Chapter 571

First Volume, Chapter 571: The Little Ghost Is Not Easy to Deal With

Qin Feng shed his earlier casualness, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"The Sage has issued an edict posthumously granting Li Lang the title of Marquis, yet Zhou Young Master still insists on calling him 'Baron of Fuyun County.'"

"Do you believe Li Lang is unworthy of the Marquis title, or are you deliberately ignoring the Sage's decree?"

"Or perhaps…"

By this point, Qin Feng's gaze had turned utterly icy.

"Li Lang, though banished, still carries the blood of the Li Imperial Clan—do you mean to insult him?!"

The news of Li Lang's posthumous enfeoffment as Marquis had already spread throughout Jingdu.

Zhou Ming certainly knew, but Li Lang had always been Qin Feng's close ally, making him naturally an enemy of the Second Prince.

To win the Second Prince's favor, Zhou Ming deliberately ignored Li Lang's posthumous title and continued calling him Baron of Fuyun County.

After all, that title was a lifelong disgrace to Li Lang.

Now Qin Feng seized on this point, and though Zhou Ming felt guilty, he refused to admit fault.

After all, the Guqin Woman was watching—if he bowed to Qin Feng now, he would lose all chance with the Second Prince's high branch.

"I—I meant it as a slip of the tongue. If Lord Qin is so petty as to care about such a trivial matter, isn't your heart too narrow?"

Trivial matter?

Li Lang sacrificed his own life to restore his clan's honor.

Even though Li Lang is dead, that does not mean his reputation can be trampled upon at will!

Qin Feng's gaze was sharp—this matter admitted no compromise.

"To insult Li Lang is to insult me, Qin Feng—and to insult every soldier who made the Sacrifice."

"Death penalty may be spared, but the living punishment cannot be escaped—twenty slaps to your mouth!"

"If you strike yourself, fine. If not, I'll find someone to do it for you!"

Feeling the sharpness in Qin Feng's gaze, Zhou Ming's spine turned cold.

But remembering this was the Second Prince's Birthday Banquet, his fear vanished instantly.

"Qin Feng, today is His Highness's great day—dare you cause trouble here?!"

At these words, Qin Feng lost all patience.

His voice was calm, yet carried absolute authority.

"Qin Xiaofu, help Young Master Zhou."

Qin Xiaofu needed no second urging—he grabbed Zhou Ming's shoulder and raised his other hand.

Zhou Ming's face turned instantly pale, stammering: "Qin Feng, you've gone mad!"

"Even if you ignore me, think about whose Birthday Banquet this is!"

Qin Feng's face showed no expression, his eyes utterly still.

Zhou Ming tried to say more, but before the words left his lips, his mouth was struck hard.

For a frail Young Master who had spent his life in Jingdu, accustomed to silk and fine food,

the blow's impact was not insignificant.

Blood seeped from Zhou Ming's lip; his eyes glazed over.

Crack!

Another slap.

The crisp sound echoed around the Gate.

All guests present stared in stunned shock and dread.

No one had expected Qin Feng would dare strike a guest at the Second Prince's Birthday Banquet.

This was clearly a dismissal of the Second Prince.

Yet, recalling Qin Feng's actions since returning to Beijing, the crowd suddenly understood.

After all…

This young man had forcibly moved Li Lang's spirit tablet into the Imperial Ancestral Hall—even the current Sage had to yield to him.

Crack! Crack!

Qin Xiaofu showed no mercy, striking with brutal force, leaving Zhou Ming dazed and spitting blood.

As he struck, Qin Xiaofu shouted insults.

"You worthless piece of trash, how dare you provoke my Young Master?"

"Even your father is merely a lowly Director of the Gate Office—he bows to my Young Master."

"You hold no official rank, no noble title—without your father's shadow, what are you?"

Qin Xiaofu embodied the role of Evil Servant perfectly.

Riding on Qin Feng's authority, he was utterly arrogant.

The guests at the banquet who held high rank had already entered the courtyard; the rest were all insignificant.

Who dared speak up for Zhou Ming?

Twenty slaps—none missing—until Zhou Ming collapsed on the ground, vomiting blood.

The once noisy scene fell utterly silent.

Only now did everyone realize: Qin Feng was no longer the helpless little man he once was.

He was now a Northern Border Powerhouse even the Li Imperial Clan feared.

Recalling how they had mocked Qin Feng moments ago, all were filled with dread.

But…

Looking at Qin Feng's face, where a faint smile reappeared, there was no hint of retaliation.

The crowd exhaled in relief once more, their courage gradually returning.

"That Zhou Ming, trying to climb the ladder—he's completely lost his mind."

"To cling to the Second Prince's leg, he dares to disrespect Lord Qin—doesn't he realize who Lord Qin is?"

"Exactly—even if the Second Prince himself showed up, he'd still owe Lord Qin some face."

"Hah, well deserved!"

Qin Feng pulled a white handkerchief from his sleeve and tossed it casually onto Zhou Ming.

"Remember today's lesson, and don't dare repeat it."

"Wipe the blood clean and go inside to attend His Highness's Birthday Banquet."

Zhou Ming trembled as he picked up the handkerchief, daring not to look up at Qin Feng again.

At that moment, a sharp feminine cry rang out.

"Qin Feng, how dare you!"

"Today is His Highness's great day, and you dare strike someone in public—do you have no respect for His Highness?"

Facing the harp girl's sharp cry, Qin Feng said nothing.

With his hands behind his back, he walked to the harp girl's side and glanced at the list.

As Qin Feng expected, his name was written at the very bottom of the list.

Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh: "It's just a birthday—why make it so complicated?"

"Forget it, I'll just go in on my own."

Saying this, Qin Feng ignored the harp girl entirely and stepped toward the courtyard.

The harp girl quickly stepped sideways to block his path, her eyebrows furrowed, shouting sharply: "Qin Feng, how insolent you are!"

"If your name hasn't been called, you cannot enter!"

"Disobeying the order—do you harbor ill intent against His Highness?"

The harp girl's face was icy, yet inside she sneered repeatedly.

If I drop this heavy accusation on him, I don't believe Qin Feng won't buckle!

No matter how bold Qin Feng is, he would never dare bear the charge of Stabbing the King and Assassinating the Chariot.

The harp girl had already heard of the White Clothes' humiliation at the Qin Family; today, she intended to avenge him.

She would crush Qin Feng's pride and leave him utterly humiliated!

How could Qin Feng not know the harp girl's scheming?

Facing the harp girl blocking his path, Qin Feng remained calm, turning to look at Qin Xiaofu beside him.

He smiled sweetly: "A servant defies his master—according to the Great Liang Code, what punishment does that warrant?"

Qin Xiaofu scratched the back of his head, looking utterly confused: "Master, how would I know that?"

"I'm not an Official of the Ministry of Justice—should I go ask them for you?"

Ask a damn thing!

Qin Feng glared at Qin Xiaofu—this brat, he'd told him repeatedly to study the Great Liang Code.

All those years of reading, and he's stuffed it all into his dog's belly.

As a merchant, if you don't understand the law, what business are you even in? You might as well go home and till the fields!