"Ning Chuan is a Squad Leader of our Imperial Guard. Whatever he does represents the Imperial Guard!
"The Imperial Guard belongs to the Emperor. Since when did the County Yamen have the right to interfere!
"Or does the Han Family believe it has the strength to rebel and no longer holds imperial authority in its eyes?"
Leng Hanshuang's words rumbled through the hall. County Magistrate Han Zhang's expression shifted slightly, and his momentum immediately weakened.
Though the Han Family's power was immense, it still fell short of imperial authority.
Moreover, imperial authority was the legitimate order. At least on the surface, the Han Family did not dare openly oppose it.
What went on in the shadows was another matter entirely.
"Sister Leng, you jest. My Han Family is utterly loyal to the Great Ming Dynasty and harbors absolutely no thought of rebellion!"
County Magistrate Han Zhang hurriedly explained. That was far too large a hat for him to wear.
Even if the Han Family truly intended to overthrow the Great Ming royal house, he was not qualified to be the one to stick his neck out.
Han Zhang's expression darkened and brightened by turns. Then, as though he had thought of something, his eyes lit up, and he continued:
"This official is merely discussing the matter at hand. Ning Chuan only joined the Imperial Guard yesterday.
"In other words, before yesterday, he was not an Imperial Guard member!
"What he did before yesterday cannot represent the Imperial Guard, can it?"
Leng Hanshuang was inwardly furious and asked coldly:
"What? Must the County Yamen approve whenever I recruit a subordinate?"
Han Zhang was rendered speechless.
The Imperial Guard operated in secrecy, and many of its hidden agents were indeed not listed on the rolls in ordinary times.
Seeing Leng Hanshuang protect Ning Chuan so fiercely, and recalling yesterday's rumors, an ominous premonition rose in his heart.
Could the rumors be true?
Could Ning Chuan truly be Sister Leng's male favorite?
This time, even he was uncertain.
Once the spark of suspicion was lit, it spread like a prairie fire, becoming utterly unstoppable.
He looked again at Ning Chuan. Though Ning Chuan was handsome and distinguished, a fine-looking talent, he was still slightly inferior to himself.
And if they compared family background and status, Ning Chuan was merely a shabby Imperial Guard captain. Compared to him, Ning Chuan was like dog meat that could never be served at a banquet.
Han Zhang could not help voicing a question from the depths of his soul:
Where, exactly, did I lose?
Then he looked at Leng Hanshuang's incomparably alluring curves, full in front and rounded behind, and intense jealousy rose within him.
He had already imagined all sorts of scenes of Leng Hanshuang lying in Ning Chuan's arms. His fury surged like mountains collapsing and seas overturning, rushing straight to his head.
Pfft!
Han Zhang was so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of old blood, his entire body trembling.
He pointed at Leng Hanshuang, then at Ning Chuan, and gritted out:
"Sister Leng, are you truly going to protect this brat?"
"That's right. Ning Chuan is my man, and I will protect him no matter what!"
Leng Hanshuang answered coldly and decisively. She paid no heed to him vomiting blood, making his heart sink even deeper into the abyss.
Leng Hanshuang's words struck Han Zhang like a bolt from the blue. Only one sentence echoed through his mind:
"Ning Chuan is my man!"
He did not bother to consider what those words truly meant.
The rumors were actually true!
The rumors were actually true!
Sister Leng admitted it herself—Ning Chuan is her man!
Ning Chuan, you dare steal my woman and I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces!
Han Zhang trembled all over and muttered to himself, his eyes growing redder and redder, like an enraged bull.
The flames of rage in his heart rose higher and higher, nearly beyond suppression, ready to burst from his chest as he was about to explode on the spot.
Everyone present was a martial arts expert, so they heard his muttering loud and clear.
Ning Chuan was full of question marks, while Leng Hanshuang's beautiful brows furrowed.
"What rumors?"
"What do you mean, stealing a woman?"
Ning Chuan himself did not know that after killing Squad Leader Ma Dayuan, not only had nothing happened to him, but he had even replaced Ma Dayuan as the new Squad Leader.
Thus, these past few days, rumors had run rampant throughout the Imperial Guard, spreading everywhere that Ning Chuan was Leng Hanshuang's male favorite.
Aside from Ning Chuan and Leng Hanshuang, the two people involved, everyone else knew about this rumor.
Seeing County Magistrate Han Zhang on the verge of exploding, the Straw Bag Strategist hurriedly grabbed him, leaned close, and whispered into his ear:
"County Magistrate, think twice. A small impatience will ruin a great plan!"
"The urgent matter is to find a way to seize the six chiefs. Otherwise, if the evidence falls into the Imperial Guard's hands, the consequences will be unthinkable..."
