Mu Yunyang, having governed a region for many years, was no fool. Ignoring his usually pampered and indulged wife, he looked solemnly at the woman wearing a veiled hat. This was the Chief Administrator's Mansion, and anyone bold enough to cause trouble here was certainly not to be trifled with.
Mu Yunyang cupped his hands in a polite salute, maintaining an elegant demeanor. "May I ask what brings you here, miss? If my foolish brother-in-law has offended you, I apologize on his behalf first. Just tell us how you wish to resolve this."
Zheng Bei's eyes bulged as he was about to speak, but Zheng Shi swiftly covered his mouth and shook her head at him.
"An old husband with a young wife—Chief Administrator Mu certainly lives a joyful life."
Mu Yunyang remained steady and unflinching. "It was merely fate. I believe I have nothing to hide from anyone, and my marriage was conducted with honor."
Shaoyao sneered, "Chief Administrator Mu, you’d better remember those words clearly."
Mu Yunyang frowned slightly, unsure which statement she meant. How many officials truly had clean records? Could she have actually uncovered some dirt on him? The sound of hoofbeats clattered from afar, growing closer. At the forefront was Yu Tao, who leaped off his horse before it even came to a full stop, letting the horse gallop away. This display alone intimidated the onlookers, while the others behind him reined in their mounts before dismounting.
When Mu Yunyang recognized who had arrived, his eyelids twitched violently. To have summoned Li Shiren—just what background did this person have?
Li Shiren, dressed in casual attire, went straight to Shaoyao after identifying her. "General Li Shiren pays his respects."
"Good, everyone’s here now."
No one dared to openly watch the commotion at the Chief Administrator's Mansion, but more and more people were secretly observing from the shadows. Seeing the situation unfold, Mu Yunyang realized this would not end well. He shot a meaningful glance at his steward, who understood and signaled the Manor Guards to clear the area.
Unexpectedly, as soon as his men moved, whips lashed out—one crack for each, flinging them all back through the main gate of the Chief Administrator's Mansion. The sound alone made it clear no restraint had been used.
"Chief Administrator Mu just said he has nothing to hide from anyone, so why not let everyone hear what’s going on?" Shaoyao’s voice carried a laugh, yet it exuded waves of coldness. Those who knew her understood that this version of Shaoyao was not to be provoked. Yu Tao and Wang Cheng subtly retreated a few steps.
Shaoyao walked up to the person nearest her and used the handle of her whip to lift his bowed head. "General Li, come identify this man."
Li Shiren steeled himself and took a look. He had known what this was about the moment he saw these people—the Seven Constellation Bureau had gotten wind of it. "They are from the New Intent Battalion."
"Brave of you to admit it. I respect you as a man of honor, General Li." Shaoyao’s sneer deepened. "Since they’re from the New Intent Battalion, could you explain why they’ve become the Zheng family’s lackeys, helping Zheng Bei wreak havoc in this region?"
Li Shiren stood firm as he replied, "They were carrying out a mission in Zhenyang…"
"Under your orders, General Li?"
"…" Li Shiren dared not confirm this no matter what. If he did, even if it wasn’t his fault, the blame would fall on him—and he was already uneasy about the matter.
Shaoyao pressed, "Was it under your orders, General Li?"
Li Shiren glanced at Mu Yunyang, hoping he would intervene, but Mu Yunyang conveniently turned away as if discussing something with his steward."General Li, surely you don't expect others to share the burden for you? Isn't self-preservation what you officials excel at most?" Shaoyao toyed with her whip. "I'll ask one last time - were these men sent to Zhenyang under General Li's orders?"
Li Shiren clenched his teeth and refused to admit it.
"Won't speak? No matter. I'll ask someone else instead. Chief Administrator Mu, were these men sent to Zhenyang under your command?"
Countless thoughts flashed through Mu Yunyang's mind, but his response came without hesitation. "Might I ask in what capacity the young lady makes these inquiries?"
Shaoyao took out a token and tossed it over. The emblem landed squarely before Mu Yunyang, whose mind went completely blank at the sight. Seven Constellation Bureau! It was actually the Seven Constellation Bureau!
"Answer me!" Shaoyao's patience had run out, her hand gripping the whip twitching with impatience.
Mu Yunyang took a deep breath to calm his racing heart, not even glancing toward Li Shiren as he replied solemnly, "This official dare not deceive you. The Manor Guards were indeed dispatched by me. My brother-in-law has always been trouble-prone. Though he had settled in Jiangling, he repeatedly caused disturbances, forcing me to send him back to Zhenyang. Fearing he might commit greater offenses without understanding the consequences, I sent Manor Guards to supervise him. But those soldiers... this official truly has no idea what happened to them!"
Shaoyao laughed coldly. "Oh? They weren't sent by you?"
"Not by this official. I don't have the authority to mobilize troops from the military camp."
Li Shiren clenched his fists. He hadn't expected Mu Yunyang to dare shift all responsibility onto him. What nerve! Well, if that's how he wanted to play it!
Cupping his hands respectfully, Li Shiren declared clearly, "The troop deployment to Zhenyang did receive my approval, but the request came from Chief Administrator Mu. He claimed that Zhenyang had several powerful factions that were difficult to deal with. Since Zheng Bei was returning, he needed to establish his presence and display sufficient pomp to ensure the locals wouldn't look down on him. About three months later, when I asked for the troops back, he refused, saying that since there were no battles anyway, it made no difference where they were stationed..."
"Nonsense! That never happened!" No sooner had Mu Yunyang spoken than the whip shot out, coiling around him like a living creature. Before he could react, the whip had withdrawn, leaving his official robe in tatters on the ground.
"Continue."
"Yes." Li Shiren felt immense satisfaction watching Mu Yunyang's predicament, his voice growing louder. "Later, I asked several more times, but he always found excuses to put me off. I was about to send someone directly to retrieve the troops when..."
"General Li seems to have forgotten these men weren't borrowed for free." Having fallen from grace himself, Mu Yunyang wasn't about to let Li Shiren escape unscathed. He retorted sarcastically, "Lord Li shouldn't abandon his new wife and forget her origins after tiring of her. I've provided Lord Li with considerable conveniences. The young lady may investigate how many officials in the Chief Administrator's Mansion now bear the surname Li."
Li Shiren knew perfectly well this path would only lead to mutual destruction. But since Mu Yunyang sought only to save himself by pushing Li Shiren underwater, there was no avoiding conflict. He decided to break the jar completely, revealing more: "This official also remembers clearly how many of Mu Yunyang's people are in the New Intent Battalion!"
Excellent, truly excellent! Civil and military officials had actually managed to infiltrate each other's domains so thoroughly!
Shaoyao first lashed her whip across Mu Yunyang's body, then struck Li Shiren with another blow that sent him sprawling to the ground.Li Shiren instinctively gripped his weapon, springing up into an offensive stance. Yu Tao and Wang Cheng immediately positioned themselves in front of Shaoyao, while the Chen Zhen brothers tightly shielded the Sixth Prince in their midst.
However, the Sixth Prince pushed the two aside. He wanted to see what officials of the Great Qing Dynasty were truly like beyond the palace walls, out here in the Nine Provinces.
PS: Next chapter will be delayed, please keep your monthly votes coming!
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