If you force me to take the blame, I'll spend a day in jail and gain a year's worth of spi

King Qi was almost driven mad by King Jing's anger.

But Li Dagang and Mo Zhai, who were seriously injured on the ground, as well as the merchants and shopkeepers in the corner who were terrified, were truly dumbfounded at this moment.

I was completely dumbfounded!

Today's events, from beginning to end, are absurd and bizarre.

First, Zhang Heng, the heir of the Marquis's mansion, led his men to their door, acting arrogantly and unreasonably, and almost killed their Master Li.

Immediately afterwards, divine soldiers descended from the sky.

A prince with a majestic demeanor and terrifying strength arrived with the elite of the Imperial City Guard, turning the tide with a single arrow. He repeatedly declared that they were imperial merchants and would severely punish the murderer.

That should give them enough time to process.

Imperial Merchant?

When did we become imperial merchants?

Before they could even recover from this shocking revelation, the even more outrageous Prince Jing burst in, loudly proclaiming his achievements.

They didn't hear the details of the praise clearly, but they clearly heard the "elder brother" that Prince Jing mentioned.

Boss?

These two words, like a flash of lightning in the darkness, instantly illuminated the chaotic minds of Li Dagang and Mo Zhai.

Of course they have a leader; they only have one leader.

Zhang Yu, the one who pulled them out of the mud and gave them new life and a mission, is now in prison.

It turned out to be the case.

So that's where the "royal merchant" that King Qi mentioned came from.

It turns out that Prince Jing's elaborate performance, even going so far as to abandon his princely status and commit murder in public, was all to curry favor with his elder brother.

These princes and grandsons, who are usually high above them and whom they can't even see, are now fighting so ugly and using such...unique methods just to show off and get credit in front of their boss.

After the immense sense of absurdity came an indescribable shock and... a touch of inexplicable excitement.

What exactly did their leader do?

Or, what do you possess?

How could two powerful princes, who were considered frontrunners for the throne, go to such lengths?

Boss... have you really gotten to this point?

Without having to lift a finger or even make a clear statement, your mere presence is enough to make these top elites flock to you.

This can no longer be explained by simple power or strength.

This represents a higher level of recognition of "value" and investment in the future.

In the corner, the merchants and shopkeepers were so frightened that they dared not breathe, but their minds were racing.

They looked at Zhang Heng, who lay on the ground covered in blood, then at the two imposing princes, and then at their mysterious and unpredictable leader who had never truly shown himself.

Suddenly, they felt as if they had accidentally latched onto an incredibly powerful and glittering leg.

As for Qin Xuehua, Zhang Heng, Zhang Wanning, and Jiang Luohan, they were equally bewildered.

What's going on today? I only dealt with a few merchants, but it attracted two princes.

Who exactly is the "boss" that Prince Jing is talking about, that he could make the dignified Prince Jing act so humbly?

If it were a prince, the Marquis of Yong'an and the Duke of Qin wouldn't be too wary of him.

But if there are two princes, then the meaning is different.

At this moment, Qin Xuehua was truly flustered, and managed to gather her thoughts, saying, "May I ask the two princes, who exactly is this 'elder brother' that Prince Jing speaks of? My Marquis's residence has offended you greatly today, and we will certainly go to apologize in the future."

"An apology is certainly necessary, but not sometime in the future, but today."

King Qi, with a cold and indifferent expression, said, "Guards, seize all those who have bullied the Chamber of Commerce and take them to the Heavenly Prison to await Young Master Zhang's judgment."

Are they being taken to the imperial prison to await Young Master Zhang's judgment?

Instead of being sent to the Ministry of Justice for trial according to the law, or handed over to the Imperial Clan Court for deliberation, they were directly thrown into the Heavenly Prison, the place that symbolized the highest punishment of imperial power.

Even more shockingly, the power to punish them was casually handed over to a young master named Zhang.

What does this mean?

This means that in the face of this mysterious figure, the laws of the Great Wei Dynasty, court procedures, and even the authority of the royal family must give way.

This means that the century-old reputation, illustrious title, and even military power in the northern frontier of the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion have all become dust that can be trampled on at will.

"Wait a minute!"

Qin Xuehua shouted angrily:

"Your Highness, even if we are at fault, we should be handed over to the authorities for punishment according to the law."

Our Marquis's family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, guarding the northern frontier. Even if we have not made great contributions, we have certainly worked hard.

How could you... how could you imprison all the direct descendants of my Marquis's family in the Heavenly Prison just because of a Mr. Zhang of unknown origin?

Wouldn't this make the soldiers on the frontier feel disheartened?

