Xiao Wenyuan looked at the calm young man in front of him, and his arm that was numb from the shock. There was a sharp light in his eyes, and he shot it immediately.
"Good, very good." Xiao Wenyuan laughed a few times, "It is true that heroes emerge from youth. It is a blessing for the country, the people, and the emperor that the court has a talented general like the prince."
Xiao Wenyuan never expected that Mu Jingrui was so young but his martial arts skills were far superior to his. This caused serious damage to his self-esteem and pride.
"Thank you for your compliment, Lord Marquis." Mu Jingrui cupped his hands, not being very humble. "Lord Marquis, regarding the matter of the concubine I just mentioned, could you please ask Master Xiao to come out and explain it?"
Seeing that Mu Jingrui was unmoved and had no intention of giving face to the Xiao family, Xiao Wenyuan's face involuntarily darkened.
"Your Highness, my Xiao family is full of loyal and brave people who have devoted their lives to the court. Kai'er is the only bloodline of the Xiao family. If you don't have solid evidence, you can't just listen to other people's rumors."
Mu Jingrui snorted coldly and didn't buy it at all.
"Whether it is a rumor or not, ask him to come out and confront us, and we will know for sure."
Xiao Wenyuan and Mu Jingrui looked at each other for a while, and he saw an unquestionable firmness and persistence in Mu Jingrui's eyes.
He knew he couldn't escape, so he took a deep breath. "Okay. I also want to see what evidence you have."
"Someone come here." Xiao Wenyuan vented his anger at the housekeeper and shouted, "What are you still standing there for? Go and call Young Master Sun out."
"yes."
The butler retreated, and soon Xiao Yikai followed the butler and walked over.
He walked over with steady steps and a calm expression. When he reached Xiao Wenyuan, he bowed respectfully, then turned and looked at Mu Jingrui and Shangguan Wanning.
"My Lord, we meet again."
When Xiao Yikai looked at Shangguan Wanning, there was a light in his eyes, which instantly made Mu Jingrui's heart surge with anger.
He was simply not taken seriously.
Mu Jingrui calmly stood in front of Shangguan Wanning, blocking Xiao Yikai's sight.
"Master Xiao, are the selected girls coming to Beijing for selection in your house right now?"
"No." Xiao Yikai opened his folding fan and waved it gently, raising his head proudly, not even looking at Mu Jingrui.
"Then I'll let you meet someone."
Mu Jingrui made a gesture and his followers walked out.
After a while, the follower came over with Liu San in one hand and pushed him heavily in front of Xiao Yikai.
Xiao Yikai's expression changed slightly and he couldn't help but look at his father.
"Mr. Xiao, do you recognize him?" Mu Jingrui asked.
Neither Xiao Wenyuan nor his son had expected that Mu Jingrui would act so quickly. He had found Liu San in just one or two days after arriving here.
"I recognize him. He is Captain Liu who escorted the concubines to Beijing. He came to visit me when he passed by here." Xiao Yikai answered calmly.
"And then?"
"Later? Of course he left later."
"He left, but left the concubine behind. Master Xiao, don't forget that Liu San was not the only one escorting the concubine. You gave him the silver, but he didn't share it with others."
Mu Jingrui learned from Liu San that he had dismissed the other escorts and asked them to wander around outside for a while and return after the storm had passed.
However, Liu San was a greedy person and only gave a small portion of the silver he got from the Xiao family to his companions.
How could those people swallow this?
Mu Jingrui has already sent people to look for other people, and it won’t be long before there will be results.
"I don't know what the prince is talking about." Xiao Yikai's voice became a little cold, and the light in his eyes gradually disappeared.
"It doesn't matter if you don't know. We can find out the answer by searching the Marquis Zhonglie's mansion."
"Search? Humph!" Xiao Yikai sneered, "Don't rely on your military achievements to show off your power. My Xiao family is not a soft persimmon that can be bullied. If you want to search, you can, unless there is an imperial decree from the emperor."
Shangguan Wanning's heart instantly sank.
Not to mention whether Xiao Yujue is willing to issue an imperial decree to order a search. Even if he is willing, it will take at least seven days to go back and forth from here to the capital.
The Xiao family has more than enough time to kill and silence the witnesses.
"You want an imperial edict, right?" Mu Jingrui raised the corners of his lips, revealing an evil smile, "I'll give you an imperial edict."
After saying that, Mu Jingrui took out a gold medal from his arms.
"Here is the golden medal bestowed by the Emperor. Wherever you go, it is as if the Emperor is here in person. The Emperor has granted you the power to execute first and report later, and to act at your own discretion."
Everyone present was stunned.
Even Shangguan Wanning did not expect that Mu Jingrui had this trick.
"My Lord, shouldn't you kneel down and accept my order?"
Xiao Wenyuan and his son came back to their senses from their shock, and everyone present, including Shangguan Wanning, knelt down to pay homage.
"What's going on? It's so lively."
Mu Jingrui was just about to send his men into the inner hall and backyard to search when he saw an old lady with silver hair and ruddy complexion walking towards him, surrounded by maids and nannies.
This person should be Old Lady Xiao.
"I was praying in the Buddhist temple just now. When I heard that a distinguished guest had arrived, I came out to take a look." Old Lady Xiao's eyes shuttled back and forth between Mu Jingrui and nodded with a smile, "He is indeed a good boy."
Seeing the people kneeling on the ground in the yard, Old Lady Xiao said with a smile, "Your Highness, I am holding the dragon-headed cane bestowed by the late emperor. Please forgive me for not being able to kneel down."
"That's natural."
Mu Jingrui respected Old Lady Xiao and bowed respectfully.
"I met your parents once, and I was deeply impressed by your mother. It is true that only a virtuous woman can cultivate such an outstanding pillar of society."
After Old Lady Xiao finished praising Mu Jingrui, she changed the subject and asked, "But what happened? The prince came to visit, but you didn't entertain him well. Why did you anger him?"
Xiao Yikai raised his head and looked at Old Madam Xiao. When his eyes met Old Madam Xiao, he immediately lowered his head guiltily.
"Grandma, the prince said... that I secretly detained the concubines who were selected to enter the palace, and wanted to search the Zhonglie Marquis's mansion..."
"The prince has no grudges against our Xiao family. Since he said that, he must have his reasons." Old Lady Xiao walked up to Xiao Yikai and asked, "Tell me the truth, is this true?"
"Grandma, I..."
"Look at me and don't lie."
Old Lady Xiao had a stern attitude, and although her voice was not loud, it was extremely majestic.
Xiao Yikai lowered his head and hesitated for a long time before he slowly said, "Yes... that's the case..."
“Bang!”
Old Lady Xiao's dragon-headed cane hit Xiao Yikai without any explanation.
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