13: As expected

Xu Fengzhang felt as if he were being scorched by the flames of rage in his heart. He truly hadn't paid attention to these matters; since returning to the capital yesterday, he had been drinking in his residence.

Although he had heard the bizarre rumor about two Legitimate Princesses marrying the same husband, he was still harboring the sweet dream that he would be the one selected as the imperial son-in-law. His father had entered the palace to report on his duties and was busy handling military affairs, as well as visiting Grand Chancellor Zhou. Although his father had sent people to inform him of these things, he simply had no desire to listen.

Xu Fengzhang did have some genuine skills, and his father was indeed biased toward him, but if he hadn't been able to stand on his own merits, he wouldn't have been able to sit in the Commander's seat. However, while he acted like a decent person in the military camp, once he returned to the capital, he was like a wild horse off its leash.

The Old Marquis, his father, was also somewhat indulgent toward him. Even when he caused such absurd trouble in the military camp, he would only scold him a few times and spend a great deal of silver to appease his own deputy general.

The Old Marquis had previously had two legitimate sons, but although he had several wives and concubines, none of them were fruitful, and they only gave birth to daughters. His two sons had both been weak and sickly, unfortunately passing away early. It wasn't until Xu Fengzhang was born that the whole family naturally doted on this only son, spoiling him until he knew no bounds, making him arrogant, despotic, and contemptuous of everyone.

Mo Yingqi understood him well; after all, before he himself entered the capital, he had spent some time back at the Zhang household and had dealt with this Young Marquis.

"So I really did guess right?" Mo Yingqi maintained his smile, his tone carrying an attitude of 'as expected.' "That's true. If you had known I had joined the Pacification Bureau, the Young Marquis would probably rather die of frustration or boredom than come knocking at my door just to be toyed with like a dog."

"Heh, I am a third-rank Commander. What can a mere seventh-rank Captain like you do to me?"

Back then, Xu Fengzhang had never gained any advantage in Mo Yingqi's hands; he had been treated like a monkey, and even when he resorted to force... he was completely no match for Mo Yingqi. He was well aware of just how troublesome the person before him was.

He also knew deep down that when the Flying Fish Guard arrested someone, let alone a third-rank official, they would seize a first-rank high official without hesitation. Anyone who dared to resist would be executed on the spot, with no need to petition for an imperial decree.

The eight characters—'execute first, report later, by imperial privilege'—were by no means just empty words.

Yet he was confident that the Flying Fish Guard could do nothing to him. He had indeed been absurd while away, but how could the Pacification Bureau, located far away in the capital, have such a long reach? If they couldn't prove his guilt, Mo Yingqi, even if he were of the Flying Fish Guard, could do nothing to him!

"Fine. If the Young Marquis is willing to die, how could I not be willing to bury you?" Mo Yingqi snapped his fingers. "Let's set aside your interference with the official business of the Pacification Bureau—the Old Marquis, your father, could settle that with two words. Shall we discuss the Young Marquis's glorious resume instead?"

Tang Jingzhong, who had just arrived, walked to Mo Yingqi's side with a dark face, holding a booklet, and muttered in a low voice, "I'm not on duty today, you know..."

"Are there no other Clerks as useful as you?"

"...Well, thank you very much."

Although Tang Jingzhong complained, he opened the booklet in his hand and then glanced at Xu Fengzhang. "I won't mention anything else, I will only list the Young Marquis's conduct during this year of national mourning."

"On the day of the late Emperor's funeral, Xu Fengzhang, son of the Marquis of Anding, left the military camp without authorization and took a new mistress in the city near the garrison."

"About a month later, Xu Fengzhang, son of the Marquis of Anding, got into a dispute with someone over a songstress and injured two people."

"In the fifth month, Xu Fengzhang, son of the Marquis of Anding, took another mistress during the period of national mourning and held a grand banquet in the temporary government office."

"In the sixth month, Xu Fengzhang, son of the Marquis of Anding, fought with someone over a leading courtesan and accidentally pushed the person downstairs. Although it didn't result in death, it left the person with crippled legs."

"In the eighth month, Xu Fengzhang, son of the Marquis of Anding, had an illicit affair with the concubine of one of his father the Marquis of Anding's deputy generals, and further violated the prohibition by bringing female companions into the camp."

"In the ninth month... Chief, actually, there is no need to continue reading. We can just invite the Young Marquis to the Imperial Prison."

Taking a mistress in secret during national mourning, fighting over a courtesan and causing disability, and violating military orders to have an affair with his father's deputy general's concubine in the military camp.

Tang Jingzhong's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the onlookers to hear clearly. The guests, who had previously been wary of the Flying Fish Guard, looked at each other and began whispering. Although they couldn't hear clearly, they could easily guess what was being discussed.

"Protecting The Emperor, gathering intelligence, and monitoring officials is the duty of the Pacification Bureau." Mo Yingqi slowly stood up. "Xu Fengzhang, son of the Marquis of Anding and a third-rank Commander, has acted recklessly during the period of national mourning and violated military orders. So, tell me... is it not my duty to take you to the Imperial Prison?"

