Xu Shuo and Yue Lin stepped forward in unison, firmly blocking in front of Xie Jiang. It wasn't out of fear that the Yong Wang Fu guards would harm Xie Jiang, but rather to prevent Xie Jiang from causing a death.
What was initially a trivial matter of two courtesans vying for attention, even if Xie Jiang had been a bit heavy-handed, it was the Yong'an County Prince and his group who had spoken disrespectfully and brought it upon themselves.
If a life were lost, or if something were to happen to the Old Prince, then things would truly escalate.
The matter of the Four Southern Continents submitting to Da Yu might even face variables. How could Marquis Xie still appear so fearless and act so recklessly?
"Xie Jiang, wake up! Xie Jiang, are you still asleep? Xie Jiang, the sun is already up!"
Xie Jiang had once stayed at the Wei State Duke's mansion for a period. Xu Hengyi knew that Xie Jiang would throw a tantrum every morning; both his uncle and father had endured Xie Jiang's disdainful glares.
With the Prince of Yong bringing so many people to block them early in the morning, it was no wonder Xie Jiang was agitated!
"The Old Prince is already seventy or eighty years old. If you kick him, he'll die. What happened to not killing people casually..."
"What's the point of beating up an old man? We can wait for the Yong'an County Prince and the others to recover from their injuries, ambush them on their way home, put sacks over their heads, and beat them soundly..."
"Even if they know it was us, they won't have any proof!"
"To infuriate those scoundrels to death, to see them hate us to the bone but be unable to do anything about it, isn't that more satisfying than beating an old man to death?"
"...Yes, yes, yes, Xu Hengyi is right. You're right, Marquis Xie, please calm down first. We won't hit old people..."
Lu Yuqing also sensed Xie Jiang's abnormal agitation and, along with Xu Hengyi, spoke earnestly and persuasively.
The Prince of Yong was, after all, the Emperor's uncle. Even the Emperor dared not strike him as he pleased. What was Marquis Xie's courage made of?
Yue Lin held back the Yong Wang Fu guards at a distance of five paces.
"The Old Prince wishes to go to the palace to reason with us. Naturally, we have no reason to retreat or evade. Are we to resort to violence?"
The Yong Wang Fu guards dared not act rashly.
Behind the four were the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion, the Qin State Duke's Mansion, the Qian State Duke's Mansion, and the Wei State Duke's Mansion. Even Xie Jiang had the backing of the Four Southern Continents.
From last night until this morning, the Prince of Yong had not directly dealt with Xie Jiang. Instead, he had patiently waited until now to bring Xie Jiang and his group to the palace to face the Emperor, all due to deep apprehension.
Xu Shuo advised Xie Jiang against acting impulsively. "They were in the wrong first. Even if we reason before the Emperor, we are in the right. Why not go to the palace with the Old Prince..."
Xu Shuo believed that the Emperor would not summon them for such a trivial matter, nor would he waste his cultivation time on such an entangled case.
Going to the palace would be a wasted trip.
Or, as usual, the matter would be handed over to Young Master Yi for handling.
If it were handed over to Young Master Yi, it would be easy. Everyone knew that Young Master Yi had a good relationship with Marquis Xie. In any case, going to the palace would not put them at a disadvantage.
With one hanging from her waist and another from her leg, Xie Jiang knitted her brows. "Let go now, and I might leave you with an intact corpse!"
Xu Hengyi cried, "That's the Emperor's uncle! We're going to break the heavens..."
Lu Yuqing cried with him. "The Old Prince is already so old. We are young and have infinite futures. The basic morality of respecting the old and cherishing the young, can it be lost like this..."
Xie Jiang said, "I'm talking about you two. If you don't let go, you won't even have an intact corpse!"
Lu Yuqing tilted his head and blinked, as if he thought he had misheard. "You, you, you're not going to kill the Old Prince anymore?"
Xie Jiang said coldly, word by word, "Aren't you two more annoying than that old man?"
This logic seemed sound, but Lu Yuqing and Xu Hengyi dared not let go; they even held on tighter.
"Xie Jiang, you are now a Marquis of Da Yu. Your word is your bond. You really won't lay a hand on the Old Prince?" Xu Hengyi was not entirely convinced.
Hearing that Xie Jiang had finally relented, Xu Shuo quickly said to Xu Hengyi and Lu Yuqing, "Marquis Xie's words are as good as gold. Why aren't you two quickly letting go of Marquis Xie? It's just a trip to the palace. Even if we reason before the Emperor, should we be afraid?"
The clothes she had just put on after getting out of bed were all messed up by these two simpletons. Lu Yuqing had almost pulled her pants off!
Seeing the two simpletons still hesitating, Xie Jiang's last shred of patience ran out, and she kicked both of them away.
Xie Jiang straightened her clothes and strode towards the Prince of Yong. The Yong Wang Fu guards, who had been blocked by Yue Lin five paces away, unconsciously took a few steps back and drew their swords, facing her.
"Make way!"
Xie Jiang glanced at the Yong Wang Fu guards blocking her path. Without waiting for them to put away their weapons and let her pass, she calmly walked through their ranks.
No one dared to truly block Xie Jiang's path, and no one's sword tip dared to pierce Xie Jiang.
The Yong Wang Fu guards obediently parted, watching Xie Jiang walk past them.
Seeing Xie Jiang heading straight for the Prince of Yong, the guards immediately retreated to the Prince's side, shielding him.
This time, no matter how much pressure Xie Jiang exerted on them, the Yong Wang Fu guards refused to retreat another step.
If it were anyone else, they wouldn't be so afraid. Even if they were fearless, no one would dare to disrespect the Old Prince!
But was Xie Jiang human?
Xie Jiang was a notoriously ruthless and lawless rebel!
If Lu Yuqing and Xu Hengyi hadn't held her back so tightly just now, she would have probably rushed forward to attack the Old Prince. Who would dare to gamble on Xie Jiang's reverence for the imperial family at this moment?
Lu Yuqing and Xu Hengyi quickly got up from the ground and followed behind Xie Jiang, along with Yue Lin and Xu Shuo.
Xie Jiang raised both her arms. Didn't they say to respect the old and cherish the young? She intended to pay her respects to the Old Prince. However, the Yong Wang Fu guards blocked the Prince of Yong so completely that Xie Jiang could only see the top of his head.
How could she pay her respects if she couldn't even see the person?
"Good morning, Old Prince." Xie Jiang shifted two steps to the left, then two steps to the right. From any angle, she was completely blocked.
"Old Prince, have you eaten?" Xie Jiang impatiently lowered her arms. If he was so afraid of death, he shouldn't force himself to accept her bow. If his lifespan were shortened, it would be her fault.
"Old Prince?"
"Old Prince?"
Xie Jiang paced leisurely, looking up and calling out from within.
"Why are you all blocking me? Let that brat come over! I want to see what that brat from Lan Yong can do to me! This is outrageous!"
Perhaps because he was being restrained by those around him, the Prince of Yong's aged and angry roar came from behind the two human walls.
Xie Jiang responded loudly, "The Old Prince is absolutely right. What can happen if you let me pass? I'll just go and greet the Old Prince. I promise I won't lay a hand on him. I've respected my elders since I was a child. What could I do to the Old Prince?"
As Xie Jiang spoke, she took two steps forward. The Yong Wang Fu guards' expressions instantly changed, their grip on their sword hilts tightening, ready to draw their blades and point them at Xie Jiang at any moment.
The more Xie Jiang said this, the louder the alarm bells rang in the hearts of the Yong Wang Fu guards.