FBC – Chapter 358 Flattering

When Jiang Qifu got up, the Black Armored Guards had already taken Cao Li and the others to the government office.

His advisors hurriedly helped him up. “Sir, you should go see for yourself. But please think carefully—you must not offend the Mu family army.”

Jiang Qifu was dizzy from the fall, his head buzzing.

The advisors sighed and supported him, but it seemed his leg was broken; any weight on it made him howl in pain.

Jiang Qifu’s servants ran over, panting and crying out, “Sir! Sir! The government office has been occupied by the Black Armored Guards! They’ve taken the rooms in the back courtyard too and want your wife and concubines to move out!”

Jiang Qifu, a mere merchant, had somehow risen to the position of prefect, jumping from the lower classes straight to the upper echelons. To show off his superiority, he had moved his family into the back courtyard of the government office, acquired several other estates, and expanded the courtyard into a three-courtyard compound, effectively turning the government office into the rear courtyard of the Jiang estate.

Jiang Qifu was furious. “How dare they! I am an official appointed by the court! How dare they occupy my place!”

Supported by two people, gritting his teeth, he limped to the office.

The crowd that had gathered earlier knew that Lord Du had returned. Cao Li and the other officials had worked with Lord Du to repair the breached levee, averting the crisis in Gongzhou.

The news spread across the city like wildfire. The citizens cheered and ran to spread the word, and soon the entire city was in an uproar.

The doctors from the city’s pharmacies, having heard that Lord Du and the other officials had fallen ill, hurried to the office with their medicine boxes and the finest ingredients to treat them.

When Jiang Qifu arrived, the place was packed with people.

Meanwhile, his wife, children, and a group of concubines huddled in a corner, too frightened to make a sound.

Jiang Qifu was infuriated.

But when he saw Chi Yan standing like a god of death at the office entrance with ten Black Armored Guards, he didn’t dare act rashly.

The advisors, fearing he would lose his temper, hurriedly suggested, “Let the madam and concubines return to the Jiang estate first. We need to smooth things over.”

Jiang Qifu timidly asked, “They won’t strip me of my prefect position, right?”

The advisors reassured him, “Of course not. A court-appointed official cannot be dismissed by a mere prince.”

Jiang Qifu immediately straightened his back. Just as he was about to speak, the advisor added with a shift in tone:

“But… you never know… a first-rank prince could execute first and report later.”

Jiang Qifu turned pale with fear and quickly waved at the women, “Hurry back to the Jiang estate!”

The women, along with two young children being carried by nannies, scampered away.

Jiang Qifu took a deep breath to steady himself. Just as he raised his foot, a piercing pain shot through it, making him scream.

He had forgotten his leg was broken.

The advisors and servants quickly supported him, while one servant shouted, “Doctor! Doctor! Our master’s leg is broken!”

No one paid attention.

Chi Yan nodded at one of the doctors. “Go check it.”

The doctor reluctantly walked over and grabbed Jiang Qifu’s ankle. “Just dislocated.”

As he applied pressure, Jiang Qifu shrieked in pain repeatedly.

With a crack, the doctor stood up. “All done.”

Then he turned and ran off.

Jiang Qifu was enraged, shouting, “You bastard! You used to grovel before me like a dog, and now that someone named Du is back, you switch masters? Delusional!”

The advisors hurriedly pulled him aside. “Sir, is your leg really okay now?”

Jiang Qifu came to his senses. “Huh? It’s fine?”

The advisor smiled. “Good. How about this—since they’ve worked hard, why don’t we prepare two large tables of food to treat them?”

Jiang Qifu’s eyes lit up. “Excellent! Let’s do that.”

The advisor shamelessly approached Chi Yan. “Sir, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Out of respect for your hard work, our master has prepared two tables so everyone can eat well. What do you think?”

Chi Yan remained silent.

The advisor took that as consent and immediately instructed the Jiang servants to prepare the feast.

