"No... I wouldn't dare. This junior would never have had such an intention. Your Highness, Your Highness understand."
Facing the Princes of the court, Zhang Yu was somewhat nervous and quickly explained, "We truly did not know they were Imperial Merchant, which is why..."
"Snort!"
Xiao Jingyan snorted coldly, and before he could finish speaking, he cut to the chase, "So, according to you, if they weren't Imperial Merchant, but just ordinary merchants, you could bully them at will and even commit violence with a knife?"
"Does the law of our Great Wei, in the eyes of your Marquis Yong'an's Estate, only protect Imperial Merchant and not ordinary people?"
"The rules of your Marquis Estate's residence are even greater than the laws of the imperial court."
This hat is bigger and heavier!
This has escalated directly to the level of contempt for national law and trampling on legal regulations.
"No, I would never dare!"
Zhang Heng was now speechless with fear, so terrified that he could only repeat the word "I dare not".
Just then, Qin Xuehua took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
She knew that if she let her son continue, it would only worsen his situation.
After all, she was the mistress of the Marquis Estate and came from Duke, having seen many ups and downs, so she quickly made a plan in her mind.
Even though they were Imperial Merchant, they were ultimately just businessmen who had some business dealings with the Imperial Family.
She guessed that it was most likely one of Prince Qi's men, otherwise Prince Qi wouldn't have made a move.
Although they fought today, Li Dagang and Mo Zhai are still alive, and things haven't gotten out of control yet.
Would the Prince Qi really risk a complete falling out with the powerful Marquis Yong'an's Estate and his army over a few merchants, risking a life-or-death struggle?
At most, they would apologize, compensate for the huge losses, and punish Zhang Heng to save face for the Imperial Family.
The Marquis Estate's mansion still possesses its rich heritage, and the Northern Frontier army is even more reassuring.
Thinking of this, Qin Xuehua felt somewhat relieved and regained her composure as the mistress of the Marquis Estate.
She stepped forward and gave a graceful bow to the Prince Qi, her posture humble, yet her tone conveyed a calm attempt to downplay the seriousness of the matter.
"Your Highness, Your Highness calm your anger. Today's events were indeed due to my son's recklessness, which offended you, sir. On behalf of the Marquis's Marquis Estate, I apologize to the two injured managers."
She paused, then continued:
Fortunately, both managers are out of danger, which is a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune.
My Marquis Yong'an's Estate is willing to bear all medical expenses and offer generous gifts as an apology, without any hesitation. As for my son Zhang Heng...
She glanced at her disheveled son, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes, but more so a resolute determination:
"...Your Highness may decide according to the law, and my Marquis Estate will have no complaints."
"I only beg Your Highness to consider that the Marquis Estate served the country and defended the borders for generations, and that even if they haven't achieved great merit, they have still endured hardship, and to give him a chance to reform, and also give my Marquis Estate a chance to make amends for our mistakes."
Her words, seemingly sincere in admitting her mistake and willing to take responsibility, actually subtly pointed out the Marquis Estate's military achievements and power, attempting to balance legal principles with reason and strength.
She wanted to downplay the bloody attempted murder of an Imperial Merchant as a youthful impulsive mistake, attempting to settle it with money and face.
In her view, this was already the biggest concession and the most sincere gesture that the Marquis Estate could make, and Prince Qi should know when to stop.
If Li Dagang were an ordinary Imperial Merchant, Qin Xuehua's analysis would indeed be correct.
However, she underestimated Zhang Yu's importance in the Imperial Family's eyes.
King Xiao Jing of Qi smiled dismissively and shook his head slightly upon hearing this.
"Marquis's Wife,"
Xiao Jingyan's voice returned to its calm tone, but beneath that calmness lay a chilling coldness even more chilling than his previous angry shout, "Don't you... understand the situation yet?"
Qin Xuehua's heart skipped a beat, and her brows furrowed slightly.
Prince Qi slightly raised his hand, pointing to Li Dagang and Mo Zhai, who were lying on the ground with weak breaths, and said:
"These two are no ordinary people; the person behind them is someone you probably can't afford to offend."
Qin Xuehua's heart trembled slightly, but she didn't seem to care much, and said:
"I wonder which Imperial Clan you are connected to? Your Highness, please tell me, and I will personally go to apologize. If that's not enough, I will have the Old Marquis and my father, the Duke Qin, go together to offer our condolences."
At this point, Qin Xuehua also became angry.
And she certainly had the confidence to challenge ordinary Imperial Clan.
The Marquis Yong'an's Estate wields immense power and influence, and if it weren't for the lack of true Grandmaster to oversee it, even the Imperial Family would have to be wary of it.
With the addition of the marriage alliance with the Duke Qin Estate, the Marquis Yong'an's Estate is definitely among the top tier in the entire Wei Kingdom.
Even ordinary Imperial Clan dared not act presumptuously in front of them.
That's why they dared to act so recklessly in the capital, and even when facing Princes, Qin Xuehua was confident she had the leverage to negotiate.
She thought the worst punishment would be for Zhang Heng personally to suffer, and for the Marquis Estate to spend money to avoid disaster.
Qin Xuehua's words not only boosted her own morale but also gave Zhang Heng a lifeline.
