The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 9: On the Qianmen Street

Emperor Yongchang stood silently in front of the Yuqing Palace, feeling melancholy for a while. Then he sighed deeply, turned around and walked towards the Qianqing Palace. At this time, he spoke: "Dai Quan."

"The old slave is here."

"Tell the people in the Imperial Hospital that if they cure the Crown Prince's illness, I will reward them handsomely!"

"According to the order."

As Emperor Yongchang walked, he asked Dai Quan, "Do you think Prince Zhong's curse will come true?"

Dai Quan was in a dilemma. He hesitated for a long time before he said carefully: "I think the princes are still very filial to the emperor."

Emperor Yongchang knew that the discussion would lead to no results, so he changed the subject: "How is the Daming Palace?"

Dai Quan: "It's time to eat and drink. Yesterday I led a group of concubines to visit the garden and enjoy the scenery."

Emperor Yongchang snorted and said, "He is living a comfortable life."

Dai Quan sighed in his heart. He really felt sorry for Prince Zhong.

Emperor Yongchang suddenly thought, "How is the investigation of old doctor Wang going?"

"We've checked and it wasn't Prince Zhong who did it, and it has nothing to do with the retired emperor." Dai Quan said affirmatively.

There was a look of disappointment and confusion in Emperor Yongchang's eyes.

Soon, they arrived outside the Qianqing Palace.

At this time, a red-robed eunuch from the Imperial Household Department hurried over from the Baohe Hall and whispered something in Dai Quan's ear.

Dai Quan was slightly startled, then quickly caught up and said to Emperor Yongchang: "Your Majesty, there is a fight going on in Qianmen Street."

Emperor Yongchang stopped.

Dai Quan continued, "A group of noble sons led people to beat up the patrolling soldiers of the South Camp. The leader was the son of Wang Ziteng, the governor of the Beijing Camp."

Emperor Yongchang snorted, turned around and walked into the Qianqing Palace.

After the Dashun Dynasty established its capital in Beijing, it granted titles and status to those who made significant contributions to the court, and their descendants also enjoyed noble identities and status.

Those children of nobles have been living a life of luxury since birth, and their families have hereditary titles and properties, so they will be able to live a life without worries about food and clothing in the future no matter what.

Imagine if you were destined from birth to do nothing in your life and still have no worries about food and clothing, would you still have a strong enterprising spirit?

These idle sons of nobles could often be seen on the streets of the capital, holding a bird cage in their hands or a shadowy vulture on their shoulders, followed by a group of wolf-like servants, shouting and running rampant on the streets, making the capital a mess.

Li Hu whipped his whip fiercely and the horse rushed out of Chongwen Gate like an arrow.

Ever since he took over the South Camp, he knew that he would come up against this group of noble children, but he didn't expect it to happen so soon.

The cause was simple. Han Qi, the son of Jinxiang, was drunk and accidentally knocked down a vendor carrying candied haws.

Han Qi went out to the banquet with only a servant, and neither the master nor the servant had any money, so he wanted to leave a message saying "I'll pay for your meal tomorrow" and then leave.

Seeing that Han Qi was drunk, the vendor didn't dare to let him leave. He grabbed Han Qi's arm and asked him to pay for the candied haws rolling on the ground.

Han Qi was used to being domineering. Seeing a candied haws seller dare to question him in the street and even grab his arm with his stinky hand, he could not help but get furious. He shouted, "Hit him!"

The master and servant grabbed the man selling candied haws and started beating him until his head and face were covered in blood. He knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.

Han Qi was still not satisfied, so he smashed the carrying pole of the candied haws, and the candied haws were scattered all over the street.

He happened to be bumped into by patrolling soldiers from the South Camp, who subdued Han Qi.

Han Qi was drunk and thought that the patrolling soldiers were deliberately trying to embarrass him, so he not only cursed at them, but also beat up the two soldiers from the South Camp who attacked him.

Normally, the sons of nobles would travel in groups, followed by a group of ferocious servants. The patrolling soldiers didn't think much of this, and thought Han Qi was just a prodigal son of a wealthy family.

They still dare to take action against such families. Not only can they maintain public order, but they can also make some money.

They were always very polite to such a "God of Wealth". They just subdued Han Qi and did not put handcuffs on him.

Because Han Qi beat up officers and soldiers in the street and cursed them very harshly, the leading officer slapped him and put handcuffs on him.

Han Qi's servant saw that something was wrong and ran back to the restaurant to call for help.

The person who hosted the banquet today was none other than Wang Li, the son of Wang Ziteng, the governor of Beijing Camp.

Upon hearing this, Wang Li was furious. He, along with several sons of nobles and a dozen servants, stopped the patrolling soldiers who were escorting Han Qi to the Nanying government office. Pointing at the leading officer, he said, "My name is Wang Li, the son of the governor of the Beijing camp." After that, he ordered the servants to beat the patrolling soldiers severely.

When they heard that the other party was the son of the governor of the Beijing camp, no one dared to resist. They squatted on the ground and took the beating motionlessly.

There are three captains in the South Camp. In addition to being responsible for their own fixed areas, they also have to dispatch personnel to patrol Qianmen Street together. This team of patrolling soldiers happens to be Captain Sun's men.

Perhaps he felt very ashamed, or perhaps he had other thoughts, but General Sun Qian led his men to surround Wang Li, Han Qi and others. They did not arrest them, nor did they let them leave. They just surrounded them.

