CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 57 CAPTURE

Half a month later.

Morning.

Hu City, Anqing County.

Inside the local governmental office.

The county magistrate, in his forties, was anxiously pacing back and forth in the hall, occasionally glancing outside.

Because he had received a message three days ago that two princes were on their way.

This event had occurred suddenly, and he wasn’t prepared at all, yet his heart couldn’t help but be excited!

After all, they were the Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince!

Especially the Eldest Prince, who realistically might become the Crown Prince!

The significance of being the Crown Prince needed no elaboration.

’I wonder what the two princes are coming for?’

He had speculated for several days, tossing and turning, and had hardly slept well.

At this moment.

The thirty-something County Captain jogged into the courtyard, with a stern-looking County Captain following him.

The County Captain was the county magistrate’s deputy, responsible for civil duties like documents and household registration.

The County Captain, in charge of investigations, did not come to the hall after entering the courtyard, but went to call the constables in the office, preparing to receive the guests.

"Sir!"

Now, the County Captain hurried into the hall and urgently said to the county magistrate, "The post station sent news that the two princes will arrive in an hour!"

"Almost here?" The magistrate hastily straightened his clothes.

Though there would be time to tidy up his appearance at the reception site, the magistrate was nervous.

’Calm down... calm down...’

The magistrate kept taking deep breaths, then, after tidying his clothes several times, glanced at the equally excited County Captain.

The County Captain looked him over, saw no obvious wrinkles, and nodded,

"Sir, all is proper!"

"Good..." The magistrate exhaled deeply and then looked again at the excited County Captain, asking:

"What do you think... of all the places for these noble princes to visit, why are they coming to our little town? Could it truly be as we’ve speculated these past few days, that they are here because of the forbidden books from years ago?"

"Most likely!" The County Captain said confidently, "Our county is insignificant within all of Hu City, and only this matter could..."

He pointed to the sky,

"Reach the ears above."

"But that case has already gone cold." The magistrate thought of this matter, feeling a headache, "The entire office has been running around for a long time because of it, even now we occasionally investigate.

But there’s truly no trace!

You, I, and the County Captain, none of us have neglected our duties!"

The magistrate’s heart suddenly sank with fear as he spoke, and he couldn’t help but ask the County Captain anxiously: "Could... could the two princes believe we three are incompetent... and come here to accuse us?"

Saying this, the magistrate’s brain went blank, and due to his lack of rest these past few days, he fainted directly.

If not for the County Captain’s quick reflexes, he would have fallen hard to the ground.

"Sir? Sir?" The County Captain supported the magistrate, quickly calling to him.

Seeing this anxious scene, an outsider would naturally think the County Captain and the magistrate had a good relationship.

In truth, the County Captain thought that if the magistrate couldn’t wake up and if the two princes really were here to hold them accountable, he’d have to bear the blame alone?

Though he wasn’t in charge of investigations, he was still the magistrate’s deputy.

"Sir... Sir... please wake up..." The County Captain almost cried in anxiety, "Don’t leave me alone, I can’t bear this..."

"Uh..." In the County Captain’s sincere calls, the magistrate slowly woke up.

"Who are you?" But in his anxious state, he had a brief bout of amnesia.

"Sir?" The County Captain was momentarily stunned, seeing the magistrate not recognizing him.

Without further thought, he dragged the magistrate to meet the two princes.

Thus, he walked, supporting the bewildered magistrate.

On the way, the constables stationed in the government office followed excitedly.

They wore their official uniforms today, clothes they usually hesitate to don.

It was their county’s best showing.

But upon seeing the magistrate being dragged, they felt puzzled.

"What’s happened?" A constable asked his colleague next to him, "On such a good day, why does the magistrate look so lost?"

"Can’t you see?" His colleague said knowingly, "About to meet the two nobles from above, who wouldn’t have weak legs out of excitement!"

"Indeed." The constable understood.

But ahead of the constables.

The County Captain narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded to the long-faced Chief Constable beside him.

The Chief Constable glanced around, waved for the others to follow the magistrate, then lagged a few steps behind, looking at the County Captain, whispering:

"I thought the matter from years ago was settled, and the government would no longer pursue it, but today two princes have arrived?

