Chapter 164 Marrying him will bring suffering
Feng Shaoyuan's expression was one of undisguised disdain.
Lu Yuan's eye twitched involuntarily.
What did he just call Jiang Zhi?
Gardenia?
Seeing Lu Yuan's increasingly grim expression, Jiang Zhi could only cautiously advise, "Lord Lu, why don't you put down the knife first and let's talk things over? Cousin Shaoyuan is my uncle's eldest son. You should have heard of the Feng family in the capital. Now that they have moved south here, we haven't been in contact for many years. We only met by chance today. They are not bad people."
Feng Shaoyuan sneered, "Zhi'er, you don't need to explain to him. I want to see if he dares to make a move."
The blade in Lu Yuan's hand remained completely still.
He did indeed have an impression of the Feng family.
The once powerful and declining clan, a fallen aristocratic family, was also the clan of Jiang Zhisheng's mother.
Now it seems that the man in front of her does indeed resemble Jiang Zhi in some ways.
He sheathed his sword, bowed to Feng Shaoyuan, and said, "I apologize for any offense I may have caused in the heat of the moment."
Feng Shaoyuan, however, was not buying it. “Zhi’er, this man is cold and taciturn, and he doesn’t seem to understand romance at all. If you marry him, you’ll probably suffer in the future. It would be better to find someone who is caring and attentive. Your cousin advises you to think it over.”
Seeing that he was talking more and more outrageous, Jiang Zhi was utterly ashamed. "Cousin... he is not my fiancé."
"Who is this person?" Feng Shaoyuan asked in confusion.
If he's not her fiancé, why is he so nervous about Zhi'er?
Jiang Zhi sighed, "He is Lu Yuan, Lord Lu."
"Lu Yuan?" Feng Shaoyuan felt that the name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
However, he had not returned to the capital for a long time and was no longer familiar with the officials there.
Just as they were about to ask for more details, a series of orderly footsteps came from the street, followed by more than a dozen yamen runners pushing aside the people in their way and surrounding them.
"Arrest all of these people! They stole and injured someone in the street. Take them to jail and interrogate them properly!" the head constable shouted.
"Wait a minute, Officer Wang, do you have any evidence that we stole?" Feng Shaoyuan asked.
“Young Master Qian saw it with his own eyes, and all his servants are witnesses. What other evidence do you need?” The head constable Wang sneered. “You’re supposed to be a teacher, but I didn’t expect you to be such a scoundrel!”
Qian Wenrui, who had just been carried away by the servants, sat in the sedan chair with a smug look on his face.
"Well, if you hand over that book now, I'll be magnanimous and let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, you can expect to go to jail. Constable Wang will certainly treat you well."
The onlookers pointed and whispered about Feng Shaoyuan.
Feng Shaoyuan taught at the academy, and many people knew him.
Being slandered in public by government officials is even more infuriating than being stripped naked in public.
“There is no law at all,” he said, clenching his fist at his side. “If you have the guts, come and confront me in court. The bookstore owner and the teahouse waiter are all witnesses. I don’t believe you can cover up the truth.”
"That's all in the future," Chief Constable Wang sneered. "These people are all accomplices. Take them all away!"
Ruying and Anyue blocked Jiang Zhi's way, and Lu Yuan was even more decisive, kicking the constable who wanted to step forward, sending him flying.
"You audacious scoundrels! Not only did you resist arrest, but you also dared to lay a hand on the officers. I think you have a death wish!" Officer Wang drew his official knife and slashed at Lu Yuan.
Feng Shaoyuan frowned, his face full of disapproval.
He really is a brute; he acts impulsively and only knows how to resort to violence.
If he takes action like this, not only will he be unable to explain himself, but he will also implicate Zhi'er.
Lu Yuan didn't even glance at him, dodging the blade that Captain Wang was wielding, and kicked him in the stomach. He drew his embroidered spring knife and pressed it straight against the man's throat, saying, "You're asking for death."
His voice and expression were indifferent, but he looked at Constable Wang as if he were looking at a dead man.
The head constable Wang was so intimidated by the murderous intent in his eyes that he froze, stammering, "I...I advise you to put down your knife. Going against the government will only lead to trouble..."
"Is that so?" Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, his gaze unreadable. "I'm quite curious, what would be the consequences of killing you?"
Chief Constable Wang was terrified.
Even Qian Wenrui, who was standing next to him, was so shocked that his mouth dropped open and he dared not speak.
The surrounding constables shouted and surrounded Lu Yuan, but dared not make a move because they were afraid of the hostages under his blade.
"What's going on?" Just then, another group of people came over in unison and pushed aside the crowd.
The menacing voice instantly silenced the once bustling and noisy street, making it so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
When Constable Wang saw the newcomers, his eyes lit up. "Sir! These unruly people have injured someone in the street and are speaking rudely. Please arrest them immediately!"
The group of people who arrived were dressed in flying fish robes, tall and burly, with long swords in their hands and cold faces. They were none other than the Jinyiwei, who were feared in Fuli and whom no one dared to offend.
With the Embroidered Uniform Guard around, Feng Shaoyuan is truly doomed.
"A troublemaker?" The man stepped forward, looked at Lu Yuan, then at Constable Wang, and suddenly kicked him hard in the shoulder.
"Open your dog eyes and take a look! This is my Commander! You must be tired of living!"
He shouted sharply, and together with the Imperial Guards behind him, they bowed to Lu Yuan, saying, "Your subordinate greets Commander! Please forgive us for not being able to greet you properly since you have come from afar!"
Officer Wang almost thought he was hallucinating.
Is this cautious and respectful demeanor still that of the Jinyiwei, who could stop children from crying at night in Fuli and were feared by all?
Lu Yuan merely glanced at the Imperial Guard indifferently, sheathed his sword, and said, "Officials and merchants colluding to frame innocent people, injuring people in the street and abusing their power—take all of these people back for proper interrogation."
"Yes!" The Imperial Guards gave the order and immediately surrounded Constable Wang and Qian Wenrui.
Head Constable Wang never expected that this ordinary-looking man would be the renowned commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He felt his knees go weak and he could barely stand.
He tried to beg for mercy, but the Imperial Guards dislocated his jaw, rendering him unable to utter a sound.
Qian Wenrui, however, shouted defiantly, "You can't arrest me! My father just met the imperial envoy from the capital, a favorite of the Emperor. Even if you are the Embroidered Uniform Guard..."
Before he could finish speaking, a clear and gentle voice rang out, "Why are you all here?"
Upon seeing Shen Ci'an, Jiang Zhi immediately abandoned the others and went to greet him, "Master, what brings you here? Didn't you say you were waiting for me on the boat?"
"I was stopped on the road and can't leave for the time being," Shen Ci'an said with a helpless voice. "I wanted to wait for you to go back together, but I haven't seen you for a long time, so I had to come and look for you."
"Lord Shen, this must be your fiancée? She is indeed exceptionally beautiful and has an outstanding temperament. She is a perfect match for you!" the middle-aged man who appeared with him flattered.
During their conversation, he knew that Shen Ci'an was waiting for his fiancée.
Seeing the two speaking intimately, and seeing that although Jiang Zhi was dressed as a man, she acted like a little girl in front of Lord Shen, what else could they not know?
He was adorned with jewels, wearing three gold rings on his hands alone, with enormous gemstones on the ring settings.
Shen Ci'an smiled but remained silent.
Qian Wenrui immediately cried out, "Dad, save me! These people are going to take me back; they're all in cahoots!"
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