, making the woman in yellow appear even more ethereal and otherworldly than Nangong Qinyi, his eyes gleaming with an unusual fervor. Though only a hint of it was visible, it couldn't escape Fourth Brother's keen eyes.
When they were "seeking justice" in front of Kaifeng Prefecture, Miss Yang was truly, truly, truly cooperative. Not only did she bring a group of young girls to cause trouble, but she also publicly exposed the fact that the Southern Tang rebels had fled into the Beihai Prince's mansion in front of so many people. Coupled with her outrageous act of smashing down the Kaifeng Prefecture gate, Fourth Brother didn't need to arrange any public opinion campaign; by the time lunch was over, everyone in the capital knew about it. It was all over. He had wasted so much effort and manpower back then... Having barely managed to send Fourth Brother to prison, he's now retaliating in kind. With just a little trickery, the headstrong Miss Yang has jumped out, using her wild and unruly nature to escalate the situation.
Ah, the people of the capital are truly fortunate these days, with endless topics of conversation. First, the Marquis of Anle abducted a woman, leading to the Li Family Village massacre; then came the highly anticipated Flower Queen Contest; and now, the Prince of Beihai has colluded with rebels to assassinate the Emperor in an attempt to revolt, even attacking the Yang family army protecting their homeland.
—Well, although the Emperor has issued an edict forbidding any further mention of the attack on the Emperor at Fengling Pavilion, the truth will out. The gossipy nature of the Chinese people has never changed throughout history. The battle on Phoenix Island that night has already spawned over a hundred different versions, spreading throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. \\*\\
Fourth Brother is very satisfied with the outcome of today's "fuss."
Damn it, he wouldn't feel right if he didn't give Miss Yang a Best Actress award.
Expanding the situation was just the first step in his plan, and the effect was unexpectedly good. Didn't Ren Huang say that the Emperor was furious and ordered Bao Zheng to thoroughly investigate the case, find the traitor who colluded with the Southern Tang rebels, and punish him severely! Next, all they need to do is manipulate things a bit, plant some "real evidence" to frame the Prince of Beihai's mansion, and then figure out a way to make them mistakenly believe that the Yang family army was behind it. Oh wow, that would be so interesting! Like dogs fighting, but
Fourth Brother is a man of principle; he wouldn't actually do that. At most, he'd stab Zhao Yunbi in the back a couple of times, gather some "ironclad evidence," and send it to Zhao Yunbi's mansion to help Bao Zheng speed up the Kaifeng Prefecture's investigation. Anything else is too obvious; he can't do that. If he did, the cunning Bao Zheng would suspect him.
While Zhao Yunbi is embroiled in legal troubles and the Prince's faction is facing internal and external difficulties... Fourth Brother wants to take his *Great Song Dynasty Weekly*, his perfume business... There are countless other ways to amass wealth; we can't always rely on our fathers. We must build our own fortune and create a new, modern princeling party!
Fourth Brother is a man who clearly distinguishes between public and private matters; he only thinks about women after considering important things. Recalling Ren Huang's confident words in front of Kaifeng Prefecture earlier that day, Fourth Brother felt a pang of guilt. Was he being a little immoral? The Imperial Physician Wen had kindly come to treat him, and he, in a moment of lust,… sigh, even his brother-in-law, the Emperor, likes her. And according to Ren Huang… he's liked her for a long time, but hasn't had the chance to make a move. "Isn't it a bit immoral of us to just steal her away like this? All our wealth, status, and titles are thanks to my brother-in-law, the Emperor. Not only are we ungrateful, but we're doing something so disrespectful to him—we're worse than animals!"
Then I thought: "The Imperial Physician Wen is so beautiful. I'm used to seeing beautiful women, and even I can't resist temptation. If she really becomes my brother-in-law's concubine, won't she be competing for his favor with my sister, the Imperial Concubine?
Protecting my sister's favor is my duty, and defending the Pang family's wealth is my responsibility! The beautiful Imperial Physician can't be monopolized by the Emperor. Stealing her away is not wrong."
Having figured this out, four... Brother Zhao Yunbi was immediately relieved! His situation was getting worse every day.
