The clang of armor plates, powerful and resonant, echoed into the distance. Ning Yue caught a faint scent of killing intent. His body, previously leaning against the stone pillar, instantly straightened, and his left hand gripped the hilt of his Cold Light Blade.
Xiao Wenjie, expressionless, was the first to step into the courtyard.
Wei Xian and the others guarding the entrance only saw a blur as a white-robed figure flashed past, followed by dozens of soldiers who fanned out like water, completely surrounding the sleeping quarters.
There was no communication, not even an knowing glance.
Everyone exchanged looks, their hearts filled with dread.
Xiao Wenjie stood in the courtyard, pulled out a written order from his Pregnant, and solemnly read, “Ning Yue, heed this order.”
“Your subordinate is here!” Ning Yue bowed deeply, lowering his head in deference.
Xiao Wenjie then proclaimed, “Ning Xiaoqi has been excessively corrupt and repeatedly neglected his duties. Last night, he neglected his post, indulged in alcohol, and in a drunken rage, brutally killed his comrades. He has now been reported to the Division. By imperial decree, you are hereby ordered to be arrested and brought to justice.”
“Come, take Ning Xiaoqi away!”
As his words fell, the Xuan Tie armor outside rustled, and a dozen black-clad clerks entered the courtyard upon hearing the command.
Outside the courtyard, Wei Xian and the others were pinned down by the armed guards, but they still craned their necks, shouting hoarsely, “What do you mean, sir? My lord didn’t touch a drop of alcohol last night! As for the injuries, those three brought it upon themselves; it has nothing to do with my lord!”
Xiao Wenjie merely waved his hand, and clerks immediately stepped forward, firmly silencing the men, preventing them from speaking further.
Inside the house, Butler Fu looked at Xue Ren, but found the latter’s expression grave and his mood unclear, so he said, “Young Master, how about this old servant sends someone to inform the Master?”
“Ning Yue might not be able to withstand this.”
The events of the past few days in the small courtyard had greatly changed Butler Fu’s impression of Ning Yue. Xiao Wenjie was a martial artist personally trained by the Zhenfu, and he had long since reached the peak of the Yi Jin Realm, with few rivals in the same realm.
Even the former Xue Ren would have to be careful when facing him.
Xue Ren shook his head and chuckled lightly, “Let’s wait and see. This kid is quite glib; he hasn’t even spoken yet today.”
Butler Fu: “……”
How should he put it? It felt like the emperor wasn’t worried, but the eunuch was.
“Wait!” Ning Yue spoke, but his hand remained gripping the hilt of his blade.
Xiao Wenjie waved his large hand, and the armored guards halted.
Xiao Wenjie had decided to give Ning Yue ample respect today, after all, even without mentioning his label as a trusted confidant of the Xue Family, Ning Yue’s crime of harming his comrades was undeniable.
He wasn't afraid of the other party struggling; the more he struggled, the more flaws he would expose. As a Zongqi, acting under direct orders, Xiao Wenjie was naturally confident and not afraid of Ning Yue turning the tables.
Ning Yue, for a moment, truly hadn't thought of how to respond. Although he hadn't seen Xiao Wenjie's martial arts, he had heard of them; if he truly had to face him, he would likely have to fight for his life.
He could only steel himself and ask, “The Judicial Inquiry Division has its own dedicated enforcers. May I ask why it is you, sir, who has come today?”
Xiao Wenjie chuckled, replying, “It should have been Lord Qian who came, but I, recalling our closeness to the Xue Family, made this special trip. Rest assured, I have already sent someone to inform Xue Zhenfu. After you leave, I will personally guard this entrance and absolutely not allow any petty individuals to enter without authorization.”
Ning Yue asked again, “May I see the official order, sir?”
Xiao Wenjie’s smile grew wider.
This matter concerned life and death, so how could he leave any flaws in such a situation? Upon hearing this, he retorted, “What? Do you think I am deceiving you?”
Ning Yue remained silent.
Xiao Wenjie’s face was filled with sorrow as he calmly unfolded the official order before Ning Yue’s eyes.
