A Plan Takes Shape

Seeing that he was unyielding, Jia Qin gradually lost patience.

He simply put on a stern face and threatened, half-jokingly, "Yun-ge'er, that's not very nice of you! Yesterday we invited you to dinner, but you made all sorts of excuses and even packed up the leftovers, spoiling Brother Xue's fun. Now that we're kindly trying to give you some pointers, you're pretending to be confused?"

Could it be... that the hero who beat Yang Shen really has something to do with you? If you don't behave yourself, don't blame your brothers for being ruthless and going to the Yang family to tell them that you, Jia Yun, acted suspiciously yesterday, leaving last, and are the most suspicious!

Normally, Jia Yun might have swallowed his anger and tried to appease him with a forced smile.

But at that moment, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he suddenly came up with an idea that might completely clear him of suspicion and even turn the tables on him.

Jia Yun's face suddenly darkened, and she forcefully shook off Jia Qiang's hand, her voice rising several decibels in a fit of humiliation and resentment:

"Second Master Qiang! Brother Qin! What do you mean by this? I, Jia Yun, am poor and lack ambition, but I would never dare to do such a lawless thing! You keep saying that you are brothers, but why do you keep framing me again and again?"

Yesterday you complained about my poverty and spoiled your fun; today you suspect me of being the thug who beat up the young master? Do you really think I, Jia Yun, am someone you can easily manipulate and slander? Why do you have to take your power out on your own people? Are the three of you truly innocent?

His sudden outburst caught Jia Qiang and Jia Qin off guard.

They were used to Jia Yun's forbearance and concession; when had they ever seen him speak so sharply and harshly? Moreover, Jia Yun had actually hit their own petty thoughts of bullying the weak.

Jia Qiang, a mere figurehead, lost face after being rebuked. Enraged, he retorted, "You, Jia Yun! You don't know what's good for you! We were just asking, and you're bringing up old grudges! Whether it's a frame-up or not, you know perfectly well!"

Just then, a series of noisy footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

More than ten men dressed in gray-black coats and carrying swords barged in. The leader, with a cold and hard expression, swept his gaze across the three people in the courtyard like lightning and said in a deep voice, "Who is Jia Yun?"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Jia Qiang's eyes lit up. Before anyone else could speak, he pointed at Jia Yun and blurted out, "Gentlemen, this is Jia Yun! When we questioned him about yesterday's events at Zuixianlou, he stammered and seemed flustered; he must know the inside story!"

The leader, who appeared to be a junior officer in the Imperial Guard, immediately fixed his gaze on Jia Yun upon hearing this, took a step forward, and said coldly, "Jia Yun? Were you at Zuixianlou around noon yesterday?"

Jia Yun's heart pounded, but he tried his best to remain calm. Following the words he had agreed upon with Wang Xifeng the day before, he bowed and greeted her.

"Replying to your question, sir, I did go to Zuixianlou yesterday, but Master Xue's banquet ended early, and he was still there around noon. However, since my mother hadn't eaten yet, I packed some dishes and left the restaurant around noon to run errands before returning home."

"You left right at noon?" The junior officer clearly didn't believe him. "Someone saw you leave last! How did you know it was exactly a quarter past noon? Is there any witness? Young Master Yang was attacked around three-quarters past noon! The timing matches perfectly! Tell me the truth! What did you see? What did the assailant look like? Or... did you do it!"

The last sentence was delivered with a stern and forceful tone.

Before Jia Yun could answer, Jia Qiang added fuel to the fire with a sarcastic tone: "Sir, although he also shares the surname Jia, his branch of the family has a criminal record, he also..."

"Qiang-ge'er!" Jia Yun suddenly interrupted him, looking at Jia Qiang with a fierce gaze. "We are of the same clan, why do you have to put me to death? When I left yesterday and where I went, Second Mistress can testify! I left Zuixianlou to go find Second Mistress."

Then I went to buy the camphor and musk she needed, and delivered them to her courtyard. Second Madam herself said that when I arrived, it was still early, no later than three-quarters of a day! Ping'er, who serves Second Madam, can also testify to this! Now you insist that I was still in the restaurant at Shenshi (3-5 PM), are you trying to accuse Second Madam of lying?"

After he brought up Wang Xifeng, Jia Qiang was immediately speechless, his face turning pale and then red. Wang Xifeng held immense power in the household; how could he dare to question her?

The junior officer, naturally aware of the Jia family's inner workings, frowned deeply upon hearing this and stared at Jia Yun: "Can Second Mistress Lian truly testify for you?"

