The three officials from Shuntian Prefecture watched in stunned silence, having never expected Xie Jiang to strike the moment the people were let in.
The womenfolk erupted into a fresh wave of screams and wails.
A young girl, shielded by a servant, was fueled by anger, her courage surging as she broke free and ran to Xie Jiang, shouting curses.
The girl appeared to be twelve or thirteen, like a delicate, tender flower.
However, when she cursed, her sharp tongue proved far more formidable than her grandmother's or mother's.
In the girl's eyes, Xie Jiang was an unforgivable, damned devil who had ruined her entire family, deserving of hell.
Xie Jiang smiled at the girl as if nothing had happened.
Everyone has a younger sister.
Her own Song Xun was only thirteen this year.
Hao Wei had no intention of letting Song Xun off the hook.
Xie Jiang walked towards the girl.
Seeing Xie Jiang's smile, Marquis Yongxin thought Xie Jiang must be burning with animalistic bloodlust, wanting to harm the young girl, and quickly stepped forward to restrain Xie Jiang.
Despite Xie Jiang's young age, she was incredibly wild when she got going.
That was precisely the source of the conflict with Hao Wei!
"What's a grown man arguing with a little girl for? Let her scold a few times..."
The Hao family's servants reacted, swiftly dragging the girl away and hiding her in a corner.
The girl shivered in the servant's embrace, her body trembling. Xie Jiang's gaze just now, that gaze...
As more fists and kicks landed on the Hao father and son, the wails of the Hao women grew more piercing and desperate.
Marquis Yongxin felt his eardrums buzzing, the sound of women crying was truly terrifying, "You don't plan on killing the Hao father and son, do you?"
Xie Jiang returned to the shade of the tree, "If I wanted to kill someone, would I go to such lengths?" One stab each would have settled it long ago.
That was true.
Marquis Yongxin was relieved that she wasn't casually killing people.
Xie Jiang sat down, "Demolish the Hao family's mansion, beat them up, and teach them how to behave, that's all."
But if the Hao family harbored resentment and continued to obstruct her...
Then it wouldn't be as simple as teaching them how to behave.
They would have to be remade.
Marquis Yongxin eyed Xie Jiang, inwardly cursing the brat as a truly wicked person, vengeful and lawless.
The moment the Hao father and son had cursed Xie Jiang's ancestors, Xie Jiang's subordinates had already covered their mouths, preventing them from spewing more foul language.
The essential undergarment for home travel and brawls, Hao Wei had previously used it and given it a poor review. Now, Hao Wei's grandfather and father were also subjected to it.
Old Master Hao, disgusted, vomited half of his digested breakfast.
However, because his mouth was gagged, the vomit surged up his throat. His nostrils, being too small, couldn't handle the volume. It sprayed out for a moment before being blocked, forcing him to swallow it back down his throat.
Who could swallow that?
Thus, Old Master Hao choked on his own vomit, rolled his eyes, and fainted.
Marquis Yongxin, startled, quickly ran over and pulled the soiled undergarment from Old Master Hao's mouth. The vomit then spilled from Old Master Hao's lips.
An unpleasant stench spread.
The young dandies covered their noses and moved far away.
Marquis Yongxin, who was closer, almost gagged and quickly threw away the undergarment in his hand, wiping his hands on his clothes.
Xie Jiang's rascals were too wicked.
Xie Jiang himself was even worse. Old Master Hao was a court official, how could he be insulted like this!
"Master! Master!"
Old Madam Hao cried out in alarm and rushed over. Seeing Old Master Hao lying on the ground, pale and motionless, she didn't know if he was alive or dead.
"Marquis Yongxin, Lord Fang, you're just watching as that little beast surnamed Xie commits such heinous acts and attempts murder!"
"He's not dead, not dead, he just fainted."
Marquis Yongxin pinched Old Master Hao's philtrum. Old Master Hao suddenly coughed, turned to the side, spat out some vomit, and slowly recovered.
"Master! Master, how are you?"
The old madam knelt beside him, crying and cursing Xie Jiang as inhuman and brutal, while also morally blackmailing Marquis Yongxin and Fang Yuchun.
The demolition squad had reached the hanging screen gate. The womenfolk, who had been hiding in the back quarters, some in panic, fled through the back door, while others, hearing that the lords had returned, took shortcuts to the front courtyard seeking protection.
In short, the Hao residence was in utter chaos.
Fang Yuchun, the Prefect of Shuntian, forced himself forward, urging Xie Jiang not to escalate the situation. He and Marquis Yongxin could serve as witnesses, allowing Xie Jiang and the Hao family to talk things over.
Xie Jiang retorted with a half-smile, "The Hao family didn't even extend a greeting to me. When they took Hao Wei from Shuntian Prefecture, why didn't Lord Fang advise the Hao family to sit down and talk with me properly?"
Fang Yuchun's expression was strange. He flicked his eyelids, "I did advise them."
It was the Hao family's first time dealing with Xie Jiang, but it wasn't Shuntian Prefecture's first time. Did he not know what kind of person Xie Jiang was?
He had anticipated that Xie Jiang would not let this matter rest.
Recalling Xie Jiang's past exploits, it wasn't difficult to reach this conclusion.
And indeed.
Wasn't he making the Hao family remember today?
The Hao family also didn't listen to advice!
What was even more absurd was that when he offered his well-intentioned advice, the Hao family thought he had been bought off by Xie Jiang, suspecting him of siding with Xie Jiang!
Could he side with Xie Jiang?
He got a headache just hearing Xie Jiang's name!
The Hao family had been living too comfortably for too long, only to have such a formidable figure descend upon them.
"Lord Fang advised the Hao family, but they didn't listen, so now you're advising me? I'm not listening either."
Xie Jiang refused clearly and decisively.
Fang Yuchun: "..."
If he weren't the Prefect of Shuntian, he would have turned and left!
He wouldn't advise anyone!
But upon turning to meet the gaze of the old Hao couple, Fang Yuchun had to continue with righteous indignation.
As the Prefect of Shuntian, he couldn't abandon his post, or the Hao family would impeach him later.
Compared to Fang Yuchun, who remained neutral and didn't want to offend either side, Marquis Yongxin truly sided with Xie Jiang.
Both were from military families, naturally feeling a closer kinship.
The Hao family had been civil officials for generations.
Moreover, Xie Jiang's simple and brutal methods were quite to Marquis Yongxin's taste, as he himself had always handled matters in a similar fashion.
"Oh, you kid, rest assured. After today, the Hao family and you are even. Three days ago, Hao Wei brought people to attack the Xie residence, and today you brought people to attack the Hao residence. Back and forth, both sides are settled. I and Lord Fang will be witnesses for both families. The Hao family will no longer trouble you, and you are not allowed to resort to violence so readily!"
Marquis Yongxin appeared to be mediating, but in reality, he was speaking in support of Xie Jiang.
Old Master Hao propped himself up and sat up with difficulty, his face a mixture of green and white. He slowly raised his head to look at Marquis Yongxin and Fang Yuchun. When he spoke, his breath was uneven, and he panted heavily, saying.
"The villain Xie Jiang ordered his subordinates to maliciously destroy the residence of a high-ranking court official, and at the same time, indulged wicked ruffians to enter the residence and plunder a large amount of property, and even wantonly beat and insulted court officials. In the eyes of Marquis Yongxin and Lord Fang, is this merely children fighting?"