"Insolent! Do you know Lord Zhao is a third-rank official of the court? How can you, a mere child, accuse him on the street!" the guards rebuked, their questioning gazes turning to Su Qingtian.
A glint flashed in Su Qingtian's eyes, and he said sternly, "The laws of the land stipulate that court officials who abet harm shall be punished as severely as the perpetrators."
He paused, his expression turning fierce. "But if it is a false accusation, the accuser shall face the ultimate penalty!"
The last two words were spoken deliberately, like sharp blades scraping against Zhao Xiaoxiao's heart.
A wave of pressure descended from the horse, striking Zhao Xiaoxiao.
She bent over, her palms sweating, and nervously clutched the hem of her clothes. Meeting Su Yunmo's encouraging gaze, she gritted her teeth and straightened her back.
"Zhao Xuntian's daughter maliciously injured my mother's eyes, nearly causing her death. Zhao Xuntian's wife has been oppressing and beating me for years; the injuries on my body are proof."
"If the general does not believe me, he may enter the mansion to see. My mother is still lying in bed."
Su Qingtian narrowed his brows and glanced at the child in his arms.
His mother was gravely injured and bedridden, yet this girl could remain so calm and come to him to lodge a complaint?
Under normal circumstances, a child this young would have long since been terrified and crying for her parents.
He would never believe that the Zhao family's daughter had no one supporting her behind the scenes!
Su Yunmo looked up, meeting Su Qingtian's probing gaze.
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Daddy, that little friend is so pitiful. Let's help her~"
Help!
Seeing this situation, it was clearly a matter of the final push. How could he not help!
Su Qingtian gritted his teeth in frustration.
He always felt that ever since this little brat entered the mansion, his status as a general had plummeted!
He dismounted, lifted Su Yunmo down as well, and strode towards the mansion.
He wanted to see what this little brat was up to.
The mansion guards quickly went to report.
Zhao Xuntian came out to meet them and stopped everyone in the main courtyard.
His gaze swept over Zhao Xiaoxiao, a fierce light in his eyes.
Zhao Xiaoxiao lowered her head, ignoring everything.
"General Su's grand arrival, I regret not welcoming you from afar." Zhao Xuntian cupped his hands in a salute to Su Qingtian.
Then, he adopted a more forceful tone: "If the general is here to visit, my humble abode would offer good hospitality. But we are both officials of the court; what reason does the general have for forcing his way in?"
As he finished speaking, the mansion guards behind him lined up.
The two sides were in opposition.
Su Qingtian remained calm and composed. "This general has been ordered to restore order in the capital. Upon encountering someone accusing Lord Zhao of misconduct, and given my concurrent duty to supervise all officials, I cannot ignore it."
Zhao Xuntian signaled to his servants, and a maid stepped forward to pull Zhao Xiaoxiao aside.
"It's just a child's tantrum, why should the general take it seriously? If word gets out, others will not say the general is upholding justice, but rather that we officials harbor ill will and trouble each other."
Zhao Xiaoxiao did not resist, as if she were not the one who had just indignantly lodged a complaint outside.
Su Qingtian did not care about the eyes of outsiders, but he was somewhat confused about the situation and instinctively glanced at Su Yunmo.
This girl had been causing trouble for days, her goal being to get him into the mansion. But now that it came to the main issue, why was she silent?
"Mmmph~" Su Yunmo yawned, hugging Su Qingtian's waist groggily. "Daddy, Momo is so sleepy. Momo wants to sleep."
Su Qingtian's eyelids twitched. "If you want to sleep, go back and sleep!"
"No~ Momo can't wait." Su Yunmo raised her hand and casually pointed in a direction. "That place looks so nice. Momo wants to sleep there."
Su Qingtian looked up.
The place Su Yunmo pointed to was a tall tower, appearing to be a library or a storehouse.
"It's inconvenient at the mansion right now," Zhao Xuntian said abruptly, his tone hurried.
Su Qingtian, sensing a hint of abnormality, frowned and looked back.
