The sound of the jade token shattering upon hitting the ground was faint, yet it instantly silenced the scene.
Lu Dexin’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. He nearly stumbled off his horse and threw himself onto the pile of shattered jade.
The few young eunuchs following him were also terrified, their voices trembling as they asked, “Eunuch Lu, what should we do now?” Destroying an object bestowed by the emperor was an act of grave disrespect, and they didn’t have enough heads to pay for such an offense.
The jade token was shattered beyond repair. Clenching his fists to steady his trembling hands, Lu Dexin abruptly raised his head, his venomous gaze fixed fiercely on Mu Hu, who had already retreated five or six steps away.
Mu Hu reacted swiftly. Before Lu Dexin could speak, he declared righteously in a loud voice, “Don’t you dare pin this on me! Everyone here can testify that I didn’t even come close to touching your jade token. Judging by your reaction, that token seems quite important. Tsk… If it’s something so important, why didn’t you take better care of it? Waving it around while cracking your whip to strike people—if it truly is an imperial token as you claim, your disrespectful attitude alone would be a capital offense!”
Lu Dexin was so enraged by these words he nearly fainted. He had indeed intended to shift the blame onto this dark-faced general, but Mu Hu’s preemptive strike had robbed him of the initiative. Knowing there was no way to resolve this matter peacefully today, he struggled to calm himself and think of another way to shift the disaster elsewhere.
Just then, a group of people approached. Lu Dexin had no time to notice what was happening behind him, but Mu Hu spotted them immediately and hurried forward to bow in greeting.
“Subordinate Mu Hu pays his respects to Second Young Master.”
Hearing this, Lu Dexin turned around and saw Xiao Jingxi approaching with several guards.
It was widely known that the Second Young Master of Yanbei Prince’s Mansion was frail and sickly, yet even this could not conceal his extraordinary presence. Though dressed in nothing more than ordinary black casual attire, he was impossible to ignore at first glance, yet one dared not look too long. Even Lu Dexin, who was accustomed to the various beauties of the palace, had to admit that Second Young Master Xiao’s appearance was truly rare in this world.
“What happened here?” Xiao Jingxi glanced at them and asked gently.
“Second Young Master, you’ve come just in time. He—”
Lu Dexin’s soft, effeminate voice was immediately drowned out by Mu Hu’s thunderous shout: “Reporting to the young master, this subordinate was carrying out official duties, enforcing a lockdown in this area. This man suddenly rushed out, claiming the jade token in his hand was an imperial gift and demanding I make way. Though I may not have seen much of the world, I know that imperial gifts are not to be taken lightly. If not enshrined with offerings morning and night, they should at least not be casually produced without even dismounting from a horse! Does he think His Majesty’s token is a mere radish? Only a fool would believe such a token was truly bestowed by the emperor, given his disrespectful attitude. And as I expected, this radish—this jade token—fell from his horse and shattered while he was showing off with his whip!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow slightly and followed Mu Hu’s pointing finger to look at the ground. Several larger pieces of shattered jade had been picked up by the eunuchs, while some fragments too small to retrieve remained scattered on the ground.
Xiao Jingxi glanced at Lu Dexin, who was sweating profusely. “Eunuch Lu, may I ask what it was you just shattered?”Lu Dexin was nearly choked with rage by Mu Hu's words, but the jade token had indeed shattered in his hands. Even if he tried to turn the tables now, with so many witnesses present, he couldn't pin the blame on this dark-faced general in front of Xiao Jingxi. He could only file a complaint with the emperor after returning to the capital. For now, he had to stabilize Xiao Jingxi's side first, then secretly send a memorial back to turn the tables on them.
"The one that just shattered was just an ordinary jade token," Lu Dexin blurted out in desperation, thinking only of escaping first. Otherwise, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion could immediately charge him with breaking an imperial gift.
However, although Xiao Jingxi appeared easygoing and never aggressive, he was not easily fooled. He still spoke amiably, "Then where is the real token?"
"The token is naturally kept safely! How could it be taken out so casually!"
Mu Hu chimed in with sarcasm, "In this humble general's opinion, he definitely doesn't have any token! Second Young Master Xiao, he must be deceiving you! Just like he deceived me earlier—fortunately, I didn't trust his sweet talk."
Lu Dexin glared fiercely at Mu Hu, thinking to himself that their feud was now settled. This man had better not fall into his hands!
"What are you standing there for? Let's go!" Lu Dexin said to his men. He wanted to return immediately to write a memorial and lodge a complaint, not wanting to prolong the entanglement.
But before he could take two steps, he was stopped by two guards behind Xiao Jingxi.
Lu Dexin's expression changed as he looked at Xiao Jingxi. "Second Young Master Xiao, what is the meaning of this?"
Xiao Jingxi smiled. "Eunuch Lu, please show us the token."
"No! I don't have it with me!" Lu Dexin snapped angrily.
Xiao Jingxi pretended to think for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Then I must apologize."
