Lord Zheng was beginning to think he should find an enlightened sage to consult about whether he’d recently offended some evil spirits—how else could he keep encountering such shocking incidents involving horses, with both sides being influential figures from opposing court factions?

“Someone come! Quickly send Young Master Cheng to the medical hall.”

Lord Zheng dared not let anything happen to the son of Minister Cheng’s family.

The eldest son of War Minister Cheng Meng had died young in his early years. Since then, Cheng Meng had been devoted to continuing his family line, taking in numerous concubines who bore him “seven fairy daughters,” but only Cheng Yue remained as his sole male heir.

Minister Cheng didn’t expect much from Cheng Yue—as long as he lived peacefully and continued the family bloodline, that would suffice. Thus his requirements weren’t particularly strict, which had pampered Cheng Yue into developing an unrestrained, domineering temperament.

Ever since Cheng Meng became War Minister, Cheng Yue’s arrogance had escalated dramatically. He frequently gathered with his group of fellow privileged friends, often causing various troubles. Lord Zheng had served at the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office for a long time and frequently dealt with these dandies. Considering their fathers’ positions, he usually turned a blind eye and let matters slide with a wave of his hand.

Who could have known that Cheng Yue would be so foolish as to specifically target the Qin family!

In the past, Lord Zheng could naturally engage in such favoritism.

But now the Emperor valued Qin Huaiyuan above all others, and he had already been forced to take the Emperor’s side.

He had originally thought that since he’d chosen a side, everyone would stop causing trouble and maintain peace. Who would have expected that the faction supported by the Lu clan would be so directly opposed to Qin Huaiyuan’s royalist faction?

Now with this case drawing such strong public opinion and having passed through his hands, Lord Zheng truly couldn’t show favoritism to either side.

“Miss Qin.” Lord Zheng approached the carriage and cupped his hands: “Regarding today’s incident, I must ask Miss Qin to make a trip to the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office.”

Xiao Man said: “Our young lady is the victim! The real culprits are that group of unreasonable people who let their horses run wild. How can you still arrest our young lady, my lord!”

Lord Zheng quickly replied: “Miss Qin, please don’t misunderstand. This time I’m not arresting you—I simply need to inquire about some circumstances.”

Qin Yining had been waiting for exactly this step, so she spoke in a gentle voice: “My lord need not be troubled. I’ll accompany you on this trip. I also trust that you will provide a clear explanation.”

“Indeed, that is this official’s duty. I will naturally handle this matter fairly.”

“That’s good.” Qin Yining’s voice was extremely gentle, making anyone who heard it feel their mood lift.

A young lady from a respectable family taking her household members on a carriage ride to browse the market—this was the most ordinary thing imaginable. Yet they had encountered this group of second-generation nobles charging at them with horses.

Combined with Qin Huaiyuan’s recent incident, and today’s affair involving the same group of people, Lord Zheng could already determine that this should be a long-premeditated revenge operation.

The privileged sons were probably extremely surprised by now. None of them could have imagined that a young lady’s accompanying guards would possess such formidable martial skills.

However, Lord Zheng could understand this.

Just as Cheng Yue was Minister Cheng’s only male heir, Qin Yining was also Qin Huaiyuan’s only daughter. Qin Huaiyuan didn’t even have a son—he only had this one daughter.

Speaking of which, compared to Minister Cheng who still had his “seven fairy daughters,” Qin Huaiyuan’s affection for Qin Yining was no less than Minister Cheng’s love for his only son.

This was truly a messy affair!

Lord Zheng persuaded Qin Yining, then turned to persuade that group of furiously indignant second-generation nobles.

Compared to the well-educated and reasonable Qin Yining, that group was far more difficult to deal with. When persuasion failed, Lord Zheng finally had to resort to forceful measures, half-coaxing and half-compelling them back to the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office.

Qin Yining’s carriage slowly came to a stop. Bingtang, Ji Yun, and Lian Xiaozhou alighted one after another, then stepped forward to assist Qin Yining.

On the other side, several of the privileged sons curiously looked in this direction.

They were very curious to see what kind of woman could bewitch even an iron-willed man like Prince Zhongshun to the point where he disregarded his father’s murder and forcibly took her back.

They first saw a fair, delicate hand extend out, resting on a maid’s hand, followed by a face as beautiful as peach blossoms. As she descended from the carriage, everyone’s gazes were fixed upon her.

She had a graceful figure and was of medium height among northern women, which would be considered tall among southern women. She glanced over coldly, her bright almond eyes shimmering with flowing light, able to captivate souls without saying a word.

No wonder! No wonder even a figure like Prince Zhongshun couldn’t pass the beauty trial!

The privileged sons felt all sorts of unpleasant emotions at once. Today they hadn’t gained any advantage at all—they hadn’t waited for Qin Yining to dismount from her carriage, nor had they heard her retort.

Could they only stand there foolishly watching?

But at this point, they truly couldn’t think of any way to get this woman into their hands.

Everyone proceeded to the front hall.

Lord Zheng ordered tea to be served to both parties.