As the excruciating pain and fear subsided, the arrogance and inherent sense of superiority of the Marquis Estate's Heir Apparent began to resurface.
Yes!
My family, the Marquis Yong'an's Estate, is of such high status; the 100,000 border troops in the Northern Frontier are the foundation of our family's strength.
The Duke Qin Estate is related to my family by marriage.
So what if Li Dagang and his group have Prince Qi backing them?
He's just Princes, not the emperor.
Moreover, he was not the only prince of Wei.
No matter how powerful the Prince Qi is, would he really dare to completely turn against our Marquis Estate and force a rebellion in the Northern Frontier for the sake of a few merchants?
Thinking of this, Zhang Heng felt as if he had come back to life, and his back straightened unconsciously.
He endured the excruciating pain in his chest, struggling to prop himself up, trying to regain some of the composure befitting a scion of an Aristocratic Clan:
"Your Highness... Your Highness understand."
As the saying goes, 'ignorance is no excuse,' we... we truly did not know that Shopkeeper Li and his group were Imperial Merchant, let alone that they had powerful backers.
If I have offended or offended you in any way, I apologize and Your Highness's forgiveness.
He deliberately emphasized the word "forgiveness," as if this was already giving the King of Prince Qi a huge favor, implying that the matter could end there and everyone should compromise.
However, he had barely finished speaking—
"I'll forgive your mother?"
A crude, violent, and impatient roar, like a thunderclap, came from outside the Merchant Guild gate.
Immediately afterwards, a figure, like Brute Bull, smashed through the Black Armored Guard standing at the door, charging in with an aura of unbridled ferocity!
The newcomer was a burly man, wearing a brocade Brocade Robe that was slightly askew, exuding the fierce aura of a battle-hardened general.
It was none other than Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng.
He rushed in too fast, and his movements were so rude and unbecoming of Princes.
Before anyone could react, he had swept up in front of Zhang Heng like a whirlwind, grabbing Zhang Heng's hair and the back of his neck with his large, fan-like hand.
Who the hell do you think you are?
"Does he even deserve the forgiveness of the current Princes's son?"
Xiao Jingfeng cursed angrily, giving no one time to react, grabbed Zhang Heng's head and slammed it hard against the ground like a chick.
"Bang!!!"
A dull thud that made your teeth ache!
Zhang Heng's cheek and forehead made intimate contact with the cold, rough floor tiles, his nose made a crisp snapping sound, and blood instantly smeared his face.
He didn't even have time to scream before the enormous impact left him dizzy.
But that's not all!
Xiao Jingfeng grabbed Zhang Heng by the hair and dragged him along the ground like a dead dog for several feet, until he was pulled directly to the side of the seriously injured Li Dagang.
Then, he started his outrageous antics.
He then shouted at the top of his lungs at the barely breathing Li Dagang:
"Bro, did you see that clearly?"
It was Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng, who avenged you. If this bastard dares to touch you, I'll deal with him.
He shook the half-dead Zhang Heng in his hand vigorously to make sure the audience could see. "Remember this, when you go back and report to your boss, the credit will go to me."
Remember to mention my name, Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng. Don't get it wrong.
Zhang Heng, who had just been trying to reason with Prince Qi, was now completely bewildered.
What just happened?
Where the hell did this Calamity Star come from?
Prince Jing?
Everyone present was stunned, including Qin Xuehua, Zhang Wanning, and the guards of the Marquis Estate.
What's wrong with me today?
One Prince Qi wasn't enough, so they brought in Prince Jing, known for his recklessness and domineering style in the army?
Moreover, judging from his demeanor, he is even more rude and unreasonable than the Prince Qi.
Standing to the side, Prince Qi Xiao Jingyan, saw Xiao Jingfeng rush in, stealing the kill and making his presence known, and his muscles twitched uncontrollably.
His eyelids twitched violently, veins on his forehead bulged, and his fingers gripping the Cloud-Splitting Bow turned slightly white from the force.
Damn it, Xiao Jingfeng, you can't just steal all the credit like that.
It felt as if ten thousand Exotic Beasts were stampeding through Xiao Jingyan's mind, and he almost couldn't help but blurt out an Imperial Family curse on the spot.
All the dignified atmosphere he had painstakingly created, and the perfect script he had meticulously prepared to represent the Imperial Family in bestowing favors upon Zhang Yu, were completely ruined by this shameless idiot.
This bastard arrived late because his Cultivation mine, and it seemed he was about to monopolize the great credit and favor of rescuing Zhang Yu's confidant.
He actually went so far as to abandon all pretense and use such a crude and blatant method to rush in and steal the credit?
He even yelled at Li Dagang to remember his name?
Have you no shame?
Where is the Princes demeanor?
Where is the royal majesty?
Were they all eaten by the dogs?
Xiao Jingyan felt as if a mouthful of blood was stuck in his chest, unable to go up or down.
He glared coldly at Zhang Heng, who was still loitering around, and Xiao Jingfeng, who seemed to be displaying his spoils, and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth:
"Prince Jing, what... what swift footwork! And what... what a unique way to rescue someone!"
Well, the reason Prince Qi suffered was that he was too reasonable and too concerned with royal decorum, which allowed Prince Jing, that shameless scoundrel, to steal the credit.