Qin Yining had originally been able to observe the battle calmly, as she had absolute confidence in the silver-masked agents’ martial skills. But once they truly engaged in combat, Qin Yining frowned and stood up.

She hadn’t expected this domineering and rash Minister Cheng to possess such formidable martial arts. It took all four of Jingzhe and his companions working together to barely hold him back.

Minister Cheng’s tiger eyes bulged with fury, looking as if he wanted to devour Qin Yining alive.

Seeing his ferocity, the privileged sons who had earlier charged with their horses also burst into laughter, cheering and encouraging from the sidelines. Whether to curry favor with Minister Cheng or to provoke him further, their words toward Qin Yining became even more disrespectful.

Lord Zheng watched as the room descended into chaos—tables, chairs, and benches were smashed, porcelain and tea sets were shattered, with broken pieces scattered all over the floor.

Although Qin Yining’s four guards possessed excellent martial skills, they were constrained by precedent and dared not harm a court official, making their movements somewhat restricted. Meanwhile, Minister Cheng was like a mad beast, frantically charging toward Qin Yining with single-minded determination.

If this continued and Qin Yining got hurt, Lord Zheng would be in even worse trouble.

Injuring Cheng Yue alone was already enough to drive him to distraction. Minister Cheng, being rough by nature, was at least somewhat predictable in his thinking.

But if Qin Yining were harmed, facing off against the cunning and calculating Qin Huaiyuan, he feared his remaining years would be nothing but misery.

Thinking of this, Lord Zheng quickly called for soldiers to enter. He also joined in personally, using both persuasion and physical intervention to separate the two sides.

Minister Cheng, entangled by Jingzhe and the other three until he was drenched in sweat, pointed at Qin Yining and roared in fury: “You wretched woman! Ordering your servants to injure my son—I want your life in return! If you’re smart, you’ll dash your head against something right now and die quickly with your corpse intact. Otherwise, I’ll have you dismembered!”

Minister Cheng’s furious roar was like a great bell, making everyone’s eardrums tingle. Lian Xiaozhou was so frightened her face turned deathly pale as she hugged Bingtang, while Ji Yun positioned herself in front of Qin Yining. Though she showed no fear, her complexion was also poor.

Qin Yining said calmly: “Minister Cheng’s love for his son is understandable, but you cannot indiscriminately accuse others without distinguishing right from wrong. If Young Master Cheng hadn’t charged his horse directly at my carriage, seeking my life, why would my guards have intervened? Moreover, we’re newcomers here and don’t even know Young Master Cheng—I truly don’t understand why Young Master Cheng would want to harm me!”

“Bullshit! Just because you say my son charged at you means he did? Clearly you weren’t satisfied with having that boy exiled last time—you still wanted revenge! None of you Qin family are any good. Your father’s mind has more schemes than a wasp’s nest, and you’re no chaste woman either. You still want to argue now? Dream on!”

Qin Yining replied: “Minister Cheng, watch your words. Setting aside that I’ve done nothing wrong and today merely suffered an unprovoked disaster, even if I truly had done something wrong, the Great Zhou Dynasty’s capital still has government offices, and above those offices is the Emperor. Is the Great Zhou Dynasty a place without law, where you, Minister Cheng, can arbitrarily mobilize troops and attempt wanton slaughter?”

“You! Sophistry!” When it came to mobilizing troops, Minister Cheng was rendered speechless by her questioning.

Qin Yining said coldly: “As for who’s engaging in sophistry, I believe the Emperor will make his own judgment. Just now I was still wondering whether to beat the petition drum again and file another imperial complaint. Now it seems unnecessary. With Minister Cheng’s unauthorized troop mobilization as precedent, I believe the Emperor will soon pay attention to this matter and will certainly give us justice.”

“Silver-tongued, truly the daughter of a fox—just a little fox! A fox spirit!”

Qin Yining looked at Minister Cheng’s bristling appearance, like a fighting cock. She didn’t want to argue with such a person. Having made her point clear, she stopped speaking.

Meanwhile, the privileged sons and Lord Zheng were already shocked by Qin Yining’s formidable performance.

Only now did some of the privileged sons recall that throughout today’s events—whether the street horse charge or coming to the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office for confrontation—Qin Yining’s demeanor had been calm and composed from beginning to end, as if nothing in the world could capture her slightest attention.

She was both unconcerned and confident.

A woman who could remain unruffled in the face of difficulties either had nerves of steel or extraordinary cunning.

Looking at her now, she seemed to possess both qualities.

The scene fell into an awkwardly quiet moment.

After Minister Cheng’s vulgar outburst in his rage, recalling his impulsive act of unauthorized troop mobilization, his heart filled with panic.

His son was important, but his official position was equally important.

Without this official hat, without this position, how could their family have anyone to protect them?

He well remembered what happened to the last person who mobilized troops without authorization.

Even a formidable figure like Prince Zhongshun, once charged with unauthorized troop mobilization, had to obediently give up his position as commander of the Huben Army, didn’t he?

Lord Zheng looked at the now-quiet second-generation nobles, then at the contemplative Minister Cheng, and couldn’t help but breathe a secret sigh of relief. He had to admire Qin Yining’s methods—using just a few not-particularly-pleasant words to calm what could have been a violent confrontation and possible bloodshed.

