Just at this moment—

The sound of horse hooves and wheels rolling over cobblestones came from the distance.

People on the street were startled and quickly scattered to both sides. Vendors’ stalls that couldn’t be moved in time were directly kicked over by several charging horses.

They even crashed into several people!

Wei Yi only focused on running with his head down. By the time he looked up, several horses had already charged toward him.

His feet froze in place, pupils dilating. He completely lost any awareness to dodge.

And the people on horseback had no intention of pulling the reins. Instead, they whipped their whips while loudly shouting.

“Move aside! Move aside!”

Just as the horses were about to trample over Wei Yi—

Ji Yunshu suddenly grabbed his arm. She originally wanted to pull him aside, but Wei Yi’s body was firmly rooted in place. Not having enough strength, she could only step forward and block in front of Wei Yi, embracing him.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at this scene.

If the horses charged over, these two people would either die or be injured!

The people on the horses, each looking fierce and malevolent, rode their horses charging forward.

At this critical moment—

Two figures suddenly leaped out, delivering several kicks that struck the hooves of the horses.

The horses cried out in pain, whinnied, and fell to the ground one after another, crushing the vendors’ stalls on both sides.

Even the people on horseback rolled to the ground.

The surroundings erupted in commotion!

Shi Zijin and Shi Ziran stood firmly in front, coldly staring at those people.

“How arrogant, actually galloping horses through the streets. Clearly we’re not at the foot of the Son of Heaven.”

Shi Ziran snorted.

Shi Zijin walked to Ji Yunshu’s side. “Master Ji, are you alright?”

She shook her head and checked on Wei Yi. That young man was clearly frightened, his eyes staring straight ahead, his body trembling.

“Wei Yi, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

She rubbed his cold hands and held his shaking body.

Suddenly—

“Which blind fool dares to oppose us?”

The voice was extremely vicious!

One of the people who had fallen from horseback climbed up from the ground, pointing at Shi Ziran and the others.

Shi Ziran, who feared neither heaven nor earth, narrowed his eyes. “Who gave you such audacity to rampage through the marketplace?”

“Are you blind? Don’t you know who we are?”

“I don’t care who you are. This young master hasn’t been afraid of anyone. If you had hit my master, it wouldn’t be as simple as falling off horses. Broken arms, broken legs, or even deaths would all be possible.”

An arrogant face!

Probably from spending too much time with Jingrong!

During the time since leaving Shanhuai County, he and Shi Zijin had only returned to the capital once and just caught up with the main group when they encountered this scene.

Fortunately they arrived in time, otherwise if something happened to Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi, their prince would cry himself to death.

After hearing Shi Ziran’s words, the other party flew into a rage, pointing at the banner behind him.

“Boy, look carefully. We’re from the Longyang Escort Agency. Block our path and you’re seeking death.”

With that, he called for people to advance with blades.

Shi Ziran and Shi Zijin also prepared to face the enemy.

But before both sides could clash, a voice came from the carriage behind. “Stop.”

Those originally aggressive people immediately wilted and retreated to the side.

A person descended from that carriage—tall and burly in stature, dressed in martial arts attire. He appeared to be in his fifties, with a stern and authoritative face that didn’t lack leadership presence. His sinister and forceful eyes concentrated a mass of cold light, like several knives spinning within, capable of slicing people to bloody pieces at any moment.

One dared not meet his gaze!

Even the fearless Shi Ziran felt a chill in his heart.

The newcomer stepped forward wearing iron-edged boots.

“Chief Escort.”

People on both sides called out respectfully.

Yuan Tongyang pressed his eyelids down, looking at Shi Ziran. He suddenly drew a dagger from his waist. One would have thought he was going to stab Shi Ziran, but unexpectedly—

He swung it to the side, and the dagger brutally pierced the thigh of the previously aggressive person.

That person screamed once and directly knelt to the ground.

His head covered in cold sweat!

Yun Tongyang also changed from his previously stern face, lowered his posture, and spoke politely to Shi Ziran. “Our Longyang Escort Agency has never caused trouble. We just returned to the city today with urgent matters to attend to, which is why what just happened occurred. Please forgive us, young masters. If there was any offense, I, Yun, apologize and hope for your forgiveness.”

He cupped his hands.

Completely unlike a rough man!

Shi Ziran glanced at the banner planted on the carriage behind them and smiled with pursed lips. “Your Longyang Escort Agency is truly impressive, rampaging through the streets under the escort agency’s name. If you killed someone and caused an incident, would even the yamen not dare touch you?”

“You jest. Our Longyang Escort Agency doesn’t conduct black market business—we’re a proper, legitimate escort agency. My subordinate did wrong, and I’ve already taught him a lesson. As for the things knocked over around here, our Longyang Escort Agency will compensate for everything without exception. If any of you young masters were injured, I will also take responsibility.”

“Chief Escort Yun’s way of handling things is quite satisfactory.”

“Then please allow us passage, young masters.”

Shi Ziran looked back and saw that Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi were safe and sound. He didn’t want to continue making trouble. After all, he was one of Prince Rong’s people—if something happened, it would inevitably implicate Jingrong.

So—

After thinking it over, he let it go.

“Since Chief Escort Yun has said this, I don’t want to make things difficult for you. But this is a public street after all. In the future, such incidents must never happen again, otherwise if people are hurt, the problem will be serious.”

“Yes, Yun will remember carefully.”

Very obedient!

His tone of speech was too incongruous with his current attire and bearing.

This person clearly had an extremely strong desire for control. Although his speech was polite, seeing how he had just stabbed his own subordinate with a dagger, it was evident that not only was he someone with a strong desire for control, his methods were extremely ruthless. If anyone resisted his control, the consequences could be imagined!

Others couldn’t see clearly, but Ji Yunshu saw all of this with perfect clarity!

After people dispersed, Yun Tongyang had his men compensate those vendors with some silver, then after tidying up, they left.

Ji Yunshu comforted Wei Yi, but his face was pale as he shrank in her embrace, his body trembling.

After returning to the yamen, she had Muruo come look at him. He said it was due to extreme fright and that two days of rest would cure it.

Ji Yunshu kept watch by his bedside for a while, filled with guilt.

“I should have held onto him, not let him run out. It’s my fault. If something had happened, I truly deserve to die.”

Jingrong, standing at her side, said, “Stop blaming yourself and don’t worry. Muruo already said he’s fine. Let him rest well, and let’s go out first.”

She nodded!

After the two went out, Fang Mingsan stood at the door.

He apologized. “This is this official’s mistake. I should have assigned people to properly guard Young Master Wei. I beg Your Highness to punish me.”

Jingrong waved his hand. “The matter has passed—it has nothing to do with you.” He asked again, “Who were those people?”

“Those people are from the Longyang Escort Agency. The Longyang Escort Agency is an official agency under the imperial court, specifically for transporting tribute goods and merchandise.”

Shi Ziran leaned against a pillar not far away and laughed coldly. “No wonder they’re so arrogant. Then what’s the background of that Chief Escort of the Longyang Escort Agency?”

Fang Mingsan replied, “This person has no particular background in Yuzhou City, but the people under him are all fierce and ruthless, and they obey his every command.”