The servant saw the one hundred tael silver note and casually tossed two silver ingots at her, which rolled a few times on the ground before stopping.
He looked dismissively at the girl and said, "Next time I catch you skipping out on your bill, I'll break your legs!"
Xu Dong looked at the silver on the ground, his eyes faintly filled with anger. "Pick it up and hand it to me respectfully, and this matter will be settled."
The servant seemed not to have heard clearly. He fiddled with his ear and said, "What did you say? Pick it up? Do you know who I am? I'll scare you to death just by telling you!"
"Pick it up!"
"I'm from the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion. Do you think you're qualified to tell me to pick it up?"
After speaking, the servant thought he had intimidated Fan Xudong and turned to leave with a smug smile. In an instant, he felt dizzy, and the next second, he was brutally beaten.
The others rushed to help, but before they could touch him, they were all knocked down.
A handsome kick landed on the servant's chest: "Pick it up!"
No further words, just one command, with a very clear objective.
The beaten-up servant crawled over, picked up the silver from the ground, and handed it over with both hands held above his head. Fan Xudong was satisfied and took it. "Next time I see you bullying someone, I'll beat you every time I see you. I don't care about the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion!"
"Scram!"
His overwhelming charisma and handsome demeanor made the girl's eyes widen.
The excitement was over, and the surrounding people dispersed.
At this moment, the rescued girl stepped forward and asked him, "The Ningyuan Marquis's mansion is the imperial concubine's maternal family, and the imperial concubine's son is the Prince of Xiaoyao. These two are highly favored by the Emperor. Aren't you afraid of causing trouble?"
Xu Dong shook his head. "It was their fault. Even if they complain to the Emperor, I'm not afraid!"
The girl chuckled. He was truly a fool. He would be dead before he even met the Emperor.
She took out a jade pendant and handed it to him. "If anyone troubles you, take this out and show it to them. If they don't recognize it, go to the Prefect. Don't resort to force. This might save your life."
After speaking, she ran off.
Fan Xudong held the jade pendant and looked at the departing figure. "Hey, you haven't told me your name yet. Where are you going to propose?"
"Don't dream, she won't marry you!" Fan Zehao couldn't bear to watch his dazed second brother and sighed.
He had gone out for a trip and bought nothing, but instead, he had spent two hundred taels of silver. Fan Zehao was heartbroken.
As soon as they returned to the mansion, he dragged the person into the courtyard and began to discipline him.
In the yard, the cousins sparred, with Fan Xudong being beaten most of the time.
The commotion here attracted people. Zhang Cuihua saw her son beating Xu Dong and stamped her foot anxiously, wanting to break up the fight. Zhao Jiaqi stopped her.
"Mother, Xu Dong caused trouble when he went out today. If he's not taught a lesson, he won't know the consequences of speaking carelessly. His impetuous nature needs your husband to discipline him."
There's nothing good about always being overconfident and competitive.
The Ningyuan Marquis's mansion, the imperial concubine's maternal family, and the connection to the Prince of Xiaoyao – these three sentences were enough to bring them a lot of trouble.
They hadn't even settled in the capital yet, and he had already made so many enemies. Beating him was too good for him.
But these words couldn't be told to her mother-in-law, lest she worry again.
After the lesson, Xu Dong was black and blue, looking at his elder brother with a wronged expression. He touched his face and gasped in pain, making a hissing sound.
Fan Zehao asked, "Do you know you were wrong?"
"I know I was wrong. I won't do it again!"
"If you continue to be so reckless, you can go back to the military camp. If you can't stay in the military camp, then go back to the village. I can't afford to keep such a distinguished guest here!"
Seeing the seriousness on his elder brother's face, Xu Dong was truly scared this time and immediately promised not to cause trouble again. If he did, he would leave on his own.
That night, lying in bed, the couple chatted about the day's events.
"Wife, the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion lost face today. I think they will trouble us in the future."
Zhao Jiaqi nodded slightly. "For now, they dare not. You are the Emperor's new favorite minister, especially since the army needs leaders like you. However, we must be prepared!"
Fan Zehao opened his clear eyes and sighed. "Should I go to him and explain the whole story, and have Xu Dong apologize? What do you think?"
Zhao Jiaqi pondered for a moment. This might seem like a solution, but if there was a rift in their hearts, would it be so easy to forgive?
She was afraid of people who were kind on the surface but would stab you in the back and then stomp on you if they weren't satisfied.
"You don't have an official position now, and they might not see you. That would be humiliating for you."
"And you are a military man. Don't get too close to civil officials, especially families with princes. The Emperor is very wary of that. It's better to assess the situation. If there's an opportunity, you can casually mention the matter and see what their attitude is before making plans."
"Okay!"
The next morning, an imperial decree arrived at the General's mansion, restoring his official position and ordering him to attend court the following day.
Along with the imperial decree came a set of military uniforms for attending court. Weapons were not allowed in court, and since there was no war, armor was not needed.
In the imperial court.
The Emperor was in high spirits today. Seeing Fan Zehao in the second row of military officials, his smile never faded.
"In early September, the ministers of Zongsheng Kingdom came with a letter of surrender and tribute. I have entrusted this matter to... Prince Xian, with the Grand General of Cavalry assisting!"
The two who were named stepped forward. One knelt down, and the other knelt on one knee. "Your son, your subject, accepts the decree!"
On the other side, the Ningyuan Marquis glanced at Fan Zehao.
His rugged face, strong physique, and fierce aura were evident, but his eyes were clear, and he did not deviate from his gaze. Such a person was clearly difficult to win over.
It was said that Geng, the Prince, had angered the Emperor to the point of collapse but still stubbornly clung to his views.
For this, the Emperor not only did not blame him but indulged his temper. It could be seen that such favor was not something others could obtain.
When Fan Zehao returned to his position, he glanced at the person opposite and was startled to see a familiar figure.
After the shock, he quickly lowered his head, like a block of wood, listening to the incessant arguments in the court.
The Emperor listened intently to the dispute between the two families over shops at the intersection of East Street and South Street.
This made him furious. They could even argue about such trivial matters. He was utterly annoyed.
After the court session, Fan Zehao was asked to stay.
Imperial Study.
The Emperor asked him for his opinion on the dispute between the two families in court: "What are your thoughts?"
He shook his head, very honestly, "No thoughts!"
Huangfu Jintao frowned. The more he didn't speak, the more the Emperor wanted to hear. "How would you handle it?"
The two families fighting over territory was like two beasts fighting over food.
This reminded him of two wolves fighting for food at home. He said, "Give them both fifty strokes. Don't give them food, and let them know who is the master!"
This trick had always worked well when dealing with the big wolf and the second wolf.