Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Gao Qiu stood on the platform, pacing back and forth with a gloomy expression. Lu Qian knelt on the steps below, his head touching the ground, trembling.

Gao Zhao stood tall and proud, showing no fear, and seemed quite pleased with himself!

Suddenly, Gao Qiu stopped in his tracks, turned around and glared angrily at Lu Qian, shouting sternly, "How dare you! I sent you to pick up someone, and you dared to injure the military instructor! Is this the army a place where you can act so arrogantly?!"

Lu Qian was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly, not daring to utter a word.

Gao Zhao's expression stiffened, and he quickly corrected him, "Sir, you're mistaken! I'm the one who injured him!"

Gao Qiu whirled around and yelled, "You dare to talk back! Didn't I scold you?! If you hadn't caused trouble, even if Lu Qian had two lives, he wouldn't have dared to lay a hand on me!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Zhao became extremely anxious: "No, sir, whether you reprimand me or not, I was the one who injured that person!"

"Do you think I wouldn't dare punish you?!" Gao Qiu was furious. He wasn't angry that Gao Zhao had talked back to him, but rather that he couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong.

What is Lu Qian anyway? Even if he didn't do it, he can be used as a scapegoat!

But Gao Zhao, out of so-called loyalty, turned around and took the blame for him!

What kind of nonsense is this?! It's utterly absurd!

Gao Zhao was not afraid of his anger at all, and said resolutely, "Whether you punish me or not, we have to be reasonable. You can't pin my merits... mistakes on someone else!"

Lu Qian truly hadn't expected Gao Zhao to be so loyal, actually standing up to Gao Qiu for his sake.

He was truly moved at that moment!

[Gratitude points from Lu Qian +1]

Gao Zhao glanced at the pop-up window and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking how incredibly virtuous he was!

Gao Qiu looked at his eldest son with a strange expression, finally understanding why he insisted on taking the blame!

Damn it! This is pure vanity at play!

Seeing his heroic, death-defying demeanor, Gao Qiu laughed in anger, pointing a finger at him and saying, "You say you did it, so you did it! Go ask around, who would believe your nonsense?"

"Why doesn't anyone believe me!" Gao Zhao exclaimed anxiously, quickly stepping forward and pointing outside, "Those imperial guards all saw it with their own eyes; they can testify for me!"

Gao Qiu narrowed his eyes, noticing that his expression didn't seem feigned, and asked suspiciously, "Did you really injure that person?"

"Of course!" Gao Zhao nodded repeatedly, afraid that he wouldn't believe him, and quickly explained, "I saw that guy's marksmanship was sloppy, so I gave him a couple of comments. Who knew that this narrow-minded person would not only not humbly ask for advice, but also speak rudely and challenge me!"

Gao Zhao looked up at the sky, sighed, and said, "I have been reading Mencius recently to cultivate good character, so I did not want to fight him. Instead, I had Lu Qian spar with him. After exchanging dozens of moves, the man was defeated."

"I didn't want to embarrass him in front of the soldiers, so I went up to him and tried to comfort him, saying that victory and defeat are common and there's no need to take it to heart! Who knew that this scoundrel would be so ungrateful and attack me so fiercely."

Gao Zhao paused, then spread his hands and said, "And then I made my move!"

"One move! Just one move! The outcome will be decided instantly!" Gao Zhao solemnly extended one finger, pausing for a full two breaths before sighing, "My lord, you should know that this is how it is for us masters! One move decides life and death!"

Gao Qiu's lips twitched as he listened, and at the same time, he finally understood what had happened that day.

When this guy entered the camp, he was foul-mouthed. The other person didn't recognize him and naturally refused to cooperate. He first had Lu Qian defeat the other person, and then went to the other person and said those cheap things, which angered the other person so much that he lost his mind. Then, he happened to knock the other person unconscious with a stick.

Damn, he actually managed to put that on!

Seeing that he remained silent, Gao Zhao spoke up again, "Sir, you are the commander of the Three Imperial Guards. I don't think you can indulge me just because of our father-son relationship! That will cause criticism!"

Gao Qiu glanced at him sideways, without saying a word.

"Think about it, if you just protect me like this, what will the soldiers of the Palace Guard think? What will your colleagues think? And what will the Emperor think?"

Gao Zhao earnestly advised, "Sir, impartiality breeds clarity, and integrity breeds authority! Do not let personal feelings corrupt military discipline!"

Gao Qiu's eyes twitched, and he couldn't help but ask coldly, "Then what do you think I should do?"

"Bring him to justice!" Gao Zhao said without hesitation. "Not only must you punish me, but you must also report this matter to the entire army, and even the whole of Tokyo, so that everyone knows that Your Excellency is incorruptible!"

Gao Qiu slapped his forehead, utterly at a loss for words!

"My lord, do not hesitate!" Gao Zhao urged righteously, "I know you are deeply devoted to your family, but you must know that you are first and foremost an official of the Song Dynasty! The law is impartial!"

Gao Qiu was speechless for a moment, then said after holding back, "Fine, since that's how it is, then I won't be polite. Fighting in the army is punishable by death according to military law!"

"Ah!" Gao Zhao's expression changed drastically. What kind of thing is this, worthy of execution?! Are you kidding me?!

I injured someone during a friendly sparring match, but he didn't die, so why should I be executed?

How can military law be so careless!

Gao Qiu shouted, "Guards, take this scoundrel away! I want him executed in a public ceremony!"

Gao Zhao was startled and hurriedly exclaimed, "Wait... this isn't right! I remember now, I'm not a soldier, you can't use military law on me! You should take me to Kaifeng Prefecture..."

"Get out!" Gao Qiu's face darkened, and he shouted, "I sent you here today because I was afraid you'd cause trouble for me outside. I didn't expect you to cause trouble so soon after entering the army!"

Gao Zhao said weakly, "Why don't you inform the whole army and criticize me..."

Seeing that he still harbored wicked intentions, Gao Qiu said impatiently, "Aren't you skilled with spears and clubs? You even defeated my army's instructor! Well then, I'll let you train properly, Zhou Ang!"

"Your humble servant is here!" Zhou Ang strode in.

Gao Qiu raised his hand and pointed at Gao Zhao, ordering, "Take him away and give him a good workout!"

"Yes, sir!" Zhou Ang was slightly taken aback, then accepted the order, turned to Gao Zhao, and stretched out his hand, saying, "Young master, please!"

Gao Zhao naturally objected. He had transmigrated here to enjoy himself, not to suffer in the army. He waved his hands repeatedly and backed away, saying, "No, I'm not a member of the Imperial Guard, I won't go! You can't force me like this!"

Gao Qiu sneered, "I'm your father, so naturally I can send you to the army!"

Gao Zhao suddenly realized that Gao Qiu had tricked him into coming here today in order to send him to the army!

It's pathetic that he stupidly offered himself up; how disgusting!

In a fit of shock and rage, Gao Zhao's wickedness took hold. He retreated several steps, grabbed a cudgel, and brandished it wildly, shouting, "Don't come any closer!"

Zhou Ang smiled and said, "Your staff technique is not bad, but you lack strength and speed, and have too many openings!"

Gao Qiu frowned and said, "Take him down!"

Zhou Ang suddenly reached out and snatched the stick from Gao Zhao's hand, tossing it aside. He then grabbed Gao Zhao's wrist and said, "Young master, please!"

As Gao Zhao was dragged away, he struggled and cried out, "Zhou Ang, I even treated you to a meal..."