22. First Clash

Jing Wei is currently the eldest among the princes and the one with the highest support to ascend to the Eastern Palace. His mother, Consort Xian, Gong Yuhong, is also the most favored of all the emperor's consorts.

Soon, Jing Wei assembled four hundred guards and the seventy-two Earthly Fiends. Accompanied by his personal bodyguards, he set off toward the Qian mansion.

"They really are coming." The man arranged by Jing Chen spotted the dense crowd, turned, and ran toward the Capital Prefecture to beat the drum.

Although it was deep into the night, the Capital Prefecture still had officials on duty. Hearing the drum, they immediately demanded, "Who is beating the drum in the dead of night?"

"Outside the Qian mansion, hundreds of people have gathered and are about to start a slaughter," the man reported.

Under the very feet of the Emperor, hundreds of men were causing trouble... If they could turn a blind eye, they would. But the problem was that a report had been filed; if things escalated, everyone in the Capital Prefecture, from top to bottom, would be held accountable.

"Lead the way!"
"Yes!"

Inside the Qian mansion, the scene was stained with blood. From time to time, wails could be heard—those were people still undergoing torture. In the room, only two figures remained.

"The Qian clan has fallen. As long as you are obedient, I can offer you a way to live," Jing Chen said.

Hearing this, Qian Jiaojiao gritted her teeth and sneered, "You want me to betray the Qian clan and become your dog?"

"Precisely," Jing Chen nodded.

"In your dreams!"

The woman knew the Qian clan had no hope left, so she threw caution to the wind and let her temper explode. "I would rather die than submit to you! If you have any guts, just give me a quick end!"

Jing Chen lashed out with his whip. "I will make my position clear. Today, not a single man of the Qian clan will survive. If you cooperate, the women may be spared."

Qian Jiaojiao’s eyes flickered, as if she were still struggling.

Jing Chen looked toward the door and said sharply, "Zhao Hu."
"Here," Zhao Hu replied from outside.
"Except for Qian Hao, drag all the other males away. Sever their heads, and preserve them with lime and saltpeter."

*Splat, splat—*

Soon, the crisp sound of blades cutting through heads echoed from outside. Qian Jiaojiao trembled, knelt down shakily, and crawled to Jing Chen’s feet, begging, "I beg you, can you spare my father?"

"Impossible," Jing Chen said with ironclad finality. "Look and listen—your Qian clan has bullied the weak, forced good women into prostitution, and engaged in deceit and fraud... Your crimes are too numerous to recount and have incensed both man and god!" With that, he held a blade to her throat.

Qian Jiaojiao knelt on the floor, clutching Jing Chen’s knees, and kowtowed. "Your Highness, I was wrong. I am willing to serve you with my life; I only ask that you show mercy."

Jing Chen looked down at her, staring into her eyes. "When enemies kill each other, the women are spared—but do you know how one ensures they don't harbor thoughts of revenge?"

"I... I know," Qian Jiaojiao said, her face flushing crimson, and she began to slowly untie her robe...

Jing Chen pressed her hand down, a smirk playing on his lips. He gave a gentle tug and said, "As long as you know. Since your family has met with such a tragedy today, I will enjoy you from now on." He then used a leather whip to bind her hands.

At the entrance, Jing Wei’s men had arrived but had not forced their way in; the conflict had not yet erupted. Jing Wei, feeling uneasy, had followed behind his troops.

"What is going on? Why haven't you gone in? Call Black Tiger to me!" Jing Wei ordered.
"Yes."

A moment later, a man standing eight feet tall with a robust physique appeared before Jing Wei. This was Black Tiger, the most trusted of Jing Wei’s inner circle.

"Greetings, Your Highness."
"You idiot! Did you come here to guard the door or to take a dump?" Jing Wei roared as soon as he saw him.
"Your Highness, the Prince of Leisure is inside. Are we to just go in and finish him off now?" Black Tiger asked, feeling aggrieved.
"Fool!" Jing Wei kicked him. "Just grab a couple of men to hold him down and kill the rest, wouldn't that suffice?"

Black Tiger waved his hand immediately: "Charge in!"
The conflict at the door finally exploded.

Long Yi had arrived at the Qian mansion with the guards of the Prince of Leisure’s estate. At this moment, Zhang Meng, Zhao Hu, Wang Chao, Long Yi, and their men were fighting desperately at the gate, shielding Jing Chen closely.

Suddenly, Jing Chen let out a thunderous shout: "Everyone, stop! Whoever dares to step inside, execute them without mercy!" The entire scene fell into a stunned silence.

Jing Chen walked to the main gate, radiating a murderous aura. "Everyone, retreat behind me!" The guards obeyed and fell back.

Black Tiger stepped forward, bowing respectfully, "Your Highness...!"

"Get lost! What are you? Why should you speak to me? Are you... worthy? Bring your master here!" Jing Chen barked.

"Second Brother, I know you are here. I, a 'foolish' prince, dare to stand in front of my men, yet you shrink and hide behind like a turtle. Does that befit your status as a prince?" Jing Chen shouted.

