49: Your Highness means... kill without mercy.

Tang Jingzhong was indeed a scholar from the imperial examinations and looked every bit the academic.

However, since he could associate with Mo Yingqi, the "Smiling Yaksha," and Lu Qianyuan, who possessed the fierce temperament of the Border Army deep down, he absolutely could not be just an ordinary Clerk.

The man in black faced Tang Jingzhong, but his peripheral vision remained fixed on Lu Qianyuan, who carried his wild goose feather saber and wore a mocking expression. Not to mention Mo Yingqi, who was leaning against the door frame behind them, arms crossed, a smile plastered across his face.

This person knew clearly that escaping from these two was already very difficult, let alone with the "Smiling Yaksha" present. It was truly hard to say who possessed the highest martial arts skill and best saber technique in all of Jingzhong.

Jingzhong was full of hidden masters, and the Grand Palace Imperial Guards contained experts like clouds. But if the scope was limited to the Pacification Bureau, and the criteria added "the best killer"... then, from the Pacification Commissioner down to the ordinary Flying Fish Guard in the Northern Division and Southern Division, if Mo Yingqi claimed second place, no one would dare claim first!

"How strange. We have two Captains and one Clerk drinking and eating meat at home, and we still attract trouble?" Lu Qianyuan slowly lowered the wild goose feather saber in his right hand from his shoulder, pointing the blade at the mossy flagstones. "That voice sounds familiar. Don't tell me it's someone from our yamen..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Qianyuan suddenly gripped the saber with both hands, his gaze turning sharp: "Show your face, friend? You won't be walking out of here today. Don't let it be a brother from the yamen; I would feel truly awful if Lu was charged with murdering a colleague."

The man in black did not speak. Instead, he took two steps back, then suddenly gave a sinister laugh and threw a black pellet with his left hand.

Instantly, smoke filled the air, accompanied by a pungent odor. In that same instant, the man in black leaped up.

He had just jumped onto the top of the wall, but Mo Yingqi was faster, rushing to his side almost instantly and grabbing his shoulder: "Don't be in such a rush to leave..."

The man in black didn't have time to react and was yanked down by Mo Yingqi. Unexpectedly, ten more men in black carrying sabers scaled the wall and entered. The first man who had been caught roared in a deliberately hoarse voice: "Kill them!"

Mo Yingqi sidestepped a strike, and his left elbow drove up from below, smashing hard into the killer's jaw. The man flew slightly into the air, and Mo Yingqi took the opportunity to snatch the saber from his hand and kick him in the abdomen.

At the same time, he rotated the blade in his right hand, reversed the grip, and thrust backward sharply, piercing the chest of another killer who had lunged at him from behind!

"Fire the crossbows!"

Before Mo Yingqi could react, an extremely familiar voice suddenly rang out. The main door, which hadn't been locked, was now thrown open.

Steward Zheng stood at the entrance, holding a ceremonial sword. The usual look of old age was completely gone. Following his command, soldiers in uniform, holding crossbow bolts, suddenly appeared atop the wall.

"The Highnesses have ordered: Kill Without Mercy anyone who endangers the Imperial Son-in-Law!"

Mo Yingqi opened his mouth, about to say they should leave some alive, but the crossbow bolts were fired simultaneously, accurately avoiding the three of them, and striking the vital points of all ten men in black.

However, the first attacker had scaled the wall and fled sometime earlier. Just as Mo Yingqi was about to give chase, Steward Zheng stopped him and waved a hand: "Imperial Son-in-Law, don't worry, he won't escape. It's just that The Two Highnesses' meaning is that you should no longer concern yourself with this matter."

"What do you mean?" Mo Yingqi frowned, looking at Steward Zheng with confusion. "What do you mean I shouldn't concern myself with it? And these people..."

"Don't worry, these are private soldiers specially permitted by The Emperor, hand-picked by The Two Highnesses and drawn from Partridge Sky."

Steward Zheng waved his hand as he spoke. The soldiers jumped down from the courtyard wall. They did not speak, but bowed uniformly to Mo Yingqi.

