Liu Ling'er didn't call out to Liu Cheng. She was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Now, seeing her brother dragging the Grand Li princess into the rouge shop, she was instantly so frightened her face turned ashen.
Liu Cheng grabbed Hui'an's wrist and pulled her into the rouge shop. Wang Qiancheng stood in front of Hui'an, blocking the enraged citizens. No one paid attention to Nan Yuan'er, who had fallen to the ground, her head bleeding profusely from the collision.
The woman who had been pressing down on Nan Yuan'er had already disappeared. In their fervor, the citizens had no time to avoid her. One stepped, two trampled. Nan Yuan'er initially struggled and pushed back with all her might, but now she was about to be trampled to death by the crowd.
The patrol battalion received the news and rushed over with their sabers. Seeing the seething crowd, they took out their whistles and blew them fiercely. The whistles, like thunder, exploded in everyone's ears, stopping the crowd from rushing into the rouge shop.
The patrol battalion surged forward, separating the crowd, only to discover the unconscious person who had already been trampled by the mob. Li Hao reached out to check her breathing. Seeing her weak pulse, he feared she wouldn't survive and his expression immediately changed. "Quick, send her to Tongji Pharmacy!"
Only then did the crowd notice Nan Yuan'er's tragic state. They were instantly terrified, their faces pale and their bodies trembling.
Wang Qiancheng reminded Li Hao, "That's the fourth young lady of the Nan family, Nan Yuan'er!"
"What?"
Li Hao's expression changed again, becoming several times uglier than before.
Within their jurisdiction, a riot had broken out on the streets of the capital. Although the incident had happened suddenly, if one were to count meticulously, their patrol battalion was not without fault. If this matter had been handled smoothly, it would have at most resulted in a reprimand. But now, someone was injured, and might even die. The nature of the matter had immediately changed.
Moreover, if the deceased were an ordinary citizen, it would be one thing. But if the deceased were a noble lady, the matter would be brought before the Emperor. The Emperor was already enraged by the massacre of soldiers on the border. At this time, to incur the Emperor's wrath, a single mistake could lead to a death sentence! If Li Hao had previously considered showing leniency to the citizens due to their large numbers, he no longer had such thoughts. He suddenly looked up, at the hundreds of people before him, and with a wave of his hand, ordered, "Arrest all these people and send them to the Jingzhao Prefectural Yamen."
"Sir, we..."
"Sir, Grand Li massacred our Lin Yuan citizens. We are truly enraged. Moreover, we have not broken any laws, Sir..."
"Silence!"
Li Hao glared with his stern eyes, looking at the flustered crowd trying to辩解. He pointed at their noses and roared, "You'd best pray that the fourth young lady of the Nan family can weather this crisis. If the fourth young lady dies because of you, every single one of you will not escape the fate of exile and branding."
"Take them all away!"
"We are not convinced, I..."
The citizens pushed against the patrol battalion soldiers, shouting in agreement, their faces flushed and brows furrowed, giving the impression they were ready to revolt if a single word was out of place.
Li Hao drew the saber from his waist and swung it down fiercely. A large chunk of the stone steps in front of the rouge shop was cleanly sliced off. Seeing the smoothly cut stone, everyone shivered as if plunged into an ice cave.
Li Hao raised his saber and placed it on the shoulder of the person shouting the loudest. Killing intent surged from him. "Anyone who dares to resist arrest will be executed on the spot!"
"Yes!"
Hearing this, the patrol battalion instantly drew the sabers from their waists and shouted in unison. Their momentum was immense, and a chilling aura spread and emanated. Seeing the situation, the citizens no longer dared to resist. If this saber could so easily slice off stone steps, what about their heads?
Even with branding and exile, it was better than losing their lives.
Seeing that the citizens no longer resisted, Li Hao raised his hand and ordered his men to escort the troublemaking citizens to the Jingzhao Prefectural Yamen. He himself stayed behind and cupped his fists towards Wang Qiancheng and Liu Cheng, thanking them. "Thank you, Brother Wang and Brother Liu, for your help today." He then prepared to bow!
If not for Wang Qiancheng and Liu Cheng protecting them, it wouldn't have been just Nan Yuan'er who was seriously injured today. In this sensitive and special period, if the Grand Li princess died at the hands of Lin Yuan citizens, regardless of whether this incident had a good or bad impact on the war, he, the deputy commander of the patrol battalion, would have been beheaded for dereliction of duty.
Thinking of this, Wang Qiancheng and Liu Cheng could be considered his saviors, worthy of his bow!
"General Li is too kind. Brother Liu and I merely did what any Lin Yuan person would do. Protecting the country is everyone's responsibility. How can we accept such thanks from a general?" Wang Qiancheng grabbed Li Hao's hand, preventing him from bowing. His expression was candid, without any hint of seeking credit. He was also unlike any of the dissolute youths Li Hao had encountered before. If he hadn't heard about Wang Qiancheng's past absurdities, Li Hao would have found it difficult to associate the person before him with the name Wang Qiancheng.
Who said that dissolute youths were all useless fools? Who said they were trash who only knew about pleasure and indulgence? In Li Hao's opinion, Wang Qiancheng and Liu Cheng at this moment were merely noble youths living in times of peace. Although they had indulged in pleasure in the past, if their country was in danger, they were willing to shed their fine clothes, put on armor, and defend their country without retreat, truly ambitious individuals.
"Good, good, 'Protecting the country is everyone's responsibility.' Brother Wang, hearing about you is not as good as meeting you. You truly impress me..." Li Hao said, then changed his tone. "Since Brother Wang has said this, it would seem hypocritical for me to insist on thanking you. If you don't mind, after I've dealt with this matter, would you two be willing to join me for a simple drink?"
Li Hao was straightforward, and Wang Qiancheng was even more so, readily agreeing. "In that case, my brother and I will not refuse."
"Excellent, it's a deal then!"
As Li Hao finished speaking, he finally looked at Hui'an, his expression lacking some of its smile. After all, the news of Grand Li invading and slaughtering border soldiers had spread. Li Hao found it difficult to greet Hui'an with a smile.
He bowed to Hui'an and said, "I apologize for frightening the princess. I will escort you back to the post station to rest."
While it was called escorting, it was not without a sense of control. However, Hui'an did not get angry at Li Hao's attitude, nor was she frightened by the recent turmoil. Her hands were clasped naturally in front of her. After Li Hao finished speaking, she smiled and nodded gently with a soft voice. "Then I'll trouble you, General."
After speaking, she bowed to Wang Qiancheng and Liu Cheng. "If not for the two of you today, Hui'an fears she would have lost her life at the hands of the citizens. This kindness, Hui'an will remember it in her heart. Should the two of you ever need Hui'an's help in the future, Hui'an will do her utmost to repay your life-saving grace."
"Your Highness is too kind!"