For dissipating the mortal world's indifference, rewarding with celestial blossoms of fate, an additional chapter (5.7)
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Following his signal, the soldiers surged forward, surrounding Zhu Zan and also blocking the approaching Huang Family members.
Lord Huang became even more furious.
"Good, good, protect him," he shouted, pointing in this direction, "Beat them for me, beat them ruthlessly. Anyone who dares to resist is a conspirator in the murder of my son!"
The Huang Family's house servants, notorious for their arrogance in the capital, were a case in point.
A bureaucrat who failed to give way promptly to Lord Huang's carriage was scolded to fainting by the family's servant, pointing fingers right in his face.
At Lord Huang's command, his servants did not hesitate to raise their clubs and charge at the soldiers.
Generals, of course, dare not retaliate; this is not an encounter with the Jinyiwei.
Military generals, facing a cultured bureaucrat, especially one of Lord Huang's status, truly dared not raise their hands.
The soldiers had no choice but to parry with their weapons, and the generals were also struck several times with clubs, causing them to become red with rage.
It's not that I am protecting Zhu Zan, I'm clearly protecting the life of you, an old dog. This truly is a case of a dog biting Lu Dongbin.
The scene plunged into greater chaos.
Yells, curses, cries of pain, and the weeping of Huang Family's women, who had come out upon hearing the noise and surrounded the corpse of Lord Huang, turned the entire street upside down.
In the midst of this hubbub, the Jinyiwei stood quietly, as if they saw neither side of the melee.
That's because Lu Yunqi wasn't watching the fighting parties; he was only watching Miss Jun.
"A person's died, eh? Now that's trouble," he said, standing behind Miss Jun.
His voice was dull, and if one only heard his voice without seeing him, they might think it was the sincere concern and exclamation of an honest person.
Yes, someone has died, and that indeed is troublesome.
Miss Jun did not pay attention to Lu Yunqi but just watched the parties involved in the melee, her expression of surprise receding to one of deep concern.
A startled horse is a good excuse.
If only Zhu Zan hadn't rushed out.
Letting the horse continue to run wild...
Miss Jun looked towards the other side of the street.
There, the crowd of onlookers was also packed.
If the startled horse charged through, the number of dead and injured would likely be considerable.
This person really is... It's hard to describe what kind of person he is.
Even if it was to avoid harming innocent people, couldn't someone else have taken care of this? Why must he do it himself?
Was it a sudden incident, and he was the only one confident enough to handle it on the spot?
Miss Jun sighed inwardly.
He is now a thorn in the emperor's side, and it indeed troubles one to find an excuse for his indictment.
"Lord Huang had just reported to the emperor today that there are many memorials impeaching the Duke of Chengguo,"
Lu Yunqi's voice came from behind again.
"His Majesty ordered Lord Huang to present them tomorrow; now this is going to be difficult to handle."
So there's even this matter!
Miss Jun's hanging hand clenched suddenly.
Well, this is indeed a major problem now.
The urgent sound of horseshoes arose on the street, and more government soldiers charged in from both sides of the street. Their shouts were urgent, and they unceremoniously cracked their horsewhips to disperse the crowd, which scattered to make way.
Along with the government soldiers, there were also a few eunuchs.
"Stop fighting! Separate them quickly!" the newcomers shouted, "The emperor commands a strict investigation; seize everyone involved."
Hearing this, Lu Yunqi lifted his hand.
"Time to get to work," he said.
The imperial guards watching on the sidelines instantly drew out their Jinyiwei sabers.
"Stop it all, those who resist will be deemed as defying orders and will be put to death without mercy," they shouted in unison, aiming at the people involved in the melee.
They had a cold expression and a fierce look in their eyes, looking at both sides in front of them without the slightest emotion, ready to swing their blades and kill.
With an increasing number of government soldiers arriving and the intervention of the Jinyiwei, the chaotic street regained its tranquility.
