spoiled brat

Chapter 117, Section 116: Lingering Resentment (Sixteen)

Tonight is not going to be simple. Yuan Zhen had a sword hanging at his waist, and Zhao Zhao also carried a bow on her back. They hurriedly left the mansion with their capable servants and rode to the outskirts of the city.

I passed through seven neighborhoods and eighteen streets without encountering any pedestrians, but I saw soldiers guarding the doors of many wealthy households. Through the high walls, I could hear cries of injustice coming from inside, one after another, as if the whole city was weeping.

Although Yuan Zhen was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but feel a little scared. He slowed down his horse and looked at Zhao Zhao, who was riding alongside him: "Do you know what people who feel wronged are most likely to do?"

"To resist to the death?"

“Yes, there will most likely be a knife killing tonight.” Yuan Zhen’s expression turned stern. “It’s easy to kill when punishing evil, but when it comes to killing, it’s better to just stab yourself to death.”

The only sound in the empty street was the soft clatter of horses' hooves on the snow. Zhao Zhao pondered for a moment:
"There is a way to ease the situation. But... are you willing to act first and report later, and share the responsibility for making the decision with me?"

Yuan Zhen's eyelids twitched: "What is there to be afraid of? Tell me."

"Given the current situation, the army will inevitably head north, and due to the lack of food and fodder, they will have to take the fast route to procure supplies. These wealthy families are also unlucky; they have been implicated by officials pushed out by the Wu faction to take the blame, and they cannot clear their names. They have just happened to be caught in this critical moment. Whether they are guilty or innocent, whether they are innocent or not, they will not be able to protect their family property."

Hearing the cries and shouts all around her, Zhao Zhao calmly said, "The capital has sent people to assist, so we don't have to bear the blame alone. This is great. Let's take this opportunity to extricate our Prince's Mansion from the blame."

How do you pick them?

“Let the court play the bad cop, and we’ll play the good cop.” Zhao Zhao lowered her voice. “When they’re confiscating our property later, we’ll quietly tell everyone that this case came suddenly, that it’s hard to distinguish between the guilty and the innocent, and that the confiscation is just a show, done under the orders of the court…”

"Tell them to calm down and move to their respective villages. Provide them with food and drink and take good care of them. Investigate carefully later. If they are truly wronged, their property will be returned in full."

After a moment's thought, Yuan Zhen concluded that this was indeed a good plan to save the day: "But the mansion is empty. Even if there is a grievance, how can it be redressed immediately?"

“Let it drag on. The prince is fighting bravely on the front lines. We may be poor, but we’re tough. Who dares to rush us?” Zhao Zhao said casually, cracking her whip. “Anyone who only cares about short-term gains and ignores the greater good of the country is not truly innocent.”

This trick is unscrupulous, but it looks good on the surface and helps these big spenders, so it's all beneficial and harmless.

Yuan Zhen laughed, raised his hand and gave Zhao Zhao a high five: "Alright! We'll act first and report later. I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

Before they knew it, they had reached the city gate. The two dismounted and saw several battalions of Beijing soldiers standing in formation, ready to be ordered, in the darkness.

Several officials sent by the imperial court to assist were also present. They were all dressed in green robes with egret insignia, and were low-ranking officials from the Dali Temple, looking rather inconspicuous.

They stood around an armchair, holding umbrellas. On the armchair sat an old eunuch with a pale face and no beard, wearing a purple robe, sable crown, and black cloak. He was holding a hot water bottle to warm his hands and was dozing off.

Hearing from his attendant that the people from the Prince of Ning's residence had arrived to count the provisions, Li Fu opened his dim eyes and looked at Yuan Zhen. The two bowed in greeting, but he coldly looked away and said in a disdainful voice, "What are you standing there for? Go and invite the young master!"

"Yes, Grandpa, I'll go right away!" The attendant hurriedly rode out of the city.

The cold wind flickered the torches, making Li Fu's eyes sting, so he squinted. Several low-ranking officials, sensing the situation, gathered even closer, their murmurs drifting out: "This young master is too negligent. In this freezing weather, he makes you, Grandpa, wait for him."

Li Fu drawled, "Who told him to be so favored by His Majesty when he was young? He was summoned to the Emperor's presence every day, treating the palace like his second home, and by extension, treating us like his servants!"