First, Yang Paifeng caused a scene in Kaifeng Prefecture, and within half a day, everyone in the city knew that the Yang family's soldiers had witnessed the rebels committing the crime and then fleeing into the Prince of Beihai's mansion. Then, that evening, the Kaifeng Prefecture's yamen runners came to arrest people, taking away a large number of people from the interior, including the Prince's steward, for questioning. Let them question him, Zhao Yunbi thought, he had a clear conscience, he thought, this was not something I did, what am I afraid of? I am a member of the royal family, would I rebel against my own family?
Soon, facts proved that excessive confidence was not good. Zhao Shuzhe, the second chief steward of the Prince's mansion, who was interrogated along with the head steward, returned... That very night, he hanged himself in the woodshed in the backyard. Zhao Yunbi was an expert at framing and plotting; upon receiving the report from his servants, he knew someone was framing him, deliberately creating the illusion of murder to cover it up. He quickly dispatched his trusted subordinates to dispose of the body. But as
fate would have it, despite the body being tied to a large stone and sunk into the Bian River, the next day a commoner found a floating corpse in the west of the city. The report was sent to Kaifeng Prefecture, where the officials found a suicide note and a large gold ingot—a gift from the Emperor to the princes during the Lantern Festival—in the corpse's clothing. Zhao Yunbi was nearly driven mad. His trusted subordinates, who had a history of disposing of corpses, were... How could such a huge mess occur in the attempt to cover up the crime? A suicide note, gold—they're now convinced Zhao Shuzhe knew the danger and fled with his valuables, only to be caught, killed, and his body dumped!
And that's not all. The side courtyard of the Prince's mansion that Miss Yang accused the rebels of scaling the wall inexplicably caught fire that very night, burning down seven rooms and revealing over a dozen charred corpses inside. Not only were they burned, but their faces were also slashed beyond recognition. What infuriated him most was that five knives and two sets of armor were found in the ruins, identical in style to those used by the assassins during the courtesan competition!
All of these items were taken by the Kaifeng Prefecture, and then… An hour later, Bao Zheng arrived with a group of fully armed constables, ostensibly to invite the Prince of Beihai back to assist in the investigation, but in reality, he was treating him as the prime suspect and had him imprisoned.
Zhao Yunbi panicked, fearing that the Marquis of Anle would retaliate in kind, perhaps even mixing poison into his food to kill him.
But would Fourth Brother do such a despicable thing?
Of course not! Fourth Brother was currently enjoying himself at the "Pang's Perfume" sales ceremony with the three courtesans, Nangong Qinyi, Hua Xiangrong, and Zou Xiyun!

Chapter 210 "Pang's Perfume" Sales Ceremony

The "Pang's Perfume" launch ceremony was another grand buffet banquet in the capital, following the "Great Song Dynasty Weekly" ceremony. The venue was none other than Fengling Pavilion, where the recent assassination attempt had occurred. The scale was even more impressive, the pomp and circumstance even more luxurious, and the number and status of the guests were significantly higher than before.
This was no longer just a buffet; drawing on the experience of the previous event, the creative Fourth Brother combined press conferences, new product launches, and product exhibitions into a unique "Pang's Style Banquet," leading the fashion trend throughout the Great Song Dynasty and becoming an object of emulation for the capital's upper class.
"Pang's understands women better than women understand women!" "Pang's Perfume, utterly feminine." "Restore beauty, starting with Pang's." Even before entering, one could see banners and ribbons with advertising slogans hanging outside Fengling Pavilion; even roll-up display stands had been "created" by the Fourth Brother and placed in prominent locations throughout the venue.
At the entrance, a staff member distributed Pontiff perfume brochures to guests. These brochures detailed the brand's concept, philosophy, and exhibition plans, along with a brief introduction to the perfume-making process and a list of products at various price points and types for easy selection.