And I’ve heard the Eldest Prince is skilled in investigations, do you think they’ll trace it back to our master?"

"They will." The County Captain replied as they walked, "Before, it was you and I suppressing it, with none of the information reported.

But now with the meticulous Eldest Prince overseeing, how could it remain hidden?"

"Then?" The Chief Constable’s eyes shifted as he spoke with determination, "We, you and I, are soon to tour the imperial palace anyway.

The inner palace is heavily guarded, with many hidden experts, our chances of returning are slim to none.

Why not, while in official capacity, approach the two princes and kill them!

To repay our master for saving our lives years ago!"

"There’s no need to provoke me, brother; I too am not afraid of death." The County Captain said resolutely, recalling when he was a near-starving child.

It was their master who discovered him, saw him, and made him a pot of rice soup, feeding him back to life, spoon by spoon.

"Our master treated me with a kindness as weighty as a mountain, today I must repay him for the meal he provided years ago."

...

A few miles outside the county, hundreds of soldiers camped.

Led by General Sheng, accompanied by dozens of tall soldiers, they followed the Eldest Prince and Zhang Feng to meet the county magistrate and others outside the camp.

Upon meeting.

As per protocol, the magistrate and others had their weapons confiscated.

Once the weapons were collected.

The Eldest Prince looked at the unsteady county magistrate.

"Greetings to the two princes!"

With the Eldest Prince’s glance, the magistrate’s spirit was immediately restored, and he quickly led his people in saluting them again.

The Eldest Prince cut straight to the point, looking at the magistrate and others, "Is there any clue about the forbidden books case from back then now?"

"This..." The magistrate, holding his saluting hands, rubbed them back and forth but couldn’t utter a word.

The County Captain cast his eyes toward the silent County Captain, signaling him to speak up.

At the same time.

Zhang Feng also followed the County Captain’s gaze, looking at the County Captain and a Chief Constable beside him.

"Your Highness..." The two feigned fear as they stepped forward, holding two bamboo scrolls checked by the soldiers, seemingly about to discuss the case.

’He has martial arts skills.’ Zhang Feng noticed the County Captain slightly bending forward, with his hands slightly raised, ready to exert power at any moment.

The other Chief Constable, though seemingly anxious, showed more of a sinister expression in his brows.

"Senior Brother!"

At that moment, when they were within the eight-step range of the Eldest Prince, the Chief Constable suddenly shouted loudly, using his Power to send the bamboo scroll flying, dispersing the soldiers around.

The County Captain then leapt forward, reaching out to grab the Eldest Prince a yard away!

"Your Highness!" General Sheng turned pale with horror, attempting to shield him.

Whoosh—

The soldiers behind the Eldest Prince also stepped forward, intending to protect the Seventh Prince for retreat.

"Xiaoqi, be careful!" The Eldest Prince instinctively turned to push his brother away from danger.

Zhang Feng stood like a mountain against the river, unaffected by the Eldest Prince’s push. Instead, at the moment of the County Captain’s assault, he stepped a yard away, extending his palm to forcefully deflect the County Captain’s grasping hand and seized him by the neck, effortlessly lifting the 150-pound man.

At the same time, thinking the County Captain might be related to the forbidden books, Zhang Feng did not kill him but instead choked him into unconsciousness and tossed him aside.

"Your Highness!" Once his body hit the ground, everyone, relieved from the scare, quickly restrained both the now-subdued Chief Constable and the unconscious County Captain, and fearfully begged pardon from the two princes.

During their pleas, they were astonished to appraise the Seventh Prince, surprised that he turned out to be a martial arts expert!

Unsure if he had consumed the Forbidden Fruit.

Thinking this far, they dared not continue their thoughts.

The Eldest Prince, however, gently pushed away the soldiers protecting him and kept watching Zhang Feng, watching the once chubby little brother who loved to eat.

He quietly observed for several breaths before shaking his head with a warm smile, saying, "Xiaoqi, you’ve grown up. It’s no longer me protecting you, but you protecting me now."