Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

"My lord, Princess Yongjia, along with her officials and servants, has smashed open the gates of the Duke's mansion."

Old servant Dou Shang leaped onto the courtyard wall in a few swift movements. He narrowed his eyes, revealing a particularly grotesque scar running from the corner of his right eye to his right lip.

"As expected, no need to worry about it."

Dou Fengjie held a three-stone strong bow, drew it to its full length, and shot a raw arrow faster than a shooting star, hitting the target a hundred paces away, striking the deer's navel on the deer-shaped target.

The arrowhead sank into the target, but the shaft still trembled.

"Young master, your archery skills are so superb, you could rival even the best archer."

Dou Xi, a young man from the family, brandished a horizontal sword, his youthful and simple face revealing his earnestness.

Clearly, in Dou happy's view, Dou Fengjie's archery skills were the best of their time.

Dou Fengjie smiled: "It's still a long way off."

There is a big difference between stationary targets and moving targets, not to mention flying targets.

Even with his archery skills, he wouldn't be able to hit the bullseye every time on the battlefield, let alone compete with archers.

However, his arm strength is barely passable.

Dou Shang lightly leaped down, tapped Dou happy on the shoulder, and said half-jokingly, "If you're willing to let your son practice archery while wearing a pomegranate on your head, he'll become the greatest archer of the Tang Dynasty sooner or later."

Dou happy's face paled slightly, but she still nodded emphatically: "I'm willing."

Dou Fengjie laughed heartily, expressing his appreciation for Dou happy's loyalty.

However, he only had two servants in total, so how could he bear to use Dou happy to practice archery?

A hint of relief appeared in Dou Shang's eyes. After all, her husband was not like her own son. He was loyal and devoted to his servants, and she was worthy of her unwavering loyalty.

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The Duke of Zan's Mansion.

The door lock was violently smashed open, and Princess Yongjia, with eyes as beautiful as peach blossoms and dressed in a nine-flower hairpin and a pheasant-patterned robe, followed Yang Fei, the county magistrate, into the mansion in a huff.

The officials in charge of the neighborhood, the guards, and the military officers followed from afar, but remained silent as cicadas in winter.

The Wude Code could govern commoners and soldiers, but it could not govern imperial relatives.

Throughout history, imperial relatives and nobles have always been a troublesome group.

"This princess is only recruiting a consort, why is my cousin so frightened?"

Princess Yongjia admitted that she coveted Dou Fengjie's body and her cousin's handsome appearance, which is why she flirted with her brother, the emperor, and blocked Dou Fengjie's right to inherit the throne.

Dou Fengjie's reaction was unexpected; he would rather not be a duke than marry the eldest princess.

This, ironically, stirred up Princess Yongjia's strong rebellious spirit.

The more Dou Fengjie resisted, the more she pressed him!

"The Princess's might is so great that little Dou Fengjie fled at the mere sight of her, even abandoning his residence."

Yang Fei, flattering Yang Fei, kicked down a pole with a white banner hanging from it.

"Set this mansion on fire!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Princess Yongjia's peach blossom eyes.

Yang Fei was startled and quickly tried to stop him: "Break into the mansion and vandalize it is one thing, but arson is a serious crime!"

"If His Majesty is alarmed, even as the eldest princess, she will not escape reprimand."

Princess Yongjia didn't care about any blame or punishment; it was Li Shimin's reprimands that could somewhat restrain her.

Cypress, jujube, and persimmon trees were indiscriminately felled, the waterside pavilion was demolished, and countless night-blooming jasmine flowers were poured into the small pond...

A burly man with tiger-like eyes and sword-like eyebrows, dressed in infantry armor and carrying a wooden spear, appeared: "Li Hai'an, Eagle Strike General of Kuangdao Eagle Banner, requests that the Princess and her officials leave the Duke of Zan's mansion."

Kuangdao Yingyang Mansion, located diagonally opposite in the southwest corner of Jinchengfang, actually sent people to interfere; they must have been unhappy about it.

Li Hai'an's superior was General Su Dingfang, a straightforward man who naturally wouldn't allow any uncontrollable incidents to occur in the surrounding neighborhoods.

As the first Eagle Banner Prefecture outside the Sixteen Guards, Kuangdao Eagle Banner Prefecture also bears the responsibility of maintaining order around the Imperial City and the Palace City.

