Zhao Shu did not ride in a carriage, but walked. Chu Chun and Sheng Xia stood guard on either side of her, while Mo Qin led the way, followed by fifty spirited soldiers.
These soldiers were all dressed in silver armor, and their swords and scabbards were also silver. They were all silver from top to bottom. Zhao Shu had specifically instructed that the soldiers in the manor should not only wear the best armor, but also wear the best boots, the best swords, and even have the best finger guards when drawing their bows.
She was certain that no team in Dayong had this kind of setup.
Fifty men, marching in unison and carrying torches, crossed the long street. Some men who had just returned home from brothels were so frightened by the sight of the orderly soldiers, each carrying a sword and with a cold expression, that they wet themselves.
Zhao Shu was very satisfied. Mo Qin was indeed a talented general. In such a short time, a group of people who were not like soldiers had become not only spirited but also had a murderous aura under his leadership.
From the shadows, a voice said, "Master, what should we do? Princess Jun has brought too many people."
"Let's see what she's up to first." He really couldn't understand it. After being so frightened, wasn't she heading to the palace? This direction was clearly not the way to the palace, and she was bringing too many people with her. This didn't make sense.
Is he going to fail at the last minute?
"Master, the Fifth Young Master was so frightened that he ran back home," the servant said again.
"Hmph, useless thing."
Zhao Shu led her people on foot from the Prince's Mansion to the Jingzhao Yin. She was now certain that the people who had kidnapped Green Luo and the other girl wouldn't dare to take her life.
That makes things easier.
Upon reaching the east side of the Jingzhao Yin Gate, he ordered, "Commander Mo, beat the drum."
Mo Qin couldn't figure out what Zhao Shu was up to, but he couldn't think of a good way to find Green Ivy and Xinwei, so he had no choice but to comply.
Suddenly, a series of drumbeats shattered the night, jolting the gatekeeper awake. "Who's drumming in the middle of the night? They're so clueless!"
He grumbled and rubbed his eyes as he walked to the door, unbolted it, and poked his head out. All he saw was a silvery white light; the torches illuminated half the sky. What was going on? He shook his head, then looked closer and saw a little girl dressed in red, with a veil over her face.
Those carrying torches were all clad in armor, looking fierce and menacing. "Oh dear, sir, sir, something terrible has happened..."
Liu Ren'an, the chief clerk of the Jingzhao Prefecture, was having a sweet dream when he was startled awake by the howling of the gatekeeper. Liu Ren'an, who was over fifty years old, had always been very good-tempered. Even though he was awakened, he simply asked calmly, "What's the commotion?"
"My lord, someone is beating the grievance drum outside the gate. Please go and see. Men, men have brought many soldiers."
"Soldier?" Liu Ren'an was fully awakened. He hurriedly got out of bed, put on his shoes and clothes, and when he walked out of the room, his hands were still buttoning his clothes, he was yawning, but his feet were still moving.
The closer they got to the gate of the mansion, the louder and more rapid the drumbeats became, as if the drummer had inexhaustible strength.
He wondered to himself, who could be so bold as to beat the grievance drum in the dead of night?
Reaching the door, he said, "Open the door."
The doorman hurriedly opened the door.
As the gate opened, the drumming stopped.
Zhao Shu's display of power and bravado truly startled him. Could it be that someone had rebelled? This thought popped into his mind.
"Who is beating the drum?" he asked somewhat hesitantly.
Mo Qin walked up to Zhao Shu and said, "My princess has a grievance to redress. I hope Your Honor will hold court as soon as possible and give my princess justice."
When Mo Qin said these words, he was actually not very confident. After all, such a big fuss, and so late at night, was just to find two maids.
That's really going too far...
Liu Ren'an had a headache. As a member of the imperial clan, one could easily offend someone if he wasn't careful. He had spent his entire life climbing the ranks and only managed to become a minor official, the Chief Secretary of the Capital Prefecture. It wasn't easy.
With a pained expression, he bowed respectfully from afar, saying, "Princess, please forgive me. The Prefect is not here at the moment; he has gone home after leaving his post."
Zhao Shu ignored her and said, "Commander Mo, keep beating the drum."
"Princess, Princess, may I ask what grievance you have? May I speak to you?" The truth is, although the Prefect is always smiling, he actually has a bad temper and cannot be offended. This princess is just a child; perhaps a little coaxing can appease her.
That is, the reason why he spent decades working his way up to the rank of Chief Secretary.
"Commander Mo, why aren't you knocking yet?"
"Princess, Princess!" Liu Ren'an hurriedly stopped him, inwardly groaning. "Princess, how about this? I'll go and invite the Prefect over?" He weighed the options in his mind and still felt that the Princess had more power, especially since she could mobilize so many soldiers, and the soldiers were dressed in such fine clothes.
It is evident that she was a favored princess from a powerful prince's family.
“Okay, go ahead.” Zhao Shu nodded.
Liu Ren'an breathed a sigh of relief and hurried off to invite the Prefect of the Capital.
It took about half an hour before the person was finally brought over.
The Prefect of Jingzhao was a young man in his thirties who seemed easy to talk to, with a gentle air about him.
The Prefect of the Capital is either a peacemaker or a smiling tiger; either way, it's fine.
"Princess, shall we hold a court session?" This was the first thing Hu Lin said to Zhao Shu. Unlike Liu Ren'an, he could tell at a glance that Zhao Shu had no grievances and was clearly looking for trouble.
That's why I asked this question.
Zhao Shu gestured to Mo Qin, who stepped forward and said, "It's like this, two people have gone missing from the manor, and my princess has come to seek the prefect's help."
Hu Lin breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that it was just a matter of finding someone, and said with a smile, "No problem, no problem. May I ask who the princess is looking for?"
“One is named Green Ivy, around eleven or twelve years old, and the other is named Xinwei, fifteen or sixteen years old. Both are beautiful,” Mo Qin continued.
So Zhao Shu sat upright in the Jingzhao Prefecture, drinking tea and keeping track of time, while thirty soldiers and constables from the Jingzhao Prefecture were sent out in the middle of the night to search for someone.
Within just a few hours, the entire capital was thrown into chaos.
When she couldn't sleep, she felt the night was very long, but at this moment, Zhao Shu felt the night was too short, and soon it was dawn.
Within just a few hours, everyone in the capital knew that Princess Jun of the Yongwang Mansion had sounded the grievance drum at the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Before they could finish chatting, someone else revealed that the Third Prince had been bitten by a snake, a five-step snake, and almost didn't survive.
The crowd gasped in disbelief, and then they heard that the eldest prince had slipped and fallen, leaving him disfigured.
The fourth prince fell off his horse and broke his leg.
In just one morning, three princes and one princess were involved in an accident. Everyone was bewildered by the news, while the princes and princesses were all on edge.
Before they could react, an even bigger piece of news swept through the entire capital like a gust of wind.
"My God, could this really be a warning from Heaven?" In this era of believing in the divine right of kings, everyone, except for those who manipulate power, including beggars, was talking about that matter.
"Could it be true? It must be true. The three princes and the princess have all met with misfortune. This cannot be false. It must be a warning from the gods."
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