Chapter 65

Leaving the Qin王府, Xu Hao planned to return gifts to all his family members and visit every day, even if it meant acting cute and playful. He was determined to make Zhu Qiaoqiao feel the warmth and thoughtfulness of the Xu family, so she would marry into the Xu family as soon as possible.

The day of the grand engagement would determine the specific wedding date. Xu Hao didn't know when the Lan Yucase would break out, so he wanted to set the date as soon as possible to avoid any mishaps. At this moment, he felt a sense of urgency.

Unable to enter the nearby Yan王府, Zhu Gaozhi and his brother had gone to the main hall early in the morning to study. There were no taverns or teahouses around the Wangfu, so Xu Hao, seeing that it was still early, took a stroll with his four guards.

Unconsciously, they walked to a small alley in front of the back door of the Cao family residence. The street corner was bustling with people coming and going. Men often carried ladles to buy breakfast, and among them, a few young maids from wealthy households hurried out and then hurried back.

Occasionally, the sound of couples arguing could be heard from the second floors of the residential buildings. A group of children played the hoop game, running back and forth. A few boys and sedan bearers chatted by the wall, women squatted by the ditch to wash clothes, and merchants carried their goods, shouting as they walked through the streets. Xu Hao found a spot at a breakfast stall, ordered soy milk and scallion pancakes, and started eating.

He had already sent someone to find out that the eldest son of the Cao family liked to use the back door and had recently become infatuated with a girl from a pleasure house nearby. He often went out with two servants, coming and going early and late. Xu Hao planned to take a chance and settle old accounts.

By coincidence, he had just finished eating when he saw Cao Gongzi and two young men in brocade robes come out of the back door, followed by six or seven servants, laughing and chatting as they walked this way.

Outnumbered, but the narrow alley could be a battlefield. They had the element of surprise on their side. As Cao Gongzi was about to leave the alley, Xu Hao threw a dozen copper coins on the table, stood up, and lifted a long bench, grinning wickedly, "Everyone, attack!"

The four guards, who were trained rigorously by their master every day, were full of energy and fearless like young bulls. Without a word, they followed their young master and charged forward.

Xu Hao threw the long bench at Cao Gongzi, who instinctively dodged. Xu Hao then used his signature move, the "Big Flying Kick," and kicked Cao Gongzi hard in the waist.

"Ouch, it's Xu Hao, don't hit my face," Cao Gongzi cried out in pain, recognizing his attacker as he fell.

"Okay, I won't hit your face," Xu Hao agreed, quickly getting up and kicking Cao Gongzi a few more times. Suddenly, he swung his fist, and one of the young men screamed and clutched his right eye, crouching down.

Xu Hao continued to dominate the fight, and the scene was one-sided. The four guards beat the group of weak servants, who cried out in pain. Despite their apparent martial backgrounds, Cao Gongzi and the two young men were far inferior to Xu Hao in skill. Their punches and kicks were as weak as cotton, almost like women's.

Many onlookers gathered, and some young men were eager to help Cao Gongzi. Xu Hao, having vented his anger, decided to leave, satisfied. "Let's go."

Cao Gongzi, lying on the ground, clutched his waist and shouted, "You wait, don't hide at home like a turtle if you have the guts."

Xu Hao turned and smiled, "Then let's follow the rules. Don't ask skilled martial artists to intervene. I come to the city every day, and I'm always ready."

"Fine, it's a deal," Cao Gongzi, angry, quickly got up. He wasn't seriously injured but couldn't bear the humiliation of being beaten in front of his family and neighbors. It was a hundred times worse than being beaten.

Xu Hao, dressed in a mink cloak, looked impressive, so no one dared to attack him. Moreover, Cao Gongzi didn't say anything. The guards from the Cao family, who arrived soon after, just watched and laughed, not helping to chase the attackers. They knew it was a personal grudge between young masters, and helping would only make their young master lose face in the entire city.

Cao Gongzi, being straightforward, pushed away the servants trying to help him. After his two injured friends steadied themselves, he cursed and turned to leave, letting Xu Hao and his four companions leave triumphantly.

Cao Gongzi would certainly seek revenge soon, but Xu Hao wasn't worried. The rules were set, and even if he was beaten on the street, he didn't care about losing face since he didn't live in the city.

When Zhu Gaozhi and his brother returned to the Wangfu in the afternoon, Xu Hao, knowing Zhu Gaozhi's kind nature, confided his concerns. Unexpectedly, Zhu Gaohu burst in from outside, furious, "Leave it to me. Xu Song is asking for it. I'll beat him half to death to teach him a lesson."

This guy was truly gifted, even in hearing! Despite speaking softly, it was as if he had superhuman hearing.

