Chapter Forty-Seven: The Descendant of an Old Friend

At this moment, those around dared not voice their anger. Many, upon seeing that these armored soldiers belonged to the Prince’s Manor, remembered the longstanding discord between the Lady and Third Young Master Chu. They suddenly realized that Chu Yucai had indeed been wronged, and that the true culprit might well be the Lady herself.

Yet the Prince’s Manor wielded great power—who would dare oppose them, especially when these were the ironclad soldiers of the Manor, far more formidable than the troops garrisoned in Yan Prefecture?

Just as the armored soldiers were about to act, a sharp voice suddenly rang out from above: “Get lost, you little rascals!”

A burly man in a tattered Taoist robe, his face covered in a wild beard, descended from above. His voice was deep and thunderous, shaking the entire restaurant.

As this man landed, the crowd couldn’t help but be astonished. In their hearts, they marveled at the man’s recklessness—he had dared to curse the soldiers of the Prince’s Manor as little rascals! How audacious.

At this, the armored soldiers were furious. One shouted harshly, “Who the hell do you think you are—”

But before he could finish, his gaze fell on the man’s face. In an instant, recognition dawned; his expression changed dramatically, and he immediately knelt on one knee, voice trembling with fear: “Greetings, Master Yan!”

This scene left everyone even more bewildered. Just who was this man, that the usually arrogant soldiers of the Prince’s Manor would show him such deference?

This man was, of course, Yan Yunfei. At that moment, he said coldly, “Is this how the men of the Prince’s Manor distinguish between public and private affairs? You don’t need the Prince to return—I’ll teach you a lesson myself today.”

With a swift movement, his hands struck like lightning. Seizing one armored soldier, he flung him out; with the other hand, he did not pause, tossing another out as well.

Strangely, the soldiers did not resist at all. In just a few moments, more than twenty armored soldiers were all thrown by Yan Yunfei out the second-story window of the restaurant.

The soldiers hit the ground heavily, bloodied, some with broken limbs, writhing and screaming in pain.

Yan Yunfei, holding Zhu Yuzheng by one hand, strode outside. He looked coldly at the injured soldiers sprawled before him and said, “Get out! Go back to the Prince’s Manor and hand over the true instigator of this affair. I will come shortly—do not test my patience again.”

“Yes,” the soldiers managed to reply, trembling as they struggled to their feet, recognizing at last who stood before them.

By this time, Chu Yucai and the others had already stepped outside. They were about to express their thanks, but Yan Yunfei waved his hand dismissively, tossing Zhu Yuzheng to the ground. “No need to thank me. I, Yan Yunfei, despise those lacking virtue most of all. Besides, I always investigate thoroughly before acting—I’m not like Scholar Zhu, who would wrong good men out of rashness!”

Zhu Yuzheng crashed to the ground, pain shooting through his bones. He glared at Chu Yucai and Yan Yunfei, hatred in his eyes.

Hearing Yan Yunfei liken Scholar Zhu to a reckless fool, Chu Yucai was momentarily startled, then smiled wryly. At the same time, he found the name Yan Yunfei oddly familiar, though he couldn’t immediately recall why.

Just then, the people from the restaurant flooded outside. Hearing Yan Yunfei’s words, they wondered all the more about his identity.

At that moment, a young man approached from afar. His features were as delicate as carved jade, strikingly handsome, and behind him trailed twelve terrified storytellers.

At the sight of these storytellers, Zhu Yuzheng’s face turned deathly pale.

The young man came before Yan Yunfei and spoke respectfully, “Master, I have interrogated them all and brought them here.”

“Good! Let them tell the truth then!” Yan Yunfei kicked Zhu Yuzheng, who was beside him, to the ground and said coldly, “Still daring to glare at me? How many lives do you think the Prince’s Manor can give you?”

With a heavy kick, Zhu Yuzheng flew more than twenty feet before landing, blood streaming from his mouth and nose. He no longer even had the strength to glare.

Seeing the bloodied, injured soldiers and the fate of Zhu Yuzheng, the terrified storytellers all fell to their knees. “It’s not our fault! Zhu Yuzheng sent men to give us silver, telling us to go around spinning tales, saying the Prince’s Manor would protect us.”

The young man asked coldly, “What exactly did Zhu Yuzheng tell you? Speak clearly.”

One of the storytellers hurriedly replied, “He gave me ten taels of silver, told me this story, and bade me slander Chu Yucai’s character and speak ill of Yun Cuixian… It wasn’t my doing! If I’d refused, the armored soldiers would have killed me…”

At these words, the crowd erupted in outrage, regarding Zhu Yuzheng now with utter contempt.

Yan Yunfei strode over to Zhu Yuzheng and shouted, “You unprincipled, unfilial, shameless wretch—tell me, who gave you these orders?”

Utterly hopeless, Zhu Yuzheng collapsed to the ground. “Spare me, Master Yan, it was… it was…” His gaze flickered to the fallen soldiers, but finally he bowed his head and confessed, “It was the third steward of the Prince’s Manor. He approached me and promised five hundred taels if I followed his instructions…”

“The son of Scholar Zhu, yet for a mere five hundred taels would stoop to such disgrace! Out of my sight! I’m eager to see how Scholar Zhu will deal with this!” Yan Yunfei kicked Zhu Yuzheng away, not caring as he rolled several times and passed out cold.

Then he turned to the young man. “Yang Ridan, fetch my letter and go to the Prince’s Manor—bring me the third steward. I’ll be there shortly.”

The youth, Yang Ridan, answered without hesitation and hastened away.

Witnessing all this, those gathered were stunned. Just who was Yan Yunfei, that he would dare to demand someone from the Prince’s Manor?

Chu Yucai was also taken aback. Suddenly, a memory stirred in him and he blurted out, “Are you Master Yan? The very Master Yan who once saved Hongyu’s father?”

He recalled that Aunt Hong had spoken of this name.

“That’s right,” Yan Yunfei nodded with a hearty laugh. Turning to Hongyu, he said, “Just now in the restaurant, when I heard you mention your name, I was delighted—I never expected you to be the child of an old friend.”

At the words “child of an old friend,” Hongyu seemed rooted to the spot, realization dawning all at once.

The man before her was the very same hero who, twenty years ago when her father Feng Xiangru was in despair, had asked him if he still wished for vengeance, and in the end helped him slay the censor named Song!

After growing up, Hongyu had often heard Aunt Hong speak of this matter, and she had vowed to repay this hero’s kindness. Never had she imagined she would one day be indebted to him again.

She fell to her knees, bowing deeply. “I pay my respects, Master Yan.”

Yan Yunfei laughed heartily, lifting her up. “I, Yan Yunfei, have little patience for ceremony.” He then sighed softly. “It has been twenty years, and still I remember your father’s unyielding spirit as he surrendered himself.”

Hongyu’s eyes reddened, tears nearly spilling over.