After entering the city, Mu Zian and Xiao Xiuning changed their clothes.
After all, Xiao Xiuning's court attire was simply too eye-catching.
Even in simple attire, Xiao Xiuning's beauty and charm could not be concealed.
One was as beautiful as an angel, the other was full of heroic spirit.
The two walked side by side down the street, immediately attracting the attention of countless eyes.
As the most prosperous place in the world, the capital city of Dali was lined with vendors hawking their wares along the streets.
Many students carrying folding fans walked through the crowd.
As Xiao Xiuning walked, she looked around, and everything in front of her seemed so new and exciting.
Just then, a series of curses came from not far away.
"You dare to embezzle my money? If I don't teach you a lesson today, I'm not a Pei!"
"Hey guys, smash this place up! I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"
As soon as these words were spoken, several young men who looked like students stepped forward and overturned the vendor's stall.
The exquisite ornaments that fell to the ground were instantly crushed.
Upon seeing this, the vendor immediately knelt down and kowtowed as he spoke.
"Please spare me, sir. You can take this hairpin; I won't take your money."
Before he could finish speaking, the person who had been shouting insults immediately sneered disdainfully.
Do I look like I'm short of a few taels of silver?
"I'm going to teach you a lesson today, so you won't dare to make money off just anyone!"
The onlookers pointed and whispered, and were initially very angry.
After all, buying and selling is based on mutual consent; how can you pay first and then come back to demand payment?
However, upon hearing that this person was a member of the Pei family, those who had intended to speak up for justice all fell silent.
"People from the Pei family?"
Xiao Xiuning nodded.
"The imperial examinations will be held soon. In previous years, students from all over Dali would rush to the capital at this time. The Pei family of Qinghe has been quite lucky in recent years, producing quite a few first and second-class Jinshi."
"The Pei family's influence in the court has also grown considerably, and their ambitions now extend beyond the ranks of civil officials; they have also made arrangements in the military."
Mu Zian asked with some surprise.
"Pei Jianzhi?"
"They want both military and political power; the Pei family has quite the ambition."
Xiao Xiuning sighed softly.
"The officials in the court are merely representatives of the major aristocratic families. Their relationships are complex and intertwined, and even my father, the emperor, has to be wary of them."
"Although my father has tried his best to support children from poor families in recent years, the results have been minimal."
"These powerful families do their utmost to suppress students from poor families. For those talented students from poor families, they first bestow favors and take them under their wing, but if they disagree, they will be suppressed and ostracized."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zian felt somewhat alarmed.
The arrogance of these powerful families is evident.
This reminded Mu Zian of the insidious methods Master Huang used to deal with Zhang Mazi in "Let the Bullets Fly".
Invite them to a feast, behead them, or take them in as dogs.
Looking at it this way, it seems that they have always followed the same pattern and never changed.
The young man from the Pei family, not satisfied with overturning the stall, picked up a stick from the ground and sneered.
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll spare your dog's life if I only take one of your legs!"
As he spoke, he raised the wooden stick in his hand and smashed it down on the vendor's thigh.
People around him covered their eyes, and the vendor was now in despair.
However, at that very moment, a whistling wind suddenly swept in.
The next moment, a crisp slap sounded.
Everyone slowly opened their eyes and saw that the once arrogant Pei family youth was now lying sprawled on the ground.
Her once fair and flawless cheeks were now swollen!
Half of his teeth were knocked out.
Everyone looked over and saw a figure in white standing proudly in the center.
Who else could it be but Mu Zi'an?
The students who were with the young man from the Pei family also came to their senses and quickly stepped forward to help him up.
The young man from the Pei family was clearly still a bit dazed. Several of his students pointed at Mu Zi'an in fear and said...
"You! You insolent commoner! How dare you assault someone in broad daylight! Do you know who he is? He is Pei Shaoming, the fifth young master of the Pei family of Qinghe!"
"How dare you lay a hand on Young Master Pei! You're dead!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Mu Zian raised his hand and slapped him again.
The student who was just shouting was slapped so hard that he was spun 180 degrees in the air and then crashed to the ground.
Mu Zian looked around and said coldly.
"Is this how the sages and virtuous men you studied taught you to oppress the people?"
These students, upon hearing this, stiffened their necks and spoke up.
"We are all students of the Great Li Academy. If you dare to attack us, the imperial court will not let you off the hook!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a clear, cold voice rang out from the crowd.
"If the Great Li Academy is full of useless people like you who only know how to bully the kind-hearted, then it might as well just close down!"
The crowd parted to both sides.
Xiao Xiuning, her face contorted with anger, stepped out from the crowd.
At this moment, Pei Shaoming, who had been stunned by the beating, also came to his senses.
Feeling the intense pain in his cheek, he glared at Mu Zian with bloodshot eyes and roared.
"I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you!"
Xiao Xiuning snorted coldly.
"Kill me? The Pei family has quite the nerve!"
Just then, a shout of cursing came from outside the crowd.
"Get out of the way! All of you get out of the way! Don't block the road!"
Then several constables squeezed in from the crowd.
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