The huge crossbows standing tall on the bow and sides of the ship looked like the fangs of a wild beast, cold and cruel!
It seems ready to fire at any moment, pinning all enemies to the ground!
It only took a few breaths for everyone to go from surprise to panic.
"Run! It's a bad guy!"
"Are they pirates? I see them! There's a one-eyed man on board!"
"Run! Report to the authorities!"
The once bustling dock, teeming with people, suddenly vanished without a trace.
On the contrary, countless figures were hidden in all the taverns, teahouses, shops, and alleyways.
This is the Tianwu people who want to watch the excitement but are afraid of getting hurt themselves!
On the large ship, a one-eyed giant wearing a leather blindfold and a coarse cloth vest, revealing his chest hair, shouted at the top of his lungs to those behind him.
"General, we've arrived! It's just that these people in Xindu are too cowardly. As soon as I showed my face, they all ran away!"
After saying that, he laughed triumphantly, making him seem even more... unlike a good person!
Someone in the cabin shouted back, "It's not that they're cowardly, it's that you look too scary!"
The one-eyed giant patted his chest hair, protesting defiantly.
"The general is just jealous of my tall, strong, and imposing appearance! Little Cui'er said she likes men like me the most!"
The group of rough and tough men guarding the crossbows nearby burst into laughter, their mockery utterly merciless.
"Xiao Cui is from Hua Manlou. She says she likes whoever gives her money! Only a fool like you would take it seriously!"
"Exactly! You try marrying a lady from a respectable family and making her like you!"
"Hmph!" The one-eyed giant curled his lip in disdain, completely unconcerned. "You're just jealous! Little Cui'er isn't a woman who loves money! Besides, I can't handle those delicate young ladies from wealthy families. They'd be terrified to even speak a word to me. Forget it!"
As they chatted and laughed, the burly men showed no awe or unfamiliarity that one might feel upon first arriving in Kyoto, and their laughter only added to the confusion of the people on the dock.
Who exactly are these people?
They look like pirates, but they're not in a hurry to disembark and rob!
But if you say it's like the navy, it seems to have no rules at all!
Fortunately, the dock was very close to the city defense camp, and the soldiers from the city defense camp arrived shortly afterward.
Perhaps genuinely fearing a pirate invasion, a full three hundred men, all carrying swords, occupied a strategic position on the dock.
The leader of the team was a deputy commander from a family of military generals, and he was quite capable.
Right now, he's standing on the dock, shouting orders.
"Who's on board? Come out and answer!"
A short while later, two people indeed appeared on either side of the bow of the boat.
He was tall, handsome, and rugged.
A round-figured, shrewd, smiling tiger.
The soldiers didn't recognize him, but the deputy commander felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively straightened his back, standing properly.
Li Jiayi!
That burly man is Li Jiayi!
Li Jiayi, who once traveled thousands of miles back to avenge his sister who was bullied!
Consider the rumors circulating everywhere now, and Princess Kang Le's precarious situation.
The deputy commander's face turned deathly pale. It was all over. Li Jiayi's purpose in returning this time... was self-evident!
"General Li... General Li, why... why are you back? Do you have any military orders?"
The people at the bow of the boat were none other than Li Jiayi and Liu Yang!
Upon hearing this, both of them sneered.
Li Jiayi gripped the animal head on the bow of the ship, his eyes filled with anger and mockery.
"It's surprising that this commander actually recognizes me! I thought everyone in Xindu had forgotten how sharp my blade is! Otherwise, why would they bully my sister again!"
The deputy commander felt embarrassed and scared, unsure how to respond.
Liu Yang, as always, played the role of the good guy, interjecting with a smile, "Commander, please don't mind him, General Li just likes to joke."
"Commander, don't be nervous. We're not back on official business. We're just visiting relatives because we have nothing else to do."
"This ship belongs to our family, and the people on board are also our own. It's just that this ship used to drift at sea a lot, so we inevitably needed some means of self-defense, such as these crossbows."
"These men often kill pirates, or are simply pirates who have surrendered, so they look rather fierce."
"As long as no one provokes us, these crossbows and these men will definitely behave themselves and won't hurt anyone!"
Self-preservation?
Fierce?
Do not provoke or harm others?
The deputy commander felt a bitter taste in his mouth and inwardly cursed.
This is clearly a move to seek justice, or rather, to intimidate. Who wouldn't be worried? Who wouldn't care?
But he dared not say so. After exchanging a few perfunctory pleasantries, he left his soldiers to keep watch at a distance and hurried off to report the news.
So, just when Li Lao Er had given up and the peasant uprising was still unresolved, the Crown Prince and his ministers heard the news that Li Jiayi was returning in force with a pirate ship...
The senior officials were all shrewd and they tacitly suggested that the matter be reported to the emperor.
While the crown prince was still hesitating, the emperor appeared.
How could an emperor possibly trust someone wholeheartedly, even if that person was his son?
These past two days, on the surface, it seems that the affairs of state have been handed over to the Crown Prince, but in reality, the Emperor is fully aware of the Crown Prince's and the important ministers' every move.
At this moment, with the Li family's continuous "threats," he could no longer sit still.
"What exactly is the Li family trying to do? Are they planning a rebellion?!" The Emperor slammed his fist on the table and spoke harshly, causing all the high-ranking officials to lower their heads.
The Crown Prince quickly poured tea and offered it to the Emperor, saying, "Father, I had someone conduct a brief investigation. The Li family has been doing everything in their power to care for the refugees these past few days, but the refugees are spreading rumors that they want the Princess to sacrifice her life to pray for rain. Such heartless behavior is what made Lord Li fall ill and have to put down his post."
"As for Li Jiayi bringing the ship back, it just docked at the pier and no one disembarked. Presumably, he didn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings."
"Misunderstanding?" The Emperor scoffed, refusing to listen, and cursed, "He dares to do this; he's threatening me! The Li family is certain I won't punish them!"
Seeing this, the crown prince could say nothing, otherwise he might be blamed as well.
Several high-ranking officials wished they were not present, unwilling to get involved in the conflict between the Li family and the Emperor, or rather, unwilling to get involved in the power struggle between the Marquis of Xinting and the Emperor!
At this moment, Marquis Dingbei heard the news and rushed over.
These past few days, he's been secretly mobilizing his people to spread rumors everywhere, and he's quite pleased with himself.
He jumped up with joy when he suddenly heard that Li Jiayi had returned with a ship full of pirates to support Princess Kangle.
What a great opportunity! An absolutely fantastic opportunity!
If handled well, not only could the Li family be eradicated, but one could even gain some real power for oneself!
As soon as he entered the house, he knelt down on the ground with a thud and shouted loudly.
"Your Majesty, the Li family is truly outrageous! There are over ten thousand refugees outside the city, and Li Yusheng just abandoned them without a second thought, showing no regard for the safety of Xindu or for your safety!"
"Now Li Jiayi has even personally led thugs back to coerce you. This is a serious crime that cannot be forgiven!"
"Your Majesty, I request permission to immediately mobilize troops to arrest Li Jiayi and the thugs, and safeguard the peace of the new capital!"
Today's update is here!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com