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

The prison was completely silent.

Xiao Zhengfeng's face was gloomy, and Prince Jing, Prince Qi, and the others looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock and solemnity.

When they discussed how to deal with Zhang Yuanfeng, the grandmaster of the Zhang family, one of their biggest advantages was that they also had a grandmaster on their side, which could provide a check and balance.

But now, the other side has suddenly produced two grandmasters who are on par with their ancestor.

Moreover, judging from their demeanor, they clearly have ill intentions.

They couldn't understand what kind of bargaining chips the Duke of Qin or the Marquis of Yong'an had offered to get these two to take sides.

In reality, neither the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion nor the Duke's mansion could persuade the two grandmasters to come.

Even after Zhang Yuanfeng broke through to become a Grandmaster, he still couldn't be persuaded to come.

Qin Zhen was able to persuade two grandmasters and four lords because he brought information that Zhang Lingyun had become a disciple of Dong Qingshan and a direct disciple of the sect leader.

Dongqingshan, a sacred land in the Eastern Region, is home to Grandmasters.

In the eight kingdoms of the Eastern Regions, the title of Grandmaster is enough to shake everything.

The atmosphere inside the prison instantly plummeted to freezing point upon the appearance of these two grandmasters' names, becoming so tense it was almost suffocating.

All eyes turned solemnly toward the entrance to the prison.

The first thing that catches the eye is an elderly man dressed in a purple ducal court robe, with white hair and beard, and a vigorous face—Duke Qin Zhen of Qin.

The two people walking side by side beside Qin Zhen instantly attracted everyone's attention.

On the left is an elderly monk wearing a yellow robe, Master Huichen, the abbot of Tianlong Temple.

On his right was a middle-aged scholar dressed in a blue Confucian robe.

This is another grandmaster who was renowned throughout the Wei Kingdom, who roamed the world with his iron sword and whose temperament was both righteous and wicked—the Iron Sword Madman, Sword Without Action.

Behind these two grandmasters were four middle-aged or elderly men dressed in marquis robes, exuding an extraordinary air. They were none other than the four powerful marquises: Marquis of Xiping, Marquis of Zhenbei, Marquis of Dongting, and Marquis of Annan.

They all looked solemn, eyes downcast, clearly following Qin Zhen and the two grandmasters' lead today.

Upon hearing that Qin Zhen had invited two grandmasters, Qin Xuehua's ashen face flushed an unnatural red, and her eyes shone with an astonishing light.

Two grandmasters! My father actually invited two grandmasters.

Although she didn't know what price her father had paid or what connections he had used to get these two martial arts masters, who almost never meddle in worldly affairs, to come together.

But one thing she was absolutely certain of was that with these two grandmasters in charge, the royal family would never dare to act so recklessly as before.

How much of Zhang Yu's greatest asset can he still rely on in front of two grandmasters?

Qin Xuehua was overjoyed, as if she could see the glimmer of hope in the face of despair, and the scene of Zhang Yu trembling under the pressure of a Grandmaster, and the royal family having no choice but to compromise.

Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning were also trembling with excitement, almost overwhelmed by the joy of surviving a disaster.

They looked at Qin Xuehua, then at the Duke of Qin and his entourage, their eyes filled with anticipation.

However, they knew the truth in their hearts.

People like Master Huichen and Jian Wuwei would never come simply to "seek justice" or "uphold righteousness" for the Zhang family, much less to completely break ties with the royal family for the sake of these few juniors.

Qin Zhen was able to get them to step in, most likely at an unimaginable cost, or through some unknown transactions or promises.

It's very likely that they'll just be asked to take action once, or to put pressure on the other side at a crucial moment.

Therefore, despite their excitement, they dared not be as arrogant and domineering as before.

They understood that the best course of action at this moment was to show weakness, evoke sympathy, and hand over the initiative to the two masters and the Duke of Qin.

An eerie silence fell over the entire prison.

Only the steady footsteps of the Duke of Qin and his entourage resonated in everyone's hearts.

He straightened his clothes, bowed to Xiao Zhengfeng, and performed a standard courtier's salute, his voice loud and steady:

"This old minister Qin Zhen, accompanied by the Marquis of Xiping, the Marquis of Zhenbei, the Marquis of Dongting, and the Marquis of Annan, and with the humbly requesting Master Huichen and the great swordsman Jian Wuwei to accompany us to pay our respects to Your Majesty."

"I have disturbed Your Majesty's presence; I humbly beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

He adopted a very humble attitude, but the fact that he was "accompanying two grandmasters" was his most valuable asset.

Xiao Zhengfeng did not immediately respond to Qin Zhen's visit.