Jing Wei, hearing the provocation, knew he could no longer hide. He rode his horse to the gate, looked at Jing Chen, and smiled. "Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, you’re playing a game of 'black eating black,' and you’re eating into your Second Brother’s territory? Qian Sheng was truly incompetent!"

After speaking, Jing Wei raised his right hand, and his archers drew their bows, aiming inside the gate...

Suddenly, outside the perimeter, there was a commotion—swords were drawn, and bowstrings twanged... Everyone was astonished and turned to look.

"Nobody move, or you will be shot down!" a stern voice commanded.

It was Li Lingfei of the Capital Prefecture, arriving with his troops. Seeing Jing Wei and Jing Chen in a standoff, his heart sank—he could not afford to offend either prince!

Jing Wei, the current favorite to assist the Emperor, was at the height of his power with deep roots in the court; trying to deal with a Capital Prefecture official would be as easy as crushing an ant. Li Lingfei did not want to get involved in the court’s infighting.

Jing Wei glanced sideways at Li Lingfei and said, "Magistrate Li, a wise man submits to circumstances. You had best not interfere, do not get involved, act as if nothing has happened, and leave at once. When this is over, I will report it to the Emperor myself; it will have nothing to do with your Capital Prefecture!"

Li Lingfei’s face reddened. He stiffened his neck and said, "Your Highness, forgive this official, but I cannot obey. Someone beat the drum to report a crime; I cannot ignore it."

"Second Brother, don't make things difficult for Magistrate Li. Do you want to play 'black eating black'? Or are you afraid that the things the Qian clan did will implicate you?" Jing Chen said with a smile. "Magistrate Li, these are the proofs of the Qian clan's crimes, all signed and sealed." He handed over a stack of evidence.

Li Lingfei took a quick look and tucked the evidence into his robes.

Jing Chen continued, "Magistrate Li, I am here today to have a fair and open gamble with the head of the Qian clan; everyone can bear witness. The reason I am raiding the house is because the head of the Qian clan owes me money."

"Owes you money? How much money? I will pay it for him," Jing Wei said dismissively.

"Second Brother, I’m afraid you cannot afford the amount he owes," Jing Chen said.

Jing Wei burst into laughter, bending over and laughing until tears streamed down his face. Wiping his eyes, he said, "Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, I can't afford it? That’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard. I wonder, are you a fool, or do you simply not know what 'wealth' means?"

"Oh, really? Second Brother, that’s great. Shall we make a bet?" Jing Chen asked, sounding pleasantly surprised.

"What is the bet?" Jing Wei asked.

Jing Chen said, "Let’s bet on the Imperial Phoenix Sky Sword in your possession. If you cannot pay, the Phoenix Sky Sword belongs to me. If you can pay, then everything the Qian clan owns belongs to you, and I, along with the Prince of Leisure’s estate, will be at your disposal—including my own head."

Jing Wei thought to himself: *Seventh Brother has been a fool for years. Having just left the palace, he has no idea how many assets I have, nor could he possibly know how much money I possess. A fool is a fool. It’s just a gamble; how much could he possibly be owed?*

Thinking this, Jing Wei replied, "Seventh Brother, I accept. If you lose, you will hand over all that evidence to me, and I want you to slit your throat right here to atone for today’s transgressions." He then looked at Li Lingfei.

Li Lingfei quickly said, "This is a matter between two princes. I did not wish to get involved, but I am forced to be here. If Your Highness wins, the evidence will naturally be handed over." Li Lingfei knew that if Jing Chen lost and slit his throat, even with that evidence, he could not—and would not—dare to investigate.

The Phoenix Sky Sword was Jing Wei’s most prized possession, forged by the master swordsmith Ouyang Yezi, who had created only three famous swords in his life: Dragon Abyss, Phoenix Sky, and Giant Fault. The Dragon Abyss had been given to the deposed Crown Prince Jing Yi, and its whereabouts were now unknown. Jing Wei had received the Phoenix Sky Sword from the Emperor when he married the Crown Princess, Yang Simin. The Giant Fault was in the hands of the Second Prince of the Dayu Kingdom, Nangong Feilong.

With the terms agreed upon and Li Lingfei acting as the intermediary, Jing Wei handed over the Phoenix Sky Sword. Jing Chen waved his hand, tossed the IOU to Li Lingfei, and said, "Magistrate Li, please show it to my Second Brother."

Jing Wei looked at it with disdain, but as he read, his eyes widened until they nearly popped out of his head. "One... ten... hundred... thousand... ten thousand... hundred million... one hundred and twenty-eight million eight hundred thousand taels."

"What the hell... you... how is this possible?" Jing Wei jumped three feet into the air. Not to mention his Prince's estate, even the entire Great Yin Kingdom could not afford such a sum.

Jing Chen took Qian Jiaojiao’s hand and walked to Jing Wei, smiling, "Second Brother, this IOU is absolutely genuine; Jiaojiao can testify to it. Then, Seventh Brother thanks you, Second Brother!"

With that, he took the Phoenix Sky Sword and gifted it to Long Yi! Long Yi was flattered and could not put it down. Qian Jiaojiao looked at Jing Wei, her eyes red, and nodded.

Jing Wei’s face turned ashen; he turned around and slammed the door as he left.