FID – Chapter 986

Chapter 986: The Son of Cangzhou’s Commandery Administrator

Watching Zhu Xian stroll slowly up the stairs behind the soldiers, the innkeeper could only close his eyes in despair.

Ordinary townsfolk like them didn’t dare provoke someone like Zhu Xian.

If fate brought them face-to-face, there was nothing to do but accept it.

Cross him, and Cangzhou had no place for justice.

The diners in the main hall immediately stood up to pay and leave if they were cautious.

Those braver—or perhaps more curious—moved to the innermost seats, wanting to see how things would unfold.

The door to the private room was violently kicked open from outside, the loud bang making Liu Ya jump. She instinctively tried to crawl under the table to hide, but forced herself to stay put, summoning all her courage not to embarrass the Lord and Lady.

The other three—aside from Liu Yusheng, who was slightly surprised—remained composed. The two men showed no expression, only slowly lifting their eyes to see the situation after the soldiers barged in.

Zhu Xian stepped in from behind, his gaze first landing on Liu Yuzheng, wickedness flickering in his eyes.

Her eyes held the depth of autumn water, lips like a drop of cinnabar, skin as smooth as cream.

Gentle and serene, calm and composed, she drew attention like an orchid hidden in a secluded valley.

Especially rare was a woman who could remain so poised in the face of such a spectacle; her courage instantly overshadowed the brilliance of the other young woman in the room.

Zhu Xian had a notorious love for beautiful women, yet in this moment, this particular young woman stirred his desire far more than the other equally attractive woman, making him all the more determined to have her.

For a brief moment, he was so captivated that he didn’t notice the sudden drop in the surrounding temperature. 

The murderous intent in the man’s narrow eyes was palpable, shocking to anyone who looked; he looked as if he had already decided someone’s fate.

Wei Zi sensed his master’s emotional shift and narrowed his eyes, ready to act, but was gently stopped by the young woman across from him.

Liu Yusheng reached under the table, tightly holding Feng Qingbai’s hand to prevent his wrath from spiraling out of control.

“Excuse me Young Master, we are merely travelers passing through and staying here for the night. We do not know what offense we have committed that has required so many officers to come after us.”

Her voice was clear and soft, with a distinct cold elegance. As expected, it was pleasing to hear. Zhu Xian’s lips curled into a wicked smile. 

“What offense? You are fugitives who have fled into my Cangzhou. Luckily, I received the tip; otherwise, you would have gotten away. Men, seize them!”

“Fugitives? You’re arresting people without proof. Are Cangzhou’s officers accustomed to acting this way? We have documents to prove our identities. And if it turns out you’ve arrested the wrong people, what then?” Liu Yusheng’s expression darkened. To call them fugitives was clearly an attempt to fabricate a crime.

She still hadn’t figured out how, upon merely arriving in Cangzhou, they had already drawn someone’s ire so swiftly that officers arrived mid-meal to seize them.

“Documents can be forged. Whatever the case, we’ll settle it at the yamen. Take them away!”

The officers immediately stepped forward to seize them, but Feng Qingbai slowly rose from his seat. His long, commanding eyes swept the room, and the aura of authority radiating from him made the officers halt, hesitant to advance.

“You have neither an arrest warrant nor a commanding officer present. Pray tell, Young Master, what authority allows you to mobilize the yamen’s men?” Feng Qingbai’s voice was calm and measured, neither hurried nor harsh. He had already regained his composure.

If someone had the audacity to arrive with officers to falsely arrest people, acting so brazenly and recklessly, their background must be tied to the authorities. He was determined to see exactly what leverage this person had.

In his jurisdiction of Nanling, any corrupt official would be punished!

“You want to know?” Zhu Xian laughed arrogantly. “I am Zhu Xian, son of the Cangzhou Commandery Administrator! If you’ve got the guts, come find me anytime!”

With a wave of his hand, he signaled the officers once more to seize them.

Feng Qingbai moved Liu Yusheng behind him. “No need for all this fanfare. We’ll leave ourselves.”

With that, he took the young woman and led the way out of the private room. Wei Zi hesitated for a moment, then helped the tense Liu Ya follow closely behind.

Zhu Xian trailed behind but did not order his men to forcibly restrain them. He didn’t want to damage their delicate skin and ruin the experience. His only goal was to bring them to the yamen; the method was irrelevant.

Down in the main hall, many patrons were still crowded in. 

The innkeeper stood behind the counter, watching those descending from upstairs. Each person’s expression was guarded and silent, afraid to speak.

Feng Qingbai subtly took note of everyone’s expressions, and Liu Yusheng did the same.

The onlookers were as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to speak a word of reason. Some of their eyes even carried faint pity. They clearly understood Zhu Xian’s intentions.

It was evident that this was not the first time Zhu Xian had done such a thing; he was a habitual offender.

The couple exchanged a glance, their minds already forming a clear picture: Zhu Xian was undoubtedly a bully who acted with impunity.

As the son of the Commandery Administrator, he ran roughshod over Cangzhou, and no one dared cross him. This had only inflated his arrogance, and his misdeeds must be numerous.

Could the governor be completely unaware of this?

Feng Qingbai’s expression turned icy.

On the second floor of the teahouse across the street, the private room had not yet emptied. People crowded near the windows, looking down at the scene below.

Obscene and lewd remarks rang out.

“Oh, two beauties were at once. Tonight, I bet Zhu Xian won’t rest until dawn.”

“One is elegant like an orchid, the other dazzling like a peach blossom; each beautiful in her own way. Zhu Xian is truly lucky to enjoy such fortune.”

“Lucky? If you want, just tell Zhu Xian directly. It’s not like you haven’t played together before.”

Laughter erupted loudly, crude and lewd, utterly disregarding the presence of women nearby.

Yet the noble girls sitting there seemed unfazed, as if they had long been accustomed to such talk.

Su Manyu withdrew her gaze from the purple-clad man who had already walked away and stood up. “Let’s end the gathering here. Everyone, disperse. I have matters to attend to and will return to my residence first.”

She ignored the others still trying to keep her there, and with her maid, walked out of the teahouse. Once in the carriage, she immediately instructed the driver to take a shortcut toward the yamen.

Above, the spring rain continued to fall gently, silently soaking this ancient city and its old streets.

Feng Qingbai and his party walked slowly down the street, umbrellas in hand, their posture leisurely as if on a casual stroll. Yet soldiers surrounded them from front to back, escorting them toward the yamen. The scene looked both bizarre and grand.

Pedestrians sheltering in shops and customers going about their business all turned to look.

Whenever their gaze fell on Liu Yusheng and Liu Ya, it carried a sigh and a sense of pity, as though they had already foreseen the girls’ fate.

Those looks made Liu Yusheng frown.

Liu Ya’s face turned as pale as silk. She instinctively clutched the arm of the man holding her, gripping so hard that her fingers nearly broke. Her body pressed against him, seeking even the slightest strength to lean on.

Wei Zi pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, then gently pulled the girl’s hand from his arm. As she looked up at him in a panic, silently pleading, he held her hand in his palm, guiding it.

A warmth immediately spread from his hand, slowly dispelling the cold creeping through her body. The shivers that had clawed their way up from her bones were gradually soothed.