Tang Wanxin furrowed her brows and said to the man beside her, "We should still stay at Prince Su's Mansion. It would be more convenient for me to tend to the Prince's illness."
She was about to leave when Xu Xiaogang, who had witnessed the scene from the third floor, roared, "Wicked woman, where do you think you're going?"
He leaped down from the third floor and blocked Tang Wanxin and the man's path. Holding a sword, he pressed it against Tang Wanxin's throat and said coldly, "I wondered where you'd run off to, you wicked woman. I didn't expect you to come to Nanzhou Prefecture."
Seeing this, Jiang Yun was ready to go down and help. He had planned to follow Xu Xiaogang's example and make a dashing leap from the third floor.
But after glancing at the height, he chose to run down the stairs instead.
Before leaving, he reminded Xu Suwen, "Miss Xu, take good care of Qiaoqiao. I'm going to help."
Jiang Yun rushed to the entrance of Nanmanju Inn in one breath and hurried to Xu Xiaogang's side.
Tang Wanxin frowned slightly and hid behind the man beside her, speaking in a gentle voice. "Young hero, surely you've mistaken me for someone else."
"Hmph. I'd recognize you even if you were reduced to ashes," Xu Xiaogang said coldly. "How many lives have you taken in Beihu County?"
At his words, tears welled in Tang Wanxin's eyes. She bit her lip lightly. "Young hero, I'm only a frail woman. I wouldn't even dare kill a chicken, yet you accuse me of taking other people's lives?"
Jiang Yun frowned impatiently beside them. "Why waste so many words on her? Just cut her down first."
Xu Xiaogang thought that made sense and thrust his sword toward Tang Wanxin's chest.
But just as the sword left his hand, the man standing in front of Tang Wanxin folded his fan and used it to knock the blade aside.
Then he opened the fan and leisurely fanned himself. "This is Prefecture City in Nanzhou Prefecture. You dare commit murder in broad daylight? Do you know what the punishment is?"
"So, she has an accomplice," Xu Xiaogang said with a cold laugh. "Then I'll take you both in."
Xu Xiaogang swung his sword at the man. To his surprise, the man was quite skilled. He easily evaded Xu Xiaogang's blade and, wielding only a folding fan, knocked him back several times.
Seeing that the other man was no pushover, Jiang Yun quickly retreated to avoid getting hurt.
The man's movements were sharp yet graceful, and he seemed completely at ease.
Just then, an arrow suddenly shot from the third floor. The man dodged swiftly, then looked up. "Another expert?"
Xu Suwen could no longer sit by. She leaped down from the third floor, and the siblings attacked the man together.
With the two of them working in tandem, the man could no longer hold his own. Xu Suwen soon kicked him to the ground.
Two swords were held to his throat, one on either side, leaving him afraid to move.
A crowd had gathered along both sides of the street.
"Make way! Make way!"
Qian Bochou pushed through the crowd, cursing as he went. He had been about to head home and rest when he suddenly heard that people were fighting with weapons here.
Qian Bochou loved this sort of thing. According to the rules, people couldn't just carry weapons around in the city.
When two groups fought, he could take them back. Right or wrong, they'd have to hand over some silver first.
But when he pushed through the crowd and saw who was there, it turned out to be Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang.
"Oh, my! My two lords, who's upset you? You shouldn't have to get your hands dirty. I'll handle it."
Qian Bochou beamed, drew his own saber, and prepared to press it to the man's throat and escort him to the Nanzhou Prefectural Office.
But as soon as he stepped closer and saw the man's face, he froze.
His saber clattered to the ground.
"Oh, my! Heir Apparent, what are you doing here?" Seeing the man lying on the ground, Qian Bochou's heart pounded. He hurriedly moved Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang's swords aside. "Careful! Don't hurt the Heir Apparent."
Jiang Yun frowned. Heir Apparent?
Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang exchanged a glance, both clearly surprised.
"This is Xiao Jingyuan, the legitimate son of Prince Su," Qian Bochou whispered to Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang.
Xiao Jingyuan slowly rose to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes. "Constable Qian, these two attacked me in the street. How should this matter be handled?"
Xu Xiaogang showed no fear. Raising his sword, he said, "So what if he's the Heir Apparent? You colluded with evil people. You're the one we're here to arrest. Qian Bochou, call the constables from your office and take him in!"
"Oh, my ancestors!" Qian Bochou's head was already spinning.
On one side were the Imperial Guards from the capital; on the other was the Heir Apparent of the Prince's household.
He couldn't afford to offend either side. He could have been home sleeping peacefully, so why had he gotten himself mixed up in this mess?
He was already filled with regret.
Xiao Jingyuan frowned slightly, displeased by Qian Bochou's reaction. "Qian Bochou, can't you understand what I'm saying?"
Xu Xiaogang turned to look at him. "Constable Qian, why aren't you doing anything?"
"I-I..." Qian Bochou looked toward Jiang Yun behind them, his eyes pleading for help.
Jiang Yun understood his predicament, but could only shrug to show there was nothing he could do.
Qian Bochou suddenly stumbled and fell. His head slammed hard against the floor, and he fainted. No matter how the others called to him, he kept his eyes tightly shut and gave no answer.
"Very well." Looking at Qian Bochou, who was lying on the ground and pretending to be dead, Xiao Jingyuan felt a sudden flare of anger.
Xiao Jingyuan said coldly, "I never expected anyone to dare attack me openly in Nanzhou Prefecture. Do you know what the consequences will be?"
Suddenly, Xu Xiaogang produced a black Imperial Guards token. "I never expected anyone in Great Zhou to dare lay a hand on the Imperial Guards."
At the sight of the token, Xiao Jingyuan's expression turned uncertain. "You're Imperial Guards?"
Xu Xiaogang gave a cold snort. "Go on, have the people from your mansion arrest us. Then let your Prince Su go to the capital and explain himself to His Majesty!"
In broad daylight, Xiao Jingyuan drew a deep breath and couldn't help glaring at Qian Bochou by his feet.
No wonder that bastard hadn't dared arrest the two of them.
The Prince's Mansion held considerable influence in Nanzhou Prefecture and even at court.
Naturally, he wasn't afraid of two mere Imperial Guards.
But the trouble was, this sort of thing could easily be blown out of proportion. If he really arrested two Imperial Guards on official business, who knew what kind of fuss the ministers in the capital would make of it?
Thinking of this, Xiao Jingyuan clenched his fists, yet managed to force a smile. "It seems this was all a misunderstanding."
"Miss Tang, let's go." Xiao Jingyuan looked toward Tang Wanxin and led her away.
Xu Xiaogang still wanted to stop them, but Xu Suwen grabbed his wrist and said quietly, "That's enough."
Before leaving, Tang Wanxin gave Jiang Yun a meaningful look.
Only after Xiao Jingyuan had left did Qian Bochou scramble to his feet. He put on a fawning smile and said, "Please forgive me, my lords. I still have to make a living here in Nanzhou Prefecture..."
In Nanzhou Prefecture, if you wanted to live well, you couldn't afford to offend the Prince's Mansion.
Before you continue