This incident happened on Qianmen Street and there were many people watching.

Li Hu pulled the reins suddenly.

Zhang Cheng, Wang Daniu and others also reined in their horses.

"Are you blind? Don't you know who I am? Are you tired of living? Do you believe that I will bring people to smash your South Camp?" An extremely arrogant voice was heard.

Li Hu looked over and saw a young man in a brocade robe glaring at General Sun Qian.

Ok?
Li Hu narrowed his eyes. Are you so reckless?
Captains Zhao and Qian also came and stood silently beside Captain Sun.

The patrolling soldiers who had been beaten were still lying there, their heads and faces covered in blood.

Li Hu's eyes slowly swept across the faces of the soldiers in the South Camp. Most of them, like Zhao, Qian and Sun, had numb and indifferent looks on their faces. Some also had looks of resentment and deep humiliation!

Li Hu watched everyone's reactions calmly and said, "Disperse the onlookers first." Wang Daniu waved his hand.

The cavalry from the South Camp began to drive away the crowd.

The onlookers scattered in all directions.

Li Hu squeezed his legs together and urged his horse forward.

The soldiers from the South Camp saluted one after another. Zhao, Qian and Sun looked at each other and came over to greet them.

Zhao, Qian, and Sun: "Sir."

Li Hu nodded, turned to Zhang Cheng and said, "Carry them to the clinic."

Zhang Cheng: "Yes." Then he ordered the soldiers from the South Camp, who had just shown angry and humiliated looks, to carry the injured patrol soldiers to the clinic for treatment.

Li Hu turned his gaze to Wang Li again. It had to be said that this son of Wang Ziteng who appeared out of nowhere had a good appearance but a low IQ.

Wang Li spoke up: "You are that person. I'll give you some face and apologize, and this matter will be over."

Li Hu didn't bother to pay attention to him and looked at General Sun Qian: "Where are the others?"

Mr. Sun Qian was slightly stunned.

Wang Li spoke again: "A man should take responsibility for his own actions. I had your men beaten up by someone else, and it has nothing to do with others."

Li Hu was so happy that he was so righteous!

General Sun Qian continued, "The eldest master didn't do it. It was his servants who did it."

Li Hu glanced at him: "You are very clear about it."

Mr. Sun Qian smiled awkwardly.

Li Hu: "What is the crime of beating the police and obstructing public affairs?"

Sun Qianzong's eyes gleamed with light, but he hesitated to answer: "Well, beating the official in the street is a serious offense, but these servants were not armed, so they should be punished one level lighter according to the law of assault with sticks. In addition, they were just following orders, so they are considered accomplices, and according to the law they should be whipped forty times and then released."

Accessory?

Li Hu raised his eyebrows and turned to stare at General Sun Qian. This look made General Sun Qian feel uneasy.

Zhao and Qian's eyes lit up, they looked at each other, and then looked at Li Hu together.

After a long while, Li Hu spoke up, "Then let's fight."

General Sun Qian was delighted, but he pretended to be silent for a long time before he said, "Sir, should we hand them over to the palace for disposal?"

Li Hu: "Then I'll listen to you."

General Sun Qian: "Oh! Sir, please don't make such a joke. You are the one who makes the decisions in Nanying. Besides, if the people below knew about this, how could I stay in Nanying with dignity?"

Li Hu still said calmly: "Fight."

"I heard it all!" General Sun Qian spoke in a loud voice, and the surroundings immediately became quiet.

Sun Qianzong said loudly: "The Lord has ordered that the accomplice be flogged forty times!" He emphasized the word "accomplice" and winked at his trusted officer.

The officer waved his hand and a group of soldiers rushed forward.

The onlookers all came over excitedly.

The windows on the upper floors on both sides of the street were also opened, and countless pairs of eyes were looking here.

The servants of the Wang family panicked: "Master, save us!"

The soldiers of the South Camp had suffered enough from these slaves, and now, relying on Li Hu's support, two of them pinned down a struggling servant of the Wang family and pressed them all to the ground, while the rest of them hurriedly undressed and tore off the servants' shirts in an instant, revealing their naked upper bodies.

"How dare you! Let me go!"

Wang Li was so angry that his face turned pale. He shouted at Li Hu: "Why do you have to pick on me?"

Just then, the sound of whips was heard, and more than a dozen whips were lashed down on the servants' backs.

"Ouch!" the servants screamed immediately.

The silence lasted only a moment, and then there was a loud "boom" and the crowd immediately became agitated.

Wang Li was covered with his hands, his face was as white as paper, his two thin lips kept trembling, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

The forty lashes were quickly completed, and the servants' backs were covered with crisscross marks of whipping and blood!

The onlookers burst into cheers.

Wang Li finally came to his senses and yelled at Li Hu, "I'll remember you!"

At this moment, someone in the crowd shouted, "Don't let the principal criminal escape!"

Wang Li turned his head and searched the crowd with his eyes shining: "Who is talking? Who was talking just now?"

The person who spoke was obviously discouraged and did not dare to respond.

Wang Li snorted coldly and shouted to the servants, "Stand up, don't be a coward!"

The servants moved slightly and tried to get up, but ended up lying on the ground without moving.

There was a burst of laughter from the crowd.

(End of this chapter)