The crowds were dispersed, and Zhu Zan's soldiers and the people of the Huang Family were also separated.
Both sides involved in the scuffle just now had sustained injuries; overall, the soldiers were at a disadvantage, several of them had been cut, with blood staining their clothes red.
"You are truly like mad dogs! Blind as bats!" Zhu Zan, being held down by four or five soldiers, was still cursing loudly, "I tried to save people with good intentions and this is what I get!"
"Don't play dumb with me, Zhu Zan, your tricks won't work with me," Lord Huang, also supported and protected by four or five people, said gasping for air, "I will make you and your son pay with your lives!"
"Try it, just try it, you old coot!" Zhu Zan yelled, and lunged forward. Although he was held tight by several soldiers, he managed to drag them a few steps forward before stopping.
The generals and eunuchs who rushed to the scene were sweating bullets. The soldiers once again tensely encircled them both.
"Any grievances can be brought before the emperor," the general shouted.
"I also wish to see the emperor," Lord Huang said, looking mournful as he glanced at the body of his son on the ground, "Lift it up, let the emperor see."
They actually intended to carry the corpse into the imperial palace for an audience?
The generals looked at each other nervously.
The nearby eunuchs lightly coughed and stepped forward with sad expressions to support Lord Huang.
"The emperor also wishes to see you," they said, their gaze also falling upon the body of Lord Huang, their voices deep and sorrowful, "and Lord Huang as well."
The emperor also wanted to see Lord Huang's corpse, which surely meant he would get justice.
The people of the Huang Family immediately resumed crying and wailing, shouting about injustice and the emperor's wise judgment.
"Injustice! Injustice!" Zhu Zan's hoarse voice also mixed in.
The generals and eunuchs wiped the sweat from their foreheads; they could not let them continue to make a scene here, so they quickly took the important individuals towards the imperial palace, dispersing the others.
Lord Huang and Zhu Zan were certainly going to the imperial palace, and the soldiers and officials from the Five Cities Military Department who had been involved in the brawl, as well as the house servants of the Huang Family, were also to be brought along.
As for the assailant, having died already, there was no way to bring him; his body could only be transported to the Ministry of Justice.
As for Miss Jun.
"How did Miss Jun come to be here?" a eunuch asked with some suspicion.
"I was going over there to deliver medicine to Lord Wu's house," Miss Jun said, stretching out her hand to point in a direction, "and when I heard something had happened here, I came over."
As she spoke, she lowered her gaze.
"Unfortunately, I was still unable to save the injured."
So it was that she happened to pass by, and moreover, she had not had the chance to treat Lord Huang; just like any other onlooker.
Seeing this, the eunuch turned to Lu Yunqi.
Lu Yunqi, without even glancing in their direction, had already mounted his horse and was escorting Zhu Zan and a group of soldiers forward.
Since Lu Yunqi had no objections, it seemed there was no problem; the eunuch nodded to Miss Jun.
"It truly is regrettable," he said with a bow, bidding farewell and hurriedly catching up with the crowd.
Miss Jun also dispersed with the crowd, looking back at the street corner as she left.
Almost everyone was gone from this place. The dead black horse had been taken away, and it seemed as if the street had regained its peace in the blink of an eye, except for the bloodstains and scattered shoes left behind, reminders of what had just occurred.
Lord Tang, who had been slumped on the ground since earlier due to having revealed his identity, was not chased away like ordinary people, and a soldier came over to help him up.
But Lord Tang still seemed unable to move, his expression blank as he stared at the bloodstains on the ground.
The blood was mixed, indistinguishable whether it was Lord Huang's or the spooked horse's.
But no matter whether it was the horse or Lord Huang, they were both dead.
Truly dead.
Even if a divine doctor capable of miraculous resurrection came before him, they were still dead.
Just like that, dead.
Died at the hands of Wan Dachun's granddaughter; was this the wheel of fate turning, sparing no one?
Lord Tang collapsed once again, sitting down on the ground.