Chapter 397

"Second Miss Zhang, I cannot promise you to save Lord Zhang."

"Hmm?"

Zhang Xia was stunned. She exchanged her own safety to let Chen Ji mix into the Tiger Armor Heavy Cavalry, just so that Chen Ji would have a chance to save her father, but now Chen Ji said he couldn't promise her.

Under the night, Chen Ji twisted Zhang Xia's hands behind her back and said in a low voice: "There are tens of thousands of Liu family rebels, and I am alone; I cannot do the work of turning the tide. I cannot easily promise things I cannot do."

Zhang Xia lowered her eyes and was silent for a long time: "Forget it, you are ultimately much more capable than me; there is even less hope for me to save my father myself. Chen Ji, what I want to say next is very important, maybe it can help you: I have seen the person you killed just now; he is a tenant farmer in our manor named Zhang Yuan, who has always been diligent in his work. I guess these private soldiers of the Liu family usually hide in the city, which is why they wear face masks to avoid being recognized..."

Before she finished speaking, the armored soldier who had questioned Chen Ji earlier had arrived nearby. He looked at Zhang Xia: "Who is this woman?"

Another armored soldier who rushed over said in a low voice: "My lord, this woman is Zhang Zhuo's legitimate daughter, Zhang Xia."

Chen Ji looked up, only to see that the face mask of this person called 'my lord' was different from everyone else's; the others had 'human faces' that were neither happy nor sad on their masks, while this one had a 'tiger face' with eyes wide open in anger.

The tiger-faced armored soldier looked at Zhang Xia, then looked at Chen Ji suspiciously.

After pondering for a moment, he waved his hand to the armored soldier beside him: "Zhang family's mistress hasn't been found yet, you continue to search, I will escort Zhang Xia out with him."

The tiger-faced armored soldier said to Chen Ji: "Let's go."

Chen Ji, wearing heavy armor and holding a long spear upside down, pushed Zhang Xia toward the outside of the mansion, while the tiger-faced armored soldier followed behind, gripping his long spear tightly, looking at him vigilantly.

Chen Ji continued to walk forward calmly; the other party should be suspicious of him, but didn't rush to take action... is it because the other party is unsure of his identity and strength, so they dare not expose his identity rashly?

Along the way, the originally brightly lit Zhang mansion was already a mess. When Zhang Xia passed by the corpses of the maids and servants in the mansion, she turned her face slightly to the side, unable to bear looking.

Walking out of the vermilion gate of the Zhang mansion, the Cuiyun Lane was already full of Chen family servants looking around in panic, only Chen Wenzong stood proudly in the crowd.

This noble son of the Chen family had dirty clothes, and the hairpin holding his bun on his head didn't know where it had been lost.

The tiger-faced armored soldier behind Chen Ji gripped his long spear with his right hand and secretly beckoned to more than ten armored soldiers in Cuiyun Lane with his left hand.

I saw more than ten armored soldiers approaching silently, as if to form a siege on Chen Ji.

Chen Ji's thoughts turned rapidly, his gaze scanning through the crowd.

The next moment, he walked into the crowd holding the long spear upside down, grabbed Chen Wenxiao by the collar, and pulled him out.

Chen Wenxiao was wearing a servant's clothes, struggling while saying in terror: "What are you doing, I'm just a servant of the Chen family, what are you grabbing me for?"

Chen Ji said coldly: "You are not a servant of the Chen family."

Chen Wenxiao's face turned ashen, his body shook like a sieve, and he could barely stand by Chen Ji's pulling.

Chen Wenzong glared at him and scolded angrily: "Stand straight! You and I are both successful candidates in the 31st year of Jianing, how can we be scared by petty thieves? The face of the Chen family and the face of the imperial court have all been lost by you!"

Chen Ji turned back and said to the tiger-faced armored soldier: "My lord, I recognize this person; he is the second legitimate son of the Chen family, Chen Wenxiao."

