Chapter 29 Audacious Courage

"Li Jinglong?"

Li Qing was slightly taken aback. The name seemed familiar. Then, his pupils suddenly dilated, and he blurted out:

"The God of War of the Ming Dynasty?!"

Li Jinglong was also stunned for a moment, then quickly came to his senses. The swollen corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. It seemed that his reputation for being "knowledgeable in military affairs" was well - known.

He suddenly didn't hate Li Qing that much anymore, despite having been slapped several times.

"Good that you know." Li Jinglong said arrogantly. "Why don't you release me quickly?"

Li Qing had a strange expression on his face. He didn't expect to get acquainted with the "God of War of the Ming Dynasty" in this way.

"Cut the crap. The Great Ming Law clearly states that those who use force to coerce or bind others shall be flogged eighty times."

"Bullshit..." Li Jinglong was furious, but when he saw Li Qing raise his palm, his momentum weakened. "When did I bind anyone?"

Li Qing shook his head and said, "It was this official who stopped you in time so that you didn't succeed, but it wasn't your own initiative to stop. So, you still have to be punished.

Considering that no serious consequences were caused, this official sentences you to twenty strokes of the cane. Are you convinced?"

"Hehe... Do you dare to hit me?"

Li Jinglong said disdainfully. "Think it through. My father is a duke, and the current emperor is my uncle. Just try hitting me."

Li Qing didn't indulge him. He stepped forward, untied the ropes on him, picked up the cane, and started hitting.

"Slap, slap..."

It was not until his buttocks felt a burning pain that Li Jinglong finally believed that the man in front of him was not threatened by anything. He was simply incredibly audacious.

He wanted to resist, but after being poked a few times by Li Qing, he couldn't exert any strength and lay on the ground unable to move.

"You'll regret this... Ouch... Fuck your grandpa."

"Scream all you want. No one will come to save you even if you shout your throat out." Li Qing chuckled wickedly, and his hands didn't stop for a moment.

"Stop!"

More than a dozen burly men in bright armor came forward. One of them said, "This general is from the Duke of Cao's residence..."

"Wait a moment." Li Qing didn't stop the cane in his hand. "Can't you see I'm busy with official business?"

"Li Hu, arrest this bastard for me." Li Jinglong howled.

Li Hu gave Li Qing a deep look, and a trace of anger appeared on his face. "I told you to stop!"

"The Great Ming Law clearly states that those who obstruct official business and shield criminals shall be punished the same as the criminals." Li Qing warned while hitting the cane. "The Jinyiwei's Zhao Prison won't tolerate your presumptuous behavior."

"You..." Li Hu was left speechless for a moment, not knowing how to refute.

Li Jinglong was both angry and in pain, and he cursed, "You son of a bitch, have the guts to tell me your name!"

"Li Qing, a thousand - household of the Jinyiwei."

After finishing the beating, Li Qing then said to the people outside the prison cell, "Did you break into the Zhao Prison at night by imperial order?"

Another hat of exceeding the rules was put on them, and the arrogance of the dozen or so people suddenly subsided by more than half.

Li Hu cupped his hands and said, "This general is under the order of the Duke of Cao."

"Does the Duke of Cao have the power to control the Jinyiwei?" Li Qing counter - questioned.

"...Naturally not."

Li Hu was furious, but he didn't dare to be arrogant anymore. This thousand - household of the Jinyiwei in front of him was not an easy - going person. One moment he mentioned the Great Ming Law, and the next he talked about the imperial order. A single wrong answer would leave a handle and bring disaster to the duke.

The others were also angry but dared not say a word. They just stared at Li Qing with hatred.

Li Qing didn't take it to heart at all and said faintly, "Since you didn't come by imperial order, then breaking into the Zhao Prison at night is a serious crime. Li Yu, tie them up for me."

"Sir..."

"Tie them up!"

"Yes." Li Yu gritted his teeth and said, "Come and tie them up and escort them to the prison."

"Who dares?"

Li Hu was really angry. In the past, he had followed the duke and the emperor to conquer the world. He had seen all kinds of scenes and had never been so angry.

