"Since we've met here today, it must be fate. Why don't you all stay here for a while and be my witnesses, so that no bad rumors will spread later and tarnish my reputation?" Ye Jingchen said with a smile, glancing around at the customers who hadn't left the teahouse yet.

"Manager, please serve the guests who haven't left yet your teahouse the best tea and snacks. It's on me. The Prefect of Jingzhao will need time to get here, so let's sit down, have some snacks and tea, and wait patiently. There's no rush."

After Ye Jingchen finished speaking, Fangfei found the teahouse manager and handed him a gold ingot.

Seeing the shopkeeper's troubled expression, as if he wanted to reach out but dared not, Ye Jingchen added with a smile, "The rest can be considered compensation for the damaged tables and chairs."

The shopkeeper, who had been hesitant, withdrew his hand upon hearing this and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Ye Jingchen. "Young master, you are a kind and benevolent person. I will not accept this gold. You should take your people and leave quickly, or you will not be able to leave once the prefect arrives!"

"Even if the prefect comes, he still has to abide by the law, right? His son forcibly took a woman, and there are witnesses and physical evidence. Do you think the prefect can help him get away with it?" Ye Jingchen said with a smile.

"What law? Here, my father is the law! Don't you dare leave. When my father comes, I'll have him arrest you, throw you in jail, skin you alive, and make sure you die without a burial place!" Perhaps the shopkeeper's attitude gave the young master a sense of superiority, making him forget his past pain and regain the courage to shout.

This time, without Ye Jingchen's orders or Chen Xi's intervention, a guard from the Eastern Palace stepped directly on the young master's chest, causing him to let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

Ye Jingchen was very glad that he had already held Ye Jinghe in his arms when he sat down, covered his ears and covered his eyes. Such a bloody and brutal scene was really not suitable for a child to see, or he would have nightmares at night.

"Don't let him die. He committed a crime and should be punished by law," Ye Jingchen said slowly and deliberately after the other man's screams had changed tone.

“I didn’t use any force. Either he’s too weak, or he’s deliberately shouting so loudly,” the Eastern Palace Guard said, lifting his foot without expression.

Ye Jingchen: ...

Are all his palace guards so individualistic?

"I'm a little curious. There are plenty of dukes, marquises, generals, and noble families in this capital. How can a mere Prefect of the Capital, a nobody, be so arrogant?" Ye Jingchen asked, pointing at the young master.

The teahouse owner smiled wryly, and some of the onlookers left immediately, while those who remained did not offer him any answers.

"Young master, you may not know this, but his mother is the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Personnel," the old storyteller said helplessly.

"The Minister of Personnel is just someone who oversees the promotion of officials, but he's not exactly a big shot in this capital city, is he?" Ye Jingchen became even more curious.

"That Consort De in the palace is his mother's younger sister," the old man continued.

Even if the old man hadn't mentioned it, Ye Jingchen wouldn't have remembered that the Second Prince's maternal family was none other than the Ministry of Personnel.

"Consort De—" Ye Jingchen couldn't help but laugh out loud. It's true what they say, when you're sleepy, someone brings you a pillow.

He was still worried about how to get in touch with Consort De and the Second Prince, and now the opportunity had presented itself to him.

"So young master, you should leave quickly. It's not worth getting involved with the empress in the palace for the sake of my two lowly lives!" the old man advised.

"She's just a concubine, not the empress. His Majesty has so many concubines, what's there to be afraid of about Consort De?" Ye Jingchen said indifferently.

"Young master, be careful what you say! You can't say that!" The old man was startled by Ye Jingchen's words and wished he could cover his mouth. He took a few steps closer to Ye Jingchen and said cautiously, "Everyone in the capital knows that the late Empress has been gone for many years, and Consort De is in charge of the household affairs. She is equivalent to the Empress and it is only a matter of time before she is made Empress. Her second son is also very intelligent and is deeply loved by His Majesty. Perhaps one day he will be made Crown Prince. When that happens, the Ministry of Personnel will truly be in a position of great prestige!"

"Nonsense!"

Before Ye Jingchen could say anything, Fangfei rebuked him sharply.

She held considerable authority in the Eastern Palace; a single rebuke could frighten even the most timid palace maids to tears, let alone an ordinary man like the old man, who immediately knelt before Ye Jingchen with a 'plop'.

"Fangfei, you've frightened the old man!" Ye Jingchen gave her a disapproving look.

“Your Highness, what he said is disobedient and treacherous!” Fangfei said sternly.

"What does an ordinary old man know about disobeying his superiors? Go and help him up!" Ye Jingchen ordered.

"I dare not trouble you, young lady. I can get up by myself." The old man quickly got up from the ground and retreated several meters away from Ye Jingchen with lingering fear.

"Is what the old man just said true? Is that what's being said in the capital?" Ye Jingchen asked with a smile.

"I have traveled to many teahouses in the capital to tell stories, and I have heard many nobles discuss this topic," the old man replied cautiously.

"The old man's book is very well told, and your granddaughter's singing voice is like heavenly music. You two might become famous in the capital in the future!" Ye Jingchen did not ask any further questions, but instead smiled and complimented.

"Young master, you jest. If you've offended this little tyrant, it's uncertain whether you can even keep your life, let alone become famous in the capital!" the old man said with a bitter smile.

"A rope always breaks at its thinnest point, and misfortune always finds those with a hard life. This world is tough! Tough! Tough!"

The three syllables of "difficult" encapsulate countless hardships and vicissitudes.

"Isn't there a saying that 'those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune'? Please rest assured, old folks, I have saved your lives. The mere Prefect of Jingzhao and Consort De cannot take them away!" Ye Jingchen said calmly.

"Which family does the young master belong to? How can he be so domineering?" A tea drinker finally couldn't help but ask.

Those who have stayed until now are definitely people who enjoy watching the excitement.

"In the past, there were also young noblemen and ladies who couldn't stand the bullying behavior of the little tyrant and said they wanted to seek justice for the victims, but in the end, nothing came of it."

"Young master, you are kind-hearted. How could you know that your family would be willing to offend the Minister of Personnel and the Empress in the palace for the sake of two lowly commoners?"

Everyone started discussing it, each offering their own opinion.

"We are all citizens of Dayuan, citizens of His Majesty, and there is no distinction of rank or social status!"

"Although I am young, I can distinguish right from wrong and I understand the laws of Dayuan. Even a prince is subject to the same laws as a commoner, let alone the son of a mere prefect. No one is above the law!" Ye Jingchen said seriously, his smile fading.

Everyone fell silent, staring at him in astonishment.

"Manager, go prepare some tea and refreshments. I'd like to invite everyone to a grand performance," Ye Jingchen said again.

This time, the teahouse owner accepted the gold that Fangfei handed him, instructed the waiter to prepare tea and snacks, and ordered someone to clean and tidy the lobby.

"Let's leave this for now and let the Prefect of the Capital take a look when he arrives," Ye Jingchen said calmly.

No one dared to underestimate the child anymore. After bypassing the chaotic area, the tea drinkers took their seats, the shopkeeper prepared tea and snacks, and everything was ready.