The tiger-faced armored soldier's figure paused, and he slowly relaxed his hand holding the long spear: "Very good, remember you have made a contribution. By the way, you..."

Before he could finish his words, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from outside the alley.

The black-armored warrior looked at the sound, only to see someone wearing a green cloak riding a horse from the end of the small alley, like a poet riding through the snow, arriving with interest.

The black-armored warriors saw him and bowed their fists in salute: "Mr. Feng!"

Chen Ji's heart tightened.

Mr. Feng was holding a small hand-warming copper stove in his hands and said with a smile: "The Tiger Armor Heavy Cavalry has been silent for a long time, and it has finally reached the time to make a name for itself. Who is in charge of you now, is it still General Zhou?"

The tiger-faced armored soldier bowed his fists and said muffledly: "Reporting to Mr. Feng, it is General Qian now; General Zhou has other official business."

Mr. Feng smiled: "You've worked hard. The master has now appointed you as the personal guard, so you should be more attentive than in the past."

The tiger-faced armored soldier hurriedly said: "Please rest assured, Mr. Feng."

Mr. Feng's gaze swept over the crowd and asked lightly: "Have the relatives of the Zhang and Chen mansions been captured?"

The tiger-faced armored soldier reported: "There are only two relatives in the Chen mansion; Chen Liqin's wife happened to go to the suburban manor to settle accounts and is not in the Chen mansion."

Mr. Feng nodded: "It doesn't matter, with these two legitimate sons, it's enough."

The tiger-faced armored soldier continued to report: "Zhang Zhuo and his legitimate son were besieged in the government office, and only the Second Miss Zhang was captured in the mansion."

Mr. Feng asked curiously: "What about Zhang Zhuo's wife?"

The tiger-faced armored soldier responded: "According to the servants in the mansion, she went to the Tuoluo Temple in the south of the city to burn incense and worship Buddha today and hasn't returned yet."

Mr. Feng smiled: "It doesn't matter, with the Second Miss Zhang and that legitimate son, it's enough."

At this time, Chen Wenzong looked directly at Mr. Feng: "You are privately arresting the relatives of imperial officials; this crime is equivalent to treason. If you repent now, although the death penalty is inevitable, you can save the lives of your families!"

The black-armored warriors were indifferent, their black lacquer face masks having no joy, anger, sorrow, or joy, like cold statues.

Mr. Feng said slowly: "Chen family young master, save your strength. These Tiger Armor Heavy Cavalry have long since lost their families. If you want to live, help me persuade Lord Chen later. As long as he is willing to follow us north to clear the monarch's side and kill the eunuch party to rectify the imperial court, I guarantee the Chen family's safety."

Chen Wenzong sneered: "Rebellious subjects, you are no different from the eunuch party."

A tiger-faced armored soldier slapped him: "Sharp-tongued!"

Chen Wenzong was slapped to the side, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, but he turned his head angrily and glared, not avoiding or yielding.

Mr. Feng raised his eyebrows: "Don't hurt people, I still have to take him intact to Lord Chen! In case Lord Chen is willing to abandon darkness for light, then we will be one family in the future, how can we let Lord Chen feel grudges because of this little thing?"

The black-armored warriors hurriedly bowed their fists: "Yes, the subordinate was reckless, I will go to find General Qian to receive twenty military sticks after this matter is over."

Mr. Feng looked at Chen Wenxiao and teased: "Why is the Chen family young master dressed like this?"

Seeing Mr. Feng looking over, Chen Wenxiao couldn't stop shaking.

Mr. Feng smiled lightly: "People say that a dragon gives birth to nine sons, each different. Lord Chen's family is also interesting; the eldest legitimate son has character but is pedantic, the second legitimate son is cowardly... but cowardly, it is that illegitimate son Chen Ji who makes me look at him with new eyes. By the way, who found the second young master of the Chen family?"

The tiger-faced armored soldier pointed at Chen Ji: "Reporting to Mr. Feng, it was him."

