In the biting winter wind, a spear of dark, frost-gleaming hue pierced through the guard’s knee, pinning him like a trapped beast to the bluestone slabs outside Zheng Hua Gate. The guard collapsed, wailing in agony, sweat pouring like rain.

Everyone froze, watching helplessly as a pool of shocking red blood spread beneath the guard. Despite his agonized struggles, he couldn’t budge the spear even slightly. In an instant, everyone turned toward the spear’s source.

In their line of sight, eight tall horses approached the palace gate. Unlike Feng Zhang’s group, these riders moved unhurriedly. Though fewer in number and slower in pace, their presence far surpassed Feng Zhang’s group in intimidation.

Clad in a sleek black combat suit, the leader was Yan Chi.

Behind him, including Bai Feng, all wore combat suits and carried weapons – only Yan Chi’s hands were empty.

In this scene, the spear’s origin is self-evident.

Feng Zhang’s eyes widened dramatically. He hadn’t expected to encounter Yan Chi here, much less that Yan Chi would strike, and strike to draw blood at that.

Yan Chi moved unhurriedly, showing no anger, even maintaining a slight curve to his lips.

As he approached leisurely, Feng Zhang’s guards retreated further with each step of his horse. By the time Yan Chi reined in his horse beside the wounded guard, the Zhong Guo Duke’s guards had scattered far away.

Feng Zhang took a deep breath, feeling both fearful respect and genuine anger.

He knew Yan Chi had been retained in the capital as an official, and without his military position, he shouldn’t be quite so frightening. However, Feng Zhang also knew this Prince Rui’s heir had spent many years in the north, with a less-than-favorable reputation.

“What is Your Highness’s meaning?” Feng Zhang clenched his fists, voice suppressing rage.

Yan Chi first glanced at Qin Wan, then raised his hand and pulled the spear from the ground in one motion.

The guard screamed again in agony, and once the spear was removed, instinctively crawled toward Feng Zhang’s direction.

Outside the palace gates, the main road’s snow had begun to melt. The injured guard left a long trail of blood across the scattered snow on the bluestone road. Feng Zhang glared fiercely at the guard, prompting two nearby guards to hurriedly help the wounded man up.

Yan Chi held the spear, flicking his wrist to cast off a line of blood droplets from the spearhead.

He turned to look at Feng Zhang, “It means exactly what you see.”

Though Yan Chi’s face showed no obvious anger, his eyes were filled with frost. He stared at Feng Zhang as if the next thrust might be for him, frightening Feng Zhang so much that his spine stiffened as he tried to retreat. But standing on the carriage shaft, where could he go? Feng Zhang narrowed his eyes, showing a hint of viciousness, “Does Your Highness intend to make an enemy of the Zhong Guo Duke’s manor?”

Hearing this, Yan Chi narrowed his phoenix eyes, “Do you wish to make enemies of the Zhong Yong Marquis’s manor? Of the Grand Princess? Of the Empress Dowager? Or perhaps of His Majesty?”

Feng Zhang’s eyes bulged, “What is Your Highness saying?! What Grand Princess? What Empress Dowager and Emperor?”

The Zhong Yong Marquis’s manor didn’t frighten Feng Zhang, but the mention of the Grand Princess, Empress Dowager, and Emperor made his heart tremble.

“Ninth Young Lady of the Qin family is the Grand Princess’s adopted granddaughter, entrusted by His Majesty to treat the Empress Dowager. Knowing this, you still dare to offend her so? Perhaps you don’t wish the Empress Dowager’s condition to improve?”

Feng Zhang’s face paled, “Of course not, it’s just… just that this maid and guard showed me disrespect, I merely wanted to teach them a lesson. Your Highness shouldn’t put such a heavy charge on me.”

Yan Chi’s spear moved slightly, its bloodied tip tracing a sharp arc. Though just a small motion, it frightened the dozen-plus Feng manor guards into retreating several steps.

“I hear Young Master Feng is quite the tyrant in the capital?”

Feng Zhang didn’t know Yan Chi’s meaning, but fearing another trap in his words remained extremely cautious.

“What does Your Highness mean by that?”

Yan Chi drew his spear tip through the snow beside him, “Nothing much, just that I’ve been away from the capital so long, I didn’t realize the Zhong Guo Duke’s manor had become so arrogant. Is it the Noble Consort who gives you such a face? Or Prince Cheng?”

Feng Zhang frowned, “The affairs of the Zhong Guo Duke’s manor have nothing to do with Noble Consort or Prince Cheng.”