Yang Fei glanced cautiously at Princess Yongjia, then put his hands on his hips, pointed a finger, and straightened his blue official robes: "How dare you! Do you know who you're talking to?"

"You mere eighth-rank lower-level county magistrate, get the hell out of here!" Li Hai'an whipped Yang Fei, sending him tumbling to the ground. "I am a fifth-rank lower-level general, responsible for the defense of the surrounding wards and the city walls of the imperial city."

Although Princess Yongjia was a first-rank official, she was an inner court lady and had no say in court affairs, let alone military matters.

She knew that her brother, the emperor who had ascended to the throne through the Xuanwu Gate method, valued military power extremely highly.

Anyone who dares to interfere with military power will surely be executed.

Despite Li Hai'an's unruly nature, Princess Yongjia had no choice but to swallow her anger.

During the Zhenguan era, some arrogant and fierce generals dared to kill members of the imperial family if they angered them. Li Yuan, the Prince of Lujiang, is a vivid example. Li Yuan's concubines were also taken into the palace to serve Li Shimin.

Wang Gui, who was serving as a court attendant at the time, advised Li Shimin to release the concubine from the palace. Although Li Shimin respected Wang Gui, he did not release the beauty from the palace.

Princess Yongjia knew that there was no point in making a scene any longer, so she could only leave with Yang Fei and the others, feeling rather disgruntled.

Li Hai'an glanced at Fang Zheng and Wu Hou, then led a squad of infantry out of the west gate to return to Kuangdao Yingyang Prefecture to report back.

-----------------

Changshoufang, the official residence of Chang'an County.

After removing his mourning clothes, Dou Shang entered the yamen with a lawsuit in hand. The county magistrate Shan Julu, who was in charge of the legal affairs, wore a bitter smile on his round face.

It is an explicit rule that mourning clothes should not be worn in public places.

"Don't call us snobs. How could a mere county like Chang'an dare to take on a case involving the Princess?"

It's not that Shan Julu is shirking responsibility; cases involving members of the imperial clan should be brought to the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs as the correct channel.

Even though Dou Gui was not benevolent during his lifetime, and Dou Fengjie was still a commoner, they were not people that Chang'an County could afford to offend.

Who can guarantee that Dou Fengjie will not succeed to the title of Duke and assume a substantive post?

Better to deceive an old man with white hair than a young man.

Jingxian County is not qualified to get involved in such high-level situations.

"I understand the difficulties of Chang'an County, but I can't explain it to my husband. The Imperial Household Department still issued a document stating that the application would not be accepted, proving that I had not been negligent."

Dou Shang smiled bitterly.

The giant deer hesitated, undecided.

When Duke Dou Gui was alive, he treated his subordinates harshly, so it's understandable that Dou Shang had this concern.

Although Shan Julu's refusal to accept the case was somewhat driven by personal motives, his reason was perfectly legitimate: Dou Shang had simply gone to the wrong temple while carrying a pig's head.

"Alright, the legal officer issued a document stating that this case should be handled by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, which is beyond the jurisdiction of Chang'an County, therefore it will not be accepted."

Shan Julu also kicked a ball.

Having the judicial officer issue a document would give him some leeway in case of any accountability issues.

Aren't the low-level officials and clerks just there to take the blame?

Dou Shang laughed, making the scar on his face look even more ferocious.

Just as the young master had predicted, Chang'an County openly and honestly shirked its responsibility.

Very well, my lord, you want that rejected document? Shan Julu has already had it issued, that's enough.

After thinking for a moment, Shan Julu still showed a hint of goodwill: "Should we change the head of Longzheng Ward?"

Dou Shang said solemnly, "My lord said that the neighborhood official did not take advantage of the situation and has already fulfilled his duty."

It's not fair to be too harsh; Li Hai'an's emergence owes some credit to Fang Zheng and Wu Hou.

Although Dou Fengjie was not a virtuous person, he could still distinguish between good and bad.

Dou Shang left the government office, and Shan Julu shook his head and smiled bitterly, only then noticing that there was a spotless piece of paper on his desk.

Huh, it's not common paper like white hemp paper. The smooth texture is even more comfortable than that of a young official's child.

"Guanwa" refers to the official prostitutes of that era.