Chapter 288: Chapter 260: Don’t You Feel Bad?
In such an imposing battle formation, anyone would feel intimidated, let alone Xu Yin, a civil servant.
However, after being pressed down, Xu Yin raised his head again, showing no sign of panic: "I, Xu Yin, am an official of the court, the Assistant Minister of Rites. I am not sure what reason Princess Rong has for doing this?"
Princess Rong said: "When a prince breaks the law, he is punished just like a commoner. Even if you are a court official, with your two attempts to murder Zhe Yu, dare you go to the government office to accuse me, your end will also be death!"
Xu Yin sneered: "I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Zhe Yu was murdered? What does that have to do with me? If Princess believes I deserve to die, then you should directly go to the government office now, rather than setting up a private Judicial Hall for me using your identity as a mother-in-law."
Princess Rong no longer replied, pointed to the guards on both sides, and sharply ordered: "Do it!"
So, eight fierce guards simultaneously started to take action on Xu Yin!
Although Xu Yin was not of a frail build, he was ultimately a scholar who dealt with pen and ink. In terms of physique alone, anyone present could easily pin him down, let alone eight people together!
Princess Rong’s spectacle didn’t seem like it was meant to make him submit, rather she seemed intent on putting him to death directly!
As he was being pinned down, a guard wielding a stick raised it high, about to strike his spine, when suddenly, two men dressed in Xu family guard uniforms rushed in from a skewed angle outside the door!
"Dare to harm my master, be killed without mercy!"
Everyone recognized these two as familiar faces, usually silent and inconspicuous behind Xu Yin. Yet at this moment, they were agile, their slim bodies bursting with energy. With a stern shout, they drew a Soft Sword from their waists, and the gleaming blade was already swinging towards the stick-wielding guard!
Xu Yin rolled on the ground, breaking out of the encirclement.
Just as he looked around for something to defend himself with, he saw that the eight guards who had surrounded him suddenly turned and attacked the two invading guards instead!
Even though the two guards were highly skilled, how could two hands counter four? From the moment they appeared, the eight guards swiftly formed a circle, trapping them inside!
And Xu Yin, who had initially been their target, was no longer being watched!
"Close the doors!"
Standing above in the high hall, Princess Rong shouted again, and the two large doors slammed shut with a bang!
Xu Yin’s expression changed dramatically; he looked up at her, only to see her calmly standing under the high screen, looking at him with composure and awe!
Turning back to the hall, in that brief moment, the two Xu family guards were already showing signs of defeat under the guards’ onslaught!
——These are not the average Prince Manor guards!
Just like the palace guards, the Prince Manor guards also have rankings. Lower and middle-ranked guards handle general affairs, while top-level guards are the close guards of the various houses within the manor. Although small in number, their skills can protect their master’s life at critical moments!
Princess Rong actually employed these eight people to deal with him, Xu Yin?
This is absolutely impossible!
These eight people were not targeting him!
Xu Yin, puzzled, again looked at Princess Rong!
Princess Rong remained calm and collected, from the moment the two guards stormed in until now, she showed no sign of panic or surprise!
"Reporting to Princess, the two Xu family guards have been apprehended!"
Before Xu Yin could speak, the fighting in the hall halted, the two guards were pressed down to the floor, being searched by the Prince Manor guards, yet they were completely unable to move!
Xu Yin frowned: "Princess, what is this all about?!"
Princess Rong sneered: "Xu Yin, you dare to harbor thoughts of sowing discord within the Prince Rong’s Mansion! You are so despicable and treacherous, having just grown wings, perhaps you intend to kick our Prince Rong’s Mansion aside?"
Xu Yin said: "Princess repeatedly accuses me of murdering Zhe Yu. This son-in-law is greatly wronged. Who on earth is secretly plotting, instigating Princess to target me?"
"Wronged?" Princess Rong pulled something out of her sleeve and tossed it in front of him, "Open your eyes and see what this is!"
A crisp sound, a glittering inch-long knife, fell at Xu Yin’s heel.
Upon seeing the knife, Xu Yin’s brow moved, he raised his head: "What’s this?"
"Still pretending?" Princess Rong yelled angrily, "This is the weapon used to assassinate Zhe Yu! This knife was launched from a sleeve crossbow, more powerful than usual hidden weapons, deadly with one strike! Xu Yin, I see you don’t want to live, even daring to touch my people!"
Xu Yin looked downward, after a moment he bent down to pick up the small knife.
"Even if this is the weapon that killed General Zhe, how can Princess be sure it’s mine? Could you have possibly seen me use it before?"
"Even if you haven’t used it, someone by your side must have!" Princess Rong said, coldly glancing at the guards.
Xu Yin said: "Then Princess, search carefully, if you find evidence on them, I am willing to confess."
Princess Rong frowned.
Just then, the guards came over, whispering: "Princess, there was no discovery."
Princess Rong clenched her teeth: "Xu Yin, you truly are cunning!"
Xu Yin smiled slightly: "Consort, you really have misunderstood your son-in-law. I have always been an honest man, with no grievances or animosity against General Zhe, how could I make a move against him? Consort should not let bad people take advantage of you."
Last night, he lost a guard at the Zhe family, remaining missing until now, the situation must have changed, he must plan ahead!
Originally, he intended to come to the manor this morning to make amends, but unexpectedly Princess Rong took action before he could visit!
Previously, Princess Rong feigned an attack on him as a diversion, actually to capture and search his guards for evidence, a tactic that caught him off guard.
But upon hearing that Princess Rong had gone to the Zhe family before passing a message to himself, how could he be foolish enough to still let those remaining guards carry sleeve crossbows?
As long as the sleeve crossbows were not found on them, and as long as the missing guard didn’t confess he was one of Xu Yin’s people, no one could prove he was the killer!
And Princess Rong still needed to search around him for evidence using such a method, proving the ambusher at the Zhe family last night was not her person.
But if not her, then who was behind it?
At the root, it was indeed formidable, already knowing the person who killed Zhe Yu came from Xu Yin.
This person is a trouble for Princess Rong, even if not them, it’s troublesome!
"Do you think just because I can’t find evidence, I have no means left?"
While his thoughts raced, Princess Rong coldly glared at him, then ordered: "Drag these two out and beat them! Beat them to death, until they confess their master is the killer!"
After this, she looked over again: "I can’t beat you, and have no evidence, but no one will dare stop me from beating your servants, right?
"I know they won’t confess, but you have such skilled guards by your side, and after all these years, it’s the first time I’ve known!
"To maintain these people, you must have secretly put in not a small amount of effort, right?
"I don’t believe that if I dispose of two today, you wouldn’t feel a bit heartache?"