"This place will be handled by this old servant. Imperial Son-in-Law, it is time for you to return to the Princesss Residence," Steward Zheng said politely. "We will also send people to escort your two friends home, and we will provide an explanation to the Imperial Son-in-Law tomorrow. What do you think?"

"This..." Mo Yingqi looked at Lu Qianyuan and Tang Jingzhong. If he was stunned, these two must be even more so. "Alright then, I'll leave it to you."

Mo Yingqi felt a vague sense of unease in his heart. It felt as if he had been constantly watched, and the most astonishing part was that he hadn't noticed it at all!

"You should go back first," Tang Jingzhong walked over and said softly. "The Two Highnesses are likely worried about you, or else they wouldn't have sent people to follow and protect you. It would be better if you asked them directly about anything."

Protection? Perhaps, but the events of the past few days had truly overwhelmed Mo Yingqi.

The imperial decree commanding marriage, followed by their reunion, then his two incidents of messing up while drunk, which then escalated into a frenzy without even leaving the courtyard gate.

He had finally managed to get out for a break and relax, but judging by Steward Zheng and the others' demeanor, they had probably known his whereabouts all along. The meticulous planning made him feel... an inexplicable pressure.

It wasn't that he was being overly sensitive. As a Flying Fish Guard, he had handled stakeouts and tracking assignments over the past year. Most of the criminals he monitored were paranoid and trembling. Although the circumstances were different, Mo Yingqi couldn't possibly live the rest of his life like this, could he?

"Good heavens, the carriage is ready..."

Following Steward Zheng out of the alleyway of his small courtyard, the carriage that had picked him up more than once was steadily parked there, seemingly having waited for a while.

"Imperial Son-in-Law, please get into the carriage," Steward Zheng said with a light smile. "Rest assured, with this old servant here, that villain definitely won't escape."

"Steward Zheng, although The Emperor agreed, the private soldiers of the Residence killing people so openly in Jingzhong..." Mo Yingqi was truly astonished thinking about the scene just now. "At the Pacification Bureau, the household guards and soldiers of military officials in Jingzhong are all registered, including those of the Imperial family members. I don't recall seeing Sister Yongan's and Sister Yongning's names..."

"It's normal that Imperial Son-in-Law hasn't seen them. These private soldiers are usually categorized under the Imperial Guards. In the past, The Two Highnesses' personal protection was handled by Aunt Ying Hong and the serving maids. Now that The Highnesses have moved to the Princesss Residence, these private soldiers are still officially serving under the Imperial Guards, but this old servant can mobilize them with The Highnesses' token when necessary."

When Steward Zheng heard Mo Yingqi say this, a hint of approval appeared in his eyes. First, the man was meticulous, and most importantly, his tone carried an undetectable worry.

'That's right, Imperial Son-in-Law. This old servant advises you not to be ungrateful. Don't let things like today happen again. Just stay peacefully in the Princesss Residence accompanying those two ancestors, and you will have accumulated great virtue...' Of course, Steward Zheng thought this internally, but he would never say it aloud. Mo Yingqi also knew that continuing to question him was pointless; it would be better to go back and ask Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning properly.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Steward Zheng." Mo Yingqi nodded, then got into the carriage. "It's just that that person might be someone from the Pacification Bureau, perhaps even someone we know..."

"Please rest assured, Imperial Son-in-Law," Steward Zheng slightly bowed. "The Highnesses have already taken care of everything on their end; they won't leave you any trouble."

Mo Yingqi said nothing more and entered the carriage. Steward Zheng nodded at the coachman, and the carriage slowly drove away. Not until the carriage had completely vanished from Steward Zheng's sight did a soldier walk over, cup his fists, and say: "Steward Zheng, we caught the man. Should we..."

"Don't kill him, and don't use torture. Torture is useless on people from the Pacification Bureau," Steward Zheng laughed coldly. "Determine his identity and send him directly to the Directorate of Ceremonial. Eunuch Fang knows how to handle it!"