IDWBE -Chapter 358 Not Giving Face

At this moment, he was genuinely furious!

The Sanhe troops, having marched across the land, had never had a single army so brazen as to clash directly with them!

It was sheer arrogance!

Prince He, for Consort Yuan’s sake, had allowed the Yuan family to keep over a hundred cavalry as his personal guards, yet now they were behaving so outrageously!

He had been promoted from garrison commander to Flag Guard Commander the day before. In terms of palace rank, he was still below the Forbidden Guards’ Commander Yuwen She, but in real authority, he was above Yuwen She.

Most of the palace troops were Sanhe soldiers, forming their own faction. Who would listen to Yuwen She? Moreover, Yuwen She hadn’t yet proven he was trustworthy.

Now, he was effectively the fourth-ranking figure in the palace, after He Jixiang, Tan Xizi, and Tao Yingyi.

It was his first time leading the Imperial Guards out of the palace, and the Yuan family had already disrespected him.

If he didn’t teach them a lesson, it would tarnish Prince He’s reputation.

As he finished speaking, the spear soldiers formed ranks, and many of the troops couldn’t help but smile.

They had never faced the iron cavalry of Ayu Kingdom in such a formation.

Facing the hundred-odd Yuan family cavalry, few of whom could use internal strength, they shouldn’t even have bothered. Just standing with spears alone showed respect.

Yet now, in Ankang City, the Sanhe army operated by strict rules.

Everything had changed. Discipline was absolute; no more casual behavior.

General He Jixiang had explicitly ordered that Sanhe soldiers must maintain perfect formation at all times, wherever they were. Military bearing was the true expression of army strength!

Especially for those entering the palace—they had to stand like pines, sit like bells, walk like the wind, lie like a bow. Not a hint of slackness allowed.

Only elite troops could enter the palace.

Martial skill alone was useless—they had to memorize the palace rules as well. They recited more palace regulations than military ones, to the point of dizziness.

Any who failed to memorize them, no matter their combat skill, could not enter the palace. Even someone like Duo Mazi, an eighth-rank soldier, who could take on a hundred men, could not enter, no matter how many connections he had.

Rules were rules.

General He Jixiang said discipline was more important than skill.

So, any Sanhe soldier serving as Imperial Guard carried a sense of pride.

That pride could not be tainted by anyone.

Not everyone was qualified to guard the palace or stand beside Prince He.

“Mother,” Princess Huaiyang grabbed Consort Yuan, who was about to descend from the carriage, glanced at Liu Kan’s stern face, and then at the unyielding Yuan cavalry, and said lightly, “Let your daughter go.”

With that, she floated into the gap between the Imperial Guards and the Yuan cavalry, a hair’s breadth from disaster.

If her brother wanted to be angry, let it be her fault. No one should provoke her mother.

“Princess!”

Liu Kan was the first to notice something amiss and shouted, “Fall back!”

Everyone knew how doting Prince He was toward this princess.

If anything happened to her, no one could bear the consequences.

Few realized the princess was already at the peak of eighth rank—ordinary people were no match, and she was hardly in danger.

Liu Kan’s order was instantly obeyed.

The Sanhe soldiers—spear soldiers—lined both sides of the street, followed by archers, then shield bearers.

“Whoosh!”

The Yuan cavalry reined in their horses, dismounted in unison, half-kneeling, and shouted to Yuan Zhen at the prefecture gates, “Greetings, General!”

Ignoring Consort Yuan and the princess.

“Charge!”

At Liu Kan’s command, the Imperial Guards shouted in response.

The half-kneeling Yuan cavalry remained unmoved.

“Have you no respect for the law?”

Liu Kan’s eyes blazed.

In front of the Consort and princess, the Yuan cavalry’s audacity was intolerable.

If the princess weren’t standing in the middle, he would have slaughtered them all.

The Sanhe army never feared offending anyone, nor killing.

Many of their soldiers felt the same; they had never endured such humiliation.
Sanhe troops never retreated in battle!

Yuan Zhen descended the steps of the prefecture office, walked through the Sanhe ranks, and slowly approached the Yuan cavalry. He raised his hand, “Rise!”

“Thank you, General!”

Amid the clanging of armor, the Yuan cavalry stood.

“Fifth Brother,”

Consort Yuan ignored everything else, focusing on Yuan Zhen, “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“This is no place for you,”

Yuan Zhen said sternly, “Thank your good son for me.”

Without waiting for the horse to be led, he strode forward, swung himself onto his horse, turned, and rode off.

Half of the Yuan cavalry followed closely, the other half remaining vigilant against the Imperial Guards. Once Yuan Zhen’s horse was out of sight, they turned and followed.

“This is the Yuan family army,”

Liu Kan ground his teeth.

“General Liu,” Lin Ning looked at Liu Kan, “Best not to let the Prince know about this.”

“To the Princess, what the Prince wants to know, no one can stop,” Liu Kan said bluntly.

How many people around were spies of Pan Duo or He Hong?

Even if he didn’t speak, Prince He would know.

If Prince He found out, who knew how furious he would be?

“My Fifth Brother doesn’t even recognize me anymore,” Consort Yuan murmured.

“Mother, it’s hot. Let’s go back,” Lin Ning said helplessly.

“Move out!”

Liu Kan shouted as Consort Yuan boarded her carriage.

The Imperial Guards cleared the way back to the palace.

The sun rose.

One moment Lin Yi was musings about “A pot of tea for eternal glory, a cup of wine for worldly dust,” the next he flung his teacup to the ground.

“The Yuan family.” He felt his face trampled into the dirt. “Truly my fine relatives!”

“Prince, calm your anger!” From He Jixiang to Pan Duo, He Hong, and the others, all knelt before Lin Yi.

“When will Xing Ke arrive in Ankang City?”

Lin Yi said coolly, “Let him take the post of Left Metropolitan Censor. Publicly announce it: I dislike the Yuan family. If they don’t shape up, I’ll make an example of them. Everyone will know—whether relative or not, no favoritism.”

Pan Duo replied, “Prince, barring unforeseen events, Xing Da will arrive in Ankang City in five days.”

“Also, Shi Quan, Wang Qingbang, Chen Desheng, and Shan Qi can depart from Sanhe,” Lin Yi hesitated briefly, “All of Sanhe is under Xie Zan’s command.”

“As you command.”

All replied in unison.

Pan Duo cautiously said, “Consort Yuan returned to the palace in a foul mood. She intended to visit the Yuan household, but the princess stopped her.”

“Let her be happy as she wishes,” Lin Yi stood and paced, “She’s my own mother. There’s nothing I can do.”

No one said a word—they couldn’t respond to that.