“Miss Zhang, I cannot promise you that I can save Lord Zhang.”

“Hmm?”

Zhang Xia was stunned. She had risked her own safety to help Chen Ji infiltrate the Tiger Armored Cavalry, hoping he would have a chance to rescue her father. But now, Chen Ji was saying he couldn’t promise.

Under the cover of night, Chen Ji held Zhang Xia’s hands behind her back and whispered, “The Liu rebels number in the tens of thousands, and I am only one person. I cannot turn the tide alone. I cannot easily promise something I cannot achieve.”

Zhang Xia lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long time. “Never mind. You are far more capable than I am; if I tried to save my father myself, there would be even less hope. Chen Ji, what I am about to tell you is very important, and it might help you: The man you just killed, I’ve seen him before. He was a tenant farmer on our estate named Zhang Yuan, and he always worked diligently. I suspect that the Liu family’s private army hides among the common folk during the day, which is why they wear face masks, to avoid being recognized…”

Before she could finish, the armored soldier who had previously questioned Chen Ji approached. He looked at Zhang Xia. “Who is this woman?”

Another arriving armored soldier whispered, “Sir, this woman is Zhang Zhuo’s legitimate daughter, Zhang Xia.”

Chen Ji looked up and saw that the mask of the man referred to as “Sir” was different from the others. While the other soldiers wore masks with emotionless ‘human faces,’ this man’s mask depicted an enraged ‘tiger face.’

The tiger-masked soldier glanced at Zhang Xia, then looked at Chen Ji with suspicion.

After a moment of thought, he gestured to the soldier beside him. “Lord Zhang’s wife has not yet been found. Continue searching. I will escort Zhang Xia out with him.”

The tiger-masked soldier said to Chen Ji, “Let’s go.”

Chen Ji, clad in heavy armor and holding his spear upside down, pushed Zhang Xia toward the mansion’s exit. The tiger-masked soldier followed behind, gripping his spear tightly and watching him warily.

Chen Ji continued to walk forward, feigning indifference. The other party must have suspected him, but they weren’t rushing to act… Was it because they were unsure of his identity and strength, and thus hesitated to expose him rashly?

Along the way, the once brightly lit Zhang mansion was now in ruins. As Zhang Xia passed the bodies of maids and servants inside the residence, she slightly turned her face away, unable to bear looking.

Stepping out of the mansion’s vermillion gate, outside Cuiyun Lane, the Chen family’s retainers huddled, looking around in a panic. Only Chen Wenzong stood tall and composed amidst the crowd.

This nobleman of the Chen family had disheveled clothes, and the hairpin holding his topknot was nowhere to be seen.

Behind Chen Ji, the tiger-masked soldier tightened his grip on his spear with his right hand and subtly beckoned to over a dozen armored soldiers in Cuiyun Lane with his left.

More than ten armored soldiers silently approached, seemingly preparing to surround and ambush Chen Ji.

Chen Ji’s mind raced, his gaze sweeping through the crowd.

The next moment, he walked into the crowd, holding his spear upside down, and pulled Chen Wenxiao out by his collar.

Chen Wenxiao, dressed in servant’s clothes, struggled and cried out in terror, “What are you doing? I’m just a servant of the Chen household. Why are you seizing me?”

Chen Ji said coldly, “You are no servant of the Chen household.”

Chen Wenxiao’s face turned ashen, and his body trembled like chaff, barely able to stand upright because Chen Ji was holding him.

Chen Wenzong glared at him and scolded furiously, “Stand straight! You and I are both Juren from the 31st year of Jianing. How can you be intimidated by such riffraff? You are disgracing the Chen family and the imperial court!”

Chen Ji turned to the tiger-masked soldier and said, “Sir, I recognize this man. He is the Chen family’s second legitimate son, Chen Wenxiao.”

The tiger-masked soldier paused, slowly relaxing his grip on the spear. “Very good. You’ve earned a merit. By the way, you…”

Before he could finish, the sound of horse hooves suddenly clattered from outside the alley.

