Chapter 32

Just as Zhao Hongrun was pondering, a well-dressed middle-aged man slowly walked into the room.

"Who is it that is causing a disturbance in my pavilion?"

"It's Xu Shang, the chief steward," Miss Su said, her face showing a hint of surprise as she whispered to Zhao Hongrun, "He is the chief steward of this pavilion."

Sure enough, after glancing around the room, the middle-aged man bowed to Luo Rong and Zhao Hongrun, introducing himself humbly, "I am Xu Shang, entrusted by the owner of this pavilion to manage it."

At this moment, Luo Rong, still fuming, angrily said, "You are the steward of this pavilion? ... How do you do business? Allowing ruffians to assault my attendants, in the capital of Chen and Liang, is there still the rule of law?!"

As he spoke, he once again announced his family name, "My father is a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel!"

Chief Steward Xu Shang frowned, glanced at the attendants lying on the ground moaning, and then his gaze swept over Shen Yu, Mu Qing, and Lu Mu.

"Hmm?"

Xu Shang's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.

It wasn't that he had seen through Shen Yu's identity; rather, he found it odd that these three young men, who had just beaten someone, seemed completely unconcerned, which was quite out of place with their ordinary civilian attire.

'They beat the attendants of a son of a Ministry of Personnel official, yet they show no panic. It seems... they are not ordinary people.'

Glancing at Zhao Hongrun, who still looked calm, Xu Shang asked, "May I ask the name of this young master?"

"Jiang Run," Zhao Hongrun replied, bowing in return.

Upon hearing this, Xu Shang thought hard but could not recall any noble family in the capital with a young master named Jiang Run.

However, Zhao Hongrun's posture and calm demeanor made Xu Shang increasingly wary.

Miss Su, however, seemed to misunderstand, thinking that Xu Shang was about to blame Zhao Hongrun, and quickly defended him, "Chief Steward Xu, this has nothing to do with Young Master Jiang. He is my honored guest, and we were having a pleasant conversation when Luo Rong rudely barged in and insulted us, which led to this incident."

Luo Rong, hearing this, turned red with anger and shouted, "You cheap woman, you're twisting the facts! ... Chief Steward Xu, this pair of dogs are clearly in cahoots..."

Just as he said this, his voice cut off because he noticed Xu Shang looking at him coldly.

"Master Luo, Miss Su is a courtesan of this pavilion. Whether she receives a guest is her own choice and has nothing to do with others... Since Miss Su is willing to accompany Young Master Jiang, Master Luo, please leave."

"You!" Luo Rong's face turned red with anger, and he gritted his teeth, "My father is a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel!"

A mocking look flashed in Xu Shang's eyes, and he said coolly, "Miss Su said she is entertaining an honored guest and cannot receive Master Luo. If Master Luo is not offended, I can arrange for another available courtesan to accompany you."

"Is this poor fellow considered an honored guest? Humph! I want that cheap woman to accompany me!" Luo Rong glared at Miss Su and spat out.

"It seems Master Luo is determined to cause trouble. In that case, please leave. ... Our pavilion does not welcome guests who do not follow the rules."

"You, you are driving me away?" Xu Shang's words shocked Luo Rong, who said in disbelief, "My father is a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel, and you dare to drive me away?"

At this point, Xu Shang no longer had the humble demeanor, and with a mocking smile, he said, "Not to mention just a small official, even if your father were the Minister of Personnel, he would mean nothing to our owner! ... If Master Luo is here for pleasure, I can introduce you to other courtesans, but if you are here to cause trouble, please leave. ... Do you want me to say 'get out' and have you escorted away?"

"You have already said it, haven't you? ... By the way, it seems this pavilion has a powerful background..."

Zhao Hongrun curiously observed Chief Steward Xu Shang of the pavilion.

He had the leisure to speculate about the identity of the "owner" Xu Shang mentioned, but Luo Rong was too angry to think about it. He pointed at Xu Shang and said, "Fine! You wait and see!"

Xu Shang ignored the threat and said calmly, "I advise Master Luo to find out more, so as not to offend someone you cannot afford to offend." As he said the last sentence, his eyes flashed with a menacing light, making Luo Rong pale.

"..." Luo Rong glared at Xu Shang, then at Zhao Hongrun and Miss Su, whom he called "dogs," and stormed out with a red face.

His attendants quickly got up and followed their young master.

At this moment, Zhao Hongrun stood up and bowed to Xu Shang, "Thank you, Chief Steward Xu, for your help. I am very grateful."

Indeed, Chief Steward Xu had done Zhao Hongrun a great favor.

"Not at all," Xu Shang glanced at Miss Su, who also looked grateful, and smiled inwardly. He bowed to Zhao Hongrun and said, "Young Master Jiang is a rule-abiding person, and our pavilion welcomes only those who follow the rules."

'Is this a warning?'

Zhao Hongrun was slightly taken aback and quickly said, "Chief Steward Xu, rest assured, I am a rule-abiding person."

