Two thousand elite soldiers from Lan Yong escorted the envoy, with five hundred stationed in the capital at the guesthouse, and the remaining fifteen hundred encamped in the suburbs.
Su Yang angrily gave the order to march and flatten Shuntian Prefecture.
Xia Ze Shi and Xu Heng Yi watched in stunned silence. This arrogant, self-important demeanor, treating Shuntian Prefecture like a vegetable patch, was exactly like Xie Jiang’s style.
“Oh no, this absolutely cannot be done, absolutely not! The matter of the Marquis of Nan Hai is not what you think, there’s been a misunderstanding…”
Seeing that Su Yang was serious, Zuo Shi Xin, the Deputy Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations, was dumbfounded and could only place his hopes on Xie Tai Hong.
Xia Ze Shi and Xu Heng Yi felt the same. They believed that since Xie Tai Hong was Xie Jiang’s father and also the father of Xie Tang Qing, the head of the Xie family, he should hold as much sway in the Four Southern Continents as a retired emperor. Surely he could control Su Yang?
Xie Tai Hong tried to dissuade him, “Su Yang, calm down first. Don’t act impulsively. We’ve just arrived and don’t understand the situation…”
Most importantly, if the young master was unwilling, who could force him?
It was merely a show, spending a few days in prison, and the matter would be settled.
Da Yu would certainly not make things difficult for the young master. Imprisoning him at this juncture was merely to display the might of a great nation.
“No situation, no matter how dire, can allow the young master to be wronged! I want to see how grand Da Yu’s Shuntian Prefecture truly is!”
Su Yang was completely unmoved, and with a surge of anger, he strode out.
As he passed by the Deputy Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations and Xia Ze Shi, his gaze swept over them with undisguised hostility.
Xu Heng Yi had spent a lot of time and effort to come to the guesthouse, hoping that the envoy from Lan Yong would smoothly rescue Xie Jiang. But he never expected things to escalate to this point!
Originally, the Xie family’s allegiance to Da Yu from the Four Southern Continents was a joyous occasion to be celebrated by all. Yet, the envoy from Lan Yong had barely entered the capital and was already leading troops to Shuntian Prefecture to break into prison…
Wouldn’t that throw the heavens into chaos?
This was not the outcome they desired.
Xu Heng Yi anxiously chased after him to explain, “Young Master Xie is truly fine! We went to the Shuntian Prefecture prison this morning, and Young Master Xie is living comfortably inside, even having the leisure to read…”
Su Yang sneered at him sarcastically, “Before you spin lies, didn’t you bother to find out when my young master ever read a book?”
Xu Heng Yi jogged after him, “Really…”
Su Yang’s long legs moved swiftly. “Why don’t you say my young master has renounced the world, become a monk with no worldly desires? Or perhaps my young master has attained enlightenment and will henceforth live in quietude and inaction, in harmony with heaven and earth.”
Thinking that being a monk was not a big deal, and that his young master detested Daoists the most, he quickly added the latter.
Xu Heng Yi: “…”
Do people from Lan Yong have issues with Daoists?
“Su Yang! Su Yang, stop! Su Yang—”
Xie Tai Hong called out several times but couldn’t stop him, which was rather embarrassing. His imperial prestige as a retired emperor had vanished.
Xie Tai Hong cursed Su Yang in his heart for being impetuous and brainless, prone to outbursts at the slightest provocation. He looked at He Zhi Fei, who hadn’t even furrowed his brow.
The Deputy Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations anxiously said to Xie Tai Hong, “Mr. Xie, what should we do? Is Young Master Su really going to attack Shuntian Prefecture?”
Xie Tai Hong dared not speak too directly, fearing he might scare the seemingly unworldly Deputy Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations. “Su Yang has this fiery temper. When it comes to anything concerning my little Jiang, he ignites instantly…”
He Zhi Fei, who had been quiet all along, spoke up, “Let’s go and see as well. If Su Yang causes too much trouble, we can stop him in time, and also visit the young master in prison.”
