Zhao Yixian had fallen in love with Du Yiyun at first sight during a flower-viewing banquet in the palace.

According to reports.

At that time, Du Yiyun stood among the chrysanthemums in plain clothes reciting poetry—more beautiful than the flowers, more delicate than the blossoms.

Zhao Yixian’s eyes had gone straight at the sight, and upon returning home he declared he would marry her.

The Prince of Han had originally intended to use a daughter from the Du family to win over the Marquis of Wu’an’s household. Since his son had taken a liking to her, and the Du family’s status was respectable, he went along with it.

Du Yiyun’s marriage negotiations with the Marquis of Wu’an’s household came first—the Marquis of Wu’an flatly refused.

Zhao Yixian’s marriage negotiations with Du Yiyun came later—Zhao Yixian sent the finest matchmakers to propose.

One refused, one pursued, and thus a subtle grudge was formed.

More importantly.

The Marquis of Wu’an’s household refusing marriage negotiations with the Du family was, frankly speaking, also a rejection of the Prince of Han’s overtures.

The Prince of Han believed in one principle: if you won’t join my camp, then you are my enemy.

Now that enemies had suddenly encountered each other, naturally some hostility needed venting.

Xie Zhifei knew He Yun’s temperament—he was definitely not one to take losses lying down, so he said to Zhu Qing: “We’ll take a different route.”

“Yes!”

Just as they turned their horse’s head, a bellow came from behind.

“Which little turtle is blocking the road? What’s the matter, Third Master Xie didn’t satisfy you, so you had to stick your ass up for this young master to scratch your itch before you’d leave?”

“With that needle-sized toy of yours, you think you’re qualified?”

The air fell silent for a moment.

Before Xie Zhifei could tell Zhu Qing “this is bad,” the sounds of fighting erupted behind them.

Zhu Qing: “Master, do we intervene or not?”

This was the territory of the capital’s Five Cities Military Commissioner—in broad daylight, it was precisely their jurisdiction. That was point one.

Point two: if a real injury occurred, He Yun would be the one at a disadvantage.

Though He Yun was a local tyrant of the capital, no matter how tyrannical, he couldn’t surpass imperial princes and grandsons.

Those people were surnamed Zhao.

Xie Zhifei cursed He Yun as a “bastard” in his heart, raised his hand to draw the long sword from his waist, and his gaze lingered on the blade for a moment.

“Intervene!”

Zhu Qing immediately pulled out his official token and bellowed, “Make way, make way, the Five Cities Military Commissioner is here.”

When the crowd watching the excitement heard that an official had arrived, they quickly cleared a path.

Xie Zhifei walked over and swept his gaze across where the two carriages had stopped—he immediately knew that curse of “bastard” had come too early.

It was clearly Zhao Yixian who had deliberately blocked the road.

“Everyone stop.”

How could they possibly stop? The attendants on both sides had their blood up, and even He Yun and Zhao Yixian themselves had gotten into it.

In the midst of the chaos, He Yun still found time to glance at Xie Zhifei.

“Chengyu, stand back. Let me cut this bird down to size first, then we’ll talk.”

His words had barely fallen when a piercing scream rang out to the heavens.

Everyone quickly stopped.

They saw that one of Zhao Yixian’s guards had half his palm sliced off, blood gushing out. The guard clutched his maimed hand, howling and rolling on the ground in pain.

He Yun’s attendants were so frightened their faces went white, their bodies rigid, not daring to move.

No one had anticipated this turn of events.

Even He Yun’s own heart leapt—cutting someone down to size was one thing, but now that blood had been drawn, how would this be resolved?

Seeing his man seriously injured, Zhao Yixian sneered: “Someone, report this to the authorities.”

When He Yun heard “report to the authorities,” his head full of fury instantly extinguished.

That guard was called Chen Dong—he had little skill in martial arts, but was valued for his careful work, quick wit, and resourcefulness.

How could he have sliced off half of someone’s palm with one sword stroke?

Thinking further, he’d been traveling along just fine when that Zhao fellow deliberately blocked his way and used provocative words to enrage him…

He Yun was no fool.

