Chapter 217: Go Find Sect Leader Xu Quickly!

“Ding Suian! How dare you insult this Prince!”

Chen Hong’s face turned as red as blood, and his fat body trembled violently.

Even Han Jingru, who always maintained a refined smile, was stunned on the spot.

He simply couldn’t understand why Ding Suian would do this.

“The Prince just said himself that the Physical Body Atlas is an elegant and romantic affair. This humble official merely wanted to witness the Princess’s grace; how can that be considered an insult?”

It seems Chen Hong doesn’t treat everyone as less than human after all.

Look, as soon as it was mentioned that his wife should come and make an imprint, look how anxious he became.

This shows he is well aware that the so-called ‘Physical Body Atlas’ is a deeply humiliating affair.

Or rather, in his eyes, only those of his own class count as people.

“You… You! Madman!”

Chen Hong extended his arm, pointing his finger like a halberd at Ding Suian, unable to form coherent sentences in his rage.

Ding Suian didn’t like having a finger pointed at his nose. He raised his hand and slapped Chen Hong’s hand away, then looked around at Yu Bowen and Han Jingru, letting out a god-like chuckle, “Scions of nobility? I previously thought that although Brother Han had minor flaws in character, he was ultimately an upright and open person. Who knew he was actually a shameless beast in human clothing?”

Well, even Han Jingru, who hadn’t provoked him, got scolded.

As for Yu Bowen, he didn’t even qualify to be scolded.

After venting, feeling slightly less pent-up, Ding Suian turned and left.

“Arrogant! Insolent!”

A mere Founding Baron dared to humiliate him, the dignified Prince of Linping, to his face. Chen Hong even caught a glimmer of disdain in his eyes, and couldn’t help but fly into a rage, roaring: “Someone come! Seize this arrogant rogue. If he dares to resist, kill him without mercy!”

After all, this was a Prince’s residence; it naturally had its own guards.

With his shout, dozens of guards immediately swarmed in from outside the courtyard. The clanging sound of blades being drawn was incessant, and in an instant, they surrounded Ding Suian, who had just stepped out of the flower hall.

Ding Suian stood with his hands behind his back under the corridor. Although he carried no weapon, his gaze, as he swept over the guards, carried an Aura of tiger-like confidence.

“I am Ding Suian, Inspector of the Nine Gates, tasked by Princess Xingguo to thoroughly investigate the treason case of Prince Anping. Do not make a mistake, you lot.”

Upon hearing this, the guards were in an uproar, and their blades unconsciously lowered a few degrees.

In the first place, Ding Suian’s deeds had been widely circulated in the army in recent years; saving his comrades by crossing the Heavy Yin, returning to the country over a thousand miles; acting as an envoy to Southern Zhao, defeating the Southern Kingdom’s experts, and facilitating the return of prisoners of war—that concerned the sons of so many families, the fathers and brothers of so many people.

The army valued loyalty and courage, and even more so, respected deep affections.

Coupled with the fact that seven thousand prisoners of war had been reorganized into various armies and, out of gratitude, had widely spread his reputation for loyalty and righteousness, ‘Little Ding’ possessed immense prestige among the lower and middle-ranking Soldiers.

Furthermore, he had just said he was investigating the case under the orders of Princess Xingguo.

The guards dared not act rashly.

Just as they were in this stalemate, Chen Hong’s exasperated roar came from inside the hall again: “Kill him without mercy! I will take responsibility if anything happens!”

An officer who appeared to be the captain of the guards took a deep breath, quietly turned his blade toward the ground, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying in a low voice: “Lord, it is our duty. Please, stay for a moment.”

“I will not stay.”

Ding Suian’s tone was calm but exceptionally firm.

The atmosphere in the scene suddenly tightened.

He swept his calm gaze over the guards and said indifferently: “Your wives and children at home are waiting for you to finish your shift and return home safely. I do not want to hurt you.”

“…”

The guard captain, still holding the cupped-hand gesture, stiffened.

He certainly knew that his small group of men couldn’t keep Ding Suian. After thinking for a moment, he pulled his toes slightly inward.

This was a very subtle movement, but it expressed his attitude by using Ding Suian’s figure to block Chen Hong’s line of sight.

Ding Suian stepped forward and walked past him.

The guards looked at each other, and no one dared to move.

“Madman! Stop!”

Seeing him just walk away like that, Chen Hong’s fat body stumbled out of the flower hall, but Ding Suian’s figure had already disappeared at the courtyard gate. For some reason, he didn’t dare to continue chasing Ding Suian.

Instead, he turned around abruptly, pulled out the jade belt from his waist, and lashed out at the guard captain.

“Useless trash!”

The jade belt fell heavily with the sound of wind. The guard captain stood silently with his head bowed, his forehead instantly swelling and bleeding.

Chen Hong’s face was twisted as he hissed curses: “What use are you all to me! You can’t even stop a single madman!”

“…”

It was easy to say. The Duke of Chu County was not only a favored subject of Your Highness but also held the title of ‘Invincible below the Yugang Realm’. In the entire Central Heaven, apart from those big shots in the army, who could guarantee they could take him down?

Why don’t you do it yourself!

“Useless! Useless!”