“Yes, yes, yes…”
How could they just leave Xie Jiang in prison and ignore him? After arriving in the capital, they should visit him immediately. Xie Tai Hong quickly followed He Zhi Fei in a hurried pursuit.
The Deputy Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations was reluctant to get involved, but this matter was unavoidable for the Court of Diplomatic Relations. He could only follow along with a sigh.
~
In the public office of the Shuntian Prefecture Governor, Fang Yu Chun was about to take a nap after lunch when he heard that Ruan Zi Ji requested an audience.
Afterward, he was so startled by Ruan Zi Ji’s words that all his sleepiness vanished.
“How did you know about this? Are you sure they are coming soon? Where did you get this information?”
Ruan Zi Ji had come to report that the Lan Yong envoy group would soon lead troops to Shuntian Prefecture to break into the prison, urging Shuntian Prefecture to prepare!
“What has been Young Master Xie’s usual style of conduct? Governor Fang, you don’t think it’s without reason, do you?”
Ruan Zi Ji hadn’t heard any rumors. He had simply seen the man in red at the city gate and had a hunch that he would come to Shuntian Prefecture to rescue Xie Jiang.
Fang Yu Chun found Ruan Zi Ji’s words very reasonable. Given Xie Jiang’s notoriously overbearing nature and conduct, he could imagine what kind of style the people from Lan Yong would have.
With his hands behind his back, Fang Yu Chun paced a few steps in his office and came up with a plan.
After thanking Ruan Zi Ji, Fang Yu Chun hurried to the prison. When he emerged from the prison, he had ordered soldiers to set up defenses around the prefecture office, and Su Yang had arrived with his elite troops.
Fang Yu Chun did not dare to delay for a moment. Holding the hem of his robe, he rushed to the front of the prefecture office, only to see a crimson cloud rushing towards him.
Although Su Yang was burning with rage, he wasn’t completely senseless enough to charge directly into Shuntian Prefecture on horseback.
He wasn’t afraid of escalating the situation. What did Da Yu’s floods and storms have to do with him? He could just dust off his hands and leave.
He was afraid of the consequences of angering Xie Jiang, which he couldn’t bear.
Su Yang reined in his horse and leaped down.
In front of the prefecture office street, the Shuntian Prefecture soldiers stood ready, their sharp spears blocking Su Yang’s path.
The prefecture soldiers roared, “Who dares lead troops to charge the Shuntian Prefecture office? Are you rebelling!”
Upon hearing this, Fang Yu Chun quickened his pace. Such words as rebellion should not be casually attributed to anyone.
The Lan Yong envoy group clashing with Shuntian Prefecture so soon after arriving in the capital would bring no benefit to Shuntian Prefecture.
Although these people from Lan Yong were quite deserving of a lesson, it was not their place, Shuntian Prefecture, to step forward.
Fang Yu Chun quickly called out, “Are you the envoy from Lan Yong?”
“I am Su Yang from Lan Yong. Where is my young master?”
Su Yang glanced at the official’s uniform and knew he was the Shuntian Prefecture Governor. Even so, he showed no pleasant expression.
Fang Yu Chun was unfazed. “The Marquis of Nan Hai is in prison. The Marquis of Nan Hai said that if anyone from Lan Yong arrives, they should go directly to the prison to see her.”
Upon hearing that his young master had been imprisoned right after arriving in the capital, it was understandable for the people from Lan Yong to have emotions and opinions.
Fang Yu Chun offered no explanation. The person was imprisoned, and even if it was just a formality, it was not good to reveal it.
To appease the emotions of the Lan Yong envoy group, it would be better to let them see Xie Jiang directly.
He had gone to the prison just now to confirm Xie Jiang’s attitude. He happened to catch Xie Jiang in a good mood, eating well and sleeping well.
Su Yang did not want to waste words. “Then take me to the prison. I want to see my young master…”
As they were speaking, another sound of hoofbeats approached from afar.
Fang Yu Chun looked up. Besides a few unfamiliar faces, there was also the Deputy Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations, the Fifth Prince, and the Third Young Master Xu.