No one on the ground who hadn't fainted dared to make a sound. Those who weren't dead pretended to be.
The cries and wails ceased.
The courtyard entrance was unusually quiet. Xie Jiang beckoned to He You.
He You was startled, realizing Xie Jiang was calling him. He glanced at Xu Shuo, and seeing Xu Shuo nod, he quickly jogged towards Xie Jiang.
"Does Marquis Xie have any instructions?"
He You looked at the people lying on the ground, beaten to a pulp, and belatedly realized that he had taken that punch unfairly.
If Marquis Xie could beat these people into such a state single-handedly, could he not have dodged the punch from the Prince of Yong'an?
"Let me see your eyes."
Earlier, when the Prince of Yong'an threw a punch at Xie Jiang, He You, seeing that Xie Jiang had no one with him, went to block it, fearing Xie Jiang would be at a disadvantage.
He You moved his hand away from his eye. His left eye was so swollen he couldn't open it, and tears were constantly streaming from the slit.
Xie Jiang frowned slightly. "Go to my residence and find Lou Yi'an."
He You was somewhat flattered that Marquis Xie would examine his eyes. However, as a subordinate, he wouldn't dare trouble someone for such a minor matter.
"It hurts a bit, but it should be fine. A little medicine will do. I won't bother Doctor Lou..."
Xie Jiang said, "Do you not want your eyeballs anymore?"
"Is... is it that serious?" He You was startled.
Xu Shuo said, "Since Marquis Xie has asked you to go, then you should go to the Marquis of Nanhai's residence. Go now. I won't need your service for a while."
Since his young master had spoken, and He You was also worried about his eye, he no longer refused. After thanking Xie Jiang for his kindness, he continued to cover his eye and left.
Yue Lin and the other two were also somewhat surprised.
They had all witnessed how ruthlessly Xie Jiang had dealt with the people on the ground. They never expected someone like him to voluntarily inquire about He You's eye injury. Although He You had taken the punch for Xie Jiang, He You was merely a follower.
This showed Xie Jiang's character of being clear about grievances and debts.
Xie Jiang cast a final glance at the people on the ground. The few who were still feigning unconsciousness trembled at his gaze, but absolutely no one dared to move again.
Xie Jiang withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and looked at Yue Lin, Xu Hengyi, and the other two. "Didn't I tell you to make yourselves at home? Why have you all come over?"
Lu Yuqing said, "We heard you were fighting and wanted to mediate..."
As he walked towards Xie Jiang, he accidentally kicked someone's head. The person groaned and woke up, letting out a pig-like scream, startling Lu Yuqing so much he almost stumbled.
Lu Yuqing looked down and realized this pig-head looked a bit familiar.
"Lu... Yu... Qing!"
Lu Yuqing hadn't recognized him, but the other person had recognized him.
"Prince of Yong'an?"
That face, which had never been associated with handsomeness, was beaten into a colorful, fluctuating mess, his features almost detached from their original positions. Lu Yuqing could only guess from the voice.
As soon as the other person called out his name, he couldn't continue. He struggled to lift his head, widening his eyes and staring intently at Lu Yuqing, much like the prelude to dying with one's eyes open.
Lu Yuqing was startled and almost blurted out, "The one who killed you is Xie Jiang! There's a head for every debt and a debt for every head!"
However, before he could speak, the other person seemed to have his throat choked, rolled his eyes, and fainted.
Lu Yuqing hesitated and reached out to check the other person's breathing.
He was still breathing.
Xu Hengyi added, "Actually, we were afraid that Young Master Xie, in a fit of anger, might accidentally kill someone."
Lu Yuqing wasn't familiar with Xie Jiang and spoke tactfully, while Xu Hengyi was more direct.
"Don't worry, they're all still breathing. I'm staying with the sister flowers tonight. Make yourselves at home." Xie Jiang waved to the four and entered the courtyard without looking back.
More than a dozen useless dregs were not even enough for Xie Jiang to warm up.
People around had started peeking over, but they didn't dare to get close, fearing that getting too close might inadvertently draw the fire upon themselves.
The manager of Chun Se Man Yuan, who had been standing like a human pillar for a long time, finally made a move.
People came one after another with door panels, placing them down to prepare for transport to medical care.
The four stood aside for a while. Yue Lin spoke, "Since Marquis Xie is staying overnight, and there's nothing else for us, we should head back."
Lu Yuqing was reluctant. "Ah? Going back already?"
Xu Hengyi also didn't want to leave. "We've come all this way, let's play a bit longer."
Lu Yuqing's eyes darted. "The Flower Jin and Flower Fu sisters are famous in the capital. There are many who have designs on them, not just the Prince of Yong'an. Perhaps someone with no eyes will come to snatch women from Marquis Xie later?"
Receiving Lu Yuqing's glance, Xu Hengyi tacitly played along. "We should linger a bit longer. If Xie Jiang gets into another fight, we can be there to mediate."
Xu Shuo and Yue Lin exchanged a look. "Then let's sit for a while longer. We didn't pay attention to who was playing the zither earlier, but it had a certain artistic conception."
The four of them delayed their departure and couldn't leave.
Xie Jiang was fine, enjoying himself in the sisters' courtyard, unaware of anything.
Yue Lin and the other three, who had originally planned to sit for a while longer before returning to their respective homes, were forced to stay overnight at Chun Se Man Yuan.
Early morning.
Xie Jiang emerged from the sisters' courtyard refreshed. The first thing he saw was the four of them waiting at the courtyard gate.
"Good morning, everyone. Are you planning to escort me back to my residence? It's quite proper to see things through to the end." As soon as Xie Jiang finished speaking, he spotted a group of people in the distance.
Amidst dozens of people surrounding him, an old man with white hair leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Xie Jiang with ill intent.
Xie Jiang was completely unfazed by the other party's display. He calmly asked the four, "Who is this old man? Is he here to get revenge for those toads from last night?"
Xu Shuo sighed. "It's Prince Yong."
As expected.
The brat got beaten up, so the overbearing parent appeared.
Xu Hengyi quickly said to Xie Jiang, "Prince Yong came looking for us last night, saying he wanted to take us all to the palace to reason with His Majesty."
Since the palace gates had already been closed last night, they couldn't open them for such a matter. Therefore, they were all trapped at Chun Se Man Yuan.
"This old geezer still has the nerve to talk reason? I don't have a rule against hitting old people, but I wonder how many bones are left in this old man's body, enough for me to kick him a couple of times..."
Before Xie Jiang's words had even finished, he was already lifting the hem of his robe and tucking it into his waist, striding towards the other side.
"Hey, wait, wait! You can't hit him, you really can't hit him..."
Xu Hengyi and Lu Yuqing, whose eyes almost popped out of their sockets in shock, quickly moved. One tightly held Xie Jiang's waist, while the other sat on the ground and held onto Xie Jiang's leg.
Yue Lin and Xu Shuo were also stunned by Xie Jiang's rough and fierce behavior.
This was because Xie Jiang wasn't just talking; she genuinely intended to kick Prince Yong!
Yue Lin quickly pleaded, "Marquis Xie, absolutely not! Absolutely not!"
Xu Shuo's expression changed, and he quickly ran in front of Xie Jiang, blocking her path. "The Old Prince has considerable prestige among the royal clan. If Marquis Xie lays a hand on the Old Prince, then this matter will become irreversible!"
The other side had also seen Xie Jiang's extremely arrogant actions. Prince Yong stood up in a fit of rage, pointed at Xie Jiang's group, and began to curse loudly. Immediately, a group of guards rushed over.