It was precisely because Luan Jingfu and Xiao Zongting had never gotten along that Luan Jingfu wanted to blow a matter that could be either great or small out of proportion, fabricate charges, and nearly put Duan Rong to death!
In going after Duan Rong, he had been performing Xiang Zhuang's sword dance, while his true aim was Duke Pei!
Crippling Duan Rong was merely meant to blunt Chief Instructor Xiao Zongting's edge, establish his own authority within the escort agency, and make those thorny-headed escorts rein themselves in!
But Luan Jingfu had not expected Duan Rong to possess such astonishing talent in martial arts!
This scheme of his had come up completely empty!
And Ruan Fengshan's intentions at this moment were already plain for all to see!
Such an excellent seedling—regardless of whether he had truly done something improper—should be met primarily with tolerance and admonition.
Given time, Duan Rong would surely become one of the escort agency's great pillars!
Yet for Luan Jingfu, this move had become a colossal misstep. Within five years, Duan Rong would certainly grow into his own. With this grudge between them, if the boy became a head escort, would he not challenge him at every turn?
Just as Ruan Fengshan finished speaking, a handsome servant boy of seventeen or eighteen, wearing a cap, slowly entered. Stopping inside the threshold, he clasped his fists toward Ruan Fengshan in the hall and called out clearly, "Master! Clerk Qin from the yamen has arrived and is waiting outside the hall!"
This servant boy had an uncommon bearing and well-trained manners. He was Ruan Fengshan's personal attendant, named Zhou An.
Whenever Ruan Fengshan had guests or social obligations, this man was almost always responsible for handling them and receiving and responding to visitors.
Thus, though he was