Aren't you afraid...?

"What are you afraid of?"

Are you afraid that the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion will hold onto its military power?

Or are they afraid of a mutiny by the 100 million border troops in northern Xinjiang?

Prince Qi, Xiao Jingyan, coldly interrupted her:

"Lady Hou, I advise you not to bring up the Northern Frontier again."

There are certain bottom lines that the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion cannot cross;

There are some people you absolutely cannot afford to offend.

He slightly raised his hand, signaling for the operation to continue, and didn't bother to offer any further explanation.

The princes' subordinates—the Xuanjia Guards and the personal guards of Prince Jing's mansion—had already pounced on them like wolves and tigers.

The well-trained elites moved with lightning speed, giving Qin Xuehua and the others no chance to resist or argue.

Shackled and subjected to brutal treatment, the once high-ranking noble ladies of the Marquis's mansion are now like lambs to the slaughter, utterly devoid of dignity.

"Mother, save me."

Zhang Heng was no longer the spirited man he had been moments before; he looked at Qin Xuehua with a pitiful howl, like a lame dog.

"Mother, please think of something!"

Zhang Wanning was terrified, her delicate makeup ruined by tears, and she struggled desperately but to no avail.

Qin Xuehua felt her heart breaking at the sight of her children's miserable state, but what chilled her to the bone even more was the resolute and... fearless attitude revealed in Prince Qi's words!

They were actually not afraid!

They were not afraid of forcing the Yong'an Marquis's mansion, which held considerable military power, to rebel.

What does this mean?

This means that on the scales of value of that "Young Master Zhang," the entire Yong'an Marquis's mansion plus the Northern Frontier Army may be insignificant.

This means that the royal family has made a choice and is full of confidence.

Just who exactly is this Young Master Zhang?

Qin Xuehua frantically searched her mind, going through all the top powerful and mysterious figures with the surname Zhang in the capital and even the entire Great Wei, but she couldn't match any of them to her name.

There are powerful individuals with the surname Zhang, but none who could get the royal family to go to this extent... such a thing is unheard of.

Fear clung to my heart like a poisonous vine, and with it spread a deep, agonizing regret.

If they had known that the "Young Master Zhang" behind this chamber of commerce had such immense power that two princes vying for the throne would have tried to curry favor with him, why would they have bothered to provoke such a terrifying figure for a little bit of profit?

This was no longer just kicking a hornet's nest; it was personally pushing the Marquis's mansion to the edge of a precipice.

Just as Qin Xuehua and others were gripped by immense panic and regret.

Jiang Luohan, who had been observing coldly, felt as if a huge rock had been thrown into a deep pool, and suddenly a raging storm surged within her.

When the King of Qi uttered those cold and ruthless words, "Take him to the Heavenly Prison and await Young Master Zhang's judgment," her heart clenched.

Young Master Zhang? The Heavenly Prison?

These two words, like two intertwined lightning bolts, struck her mind hard.

A figure she knew all too well suddenly appeared uncontrollably in her mind—Zhang Yu.

He also shares the surname Zhang; isn't he currently imprisoned in the imperial prison?

Could it be... could it be that the "Young Master Zhang" who stirred up the storm, causing the two princes to vie for his favor and even personally engage in battle, is the same Zhang Yu whom she personally rejected and discarded like trash?

This thought sent a shiver through Jiang Luohan's body, and a tremor mixed with absurdity, horror, and even a hint of indescribable excitement instantly spread throughout her body.

She had witnessed Zhang Yu's hidden methods, which allowed him to make Chen Dongpeng, a master of both martial arts and formations, humble himself and seek his guidance, and to make the Hou family's economic lifeline teeter on the brink of collapse with just a few words.

She knew that Zhang Yu was not as simple as he appeared.

However... for two princes who are favorites to win the throne to go to such lengths, even at the cost of a direct confrontation with the Yong'an Marquis's mansion, which holds considerable military power.

This...this is completely beyond Jiang Luohan's understanding of hidden energy!

No, not possible!

She frantically denied it in her mind.

Zhang Yu may have some connections, know some experts, and possess innate cultivation himself.

But this was by no means enough to make the royal family pay such attention, much less enough to make the two arrogant princes act almost...humble and ingratiating.

innate?

Does the royal family lack innate masters?

It may be precious, but it is by no means irreplaceable.

A master's network?

Doesn't the royal family have its own grandmaster?

Based on these factors, it would be impossible for Prince Qi and Prince Jing to lose their composure and fight over it so fiercely, let alone give them the confidence to take such ruthless action against the Marquis of Yong'an's residence.