"Absolutely true!" Jia Yun straightened his back. "If you don't believe me, sir, you can ask Second Madam right now! I may be a lowly servant, but Second Madam's word is always accurate!"

When the junior officer saw Jia Yun mention Wang Xifeng, he was already seven or eight parts convinced.

The formidable nature of the second mistress of the Jia family was well-known throughout the capital, not to mention her uncle, who was currently at the height of his power. Moreover, with so many guests at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion that day, it was indeed difficult to find that wicked person.

Now, that Nine Thousand Years Old (a high-ranking official) is at the height of his power and influence. Which of the so-called upright officials and remonstrating ministers in the court doesn't fear him? Which doesn't give way to him? He is truly second only to the emperor, above all others. No one dares to utter a single breath in his way.

However, those people who are useful to the Ninth Prince, or some other powerful servants, have gone too far in their actions outside, relying on his power. The grudges they have made are probably as tangled as a knot, impossible to untangle.

Yang Huan, the judicial officer of the Eastern Division, was a sharp and useful tool under the command of the Nine Thousand Years Old, specializing in doing things that were inconvenient for his superiors to say openly. Over the years, he had handled the cases of at least several dozen, if not a hundred, officials.

How could the descendants and relatives of those convicted officials not hold such a deep-seated hatred for him? As the saying goes, "Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor," the retribution for his own sins would eventually come to pass. Now that his only son has suffered this calamity, he has no one to blame but himself.

In such a vast capital city, how do you find people?

As for the Rong and Ning mansions, they have always adhered to the principle of neutrality among the nobles and refused to easily get involved in this mess.

Such acts of revenge and retribution are things that people of their noble birth would avoid at all costs; they would never willingly get involved in them.

This time, if it weren't for those two ungrateful wretches they kept at home who secretly sent out messages to try and control the young men in the manor, how could I have come to this place and gotten myself into trouble?

"Hmph." Seeing that the other party seemed to be trying to settle things, Jia Yun had no choice but to provoke them, and then he snorted disdainfully.

That sound was truly ominous.

The junior officer had originally intended to leave, but now he was emboldened by Jia Yun's seemingly indomitable spirit and found himself unable to back down.

You're convinced by just a few words? Or are you even capable of getting things done?

And throw a tantrum in public? And even humph?

The junior officer, enraged, shouted, "You sharp-tongued brat! Even if Second Madam testifies to the time you left the inn, it's possible she tricked you! You seem suspicious; you clearly have something to hide! Take you back and interrogate you thoroughly!"

His two ruthless henchmen behind him responded and were about to step forward to seize him.

Jia Yun knew he couldn't back down now. Instead of retreating, he took a step forward and suddenly looked up.

The frail body erupted in a hoarse voice, driven to desperation: "Sir! Without any evidence, based solely on a false accusation from someone else, you intend to torture me? Is this the code of your Embroidered Uniform Guard? Though I, Jia Yun, am poor, I am still a respectable great-grandson of a Duke, and their blood flows in my veins! If you dare to torture me today, I will smash my head against this courtyard wall and die, then let's see how you explain this to the Jia family and all the nobles at court!"

Jia Yun's ruthless and desperate act stunned the group of guards. They had seen tough guys before, but they had never seen someone so reckless at the age of fourteen or fifteen.

The group of Imperial Guards hesitated and looked at the junior officer.

The junior officer, working in the Northern Garrison Command, knew all too well how deeply entrenched these noble families were, and how a single move could have far-reaching consequences.

If Jia Yun is truly innocent, and I rashly use torture, Yang Shen will certainly not protect a mere banner officer like him if the Jia family investigates.

But if one is intimidated by a few words from a teenager in front of everyone, what will become of one's dignity?

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, Jia Qiang, seeing the situation was turning bad and fearing that things would escalate, secretly fanned the flames from the side: "Sir, don't listen to his bluff! If he had nothing to hide, why would he be so agitated? Besides, what legitimate great-grandson? He's just a distant relative of the Jia family..."

Before Jia Qiang could finish speaking, the junior officer, who was already seething with anger, heard the words "distant relative" and, in a fit of rage, slapped Jia Yun hard across the face!

A crisp "snap"!

Jia Yun was still a young man at heart, and he was caught off guard by the blow. His vision went black for a moment, and after staggering a few steps, his forehead slammed heavily against the rough bark of the old locust tree in the courtyard.

The blood seeping from his head immediately covered half of his face, making him look like a demon, which was quite terrifying.