The Straw Bag Strategist's words were like a basin of icy water, thoroughly waking Han Zhang.
Han Zhang shuddered violently and hurriedly suppressed his rage, composing himself.
His face alternated between purple and green. He barely forced out a smile, then continued:
"Since Sister Leng puts it that way, let us set Ning Chuan's matter aside for now.
"The County Yamen was robbed last night. One million taels of disaster-relief silver were looted clean by the Six Bandit Overlords.
"I heard that Sister Leng captured the Six Overlords, so I came specifically to interrogate the criminals, recover the silver as soon as possible, and save the people from fire and water.
"I hope Sister Leng will consider the tens of millions of common people and hand the criminals over to this official for interrogation!"
County Magistrate Han Zhang believed that, with righteousness on his side, Leng Hanshuang would certainly hand the criminals over to him.
Clearly, he had thought too much.
He had overestimated his own intelligence and underestimated Leng Hanshuang's.
"Ha ha ha..."
Leng Hanshuang let out a silver-bell-like laugh, yet boundless chill lurked within it.
"Lord Han, you're thinking too much!
"Our Imperial Guard captured the Six Bandit Overlords, so naturally we will interrogate them strictly. There is no need for outsiders to worry!
"When it comes to interrogating criminals, who but the Imperial Guard could take the lead!
"On the other hand, Lord Han, you lost the disaster-relief silver. I fear your head may not stay on your shoulders much longer. Hahaha..."
"You...!"
Han Zhang was choked speechless.
The loss of the disaster-relief silver was merely a pretext he had fabricated. His sole purpose was to snatch away the six chiefs.
Seeing that County Magistrate Han Zhang could not outargue Leng Hanshuang, the Straw Bag Strategist stepped forward, fanning himself with his folding fan.
He first bowed to Leng Hanshuang, then said slowly:
"Lord Leng, I am Cao Bao, strategist of the County Yamen. May I ask whether you abide by the laws of Great Ming?"
Leng Hanshuang looked at the Straw Bag Strategist, somewhat impatient, and replied blandly:
"Of course I do!"
The Straw Bag Strategist gently waved his folding fan and said:
"Since that is so, according to Great Ming law, when accomplices in the same case are requested for interrogation by multiple departments, the case of greatest importance has priority!
"Our County Yamen has lost disaster-relief silver. This concerns the lives and livelihoods of tens of millions of people. It is a grave and urgent matter!
"According to Great Ming law, our County Yamen has priority in interrogation.
"I ask Lord Leng to hand the Six Bandit Overlords over to the County Yamen!"
A smug expression appeared on the Straw Bag Strategist's face.
Little girl, trying to trade words with this old man? You're still too green!
Leng Hanshuang gave a cold chuckle, her face full of mockery.
"What a Straw Bag Strategist—an utter straw bag and rice bucket, nothing but a wine sack and rice bag!
"As a strategist, do you not know that when the Imperial Guard handles a case, it takes precedence over all other interrogations?
"Since I now know about the County Yamen's lost disaster-relief silver, I will open a case and investigate it as well!
"Perhaps special measures will even be necessary, and every official in the County Yamen will have to be interrogated.
"The matter of the Six Bandit Overlords is not for the County Yamen to meddle in. See the guests out!"
The Straw Bag Strategist's smile froze on his face. He exchanged looks with the County Magistrate, and both their hearts sank straight to the bottom.
Leng Hanshuang would yield to neither soft nor hard tactics, throwing the two men into confusion.
A vicious glint burst from County Magistrate Han Zhang's eyes as he was about to order a forcible assault to seize the prisoners, but the Straw Bag Strategist hurriedly stopped him with a look.
Attacking the Imperial Guard in broad daylight was at least a capital crime. No matter how powerful the Han Family was, it could not protect him.
Master and servant both wore uncertain expressions, and the atmosphere fell cold for a time.
"Sister Leng, you and I are well matched in family status. Sooner or later, we'll be one family. Are you truly unwilling to give your brother this bit of face?"
Unable to defeat Leng Hanshuang with reason, Han Zhang tried playing the emotional card instead.
"Hmph. Stop flattering yourself. Get lost!"
Leng Hanshuang roared with Grandmaster true qi, and the single word "Get lost" rolled through the hall like thunder.
"Hmph!"
"Let's go!"
County Magistrate Han Zhang's face reddened. Too ashamed to remain any longer, he flicked his wide sleeve and led his people away in disgrace.
After taking a few steps, he turned back and fixed Ning Chuan with a venomous glare.
"Brat, you dare steal my woman and ruin my great plan? You're dead!"
The Brown-robed Martial Emperor looked at Ning Chuan, his eyes filled with grim killing intent.
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