After Zhang Shaoyou finished speaking, a round of cheers suddenly erupted from the onlookers.
This made Cai Tao’s face even more displeased. Wasn't this clearly slapping him in the face?
"Who's this scoundrel? Come out here!"
Before Cai Tao could speak, Cai Siyuan, standing behind him, immediately stepped forward and shouted.
Although he was merely a servant of the Cai family, he was usually the most trusted by Cai Tao. Seeing his master insulted, he, the lackey, naturally couldn't stand idly by.
Cai Tao didn't dare to storm the Kaifeng Prefecture without orders, but he had the courage to deal with these common people.
Seeing his ferocious demeanor, the surrounding crowd immediately parted to both sides, quickly clearing a small area in the middle.
"Scoundrel? Are you insulting me?"
Despite only being two people, the leading youth showed no sign of fear. Instead, a cold sneer played on his lips.
"So what if I am? I'm going to beat you too!"
As Cai Siyuan spoke, he raised the cudgel in his hand, preparing to strike.
*Smack—*
Before his foot could land, Cai Tao, standing beside him, slapped him across the face with his backhand.
"Open your dog eyes and see clearly, this is the Crown Prince of Yue!"
Hearing Cai Tao’s words, Cai Siyuan’s whole body trembled.
"Scholar Cai, your Cai family's servants are truly formidable. Even if I, Zhao Youyi, am not very accomplished, I am still the Emperor's nephew and a descendant of Emperor Taizong. And yet, this dog calls me a 'scoundrel'? What do you intend to do about this? If you don't give me an explanation today, we can go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and discuss it. Let's see if our ancestors of the Zhao family will agree!"
Before Cai Tao could explain, Zhao Youyi unleashed a barrage of words like a volley of cannonballs.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. This… this subservient slave…"
This was truly an undeserved calamity. At this moment, Cai Tao was thoroughly shocked by this sudden lightning strike from a clear sky.
On this matter, Zhao Youyi had seized the initiative completely. No matter what, he was the esteemed Crown Prince of Yue, and slandering royal blood was, at the end of the day, Cai Tao's fault.
"What 'this'? Scholar, aren't you going to give me an explanation?"
Seeing the sweat beading on Cai Tao's forehead, Zhao Youyi coldly asked again.
"Guards, beat him! Beat him to death!"
The Cai family already had enough troubles. Cai Tao certainly wouldn't confront Zhao Youyi head-on in the street because of a servant. After a moment's hesitation, he quickly ordered the servants behind him.
"Spare me, Scholar, spare me!"
Hearing Cai Tao's words, Cai Siyuan's entire body trembled. This meant he intended to sacrifice his life to appease Zhao Youyi!
"Stuff his mouth!"
He had already lost enough face today. Now, because of this wretched servant, he had lost face to an unimaginable degree.
Thinking of this, Cai Tao was filled with uncontrollable anger.
"Mmm—mmm—mmm—"
Since he had already said so, the servants behind him could only comply with his orders. Several of them pinned Cai Siyuan to the ground and began to beat him with their cudgels.
Pitiful Cai Siyuan, his mouth now stuffed with a piece of rag, couldn't even cry out for help, only letting out a series of meaningless mumbles.
"I originally thought your Cai family was a well-to-do family in Bianliang City, but I didn't expect the scholar to be so harsh to his subordinates. Do you usually not even give them enough to eat? They're hitting him so lightly, one might think they were covering for an accomplice!"
Even though Cai Tao’s posture was already very low, Zhao Youyi still showed no intention of letting him off. With a light chuckle, he spoke again.
This made Cai Tao’s face even more grim, and his fierce gaze was like a knife, causing the servants who were administering the punishment to tremble.
The situation had already escalated to this point. Even if they secretly wanted to shield Cai Siyuan, they could only exert their full strength now.
As a result, Cai Siyuan suffered greatly. After only a few blows, his buttocks were already torn and bleeding.
*Bang—*
*Bang—*
*Bang—*
Listening to the sounds of cudgels hitting flesh, Cai Tao, his face dark and his teeth clenched, said through gritted teeth:
"Does Your Highness find this satisfactory?"
"Scholar, you seem unconvinced? Please don't misunderstand, I have no intention of making things difficult for you. I just want to seek justice for myself and for the ancestors of my Zhao family!"
The more angry Cai Tao became, the brighter Zhao Youyi's smile grew.
Looking at the smile on his face, Cai Tao felt as if his lungs were about to explode.
He was almost certain that this bastard had done this intentionally today. However, no matter how angry he was, the initiative was still in the other person's hands. No matter how great his grievance, he could only endure it for now.
In that instant, he suddenly understood why his father had forbidden him from coming here. At this moment, he truly felt like a stupid pig!
Knowing it was a trap set by others, he had still come here to humiliate himself!
"S-Scholar, he, he's fainted…"
As the two confronted each other, a Cai family servant cautiously approached and asked.
"Continue beating!"
Looking at Zhao Youyi, who was smiling, Cai Tao gritted his teeth and uttered three words again.
"If y-you keep beating him, he might…"
Hearing this, the servant was about to say something more, but under Cai Tao's intimidating gaze, he immediately shrunk his neck and swallowed the rest of his words.
*Bang—*
*Bang—*
*Bang—*
Listening to the monotonous sounds, the Cai family servants, who had been so arrogant moments ago, now had their scalps tingling. This was clearly an attempt to beat Cai Siyuan to death!
"Stop! Stop! Scholar Cai, what are you doing? This was not my intention. I merely wanted the scholar to discipline them properly. This is a bit excessive, wouldn't you say?"
Seeing that Cai Siyuan lying there was no longer showing any signs of life, Zhao Youyi suddenly coughed and, with a blank expression, cupped his hands towards Cai Tao.
Damn it!
His saying this made Cai Tao truly want to bite him to death. This scoundrel really said everything he wanted!
"Stop!"
"S-Scholar, he, he's dead…"