Bribe

"It is what you see, Master Shen." Official Li informed. He looked at the unhappy face on both the father and son's face and snorted. "You see, I am going to protect this man. This is not a simple matter. How can you order your guards to injure people recklessly?"

Shen Xiaozhang's face sank. He clenched his fist and implied, "This man is slandering my son's reputation and speaking all kinds of nonsense. How can I let an imbecile who knows where he came from throw dirty water on me? Official Li, this is about my family and its reputation. I hope Official Li doesn't meddle into my family's business."

"I didn't lie!!!" The strong man yelled. "You stole my money!!!" he hollered, seeking the protection of that guards.

"Shut up!" Shen Xiaozhang roared at him. Next, he looked at Official Li and waved his hand, "Official Li, please....."

Official Li chuckled. "Young Master Shen, you are wrong. This is simply not about your reputation alone, my son is also involved."

"Your son?" Shen Xiaozhang snorted. "Does Official Li really thinks that I will steal money from your son?"

"Who knows? Maybe?" Official Li shrugged. "After all, what you see in the front is not necessarily what you are in the back."

Seeing that Official Li was taunting his son, Shen Bofeng's face darkened. He looked at the crowd's reaction and snorted. "From all that I can see, it is your son that is smearing my son's reputation. Not only that, but he also spoke bad and false things about my son and General Jiang's eldest daughter. Who do you think is so foolish to believe in these things?"

"My son is a very good man and he would never do such things," Shen Bofeng informed. "It is your son who doesn't know how to talk or speak about others. Today, he is speaking nonsense about my son, who knows what he will do tomorrow? It's better to control your son than to meddle in other people's matters. Humph!!!"

"Shen Bofeng, mind your tongue!!!!" Official Li yelled angrily.

"What?" Shen Bofeng mocked. "Why is Official Li getting angry? I am simply thinking about your son's future."

"You don't need to care about my son," Official Li sneered. "I, his father is still alive to take care of him. Humph! What you need to do is to take care of your son. Today, he is stealing money, threatening people, and cheating on his fiance. Who knows what he will do in the future? What you should care about is, what if, General Jiang knew about the fact that his beloved daughter was cheated by her own fiance?" Official Li chuckled.

"Official Li!!!! You cannot slander my son like this," Shen Bofeng growled. "What you are speaking is all nonsense. My son can never do such things. Also, his heart belongs to Ayu, he would never cheat on her."

"So, are you implying that my son and this strange man here are lying?" Official Li arched his brows.

"Yes," Shen Xiaozhang stepped forward. "They are lying. Official Li, you are a big official in the court, a good and a pious man. I admired you very much but here, you don't how to discriminate between right and wrong. I know, Young Master Li is your son but you cannot support your son to harm others. I am highly disappointed."

Shen Bofeng agreed," My son is correct. Official Li, I did not expect this from you. Who knows this young man, here, might be brought by you to slander my son's reputation and to sow discord between our relationship with General Jiang. Official Li, even if your want to save your reputation, you shouldn't bribe unknown people of unknown origin to slander my son."

Official Li's face turned red in anger. "You!!!! Master Shen, don't speak nonsense," he glared. "I don't even know this man. I'm an honest official and I don't bribe people."

Unfortunately, nobody was ready to believe him. Shen Bofeng's words made sense and the crowd sided with him. Though Official Li was an upright official and everybody knew about his honest personality, yet, this time everyone thought that he was lying and he had bribed someone so that he can save his son's reputation. After all, nobody could believe that Shen Xiaozhang would steal and threaten people. Hence, the crowd began to gossip and speak bad things about Official Li and his son.

"Sigh!!! I never expected Official Li to be like this..."

"Yeah, he is so pitiful. It is all because of his fool son. How can such a good man have a son like him?"

'Yes, it all that fool's fault. He always likes to create mess and trouble for his father. Official Li is so unlucky to have such a bad son!!!"

Official Li clenched his fist in anger. He wasn't mad about the comments related to him but when someone spoke a word against his son, he would get angry. He loved his son very much and unlike how other people, he didn't think so. He was lucky to have a son like him. Yeah, his son was as bright, as smart, as talented as others but he had a pure heart. In a world full of evil, malice, and selfish people, his son had a generous and lovable heart. "Enough!!!!" he yelled and glared at the crowd. "I will not listen a word against my son. Who do you think you all are, huh?"

"Guard!!!" Official Li looked stern as his eyes looked at each person standing in the crowd. "If anyone dares to speak any more words against your Young Master, slap them. I permit you."

"Yes, Master!!!"

The crowd was shocked. All of them were dissatisfied by Official Li's words but seeing the guards looking at them, they didn't dare to speak any more words against them. But, their hearts were unwilling and filled with anger. They never thought that Official Li would dare to do this and treat them like this. After all, nobody had such courage and boldness to refute and beat people in broad daylight. Hence, this made them even more sure to stand with Shen family and support them.