Chapter 142: Chapter 141 Jinling City 13
"Third Master Huang?"
Lady Hou seemed to find the name familiar.
Hou Tianying pretended to hesitate for a moment before explaining, "Mother, I once told you about a man I liked. It’s him, Third Master Huang!"
"But that day, I also saw him—he was the one who beat Big Brother into this state!"
Hou Tianying sneered. "Right now, we’re sworn enemies; liking him is out of the question!"
Lady Hou’s face filled with malice. So that person was Third Master Huang... He was indeed quite handsome, by all accounts. What a pity... A pity he would never leave Jinling City alive.
Without dallying, Hou Tianying visited for a short while before heading straight to Old Master Hou’s study.
"Father!"
Old Master Hou had just returned to the front courtyard from Aunt Mei’s quarters and was about to head out for the morning assembly. After all, with the Inspector General still in town, he had to keep up appearances.
Although somewhat impatient at his daughter’s arrival, he wasn’t about to send her away. He simply frowned and asked, "Why are you here?"
Hou Tianying ran up to him, feigning affection. "Father, I want to know about Third Master Huang’s background!"
Prefectural Magistrate Hou paused. "Oh?"
"Father, he beat my older brother into such a state! I want to see him suffer with my own eyes!"
Prefectural Magistrate Hou looked somewhat troubled. "I will handle this matter. What concern is it of a young lady like yourself to get involved?!"
"Father..." Hou Tianying began to act coquettishly.
Prefectural Magistrate Hou was genuinely growing impatient. "Ying’er, stop this nonsense!"
Hou Tianying bit her lip, her voice filled with feigned grievance as she cried out, "Father! I’ve accompanied you on outings since I was young. It hasn’t just been once or twice! Why is this time an exception?"
"My brother is in this state, and Mother has cried her eyes nearly blind, bottling up so much resentment. I just want to help my brother vent his anger! Father, please let me go with you!"
It wasn’t that Prefectural Magistrate Hou felt no inner turmoil; it was just that Governor Chen was staying right there in his Jinling City residence, watching him like a hawk. He hadn’t dared to make a move these past two days.
After some thought, he still refused her outright. "This is not the time for your games. I am busy. Go back for now. I have my own way of handling this!"
Hou Tianying then cried out again, "Father! Is it because you think Mother is useless now? That she’s old and no longer pleasing to your eye? Is that why you’re treating us, mother and children, this way?!"
In her distress, she blurted this out.
This accusation, one might say, stripped away Prefectural Magistrate Hou’s last shred of pretense. Wasn’t that precisely what he thought in his heart? Was it despicable? Utterly despicable! For such a vile thought, hidden deep within, to be exposed by someone—how could it not lead to shame turning into anger?
Prefectural Magistrate Hou flew into a rage on the spot. "Insolent!"
He immediately waved his hand dismissively. "Men, escort the Young Miss back! Without my order, she is not to leave the estate!"
With that said, Prefectural Magistrate Hou turned and left, as if washing his hands of the matter.
Hou Tianying was so furious she nearly fainted. But no matter how angry she was, she was still escorted back. We shall not speak further of this for now.
***
In the afternoon, at Zhao Junyao’s location, Chen Juzheng came to report. "Your Majesty, aside from being lazy and lecherous, there’s really nothing substantial we can use against that Prefectural Magistrate Hou!"
"Nothing?" A faint smile touched Zhao Junyao’s lips. "If there’s nothing, then can’t we simply create something?"
Chen Juzheng pondered for a moment, somewhat perplexed. This... was quite a leap. He asked, "Your Majesty, do you mean..."
Before he could finish, Li Shengan rushed in, flustered. "My Lord, it’s bad! Someone’s here looking for trouble!"
Before Li Shengan’s words even faded, a group of people charged in.
The Hidden Guards concealed in the shadows heard the disturbance and instantly swarmed the vicinity.
"Don’t move!" Although Li Shengan was panicked, he steadied himself. No matter what, the Emperor’s identity must not be exposed.
Though anxious, the Hidden Guards refrained from any rash actions.
The group of people charged into the room and, without a word, began to smash things indiscriminately, yelling all the while. Neither Consort Yun’s room, nor Honored Lady Xi’s, nor Honored Lady Lan’s was spared. Xia Ruqing’s room was targeted with even greater ferocity. Everything inside was smashed to smithereens.
Fortunately, they didn’t seem intent on harming anyone.
Once they had finished smashing things, their leader stepped forward. He was a fierce-looking man with one eye, his torso largely bare: the One-eyed Dragon.
"Third Master Huang, our first meeting! This is just a small token of respect from my brothers. I trust you... don’t mind?"
Zhao Junyao stepped forward confidently, a faint smile on his face. "Of course not."
"However... you shouldn’t have touched my women!" With that, Zhao Junyao let out a cold laugh. "Men! Seize them all for me and interrogate them thoroughly!"
The moment he finished speaking, the Hidden Guards, who had been restraining themselves for some time, all surged forward. They had long been rubbing their fists, eager for action. How could they not be impatient?
"Hahaha..." The One-eyed Dragon had brought many men and seemed utterly fearless. He swaggered a few steps closer, the very picture of a ruffian, and said insolently, "Third Master Huang, you’d better take a good look. My men have already surrounded Jingtai Tower. Who do you think you’re going to interrogate?"
Zhao Junyao remained unhurried. (Author: Isn’t that stating the obvious? He’s the Emperor, what’s there for him to be anxious about!)
"Of course... I want to interrogate *you*!" Zhao Junyao gave a cunning smile.
Then, he turned and waved his hand grandly. "Men! Seize them!"
"Yes!" All the Hidden Guards, upon receiving the command, rushed forward.
The men the One-eyed Dragon brought were no pushovers and certainly had some skills. Unfortunately for them, compared to the elite masters of the Imperial Forest Army, "some skills" was all they had.
The sounds of clashing weapons and fierce fighting erupted behind him, but Zhao Junyao didn’t even turn his head. His women had already been secured, and the inn had transformed into a battlefield.
The One-eyed Dragon watched his men charge in, one after another, only to be struck down within seconds. Fury instantly blazed within him. "ARGH...!"
He roared and swung his greatsword. But just as he lunged, there was a BANG! The Hidden Guard dodged, and he slammed into a pillar!
"Hahaha..." A burst of laughter erupted at the scene.
He opened his bloodied eyes to see the man surnamed Huang looking at him with a mocking expression. His rage flared. "You, surnamed Huang! This isn’t over between us! You pretty boy, relying on others for protection! I’ll show you the might of my blade!"
Roaring, he charged forward again, brandishing his greatsword.
Li Shengan couldn’t bear to watch and turned away, covering his eyes. Little Zhuzi, on the other hand, was quite excited, his eyes wide as he eagerly awaited the show.
And indeed, it was as expected.
After an indescribable thrashing, the One-eyed Dragon collapsed to the ground. His blood-stained greatsword lay beside his head.
Zhao Junyao landed lightly and effortlessly nearby.
From where the One-eyed Dragon lay, he could just see Zhao Junyao’s black boots, embroidered with gold thread. After those boots touched the ground, they slowly approached him, step by step!
"You... what do you want to do..."
"UGH..." The One-eyed Dragon’s vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
***
When he awoke, all the men he had brought with him were bound and imprisoned in a large cell. Chen Juzheng had even thoughtfully stuffed all of them into a single cell.
Over a hundred men, crammed into one cell. Just imagine the scene...