Seeing the atmosphere becoming tense, Miao Shaohua quickly went to her father's side and whispered a reminder: "This person is very powerful."
"So what?" The Miao family head blew his beard and shouted, "This is the Miao family. Do you think Qi Bainian's men would dare to lay a hand on me here?!"
The Miao family head waved his hand and said, "Throw him out!"
Upon hearing this, the servants didn't use their sticks, but instead reached out to pull Zhao Wu away. Zhao Wu, his arms wrapped around his knife, stood there like a mountain. First two, then four, then six people came to pull him. He remained unmoved until there was nowhere left to reach him, then he suddenly shrugged his shoulders, knocking all the servants over.
The servants, enraged, got up and started hitting Zhao Wu with their sticks.
Zhao Wu smirked, and without even drawing his sword, he used the scabbard and hilt to beat the group of servants to a pulp.
During the fight, two more people entered. These two were younger than Miao Shaohua and dressed in fine clothes, so they were clearly not servants.
Upon seeing them, Zhao Wu didn't even ask a question; he simply slashed them both with his scabbard, knocking them down as well.
"Miao Cheng! Miao An!"
Upon seeing the two men who had been beaten, Miao Shaohua exclaimed in shock. These two men were her cousins, and they were gradually becoming the backbone of the Miao family.
Zhao Wu attacked without hesitation, showing no mercy whatsoever!
The Miao family chief roared, "You actually dare to make a move in the Miao family, and even draw your sword against my Miao family members?"
Zhao Wu sneered, "You're all plotting to go against Lord Qi, so what if I hit someone? I'm already being lenient with the lady by not drawing my sword and killing a few!"
“You, you, you…” Miao family chief Wei pointed a trembling finger at Zhao Wu.
"Lord Qi sent me to escort the lady back because he didn't want you to overestimate yourselves."
Zhao Wu suddenly drew his sword and slashed at the door frame of the main hall with a backhand strike. He used only a little force and did not use the two swords in one strike, but he only made a crack in the door frame, which was enough to intimidate the servants.
"This is indeed the Miao region, but it is also Jiangcheng. In Jiangcheng, Lord Qi is the one who calls the shots!"
Zhao Wu raised his knife, pointing it from the Miao family head to Miao Shaohua, and said coldly, "Lord Qi's meaning is very simple, Madam. Behave yourself before the completion ceremony and don't go looking for trouble."
Clang!
Having finished speaking, he sheathed his sword, turned around, and completed the task in one swift motion.
Everyone in the hall held their breath. Only after Zhao Wu had left for several dozen breaths did the Miao family head plop down in a chair and say in a trembling voice, "Qi Bainian has high prestige among the people of Jiangcheng, good relations with the Tu and Lu families, and more and more experts around him. He has indeed grown too powerful..."
Miao Shaohua helped Miao Cheng and Miao An up, her eyes blazing with suffocating anger.
"No matter how powerful or influential he becomes, I'm not afraid of him."
"Shaohua, why don't we just bear with it this time and not cause any trouble before the completion ceremony?"
"Dad! Don't you understand yet? Qi Bainian no longer takes us seriously! No one in Jiangcheng can touch him. Even the young prime minister could only suffer a setback. He's so smug! If we don't fight him, we'll be trampled under his shoes sooner or later!"
"I'll listen to you, I won't cause any trouble before the completion ceremony, but!"
Miao Shaohua roared angrily, his face gradually turning ferocious.
...
Two days later.
The grand opening ceremony of the third wharf in Jiangcheng.
Due to its recent development, the third pier far surpasses the two older piers in both facilities and area. Although a minor incident occurred beforehand—damage to the decks of two new ships and the keel of another—Qi Bainian's dedicated efforts ensured timely repairs, preventing a delay in the completion ceremony.
Such a grand occasion attracted people from places around Jiangcheng, and even locals from Jiangcheng came to watch the spectacle.
Those who were invited had seats, while those who were not invited were crowded on the outside.
The imperial court also sent people.
It was after the construction of the Observatory, the tallest building in Dajing, that Yuan Xiu bestowed the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree upon Luo Mingyi, the Minister of Works.
Upon arrival, Luo Mingyi did not greet Qi Bainian first, but went directly to Yuan Yun and Zhao Cheng, who were sitting on the boat.
"Your subject Luo Mingyi pays respects to the Princess!" he said, about to kneel down.
Yuan Yun stopped her, saying, "You don't need to be so polite to me when we're not in the palace."
Luo Mingyi then stood up and nodded to Zhao Cheng in greeting: "Your Highness, Prince Consort."
No matter how antagonistic Zhao Cheng and Qi Bainian are now, Qi Bainian will definitely invite Zhao Cheng and Yuan Yun to the grand opening ceremony of the dock, as long as they are in Jiangcheng.
Besides Zhao Cheng and Yuan Yun, the Tu family, Lu family, Miao family, and some social elites in Jiangcheng all have their own positions.
Some were on the boat, and some were off the boat.
Qi Bainian moved around on several new ships, controlling the pace of the completion ceremony.
Today, in addition to the completion ceremony, there will also be a new ship being launched for sea trials, which is what many people are most looking forward to.
Aside from Xu An, only Zhao Yan and A Tao accompanied Zhao Cheng and Yuan Yun's group.
Before the matter is resolved, it is inappropriate for Zhao Wuheng, Wen Hao, Xia Qi, and others to appear in such a public place.
Although they weren't by Zhao Cheng's side, they were all hiding in the shadows, closely observing the situation on the field.
As the time drew to a close, Qi Bainian walked toward the bow of the middle ship.
Upon seeing him appear, the crowd gathered at the dock erupted in excitement.
"Lord Qi! Lord Qi has arrived!!"
"Son, look! That's our Jiangyang County's upright and just magistrate!"
"The completion of the third wharf is a great achievement for Lord Qi, benefiting generations to come!"
"Long live Lord Qi..." Before the man could finish shouting, someone next to him quickly covered his mouth and shouted, "It's fine to be excited, but don't shout nonsense! Have you forgotten how Lord Ma was transferred?!"
"Yes, yes, I misspoke!"
Cheers and praises rose and fell on the dock. Qi Bainian raised his hands, first waving to the people, then lowering his palms to signal them to quiet down.
Seeing this, Yuan Yun glanced at Zhao Cheng with a complicated expression.
Zhao Cheng understood Yuan Yun's meaning.
Given Qi Bainian's prestige in Jiangcheng, even if he does nothing, if the matter reaches Yuan Xiu's ears, Qi Bainian will be in big trouble.
If Yuan Yun were to stir things up again, Qi Bainian wouldn't just be trouble, he'd be in danger.
But Zhao Cheng didn't want Qi Bainian to be transferred away to retire somewhere; he wanted to get rid of him completely. A person like him, no matter where he serves as an official, is no blessing to the people.
Qi Bainian declared loudly, "The completion of the third wharf is a major event for Jiangcheng, for Jiangyang County, and for Jingguo, but ultimately, it is a major event for the people of Jiangcheng! With this new wharf, Jiangcheng's economy will reach a new level, and you, as the people of Jiangcheng, will become even wealthier!!"
“You will become richer, but the common people will not!!!” Qi Bainian’s words had barely finished when a woman’s voice came.
Everyone looked at the woman in surprise, and it turned out to be Miao Shaohua who came from the Miao family's location!
Qi Bainian was stunned.
Miao Shaohua looked at the crowd and shouted sternly, "I am Miao Shaohua, Qi Bainian's wife, and I will expose his three major crimes!"
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