NOVPUBHou Renmeng glanced at the group of people on the ground and spat, "Why does the Young Master want you to clean up the mess."
Shen Juan chuckled and mouthed, "If I let you clean up, I'm afraid you'd just kill them all."
Hou Renmeng snorted but didn't argue. He left the alley with Qian Kerou, chasing after Zhao Douan as they departed with Princess Wen Zhu.
...
Once they were gone, Shen Juan coldly walked over to the "unconscious" leader of the ruffians and sneered, "If you don't get up now, young master will make sure you never do."
The ruffians jolted awake, with "Mr. Wen," the leader, getting up in a hurry and kowtowing in fright, "Spare us... spare us..."
How could they not realize by now that they had offended the bodyguards of some big shot?
Shen Juan couldn't be bothered to talk. If it wasn't for his master's subtle hint, asking him to stay behind and ensure that the poor who received charity wouldn't face retaliation, he would have loved to cut this group of scoundrels down without fear of government retribution landing on Lihua Hall.
"Red Flower Society... haha, where is your boss? Take me there."
Mr. Wen was momentarily dumbfounded. He incredulously looked up at the man with an aura so different from a house servant, his eyes flickering, "Not far from here, there's a hall."
Soon.
Shen Juan herded this group of ruffians through twists and turns in the alley until they arrived outside a courtyard that served as a hall for the Red Flower Society in this area.
No words were wasted. Shen Juan kicked open the gate, causing several fierce-looking men to rush out. The leader, despite the cold, was bald and holding a knife, and he cursed, "Who the hell..."
Before finishing, the bald man's voice trembled. The knife fell from his hand with a clatter, and his knees nearly gave way as he exclaimed, "Ser... Sergeant?"
Shen Juan raised an eyebrow in surprise, "You know me?"
The bald man forced a smile and fawned, "Last time, when Mr. Zhao caught Lord Meng, I was in the crowd and saw you."
Back then, Zhao Douan and Princess Yunyang's lover, Marquis Xiajiang, were in a feud. Marquis Xiajiang had sent Red Flower Society members to kidnap Feng Ju's daughter.
At that time, the leader of the Red Flower Society, "Lord Meng," ended up in the Imperial Prison and nearly lost his life.
Since then, every underground gang in the capital feared Yama Zhao as if he were a ghost.
Shen Juan smiled, "That's convenient. Your men bumped into my master..."
With just a few words, cold sweat beaded on the bald man's forehead, and he paled with fright.
"These people are yours to deal with. Remember, if anything happens to those receiving charity today, if there's any retaliation... you know the consequence." Shen Juan dusted off his hands and left, "Also, if even a hint of my master's presence here today leaks out, your entire family won't live."
As he left, Mr. Wen and the group of ruffians were slumped on the ground, their faces pale as several wet themselves.
Only then did they realize whom they had truly provoked.
The bald man humbly saw Shen Juan off, then slowly straightened up, his face livid as he glared fiercely at the group of thugs on the ground.
Before long, the courtyard echoed with the sound of breaking legs and muffled cries of pain.
...
...
Two carriages, one in front of the other, moved through the snow in East City.
In the carriage behind, Princess Wen Zhu drew back the curtain, letting in the cool air from outside.
The fur of the fox fur scarf around her neck gently trembled.
"Princess, there's something off about this Lin Ke."
In the carriage with her, a tall female warrior guard whispered urgently in Western Regions dialect, "This man, by his gestures, is clearly trained in martial arts, yet I find him unreadable. And those house servants and maid of his, they're not just simple domestics."
Princess Wen Zhu replied softly, "It's not surprising. Someone with such manners must come from a distinguished family. It's common in the Great Yu Dynasty for their children to train in martial arts or even cultivation, with skilled protectors by their side."
The ever-vigilant female warrior, who never parted from her scimitar, frowned and said, "But Princess... don't you think it's too coincidental? I won't deny it; Yu Country has many strong individuals, but for us to encounter such a person so conveniently..."
Princess Wen Zhu turned to look at her loyal bodyguard, "Are you suggesting this might be a deliberate approach?"
The female warrior lowered her head respectfully, "I'm merely guessing. Many will inevitably take notice now that you've arrived in the capital."
Although Princess Wen Zhu was compassionate, even overly so like a "Holy Mother," she was no fool. She calmly said, "You have a point; we'll observe further. However, from what I've seen, when Mr. Lin discussed donations and relief, he spoke with a conviction that didn't seem feigned."
The female warrior sighed, "Princess, you're too kind, too quick to see the good in others. The Yu Country people have deep minds, adept at scheming, not as straightforward as us from the Western Regions."
You really are straightforward... am I not one of those you call Yu Country people? Princess Wen Zhu mused with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
At this moment, the carriage slowly came to a halt.
Princess Wen Zhu stepped out, her boots sinking into the snow, as she saw a building named "Orphanage" in front of her.
Zhao Douan also stepped out and, along with two subordinates, retrieved bags of rice and bundles of winter clothing from the carriage.
He called out hoarsely, clutching a large bundle of clothing in each hand, "Wu! Open the door!"
Soon, the door to the charity opened with a creak. An elderly gatekeeper with a weathered face, missing a leg but still radiating spirit, opened the door on a wooden prosthetic.
Upon seeing Zhao Douan, he beamed, "Mr. Lin! You've come!"
This orphanage was precisely the one Zhao Douan had previously supported, and he was well-acquainted with the elderly porter, who also happened to be the head of the entire charitable institution.
