"So, you sent second brother to save the person?"
Xiao Tingyi smiled and nodded, confirming Feng Jinyao's guess.
Clever women were common in the imperial family, but only one suited his heart so perfectly.
Feng Jinyao's deduction that it was Feng Jinlin didn't surprise him; he had witnessed Feng Jinyao's intelligence many times before.
"So, what are the Prince's next plans?"
"Let the Chi family swallow the Zhu family. As for Liang Quanbin, the person behind the Zhu family will deal with him."
When the Prince mentioned the person behind the scenes, Feng Jinyao felt the situation was becoming increasingly complex.
Given the capabilities of the Prince's mansion, they had investigated the Duke of Wei's situation thoroughly. Yet, this hidden figure remained elusive, indicating their extraordinary status and cunning.
As their conversation ended, so did the chess game.
Despite Feng Jinyao's repeated comebacks, she was ultimately outplayed, losing to the Prince.
However, she didn't seem to mind, as she had suffered no losses and losing was not shameful.
The night was clear and exceptionally quiet.
Feng Jinyao gazed out the window into the dark night, lost in thought, while Xiao Tingyi watched her intently.
He had said it countless times, yet he felt he could never see enough of her.
While a picture of peaceful coexistence unfolded between them, the confrontation at the Zhu family's doorstep intensified.
Liang Quanbin, who had led the charge, was now exceptionally arrogant. Behind him stood a troop of spirited soldiers, and they had brought eight cannons.
Positioned at various corners of the Zhu residence, a single command from him would likely reduce the Zhu family to rubble.
"Zhu Hong, as an official appointed by the court, you first disregarded the law and then attempted to assassinate a superior. Such defiance of royal authority shows you hold this official in contempt. Today, I cannot spare you! If you wish to avoid harming the innocent, come out quickly and accept your death. Otherwise, I will raze your estate to the ground, showing all merchants who disrespect officials that in Jinling City, I am the one in charge!"
Upon hearing his words, the guests who had come to drink at the Zhu residence grew anxious.
They grabbed Zhu Hong's arm, pleading, "Lord Zhu, we are innocent! We came for a drink, why must we be buried with your Zhu family!"
"Exactly! My entire family is waiting for me to return. If I perish here, what will become of them!"
"Why don't we break out? I doubt Lord Liang would make things difficult for us. We are not part of the Zhu family!"
When someone suggested this, the surrounding people echoed their sentiments.
They wanted to rush to the gate and escape, but with the menacing presence outside, they couldn't open the doors so easily.
Zhu Hong then shouted, "Huo Chong, whoever dares to open the door, chop off their hands!"
"Yes!"
Huo Chong had failed to kill Liang Quanbin because Feng Jinlin had appeared in time. If these people were allowed to escape now, the Zhu family would truly lose all face.
Cao Sanlang found a secluded spot, hoping to escape this ordeal.
However, he was caught by Zhu Xiaoxian, who spoke to him fiercely.
"The feud between the Zhu and Cao families can be settled later. But if the Zhu family is annihilated today, who's to say the Cao family won't be next! The Cao family understands the principle of 'lips and teeth,' don't they?"
His words held a certain logic.
The merchants in Jinling City wielded such power because of the united front presented by the four great families.
Despite their fierce internal struggles, they were united when facing officials.
The Cao family wanted to use Liang Quanbin to destroy the Zhu family, but only if the Zhu family was absorbed by them, with their resources merely assimilated, not transferred.
However, if Liang Quanbin truly leveled the place today, the Cao family might very well be the next target.
"What do you want to do?"
"Currently, members of the Cao, Chi, and Zhu families are all present. Liang must consider this before acting. Therefore, I want to gamble using the Cao family's name and the Chi family's prestige. I bet he won't dare to act!"
Cao Sanlang was extremely reluctant. If their words were spoken, wouldn't that put the Cao family in opposition to Liang Quanbin as well?
But if he disagreed, and that madman really blew the place up, his own survival would be uncertain, and the Cao family would likely live under others' control in the future.
How could he accept that!
His face contorted with indecision, and Zhu Xiaoxian roared.
"Speak!"
At a time of life and death, there was no room for such deliberation!
Cao Sanlang gritted his teeth, nodded in agreement, and then went to the front with Zhu Xiaoxian. After exchanging glances with Chi Lingyou and the fifth master of the Chi family, they reached a basic consensus.
Then, Zhu Xiaoxian shouted towards the outside.
"Lord Liang wields great authority! You were just drinking at my Zhu residence, and now you turn your back and disown us. If my Zhu family has offended you, we will offer our apologies. Why must Lord Liang make such a grand display? Do not forget, among the guests at the mansion today are my Chi family's father-in-law, brother-in-law, the future head of the Cao family, and the leading figures from nearly half of Jinling City's various industries. If Lord Liang's cannons truly strike, are you not afraid that the entire Jinling City will tremble?"
Provoked by Zhu Xiaoxian, Liang Quanbin found it difficult to maintain his composure.
However, his heated mind immediately realized the truth. Indeed, dealing with a single Zhu family was not difficult, but opposing the entire merchant power of Jinling City was. If he were to bombard the place today, his Governor's Mansion would likely be barren by tomorrow.
But how could he swallow this insult!
He shouted back at Zhu Xiaoxian, "Stop trying to fool this official! If you and your father are sensible and bring out that villain Huo Chong to atone, I will naturally let the other innocent people leave. But if you refuse a toast and insist on a penalty, do not blame me for showing no mercy!"
As he spoke with passion, he immediately ordered someone to fire a flare into the sky.
The naval camp outside was on high alert, while the innocent merchants inside grew increasingly panicked.
"Lord Liang has already stated that as long as you Zhu family members come out, he will let us go. Why do you insist on implicating us all in death?"
The guests, who had been laughing and celebrating, now wore expressions of fear. Zhu Hong's face turned a mottled purple, clearly indicating his extreme anger.
Huo Chong, standing beside him, frowned and said, "Brother-in-law, why don't I surrender? He's after me anyway, and I'll just pay with my life. Today is Xiaoxian's joyous occasion; we can't let the newly married Miss Chi become a widow!"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"Uncle, you cannot!"
The Zhu family had always been united, and this was even more so in times of hardship.
Zhu Hong and Zhu Xiaoxian knew very well what kind of person Liang Quanbin was. If Huo Chong were handed over, he would likely be riddled with arrows.
However, if a fight were to break out now, they were not entirely confident of victory.