Just as Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao stood there in a daze, suddenly a delicate shout came from the distance.

“Get your filthy hands off her.”

“…”

“Can’t you hear me? Get your filthy hands off her!”

“I’ll touch whoever I damn well please! Who the hell are you? Get lost!”

“I’m your goddamn ancestor! Touch her one more time and I’ll have you dead!”

Bang!

Crash!

Ahh!!

Xie Zhifei’s mind exploded with a boom. “Is that… her?”

“Isn’t it obvious!” Pei Xiao would recognize that voice even if it turned to ash.

“This is bad!”

Xie Zhifei had no time to think. He turned and rushed out.

Pei Xiao looked at the figure standing with hands clasped behind his back, then at Xie Zhifei already running far away. He gritted his teeth and followed.

Inside the second gate, the Ji family’s womenfolk huddled in a corner. Some had faces ashen as death, others silently wept.

Among them was a pretty young lady, her hair disheveled, burying her head tightly in her mother’s embrace, trembling all over.

In the open courtyard, seven or eight Brocade Guards had surrounded Li Buyan in a circle. Sabers, long spears, and soft swords clashed together.

Li Buyan’s soft sword danced like a swimming dragon, appearing to have no particular technique yet concealing deadly intent at every turn.

In truth, from the first exchange, she had realized these Brocade Guards were well-trained, each possessing decent martial skills. She really shouldn’t have meddled in others’ affairs.

But…

Li Buyan’s usually smiling eyes darkened slightly.

Mother had said, don’t always cower like a dog. Do it long enough and you’ll really become one, lying down unable to ever stand up again.

Zhu Qing watched from the side with his heart in his throat, urgently whispering, “Miss Yan, quickly stop her.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze was cold and deep. “Why should I stop her?”

How could she not be clever at a time like this?

Zhu Qing stamped his feet anxiously. “Seven or eight Brocade Guards aren’t the problem—the problem is there are seven or eight hundred more outside!”

“So we should just let the Ji family’s young lady be bullied and groped?”

Yan Sanhe met Zhu Qing’s gaze. “If you’re a man, go help. If you’re afraid, shut up!”

“…”

At this moment, Zhu Qing finally understood why his master could never win arguments with Yan Sanhe.

This person…

Was completely unreasonable!

Just as Zhu Qing was at a loss, a earth-shaking roar rang out.

“Everyone stop right now!”

The moment the roar began, Zhu Qing instantly sprang into action.

His body shot forward like an arrow, leaping to Li Buyan’s side in a few bounds. Taking advantage of everyone’s momentary shock, he grabbed her hand and flung her forcefully backward.

Li Buyan used the momentum to flip twice in mid-air, landing steadily beside Yan Sanhe.

This sudden turn happened so abruptly that by the time the seven or eight Brocade Guards regained their senses, Xie Zhifei had already stopped before them, clasping his hands in salute, smiling so broadly his eyes disappeared.

“Esteemed officials, I am Xie Zhifei from the Northern District Military Command. My sworn sister has a hot temper and quick temperament. Whatever offense she may have caused, I apologize to everyone on her behalf.”

Just as no one serving as an official in the capital didn’t know Xie Daozhi, no one serving in the Brocade Guard didn’t know Xie Zhifei.

This young man had secured his position as Northern District Military Commander through:

One, his father in the Grand Secretariat;

Two, his elder brother in the Hanlin Academy;

Three, his ability to say the right thing to everyone, whether person or ghost;

Four, his generous spending and lavish gifts.

The Brocade Guard and the Five District Military Commands collaborated on many matters.

When the Brocade Guard couldn’t handle something, the Five District Commands took over. When the Five Districts couldn’t reach something, the Brocade Guard stepped up. They saw each other constantly.

The two offices were also close by—you drop in when you have nothing to do, I drop in when I have business. Quite a few Brocade Guards called him brother.

Seeing him being so polite, they couldn’t very well make a scene.

One of them, closest to Xie Zhifei, gave Third Master a look and jerked his chin toward the ground nearby.

Xie Zhifei looked down and gasped.

The man’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, blood still flowing from his nose and mouth, both arms hanging limp—clearly dislocated.

She struck that viciously?

Xie Zhifei glanced at Zhu Qing, who immediately walked over to the man. “Crack, crack”—two sounds as he reset both arms.

As soon as the arms were back in place, two banknotes were handed over.

“Brother, truly sorry. My sworn sister’s temper—even my father can’t control it. Nothing to be done! I apologize on her behalf. Let’s meet at Spring Breeze House later. Call all the brothers—Third Master will host a feast to make amends.”

Third Master apologizing to you…

Third Master hosting a feast for you…

Who was Third Master?

Even if you didn’t care who Third Master was, you had to consider who stood behind him!

Moreover, in front of his brothers, Third Master was humbling himself—dignity, reputation, and money all accounted for.

The man wiped the blood from his face, grunting, “I, Zhang Fei, give Third Master face. If it were anyone else, this wouldn’t be over!”

“Brother Zhang Fei, that’s true brotherhood!”

Xie Zhifei pulled the man into an embrace, smiling broadly. “You’re a friend I’m determined to have, Third Master. Let’s stay in touch.”

Everyone knew Third Master loved taking people to pleasure houses—listening to songs, drinking wine, holding pretty women.

Zhang Fei thought this beating was worth it. Following Third Master from now on, how could he worry about not having women to fondle?

“Third Master keeps his word?”

“Hey, you… when has Third Master ever broken his word?”

From the corner of his eye, Xie Zhifei glanced toward the Ji family womenfolk, a smile playing at his lips. He thought to himself that he’d find this grandson a Laughing Half-Step pill later.

A vicious battle of life and death was resolved in Xie Zhifei’s few words.

Li Buyan watched dumbstruck. “Your master is… truly formidable.”

Zhu Qing listened and nodded silently.

“He also hides his depths!” Yan Sanhe added coldly.

Zhu Qing listened and silently moved aside.

He needed to keep his distance from clever people.

“Everyone wait!”

Into the harmonious atmosphere of mutual goodwill, a cold voice cut through.

Xu Lai walked forward with measured steps. “Third Master with his ‘sworn sister’ this and ‘sworn sister’ that—what great fortune.”

“Oh, so it’s Magistrate Xu.”

Xie Zhifei lifted his eyelids slightly. “What wind blew you to the Ji residence?”

“Following His Majesty’s orders to confiscate the Ji family’s property.”

Xu Lai drew himself up proudly. “Caught a female thief with a blade at the Ji family’s back gate. Third Master claims she’s a sworn daughter of the Xie family. When did the Xie family—a household of poetry and propriety—become connected with female thieves?”

These words implicated even Xie Daozhi.

Xie Zhifei had hurried to have Zhu Qing send that master and servant away precisely because he feared Li Buyan’s explosive temperament would clash with the Brocade Guards upon seeing the tragic scene of confiscation.

He had wondered why Zhu Qing and the others were still at the Ji residence after so long. Now he had his answer.

“Magistrate Xu, don’t frighten me. My sworn sister practices with staffs and spears regularly. Thievery—she doesn’t do it and wouldn’t have the nerve.”

“No nerve?”

Xu Lai smiled without warmth. “Then was my Ministry of Justice’s plaque blown down by the wind?”