“No one dares make the Young Master suffer injustice.”
Xie Zhifei acted as if he hadn’t heard those comments, smiling as he looked at the roads on both sides blocked tight with people.
“On such a cold day, everyone needs to get home for a hot meal!”
“Oh, judging by Lord Xie’s tone, you want to stand up for He Shizi?”
“What could this insignificant Five Cities official stand up for?”
Xie Zhifei smiled with a gentle expression.
“I’m just someone who smooths things over. I can’t offend either side, so I try to persuade both, hoping to make big issues small and small issues disappear, trying my best not to trouble the elders of both households.”
Only at this point did Zhao Yixian seriously size up Xie Zhifei.
This fellow wore a smiling face and seemed to have no temper, but his words had one layer of meaning on the surface and another layer within.
The household elders—one the Prince of Han, one the Marquis of Wu’an.
Though the Prince of Han was favored, don’t forget that the He family’s ancestors followed the Founding Emperor to establish the dynasty.
If this matter truly escalated, the He family had only one legitimate son. For this one precious sprout, the Marquis of Wu’an would risk everything to drag down the Prince of Han’s household.
Did Young Master Zhao want peace and prosperity, or mutual destruction? Weigh it yourself.
Zhao Yixian’s original plan had been perfect—force He Yun to admit to inciting servants to violence, then tomorrow the Censorate would submit a memorial and make the Marquis of Wu’an’s life difficult for a while.
He hadn’t expected Lord Xie to suddenly step in sideways.
Lord Xie.
Xie Zhifei.
Du Yiyun’s childhood sweetheart.
Good.
Very good!
Zhao Yixian smiled and, after choosing his words carefully, said: “Since Lord Xie wants to smooth things over, this young master will give Lord Xie some face.”
Xie Zhifei was about to express thanks when he heard Zhao Yixian continue:
“But injuring someone is still injuring someone. Even if Imperial Physician Pei’s medical skills are excellent, that hand is ruined. Since Lord Xie and He Shizi are such good friends, let Lord Xie make the apology.”
Xie Zhifei was straightforward: “What does the Young Master want me to do?”
“Simple.”
Zhao Yixian glanced at him. “You, Lord Xie, kneel down and beg me. Then this matter is over.”
“Dream your mother’s spring dream.”
He Yun flew into a rage. “Surname Zhao, don’t push your luck…”
“He Wenyu!”
He Yun looked at Xie Zhifei in astonishment.
Xie Zhifei suppressed his anger, his eyes darkening as he signaled him to shut up.
He Yun’s neck stiffened: Why the hell should I shut up?
Xie Zhifei sneered coldly: Fine, if you want to make this bigger, go ahead and keep talking, keep cursing!
He Yun lowered his head, his teeth grinding audibly.
Seeing him behave, Xie Zhifei took a step forward to stand before Zhao Yixian, slowly curving his lips into a smile.
“If I kneel, today’s matter is wiped clean?”
“If you kneel, the matter is wiped clean.”
Zhao Yixian laughed lowly, deliberately provoking him: “I always keep my word. I just wonder if Lord Xie can bend his waist for a good brother.”
“I can!”
Xie Zhifei lifted his robe and bent his knees to kneel.
“Xie Chengyu!”
He Yun desperately tried to pull him up. “Get the fuck up right now!”
A man’s knees bear gold beneath them.
No matter what, Xie Zhifei was the legitimate son of Cabinet Minister Xie Daozhi. This kneeling wouldn’t just humiliate himself.
It would humiliate the entire Xie family too!!
Xie Zhifei pushed away his hand and declared loudly: “Young Master, I apologize to you on Wenyu’s behalf. This matter wasn’t big to begin with—each side yields a step, and let’s let it pass!”
His action actually shocked even Zhao Yixian.
Zhao Yixian had never imagined that Xie Zhifei would actually abase himself so completely and kneel to him.
Was this man a spineless coward?
Did he have no face at all?
