Chapter 178: Trouble Comes as Soon as I Arrive

Jiang Xiaomu, seeing his goal achieved, did not linger any longer.

While Zhang Yu was showing off the pearl to the dancing girl, he quietly left the mansion.

In the following days, Jiang Xiaomu intensified his training of the soldiers while secretly observing the city's movements.

The new Prefect had not arrived for a long time, rumors spread throughout the city, and people were uneasy.

Some said the new Prefect had encountered bandits on the road, while others said he disliked this remote place and simply refused to come.

Jiang Xiaomu stood at the city gate, watching the convoy about to depart, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

He had originally planned to bring his sister Jiang Xiaoyu to Jingcheng together, so she could see the prosperity and he could feel at ease.

However, thinking of Zhang Yu's lecherous demeanor, he could not help but discard that idea.

"Brother, are you really not taking me?"

Jiang Xiaoyu's voice came from behind, filled with disappointment.

Jiang Xiaomu turned around, gently patted her shoulder, his tone gentle yet firm.

"Xiao Yu, although Jingcheng is good, it also has many dangers; with you here, I can rest easy."

Xiao Yu nodded, though she was reluctant in her heart, she understood her brother's good intentions.

"Wait until I have settled down, then I will fetch you."

Jiang Xiaomu promised.

Jiang Xiaoyu smiled faintly, watching her brother mount his horse and follow behind Zhang Yu's carriage as they gradually faded into the distance.

A few days later, the convoy entered the gates of Jingcheng in grand fashion.

Jiang Xiaomu rode on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

Even in these tumultuous times, Jingcheng remained prosperous as before.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their vendors' cries rising and falling, as if war had never touched this place.

Yet Jiang Xiaomu remained vigilant at heart, for the surface prosperity often concealed deeper dangers.

"Lord Jiang, Jingcheng is surely much livelier than our small hometown, right?"

Zhang Yu poked his head out of the carriage window and said with a smile.

Jiang Xiaomu smiled faintly and nodded.

"Indeed, it lives up to being the capital—truly prosperous."

Zhang Yu laughed heartily, obviously enjoying Jiang Xiaomu's flattery.

He waved his hand, signaling the convoy to continue forward.

Jiang Xiaomu rode on his horse, his gaze passing through the crowd as he observed Jingcheng's prosperity and clamor.

However, sudden shouts of abuse and pleas for mercy from afar caught his attention.

Following the sound, he saw a richly dressed young aristocrat wielding a wooden stick, viciously beating a ragged old man.

Beside the old man, a little girl desperately shielded him, trying to block the youth's attack.

The little girl's face was streaked with tears, her eyes full of fear.

Jiang Xiaomu originally did not want to meddle, after all this was Jingcheng, not Wangzhou City, and he did not wish to invite trouble over trivial outside matters.

However, the despair in the little girl's eyes inadvertently stirred his longing for his sister Jiang Xiaoyu.

The little girl's anguished scream completely enraged Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu suddenly reined in his horse, nimbly dismounted, drawing sideways glances from the accompanying soldiers and attendants.

Zhang Yu poked his head out, asking in puzzlement.

"Lord Jiang, what happened?"

Jiang Xiaomu did not respond, merely walking toward the young aristocrat while quietly ordering his attendants.

"Nothing, I just have some private matters to attend to."

Seeing Jiang Xiaomu approach, the young aristocrat's eyes turned cold, and he spoke angrily:

"Where did this meddlesome fool come from? Get lost!"

Jiang Xiaomu's face remained expressionless as he glanced at the old man, bruised and swollen, and the little girl, dazed, his inner anger flaring higher.

"Stop, this is Jingcheng, not a place for you to run amok."

Jiang Xiaomu said coldly.

The young aristocrat froze for a moment, evidently not expecting anyone to dare block him.

He glared at Jiang Xiaomu, speaking arrogantly:

"What are you? Do you know who my father is? Dare to meddle in my affairs, watch your head!"

Jiang Xiaomu coldly retorted.

"Since your father is so famous, right and wrong will naturally be judged; what merit is there in beating an old man?"

"Get lost!" the young aristocrat shouted, swinging his wooden stick at Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu deflected with a backhand, using extreme speed to evade the attack.

His eyes turned sharp as a blade, and he had already decided to give this arrogant, overbearing young aristocrat a lesson.

He lightly turned his wrist, preparing to subdue his opponent in the swiftest way.

At that moment, the surrounding townspeople began to gather, they stopped in their tracks, wanting to see how this outsider youth would deal with Jingcheng's playboy.

Jiang Xiaomu glanced lightly at the onlooking crowd, already having a plan in mind.

He struck like lightning, grabbing the young aristocrat's wrist and twisting hard; the boy cried out in pain, and the stick fell to the ground.

Then, with the speed of thunder before one can cover his ears, Jiang Xiaomu pressed the young aristocrat to the ground.

"You... you dare to move me?"

The young aristocrat's face turned ferocious, as if he could not believe he had been pinned to the ground by a stranger.

Jiang Xiaomu pressed down hard on his shoulder and said coldly:

"If you still do not repent, you will bear the consequences."

The crowd around began to discuss in low voices; some cheered Jiang Xiaomu's bravery, while others worried about his safety.

Zhang Yu slowly got off the carriage, his face showing a hint of tension.

He quickly walked up to Jiang Xiaomu and said:

"Sir Jiang, this is the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue; do you think we should first let him go?"

Jiang Xiaomu frowned slightly, weighed it in his mind for a moment, and finally released his hand.

The spoiled young master scrambled up from the ground, glaring at Jiang Xiaomu with a face full of anger, still cursing resentfully.

"You wait for me; my father won't let you off!"

He flung those words angrily and ran off with his entourage.

Jiang Xiaomu ignored his threat, turned and walked toward the pitiful old man and little girl.

The little girl still clung tightly to the old man's arm, her eyes full of fear and unease.

Jiang Xiaomu took out a pouch of silver from his bosom, handed it to the little girl, and said gently:

"Take this, bring your grandfather and leave this place, find a safe spot."

The little girl froze for a moment, then tears burst forth as she repeatedly thanked him.

"Sir Jiang, you've just arrived in Jingcheng; wouldn't this cause some trouble?"

Zhang Yu, twirling a walnut at the side, reminded him.

Jiang Xiaomu gave a faint smile, his eyes resolute.

"Some things must be done by someone."

The surrounding crowd gradually dispersed, their discussion mixed with praise for Jiang Xiaomu and contempt for the spoiled young master.

Jiang Xiaomu remounted, yet a faint unease stirred in his heart—the waters of Jingcheng were far deeper than he had imagined.

Just then, a hurried hoofbeat sounded from afar.

Jiang Xiaomu looked up and saw a middle-aged man in official robes riding over, his expression hurried.

As soon as he approached, he dismounted, hurriedly walked up to Zhang Yu, and cupped his hands:

"Sir Zhang, His Majesty summons you to the palace at once."