Behind the brochure, a tall platform was erected – another of Fourth Brother's brilliant ideas – an advertising display. On a drizzly spring day, everyone was carrying umbrellas as a young lady from a noble family brushed past a winding bridge. She dropped a silk handkerchief, but didn't notice it. A young scholar picked it up. Turning back to return it, he found she had vanished into the umbrellas and the crowd. The scholar could only wait for her on the bridge every day, for all he remembered about her was her unique fragrance. Time passed, and the scholar remained devoted. He waited and waited, until finally the fragrance of the young lady appeared again. He smelled it, found her, encountered her, fell in love, and married her, creating a beautiful marriage between a talented scholar and a beautiful woman. The matchmaker connecting them was a small bottle of Pompeii perfume.
Was it sensational? Absolutely! The world's first advertisement, so sophisticated and poetic—how could it not be a sensation? Was it brilliant? Brilliant! The Fourth Prince's influence was immense; the scholar was played by Ouyang Xiu, and the young lady by Chen Shishi, the renowned courtesan of the capital, second only to the three top courtesans in the "Courtesan Contest"!
Unlike the previous "Courtesan Contest Album" intended for men, today's guests were predominantly women. The two wives of Grand Tutor Pang couldn't resist the perfume's allure and invited a large group of close female friends and noblewomen to support their son. And naturally, these noblewomen brought their husbands along. So, this time, there were no officials or advisors; only high-ranking officials and nobles themselves.
Yes, they wanted these people to witness the Fourth Prince's charm firsthand!
"What we're going to do isn't just perfume, but a whole range of women's products, encompassing three major categories: cosmetics, household goods, and clothing, with over fifty different items. Our slogan—Pang's, understanding women better than women themselves!" Fourth Brother stood in the center of the hall. Under the spotlight, he delivered a passionate speech, which was met with thunderous applause that lasted for a long time. Second and Third Madams, watching from the sidelines, were almost moved to tears. Their son, their good-for-nothing son, when did he become so intelligent and successful!
After the speech, there was an interview with Pang Yu, the founder of "Pang's Women's Products," by the *Great Song Dynasty Weekly*.
"Next, what are your plans for Pang's? Are there any new products ready to be launched?"
"Yes, women's handbags, you know, handbags, 1,000 strings of cash each. We also have eyeshadow, mascara, moisturizer, cleansing essence, foundation, sunscreen, makeup remover, etc., all in development."
"Pricing... 100 strings of cash for a month's supply."
"Expensive? Sorry, we only do high-end products, serving only aristocratic women."
"Yes, it's our membership system. Anyone who accumulates over 5,000 Guan in spending within three months can become our Silver Member. Members enjoy benefits including access to new products, beauty consultations, home delivery, etc. Silver Members can upgrade to Gold Members by accumulating 20,000 Guan in spending within a year, and Gold Members can upgrade to Platinum Members by accumulating 50,000 Guan in spending within a year, enjoying one-on-one customer service support. Accumulating 100,000 Guan in spending within a year can upgrade to the highest level, Supreme Member. Ponzi will carefully listen to every suggestion from Supreme Members and tailor various products to each member's specific situation. Of course, each membership level has a minimum spending requirement. If the minimum spending requirement is not met for three consecutive months, the membership level will be downgraded. For details, please refer to our Member Handbook." "
Member discounts? No discounts. We implement a rebate system. When spending reaches 10,000 Guan, you will receive a rebate of 500 Guan, 800 Guan, 1,000 Guan, or 1,500 Guan depending on your membership level." "
Yes, these can only be used to purchase Ponzi products. Each voucher is for the individual user and is strictly prohibited from being sold or transferred."
"Alright, now I'd like to formally introduce our spokesperson for Pang's Perfume, one of this year's most beautiful courtesans, Miss Zou Xiyun of the Seven Show Pavilion!" With Pang Yu's magnetic and charming voice, Zou Xiyun, dressed in her finest attire and appearing like a fairy descended from heaven, gracefully emerged from the backstage, surrounded by a group of "etiquette ladies." Her hair was styled in a tasseled bun, and she wore a purple-green gauze dress. Her steps were light and ethereal, her posture elegant as if a beautiful goddess had descended from the heavens. Especially striking were the pair of flowing sleeves that swayed gently in the wind as she moved, accentuating her unparalleled beauty and grace.
