Chapter 1210: August

As August arrived, so did the fated day. The wind was gentle, the sun brilliant.

Jiang Wang, Chong Xuan Sheng, and Fourteen, three figures side-by-side on horseback, departed the Jiang residence. They ambled down Linzi's main street with ostentatious flair – or rather, they rampaged across it. Chong Xuan Sheng's physique was truly astonishing; Linzi's main thoroughfare could typically accommodate seven horses abreast, but with his steed squeezed in, little space remained. Their three mounts occupied more than half the street, a picture of utter dandyism. Not to mention the retinue of stick-wielding servants trailing behind them like a swarm of locusts.

"I say, is this truly necessary?" Facing the disdainful gazes of passersby, Jiang Wang felt a touch of discomfort.

"We are going to bully people, how can we not be a little arrogant?" Chong Xuan Sheng was utterly unfazed. He even took a moment amidst the pandemonium to instruct, "Fourteen, keep up! Maintain formation!" Then, he glared towards the roadside: "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen unreasonable people?"

Passersby dared not voice their anger.

Fourteen remained silent, but his head was clearly bowed. Though clad in heavy armor and an iron helmet, he lacked Chong Xuan Sheng's astonishing resilience to disdainful gazes.

Today, the tale went, one of Chong Xuan Sheng's shopkeepers had been bullied by another young master of Linzi while visiting a pleasure house. Of course, in Chong Xuan Sheng's words, "A mere fourth-rank official's brat dares to jump in our faces? We'll beat his father too!"

Yes.

Today's narrative was just this simple and unadorned: Chong Xuan Sheng and Fourteen, with Jiang Wang dragged along, were on their way to bully—ah, no, uphold justice—for a shopkeeper's brothel dispute. One grandson of a Bo Wang Hou, one Qing Yang Zi holding a third-rank official post, going to bully the young master of a fourth-rank official. There was truly no suspense whatsoever. It was a plan solely based on crushing force.

Although Jiang Wang knew Chong Xuan Sheng's insistence on dragging him along had some ulterior motive, perhaps here, perhaps elsewhere. This corpulent one's actions were often layered, airtight, unleashing thunder from a silent place. He had been busy with something for some time, and perhaps the outcome was soon to be revealed.

But to specifically parade down the street with such ostentatious swagger still felt… somewhat shameful.

According to the script of such plays, as soon as their party of "wicked youths on the street" appeared, heaven-sent justice should descend. The passersby, full of righteous indignation stirred by Chong Xuan Sheng's shouts, would suddenly have their eyes light up, spotting a capable and well-regarded noble young master riding towards them.

*These people are rampant in the streets, how can a righteous person tolerate this? Give me a good lesson to these brats who rely on power!* the passersby would shout in their hearts, silently cheering him on.

Who knew that Chong Xuan Sheng's eyes also lit up?

"Hey!" He raised a large hand from his horse to greet, "Young Master Xie!"

Young Master Xie Bao Shu, also riding a high horse, had a face written with bad luck. He only pretended not to hear, urging his horse forward, passing by Chong Xuan Sheng's group.

"Young Master Xie is so quick to forget me, la?" Chong Xuan Sheng twisted his head to continue the greeting, "When you were knocked unconscious at the Grand Master ceremony, I even went to the imperial hospital to see you!"

Ten thousand horses galloped in Xie Bao Shu's heart. The hand grasping the reins was nearly white. He definitely couldn't out-scold Chong Xuan Sheng, and in a verbal spat, facing three opponents, he truly had no confidence. If he wasn't careful and his horse stumbled, resulting in a street beating, he would have even less face to remain in Linzi. He could only urge his horse forward with an expressionless face.

*Treat him as a fart, treat him as a fart,* he muttered in his heart. That did indeed make him feel a little better.

Chong Xuan Sheng 'tsk'ed, turning his head back with dissatisfaction. "I was saying I'd move to Yao Guang Fang to be neighbors with Xie Xiao Bao, and we could have more fun. Didn't expect him to be so easily teased, how boring!"

Jiang Wang was momentarily stunned: "Xie Xiao Bao?"

Chong Xuan Sheng pursed his lips: "Isn't he just one Uncle Bao? Every day it's just 'my uncle says, my uncle says,' without his uncle, he can't even speak la!"

Xie Xiao Bao, hey!