The dozen or so personal guards of the duke's residence behind him were also furious, and their right hands were already holding the hilts of their swords.

Li Qing glanced at the group of people and said faintly, "Think it through. Once you draw your swords, there will be no turning back."

He wasn't afraid of offending people now. Anyway, Zhu Yuanzhang had already pushed him to the opposite side of the officials. Even if he wanted to get along with others, he had no chance.

He wouldn't die. As long as Empress Ma was there, he would be fine.

At worst, he would be dismissed. He didn't care about this position of a thousand - household of the Jinyiwei!

Li Qing had nothing to desire and was thus fearless. No matter who you were, if you made him unhappy, you wouldn't have an easy time either.

Moreover, he was acting according to the Great Ming Law. Even if these people were extremely angry, they didn't dare to really start a war with the Jinyiwei.

Sure enough, Li Hu and his group really didn't dare.

Once they drew their swords, the nature of the matter would change. At that time, perhaps even the duke couldn't protect them.

Li Jinglong watched helplessly as the reinforcements were disarmed one by one and escorted into the prison. He was angry and at the same time, he was also afraid.

He found that this Li Qing really seemed to be fearless. If you offended him, you would surely suffer.

At the moment, he didn't dare to be arrogant anymore. He lay on the ground obediently and didn't dare to say a word.

Li Yu pulled Li Qing aside and whispered, "Sir, we've caused a big disaster this time. The Duke of Cao is the emperor's own nephew!"

"It's not 'we', it's 'I'."

Li Qing comforted him and said, "The Great Ming Law clearly states that carrying out duties as ordered is an official crime and no responsibility will be pursued."

Li Yu's heart warmed, and he chuckled dryly, "Sir's understanding of the Great Ming Law is really... detailed."

"Of course. How can you handle cases without understanding the Great Ming Law?" Li Qing chuckled. "You guys go back and rest. I'll take care of things here."

"Sir..."

The group of people were inexplicably moved. Li Yu said, "Sir is enforcing the law impartially and should not be implicated. However, listen to my advice, sir. You'd better... not do this again in the future."

Li Qing asked, "Is the Jinyiwei capable of arresting imperial relatives and nobles at the top and civil and military officials at the bottom?"

Li Hu clasped his hands in salute and said, "This general is acting under the orders of the Duke of Cao."

"Does the Duke of Cao have the authority to control the Jinyiwei?" Li Qing retorted.

"...Naturally not."

Li Hu was fuming with anger, yet he dared not act arrogantly any longer. This Jinyiwei Qianhu (a military rank in the Jinyiwei) in front of him was no easy target. He kept bringing up the Great Ming Law and the imperial decree. One wrong answer could leave a handle and bring misfortune to the Duke.

The others were seething with anger but dared not voice their dissatisfaction. They just glared at Li Qing with hatred.

Li Qing didn't pay them any heed and said indifferently, "Since you're not here by imperial order, breaking into the Zhao Prison at night is a serious crime. Li Yu, tie them up for me."

"Sir..."

"Do it!"

"Yes, sir." Li Yu reluctantly complied, "Somebody, tie them up and send them to the prison."

"Who dares?"

Li Hu was truly enraged. In the past, he had accompanied the Duke and the Emperor in founding the nation. He had seen all kinds of situations and had never suffered such humiliation.

The dozen or so personal guards of the Duke's mansion behind him were also brimming with anger, their right hands already gripping the sword hilts.

Li Qing swept a glance over the group and said calmly, "Think carefully. Once you draw your swords, there will be no going back."

He wasn't afraid of offending people at this point. After all, Zhu Yuanzhang had already pushed him to the opposite side of the officials. Even if he wanted to keep a low - profile, there was no chance.

He wasn't likely to die. As long as Empress Ma was around, he'd be safe.

At worst, he'd be dismissed from his post. He didn't even care about this Jinyiwei Qianhu position!

Li Qing, being free from worldly desires, was fearless. No matter who you were, if you made him unhappy, you'd have a hard time.

Moreover, he was acting in accordance with the Great Ming Law. Even if these people were extremely angry, they wouldn't dare to actually start a conflict with the Jinyiwei.

Sure enough, Li Hu and his group didn't dare to do so.

