A Predicament for Qian Bochou

Tang Wanxin frowned, speaking to the man beside her, "Let's still reside at the Prince's manor. It'll be more convenient to tend to the Prince's illness."

As she prepared to leave, Xu Xiaogang, who had been watching from the third floor, shouted, "Where do you think you're going, you demoness!"

He then leaped from the third floor, blocking Tang Wanxin and the man's path. Sword in hand, he pressed it against Tang Wanxin's neck and said coldly, "I wondered where you demoness had fled to. I didn't expect you to come to Nanzhou Prefecture."

Seeing this, Jiang Yun also prepared to go down and help. He had intended to leap down潇洒ly like Xu Xiaogang.

However, after glancing at the height of the third floor, he chose to run down the stairs instead.

Before going downstairs, he reminded Xu Suwen, "Miss Xu, please take good care of Qiaoqiao. I'm going to help."

Jiang Yun arrived at the entrance of Nanmanju Inn in one breath and reached Xu Xiaogang's side.

Tang Wanxin frowned slightly, hiding behind the man beside her, and said gently, "Young hero, you must have mistaken me for someone else."

"Hmph, I'd recognize you even if you turned to ash," Xu Xiaogang said coldly. "How many lives did you ruin in Beihu County?"

Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Tang Wanxin's eyes. She bit her red lips lightly. "Young hero, I am but a weak woman. I'm too afraid to even kill a chicken. How can you accuse me of harming others?"

Jiang Yun, standing nearby, frowned and said impatiently, "Why waste so much time talking to her? Just kill her with a sword."

Xu Xiaogang agreed and lunged with his sword towards Tang Wanxin's chest.

But as soon as the sword was unleashed, the man standing in front of Tang Wanxin closed his folding fan and used it to deflect the sword.

Then, the man opened his fan and gently fanned himself, saying, "You dare to commit murder on the street in the Prefecture City of Nanzhou Prefecture? Do you know what crime that is?"

"So, you have an accomplice, do you?" Xu Xiaogang snorted coldly. "Then I'll take both of you down."

Xu Xiaogang swung his sword and attacked the man. To his surprise, the man's skill was formidable, easily dodging Xu Xiaogang's long sword. He used his folding fan to repel Xu Xiaogang several times.

Seeing the opponent's formidable skill, Jiang Yun quickly retreated to avoid getting hurt.

The man's movements were sharp and graceful, appearing effortless.

Just then, an arrow suddenly shot from the third floor. The man dodged quickly and looked up. "Another master?"

Xu Suwen couldn't sit still any longer. She leaped from the third floor, and the siblings attacked the man together.

With their combined efforts, the man could no longer resist. He was quickly kicked down by Xu Suwen and fell to the ground.

Two long swords were immediately placed at his neck, preventing him from moving.

A crowd had gathered on both sides of the street.

"Make way, make way!"

Qian Bochou cursed as he pushed through the crowd and entered. He was on his way home to rest when he suddenly heard that people were fighting with swords here.

Qian Bochou loved such matters. According to regulations, carrying swords casually within the Prefecture City was not allowed.

Two groups fighting meant he could arrest them. Regardless of right or wrong, he could at least make them pay some silver.

To his surprise, when he pushed aside the onlookers, he saw the siblings Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang.

"Oh my, esteemed officials, who has angered you? Why do you need to get your hands dirty? I can handle it."

Qian Bochou, with a plastered smile, drew his saber and was about to place it at the man's neck to escort him back to the Prefectural Yamen.

But as he looked at the man's face, his expression instantly froze.

His saber clanged to the ground.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, how can it be you?" Qian Bochou saw the person lying on the ground, his heart pounding. He reached out and took the swords from Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang. "Slow down, don't injure His Highness."

Jiang Yun, standing nearby, frowned immediately. "Your Highness?"

Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang couldn't help but exchange glances, clearly surprised.

"This is the legitimate son of Prince Su, Xiao Jingyuan," Qian Bochou whispered to Xu Suwen and Xu Xiaogang.

Xiao Jingyuan slowly got up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said slowly, "Constable Qian, these two attacked me on the street. How should this be investigated?"

Xu Xiaogang, however, was not afraid. He raised his long sword and said, "So what if he's His Highness? You colluded with evil people, and we're arresting you. Qian Bochou, call the constables from your Prefectural Yamen to arrest him!"

"Oh my, my ancestors," Qian Bochou's head was about to explode.

On one side were the Imperial Guards from the Capital City, and on the other was the son of a Prince.

He couldn't afford to offend either side. It would have been so much better to go home and sleep soundly. Why did he have to get involved in this mess?

He was filled with regret at that moment.

Xiao Jingyuan frowned slightly, displeased with Qian Bochou's reaction. "Qian Bochou, can't you understand what I'm saying?"

Xu Xiaogang turned his head. "Constable Qian, aren't you going to act?"

"I, I..." Qian Bochou looked at Jiang Yun behind him, his gaze filled with a plea for help.

Jiang Yun knew his predicament but could only shrug, indicating his helplessness.

Qian Bochou suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground, his head hitting the floor heavily. He fainted. No matter how others called out to him, his eyes remained shut, and he offered no response.

"Fine," Xiao Jingyuan said, looking at Qian Bochou feigning unconsciousness on the ground. A strange anger rose within him.

Xiao Jingyuan said coldly, "I never expected someone would dare to attack me so openly in Nanzhou Prefecture. Do you know what the consequences will be?"

Suddenly, Xu Xiaogang produced a black Imperial Guard waist token. "I never expected someone to dare attack an Imperial Guard in the Great Zhou Dynasty."

Upon seeing the Imperial Guards' waist token, Xiao Jingyuan's expression turned uncertain. "You are Imperial Guards?"

Xu Xiaogang let out a cold snort and said, "Go, tell your mansion's people to arrest the two of us, and then have your Prince Su go to the Capital City to give a proper explanation to His Majesty."

In broad daylight, Xiao Jingyuan took a deep breath and couldn't help but glare at Qian Bochou, who was at his feet.

No wonder this bastard didn't dare to arrest these two.

Prince Su's Mansion held a certain influence in Nanzhou Prefecture, and even in the imperial court.

Naturally, they wouldn't fear a mere two Imperial Guards.

But such matters were afraid of being blown out of proportion. If they truly arrested two on-duty Imperial Guards, who knew what kind of accusations the court officials in the Capital City would make.

Considering this, Xiao Jingyuan clenched his fist, but a smile spread across his face. "It seems this is a misunderstanding."

"Miss Tang, let's go." Xiao Jingyuan looked at Tang Wanxin and led her away.

Xu Xiaogang wanted to stop them, but Xu Suwen, standing beside him, grabbed his wrist and whispered, "That's enough."

Before Tang Wanxin left, she cast a meaningful glance at Jiang Yun.

After Xiao Jingyuan departed, Qian Bochou quickly got up from the ground, a fawning smile on his face. "My apologies, sirs. I still need to make a living in Nanzhou Prefecture..."

In Nanzhou Prefecture, if you wanted to live well, you couldn't afford to offend Prince Su's Mansion.

I'm experiencing writer's block today; two more chapters are in progress.