Chapter 102: Going Too Far, Truly Too Far

Chapter 102: Going Too Far, Truly Too Far

"Get him, all of you!" The Duke of Kang shouted at his retainers standing to one side. "If you kill him, it's as if you've killed the current emperor. I will name you national heroes, an honor you can boast about for life!"

"Alright, Your Highness, you said it. Today, we'll go all out and kill the emperor. It'll be worth dying for!" These retainers, already recruited by the Duke of Kang to help him assassinate the emperor and seize the throne, charged forward recklessly.

"Hmph, courting death!" Xiao Yin coldly snorted. With one hand holding Ruo Xi, he drew his long sword with the other.

"Your Majesty, give me Xiao Xi'er," Xiaoyue said.

"No, protect yourself. I'll protect Xiao Xi'er," the emperor replied, determined to keep Xiao Xi'er safe himself.

The attackers rushed forward, and Baiyu and Eunuch Gao joined the fray.

Outside, a figure in white descended gracefully. With just a light step on the heads of the guards, those who had been wielding swords and knives earlier now slumped down, their bones shattered, dead.

"Ahhh!"

Many wealthy landowners and gentry present did not know martial arts. They screamed in terror at the sight of the fallen bodies.

"Everyone, retreat back and close your eyes!" Ci Xin commanded coldly.

The wealthy landowners and gentry retreated in panic, some fleeing the duke's residence.

With Ci Xin taking action, Xiaoyue realized she didn't need to move anymore.

Eunuch Gao also joined the battle, while Lady Jin, who was supposed to protect the princess and the young lady, now only protected the princess.

Little Mo Jingyu stood outside the door, his gaze fixed on the swaddled baby in the emperor's arms.

"Ah, where is Dong Ju? I wonder when she'll find that hidden imperial robe!"

Ruo Xi was excited, turning her head to look around.

"Is the old man trying to run?" Seeing the old man retreating, Ruo Xi kicked her legs: "Uncle, look, look..."

Ruo Xi opened her mouth and babbled.

"Xiao Xi'er, be good. Uncle is dealing with the bad guys!" Xiao Yin reassured her, then turned and flashed to the Duke of Kang.

"Xiao Yin, humiliating me like this, do you realize the whole world will despise you!" the Duke of Kang roared.

"Hmph!" Xiao Yin was too disgusted to waste words on the old man. He glanced to the side and saw Mo Jingyu darting towards the backyard, seemingly knowing what Jingyu intended to do. Xiao Yin merely raised an eyebrow and stopped.

With the godlike presence of Imperial Tutor Ci Xin, the emperor and the princess were quite relaxed.

"Feels great, haven't had a chance to clean up in a while. Just what we needed!" Ci Xin remarked.

"Guards, mobilize the city defense troops and kill the traitors!" the Duke of Kang raised his jade ring and shouted.

"Smack!"

Xiaoyue lifted her arm and whipped her long whip fiercely.

At the same time, Ruo Xi noticed the jade ring and reached out her tiny hand, pinching the air.

It was unclear whether it was Xiaoyue's whip or Ruo Xi's spiritual energy that caused the jade ring to shatter into pieces.

Xiaoyue: "... Did my whip skills improve so much?"

Duke of Kang: "... Going too far, truly too far."

"Haha, city defense troops? This is Yude County, part of Great Wei. Who else besides the emperor dares to mobilize them privately?" A deep, powerful voice sounded, and a tall, handsome man walked in.

"Yuan Hui?" The Duke of Kang looked at the man before him and then at Yuan Hui behind him: "Yuan Cheng? You...?"

"Yuan Hui and Yuan Cheng, don't you think these names sound like brothers?" Yuan Cheng stepped forward, smiling: "We are cousins, closer than you and the late emperor!"

"You... I've always treated you well!" the Duke of Kang said, looking at Yuan Cheng: "You've taken from me; I give you ten thousand taels of silver every year. Now you're being ungrateful?"

"Your Highness, that's all blood and sweat from the people!" Yuan Cheng sneered: "Every year, you extort money from the people of Yude County and nearby cities. The silver you gave me, I used to support my brothers' families. If not for the silver from you, the city guards' families would starve."

"Indeed, the Duke of Kang lives extravagantly but is miserly. He always exploits the people."

"This is their family's domain; even their children's names start with 'Yu De.'"

"Exactly, the emperor will surely bring justice to the people!"

The Duke of Kang looked outside and laughed softly: "Haha, little emperor, I underestimated you. You arranged everything without a sound!"

Looking outside the gate, the faces were unfamiliar. Yu Jian's mere glance could make Yude County tremble, let alone these unarmed civilians.

"The spittle can drown a man!" Xiao Yin glared at the Duke of Kang: "Half of your retainers are wanted criminals. In Yude County, you allowed them to bully the people and oppress the neighbors. Your crimes have piled up on my desk. I have wronged the people of Yude County and those waiting for justice!"

"Your Majesty, your difficulties in the capital are known to us all!" Yuan Cheng stepped forward, saluted, and said.

During the succession struggle, the capital was plunged into chaos.

The new emperor ascended the throne amidst instability. He worked tirelessly, often sleeping sitting up at his desk.

Thus, he had no time to inspect the people's conditions.

Yuan Cheng, the general of the city defense troops in Yude County, never protected the people, often associating with Yu Dehuai.

However, he rarely harmed the people.

The common folk didn’t particularly like him, but they never truly disliked him either.

"I remember, last year, the Second Master of the Wang Manor was harassing another man’s wife on the street and even beat up her husband. It was General Yuan who intervened and separated them, telling the young wife to take her husband and leave quickly. Now that I think about it, he was trying to save them."

"Right, if he had always been straightforward, it’s likely that Prince Kang wouldn’t have tolerated him, and would have appointed someone even worse as the commander of the city guards!"