"Guards, take him away!"
At Duan Hongzhuo's command, the two guards standing behind him stepped forward, each seizing one of Yang Qing's arms, ready to lead him away.
Jiang Zhizhou's hand clenched abruptly beneath his broad sleeve. Just as he was about to step forward and speak, he suddenly realized that Yang Qing had pinned the edge of his sleeve beneath his knee.
That single press brought Jiang Zhizhou back to his senses in an instant.
He had been careless.
Since he remained still, Bu Er forced himself not to betray the slightest fear, though his heart churned like a raging sea.
Yang Qing, meanwhile, bowed to Duan Hongzhuo after being hauled up from the ground.
"Your Highness, this commoner suffers from a lingering illness. If I return with you, I fear I may bring ill fortune upon your residence. Please reconsider."
"Besides, I am merely an ant scraping out a living in Tong City. There is no need for Your Highness to concern yourself with me."
Duan Hongzhuo continued to stare at him without moving. "You do not fear me."
In Northern Liang, those who did not fear the Regent King could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Yet now, Duan Hongzhuo had truly encountered one.
If he did not take this man back to his residence, whom should he take?
"My residence has a master physician. Treating one more patient will be no burden," Duan Hongzhuo said.
The last excuse Yang Qing had held up as a protective talisman was gone.
Only after a long silence did Yang Qing slowly bow to Duan Hongzhuo once more. "In that case, this commoner obeys."
Only then did Duan Hongzhuo's expression soften, and he turned to enter his carriage.
The guards behind him put Yang Qing on a