Chapter 71

" Feng'er, did you just say you left the carriage on Chang'an Street? " Pan Shijian thought of a critical issue. The carriage absolutely could not be left there; it was a time bomb. If Song Xinghai made an issue out of the carriage, it would indeed be quite troublesome. Pan Shijian decided to focus on his son's injuries. No matter how tough the Ming王府 was, they couldn't just beat people up randomly.

" Yes, I left the carriage there. I want Song Li to kneel in front of the carriage and apologize to me in front of the citizens of the capital! Then I'll give him a few dozen slaps! Otherwise, I can't swallow this humiliation! " Pan Shaofeng cursed with hatred.

" Feng'er, you probably don't know yet, but Song Li's father, Song Xinghai, is no longer the incompetent Duke he used to be. He has been promoted by the Holy Emperor to the Ming King, the most favored person in the Holy Emperor's eyes, and he controls the three special service agencies. Song Li is no longer the useless young master he used to be; he has been officially appointed as the Crown Prince of the Ming King." Seeing that his son still didn't fully grasp the situation, Pan Shijian couldn't help but remind him.

" What? How is that possible? " Pan Shaofeng found it hard to digest this news. Song Li, that waste of space, had suddenly become the Crown Prince of the Ming King? His status was now several levels higher than that of the son of a Prefect? It was unjust, how could a waste of space suddenly rise to such a high position?

" Whether you can accept it or not, it is a fact. After you came home, I planned to analyze the new situation in the capital for you and tell you to be more restrained. I didn't expect you to go out and cause trouble so quickly." Pan Shijian's tone was tinged with frustration.

" Humph, what's so great about Song Li? He just has a good father! " Pan Shaofeng snorted.

Pan Shijian sighed helplessly, thinking to himself, "You also have a good father. Without a father like me, could you live such a comfortable life?"

Pan Shaofeng was不服气 (unwilling to admit defeat) in his words, but deep down, he was somewhat afraid. He was just arrogant in his actions, but he wasn't stupid. A powerful Duke who controlled the three special service agencies was not someone his father, the Prefect of the capital, could provoke. Compared to Song Li, whether in personal combat ability or background, he was no match. He began to regret not staying at home to listen to his father's analysis of the new situation in the capital. If he had understood Song Li's changes, things wouldn't have been so bad. At least he wouldn't have been so arrogant in front of Song Li, and he might not have been beaten up so badly.

Now, both his dignity and his face were completely lost. For the first time in his life, Pan Shaofeng felt regret.

" Feng'er, I will go to the Loyal Prince and ask him to take charge. No matter how favored the Ming King is by the Holy Emperor, this time I will demand severe punishment for the person who beat up my son!" Pan Shijian's face was serious, and he looked like a mother hen ready to fight, his feathers bristling. "However, that carriage cannot be left on the street; it's too conspicuous. Send someone immediately to bring the carriage back!"

Pan Shaofeng nodded. After learning about Song Li's background, all his fantasies were shattered. Even if the cause of the incident was his fault, even if Song Li was wrong, Song Li wouldn't apologize to him in front of the citizens of the capital. For the Crown Prince of the Ming King, bullying the son of a Prefect was nothing, and he wouldn't apologize. It was a dream.

His father was only a second-rank official. To ordinary people, that was a big deal, but Song Li's father was a Duke, which was a higher rank. The gap between them was too wide. How could he compete?

Facing reality, Pan Shaofeng also calmed down. He vaguely felt that his actions today might have brought big trouble to his father. Recalling Song Li's harsh words, he couldn't help but feel a chill. Song Li had said he would make Pan Shaofeng kneel and beg to have the carriage removed. At the time, Pan Shaofeng thought Song Li was just boasting. But now, thinking about it, cold sweat broke out on his back.

Song Li wasn't just boasting; his father controlled the three special service agencies. If he let the Inspectorate use the golden carriage as a starting point to thoroughly investigate his father's corruption, what would happen? Pan Shaofeng knew his father well. If the Prefect wasn't corrupt, how could he live such a luxurious life?

Pan Shaofeng felt he had made a foolish mistake. Why did he leave the carriage in the bustling market? It was a glaring handle.

Realizing this, Pan Shaofeng hurriedly went outside and instructed the guards to go to Chang'an Street and bring back his carriage.

During this time, both father and son were restless. They both keenly felt that the luxurious carriage had become the key to the conflict.

Not long after, the guards Pan Shaofeng sent out returned dejectedly, bringing a disheartening message: Dozens of young men, led by Pang Da, had surrounded the carriage. The guards had tried every means to persuade them, but they wouldn't give in.

