A case of fighting and brawling was no trouble for Xun Geng. "Did you start with verbal abuse? Did you throw the first punch?"
After listening to both sides bicker back and forth for a long time, Xun Geng had a clear understanding of the entire incident. His first question went straight to the heart of the matter.
"It was Xie Jiang, she... we, first... but Xie Jiang..."
The imperial clan members, intimidated by the Prime Minister's majesty, dared not twist the truth, but they also couldn't admit fault. They didn't believe they had done anything wrong.
The few of them stammered, lacking confidence. Prince Yong, unable to watch any longer, said, "These children are young and impetuous, disputes are inevitable. If it's about verbal abuse, the one surnamed Xie cursed just as much, but..."
Xun Geng raised his hand, interrupting Prince Yong's words, and addressed the imperial clan members on the ground. "Old Prince, please step aside and rest. What they have done, no one should know better than themselves. Let them answer for themselves."
Xun Geng made it clear he intended to be impartial and did not plan to favor either side.
Even though Prince Yong was the Emperor's cousin, he had to defer to the Prime Minister. He said to the people on the ground, "What kind of display is this, stammering like that? Answer whatever Prime Minister Xun asks."
Prince Yong reminded them to think before they spoke and not to be loose-lipped. Then he stood aside, observing.
Prince Yong'an of the County, breathing heavily, struggled to speak. "We didn't lay a hand on them! We didn't even touch a single hair on the one surnamed Xie! She doesn't have a scratch on her!"
Xun Geng pointed out incisively, "Did you not lay a hand, or did you not have time?"
Prince Yong'an, helped to sit up by his attendants, said, "In any case, we didn't touch a single hair on the one surnamed Xie! No matter what, we didn't touch the one surnamed Xie! On the contrary, the one surnamed Xie wanted to silence us all!"
So what if they started it! Didn't they not touch Xie Jiang!
Xie Jiang was the attempted murderer!
Another imperial clan member said resentfully, "Xie Jiang is the source of all trouble! Her lawless behavior in Da Yu is not a one-time or two-time occurrence. This is the capital of our Da Yu, not Lan Yong where she can do as she pleases!"
Xia Zhenjiang, with a swollen face, said, "Xie Jiang is tyrannical and inhumane! She must be executed as a warning to others!"
It was probably impossible to behead Xie Jiang, given that she had the backing of the Four Islands of Nanyang. However, being thrown into prison and suffering some hardship was surely warranted!
It was a negotiation, asking for the sky and settling for the earth.
They couldn't possibly demand Xie Jiang be imprisoned right from the start.
If they haggled over the price, what would be left for the scoundrel Xie Jiang but a few reprimands?
Then what would be the point of enduring this ordeal?
The imperial clan members lying on the ground chimed in, "We beg Prime Minister Xun to uphold justice for us! Execute the villain Xie Jiang and restore peace to the capital!"
There were more than just Xie Jiang causing trouble in the capital. They had encountered tough opponents when they acted recklessly before, but they had never been beaten so miserably!
Xu Hengyi rolled his eyes upon hearing this. "You think too highly of yourselves, don't you? Who do you think you are? All of you combined aren't worth a single finger of Xie Jiang!"
"Toad yawning, such big talk!"
Just then, someone walked in from the entrance of Shangyi Pavilion.
Everyone heard the voice and looked towards the source.
"I want to see which toad is so arrogant as to dare to sentence my little Jiang to death!" Xie Taihong strode in with great haste and elegance into the courtyard.
As he walked over and looked at the ground, Xie Taihong seemed startled. "So many toads!"
"Pfft—"
Lu Yuqing couldn't help but burst out laughing.
As expected, father and son.
It was said that Xie Jiang had also called them toads who had become spirits.
However, at this moment, anyone looking at the appearance of Prince Yong'an and his entourage could only associate them with toads.
Upon seeing Xie Taihong entering from outside, Yi Yancheng suddenly pushed Xie Jiang away.
After all, he was her father.
What kind of behavior was it to be pulling and tugging in front of an elder?