Once they drew their swords, the nature of the matter would change. By then, perhaps even the Duke couldn't protect them.

Li Jinglong watched in despair as his rescuers were disarmed one by one and taken to the prison. He was both angry and terrified.

He realized that this Li Qing seemed truly fearless. Offend him, and you were bound to suffer.

At this moment, he no longer dared to be arrogant. He lay quietly on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

Li Yu pulled Li Qing aside and whispered, "Sir, we've really caused a huge mess this time. The Duke of Cao is the Emperor's own nephew!"

"It's not 'we', it's 'I'."

Li Qing consoled him, "The Great Ming Law clearly states that performing duties as ordered is an official crime and won't be held accountable."

Li Yu felt a warmth in his heart and forced a dry laugh, "Sir, you really know the Great Ming Law... in great detail."

"Naturally. How can I handle cases without a good knowledge of the Great Ming Law?" Li Qing smiled faintly, "You guys go back and rest. I'll take care of things here."

"Sir..."

The group was deeply touched. Li Yu said, "Sir, you're enforcing the law impartially and should not be implicated. However, take my advice, sir. In the future, you'd better... not act like this again."

Li Qing asked, "Can the Jinyiwei arrest imperial relatives and nobles as well as civil and military officials?"

"Yes." Li Yu nodded. "But if we really do that..."

"That's all right then." Li Qing said. "Since we have this power, what is there to be afraid of?"

However, he didn't know that at this stage, the Jinyiwei was far from comparable to the Jinyiwei in history.

The Jinyiwei truly gained a fearsome reputation in the later period of the Hongwu reign. When Zhu Yuanzhang massacred the meritorious officials on a large scale, the Jinyiwei reached its peak of power and was able to arrest imperial relatives and high - ranking officials without hesitation.

At present, the main tasks of the Jinyiwei were to investigate the corruption of officials and spy on military intelligence. They only made a show during the Hu Weiyong case.

But as long as the nobles and officials were not involved in the Hu Weiyong case, the Jinyiwei would not take the initiative to investigate them.

After all, the emperor's intentions were unclear. Mao Xiang didn't dare to overstep his bounds. If the emperor didn't order an investigation, and he forced one, he might ruin his future.

Those people had all made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty. Investigating them was not a wise move.

Everyone acted by trying to figure out the emperor's intentions.

In Li Yu's view, Li Qing's actions were completely out of the ordinary and were simply self - destructive.

"Go back. I know what I'm doing."

Li Qing sent Li Yu and the others away, leaned back in his chair, and took out the "Great Ming Law" to study.

...

Early in the morning.

Li Wenzhong got up with red - rimmed eyes. Since his personal guards hadn't returned all night, he had roughly guessed the truth.

Was the emperor about to take action against the nobles? Li Wenzhong looked worried. He let out a deep sigh, got up, tied the bundled thorns to his body, and left the Duke's mansion.

...

In the Qianqing Palace.

Li Qing arrived a bit late today. He was slightly surprised to see Princess Anqing also there.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Princess."

"Rise." Empress Ma was in a very good mood and said to Anqing, "Let's talk after the acupuncture."

"Okay." Anqing nodded with a beaming smile. "I'm troubling Mr. Li."

Li Qing forced a smile. "Your Highness is being too polite. It's my duty as a subject."

He thought to himself: After finding the evidence of your husband's crimes in the future, I wonder if you'll still be this polite.

Two quarters of an hour later, Li Qing put away the silver needles. Just as he was about to give Empress Ma some instructions, a young eunuch from Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's side rushed in.

"Mr. Li, after you finish treating Her Majesty, the emperor orders you to go to the imperial study immediately."

Li Qing's heart skipped a beat. He nodded and said, "I'll go right away."

Anqing's eyes rolled. She took Empress Ma's arm and said coquettishly, "Mother, I haven't seen Father for a long time. Could you accompany me?

I'm afraid Father will scold me for running around if I go alone."

"Um... all right."

"Thank you, Mother."

~

In the imperial study.

As soon as Li Qing entered, he saw a burly man carrying thorns on his back, and couldn't help but think of Lian Po.