Though the scene couldn’t be called chaotic, the standoff between both sides continued.

Just as Lord Zheng was considering what to do next, a rough voice suddenly called from outside: “Grand Steward Li arrives!”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s hearts jumped, and they emerged with varying expressions to greet him.

Grand Eunuch Li Guanwen wore silver-gray eunuch robes and carried a rhinoceros-handled whisk. Seeing everyone come out, he gave it a heavy flourish.

In the sharp voice characteristic of palace eunuchs, he announced loudly: “The Emperor has ordered this servant to ask Minister Cheng a few questions. Please answer truthfully.”

Minister Cheng quickly nodded: “This subject will naturally speak without reservation.”

Hearing this, Li Guanwen nodded slightly, then suddenly changed his expression. With a flick of his whisk, he demanded: “Minister Cheng, you unauthorized mobilized troops—are you planning rebellion?”

Upon hearing this, cold sweat poured down Minister Cheng’s forehead.

“This subject dares not, this subject is terrified.” Minister Cheng quickly pressed his forehead to the ground.

The privileged sons behind Minister Cheng also panicked, all babbling that they wouldn’t dare.

Li Guanwen continued sharply: “His Majesty already knows about the street horse incident and will certainly investigate thoroughly. He will not wrongfully accuse anyone, nor will he let anyone escape. His Majesty promises this—is Minister Cheng satisfied?”

“Satisfied, satisfied, of course satisfied. Thank you for the Emperor’s consideration of this subject, thank you, Your Majesty.”

Minister Cheng kowtowed repeatedly.

Li Guanwen suddenly changed his expression again, shifting from earlier severity to his usual humble and gentle demeanor when dealing with people.

He stepped forward to help Minister Cheng to his feet, saying gently: “Sir, please don’t do this. The Emperor’s intention is to have this servant ask you—if you’ve come to your senses and understood the situation, please accompany this servant to the palace to clarify matters and resolve everything.

“You are a high court official, and the Emperor still values you greatly. The Emperor knows you acted rashly out of anxiety for your son’s situation. Just before coming, he specifically ordered the Imperial Medical Academy to arrange their best physicians to examine your son.”

“This subject is ashamed, this subject thanks the Emperor.” Minister Cheng broke out in a full sweat.

Li Guanwen’s words just now couldn’t have been clearer.

If he couldn’t “come to his senses” and “understand the situation,” and continued to show off his power, what he’d face might very well be the Emperor arranging for his suppression. After all, this was the capital region, at the foot of the Son of Heaven—no emperor would tolerate someone in his capital having the ability to mobilize armies at will for personal use.

Minister Cheng felt a wave of fear, and his heart, which had been frantic with worry over his son’s accident, finally settled.

But thinking again of his precious treasure, the Cheng family’s only male heir, actually hitting his head and falling unconscious, his anger remained unresolved. He pointed at Qin Yining and said: “Grand Steward Li, this matter cannot be separated from the Qin family daughter. Regarding this subject’s palace petition, please have the eunuch arrest both the Qin family daughter and the guards she brought with her.”

Li Guanwen glanced at Qin Yining and, seeing she showed no anger but merely stood quietly with lowered hands, breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, this young lady was sensible and well-behaved.

If she had also started shouting here, he, a mere eunuch caught in the middle, would truly be in a difficult position. After all, she was Qin Huaiyuan’s precious treasure.

“Miss Qin, today’s incident involves your guards, doesn’t it? The Emperor’s intention is for all those involved to make a trip to the palace. Whichever of your guards took action, have him come with this old servant.”

Qin Yining frowned tightly, wishing she could bore a hole through Minister Cheng’s face with her stare.

If this man hadn’t acted so rashly, how would he have drawn the Emperor’s attention?

She didn’t want to hand anyone over, because people of their humble status could easily be used as scapegoats.

Qin Yining said: “The actions of those around me were to protect me. Why don’t I accompany you instead?”

“This… would be improper.”

“What’s improper about it? I’m a party to the incident and witnessed everything firsthand. If the Emperor asks questions, I can explain clearly.”

“But the Emperor didn’t say to invite you to the palace—he only said to bring the one who committed violence. Miss Qin, listen to this servant’s advice: you absolutely must not show yourself in this matter.”

…

The four men—Jingzhe and his companions—stood to one side, listening as Qin Yining bargained with Li Guanwen, refusing to single them out and insisting on going to face the Emperor herself. Waves of warmth flowed through their hearts.

They could feel that Qin Yining treated them as flesh-and-blood people, giving them the greatest respect, never treating them like expendable tools as their previous masters had.

They were all hot-blooded men, and their hearts were deeply moved.

Since they followed Qin Yining, how could they let her be caught in the middle of such difficulties? After all, she was still an unmarried young lady!

Thinking of this, Jingzhe stepped forward and said to Li Guanwen: “I was the one who killed that horse. I didn’t harm Young Master Cheng—he fell from his horse and knocked himself unconscious. If Grand Steward doesn’t mind, I’ll come with you.”

“Jingzhe!” Qin Yining tried to stop him, but it was too late. She could only glare at him with her beautiful eyes: “Who gave you permission to act on your own!”