With a face bearing the imprint of five fingers, Official Cai shamelessly dragged Captain Xu and the other two down with him. After all, he was the ranking official of the court, and Captain Xu was bound to follow orders.
"When a person is utterly shameless, they become invincible. That saying is absolutely true," a mocking voice rang out without reservation. Zhan Feiyu, looking at Official Cai who, despite his rage, maintained his composure, said, "Ah Sheng, apprehend him!"
"Yes!" He Sheng acknowledged the order as his figure instantly lunged towards Official Cai.
"How dare you, you brat!" a cry of shock and anger erupted. Official Cai quickly retreated, attempting to flee, but He Sheng was faster.
In the blink of an eye, Official Cai, who had been shouting orders moments before, was now pinned to the ground by the expressionless He Sheng, his arrogant and overbearing demeanor completely gone.
"If you don't wish for Official Cai's blood to splatter on the spot, I request Captain Xu and the others to retreat outside," Zhan Feiyu said, her bunched-up face looking rather fierce.
But to Captain Xu, this threat sounded like heavenly music, instantly rescuing him from his predicament.
"As long as you ensure Official Cai's safety, we will retreat immediately!" Captain Xu declared loudly, then addressed Deputy Captain Cao and Deputy Captain Zhu again, "Pass down the order that no one is to approach the council hall! Everything is secondary to Official Cai's safety!"
...With twelve well-trained personal guards plus Official Cai, who was a military man himself, they thought dealing with a young girl like Zhan Feiyu would be incredibly easy.
But who would have thought that He Sheng and He Nuan would shield Zhan Feiyu in a corner? The two of them, one on each side, held their ground like an impregnable fortress, repelling the attacks of over ten people.
Deputy Captain Cao and the others remained "observers." They dared not intervene, but seeing Official Cai resort to overwhelming numbers, the hot-tempered Deputy Captain Cao couldn't help but curse, "He's lost all shame! A fourth-rank official is dealing with a mere girl like this. Isn't he afraid of Zhan family elders coming for him?"
Captain Xu observed the fierce battle with a cold eye. After all, it was a fight of fewer against many. If they delayed any longer, it would likely become dangerous.
"It's not that he's not afraid, but rather he likely knows the young lady's background, which is why he's resorting to such ruthless measures," Deputy Captain Zhu added with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Although he was a military man, he also understood the rules of officialdom. Regardless of any grudges between families, the gravest taboo was to attack the younger generation or female family members.
In the imperial court, whether civil or military officials, there was constant contention, both overt and covert. Many resorted to underhanded tactics.
No matter how they competed in court, there were unspoken rules that no one dared to break. This was the bottom line! Otherwise, if any family's female members or juniors dared to step outside, they would surely be assassinated. Officials of the Great Qing Dynasty, unless they remained unmarried, would have mourning halls set up at home daily.
Deputy Captain Cao, though hot-tempered, was not foolish. Upon hearing this, his fierce eyes widened, and he stammered, "Are you saying he intends to silence her?"
"Hush!" Captain Xu suddenly raised his hand and placed it on Deputy Captain Cao's shoulder, preventing his voice from being heard too loudly. Judging by the skills of the male and female guards, the young lady's background was clearly not ordinary. If not for special reasons, Official Cai would not have risked his official career to silence her.
After a long pause, a gasp suddenly rang out, "Not good!"
It turned out that Official Cai had also noticed He Sheng and He Nuan protecting Zhan Feiyu. The attacking guards changed their strategy, focusing on defense and gradually forcing He Sheng and He Nuan away from Zhan Feiyu, who stood in the corner.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Official Cai looked at the "isolated" Zhan Feiyu, his sinister face revealing undisguised murderous intent. With a subtle signal, two guards suddenly changed their attack direction, their cold blades aimed directly at Zhan Feiyu.
At this critical moment, He Sheng and He Nuan were being held back. Deputy Captain Cao wanted to intervene, but Captain Xu and Deputy Captain Zhu grabbed his arms.
As Zhan Feiyu was about to bleed to death, everyone saw that the young girl standing in the dark corner seemed to be terrified. Seeing the swords thrusting towards her, she didn't even know to dodge.
In the nick of time! With two clangs, the sound of swords hitting the ground was heard, accompanied by two spurts of blood.
