CHAPTER 1077: CHAPTER 593: ARREST THEM! OF COURSE I BULLY THE FEW WITH THE MANY

Mr. Feng sighed, worriedly saying: "With the other side like this, I’m afraid the nobles dare not defy them."

Xu Wenyan’s expression was indifferent: "On the surface, they don’t defy, but that doesn’t mean they won’t exert themselves behind the scenes. Conversely, the greater the pressure the court’s henchmen put on the nobles, the more nervous and worried the noble factions become, fearing that once the Eight Princes are dealt with, their turn will come. As long as this fear exists, there will definitely be those more willing to see the peace talks succeed. The more princes there are left, the thinner the imperial power, and the Empress will pull them more, thus their position will be more secure. Conversely, once the external enemies are cleared, they become unimportant. Don’t worry, the visits still need to be made, the timid ones we ignore, and the bolder ones will surely make contact with us."

Mr. Feng praised: "Your Highness is wise indeed. It was wise of the prince to send Your Highness on this mission."

Xu Wenyan self-mockingly said: "It was just a lucky hit. Well, I also want to see what’s so special about the one who made Xueling so disgraced, so let’s just wait for him."

After speaking, the fat and foolish Xu Wenyan surprisingly took Mr. Feng by the hand and got out of the carriage. The moment he stepped out, his facade of innocence resumed.

The two of them stood openly in the snow, with an air of waiting.

Not long after, at the end of the secluded street, a carriage turned in, its wheels rolling over the ground, stopping not far away.

Hou Renmeng, who was driving, jumped down first, pulling open the thick windscreen. Inside, Zhao Douan put down the brazier in his arms, first poked out a boot, then pulled himself out.

Subsequently, in Xu Wenyan’s sight, Zhao Douan, clad in a black cloak and wearing a white mask, leisurely walked over, surrounded by his subordinates.

Due to being near a noble mansion and because of the snowy day, the spacious street that could accommodate three carriages was empty, with only the two groups confronting each other.

"Why are you following us so closely? Why do the imperial guards of the Imperial Decree Department hide instead of showing themselves openly?" Mr. Feng’s eyes were sharp, and his tone was not polite.

Zhao Douan stopped, looking at the other side with interest, and didn’t spare much time to look at the Great Guest Minister of the royal mansion. His eyes fell on Xu Wenyan’s face.

Just seeing the renowned foolish princely heir with a simple and honest look, seemingly unaware of the tense atmosphere, but instead, full of curiosity.

This acting... deserves an Oscar... oh, a Chinese, so maybe not... Zhao Douan internally mocked.

He wasn’t very surprised to be discovered by the other party. If he really cared about this, there was no need to follow so closely.

"Does the princely heir know me?" Zhao Douan asked with a light smile.

Mr. Feng frowned, "Although you are not wearing official uniforms, you blatantly parade with swords and the distinctive mask of Bai Jisi, if we can’t recognize that, it wouldn’t make sense."

Zhao Douan finally glanced at him sideways, sarcastically saying: "I’m speaking with the princely heir. Why are you, a subordinate, interrupting? Is the Prince of Hejian’s residence so lacking in manners? A mere rural outcast with no official title dares come to negotiate? Is Xiping Road out of people?"

Blatant ridicule and sarcasm.

Mr. Feng’s face showed anger. Indeed, he came from the countryside, but being openly mocked by Zhao Douan was nothing short of an insult.

Xu Wenyan stepped forward in anger, protectively saying: "Sir, Mr. Feng is the teacher appointed by my father to instruct me. To insult my teacher like this, I cannot stand idly by. What? Based on what Mr. Feng said, you went to find Xueling yesterday, bullied her, and now you’re here to bully me, the princely heir?"

Zhao Douan chuckled in a low voice, "I dare not. In Great Yu, we respect teachers and value morals. Since he is the teacher of the princely heir, he should be protected. However... Mr. Feng asked why we followed. Well, I don’t mind explaining. I am charged with surveilling the capital. During an inspection of embassy lists the day before, we accidentally discovered Mr. Feng is connected to an old theft case from the government office’s archival repository, suspected of theft and fleeing to Xiping. Therefore, I followed to investigate. I ask the princely heir to hand him over, and after clarifying the facts, he can be released."

Hearing this, not only the opposition but even Hou Renmeng, Shen Juan, and his own people were stunned for a moment.

Thinking, when did this happen? They exchanged glances, realizing it was their own chief spraying nonsense, making things up.

Heh... Isn’t it basic skill for the Imperial Court Yama to randomly charge someone with a crime?

