Chapter 43: Hidden Deeply, Showing Nothing?

Seeing the soldiers closing in, Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained calm: "Insolent! This Imperial Envoy was personally appointed by Your Majesty; which of you dares to act rashly?"

The Prince of Qi sneered, "You still have the face to mention Your Majesty? If Your Majesty knew you conspired with bandits, I fear He would be deeply displeased."

The mockery in his eyes grew: "It is laughable that for private gain, you would ally yourself with thieves."

"Truly believing the heavens are high and the Emperor far away, that no one can control you. Such madness is truly deserving of ten thousand deaths."

"You open your mouth with 'Your Majesty' and close it with 'Your Majesty'; this King wishes to ask, where exactly do you place Your Majesty?"

"Those who know the times should kneel and submit to binding; dare to utter a single word of disobedience, and this King will take your head."

Ma Ma Defake took the opportunity to flatter, "Your Highness fulfills your duties diligently; truly a model for our generation."

The Prince of Qi curved a slight smile: "Protecting the borders and securing the people is naturally what should be done."

His shameless demeanor made Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneer, "Prince of Qi, well said."

"I wonder, when you stuffed the military rations into your own pockets, were you also so righteous?"

The Prince of Qi's face instantly changed: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, do not digress; breaking the law is a fact, and you still think you have a case?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head: "Your Highness's words are cutting, accusing me of colluding with bandits; what proof, what evidence?"

"Simply because this Imperial Envoy appeared here, does Your Highness claim I collude with bandits?"

"If that is the case, as Your Highness is also here, could I not claim Your Highness colludes with bandits?"

The Prince of Qi never expected that at this moment Jiang Jiang Mingyu would dare to turn the tables on him: "Nonsense! When did this King ever collude with bandits?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered in return: "If Your Highness does not collude with bandits, then I do; what utter absurdity and mockery is this?"

"If you wish to claim I collude with bandits, produce evidence; do not make empty accusations; do you truly treat me as someone to be bullied?"

"If there is no clear reason today, I will not rest until I reach the Ministry of Personnel."

The Prince of Qi smiled sinisterly: "You will not have the chance to reach the Ministry of Personnel; tonight is your end."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt no fear at all: "Do it then; privately killing an Imperial Envoy, how thrilling."

"You must simply handle these people well; best to silence them all, otherwise once this matter spreads, it is enough to have your family executed and your estate confiscated."

The moment he spoke these words, the Prince of Qi clearly felt everyone's faces change; upon finishing, all displayed an expression of alertness, evident on their faces.

The Prince of Qi spoke coldly: "You came down from the mountain; that is the best evidence."

"The Green Dragon Shanzhai twists and turns seven times and eight; if you did not collude with bandits, how could you know the way? Moreover, with thieves rampant, if you did not collude with bandits, how could you escape unharmed?"

"Based on this single point, this King can transfer you to the Three Judicial Offices for punishment."

"Do not claim you did not collude with bandits, but rather came to suppress them."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded: "Exactly, this Imperial Envoy indeed came to suppress bandits."

"The path up the mountain was learned by this Imperial Envoy from the mouth of a captured bandit; that bandit is currently imprisoned in the county yamen and can be confronted at any time."

The Prince of Qi sneered: "For many years no one has captured mountain bandits; you arrive and immediately capture thieves; if this story spreads, I doubt anyone will believe it. Three people suppressing bandits; do you take this King for a fool?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly: "Now that the bandits are all destroyed, the fact that no one could catch them in past years only proves Your Highness's incompetence."

The Prince of Qi's face darkened: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, did this King give you face?"

"Do you truly think highly of yourself, thinking that a little kindness allows you to climb upward?"

"Suppress bandits, suppress bandits; where are you that kind of person? Do you really take yourself so seriously?"

"Enough nonsense; come, seize him!"

Seeing the soldiers closing in again, Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned, drew his sword, and shouted, "Who dares approach!"