The black-armored warriors looked in the direction of the sound, and at the end of the alley, they saw someone in a green cloak riding a horse, arriving with a flourish, like a poet stepping out of the snow.

Upon seeing him, the black-armored warriors clasped their fists and bowed, “Mr. Feng!”

Chen Ji’s heart tightened.

Mr. Feng, holding a small brass hand-warmer, smiled and said, “The Tiger Armored Cavalry has been quiet for a long time, and now is the moment to make a stunning debut. Who is in charge now? Is it still General Zhou?”

The tiger-masked soldier clasped his fists and replied gruffly, “Reporting to Mr. Feng, General Qian is in charge now. General Zhou has other official duties.”

Mr. Feng smiled. “You’ve worked hard. His Lordship has personally selected you to serve as his personal guard. You must be even more diligent than before.”

The tiger-masked soldier quickly said, “Please rest assured, Mr. Feng.”

Mr. Feng’s gaze swept over everyone as he asked lightly, “Have all the relatives from the Zhang and Chen mansions been apprehended?”

The tiger-masked soldier reported, “Only two relatives from the Chen mansion have been caught. Chen Liqin’s first wife happened to be at their estate outside the city, auditing accounts, and was not in the mansion.”

Mr. Feng nodded. “No matter. These two legitimate sons are enough.”

The tiger-masked soldier continued to report, “Zhang Zhuo and his legitimate son are besieged in the yamen. Only Miss Zhang has been apprehended at the mansion.”

Mr. Feng asked curiously, “What about Zhang Zhuo’s first wife?”

The tiger-masked soldier replied, “According to a servant boy from the mansion, she went to Tuoluo Temple in the south of the city today to burn incense and worship Buddha, and has not yet returned.”

Mr. Feng smiled. “No matter. Miss Zhang and that legitimate son are also enough.”

At this moment, Chen Wenzong looked up directly at Mr. Feng. “You are privately apprehending relatives of imperial officials. This crime is tantamount to treason! Even if you repent now, you may not escape death, but you could at least save your families’ lives!”

The black-armored warriors remained unmoved, their black lacquer masks showing no joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, like cold statues.

Mr. Feng said unhurriedly, “Young Master Chen, save your breath. These Tiger Armored Cavalry soldiers have long lost their families. If you wish to live, you should help me persuade Lord Chen later. As long as he is willing to accompany us northward to purge the emperor’s corrupt officials and execute the eunuch faction to rectify the imperial court, I guarantee the Chen family’s safety.”

Chen Wenzong sneered, “Rebels and traitors, you are no different from the eunuch faction.”

A tiger-masked soldier slapped him. “Sharp-tongued!”

Chen Wenzong’s face was turned by the slap, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Yet, he angrily turned back to glare, showing no evasion.

Mr. Feng raised an eyebrow. “Don’t harm him. I need to bring him to Lord Chen completely unharmed! If Lord Chen is willing to abandon the dark and embrace the light, then we will be one family. How can such a minor incident cause resentment in Lord Chen?”

The black-armored warrior quickly clasped his fists and said, “Yes, Your Excellency, I was reckless. After this matter is concluded, I will go to General Qian to receive twenty strokes of the military stick.”

Mr. Feng looked at Chen Wenxiao and teased, “Why is Young Master Chen dressed like this?”

Seeing Mr. Feng looking at him, Chen Wenxiao trembled uncontrollably.

Mr. Feng chuckled softly. “People say that a dragon has nine sons, each different. Lord Chen’s family is also interesting: the eldest legitimate son has character but is pedantic; the second legitimate son is timid as a mouse… indeed, timid as a mouse. But that illegitimate son, Chen Ji, has truly impressed me. By the way, who found the Chen family’s second young master?”

The tiger-masked soldier pointed at Chen Ji. “Reporting to Mr. Feng, it was him.”