"Nonsense." Mr. Feng almost laughed in anger. He originally thought they would have some clever means, but he didn’t expect them to be so crude.

Xu Wenyan was also angry, perfectly portraying a disciple’s reaction after a mentor’s insult, his face flushed, loudly rebuking: "Outrageous! Do you intend to falsely accuse someone? Mr. Feng is the deputy of the envoy group appointed by my father, noble in character. How could he be involved in any case?"

Zhao Douan, with ill intent, said eerily: "Whether he’s guilty or not, will be clear only after a trial. Old Hou, take action!"

Hou Renmeng was surprised at the decisiveness of the leader, but being known as a top troublemaker of the Lihua Hall was not for nothing. A moment of daze, and his mouth revealed a grim smile, his right hand reached to his lower back and grabbed the handle, drawing the knife forcefully.

"Clang!"

The bright sharp steel blade was unsheathed, accompanied by Hou Renmeng’s large stride forward, the steel blade whipped up wind and snow, already slicing towards the front like a streaming banner.

With a posture of forcing back the soldiers of Xiping and forcibly capturing Mr. Feng.

"How dare you!"

Xu Wenyan was furious, making a gesture with his plump hand behind his back.

Immediately, around them, a Jianghu expert disguised as a royal mansion soldier from Xiping Road stomped on the ground, rushing forward like a fierce tiger or leopard, while the longsword at his waist shot out like a venomous tongue.

"Woooo——"

In the cold wind, the knife and sword cut through the air as if pulling two faint streams.

Then violently collided together, as the qi mechanism of the martial artist followed the weapon clash, making a wailing of gold and iron. Hou Renmeng and the Xiping Road swordsman both felt a numbness in the waist, their arms as if shocked, stepping back two paces, while the thin snow on the ground spread radially with them at the center.

In just one collision, even though Hou Renmeng held the main offensive advantage, he ended up retreating more steps, clearly falling into a disadvantage.

"A master indeed..." Hou Renmeng’s face flushed, and this time he gathered all his strength, and after discharging it, it shot out like an arrow, his steel blade weaving a vast net of sword energy, though far from Lang Shiba’s level, had already stepped into the realm of masters whether in the court army or the Martial World.

Obviously, in the past two years, Old Hou has improved in his martial arts.

However, it seemed that the martial arts of the swordsman from Xiping Road was superior. Confronting Hou Renmeng’s onslaught, his longsword deflected them all, showing ease. He coldly smiled, shaking his head thinking, so this is the much talked of capital’s imperial guard, nothing more. Whoever said martial world people couldn’t match the "regular army"?

He, having experienced blood and storms in the Jianghu, was fortunate to catch the eye of Prince Hejian, invited into the royal mansion as a Martial Arts Guest. Today, entering the capital to showcase his swordsmanship, his blood surged in excitement with an air of wanting to cut down Hou Renmeng.

"Sir, Old Hou is starting to struggle," Shen Juan said quietly.

Zhao Douan gave him a sidelong glance in irritation, "Then why are you all just standing there dumbly?"

Shen Juan and the others from Jinyi were stunned, then gave a sinister grin, pulling their hands collectively from their backs. The sound of knives being drawn became continuous, and with a surge, they overwhelmed the Xiping swordsman in an instant, beating him into spitting blood and retreating.

"You have no martial ethics! Bullying with numbers!" Xu Wenyan’s eyes widened in shock at Zhao Douan’s shamelessness.

Zhao Douan’s eyes beneath the mask were puzzled, staring at him with some confusion, "This isn’t a duel; I’m here to arrest a criminal. Who’s doing one-on-one with you?"

Xu Wenyan was speechless.

At this moment, seeing that Mr. Feng was truly about to be captured, the remaining guards of the royal mansion all looked to the princely heir, unsure if they should take action. But they had simply come out to visit the nobles, without enough manpower, and even if a brawl broke out, they feared defeat.

"What do you ultimately want?" Xu Wenyan finally couldn’t maintain the facade, staring intently at the white-faced arresting officer.

Zhao Douan raised his hand, signaling his men to pause the attack, smiling, "Just conducting business according to law."

Xu Wenyan angrily said: "I am here to negotiate peace; does His Majesty intend to imprison my people before the negotiations even start?"

Pausing a moment, this fat princely heir suddenly spoke with a calm demeanor: "Or does the court think we have no bargaining chips in this negotiation?"

Zhao Douan squinted his eyes, "Oh?"

Xu Wenyan quietly looked toward the sky, "The news should be spreading soon."