The Prince of Qi seized the moment: "Advance! If there is any resistance, kill without mercy!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu signaled Tu Tu Kesiluo not to act rashly, then spoke: "If Your Highness does not believe, why not go up the mountain and see?" The Prince of Qi snorted: "Such delaying tactics are very foolish."

A slight smile curved Jiang Jiang Mingyu's lips: "How about we make a bet? If my words are untrue, let Your Highness dispose of me as He sees fit, is that acceptable?"

The Prince of Qi considered briefly: "Very well; come, let this King witness Lord Jiang's great feat; let us go."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was not in a hurry to move: "Wait; if Your Highness loses, what then?"

The Prince of Qi did not think twice: "If this King loses, not only will I release you all, but I will kneel and apologize."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu chuckled: "Truly?"

The Prince of Qi snorted: "In the army, there are no jokes; this King's word is as good as nine tripods; with everyone watching, you need not worry."

Ma Ma Defake hesitated to speak: "Prince of Qi, this matter..."

The Prince of Qi snorted: "You think they could exterminate all the fierce bandits? A madman's dream!"

"Jiang Jiang Mingyu, say it again; if it is not as you said, do not blame this King for being ruthless."

Regarding Jiang Jiang Mingyu's flowery words this time, the Prince of Qi was not afraid; Jiang Jiang Mingyu was in his hands; how would he dare to play tricks?

Once his guilt is proven, He can rightfully cut off the roots and remove the grass; is that not wonderful?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu lowered his hands and said, "Please."

After ascending the mountain, the Prince of Qi's blood boiled; first capturing Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and good times would follow.

While he was dreaming sweet dreams, the soldiers who rushed into the shanzhai carried out the bandits' corpses: "Reporting to Your Highness, there are twenty bodies in total; except for us, there are no survivors."

The Prince of Qi's face instantly turned ugly: "This... how is it possible? Impossible; they could not possibly have such strength."

Three people actually managed to kill all the thieves; is this something an ordinary person can do?

Could the beaming Jiang Jiang Mingyu be a hidden master?

The Prince of Qi felt a moment of daze.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly: "Your Highness, the facts are clear; please fulfill Your promise and kneel to apologize."

Seeing the Prince of Qi remain motionless, Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke coldly: "What? Does the man whose word is as good as nine tripods intend to break his promise?"

"Before the eyes of all, can excrement once pulled out be swallowed back into the belly? Would this not damage Your Highness's prestige?"

He stepped two paces closer to the Prince of Qi, his tone mocking: "Your Highness first embezzled military rations, and now breaks His word. Hearts will surely scatter; the difficulty of command in the future is imaginable; Your Highness should carefully consider the urgency and importance."

Indeed, when the Prince of Qi looked up, the soldiers were all staring straight at Him.

Out of fear of this Jiang Jiang Mingyu, the "master," He unconsciously stepped back two paces.

Forced to this point, if he breaks his word again, he fears the army's morale will scatter, and the soldiers obeying him in the future will become a problem.

If Jiang Jiang Mingyu gets agitated and exposes the matter of military pay, these Imperial Guards, accustomed to killing, will certainly not spare him.

After a long while, the Prince of Qi closed his eyes tightly, his face dark as he knelt: "Imperial Envoy, I have offended greatly."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu merely chuckled, took out the token bestowed by the Emperor, and said, "Your Highness, you are bowing to the Sovereign; please rise."

"Since there is no such matter, I take my leave. Come to the county yamen later, and I shall serve you clear tea."

Watching the two depart, the Prince of Qi ground his teeth: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, just wait; the matter is not finished!"

On the road back to Huicheng, while Lord Murong Murong Yunhai felt secretly pleased, he also carried worry: "Today we have forged a grudge within the cage; we must be wary of what follows."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was unconvinced: "What can he do to me? We still have a great matter to attend to; return quickly!"