Mr. Feng glanced at Chen Ji. “Note his merit. On your next day off, go to the Chancellery to claim your reward… And who apprehended Miss Zhang?”

The tiger-masked soldier paused, then pointed at Chen Ji again. “Reporting to Mr. Feng, it was also him.”

“Oh?” Mr. Feng carefully observed Chen Ji.

A moment later, he smiled slightly. “You are quite a lucky general.”

With that, he turned to the tiger-masked soldier and said, “Mount up. Escort the Zhang and Chen family members to the Prince of Jing’s residence.”

Amidst the clattering of armor plates, the black-armored warriors mounted their horses in unison.

Mr. Feng reined in his horse, turned its head, and rode out of Cuiyun Lane. Chen Ji also positioned Zhang Xia across his saddle and galloped behind him, bringing up the rear.

Suddenly, Mr. Feng looked back at him and asked with a smile, “What is your name?”

Everyone fell silent. The tiger-masked soldier who had previously questioned Chen Ji also looked sideways, his gaze sharp.

Chen Ji tightened his grip on the reins and replied calmly, “Reporting to Mr. Feng, my humble name is Zhang Yuan.”

The tiger-masked soldier’s gaze returned to its original direction.

Mr. Feng smiled and beckoned. “Come closer. From now on, you will work with me.”

The Prince of Jing’s residence was brightly lit, with four large braziers burning fiercely in front of its vermillion gate.

The Elephant Armored Battalion was dragging away the bodies of the palace guards one by one. Blood on Anxi Street had seeped into the cracks of the flagstones, becoming thick and sticky like paste as it began to congeal.

The Prince of Jing’s residence was now under the control of the Liu family.

Mr. Feng dismounted at the gate, and his attendants from inside hurried out to greet him.

He casually tossed the brass hand-warmer to one of them, then unfastened his cloak, revealing a blue robe underneath. “Where is His Lordship?”

The black-clad attendant whispered, “He is in Jing’an Hall, playing chess with the Prince.”

Mr. Feng paused. “And Lord Chen and Lord Zhang?”

The black-clad attendant replied, “They were just escorted from the yamen. They are being held with a few people from Taiping Medical Clinic in Feiyun Courtyard.”

Mr. Feng said in surprise, “Where is Concubine Yun? How could they rashly occupy her courtyard? That’s quite improper.”

The black-clad attendant whispered, “Concubine Yun left the residence after the Prince of Jing fell ill and has not returned since.”

Mr. Feng lowered his head and pondered for a moment. “Let’s not disturb His Lordship’s enjoyment. We will go to Feiyun Courtyard first.”

With that, he turned and pointed at Chen Ji and another armored soldier. “You two escort Young Master Chen and Miss Zhang here. The rest of you can rest for a bit.”

Inside the princely residence, rows of armored soldiers stood solemnly, holding torches.

The group hurried through the hostile princely residence. From a distance, Chen Ji saw the eight large doors of Jing’an Hall wide open, where the Prince of Jing and Grand Secretary Liu sat opposite each other, deeply absorbed in a game of chess.

Bai Li and the Crown Prince stood by, watching the game, as if the day’s violence had never occurred.

Mr. Feng stopped, turned back, and looked at him with a half-smile. “Do you also want to play chess?”

Chen Ji’s heart leaped. He had only subtly turned his head, yet he had been noticed. “Reporting to Mr. Feng, this is my first time entering the Prince of Jing’s residence, so I was a little curious.”

Mr. Feng smiled pleasantly. “Just this once. If you look at anything you shouldn’t again, your head will be forfeit.”

Chen Ji quickly lowered his head. “This humble servant understands.”

Upon reaching the entrance of Feiyun Courtyard, Mr. Feng strode in with a hearty laugh. “Lord Zhang, Lord Chen, thank you both for waiting here for me. Forgive my tardiness. But look, whom have I brought you?”