Xu Fengzhang's face turned incredibly ugly, not just because he was shocked that the Flying Fish Guard knew all this. If it had only been Lu Qianyuan, he wouldn't have been so terrified, but it happened to be Mo Yingqi—the very person he hated most, and who equally loathed him.

Although his father would likely use the iron certificate of immunity to get him out, once inside the Imperial Prison of the Pacification Bureau, he would be lucky to escape with his life, let alone his skin!

"I know that your family, Young Marquis, possesses the iron certificate of immunity, and that your father has only one son in you. I fear that even if you enter the Imperial Prison, you will be out within three days." Mo Yingqi looked meaningfully at the now deathly pale Xu Fengzhang. "However, even if the Young Marquis only stays inside for an hour, the torturers of the Imperial Prison will ensure it is an experience you will never forget for the rest of your life."

"How dare you! Mo Yingqi, don't forget, my father is the Marquis of Anding, and besides, your older brother and I..."

"You should worry about how to survive the torturers of the Imperial Prison first, shouldn't you?" Mo Yingqi interrupted him directly. "You are welcome to resist arrest, but I will kindly remind you that if you dare to resist, the xiuchun sabers in their hands will not hesitate to flay you alive."

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the door. Mo Yingqi didn't turn his head but whispered to Lu Qianyuan, "What did I tell you?"

Lu Qianyuan rolled his eyes at him and, resigning himself to his fate, took out a silver ingot. "You are so rich already, why do you keep swindling me every day?"

"What a thing to say. A bet is a bet." Mo Yingqi blinked. "I can already guess what the person coming is going to say."

"Don't even mention it, it's the same old routine every time." Thinking of this, Lu Qianyuan couldn't help but laugh out of anger. "Temple Official Zhou, a fifth-rank official of the Dali Temple, Zhou Jinan..."

"Temple Official Zhou, fifth-rank official of the Dali Temple, Zhou Jinan is here!"

Hearing this resonant voice, Mo Yingqi, Lu Qianyuan, and Tang Jingzhong rolled their eyes to the heavens. Over the past year, they had dealt with this Temple Official quite often.

The reason was simple: this nephew of Grand Chancellor Zhou had always believed that the Pacification Bureau and the Flying Fish Guard should not exist, that they were a mistake. When the late Emperor was still alive, he had submitted a petition as soon as he joined the Dali Temple.

After the late Emperor passed away, he had repeatedly submitted petitions to the current Emperor, The Emperor, denouncing the Pacification Bureau for creating panic over the past year, especially targeting Mo Yingqi and Lu Qianyuan.

The former needs no introduction; the "Smiling Yaksha" was notorious. As for Lu Qianyuan, he was just plain unlucky; several times while performing official duties, this man would bring Dali Temple bailiffs to interfere, and the two had even clashed more than once, nearly resorting to violence at the worst of times.

The Dali Temple had long been at odds with the Pacification Bureau, and this man was the most outrageous of them all. With Grand Chancellor Zhou backing him up, even his several interventions resulted in nothing more than a symbolic reprimand from his superiors.

Zhou Jinan, holding a steel blade, strode up to Mo Yingqi and Lu Qianyuan. He was quite handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes. His firm face held no expression, but for some reason, Mo Yingqi always felt that the gaze this man cast today carried a kind of inexplicable hostility.

It was different from the past. In the past, although he had gone against the Pacification Bureau, it was entirely with an attitude of 'official business' and 'righteous duty,' never mixed with any personal feelings.

"Temple Official, you really don't tire of this, do you?" Lu Qianyuan couldn't help but clap his hands. "Six or seven times out of ten, I run into you. You have to question everything no matter what happens."

"This time is different, Chief Mo. You can fool others, but you can't fool me." Zhou Jinan stared fixedly at Mo Yingqi. "Deliberately sending the Flying Fish Guard in disguise to clash with the Young Marquis..."

"Stop right there. Did your people not hear what Clerk Tang just read?" Mo Yingqi interrupted him with a smirk. "The Emperor has already reprimanded the Dali Temple more than once. Any action by the Pacification Bureau is under the orders of The Emperor and the Imperial Court. If you think the existence of the Pacification Bureau is unreasonable, continue submitting your memorials and ask The Emperor to disband the Pacification Bureau; then my brothers and I can go our separate ways."

"However, I am definitely taking him away today. Temple Official Zhou, not touching you before was already against the rules of the yamen; don't push your luck."

Zhou Jinan did not answer, but silently produced the Cabinet's official seal. "I am ordered to bring the Young Marquis to the Cabinet to report on his duties. Chief Mo, if you want to arrest him, you will have to wait until after he has reported."

"Go to hell!"

Lu Qianyuan cursed, but Mo Yingqi reached out to stop him, then made a gesture for him to proceed. "Then take him away. Sheathe your blades and make way for Temple Official Zhou."

"Are you crazy? Would the Cabinet send someone from the Dali Temple to deliver a message?" Lu Qianyuan gritted his teeth and growled in a low voice. "It's obviously his father..."

"It's enough that you know; there's no need to say it out loud." Mo Yingqi stood up and patted his shoulder. "It's within expectations. I've said it before, there will be plenty of time in the future..."