Lin Shu hadn’t expected that his fellow students would help him so much. He was moved in his heart for a moment, his eyes glistening with tears.

He thought to himself that if he came out of this unscathed, he must properly thank them.

Lu Hu looked at the human wall before him and thrust the knife in his hand forward. “You all better move aside quickly. Dare to obstruct the yamen’s work, and you’ll all be charged together.”

“But Lin Shu didn’t kill anyone, so you can’t take him away. Master Ji is right—with bailiffs who conduct business like you do, if Lin Shu were really arrested and taken to prison by you, he would definitely be tortured severely. At that time, you’d force a confession and make him sign it. You’d even say the dead were alive.”

“Today, no matter what, you cannot take Lin Shu away unless you step over our bodies.”

“That’s right.”

Lu Hu had been a constable for twenty or thirty years. He had encountered this kind of situation before. With a dark expression, he said, “You’d better move aside, otherwise…”

As he spoke, several bailiffs beside him stepped forward, each one fierce and menacing, with murderous intent.

Suddenly—

“How lively this is!”

A voice that sounded lazy yet carried威authority was heard.

Those students looked back and consciously dispersed to both sides.

They saw Jingrong leisurely strolling forward!

Lu Hu looked at him with scrutinizing eyes. This person had a handsome face and extraordinary bearing. He wore luxurious brocade garments that made him appear graceful and elegant, naturally exuding a gentle and refined air. Yet between his brows, there clearly flowed a sharp and ruthless energy. His thin, cool lips curved slightly in an arc that actually made Lu Hu feel somewhat timid in his heart.

Jingrong stood upright and glanced up and down at Lu Hu. “Constable Lu from Bingjing Yamen?”

“Who are you?”

He smiled slightly but didn’t answer his question. Instead, he glanced at Ji Yunshu from the corner of his eye. “Just now, since Master Ji has already explained the truth of the matter clearly and proven that Guo He fell into the well and died by his own misstep, then Lin Shu is innocent. Since that’s the case, he need not go to the yamen.”

It wasn’t a suggestion, but an order!

Lu Hu narrowed his bean-like eyes slightly. “Who exactly are you?”

“An idle person!” The words slipped out.

“Since you’re an idle person, then don’t meddle in idle affairs.”

“But idle people manage precisely idle affairs.”

The two confronted each other!

Lu Hu knew in his heart that this person was definitely not simple. Immediately, he revealed that bloodthirsty expression like a jackal. “If you dare to obstruct us again, don’t blame the yamen for being impolite.”

His words seemed to amuse Jingrong completely.

He coldly uttered a sentence from his lips, “Then let’s see if you have that ability.”

This obviously angered Lu Hu. His palm gripped the knife handle tightly, lifted it upward, and the sharp silvery blade was drawn from the sheath.

But when it was only halfway out, Jingrong raised his foot and pressed the bottom of his foot against the top of the knife handle. With a forceful push, he shoved that blade right back into the sheath.

His foot movement was very fast!

Before Lu Hu could react, not only was the blade pushed back into the sheath, but his entire person was knocked backward several steps by that force.

His feet scraped two deep lines on the ground.

At that moment, Jingrong’s expression projected a beam of light, as if he had been tempered for years on the battlefield, making his entire body carry an air of bloodthirstiness.

“Who gave you the order? As a yamen bailiff, how can you rashly draw your blade?”

His voice was like a great bell, piercing toward Lu Hu like a sharp arrow.

Lu Hu steadied his footing. The residual force from that kick just now had not dissipated, and his palm was still numb.

He also clearly knew that he was no match for the person before him. If they really came to blows, he would definitely lose.

“You obstruct the yamen’s investigation, which means you’re opposing the imperial court. Can you bear the consequences of such a crime?”

“The imperial court?” Jingrong smiled.

This was the most interesting joke he had heard during this period of time.

He raised his eyebrows. “Huang Shishan’s reputation throughout the imperial court is excellent everywhere. Half a year ago, the Minister of Personnel also intended to support him as a Zhou正official on the list of official transfers and transfer him to the capital. I originally thought he was upright and honest, worthy of being called a good official. How would I have known that the people under him are each so arrogant and contemptuous of others.”

Lu Hu narrowed those murderous eyes and thought to himself—this person knows Magistrate Huang? He even called him by his full name, and moreover, he actually knows about the imperial court’s Ministry of Personnel’s official transfer matters!

This person has quite a background.

Could he be the young master of some high official’s family in the capital? Or an official from the Ministry of Personnel?

He wasn’t a reckless man who acted on momentary impulse either. He was quite shrewd in his heart. He stepped forward to inquire, “Since you even know Magistrate Huang and also know about the Ministry of Personnel’s affairs, this humble one dares to ask—who exactly is the young master?”

Although these words had softened, his arrogant tone hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

If I revealed his identity, I’m afraid it would scare you to death!

Jingrong signaled to Lang Bo with a glance.

The latter nodded, reached out to pull out the exquisitely carved token from his waist, and showed it to Lu Hu.

When Lu Hu saw it, he was suddenly stunned!

This wasn’t some young master from a high official’s family at all!

This was clearly a Buddha!

He immediately knelt on one knee, lowered his head and declared, “This subordinate pays respects to Your Highness. This humble one didn’t know Your Highness had arrived. Just now, I was offensive. I beg Your Highness to forgive my crime.”

Your Highness!

All the students present were shocked, their eyes widening, nearly scared to death.

The surprise came too quickly!

“He… he’s a prince?”

“No wonder the teacher let them stay at the academy.”

…

The several bailiffs who followed Lu Hu also knelt down one after another and released Lin Shu, who had been held.

Lin Shu’s legs went weak, his eyes widening enormously, both shocked and afraid.

Shocked that he was actually a prince!

Afraid that he would retaliate against him!

After all, starting from taking shelter from the rain in the pavilion, the two of them had formed a grudge, and he himself had repeatedly offended the people around him. It seemed that he wouldn’t have any good outcome.

His lips trembled, unable to speak a word.

Jingrong looked at Lu Hu kneeling on the ground, his cold brows furrowing.

“Stand up.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

He stood up and remained in place, restraining that arrogant air of his somewhat, but kept his gaze lowered, not daring to look directly at the person before him.

Jingrong said, “Since Master Ji has already explained this matter clearly and thoroughly, with evidence and basis, the person fell into the well by his own misstep. If Constable Lu deeply doubts this, this prince can understand. But since this matter was stated by Master Ji, this prince believes it. Therefore, this case is closed and need not be pursued further.”

“Yes!” Lu Hu was very obedient.

He completely seemed like a different person.

“It’s getting late too. Coming and going from the yamen takes a whole day. Constable Lu, you should quickly take your people and leave. When you return, write a case report and submit it to your Magistrate Huang, listing this matter point by point without the slightest omission. By the way, bring a message to your Magistrate Huang for this prince—in the future, if he has the opportunity to serve as an official in the capital, tell him to come see this prince.”

Come see?

These words seemed to have deeper meaning.

Lu Hu held his breath. “Yes! This humble one will definitely deliver the message.”

“Then why aren’t you getting lost yet.” Jingrong’s expression darkened slightly.

Lu Hu raised his head and stole a glance at him. His lips twitched, not daring to say more, and he immediately led his people away.