Caught off guard.
Xie Jiang bumped into Yue Lin's back.
Yue Lin, standing with his back to them, didn't know what had happened and turned back to look at Xie Jiang in confusion.
Xie Jiang was even more bewildered than him. The two looked at each other.
Yue Lin glanced at Yi Yancheng.
Yi Yancheng remained as steady as Mount Tai, his face expressionless, as if nothing had happened and he knew nothing.
Yue Lin could not have imagined that Yi Yancheng had thrown Xie Jiang out like a plague-ridden god.
Xie Jiang looked at Yi Yancheng in disbelief.
Yi Yancheng glanced at her, warning her not to act rashly.
Xie Jiang, clutching her chest, shakily sat down on the steps, her heart wounded.
Yi Yancheng was unmoved.
Where could her heart be wounded?
Her heart had been eaten by dogs eight hundred years ago.
Xie Jiang's lips moved silently. When men become cold and ruthless, they truly are...
Meanwhile, after exchanging greetings with Xun Geng and Yi Yancheng, Xie Taihong indignantly began to accuse Prince Yong of malice and ulterior motives!
As for the toads at his feet?
They were merely tools that Prince Yong had brought to smear his little Jiang with mud.
Xie Taihong's target was clear: Prince Yong. The tools were not even considered people.
To bully them so outrageously by relying on their status as imperial clan relatives!
The Xie clan had gone above and beyond for Da Yu, and their loyalty to Da Yu had never wavered over the years. Yet, the imperial clan members dared to bully the Xie clan's descendants like this!
The hearts of the people of the Four Islands of Nanyang were growing cold!
Xie Taihong spoke with increasing sorrow and indignation.
Seeing Xie Jiang sitting there clutching her chest, he immediately, with red eyes, urged Xun Geng and Yi Yancheng to see that although his little Jiang looked unharmed, her internal injuries were no less severe than those of the toads!
Although his little Jiang was skilled, she couldn't withstand such a coordinated attack. His little Jiang was injured like this, and yet Prince Yong dared to slander and frame her!
Xie Taihong was filled with grief and indignation.
Xie Jiang frowned as she listened.
Could these useless wretches on the ground, who were soiling themselves, possibly injure her?
Xie Taihong quickly gave her a humble look.
Young Master Xie was wise and heroic, who could compare! These toads weren't even fit to carry Young Master Xie's shoes, so of course, they couldn't harm Young Master Xie in the slightest!
But wasn't this a fight!
It was a case of giving them a taste of their own medicine!
The imperial clan members of the Xia family were ungrateful. It was one thing to be beaten by Young Master, but instead of reflecting behind closed doors and avoiding Young Master in the future, they dared to come to the palace to lodge a complaint! He would teach them how to behave today!
Xie Jiang grudgingly accepted his filial piety.
Xie Taihong's humble look flashed and disappeared, instantly replaced by concern and indignation.
He implored Prime Minister Xun and Young Master Yi to investigate thoroughly and to give his little Jiang justice!
Prince Yong's face was as dark as water. He engaged in a war of words with Xie Taihong, but he was quickly defeated.
What evidence did the minor injuries on the toads provide?
In Xie Taihong's words, Prince Yong'an and the imperial clan members were all instigated and incited by Prince Yong!
Meanwhile, Lu Yuqing whispered to her companions in admiration.
"Old Master Xie is no pushover either. More, more than Prince Yong..." She glanced at Xie Jiang. "Listening to Old Master Xie, I almost want to speak up for the Xie clan!"
Xu Hengyi silently gave Xie Taihong a thumbs-up.
This combat effectiveness was indeed worthy of Xie Jiang's father!
Xie Jiang had never lost in a fight or a brawl, and it seemed that her father, Xie Taihong, would never lose in a dispute either.
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Xun Geng suddenly turned and looked in their direction. As Xun Geng's gaze swept over them, Xu Hengyi instantly retracted his thumb.
Uh, he just, just...
His thumb was a bit uncontrollable.
Nothing else.