She was afraid others wouldn't know how badly she had beaten people.
Xie Jiang dismounted with the others in front of the palace gate, her tone devoid of emotion. "Didn't you notice they were more severely injured?"
Huh?
Having been focused on the bruised and battered faces, Lu Yuqing turned back upon hearing Xie Jiang's words. After a careful examination, she realized that none of the royal descendants could stand on their own.
They were all being carried.
Some couldn't even straighten their backs, lying half-reclined. Some had broken arms, others broken legs.
And some, with unknown injuries, were wrapped all over like dumplings.
Lu Yuqing realized her perspective had been narrow. The Marquis of Nanhai didn't pick and choose where to strike; she hit wherever she pleased.
She never held back.
Not only did she not care if the injuries were obvious, but she also didn't care if people knew about her brutality.
She hit them, so what?
What of it?
Too brazen!
The group waited outside the Yuanyou Palace gate for two quarters of an hour before Eunuch Hong Wei emerged.
His Majesty was not available for an audience.
A few good-for-nothing scions had fought with the Marquis of Nanhai over a courtesan.
Being too incompetent, they were soundly beaten by the Marquis of Nanhai and were now seeking an audience with His Majesty to complain?
His Majesty found it embarrassing!
However, this didn't mean His Majesty sided with the Marquis of Nanhai. After all, the Yong'an County Prince and his entourage were all surnamed Xia.
The Marquis of Nanhai beating the Yong'an County Prince and his entourage, while not directly an insult to His Majesty, as the Yong'an County Prince and his group didn't represent him, still left His Majesty somewhat displeased with the Marquis of Nanhai's lack of restraint.
Hong Wei politely conveyed His Majesty's message and then instructed Hong Tao to escort everyone to Shangyi Pavilion.
Xu Shuo and the others were eager to go to Shangyi Pavilion. Facing the Young Master Yi, they dared not breathe too loudly, but it was certainly less daunting than facing His Majesty directly.
Although Prince Yong was reluctant, he didn't dare say much more.
As the two groups were about to head towards Shangyi Pavilion, a tall and handsome figure, led by an attendant, approached the Yuanyou Palace.
"Young Master."
He Zhifei took a glance from afar and stepped forward to salute Xie Jiang.
Xie Jiang nodded without saying much.
"Young Master He."
Hong Wei showed a rare smile upon seeing He Zhifei. After He Zhifei finished saluting Xie Jiang, he cordially invited He Zhifei into the Yuanyou Palace.
After a few days, everyone in the capital had come to understand that the person in charge of the Lan Yong envoy delegation was not Xie Taihong, but this young and capable Young Master He.
Old Master Xie Taihong was only responsible for social interactions; all official matters were decided by Young Master He.
As for the Marquis of Nanhai, Xie Jiang? She was a troublemaker, audacious and reckless, who was always causing trouble. If she hadn't been fortunate enough to be surnamed Xie, she would have been killed countless times in Da Yu territory!
He Zhifei calmly entered the Yuanyou Palace with Hong Wei, and all eyes fell on Xie Jiang.
Hong Wei's attitude just now directly indicated His Majesty's stance.
His Majesty was not free to grant them an audience, but he was readily available to receive the Lan Yong envoy.
Prince Yong snorted heavily as he stared at Xie Jiang, then waved his sleeve, signaling for his servants to carry him towards Shangyi Pavilion.
The Yong'an County Prince and others following behind were also carried by their respective household servants. Although the passage within and outside the palace was relatively smooth, the group groaned continuously along the way.
Lu Yuqing frowned upon hearing them, "They're already in this state, why insist on carrying them into the palace?" Wasn't it embarrassing enough?
Xu Hengyi glanced at Xie Jiang beside him. "The injuries on their bodies are all evidence. What is heard is false, what is seen is true. If they lie on the ground and groan from time to time, with no good flesh on their bodies, no one can possibly shield Xie Jiang."
Lu Yuqing immediately suspected, "Could they have deliberately worsened their injuries to convict Marquis Xie?"
Xu Hengyi asked, "Do you think Xie Jiang would leave them any room for that?"
They were barely being rescued; if they deliberately worsened their injuries, they wouldn't be saved.
"That's true..."
Lu Yuqing recalled the scene of blood mixed with teeth rolling down from the sole of Xie Jiang's foot.
~
Yi Yanguan was no easier to meet than His Majesty.
His Majesty was busy pursuing his elusive Great Dao.
Yi Yanguan was busy handling the myriad of political affairs within and outside the court.
"My master is currently in discussion with Prime Minister Xun and the esteemed officials of the Political Affairs Hall. It won't conclude anytime soon, so Old Prince, you might have to wait a while."
Shan Bai invited everyone to a side hall before hurrying away.
Whether it was at Yi Yanguan's instruction or because he was genuinely busy, he didn't even bid farewell to Xie Jiang.
In the side hall, besides the plaintiff and the defendant, there were over a dozen civil and military officials in different colored robes, all with official duties and waiting to be summoned by Yi Yanguan.
After rising to pay their respects to Prince Yong and Xie Jiang, who held noble titles, the dozen officials returned to their seats, exchanging glances subtly.
The eyes of the civil officials held a hint of disdain.
Most people had heard about the commotion at Chunse Manyuan last night.
Fighting over courtesans and causing trouble at the palace – the royal descendants and noble scions of today were truly becoming more accomplished.
Shangyi Pavilion was not large to begin with, and this side hall was even less spacious. With twenty to thirty people crammed inside, the smell was quite pungent.
Xie Jiang glanced at the entrance, then turned and walked out.
Xu Hengyi was practically clinging to Xie Jiang's leg and naturally followed wherever Xie Jiang went.
Xu Shuo, Lu Yuqing, and Yue Lin, feeling nauseated by the various medicinal smells emanating from the royal descendants, also followed suit.
The people in Shangyi Pavilion were all swamped with work. Xu Hengyi didn't dare to stop anyone to ask for a stool, so he sat on the steps with Xie Jiang, uninhibited.
Lu Yuqing sat beside Xu Hengyan and said to Xu Shuo and Yue Lin, "I don't know how long we'll have to wait. Let's rest our feet first."
Yue Lin remarked, "Young Master Yi is handling state affairs day and night, with so many military and national matters awaiting his attention, our little issue seems to be a waste of Young Master Yi's time."
Lu Yuqing grumbled, "Prince Yong is this old. If he insists on wasting Young Master Yi's time, what can we do?"
Xie Jiang raised her hand, pinched Xu Hengyi's nape, and forcefully turned him to face away from her.
Xu Hengyi stared at Lu Yuqing's handsome profile, blinking, then looked past Lu Yuqing at Yue Lin and Xu Shuo, confused, thinking Xie Jiang was forcing him to look at something.
Who knew that the next second he felt Xie Jiang leaning against his back.
Xie Jiang was using him as a backrest.
"..."
Xu Hengyi had no room to resist.
Not only could he not resist? If he leaned even slightly, a piece of his thigh would be pinched off. Ruthless and unreasonable!
Xu Hengyi could only silently choke back his despair.
People entered and exited Shangyi Pavilion. Time ticked by, and the five of them sat on the steps, drowsy.
After an unknown amount of time, just as Xu Hengyi had been pinched on the thigh more than ten times, the door to the main hall finally opened.
Yi Yanguan and Xun Geng emerged first, followed by six or seven officials.
As Yi Yanguan's gaze swept over them, Xie Jiang's hand was resting on Xu Hengyi's thigh.