Warm blood splattered across Lu Tong’s face.

Chaos erupted around them.

In the confusion, Lu Dashan dodged sideways – the flower pin missed his eye but struck his left cheek.

Lu Tong had struck with full force; the silver needle buried nearly halfway into his flesh before being violently torn away, instantly creating a bloody gash.

Lu Dashan howled in pain, consumed by rage. Forgetting about Lei Yuan, he thrust his blade directly at Lu Tong: “You bitch, I’ll kill you!”

However, Lu Tong had already broken free from his grip the moment he dodged, immediately running forward. The blade’s murderous intent swept in from the side, and she couldn’t avoid it in time. She watched as that silver glint was about to strike her face.

“Miss, watch out!” Yin Zheng’s heart leaped to her throat – this strike, even if not fatal, would certainly destroy her face.

Behind them, Lei Yuan on horseback narrowed his eyes and waved his hand, his subordinates’ arrows flying straight toward Lu Dashan.

Lu Tong felt the cold blade edge right before her eyes and couldn’t help but grit her teeth.

She didn’t care about her looks – if sacrificing her appearance could save her life, she would do so without hesitation.

But not now.

At this critical moment, suddenly there came a whooshing sound from afar. Before anyone could see clearly, a golden light pierced through the crowd, heavily grazing the blade in front of Lu Tong’s face, knocking it aside.

Lu Tong was startled. The next moment, a figure suddenly appeared before her. The newcomer grabbed Lu Dashan’s knife-wielding hand – there was a “crack” sound as if bones were being crushed. Lu Dashan screamed in pain: “Let go!”

Before his next words could leave his mouth, he was kicked away violently. His long knife fell into the stranger’s hand, who used it to block the arrow flying toward Lu Dashan’s heart.

“Clang!”

The arrow fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Silence fell around them.

This series of movements had been as fluid as flowing water, without the slightest hesitation, yet every action had been perfectly timed. A moment earlier or later would not have achieved the same result.

Lu Tong looked at the golden arrow on the ground. Just now, this person had used an arrow to deflect the blade flying toward her.

She looked up ahead.

Amidst the chaos of overturned stalls on the long street and surrounded by soldiers, stood a young man wearing a crimson brocade fox-trimmed archer’s robe, holding a curved bow.

Despite being surrounded by so many soldiers, he remained relaxed, his presence undiminished. He casually put away his bow and looked at Lei Yuan, smiling: “It’s just catching one person, Captain Lei, quite a big show you’re putting on.”

Lei Yuan’s expression was somewhat unpleasant. After a while, he said: “Commander Pei.”

Lu Tong’s heart stirred. Commander?

Nearby, Du Changqing was quietly explaining to Yin Zheng: “That’s Pei Yunying, the current Right Military Commander of the Palace Guard. Looks like Lei Yuan has met his match this time.”

Lu Dashan was curled up in the corner, groaning. His wrist was broken, his bones shattered from the kick, and without his knife, he could only struggle in vain.

Lei Yuan looked at Pei Yunying, forcing a smile: “Commander, we’re following orders to capture a fugitive. Now that he’s caught, please step aside.”

Pei Yunying clicked his tongue: “Captain Lei, you started with lethal arrows to catch someone. If I hadn’t intervened, the fugitive would be dead.” He smiled faintly, “This case involves the Military Horse Bureau – the prisoner should be handed over to the Criminal Court for investigation. Captain Lei, using such lethal force… you weren’t trying to silence him, were you?”

Lei Yuan’s face changed drastically. He said coldly: “Commander, one can eat carelessly, but words should not be spoken rashly.”

The young man smiled again, saying: “Just joking, why is Captain Lei so tense? One might think you have something to hide.”

“You-!”

He turned his head and called out: “Duan Xiaoyan.”

From the crowd stepped out a round-faced youth in blue clothes: “Sir.”

Pei Yunying glanced at Lu Dashan: “Take him back and hand him over to the Criminal Court.”

“Yes.”

Lei Yuan looked at Pei Yunying, his tone ice-cold: “Commander, Lu Dashan is our Military Bureau’s prisoner.”

“Since this involves the Military Horse Bureau case, it’s also somewhat related to the Right Military. It’s the same if I send him. Besides, wouldn’t Captain Lei also have to send him to the Criminal Court?” Pei Yunying spoke with interest, “Unless Captain Lei has some private punishment in mind?”

These words struck at the heart of the matter – if such words reached imperial ears, it would surely cause unnecessary trouble.

Lei Yuan stared at him steadily while Pei Yunying wore an ambiguous smile.

After a moment of deadlock, perhaps realizing there was no way to turn the situation around, Lei Yuan stopped insisting. He only looked at Pei Yunying meaningfully and said: “Then I’ll trouble the Commander. Upon returning to the Military Bureau, I will report today’s events to my superiors. Thank you for your kind intentions, Commander.”

Pei Yunying replied lazily: “Much obliged.”

Lei Yuan shot another fierce look at Lu Dashan in the corner before ordering his men to withdraw.

The long street suddenly had half as many soldiers. The remaining half belonged to Pei Yunying.

Lu Tong, who had just witnessed the political undercurrents between these two, suddenly felt wetness on her shoulder. Raising her hand to touch it, she realized the wound from Lu Dashan’s blade had stained her collar red.

Yin Zheng rushed over, anxiously examining her face: “Miss, you’re bleeding so much!”

Lu Tong wiped the blood from her face, dismissing it carelessly: “Don’t worry, it’s not my blood.” Just as she finished speaking, she heard an anxious cry from above: “Is the young lady alright?”

Lu Tong looked up to see the Grand Tutor’s daughter from earlier, sitting in a flower pavilion on the second floor, surrounded by people comforting her.

When Lu Dashan had appeared, this young lady had been escorted into Baoxiang Tower by her guards. Now that Lu Dashan had been taken away, she seemed shocked. Her veiled hat had been removed, and through the crowd, one could faintly see half her face – delicate as jade and soft as flowers, her voice still trembling with fear. The people around her, whether Lei Yuan’s or Pei Yunying’s men, numbered seven or eight, each offering comfort, bringing water and tea.

“Miss Qi, don’t worry, we’ve already notified the Grand Tutor’s mansion.”

“The guards here are strict, today’s incident was sudden. Making the young lady afraid was the Military Bureau’s fault.”

“Would the young lady like some calming tea?”

Thoughtful words drifted down with the wind, while Lu Tong stood ignored, pitifully alone.

Yin Zheng also noticed the stark contrast between the two situations and said softly: “Miss, your neck wound…”

Lu Tong withdrew her gaze. There was a rouge shop not far from Baoxiang Tower. She said: “Let’s go clean up over there.”

Yin Zheng supported her as she stood up and walked toward the rouge shop. Some of the officials noticed their movement and called out: “Hey, wait, you two over there, we haven’t taken your statement yet!”

Du Changqing hurriedly went over, smiling: “I’ll help, I’ll help write for them! That lady is Doctor Lu from our Renxin Medical Hall! I’m the owner!”

This commotion reached Pei Yunying’s ears. He glanced at Du Changqing, then looked away expressionlessly and walked forward. After two steps, he suddenly stopped and turned to look behind him.

Where he had just walked, among the mess, lay a blue delphinium velvet flower.

Half the flower petals were soaked in blood, showing a mottled wetness.

He bent down and picked up the flower. When he saw what was behind it, an unusual expression flashed across his face.

Behind this velvet flower were sharp, pointed needles, stained with bloody red.

There were three silver needles in total.