Pan Shaofeng's face turned pale. It seemed that Song Li was really going to finish him off.

Pan Shijian also couldn't sit still. He didn't know if Song Xinghai had received the news. If the carriage fell into the hands of the Ming King, the situation would be difficult to handle. They had to race against time and get the carriage back before Song Xinghai and the Inspectorate arrived, then secretly bury it to avoid any evidence.

" You all say my son was driving a luxurious carriage, but where is the carriage? Show it to me! As long as they can't find the carriage, they can't use this as an excuse to investigate him. After all, he is a second-rank official. They can't just investigate him without reason. Even a Duke can't be unreasonable."

Thinking this through, Prefect Pan waved his hand and said, " Gather all the guards and follow me to Chang'an Street!"

Pan Shaofeng led his father, and they hurried to Chang'an Street.

Pang Da was leaning against the carriage, chatting with his brothers. Seeing Prefect Pan and his son leading a large group of soldiers rushing over, a cold smile appeared on his lips.

" Oh, isn't this Prefect Pan? Who is this big-headed monster next to you?" Pang Da approached, smiling at Prefect Pan. He knew the bandaged monster was Pan Shaofeng, but he said it to mock Prefect Pan. Although he had no grudge against Prefect Pan, he hated Pan Shaofeng, who had bullied him many times. So, he also had no good feelings toward Prefect Pan.

" Are you the son of Secretary Pang?" Prefect Pan, who had reached his position, had extraordinary composure. No matter how angry he was, he still smiled and treated a young man with respect, not wanting to be seen as petty.

" My father often mentions you, saying that Prefect Pan is generous and that the concubines in your household are all beautiful." Pang Da replied with a fake smile. Secretary Pang had never said this to him; he was purely mocking Prefect Pan's corrupt lifestyle.

How could an old fox like Prefect Pan not understand? But he still maintained his dignity and smiled. " Secretary Pang is just joking. Mr. Pang, why have you gathered so many people here? This carriage is blocking the street and affecting traffic. As the Prefect of the capital, I must handle it promptly to ensure the street is clear. Men, take the carriage away!"

The soldiers behind him responded loudly and were about to carry out the order.

" Brothers, stand firm! If anyone dares to touch you, we'll report it to the Ministry of Justice!" Pang Da waved his hand, not giving an inch.

" Yes!" The brothers of the Justice Alliance responded in unison, their presence even more intimidating than the guards of the Pan household.

The guards were in a dilemma. Although the people in front of them were just a group of young men, most of them were from powerful families, with sons of Secretaries, Generals, and University Scholars. Each had a towering tree behind them, and a slight movement could crush them like ants.

Offending these young men was like offending the forces behind them, which would even make Prefect Pan headache.

Song Li had precisely predicted this and entrusted the task to Pang Da. Each of these young men had someone backing them, and together they formed a powerful political force. Who would dare to offend them easily?

Pan Shijian's face darkened. He knew that today's matter had to be handled forcefully. Although it would offend these young men, he could not leave the carriage in the bustling market. If it fell into the hands of Song Xinghai, the consequences would be unimaginable.

" Mr. Pang, do you know what you are doing? Obstructing official duties, gathering to cause trouble, and disrupting traffic on Chang'an Street—can you bear the responsibility for these crimes? Don't think that just because your father has some power, you can act recklessly and trample the law of the empire."

" Prefect Pan, the one who tramples the law and acts recklessly is not us, but your son, Pan Shaofeng." Pang Da was not afraid of Prefect Pan's threats. "Trying to pin a big hat on me? Is that so easy? Am I a scaredy-cat?"

" Now you've added the crime of defamation. Mr. Pang, didn't Secretary Pang teach you how to behave?"

" If you want to pin a crime on someone, it's easy to find an excuse," Pang Da said coldly. "Why don't you teach your own son how to behave first? Prefect Pan, you can't be unaware that this carriage belongs to Pan Shaofeng, right? He drove this carriage recklessly in the market, almost causing a fatal accident. Didn't he tell you? Our leader said that Pan Shaofeng must kneel and apologize to the citizens before the carriage can be moved!"

" Oh? Is that so? I don't know if this carriage belongs to Shaofeng, but I do know that it is blocking the street and must be moved immediately." Prefect Pan waved his hand and ordered the guards, " Move it!"

" Prefect Pan, isn't your son right there? Why don't you ask him?" Pang Da pointed to the bandaged Pan Shaofeng.

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