He was angry, but he couldn't say many unpleasant things to himself. Several low-ranking officials, trying to guess his thoughts, spoke in sarcastic and sarcastic tones, one after another.

The voice wasn't loud, but Zhao Zhao heard it clearly. She was annoyed that Xiu Yi was meddling, but she couldn't stand others criticizing him, so she frowned and asked, "What's the background of that castrated dog?"

“The Grand Eunuch of the Palace.” Yuan Zhen lowered his eyes, too lazy to look at that group of unpleasant fellows. “He’s a dog relying on his master’s power.” Zhao Zhao’s eyelids twitched. The Emperor’s close confidant? No wonder he was so arrogant. But this matter wasn’t glorious. Sending a few minor officials would have been enough. If this Grand Eunuch came, wouldn’t it be an insult to the Emperor?

There is weirdness.

About half an hour later, Xiu Yi still hadn't led his troops to arrive.

Li Fu, growing impatient, his gloomy face etched with wrinkles, the firelight highlighting the deep lines between them, said, "He's not in a hurry for the pay; we'll take care of it for him!"

After saying this, he waved his hand and ordered several battalions of Beijing soldiers to line up, draw their swords and raise their guns, and proceed to confiscate the homes according to the list.

Yuan Zhen and Zhao Zhao were more than happy for him to take on all the dirty work, so that he wouldn't get a drop of blood on the mansion.

But judging from their menacing demeanor, they clearly weren't going to raid the house, but rather to commit mass killings.

Yuan Zhen stopped Zhao Zhao and stepped out alone: ​​"Eunuch, please wait a little longer, my young master has not arrived yet."

Li Fu snorted. He didn't need to say anything; his lackeys would shout for him, "What eunuch? This is the old matriarch of the palace! Waiting for your young master for so long in the snow is already giving the Prince Ning's mansion enough face!"

"Give me face?" Yuan Zhen scoffed. "My royal family has its own dignity; why do we need others to add to its glory?"

"How dare you, you little brat!" a minor official shouted. "Who do you think you are? Who gave you the audacity to speak to the Ancestor like that! Get out of the way!"

The firelight flickered, but Yuan Zhen remained unmoved, standing coldly in the road, facing the blades of several battalions of Beijing soldiers.

"You don't know what's good for you, you're asking for death!" The minor official, eager to show off, breathed on his palm and strode forward, intending to slap Yuan Zhen.

He didn't take a servant seriously, but before he could even raise his hand, Yuan Zhen grabbed it and twisted his arm into an unbelievable arc. He screamed like a pig being slaughtered, his face ashen white.

"Who am I?" Yuan Zhen sneered. "My family is full of loyal martyrs. You would kneel down and listen if I said my father's and brothers' names. You, a lackey who has only studied the classics, dare to flaunt your power in front of me?"

"...Ancestor!" The young official, his face covered in sweat from the pain, turned around and wailed, "Ancestor, save me!"

Li Fu, losing face, shouted, "You audacious servant, acting so arrogantly in front of us! Seize her at once!"

The imperial soldiers surged forward, and the men from the Prince of Ning's residence were no pushovers either, quickly forming a protective barrier around Yuan Zhen. The two sides remained locked in a stalemate when suddenly a whooshing sound was heard. A cluster of hidden arrows shot from nowhere, whistling past the crowd and grazing Li Fu's head.

The soldiers in the capital were terrified. Several obsequious junior officials quickly moved away. Li Fu touched his cold head, filled with horror.

Looking back, an arrow was stuck on the wooden signpost, hanging precariously on the arrow shaft. What else could it be but the sable crown he was wearing?
"This is outrageous!" Li Fu exclaimed in shock and anger, about to lash out, when he heard a loud rumbling sound behind him.

The city gates opened.

A troop of light cavalry galloped like the wind, bringing with them a chilling aura of frost and snow. The lead horse was as black as ink, and it charged straight at Li Fu.

He hurriedly took a few steps back, the horse's high-flying shadow enveloping him. With a thud, the horse's hooves landed heavily on the ground, splashing snow all over his body and face.

Li Fu collapsed to the ground, still shaken, staring at the man on horseback. Xiu Yi looked down at him and said calmly, "Old Li, it's been a long time."