"You..." The two guards, clutching their chests, looked down at their pierced chests and then at Zhan Feiyu, who was within reach. Their bodies went limp, and they collapsed onto the ground.
Deputy Captain Cao and the others looked closely and saw two figures in black standing in front of Zhan Feiyu. Blood dripped from their swords. No one knew when these two had hidden in the council hall.
Official Cai, who had expected Zhan Feiyu to die, instantly turned extremely grim. A flicker of fear flashed in his triangular eyes. If these two could save Zhan Feiyu silently, they could also attack him silently.
Zhan Feiyu's clear voice broke the eerie, tense atmosphere, "Let's finish this quickly."
"Yes!" The reply came from outside the room. The two figures in black remained in front of Zhan Feiyu. The shocked onlookers saw several black figures fly in from outside and quickly join the fray.
He Sheng and He Nuan were already masters capable of fighting one against a hundred. With the addition of so many companions, their combat prowess was amplified, and the battle ended almost instantly.
Looking at the twelve guards lying on the ground, Deputy Captain Cao wiped his face fiercely, "Fortunately, I didn't make a move earlier today!"
Although Deputy Captain Cao had brought a hundred-man squad earlier, seeing these skilled men in black, he was certain that if they had engaged, the Qianzhong Guard would have been sent to their deaths, cut down like vegetables.
Deputy Captain Zhu couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder they dared to risk entering the Qianzhong Guard; they had confidence."
Earlier, Deputy Captain Zhu felt that Zhan Feiyu was too young and her actions too reckless. She shouldn't have come to the Qianzhong Guard. Who knew that the young lady was not afraid at all? She had twenty subordinates imprisoned, yet she had so many people secretly protecting her. With the skills of these people, they could probably raze the Qianzhong Guard. Indeed, there was nothing to fear.
Official Cai's expression was grim, but his imposing manner remained. His gloomy gaze fixed on Zhan Feiyu, his expression sinister and malevolent, "Heh, truly audacious! To dare attack a court official!"
Before Zhan Feiyu could speak, Official Cai suddenly looked at Captain Xu and the other two who had retreated to the doorway and shouted furiously, "Xu Heng, are your eyes blind? Why aren't you immediately arresting these rebels and executing them on the spot!"
What was already a trumped-up charge was now a solid crime of attacking a court official. Official Cai smiled maliciously. So what if the young lady was educated? She was still too naive!
Damn it, that old dog Cai is not only shameless but also so insidious and cunning! Deputy Captain Cao's eyes turned red with anger, and Captain Xu and Deputy Captain Zhu's expressions were also exceptionally grim. Official Cai was determined to drag the Qianzhong Guard down with him.
"Ah Nuan, I remember when children in the village lost a fight, they would cry and run home to their parents to complain. I didn't expect to see this scene again today." A crisp laugh rang out. Zhan Feiyu's dark eyes widened, and she curiously looked at Official Cai, who was issuing orders, "May I ask your esteemed age, sir?"
With a "噗嗤" sound! Deputy Captain Cao couldn't help but laugh out loud. The more wronged he felt before, the more delighted he was now! He had become Old Dog Cai's parent, hah, this young lady knew how to speak!
Captain Xu and Deputy Captain Zhu maintained their composure, but a smile also flickered in their eyes.
"You lowly..." Official Cai, having just uttered two words after being provoked, felt a figure flash before him. A "啪" sound followed, accompanied by a stinging pain on his cheek.
He Nuan's skills were not as good as He Sheng's, but his speed was not slow. He slapped Official Cai and then retreated to Zhan Feiyu's side. His seemingly gentle face, however, held a murderous aura, "Disrespect my young lady, and you die!"
So, the slap just now was a minor punishment. If Official Cai dared to speak disrespectfully to Zhan Feiyu again, the punishment would not be a slap; his head might not be spared.
Deputy Captain Cao's laughing mouth was now so shocked it couldn't close. He stared blankly at Official Cai, who had just been slapped. This was a fourth-rank official of the Commandery, an official who could command and mobilize tens of thousands of garrison soldiers. Tonight, he had been slapped, which was truly exhilarating.
The guards lying on the ground had their eyes reddened with anger. A subject's disgrace meant death for the subject! Unfortunately, despite their loyalty, they had lost their combat effectiveness and could only lie on the ground like dead dogs.