The standoff moved from the shop to the bustling street, with a dense crowd of onlookers. After all, this was the first time the Shuntian Prefecture and the Five City Patrols had clashed.
"Sir, your subordinate is incompetent." Vice-Envoy Lü clutched his weapon in his left hand, his right hand merely bandaged with a torn piece of his衣摆 (yībǎi - hem of clothing), the blood already soaking through the cloth.
Commander Zhu glanced at the equally bruised but only superficially injured constables like Qing, realizing that the one who injured Lü Yi was likely the young lady Zhan's attendant.
Constable Qing stood beside Magistrate Lu and quickly recounted the events. "Steward Zeng falsely accused Miss Zhan with baseless words, and Vice-Envoy Lü intended to take her away."
Logically, the two yamen (government offices) had no conflicts and even cooperated annually to ensure the capital's stability.
However, Zhan Feiyu was Bai Zhaohui's savior. If she were to be apprehended by the Five City Patrols like this, it would be an insult to Prefect Bai. It was for this reason that Constable Qing went as far as to clash with Lü Yi to protect her.
Magistrate Lu coldly observed Steward Zeng, who was being detained by two constables. The fact that a servant sold by the Bai residence to the mines appeared in the capital, and even dared to confront Miss Zhan, indicated that someone else was behind this.
Considering how quickly the Five City Patrols arrived, Magistrate Lu, with a grim expression, knew that both publicly and privately, he could not allow Zhu Guanyu to apprehend the person.
Having roughly ascertained that Lü Yi's injuries were not severe, Commander Zhu spoke in a gentle tone, "Go to the medical clinic to treat your wound first."
"Thank you, sir. Your subordinate will go now." Lü Yi did not dare to be careless; a hand injury was no small matter for a martial artist.
However, before leaving, he cast a venomous glance at Zhan Feiyu. If these three, master and servants, were to fall into his hands...
"Magistrate Lu." Commander Zhu's face was amiable, appearing much gentler compared to the grim Magistrate Lu. "I believe Magistrate Lu is already aware of the entire situation. Regardless of whether Zeng Pin falsely accused her or not, the fact that they injured our Five City Patrols personnel is undeniable."
Lü Yi's biased actions would naturally be dealt with by the Five City Patrols according to the law. However, since He Sheng's thrown chopsticks had pierced Lü Yi's hand, Commander Zhu indeed had the right to take the person away.
As for He Sheng's potential defense that Lü Yi was using the fight as an opportunity to silence a witness, and that he acted to save Steward Zeng, without proof, these words were merely He Sheng's "one-sided account." No matter which yamen's court this was brought to, it would not stand.
Magistrate Lu's brow furrowed sharply. Even if the Five City Patrols resorted to force, the Shuntian Prefecture would not be afraid. However, Commander Zhu's words were clearly a formal approach, leaving Magistrate Lu with no way to help.
"I have heard that Miss Zhan is well-read and proficient in the laws of Daqing. I request Miss Zhan to be accommodating and hand over this attendant who injured an official to this official to be brought back to the Five City Patrols." Even at this point, Commander Zhu maintained his spring-like demeanor. Compared to the brute force of Lü Yi, his methods were far more cunning and ruthless, disarming He Sheng in a few words.
Magistrate Lu remained silent, his face ashen. If Commander Zhu intended to take Miss Zhan away, he could intervene. However, he only wished to apprehend an attendant, and moreover, an attendant who had injured a seventh-rank imperial official. Magistrate Lu could only let it be.
Zhan Feiyu truly hadn't expected that her mere act of watching a commotion would draw such trouble to herself. Crucially, from the current situation, it seemed the Five City Patrols' initial target was her.
Steward Zeng suddenly knelt before her, followed by the appearance of Shuntian Prefecture constables intending to take him away. The Five City Patrols then appeared, Steward Zeng changed his tune, falsely accusing her and attempting to drag her down with him.
A Sheng, preventing Lü Yi from seizing the opportunity to silence a witness, ended up becoming "irrefutable evidence" of injuring a court official. Not only could Magistrate Lu not interfere, but even if Prefect Bai were present, the Five City Patrols were apprehending someone according to the law, and Prefect Bai could not stop them.
"Lord Zhu." Zhan Feiyu made a gesture with her hand hidden in her sleeve, pointing her index finger in the direction Lü Yi had just left, and continued with a smile, "Earlier, Vice-Envoy Lü and Constable Qing clashed in the shop. During the fight, Vice-Envoy Lü clearly intended to seek personal revenge, and the blade was aimed at me. As a subordinate, A Sheng acted only to protect his master."
Having initially thought this young lady was someone of substance, Commander Zhu's eyes flashed with contempt upon hearing Zhan Feiyu's "shallow" defense. His expression remained gentle as he replied, "That is not quite right. In the heat of the fight, it is understandable that Miss Zhan might be frightened and mistaken. However, this is not an excuse for you to injure a court official."
"Sir, I can confirm that Vice-Envoy Lü's eyes held murderous intent at the time, and he clearly intended to kill me. A Sheng, in protecting his master, had no choice but to injure Vice-Envoy Lü. I understand you wish to protect your subordinates, but in broad daylight, with Shuntian Prefecture constables present, you can also question them as witnesses!"
Zhan Feiyu's words sounded somewhat like a nonsensical argument, yet she delivered them with righteous indignation, skillfully drawing Constable Qing and the others into the fray as witnesses.
Without any hint from Magistrate Lu, Constable Qing stepped forward, bowed to Commander Zhu, and said with a resonant voice, "Reporting to you, sir, at that time, your subordinate was engaged with Vice-Envoy Lü. The blade in his hand was indeed intentionally aimed at Miss Zhan."
Well, this was a case of everyone having their own version of the truth.
With narrowed eyes, Commander Zhu did not rush into a verbal debate with Zhan Feiyu. "Someone, go to the medical clinic and bring Vice-Envoy Lü here. This official will personally interrogate him to see if he was seeking personal revenge. If Miss Zhan's words are true, this official will punish him severely."
Changing his tone, Commander Zhu's expression abruptly shifted from gentle to fierce, and he sternly continued, "If Miss Zhan injured someone first and then falsely accused, she will be punished for both offenses. This official will not show any leniency!"
To avoid suspicion, Commander Zhu did not send the Five City Patrols alone. Instead, he dispatched two subordinates, and requested Magistrate Lu to send two men as well. The four of them went together to bring Vice-Envoy Lü back.
Turning a corner onto another street, there was a medical clinic. However, after waiting for less than half an hour.
"Could it be that Vice-Envoy Lü fled to avoid punishment?" Zhan Feiyu narrowed her eyes and smiled, her soft voice clearly conveying schadenfreude.
Commander Zhu's expression instantly turned ugly, while Magistrate Lu was utterly shocked.
"Reporting to you, sir, Vice-Envoy Lü was not found at the medical clinic." The four men were also perplexed. In such a short time, Vice-Envoy Lü had disappeared.