Across from the Yufeng Tower, in a teahouse, even though it was winter and the cold wind carried choking smoke, the windows on the second floor were still open. If the common folk on the street looked up, they would see Zhe Jing and Wen Ruyi by the window.
"I want to see how this lowly girl will get out of this!" Zhe Jing's face was filled with joy, she didn't feel the chill of winter, and looked down from the building with smug satisfaction, just waiting to see Zhan Feiyu in trouble.
"No matter what, Miss Zhan should not have offended the Rui Wangfei," Wen Ruyi's voice was as gentle as ever, her beautiful but dignified and elegant face showing a hint of helplessness.
"She deserves it!" Zhe Jing sneered mercilessly. Thinking of how she had been repeatedly rebuffed by Zhan Feiyu, she wished the officers of the Five City Patrol would take her away immediately. Regardless of what happened afterward, a young lady entering the yamen and prison would have her reputation ruined.
Wen Ruyi did not speak again. She sat back in her chair with graceful composure and skillfully began to brew tea. However, her gaze kept drifting through the window towards the street below, but her eyes passed over Zhan Feiyu and looked behind her.
At this moment, looking at the imposing Deputy Envoy Ma, Zhan Feiyu hesitated. If it were just people from the Five City Patrol, it would be fine. She was afraid that others were hidden among the crowd.
But she couldn't go to the Five City Patrol; that would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den.
"Miss Zhan, have you considered it?" Deputy Envoy Ma suddenly drew his sabre, as if he had lost patience. "I advise you to obediently come with us. It's almost the New Year, and bloodshed on the street is inauspicious."
In the carriage, the Rui Wangfei did not urge them. She was just a village girl. As long as there was an excuse, this lowly girl's life or death was in her hands!
"Get out of the way!" Just then, a shout came from outside the crowd, accompanied by the clatter of hooves on the bluestone slabs.
The surrounding common folk subconsciously turned their heads. When they saw a team of people galloping towards them, they were stunned, and then, as if they had seen Yama, the king of hell, they scrambled to make way.
Someone dared to cause trouble? Deputy Envoy Ma frowned unhappily, but when he looked back, his expression changed drastically.
"Whoa..." Zhong Guang reined in his black horse, holding the reins in one hand and a horsewhip in the other. He pointed at Deputy Envoy Ma and the others with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "What's going on? Are the Five City Patrol and the Shuntian Prefecture rebelling?"
"Your subordinate dares not!" Deputy Envoy Ma immediately sheathed the military sabre he had drawn. His respect was tinged with fear. He could disregard the constables of the Shuntian Prefecture, but he absolutely dared not offend the people in front of him.
Ignoring the bowing Deputy Envoy Ma, Zhong Guang looked at the still burning Yufeng Tower. "If you are not rebelling, why aren't you saving the fire? Why aren't you arresting the arsonist?"
If the fire was set by an ordinary person, Deputy Envoy Ma would have saved it immediately, not only to please the Wen family but also because it was the duty of the Five City Patrol. However, the key was that the arsonist was the Rui Wangfei. Even if he had the heart of a leopard, he wouldn't dare to arrest her.
Zhan Feiyu's eyes were filled with relief and joy. She stepped forward, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the arsonist is precisely them. I request Your Excellency to enforce the law impartially!"
Kuang Xu and several guards from the Rui Prince's mansion wanted to curse their fathers. They glared at Zhan Feiyu, full of anger but unable to speak. This girl was not kind!
... When the fire was set earlier, they had even deliberately let water flow, allowing He Sheng to rescue the cook and the young maid. But what was the result? Miss Zhan had stabbed them in the back, and more importantly, she had reported them to the Imperial Dragon Guard.
"Oh? Someone dared to set fire to the Yufeng Tower in broad daylight. Is this because they have a grudge against the Wen family, or do they disregard the laws of Daqing?" Zhong Guang said in a sarcastic tone, looking at Kuang Xu and the others with complex expressions. "So it's people from the Rui Prince's mansion. Do they dare to be so lawless!"
Previously, when the Five City Patrol wanted to arrest people, the constables of the Shuntian Prefecture dared not interfere. Now, it was obvious to everyone that Zhong Guang was looking for trouble. Deputy Envoy Ma subtly moved backward. Everyone in the capital knew that the Imperial Dragon Guard and the Rui Prince's mansion had always been at odds.
"You say our Rui Prince's mansion set fire to the Yufeng Tower. Who saw it?" Jin Yu did not dare to offend Zhong Guang, so her anger was directed at Zhan Feiyu. She pointed at Zhan Feiyu with a sharp and fierce voice, "You offended our Wangfei first, and now you dare to accuse the Rui Prince's mansion of arson. I think you are tired of living..."
A whip whistled through the air. Jin Yu only felt a blur in front of her eyes, and then she was sent flying. Her right arm, which had been pointing at Zhan Feiyu, was numb with pain. A bloody whip mark on the back of her hand, torn and bleeding, dripped blood.
They dared to act without a word, and they struck someone from the Rui Prince's mansion, the head maid beside the Rui Wangfei!
Everyone present gasped. This was truly the arrogance only the Imperial Dragon Guard possessed.
Kuang Xu and the mansion guards wished they could turn back time. They would rather break their legs than follow the Wangfei out, but they were encountered by the Imperial Dragon Guard.
"Please, Your Excellency, show mercy!" Kuang Xu said, bracing himself. As the deputy commander of the mansion, he had no face at all with the Imperial Dragon Guard, but it was his duty, so Kuang Xu had to step forward.
Sitting on his horse, Zhong Guang looked down at Kuang Xu. "Deputy Commander Kuang exaggerates. This is the first time someone has shouted at me, so my hand itched and I used the whip."
lv Yan reminds you to collect after reading.