To speak of bullying people, Chong Xuan Sheng was still the expert! Jiang Wang sighed in admiration in his heart.

He didn't know how it happened. Originally, charging onto the main street to rampage, even if it was a pretense, made him uncomfortable. But to bully Xie Bao Shu...

Chong Xuan Sheng grinned at him, raising an eyebrow. The meaning was clear: *Refreshing, ba?*

Jiang Wang silently straightened his back. Just now, it *was* refreshing…

The passersby who had held high expectations for Xie Bao Shu shrank their heads and silently hurried away. It was better to stay far from these unlucky people. Even the young master from the Towards Yi Doctor's Residence was bullied like this. Though he had been roared at, what was there for him to be upset about?

So he consoled himself, but suddenly saw a team of people flying rapidly towards them.

"Good! The Qing Pai are taking action!"

The passerby rejoiced in his heart. The Capital Patrol Office was directly subordinate to His Majesty. They didn't care what noble relatives or prominent young masters you were. They would arrest you if they said so, not giving an inch of face! Call you arrogant!

He viciously turned back to look, as if in his heart, this team of Qing Pai had received his orders to arrest the wicked youths. It made him feel intoxicated.

Yet, he saw this team of Qing Pai fly rapidly closer, and they all dismounted, bowing to the wicked youth riding the fiery red steed: "Lord Jiang, the Du Wei has summoned you!"

"You motherf—"

The passerby cursed darkly in his heart and hurried away with his head down. Able to bully the young master of the Towards Yi Doctor's Residence, daring to rampage on the main street, and even holding a position in the Capital Patrol Office… indeed, even in Linzi, there was a qualification for arrogance.

Yet, the summoned Jiang Wang himself was stunned. The leader of the Qing Pai team was polite, explaining that the North Yamen Du Wei had suddenly summoned him, not because he had committed any offense. It was simply to handle some official business.

Although he was a fourth-rank Qing Pai leader, the Capital Patrol Office had never forced him to handle any cases. His initial hanging of the position was due to Chong Xuan Sheng's favor; later, it was due to his friendship with Zheng Shang Ming. Why was it so sudden this time, without even a prior greeting?

But no matter what was said, since the North Yamen Du Wei had summoned him, whatever plan Chong Xuan Sheng had today would have to be temporarily set aside…

"Do you know the matter?" Jiang Wang asked from horseback.

"This humble one does not know, only that the Du Wei ordered you to go immediately. We just came from your residence to find you," the Qing Pai replied.

Chong Xuan Sheng, slumped on his steed, asked in a muffled voice, "Is it convenient for me to follow?"

That leader, of course, knew Chong Xuan Sheng's identity. A difficult expression appeared on his face: "The Patrol Office is very busy at the moment, Young Master Chong Xuan is not a Qing Pai, perhaps it is not suitable…"

Chong Xuan Sheng nodded: "No matter, you all do not need to be troubled." He smiled at Jiang Wang: "The plan is off. There's no way to go bully people today!" As he spoke, he lifted his head and glanced at the sky.

Jiang Wang instantly understood. This time, it was the Son of Heaven summoning him to handle a case! That was why the North Yamen Du Wei had suddenly given the order. That was why Zheng Shang Ming had been unable to inform him in advance.

The Capital Patrol Office did not lack capable individuals. They had renowned Qing Pai. To compare their case-handling abilities to his was an insult to those individuals. What case was so important that it had to be him, Jiang Wang, and no one else?

"Speak no such nonsense!" Jiang Wang's demeanor had already entered the state of handling a case, and he spoke righteously and sternly: "This official, a dignified Qing Pai, a court-appointed official, how would I go and bully people with you?"

He simply flipped off his horse, handing the reins to one hand: "The pleasure house we just mentioned, I will not be going. This official must attend to official business. You help send Yan Zhao back for me."

Yan Zhao, with its mane like fire, shrunk back.

Jiang Wang smiled and patted its head: "Rest assured, he won't ride you."

"Got it, got it," Chong Xuan Sheng, not for the first time disliked by Yan Zhao, said mournfully, "Let Fourteen lead him."

Fourteen, in his armored hand, reached out and took Yan Zhao's reins. Yan Zhao took several small steps, eagerly pressing forward. Only then did Jiang Wang address the team of Qing Pai before him: "Let's go."

The group dismounted and quickly flew towards the North Yamen.