His gaze bypassed Qin Zhen and landed directly on Master Huichen and Jian Wuwei, as he spoke in a deep voice:

"Master Huichen, Hero Jian Wuwei, you two are reclusive masters and martial arts giants. May I ask what brings you here to this Heavenly Prison today?"

He didn't mention Qin Zhen or the four lords, but directly focused on the two grandmasters.

Upon hearing this, Jian Wuwei glanced at Xiao Zhengfeng and said coldly:

"It's nothing serious."

I've heard that the Xiao family, relying on their power, bullied the Zhang family, a widow and her orphan, and their behavior was rather unethical.

"I, Jian, having nothing better to do and being a busybody, dragged the old monk Huichen over here to 'see for myself.'"

hostility!

Undisguised hostility!

The faces of everyone in the royal family, including Xiao Zhengfeng, turned extremely grim.

They had anticipated that the two grandmasters might have been invited to exert pressure, but they never expected Jian Wuwei to state his position so directly and ruthlessly.

Moreover, he started with such heavy accusations—"abusing his power" and "bullying orphans and widows"!

This is practically an accusation that the royal family is unjust and bullies the weak.

This isn't a visit to see what's going on; it's clearly a visit to demand an explanation.

Qin Xuehua, Zhang Heng, and Zhang Wanning were utterly astonished, but then overjoyed surged through their hearts.

Their previous guesses were completely wrong. Jian Wuwei's attitude was far from simply taking sides.

This is clearly a stance of going all in and supporting them to the very end.

Zhang Heng reacted the fastest.

He was already a skilled performer, so when he saw this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, why would he hesitate?

He immediately burst into tears, as if he had suffered a great injustice, and crawled half a step towards Jian Wuwei, crying out:

"Senior Sword, you are wise! Senior Sword, you must stand up for us!"

The royal family... the royal family is going too far.

Zhang Yu used some kind of sorcery to bewitch the royal family, frame my mother, and harm us.

They also intend to cripple our cultivation, break our limbs, and send us to hard labor camps—they want to exterminate us completely.

"Please, senior, save us! Save the Zhang family!"

Zhang Wanning immediately followed suit, covering her face and sobbing:

"We have been wronged... We beg you, senior, to uphold justice..."

Qin Xuehua's lips trembled, tears streamed down her face, and she looked like she had suffered a great injustice and was extremely weak. Her eyes were full of pleading and expectation as she looked at Jian Wuwei.

Seeing the Zhang family's performance, Jian Wuwei, contrary to his usual aloof and indifferent demeanor, waved his hand and spoke in an almost righteous tone:

"Get up quickly. The Duke of Qin, the Marquis of Yong'an, and I are old friends."

Now that we've witnessed this, there's no reason for us to stand by and watch the descendant of our family friends be so humiliated.

"I, Jian Wuwei, will take care of this matter and will definitely get an explanation for you."

These words shocked everyone present.

To be precise, everyone was stunned.

Family friends?

This is simply a fantasy!

Everyone knows that Jian Wuwei, the "Iron Sword Madman," is a loner who always keeps to himself and has never been friendly to the powerful officials and aristocratic families.

He has been famous for decades, and there has never been any record of him having any close relationship with the Duke of Qin's mansion or the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion, let alone any family friendship.

Although Zhang Yuanfeng, the old Marquis of the Zhang family, was also a senior expert, he guarded the northern border for many years. He and Jian Wuwei, a master of wandering martial arts, were on completely different paths. How could they have any interaction?

Qin Zhen and Master Huichen knew the inside story, and when they heard the arrogant Jian Wuwei spouting such nonsense about trying to establish a connection, they couldn't help but roll their eyes.

Still family friends?

Qin Zhen's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Are we that close?

That's such a flimsy excuse.

But at this moment, he naturally wouldn't expose it; instead, he had to cooperate, immediately putting on a sorrowful and emotional expression that seemed to confirm the story.

Even Master Huichen, upon hearing Jian Wuwei's words, seemed to lift his lowered eyelids almost imperceptibly, and the prayer beads he was twirling in his hand paused slightly.

Clearly, they were also somewhat speechless at Jian Wuwei's sudden attempt to establish a romantic relationship.

He didn't lie as casually as Jian Wuwei; he simply murmured a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha."

They neither admitted nor denied it, their attitude was ambiguous.

On the royal side, Xiao Zhengfeng, Prince Jing, and others frowned, their minds filled with doubts.

Jian Wuwei's behavior is too abnormal!

Given his character and past actions, it is absolutely impossible for him to so openly intervene in this conflict between the royal family and nobles for some vague family favor.

There must be something fishy going on behind this.

Moreover, Master Huichen's silence is particularly intriguing.

Zhang Yu stood aside, observing everything with a cold eye.