Yan Chi’s eyes darkened, “In that case, you, Feng Zhang alone, dare to act as a tyrant in the capital?! Though the Zhong Guo Duke bears the title of Duke, it’s merely inherited from ancestors. You father and son have done nothing for Great Zhou, nothing for its people, yet you’ve perfectly mastered the art of bullying others with power. Now you even rely on superior numbers to bully a weak woman?” As his words fell, Yan Chi pointed his spear tip at Feng Zhang’s face, “I think you shouldn’t be called a tyrant – waste of space seems more fitting.”

Never in his life had Feng Zhang suffered such an insult! Even before His Majesty, considering Noble Consort Su’s face, he was treated with courtesy. Which of the capital’s noble families didn’t give him some respect? Even those like Zhao Xing who fought with him wouldn’t point at his nose and call him waste!

Feng Zhang clenched his fists, anger erasing any trace of respectful fear. Thinking that no matter how formidable Yan Chi was, he didn’t dare say a word when His Majesty ordered him to stay in the Ministry of Justice, his eyes suddenly turned fierce!

“You call me waste?! What makes you so great?! Now you’re just a worthless official in the Ministry of Justice. If you’re so great, why didn’t you dare make a sound when His Majesty ordered you to stay in the capital?! Knowing His Majesty wants to reduce Prince Rui’s manor’s military power in Shuo Xi, you still keep quiet like a slave?!”

Standing on the carriage shaft, Feng Zhang ranted furiously, chest puffed high. In verbal sparring, he surpassed Prince Rui’s heir a hundredfold. Besides, if he didn’t counter-attack, word of being called waste would spread through the capital – how could he show his face? Though Prince Rui’s manor was powerful, they’d been away from the capital for years – how could they compare to the Zhong Guo Duke manor’s deeply rooted influence in the capital? Moreover, His Majesty’s retention of Yan Chi in the capital clearly showed intent to control power. Perhaps in His Majesty’s heart, he even feared and despised Prince Rui’s heir. Thinking thus, Feng Zhang increasingly felt Yan Chi wasn’t worth fearing.

Yan Chi listened to Feng Zhang’s words composedly, “Prince Rui’s manor commands the Shuo Xi army, protecting Great Zhou’s borders for years. His Majesty has always shown special favor to Prince Rui’s manor, yet from your mouth, His Majesty becomes an ungrateful person who suspects Prince Rui’s manor?”

Yan Chi gave a cold laugh, “Not only speaking wildly but also painting His Majesty as unjust. It seems I must discipline you on behalf of Feng Ke.” Then Yan Chi narrowed his phoenix eyes and called coldly, “Bai Feng—”

Feng Ke was the Zhong Guo Duke’s formal name. Yan Chi’s words showed extreme anger. Though the seven guards behind Yan Chi hadn’t moved during the confrontation, their faces had long shown fierce expressions. Hearing Yan Chi’s order, all seven, including Bai Feng, almost instantly leaped from their horses, all jumping toward Feng Zhang!

Seeing this, Feng Zhang was startled and quickly retreated. This retreat caused him to miss his footing and fall from the carriage. Though his martial skills weren’t poor and he could have dodged, this fall let Bai Feng catch him with a grappling move.

Bai Feng twisted his arm behind him and mercilessly drove a knee into his spine.

Feng Zhang groaned, looking up at Yan Chi in disbelief, “You… how dare you… this is the capital, outside Zheng Hua Gate, His Majesty is watching from the palace, how dare you?!”

Yan Chi sat composedly on horseback, saying nothing. Bai Feng suddenly applied more force, “Now you remember this is the capital? Now you remember this is outside Zheng Hua Gate?”

Feng Zhang gritted his teeth, glaring viciously at Yan Chi, “Let’s see if you dare touch me here!”

Usually, it was Feng Zhang bullying others. Today, even though Yan Chi’s guards struck first, he still didn’t believe Yan Chi would truly dare hit him. After he said this, Yan Chi laughed lightly on horseback, scanning the Feng manor guards who itched to move but dared not approach. Suddenly his voice deepened, “I don’t care if this is the capital or not. I’ve been with the Shuo Xi army for many years, and I only know military rules. In my camp, speaking wrong words or doing wrong deeds means punishment.”

Feng Zhang laughed coldly, spitting, “Shuo Xi?! The Shuo Xi army was originally Great Zhou’s northwestern garrison, but it’s become your Prince Rui Manor’s private army. You father and son act like little emperors in the west…”

At the mention of the Shuo Xi army, Yan Chi’s eyes turned cold, his deep abyss-like gaze sweeping over Feng Zhang like an icy arrow. Under Yan Chi’s stare, Feng Zhang couldn’t manage to speak the word “emperor.” Yan Chi’s glance made Feng Zhang’s heart pound violently, sweat breaking out on his forehead as an ominous feeling welled up – he suddenly felt afraid.

Just then, Yan Chi spoke, “In the Shuo Xi army, what’s the punishment for disrespecting a superior?”