"Very good, very good," Xu Shang smiled and said, "I also think so. Well, I won't disturb you two. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Chief Steward Xu," Miss Su said hurriedly.

Xu Shang nodded and walked to the door. Just as he was about to step out, he turned back and said to Zhao Hongrun, "Master Luo may not let this go. Our pavilion is not afraid, but Young Master Jiang... please be careful in the next few days. After all, not everyone in the capital follows the rules."

"Thank you."

Although he was not very concerned, Zhao Hongrun still bowed in gratitude, as it was a kind gesture.

Seemingly guessing that Zhao Hongrun was not taking it seriously, Miss Su could not help but advise, "Young Master Jiang, do not take what Chief Steward Xu said lightly. ... After all, Master Luo's father is a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel."

She was also surprised by the powerful backing of their pavilion, but after some thought, she could not help but worry about Zhao Hongrun.

After all, anyone could see that Luo Rong would not let this go. If, as Xu Shang said, the patron of their pavilion was someone he could not afford to offend, Luo Rong would surely seek revenge on Zhao Hongrun.

"Once you return today, you might as well stay low for a few days," Miss Su said with concern.

"Don't worry, I have Shen Yu and the others to protect me," Zhao Hongrun reassured her with a smile. "Let's continue our game. By the way, Miss Su, you are currently nine losses and zero wins."

"Eh?"

Mentioning the game, Miss Su became a bit upset. After experiencing it, she gradually realized that this young master was as skilled at chess as he claimed, and playing against him felt like being bullied.

"Perhaps... let me have a six-stone handicap?" Miss Su said, blushing.

"Six stones? How about ten stones?" Zhao Hongrun said, a bit annoyed.

"Okay... a gentleman's word!"

"Fine, then I'll just concede."

As they chatted and played chess, the sky gradually turned to dusk. Shen Yu walked up to Zhao Hongrun and whispered, "Young Master, it's time to go back."

Zhao Hongrun glanced at the chessboard and nodded, "Alright, let's go."

He said goodbye to Miss Su.

'Again at this hour? It seems his family is very strict...'

Miss Su sighed inwardly and said softly, "Young Master, please be careful. Remember what Chief Steward Xu said, and be cautious in the next few days."

"Alright, I will."

Although he said so, Zhao Hongrun did not take it seriously. After all, as a prince of the Great Wei, what could happen even if he offended a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel?

However, as he led Shen Yu, Mu Qing, and Lu Mu out of the pavilion, they were blocked before they could leave the alley.

No need to guess, the one blocking them was Master Luo Rong.

"Hello, Young Master Jiang, how are you?" Luo Rong's face was twisted with a cold smile.

Zhao Hongrun frowned slightly, noticing that Luo Rong was not alone; he was accompanied by his attendants and several officials in black robes.

The officials' hats clearly bore the characters "Dali."

'Officials from the Dali Temple?'

As Zhao Hongrun was pondering, a headman dressed in official attire walked up to the four of them and said coldly, "Jiang Run, right? Come with us to the Dali Temple!"

Shen Yu stepped in front of Zhao Hongrun and asked sternly, "May I ask what crime our young master has committed to warrant the attention of the Dali Temple's officials?"

"Stop talking nonsense, take them all away!"

The headman, impatient, shouted, and immediately, dozens of officials surrounded them.

Seeing this, Shen Yu, Mu Qing, and Lu Mu all stood protectively in front of their young master, their faces dark.

'This is troublesome...'

Zhao Hongrun frowned.

These officials were from the Dali Temple, the main law enforcement agency in the capital. If he allowed Shen Yu and the others to fight with them, the incident would spread throughout the capital, making things worse.

Curious onlookers would wonder who was so arrogant as to challenge the Dali Temple's officials, and the investigation would inevitably lead to him, the Ninth Prince Zhao Hongrun. This would become a laughingstock in the capital, tarnishing the royal family's reputation.

Even if he managed to escape, the Dali Temple's officials were armed, while Shen Yu and the others were not. In such a situation, it would be impossible for them to escape unscathed.

If they were arrested, the Dali Temple's officials had the authority to kill on the spot.

Thinking of this, Zhao Hongrun quickly whispered, "Shen Yu, you go."

Shen Yu understood his young master's meaning: to escape and seek help from the palace, bringing the imperial guards to rescue them.

Although bringing the imperial guards would also attract attention, at least it could be covered up, as the imperial guards were known for their discretion.

"Mu Qing, you go," Shen Yu and Lu Mu exchanged a glance.

Mu Qing understood and ran off. He had to act quickly to bring the imperial guards before his young master suffered in the Dali Temple.

Thus, Zhao Hongrun, Shen Yu, and Lu Mu submitted to being arrested, while Mu Qing escaped.

"Master Luo, one of them got away," the headman said, trying to flatter Luo Rong.

Luo Rong, still unaware of the enormity of his actions, did not care about Mu Qing's escape. He glanced at Zhao Hongrun, now a prisoner, and smiled coldly.

"Headman Sun, take these criminals back to the Dali Temple."

"Understood, understood."

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