The entire hall fell silent. All the guests were captivated by her stunning beauty; everyone, male and female, was mesmerized, their souls adrift.
Zou Xiyun stepped onto the central platform, her sweet, melodious voice, almost heavenly, recounting her experience and feelings about using Ponce perfume since the Flower Queen competition: "...What Ponce has given me is not only their high-quality products, but also a brand-new, unique business philosophy that resonates with us women—to become a company that best understands women's needs, provides top-notch products and services to women in our country, and satisfies their sense of self-achievement. In short, to become a company that understands women better than women themselves. Because Ponce firmly believes that women's progress and success are Ponce's progress and success! Ponce perfume, double the beauty, with Ponce, everyone can be the Flower Queen!" Her fourth brother's handwritten words, read aloud with such emotion, captivated the guests with Zou Xiyun's gentle voice and enchanting demeanor, further solidifying their belief in Ponce's extraordinary quality. Afterwards
, Pang Yu, on behalf of the "Marquis of Anle" who was unable to attend due to illness, announced that Qixiufang would become Pang's first VIP pilot customer, enjoying double the gift vouchers after reaching a certain spending threshold (discounts were out of the question!), as well as the privilege of trying Pang's new products. He also welcomed brothels and entertainment venues in the capital to discuss cooperation (visiting brothels in the Song Dynasty was considered elegant; there was no issue of noblewomen feeling ashamed that brothel girls used perfumes; on the contrary, it encouraged them to use perfumes of a higher class and more expensive than those used by brothel girls).
Following this was Pang's specially invited female advisor, the Second Grand Tutor... The lady's speech, delivered by a renowned beauty expert among Beijing's high-society ladies, who had maintained her youthful beauty for over a decade after marrying the Grand Tutor, undoubtedly wielded immense influence among the top perfume consumers: "...Pang's mission is to produce top-quality products, provide enthusiastic and professional service, maintain a leading edge in research and development, expand multiple shopping channels, and disseminate a premium product image. Every employee of Pang adheres to Pang's values of trust, respect, faith, humility, and high standards. Trust Pang, and a beautiful legend begins."
With such a powerful and seductive advertising campaign, coupled with the personal testimony of the Grand Tutor's wife, and the Emperor's evaluation of Pompeii perfume relayed by Fourth Brother during the Flower Queen Contest, which noblewoman present could resist the temptation! As the host, inviter, and "CEO" of Pompeii Enterprises, Fourth Brother generously gifted each of them a small sample bottle. Unfortunately, this was far too few to satisfy these beauty-loving noblewomen. Despite Fourth Brother's repeated emphasis that the small bottles contained the same Pompeii perfume as the medium bottles—a simplified version of the Emperor's perfume, priced at ten thousand taels of silver per drop, not a special supply to the palace—and that they should try it before deciding whether to buy, these noblewomen, completely swayed by the advertisement, still pestered their husbands to "generously" open their wallets (generous my foot, they were heartbroken!), instantly snapping up all two hundred bottles of perfume on sale at the exorbitant price of five thousand taels of silver per bottle.
Women, do you want to enjoy the same beauty services as the favored concubine, who is showered with the emperor's affections? Then buy Pompeii perfume!
Men, do you want to enjoy the same fragrance as the emperor? Then buy Pompeii! Whether you're a man or a woman, Pompeii can satisfy you!
"Oh my, women's money is so easy to earn," exclaimed the Fourth Brother, who had just made 100,000 taels of silver. While the noblewomen below were frantically scrambling for the perfume, he leisurely sipped his grape wine on the second floor, watching the scene unfold. As for dealing with guests and those brothels that wanted to discuss cooperation—well, since he had secured investment and talent, he naturally had to poach a bunch of business experts from his father, the God of Wealth. Otherwise, why would he get a share of the profits at the end of the year? This was a reasonable and flexible talent transfer under the market mechanism, not a shameless and unethical attempt to poach people. Dealing with clients was something he could leave to them.
"Women are easy to fool, not only with money but also with their bodies." Amidst the giggling laughter, a radiant figure, accompanied by a fragrant breeze, gracefully emerged from around the corner, her eyes alluring...

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