Zhao Xuntian met Su Qingtian's gaze, his eyes flickering slightly. He suppressed his emotions and said, "The young miss is young and accustomed to her bed; I fear she won't sleep well elsewhere. General, perhaps you should take her back to your mansion early."
"I don't want to, I don't want to! I want to sleep there!" Su Yunmo grabbed Su Qingtian's chest with both hands and climbed into his embrace.
She wailed and cried, "Daddy, I want to go~ Momo wants to go! I just want to~ I'm not going home, Momo's not going home~"
A willful and ignorant child would always make adults helpless.
"Don't be naughty, Daddy is going to get angry." Su Qingtian reprimanded her symbolically, his gaze returning to the tall tower.
There must be something there.
Su Yunmo cried loudly, hugging his neck when she was scolded.
Su Qingtian sighed helplessly, patting her back. "Lord Zhao, as you can see, my daughter is spoiled by her mother. It would be best to borrow a room."
He paused, then added, "This matter that Lord Zhao's younger daughter mentioned, this general must also verify. I ask Lord Zhao to cooperate."
Su Qingtian strode forward.
Zhao Xuntian stepped forward to block him.
A dark gleam flashed in Su Qingtian's eyes. "Move aside!"
He was a man who had been to battle; his every word carried authority, his presence surpassing that of civil officials. His gaze alone could scare away thousands of troops.
Zhao Xuntian instinctively leaned back, his expression somewhat grim, but he still stood his ground.
Suddenly, a cold light flashed.
Su Qingtian, holding the child in his arms, leaped away.
The sword grazed Zhao Xuntian's ink-black crown, knocking it off.
A masked man, wielding a long sword, thrust it towards Zhao Xuntian's chest.
Zhao Xuntian had no time to react, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. As he retreated, his arm was grazed.
"Guards, quickly, guards!"
The scene immediately descended into chaos.
Zhao Mansion guards rushed forward to surround and attack the masked man.
Su Yunmo noticed a scar beneath the masked man's left eye, extending down under the mask.
This person's movements were fierce, and within moments, he had knocked down all the mansion guards.
Su Qingtian narrowed his eyes. "Xi Tian."
A gust of wind swept forward, and Xi Tian swung his saber, chopping down the masked man's sword.
Everyone moved forward together, subduing the masked man. The mask fell off, revealing an unremarkable face.
Zhao Xuntian, clutching his injured arm, glared menacingly at the man. "Who are you, to dare trespass into the Zhao Mansion!"
The masked man's gaze swept over Su Qingtian, then paused on Su Yunmo. He turned back and said resentfully, "Zhao Xuntian, do you still remember the Xu family massacre forty years ago!"
Zhao Xuntian's expression changed drastically. "This official knows nothing of what you speak. You attempted to assassinate a court official; by law, you shall be executed. Guards! Take him..."
"Wait!" Su Qingtian bellowed, restraining the servants. "This matter, this general would like to hear about."
He had heard of the Xu family massacre before.
At that time, Zhao Xuntian was the prefect of Yanzhou. Xu Yinglong, the prefectural magistrate of Yanzhou, was murdered in his yamen by unknown assailants and his body was hung for a day and a night.
The murder of a court official was naturally a major event, and the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation.
However, the investigating official returned to the capital and only stated that Xu Yinglong had been killed by rioting peasants.
As the riots at the time were caused by a natural disaster, and after the disaster was quelled, the matter was dropped.
Now, it seemed, there was great suspicion surrounding the incident.
Zhao Xuntian took a deep breath, veins bulging on his forehead, and gritted out, "Su Qingtian, do not push your luck!"
Feng Chen had already left the capital. Why was he being so aggressive?
He and the General's Mansion had no past grievances; why was he suddenly attacking the Zhao family?
It was one thing to impeach him before the Emperor two days ago, and it was understandable for him to enter the mansion today, but his actions now clearly indicated he was trying to catch him in a mistake!
Su Qingtian swept him a cold glance. "So what if I am pushing you?"