“Fifty strokes!”

All seven men, including Bai Feng, answered in unison, each voice resonating with imposing force.

Yan Chi asked again, “What’s the punishment for disrespecting the commander?”

“One hundred strokes!”

Again they answered in unison. In the knife-like cold wind, all seven men, including Bai Feng, wore solemn expressions with steel in their eyes, as if this area outside Zheng Hua Gate had become the Shuo Xi military camp. Their disciplined bearing, tinged with bloodthirsty killing intent, intimidated the Feng manor guards into stillness.

Yan Chi asked once more, “What’s the punishment for disrespecting His Majesty?”

“Beheading!”

These two forceful words, carrying lethal intent, made not only the pinned Feng Zhang but all the Feng manor guards pale. For a moment, the guards forgot what exactly Feng Zhang had said earlier. Some wanted to rush forward to protect their master but faced with Yan Chi and the grave charge of “disrespecting His Majesty,” even that impulse was suppressed. Never mind whether they could defeat Yan Chi’s men – what if that charge fell on their heads?

Feng Zhang had protection; they did not.

Feng Zhang also grew panicked. He knew Yan Chi’s reputation for killing without blinking – what if Yan Chi truly thrust his spear here and now?!

“I didn’t! I didn’t disrespect His Majesty!”

“I only spoke about you and your father! I didn’t disrespect His Majesty!”

“You dare touch me, if you dare touch me, His Majesty will surely punish your crime!”

Yan Chi listened as if watching a jumping clown, then his lips moved to speak two words, “Do it.”

As the words fell, Bai Feng and the others, who had long been restraining themselves, rained blows on Feng Zhang like a storm. These fists struck flesh, each punch producing a muffled impact. Feng Zhang first couldn’t believe it, then gritted his teeth refusing to cry out, but after just a few blows he couldn’t hold back, and soon he was screaming in pain and distress.

While trying to dodge, he looked toward the Feng manor guards, “You… you just watch your master being beaten like this? You— you waste—”

Unable to move his guards, he could only clutch his head and continue cursing.

“You… you’ll regret this…”

Before he could finish “regret,” Feng Zhang could only focus on crying in pain. He had never known being beaten by a group could hurt so much!

Before long, over ten palace guards who had heard the commotion rushed out. Reaching the scene, they immediately bowed to Yan Chi. Their captain looked rather awkwardly at the now black and blue Feng Zhang and said, “Your Highness, this is the palace gate, I’m afraid… I’m afraid…”

Yan Chi looked at the beaten Feng Zhang, “Do you admit you’re wrong?”

At this distant question, Feng Zhang refused to speak, so Yan Chi said, “Continue.”

Bai Feng landed another heavy punch on Feng Zhang’s face, causing blood to flow from his mouth and nose!

“You will… regret…”

“You son of a…”

Feng Zhang curled into a ball, but even so, there wasn’t a spot on his body that didn’t hurt. While cursing, he was certain Yan Chi wouldn’t seriously injure him, but seeing the palace guards come out while Yan Chi showed no sign of stopping, Feng Zhang’s resolve broke – he wasn’t sure if Yan Chi might beat him to death.

All the Feng Manor guards watched anxiously as Feng Zhang was beaten beyond recognition. Previously, it was always Feng Zhang leading them to beat others. Throughout the capital, from official sons to common people, Feng Zhang could target anyone who displeased him. But now, Feng Zhang was the one being beaten. Seeing Feng Zhang’s face covered in blood, the others lowered their eyes in fear and pity. Suddenly, one person knelt, “Your Highness, please spare our master.”

With this one kneeling, the others also knelt, but Yan Chi remained unmoved, not making a sound.

Everyone knew Yan Chi was waiting for Feng Zhang to beg for mercy himself.

Just as the situation grew tense, suddenly everyone heard a low sobbing sound. The Feng manor guards looked at each other in disbelief, then toward Feng Zhang – their master had been beaten to tears?!

“No… no more…”

“I… I under… stand…”

Still, on horseback, Yan Chi asked, “What does Young Master Feng understand?”

“I… I understand…”

“I know… I was wrong…”

Gasping in pain, mixed with crying, when Feng Zhang finally managed to stutter these words, Yan Chi nodded, and Bai Feng and the others stepped back, finally giving Feng Zhang a chance to breathe.

He gulped air desperately but couldn’t move due to the pain. His eyes were covered in blood, and when he managed to open them, he saw Yan Chi had ridden up before him.

Yan Chi used his spear to flip him over. In this brief time, Feng Zhang’s face had swollen purple like a pig’s head. Yan Chi’s tone softened slightly, “A man who does wrong must take his beating – that’s the principle of being human.”