At this moment, the young man whose face had been swollen by Jingzhe’s slap took a sip of tea and pointed at Jingzhe standing behind Qin Yining, shouting: “My lord! This person committed assault in the street! Why hasn’t my lord arrested him!”

Jingzhe and the other three, along with Bingtang and the others, were quietly standing behind Qin Yining with lowered heads. Faced with the young man’s accusation, Jingzhe didn’t even lift his eyes, still keeping his head lowered in a very submissive manner.

The secret agents all appeared like ordinary household servants, showing no sign of possessing the martial skills they had just displayed.

If not for the young man’s swollen face as evidence, Lord Zheng would hardly dare believe it.

Lord Zheng asked: “Did this person truly commit assault?”

Qin Yining looked up at Lord Zheng and said gently: “My servant was merely protective of his master. Today’s situation was extremely serious, and we were not the ones who provoked trouble first. We were walking peacefully on the road when this group came charging at us on horseback. My servant has practiced some martial arts, and to protect me, he killed the lead horse.

“As for that privileged son who was sent to the medical hall, he fell due to his own poor skills and has nothing to do with my servant.

“And this young master.”

When Qin Yining reached this point, her beautiful eyes turned to look at the young man with the swollen face, her gaze penetrating as if it could read into the depths of his heart.

The young man only felt his face burning, and even the pain from the slap seemed to disappear. Being gazed at so intently by a beauty, he felt somewhat dizzy.

Qin Yining’s voice remained unhurried and gentle as she said: “This young master’s face was indeed slapped by my servant, but my servant is not one to hit people without cause—it was truly because their words were too filthy.”

Lord Zheng asked: “What did they say?”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining lowered her head and said: “Foul and obscene language, truly unbearable. If my lord doesn’t trust me, that’s fine too—there were many witnesses on the street just now. My lord may freely go and ask anyone.”

Lord Zheng nodded. He was quite satisfied with Qin Yining’s gentle and courteous attitude.

However, before Lord Zheng could speak, the young men on the other side who were close to Cheng Yue began arguing and defending themselves in a cacophony of voices.

These were all sons of officials, and for a moment Lord Zheng truly didn’t know how best to handle the situation.

Just when the situation was difficult to resolve, sudden commotion arose from outside.

Then they heard someone in the corridor crying out in panic: “My lord! This is terrible! Minister Cheng has brought troops to surround our office!”

“What!”

Lord Zheng shot to his feet, staring in disbelief.

Although the War Minister controlled the War Department, he could not mobilize troops at will. Troop deployment required an imperial edict from the Emperor, and the tiger tally had to match.

Now Minister Cheng had privately mobilized troops to surround the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office. Clearly, his son’s unconscious state had triggered his true anger, and he was acting without regard for consequences!

A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on Lord Zheng’s back.

If this matter went badly, it could very well develop into military chaos within the city. When the Emperor’s blame came down, it wouldn’t be something a minor commander like him could bear.

Lord Zheng started to walk outside.

But after just two steps, he stopped and looked back at that group of arrogant, flamboyant privileged sons, then at the seemingly ordinary-looking but actually highly skilled servants beside Qin Yining.

With him here, these people didn’t dare act recklessly.

If he weren’t here, and if he failed to persuade those outside while fighting broke out inside, resulting in more injuries, he might not be able to keep his official hat.

Thinking of this, Lord Zheng quickly ordered his most capable attendant: “Go, quickly invite Minister Cheng inside. Remember, you must use gentle persuasion.”

“Yes.”

The attendant hurried out the door, through the courtyard to the main gate.

But as soon as he stuck half his body out from the main gate, he was stunned by the scene before him!

The location of the office wasn’t particularly remote, and there were quite a few pedestrians and residents in the area.

Yet now all the passersby had been frightened into retreating.

The people War Minister Cheng Yue had brought had already surrounded the entrance to the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office so tightly that not even water could leak through.

The other side had brought over five hundred men, more than five times the current manpower of the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office. Just looking at the group blocking the front—each one pale with fright—was enough to see how tense the current situation was.

The attendant swallowed hard and quickly summoned his courage to attempt persuasion.

Minister Cheng was now past forty, but he was built like a tower with a face full of fierce features, looking nothing like someone approaching fifty.

He already had a rough appearance naturally. Now in his rage, his thick eyebrows stood on end, as if he wanted to devour someone whole.

Perhaps out of consideration for Lord Zheng’s position, or perhaps because Minister Cheng himself knew he couldn’t let matters escalate too far, he finally followed them into the office.

“You all stay outside and guard. Don’t move without my orders.”

“Yes!” The soldiers responded in unison.

Minister Cheng strode with large steps all the way to the front hall.

When Lord Zheng saw that Minister Cheng was willing to come inside, he immediately breathed a long sigh of relief and stepped forward with a smile to greet him.

Who would have known that Minister Cheng would push Lord Zheng aside with one hand, point at Qin Yining and curse: “You wretched woman! How dare you harm my son! Give me your life!”

With that, he swung his fist and charged forward.

Who could have expected that the dignified War Minister would actually attack without warning right there in the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office?

Everyone was unprepared and momentarily shocked.

How could the four secret agents allow Minister Cheng to harm Qin Yining here? They immediately rushed forward to engage in battle.