The Jiang family, truly the richest in Gongzhou, managed to arrange two lavish tables in the blink of an eye despite the disaster—chicken, duck, fish, meat, everything was there.

Fifteen people could sit at each table, with the finest wine and dishes laid out.

The advisor cheerfully reported, “Sir, the feast is ready and set in front of the office hall.”

Chi Yan didn’t respond.

Jiang Qifu, feeling nervous, forced a smile and complimented, “Sir, you are truly wise and mighty…”

Before he could finish, a cavalry convoy arrived at the main gate with a carriage, followed by a group of people.

Chi Yan and his men turned respectfully and saluted.

Jiang Qifu looked over and was stunned.

Mu Junyan, in a dark robe, seemed like a god of death descending from the heavens, striding in.

Behind him, several heroic female bodyguards flanked a beautiful woman dressed in embroidered silk.

Jiang Qifu’s eyes widened in shock as he recognized her. “Du Yun?”

Du Yun’s gaze, full of hatred, swept over him before she lowered it, following closely behind Mu Junyan.

Mu Junyan didn’t even glance at Jiang Qifu and walked directly to the two tables, surveying them coldly.

“Gongzhou has suffered such a catastrophic flood, and yet someone still arranges such a lavish feast?”

Jiang Qifu panicked and bowed. “Prefect of Gongzhou, Jiang Qifu, greets Prince Yong.”

Mu Junyan raised an eyebrow as if seeing him for the first time. “Jiang Qifu?”

Jiang Qifu smiled broadly. “Yes, Your Highness, that would be me.”

Mu Junyan turned to Du Yun. “Is this the man who forced you to marry him, framed your father when you refused, and made you and your mother serve as government slaves—Jiang Qifu?”

Jiang Qifu stammered. “…!”

“No, no, no—it’s a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding.”

Du Yun’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Your Highness, it was him. He forced me to marry him. My father refused, and I did not want it either. He used the Jiang family’s influence to frame my father. My mother and I were made government slaves. My mother couldn’t bear the shame and took her own life.”

Mu Junyan’s icy glare fell upon Jiang Qifu.

Jiang Qifu trembled all over. “It’s a misunderstanding! Truly! I really admired Miss Du. But later, the capital sent someone to investigate Lord Du for corruption and abuse of power, and he was sentenced to exile—it had nothing to do with me!”

Du Yun, furious, pointed at him. “Lies! You slandered my father without evidence, fabricated false proof, and arrested him without trial!”

Mu Junyan waved his hand, and Du Yun immediately fell silent, standing properly and wiping away her tears.

Jiang Qifu wore a mournful expression. “Your Highness, I truly didn’t know. My prefect position was granted by the Emperor himself.”

Mu Junyan nodded. “Everything must be based on evidence, so it will be investigated thoroughly.”

Jiang Qifu felt a bit relieved. Evidence? What evidence could there be? All of it was fake, long destroyed, and the Jiang family was finished. His prefect commission, however, was officially issued by the Ministry of Personnel.

Mu Junyan then asked, “So these two tables were prepared by you, Lord Jiang?”

Jiang Qifu hurriedly said, “Such a humble feast is nothing. Your Highness saved the people of Gongzhou from the flood. I am forever grateful. You and the others must be hungry—please, enjoy.”

“The flood has brought disaster to Gongzhou. Tens of thousands of households outside the city are homeless. We cannot feast alone on such tables,” Mu Junyan said coldly.

Jiang Qifu froze. What did he mean?

Mu Junyan smiled faintly but not kindly. “Since the Jiang family is wealthy enough to prepare such a feast, let it be a flowing banquet for the entire city. Nothing too lavish—just enough to fill everyone’s stomachs. What do you think, Lord Jiang?”

Jiang Qifu hesitated, but could not refuse.

“Excellent, excellent. Arrange it immediately.”

Soon, the Jiang family set up a flowing banquet along the main street in front of the government office.

Every citizen, no matter who, could come and eat.

Furthermore, Prince Yong decreed that the banquet would last for three days.