Before Lu Dexin could react, Mu Hu had already led the soldiers forward, surrounding and arresting Lu Dexin and his men.
Lu Dexin shouted furiously, "Xiao Jingxi, what are you doing? Are you trying to rebel?"
Mu Hu, who had long disliked him, responded by kneeing him hard in the stomach. The blow was vicious, and Lu Dexin saw stars, unable to even cry out.
"Arresting you is rebellion? Are you the emperor? How dare you disrespect His Majesty—you must have a death wish!" Mu Hu grinned.
Xiao Jingxi stopped Mu Hu from attacking Lu Dexin further and said calmly, "You repeatedly interfered with military affairs using a fake token without possessing the real one. Not only have you violated military regulations, but you have also deceived the emperor. Today, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion will act on behalf of His Majesty to purge the court of corrupt officials."
Lu Dexin was in too much pain to speak, but the young eunuch beside him cried out in fear, "It wasn't a fake token! The one that shattered earlier was real!"
Xiao Jingxi remained unmoved. "You dare conceal the fact that you shattered an imperial gift? Your crime is even greater!" With that, he waved his hand, signaling Mu Hu to take them away for punishment, not sparing them another glance.
After the group was dragged away, wailing and howling, Mu Hu returned to ask for instructions. "Young Master, shall we lock them up in the prefectural prison?"
"No, hand them over to Xiao Shun," Xiao Jingxi said calmly.Upon hearing this, Mu Hu was taken aback. Xiao Shun was in charge of the Prince's Mansion's secret prison, primarily overseeing punishments and extracting confessions. Though his martial skills were inferior to his elder brother Xiao Hua's, his methods of torture were notorious enough to make people pale at the mere mention. Anyone who fell into his hands would wish for death rather than endure such suffering. Mu Hu pondered that Eunuch Lu must have somehow deeply offended their young master at some point.
However, that wasn't what Mu Hu was concerned about at the moment. After accepting the order, he asked, "Young Master, should we still post guards here?"
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment. "Have Xiao Hua station men discreetly in the shadows. Keep only a few of your men to guard the door, so as not to alarm the people in the mansion."
After receiving the command, Mu Hu hesitated and fidgeted, saying, "Young Master, perhaps I should continue guarding here. Xiao Hua has always been responsible for protecting the Prince's Mansion, and... well, he's not as good-looking as I am. If he shows up, he might scare people."
Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow, looking at him without comment.
Mu Hu knew his master wasn't easily fooled. Blinking his eyes pitifully, he spoke the truth: "I just saw Miss Hongying. Young Master, I... I'm twenty-three this year. It's time for me to find a wife." Mu Hu said, his face flushing.
Xiao Jingxi glanced at him and replied calmly with a faint smile, "Your master hasn't married yet. Who among his subordinates dares to marry first?"
"Huh?" Mu Hu blinked, pondering why these words sounded so infuriating yet... familiar.
Xiao Jingxi walked away composedly, leaving behind a remark: "If you want to marry, first learn to distinguish people clearly."
Mu Hu stood in place, stroking the stubble on his chin as he mulled over Xiao Jingxi's words. He muttered, "Distinguish what? Would I really fail to recognize my own wife?" Mu Hu felt his master had underestimated him.
When Mu Hu snapped back to reality, he saw Xiao Jingxi heading toward the Ren Family's residence and hurriedly followed, intending to plead with his master for a chance to work alongside the person he liked.
Coincidentally, Nan Xing emerged from the Ren residence and approached Xiao Jingxi to report something. Mu Hu stopped in his tracks, standing about a dozen steps away, gazing foolishly at "Hongying." He thought to himself how discerning his taste was—Miss Hongying was truly beautiful, especially when she wore a cold expression while kicking someone. Mu Hu felt delighted.
Xiao Jingxi was asking Nan Xing about the situation inside the Ren residence. Upon hearing that Ren Yaoqi hadn't been frightened, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Nan Xing asked, "Young Master, won't you go in?"
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment and shook his head. "I won't go in."
It would be inappropriate for him to enter now, as it might disturb the entire Ren Family. Moreover, many were keeping an eye on him at the moment. Until he achieved his goal, he needed to remain cautious.
Just then, a maid ran out from the Ren residence. Without orders, she dared not step beyond the threshold. Standing inside the main gate, she spotted Nan Xing but didn't notice Xiao Jingxi. She called out loudly, "Sister Nan Xing, the young lady is looking for you." When she caught sight of Xiao Jingxi, the maid froze, flustered and speechless.
Xiao Jingxi paid no mind and said to Nan Xing, "Tell her, 'Don't worry,' and... 'Wait for me.' You may go in."
Nan Xing bowed and withdrew. As she entered the residence, she glanced toward where Mu Hu stood, only to see him staring at her wide-eyed, looking as if he had been struck by lightning. Nan Xing pursed her lips and walked inside without looking back.Continue to vote for the awesome Xiao Jingxi for the character poll~ During the event, each ID has three free votes~
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