Chen Hong still wasn’t satisfied. With every curse, he lashed out hard, the gold and jade ornaments on the belt cutting the guard captain’s cheek.

Only when he was exhausted did he plop down on the steps outside the flower hall and pant violently.

The lamplight illuminated the cold sweat on his greasy face.

“Dutou Wang, go get bandaged.”

Han Jingru first waved to the blood-covered captain, dismissing the guards, and then sat down beside Chen Hong with a complex expression. “Brother.”

“This Prince and this madman are irreconcilable enemies!”

After cursing to vent some anger, Chen Hong immediately whined aggrievedly: “This Prince told Sect Leader Xu long ago that this brat is arrogant and cannot be used! But the Sect Leader insisted that I befriend him.”

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became. He suddenly struggled to stand up, his fat body trembling. “Prepare the carriage! This Prince is going to the Law Academy right now. Since Sect Leader Xu organized this, she must preside over justice!”

End of the Xu hour.

As the lanterns were lit, Ding Suian returned to his home on Suimian Street.

In the back courtyard, he pushed the door open and entered the room. As expected.

Amidst the swaying candlelight, Xu Jiuxi was reclining on Ding Suian’s bed.

She was wearing only a rouge-colored thin silk nightgown, the sash tied loosely, revealing her ample bosom in a provocative display.

“Old Xu, you’re sticking around my place, aren’t you?”

She was more punctual coming home than Ding Suian, as if this house on Suimian Street were her own.

Seeing Ding Suian enter, she lazily propped up her upper body, the silk fabric sliding down her curves. “How was tonight? Did you enjoy the banquet?”

“I didn’t get enough to eat~”

He had only eaten a few slices of honeydew melon, and the main course hadn’t even been served yet before he almost got into a fight with Chen Hong. Of course, he wasn’t full.

Xu Jiuxi assumed he hadn’t eaten enough because he felt restrained at the Linping Commandery Princes Residence, and couldn’t help laughing: “Then what else do you want to eat? Big sister will treat you~”

Compared to the morning, she was clearly in a much better mood. After all, Ding Suian had ultimately listened to her and attended the banquet.

Although the price was getting beaten twice in the morning.

However, she was enjoying it.

“Let’s go to the South Market to eat wontons.”

Ding Suian was suddenly struck by a whim. Xu Jiuxi thought for a moment, then stood up and said, “Alright, wait for me to change.”

After speaking, she directly took off her nightgown in front of him, stark naked.

Then she took her clothes. Probably feeling that she would have to take them off again when she returned from eating, she simply didn’t put on any undergarments and just put the clothes directly on.

“…Old Xu, is it really that much trouble to save time?”

“Isn’t it for your convenience later?”

Xu Jiuxi gave him a charming, flirtatious glance, but Ding Suian said: “Don’t! Between the two of us, you are the thirstier one.”

It’s said that people are different. Back then, whether it was Zhao Yan or Lin Hansu, there was always a process of development and getting to the bottom of things.

But Old Xu was different. She came at it like she had been living as a widow for three hundred years; it was called greedy.

Yet her ability wasn’t up to par, very weak~

Both bad and loves to play.

Walking out of the room, Ding Suian glanced at the wall, calculating whose house he should vault over to get out, but Xu Jiuxi suddenly grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the front courtyard.

“Old Xu, what are you doing?”

“Walking through the front door for once.”

“Why use the front door when there’s a wall to jump over?”

“Today, I insist on walking through the front door.”

“Then walk yourself.”

“If I walk myself, then I walk myself. If your steward asks me later why I am in your house, I will just state my name directly~”

“…”

Front courtyard.

Hu Couhe was holding a teapot, slightly hunched over, inspecting his own little plot of land.

Little Hu was only in his early twenties, but he insisted on acting like an old man.

It is said that he learned it from Steward Lin next door. This way, he would appear steady and have dignity.

“Lord…”

Just as he was pondering how to walk with Steward Lin’s dignified gait, he suddenly caught sight of his Lord walking out from the back courtyard. Before he could finish his greeting, he saw the stunningly beautiful woman beside him.

Hu Couhe looked at the woman, then at Ding Suian, his mouth wide open. How did they come out of the back courtyard?

“Ahem, Make Do, this is a colleague from my office. We were just discussing some official business in the back courtyard, and I am seeing her out now.”

“Uh… Oh, oh.”

After the two left the mansion, Hu Couhe looked at the two figures in the night, always feeling that something was wrong.

Eh? When did this colleague come in?

Stepping onto Suimian Street, the arm Ding Suian had just freed when stepping out of the door was wrapped up by Xu Jiuxi again.

“Let go, there are many acquaintances on Suimian Street.”

Ding Suian tried to pull his arm out again, but Xu Jiuxi suddenly hugged it even tighter, raising her eyebrows: “What? Is my appearance, Xu Jiuxi’s, not something you can take out in public?”

“What does that have to do with appearance? You and I are colleagues; we should maintain a proper distance.”

“Tch~”

Xu Jiuxi snorted coldly, her arm still not loosening, while she changed the subject: “How was the banquet tonight? How did you chat with Chen Hong?”

“Pretty good. At least I felt quite satisfied.”