Mr. Feng looked at Chen Ji: "Remember a contribution, go to the Political Affairs Hall to receive a reward on your day off... and who captured the Second Miss Zhang?"

The tiger-faced armored soldier was startled, then pointed at Chen Ji again: "Reporting to Mr. Feng, it was also him."

"Oh?" Mr. Feng looked at Chen Ji carefully.

A moment later, he smiled slightly: "You are a lucky general."

After saying that, he turned his head and said to the tiger-faced armored soldier: "Mount the horses, escort the families of the Zhang and Chen mansions to the Jing Prince's Mansion."

Amidst the sound of clattering armor, the black-armored warriors mounted their horses in unison.

Mr. Feng pulled the reins and turned the horse's head, walking out of Cuiyun Lane, and Chen Ji also carried Zhang Xia horizontally on the saddle, riding behind at the end.

Suddenly, Mr. Feng turned his head and asked him with a smile: "What is your name?"

The crowd was quiet, and the tiger-faced armored soldier who had questioned Chen Ji earlier also looked over, his gaze burning.

Chen Ji gripped the reins tightly and answered calmly: "Reporting to Mr. Feng, the subordinate's name is Zhang Yuan."

The tiger-faced armored soldier's gaze turned back.

Mr. Feng smiled and beckoned: "Come forward, you will follow me to do things in the future."

The Jing Prince's Mansion was brightly lit, and four high-mounted fire basins were lit in front of the vermilion gate, with flames burning fiercely.

The Elephant Armor Battalion was dragging the corpses of the Prince's Mansion guards away one by one, and the blood on Anxi Street seeped into the cracks of the bluestone road, the blood beginning to congeal and becoming sticky like paste.

The Jing Prince's Mansion was already under the control of the Liu family.

Mr. Feng dismounted in front of the gate, and the attendants inside hurried out to greet him.

He threw the copper stove in his hand to someone, and took off his cloak, revealing a green shirt inside: "Where is the master?"

The black-clothed attendant said in a low voice: "Playing chess with the Prince in the Jing'an Hall."

Mr. Feng's footsteps paused: "Where are Lord Chen and Lord Zhang?"

The black-clothed attendant reported: "They have just been escorted from the government office and are being detained in the Feiyun Garden together with a few people from the Taiping Medical Hall."

Mr. Feng said unexpectedly: "What about Lady Yunfei, why did she rashly occupy someone else's courtyard? It's too unruly."

The black-clothed attendant said in a low voice: "Lady Yunfei left the Prince's Mansion after the Jing Prince fell ill and has not returned yet."

Mr. Feng lowered his head and pondered for a moment: "Don't disturb the master's elegant interest, let's go to Feiyun Garden first."

After saying that, he turned his head and pointed at Chen Ji and another armored soldier: "You escort the Chen family young master and the Second Miss Zhang over, the others should take a break first."

Inside the Prince's Mansion, rows of armored soldiers stood solemnly holding torches.

The group hurried through the murderous Prince's Mansion. Chen Ji looked from afar, the eight large doors of the Jing'an Hall were wide open, and the Jing Prince and Cabinet Elder Liu sat opposite each other, focusing on playing chess.

Bai Li and the Prince's son stood by watching the chess, as if the killing today had never happened.

Mr. Feng stopped and turned his head, looking at him with a smile that was not a smile: "Do you want to play chess too?"

Chen Ji was startled in his heart; he had only turned his head slightly, and this was discovered by the other party: "Reporting to Mr. Feng, the subordinate is entering the Jing Prince's Mansion for the first time and is a bit curious."

Mr. Feng said with a smile: "Only this once, if you look at things you shouldn't look at next time, your head will fall to the ground."

Chen Ji hurriedly lowered his head: "The subordinate understands."

Arriving in front of the Feiyun Garden gate, Mr. Feng walked into the courtyard with a loud laugh: "Lord Zhang, Lord Chen, I have troubled you two to wait for me here, I have been negligent. However, look, who have I brought to you?"