Quite the contrary, he was very clever. Connecting these points…

So that Zhao fellow had deliberately come looking for trouble today.

The purpose?

Ever since Xie Chengyu had given his father credit for the spy matter, Father had been summoned into the palace by His Majesty every few days to discuss the military expedition.

By picking this fight—if the Marquis of Wu’an’s heir incited his servants to violence, and the Marquis of Wu’an couldn’t even properly discipline his own son, how could he command thousands of troops?

This bastard was afraid the position of Commander-in-Chief for attacking the Tartars would fall to his father!

“An official is here.”

Xie Zhifei stepped forward. “Zhu Qing, take the man and the severed hand to the Pei household. Have Imperial Physician Pei find a way to reattach the hand.”

“Wait!”

Zhao Yixian acted as if he’d only just noticed Xie Zhifei. “Oh, so it’s Lord Xie!”

Xie Zhifei cupped his hands toward him: “Young Master, I trust you are well.”

“Lord Xie arrives at an opportune moment.”

Zhao Yixian pointed: “The Marquis of Wu’an’s son incited his servants to violence and severed half my guard’s hand. How should this matter be handled?”

“Save the person first, then handle it.”

Xie Zhifei’s pupils contracted slightly. “The Pei household is a family of hereditary physicians. If we’re quick enough, the severed hand can be reattached. Surely the Young Master, who cares for his subordinates, has no objections?”

Damn you, Xie Zhifei, putting a big hat on this young master.

Zhao Yixian cursed furiously in his heart.

If he said no now, in front of all these witnesses, right would become wrong.

“Then let’s do as Lord Xie says.”

“Zhu Qing.”

“Rest assured, My Lord.”

Zhu Qing quickly picked up the severed hand, carried the man on his back, and rushed to the Pei household.

Only after they left did Xie Zhifei smile cheerfully: “Would the two Young Masters please move to the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s office for some hot tea while we discuss how to handle this matter?”

“No need to discuss. A life for a life, a hand for a hand.”

Zhao Yixian pointed at the servant behind He Yun and sneered: “I want his!”

This person had accompanied He Yun since childhood—their master-servant bond was extraordinary.

He Yun’s face darkened: “Dream on. Don’t you fucking even think about it!”

“Can’t bear to part with him?”

Zhao Yixian sneered. “Then it’s simple. You, He Wenyu, publicly admit to inciting servants to violence and apologize to me. Then we’ll call this matter settled.”

The hatred in He Yun’s chest blazed like fire.

So it had been calculated all along.

His own reputation was already poor. If he publicly admitted to inciting servants to violence, the Censorate would submit an impeachment memorial tomorrow—

The Marquis of Wu’an failed to properly discipline his son!

As for being Commander-in-Chief or not, He Yun didn’t care about that.

Father was getting old—who would bear to let him go to the battlefield?

But this humiliation of being framed—he couldn’t swallow it!

“Why should I apologize? You struck first.”

“Lord Xie, do you see?”

Zhao Yixian’s face was frosty. “It’s not that this young master doesn’t want to make a big issue small and let it pass—it’s that he’s being unreasonable and doesn’t respect anyone.”

You’re clearly the one trying to stir up trouble!

Xie Zhifei smiled apologetically. “Young Master, how about this…”

“How about what?”

Zhao Yixian’s tone suddenly sharpened.

“Could it be that Third Master crawls under his blanket at night, and now you’re wearing the same pants, both trying to make this young master suffer injustice?”

“Wow, Third Master is cut-sleeve too? He plays with rabbit boys?”

“Rich people are all the same kind.”

“Their ancestors’ coffin lids won’t be able to hold them down, producing such unfilial things.”

The murmurs were quiet, but everyone could hear them.

Zhao Yixian felt extremely pleased with himself.

Sorry about this, Third Master Xie. This is what you get for going out without checking the almanac.

Since you’ve run into me, if I don’t mess with you a bit, I’d be letting down today’s favorable timing and terrain.

My father extended his hand to your father time and again, and your father just kept playing dumb.

Do they really think the Prince of Han’s household is easy to bully?