In front of all these witnesses, he said darkly: “Lord Xie, please rise quickly. For a He Wenyu, is it really worth it?”
“Young Master is mistaken. This kneeling isn’t for He Wenyu.”
Xie Zhifei raised his head and declared loudly, word by word:
“A few days ago, my father told me that the Tartars have been bullying the common people on our Hua nation’s borders—burning, killing, and plundering with limitless evil. The common people suffer, and His Majesty is enraged.
Recently, the Five Cities Military Commissioner uncovered Tartar spies in the city. Their arrogance has reached such heights that I privately speculate His Majesty will never sit idly by.
Your father, the Prince of Han, took to the battlefield at just over ten years old. He once followed His Majesty in campaigns north and south, achieving magnificent military merit.
He Shizi’s father, the Marquis of Wu’an, commands the Northern Camp’s Wuling Army. His ancestors followed the Founding Emperor into battle. Of three legitimate sons, two died on the battlefield. The He household, top to bottom, has absolute loyal hearts.
This kneeling of mine is first to kneel to two generals, thanking them for previously risking their lives for the common people and for the Hua nation. Second, I hope the two households won’t develop enmity over such a small matter.
If in the future there must be a battle between the Hua nation and the Tartars, both the Prince of Han and the Marquis of Wu’an are His Majesty’s left and right arms. With ruler and ministers of one heart, inside and outside of one heart, above and below of one heart—only then can our mountains and rivers endure, and the nation find eternal peace.”
When his words fell, the originally noisy and bustling street fell silent.
The watching commoners were stunned.
My god!
So Lord Xie wasn’t groveling—he has the family, the nation, and all under heaven in his heart!
“His heart is truly extraordinary!”
“He’s making me want to cry.”
“So what if he’s cut-sleeve? At least he’s a true man.”
Amid the murmurs, Xie Zhifei stood up and, meeting Zhao Yixian’s gaze, smiled calmly.
“He Yun, come thank the Young Master.”
He Yun looked deeply at Xie Zhifei, then stepped forward to stand before Zhao Yixian, deliberately putting on an extremely respectful appearance.
“Wenyu thanks the Young Master. Someone, turn the carriage around and back it up. Please allow the Young Master to pass first!”
Guards immediately went to lead the horses.
With this leading and backing up, more murmurs arose from the crowd.
“Really domineering. I clearly saw it was the Prince of Han’s carriage that blocked the Marquis of Wu’an’s first.”
“I saw it too.”
“Clearly it was also the Prince of Han’s servants who struck first.”
“I saw it too.”
“Shh, hurry up and shut your mouths, or do you all have a death wish?”
The situation had suddenly reversed. Zhao Yixian was so angry his lungs nearly exploded. With an iron-blue face, he hastily climbed into his carriage.
He Yun’s mischievous side emerged.
“Young Master, I was wrong. Next time you block me, I definitely won’t argue with you. I’ll definitely obediently let you pass first.”
He shouted very loudly—almost the entire street could hear.
What’s called wicked?
This is wicked!
Confirming that Zhao Yixian deliberately provoked them relying on his status, aggressive and overbearing.
Not only aggressive and overbearing, but he forcibly made the dignified Cabinet Minister’s son kneel and beg for mercy.
Inside the carriage.
Zhao Yixian viciously pounded the carriage wall several times.
Hearing this, the close attendant quickly urged: “Go, go quickly!”
With no more excitement to watch, the crowd dispersed in a rush.
Among the scattering crowd, two men in gray clothes led horses while conversing in low voices—it was Bu Liu and his subordinate Zhang Kui.
Zhang Kui, thinking about that scene just now, sighed: “Boss, this Lord Xie is quite something!”
More than quite something—he could bend and stretch, had courage and strategy, dissolving what should have been a confrontation of drawn swords into nothing.
Not only that, he also very cleverly countered Zhao Yixian’s move, making Zhao Yixian appear to have the upper hand while actually getting covered in filth.
“That son of a dog really suits my damn taste.”
Bu Liu laughed lowly.