Chapter 1203: Intervention

According to the children’s explanations after the incident, they had no intention of engaging in a fight even then. Although they despised Dong Mao’s actions, Mu Yangling often taught them that they had to figure out the whole story before getting physical. Also, it had to be an emergency such that someone would die if they did not make a move.

Hence, when the two sides fought, although Tiger Head and Little Lion were tempted, Little An asked, “Will someone die?”

Tiger Head and Little Lion gauged the weapons and equipment on both sides and shook their heads decisively. “At most, they’ll be bruised and swollen.”

However, Qi Wensu’s sharp eyes saw a few people in the crowd taking out knives. He immediately shouted excitedly, “Ah, someone’s holding a knife!”

The three children immediately turned around to look. Seeing that a few people had squeezed out and were rushing towards the commoners with knives, Little An immediately shouted, “Tiger Head, Little Lion, stop them!”

At that time, Fan Zijin was still sitting leisurely in the carriage. By the time he heard his son’s order, it was too late for him to stop the kids. Tiger Head and Little Lion bolted towards the few people holding knives.

When the civilian group saw that the noble group had taken out lethal weapons, their bodies trembled and their eyes turned red. They called out to their group, and everyone immediately picked up the various farming tools they’d brought.

Little An immediately sensed that something was wrong. He led Wensu to attack from left and right in a bid to separate the two sides. Tiger Head and Little Lion were no longer just stopping the few people holding knives. When they encountered people holding farming tools, they also pushed them out while shouting for everyone to calm down.

But who would listen to four children?

The more they fought, the angrier they became. Dong Mao, who was just watching from the sidelines initially, saw that Tiger Head and the others had taken down more than half of his men, so he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward personally.

His cronies, who were profligate sons like him, also knew some martial arts. Moreover, they did not believe that the commoners would dare to attack them, so they rolled up their sleeves to help their brother.

Tiger Head and Little Lion weren’t beaten up, but Little An was hit twice. The two of them were livid when they saw this and charged at Dong Mao, upholding the principle of capturing the leader first if one wished to defeat their enemy.

After all, who asked him to be the most arrogant!

The two of them quickly threw the silkpants, including Dong Mao, into the field. When the profligate sons’ guards saw them, they wanted to go over and help them. The civilian group fought and advanced with them, so the battlefield quickly shifted from the main road to the field.

Although nearly an acre of rice fields had been trampled, there were no major casualties because of the inconvenience of moving around in the mud.

By the time Fan Zijin, who was sitting in the carriage and trembling with anger, climbed out of the carriage, Tiger Head had already successfully pressed Dong Mao down and beaten him up.

When Fan Zijin saw the weapons held by the noble group and the few strange people in the crowd, he felt a chill in his heart and asked the guards to identify themselves.

Once they learned that the fight had involved the young master of King Rong’s estate, the commoners of the civilian group were so frightened that they knelt in the field.

On the other hand, the arrogant noble group had also calmed down. They looked at the four children who were still fighting with others in bewilderment.

Recalling the rumors about the brats from the King’s estate, the profligate sons did not doubt it at all.

Besides, even if they didn’t know Little An, Tiger Head, Little Lion, and Qi Wensu, who had already turned into ‘clay figurines’ from rolling about in the mud, how could they not recognize Prince An, Fan Zijin?

Just like that, the fight came to a halt.

Other than Tiger Head, who was still holding Dong Mao down and refusing to get up, Little An, Little Lion, and Wensu stopped at the same time.

At that time, Fan Zijin was shocked and furious. Coupled with the fact that he felt that there was a conspiracy, he didn’t even give Dong Mao a chance to speak and directly asked Tiger Head to beat him up.

Hence, when Dong Mao faced Fan Zijin, he only had time to say a few harsh words. After that, he was beaten up by Tiger Head until he lost his strength.

Fan Zijin looked at Rong Xuan, who had a dark expression, and said, “Brother Rong, I’ve asked those commoners to look for me or Haoran if they’re wronged. But if there’s someone behind them, I’m afraid they’ll blow things up. I’ve already gotten someone to send the injured to the physicians. Before this matter is resolved, the injured are not allowed to leave.”

Qi Xiuyuan turned to Rong Xuan and said, “I’ll give you half a day off. Come back after you settle the matter.”

Rong Xuan immediately got up and knelt down. In a low voice, he said, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Qi Xiuyuan helped him up and pointed at the food on the table. “Eat first before going. Don’t waste food.”

Rong Xuan blinked away the tears in his eyes and lowered his head in response.

Rong Xuan had been the Left Prime Minister for nearly 13 years. Since the founding of Great Qi until now, Yan Du had even been denounced twice. Twice, he had stepped down from the position of Right Prime Minister before resuming his post. Regardless of the personnel changes all around, only Rong Xuan had always firmly held the position of Left Prime Minister.

There were countless people who wanted to replace him. In terms of political power, other than the Emperor, he had the most power.

Even though King Rong, Qi Haoran’s status far exceeded his, he had to listen to him when it came to political decisions.

He knew that in the beginning, he didn’t have the necessary qualifications, no family background, and he did not even have the status of a jinshi. His only contribution was that he’d fought alongside the Emperor when the latter conquered the country. Therefore, Rong Xuan had always been careful. Even though he had been the Left Prime Minister for 13 years, he remained honest and self-disciplined, careful not to cross the line.

The Emperor was a sentimental person, but he was also an upright person. Even if he had no intention of seizing power, less than half of the meritorious officials who followed the Emperor back then were still in the officialdom after more than ten years. Some of the remaining half had died in battle, some had retired and returned to their hometown, and most of them had been demoted, exiled, or even beheaded for various reasons!

The Emperor hated corruption the most because he thought that corruption was a precursor to the destruction of the country. Thus, while he was generous to the officials, he was extremely strict with them and had zero tolerance for corruption.

In Qi Xiuyuan’s words, “I’ll give you a salary, grain stipend, and stipend land. I guarantee that not only will you live well, but you can also support your parents, wives, and children. However, if you embezzle and take things that don’t belong to you, don’t blame me for being merciless.”

Once, Yan Du was demoted because he had accepted an ancient painting. After it was exposed, not only was the ancient painting confiscated and entered the national treasury, but Yan Du was also fined a fifth of his assets. His demotion lasted for three years before he was re-appointed as the Right Prime Minister because of his contribution to disaster relief.

If Zijin and those brats had not coincidentally interfered, someone would definitely have died in this armed fight.

Once a person died, the matter would blow up.

Before tomorrow, news of Rong Xuan’s brother-in-law occupying the commoners’ fields through unscrupulous means and fighting with the villagers, resulting in deaths, would probably spread throughout the capital.

A profligate son, Dong Mao would even brag about his brother-in-law being the Prime Minister Rong when he drank. Rong Xuan didn’t believe that his subordinates wouldn’t reveal this fact when buying land from others.

Once it was found that Dong Mao was abusing Rong Xuan’s power, regardless of whether the latter knew or not, in order to show fairness, the Emperor would remove him from the position of the Left Prime Minister.

As for Fan Zijin, who was being groomed to one day become the Left Prime Minister, he was currently only the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. It was simply impossible for him to skip so many levels in a row and directly be promoted to the Left Prime Minister.

Then who would take his place?

Rong Xuan went to the medical clinic first with a calm expression. After comforting the injured villagers, he said that he would deal with this matter impartially before going to the Dong Residence to see Dong Mao.