Xu Hao thought it made sense. The Yan Wangfei alone couldn't control the fourth son, as Auntie lived in the Wangfu and couldn't watch over Xu Song all the time. He smiled, "Then it's settled. I trust you completely."

Zhu Gaohu was very happy. He had been confined in the city for a while, feeling depressed. His wild nature was even more uncontrollable than Xu Song's, and he disliked studying, often offending the great scholars. When Zhu Yuanzhang learned of this, he was very angry, scolding him for being unruly and lacking manners. After the punishment, Zhu Yuanzhang treated him even more coldly, which made Zhu Gaohu secretly angry.

The entire palace and the various Wangfus treated him like a mischievous child. Zhu Gaohu, who considered himself the reincarnation of Li Shimin, was even more annoyed. Seeing that only Xu Hao treated him as an adult and trusted his abilities, he was deeply moved.

Xu Hao, of course, didn't know Zhu Gaohu's thoughts. He couldn't rely on Zhu Gaozhi for the conflict with Cao Gongzi, and Zhu Gaohu, who was good at fighting, was the best helper. He smiled, "I just beat up Cao Kun. I wanted you to come with me, but you weren't home. Anyway, those guys will definitely come for revenge in the next few days. Will you help me fight?"

"Of course," Zhu Gaohu puffed out his chest, proudly saying, "No matter how many come, we'll face them together."

"Good brother, that's the spirit," Xu Hao said, then turned to Zhu Gaozhi, who was shaking his head speechlessly, "It's just a fight, no one will die."

Zhu Gaozhi laughed, "We know. But if we fight, we must fight hard and not lose our family's prestige. Second brother, go contact the others, and I'll go to the palace to ask Grandfather for a few days off."

"Great!" Zhu Gaohu rushed out of the door like the wind, overjoyed.

Xu Hao was startled, unable to catch the swift Zhu Gaohu, and quickly said to Zhu Gaozhi, "Brother, are you crazy? How can we involve the Emperor? You may not care, but I have only one head."

Zhu Gaozhi, seeing the usually composed Xu Hao lose his composure, laughed heartily, "Don't worry, listen to me. Recently, all the imperial princes have been studying and practicing martial arts in the capital. Grandfather has sighed several times that the martial skills of the Zhu family are declining. If it weren't for the imperial status, few could beat the Jinyiwei. So, I plan to join in your fun and ensure we win, to make Grandfather happy."

Xu Hao was speechless, realizing there was more to it. But thinking about it, Zhu Yuanzhang, besides being an emperor, was also a loving grandfather. In the future, when he became a grandfather, he wouldn't be happy if his grandchildren couldn't even beat children of their own age.

At the same time, the word "Jinyiwei" made Xu Hao shudder, reminding him of the letter Zhu Gaozhi had given him before the New Year, which offered three choices, one of which was to become the most trusted imperial guard of Zhu Yuanzhang, a legendary Jinyiwei!

The Jinyiwei, known for its arbitrary arrest of officials, had been abolished by Zhu Yuanzhang years ago, and the terrifying instruments of torture were publicly burned. However, the Jinyiwei, as the emperor's bodyguards and eyes and ears, still existed, being the most prestigious of the twelve royal guards.

Xu Hao looked deeply at the smiling Zhu Gaozhi, realizing that besides making the emperor happy, this was also a way to make him stand out in the fight. If he could be remembered by Zhu Yuanzhang for fighting alongside his grandsons, and with his good background, entering the Jinyiwei would be a natural progression.

If not for the crisis involving his uncle and third uncle, Xu Hao would have avoided it without a second thought, staying safely at home. At most, he would secretly help Zhu Di collect intelligence in the capital and the south.

Now, the status of the Jinyiwei and the princess Zhu Qiaoqiao were like talismans, ensuring his safety if anything happened to his family. At worst, he would be dismissed after his relatives were punished, but as long as he was still a royal guard, no one would dare to harm him.

Fortunately, the current Jinyiwei was like a tiger without its fangs and claws. Xu Hao didn't have to worry about being forced to do evil deeds. It was just about practicing martial arts, patrolling the imperial city, and guarding the emperor, a chance to broaden his horizons.

Xu Hao slowly stood up, feeling heavy-hearted, "Thank you, brother."

Zhu Gaozhi smiled, knowing that Xu Hao, with his intelligence, would understand his deeper intentions. He said, "This will greatly benefit you in the future. You said you're not cut out for an official career and have no ambitions in politics. So, serve for a few years, and you'll get a hereditary position as a thousand-household. Then, you can retire and live a wealthy life. In my opinion, you should strive to achieve a few accomplishments and earn a noble title, making your parents, sisters, and family proud."

"I will remember that," Xu Hao nodded heavily, determined to strive for the best, to ensure his mother receives the title of a noble lady.