However, the hint of triumph in his eyebrows was impossible to conceal: “I never thought, Ning Yue, that you could be so muddled, acting so recklessly in the military camp. Today, even if Xue Zhenfu came, he probably wouldn’t be able to save you.”
No sooner had he spoken than a person in white robes with a sword stepped into the courtyard and declared, “What if my Zhao Family wants to protect him?!”
This was, perhaps, Zhao Silu’s first time publicly bluffing with such a grand claim. The moment the words left her mouth, her earlobes flushed red, but her expression remained unchanged, a cold smile playing on her lips, her voice clear and resonant.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wenjie's determined heart suddenly sank.
It was actually the Zhao Family’s young lady who had arrived!
He looked at Ning Yue suspiciously. Rumors had it that Ning Yue was quite obsequious towards Zhao Zongqi, wishing to emulate Lin Shanhe and become a live-in son-in-law. Could it be that the drama of the lickspittle rising to power was going to play out right before his eyes today?!
But he saw that Ning Yue also looked surprised, as if he was unaware of this.
As a fellow Zongqi, Xiao Wenjie dared not be presumptuous in front of Zhao Silu. Others might be fine, but he heard that the Zhao Family’s second young master was notoriously petty.
So he cupped his hands in a salute and said, “I, Xiao, am enforcing the law impartially. I hope Zhao Zongqi will not obstruct, lest it needlessly harm the Zhao Family’s reputation.”
“My Zhao Family’s reputation doesn’t need others to protect it.” Zhao Silu, today, was unusually firm. She opened her mouth and said, “I ask you, where did this order come from?!”
“I, Xiao, personally received it from the Judicial Inquiry Division.”
“Then whose hand did this order come from?”
“From Zhang Wei, the document examiner.”
“I’m asking, who exactly gave you this order?!” Zhao Silu pressed on, not giving Xiao Wenjie any time to react.
This official order was certainly not fake, but it was Xiao Wenjie who had arranged for someone to secretly stamp it with the official seal. As long as Ning Yue entered the Judicial Inquiry Division, it would not be troublesome to make up for it later.
At this moment, upon hearing this, he was startled. After a moment of silence, he confidently replied, “This order must have come from Recorder Xie!”
Xie Siyuan, the second son of the Xie Family, held the deputy position of Recorder in the Judicial Inquiry Division, equivalent to a Zongqi, with the power to detain, judge, and dispose of cases.
And using the Xie Family to block Miss Zhao's unreasonable meddling was perfectly appropriate. This was also Xiao Wenjie's well-thought-out answer.
Who knew that Zhao Silu would laugh upon hearing this, “You’re talking nonsense! That Zongqi Xie was arranged by my father to escort prisoners out of the city and has been gone for two days. Where would this document come from?!”
Xiao Wenjie finally couldn’t maintain his composure. He sternly shouted, “Please, Zhao Zongqi, do not entangle. Official business is important, and I, Xiao, have other urgent matters afterward.”
“I think, Zongqi Xiao, you are the one being absurd!” Ning Yue, who had just enjoyed a bit of a free ride, a cold smile playing on his lips, finally stepped forward.
The scene just now made him exclaim at the wickedness of human hearts. He hadn't understood the process of issuing military orders before, and he was almost fooled by this scoundrel.
Xiao Wenjie, enraged and humiliated, gripped the hilt of his blade and asked in a deep voice, “I ask again, military orders are like mountains, Ning Yue, are you going to resist arrest?”
Ning Yue shielded the now haughty Zhao Silu behind him and replied, “Zongqi Xiao, this order is unclear, I cannot comply.”
“Good, good, good!” Xiao Wenjie let out a long laugh, his long blade already out of its sheath, pointing directly at Ning Yue, and asked, “Ning Yue, after cutting down three Xiaoqi, do you really think you can stop me today?!”
“It seems if I don’t teach you a lesson, you won’t understand the true difference between the Yijin (Tendon Changing) and Lianrou (Body Refinement) realms!”
Xiao Wenjie swung his long blade, and the entire small courtyard was instantly filled with a silvery light, dense and numerous in the air, full of falling blade energy!