Then Yan Chi said pleasantly, “Before, you were the tyrant causing trouble in the capital, but now that I’m back, you need to change your ways. Do you know my title in the Shuo Xi army?”

“De… Demon… King…”

Feng Zhang could barely breathe as he spoke, each word bringing blood from his lips. In this state, not only the Feng manor guards but even the palace guards felt some pity for him.

The lawless Young Master Feng had never experienced such a fate before.

Yan Chi nodded slightly, “You have the word ‘king’ in your title, I also have ‘king’ in mine. This inevitably leads to conflict. The solution is for you to wise up, leaving just me. How does that sound?”

Yan Chi asked Feng Zhang as if discussing terms. Feng Zhang looked at the grey sky through tear-filled eyes.

“I… I understand…”

Tears and hatred filled Feng Zhang’s eyes, but he knew he had no choice but to say these words now.

Yan Chi straightened up, his face showing an open smile, “You all, hurry and take Young Master Feng to see a doctor.”

Then looking at Feng Zhang, he added, “Or shall we send you into the palace to see the Imperial Physicians?”

Feng Zhang narrowed his eyes, hatred deepening in them, “Fine… fine… I want… to enter the palace…”

No one was controlling Yan Chi, so he could act lawlessly and hurt him severely, but right now, he wanted to enter the palace in this state, to let the Noble Consort and His Majesty see…

Yan Chi cheerfully pointed to the palace gate, “Hurry and take him in!”

At this, the Feng manor guards quickly came forward, and even the palace guards helped. Feng Zhang was carried stiffly by four men, gasping in pain as they walked.

Watching the large group head toward the palace gate, the slight smile finally faded from Yan Chi’s face.

He looked at Feng Zhang with interest, then dismounted and walked toward Qin Wan.

Throughout all this, Qin Wan, Fu Ling, and Cheng Hu had been watching from the side.

At first, when he came to their rescue, Fu Ling felt deeply moved, but as she watched on, she somehow became frightened. Seeing Yan Chi approach, she unconsciously stepped back, and Cheng Hu also looked nervous.

Only Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi with a mix of helplessness and concern.

She knew deeply that today, even if Yan Chi was angry, he didn’t need to so openly beat Feng Zhang severely, and actively send him into the palace.

What awaited Yan Chi next? No matter how worthless Feng Zhang was, he still represented Prince Cheng and Noble Consort Su.

“Were you frightened?” Yan Chi walked up to Qin Wan, his manner normal, the concern in his eyes genuine.

Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi. Since knowing him, although she knew of his “Demon King” title, today was the first time she had seen how he “tormented” others. Though she felt Feng Zhang deserved it, if not for today, she had almost forgotten that title – was this how he acted in Shuo Xi as well?

While looking deeply at Yan Chi, she shook her head, “No.”

Yan Chi wanted to step closer, but as his foot moved, he merely shifted his stance. His lips curved, “That’s good. We came from training at the patrol camp and planned to visit the garrison in the north of the city.”

Qin Wan pressed her lips together, “Now you probably need to enter the palace.”

A hint of a smile appeared in Yan Chi’s eyes, “No matter. You return to the manor first. I don’t know if I’ll enter the palace yet – I’ll still visit the garrison as planned.”

Qin Wan wanted to say more but with so many people present, it wasn’t appropriate.

She nodded and curtsied, “Thank you for today, Your Highness.”

Yan Chi smiled, watching silently as Qin Wan boarded her carriage.

Once in the carriage, Fu Ling spoke both excitedly and nervously, “His Highness truly avenged us. That Feng Zhang was a tyrant! Who knows how many people he’s harmed before!”

Then she added, “But since His Highness beat Feng Zhang, will he…”

Even Fu Ling knew Yan Chi had taken a risk, and Qin Wan’s worry deepened further.

Qin Wan sighed, “He’s Prince Rui’s heir, he’ll be fine.”

Though she said this, her heart was unsettled. Because of this, she remained silent for the journey. When the carriage reached the manor, she went straight to the main courtyard. She needed to inform Master and Madam Qin about today’s events – if Yan Chi truly faced consequences, the Marquis’s manor wouldn’t stand idle for the sake of its interests.

Thinking this, she entered the main courtyard, where Madam Hu was waiting for her.

Seeing Qin Wan, Madam Hu took her hand and said, “Wan’er, you’re finally back. Just now, people from the Left Assistant Minister of Revenue’s house sent word that their young lady won’t come for treatment tomorrow.”

Qin Wan hadn’t expected this. The Left Assistant Minister’s daughter suffered from asthma and had agreed to come for treatment tomorrow at the Hour of Monkey. She had made some preparations last night, so why the cancellation?

Qin Wan was stunned, asking instinctively, “Why?”

Madam Hu smiled bitterly, “An elder in their clan has passed away.”