noveltune Chapter 16 Acting First, Reporting Later? I'll Slap Him Back
Chapter 16 Acting First, Reporting Later? I'll Slap Him Back
Lu Zhen completely ignored Xu Ming.
He walked straight past Xu Ming and strode to the front of the mansion. His boots made a dull "thump-thump" sound as they stepped on the bluestone ground.
He raised his right hand, fingers spread, and coldly gave orders to the Imperial Guards behind him.
"One team blocks all exits; no one is allowed to enter or leave!"
"Second team, third team, go in and take them! All masters and servants, take control and gather them in the front yard!"
"Fourth team, inventory all property within the manor and register it!"
The command was clear, concise, and imbued with an unquestionable authority.
They stormed into the mansion like tigers and wolves, the sound of their boots pounding on the threshold as rapid as the beating of drums.
Moments later, the cries of a woman and the screams of a child could be heard from inside.
"Let me go! What right do you have to arrest me!"
"Mother! Mother——!"
"I am the wife of a high-ranking official! You cannot treat me like this!"
Screams, cries, and the sounds of things breaking came from inside the mansion walls, like a dull knife cutting into the air.
Lu Zhen seemed not to hear.
He slowly turned around, walked to the shady spot to the side, and personally brought over a grand master's chair.
The chair was made of mahogany and was very heavy, but he lifted it by himself effortlessly, as if it were a toy.
He placed the chair neatly in the shade by the front door and gestured for Xu Ming to enter.
"Young Master Xu, you must be tired from your journey. Please sit here for a moment."
His voice remained calm, but his eyes clearly conveyed four words—"Don't get in my way."
"We, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, will handle the rest."
This posture is hardly a request for instructions; it's clearly an invitation for him to sit obediently and act as a mascot.
A mascot with no rank or real power.
Just look at it, don't get in the way.
Xu Ming didn't stand on ceremony and plopped down, crossing his legs.
Left foot resting on right knee, toes swaying back and forth, one hand on the back of the chair, the other tapping on the knee.
He squinted as he watched the Imperial Guards file in.
They carried out the heavy boxes one by one, placed them on the open ground outside the door, and stacked them neatly.
The box was opened, revealing gold and silver utensils, jade artifacts, antiques, and fine silks and satins.
Then they carefully brought out the antiques and paintings, placing them on the cloth-covered floor. There were landscape paintings by famous artists of previous dynasties, calligraphy by contemporary Confucian scholars, and blue-and-white porcelain vases made in the imperial kilns—each piece was priceless.
They then drove groups of wailing and lamenting female relatives and servants into the courtyard.
The entire process was extremely efficient, with movements so synchronized that it seemed as if they had rehearsed countless times.
But Xu Ming noticed that the whole process was too "gentle".
Aside from the initial impact, there was no further violence.
This is not a case of ransacking property.
This is a move.
Xu Ming stopped swinging his crossed legs.
His gaze swept over the Imperial Guards, and the smile on his lips gradually faded.
"Commander Lu".
His voice rang out lazily, like someone who had been woken up from an afternoon nap.
Lu Zhen was directing his subordinates to register the assets, holding a thick ledger in his hand, his pen moving swiftly across the paper.
Upon hearing Xu Ming's voice, he paused, his pen hovering in mid-air.
He turned around, looked at Xu Ming, and remained expressionless.
"What are your orders, young master?"
"Your method of confiscating property is wrong."
Xu Ming shook his head and started swinging his legs again.
Lu Zhen frowned slightly: "Is something wrong?"
Xu Ming said, "That's too gentle, not violent at all. His Majesty will not like this approach. As His Majesty's subjects, we should share his burdens, not act according to our own ideas. Commander Lu, do you agree with me?"
"Young Master, you just need to keep an eye on things; you don't need to worry about the rest."
Lu Zhen's words remained calm, but they carried a hint of warning.
"We're professionals at this."
"A professional?"
Xu Ming smiled.
He stood up and walked to Lu Zhen, the two of them only half a step apart.
He tilted his head slightly—Lu Zhen was half a head taller than him—and leaned closer, lowering his voice as if to share a secret.
"To me, it looks like you're sympathizing with these remnants of the traitorous party?"
Lu Zhen's body jolted violently.
It was as if I had been struck by lightning.
The surrounding air suddenly turned cold, as if winter had arrived early.
"Young Master, watch your words!"
Lu Zhen said, enunciating each word clearly.
"Our loyalty to His Majesty is as clear as day!"
"Yeah?"
Xu Ming's smile deepened.
It wasn't the kind of smirking laugh, but a laugh that sent chills down your spine.
"But why do I feel—"
"Do you want to die?"
As soon as he finished speaking, several Imperial Guard captains who were carrying boxes around stopped what they were doing at the same time.
They surrounded them, their steps slow, yet carrying a silent pressure.
His hand unconsciously rested on the knife handle.
The blade of the Embroidered Spring Blade swayed slightly in its sheath, making a soft "clicking" sound.
It felt like the air had been sucked out.
Lu Zhen stared directly at Xu Ming.
His eyes held anger, murderous intent, and a furious rage at being stepped on.
"Young Master Xu, let me remind you one more time."
Lu Zhen's voice was extremely low, so low it sounded like a snake flicking its tongue.
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard obeys only His Majesty's orders and carries out his duties accordingly."
He moved closer to Xu Ming.
He could see the curve of Xu Ming's eyelashes and every line of the smile on Xu Ming's lips.
"You, this 'Imperial Envoy,' have no rank or title. His Majesty appointed you to oversee our work, not to tell us what to do. You need to understand your place."
His voice grew louder and louder.
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has its own rules."
He raised his hand and pointed to the flying fish pattern on his chest.
"If any outsider dares to disrupt our execution of the Emperor's orders—"
His fingers slowly moved toward the embroidered spring knife at his waist, his fingertips pressing on the hilt.
"According to the law, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has the authority..."
He spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Act first, report later!"
The four words landed.
Like four knives, stuck in the ground in front of Xu Ming.
The Imperial Guards had already gripped the hilts of their swords.
They were just waiting for Lu Zhen's order to kill Xu Ming.
Xu Ming looked at Lu Zhen.
Lu Zhen looked at Xu Ming.
The distance between the two was less than half a fist.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze.
The wind blew by, lifting the hem of Xu Ming's Qilin robe and also lifting the hem of Lu Zhen's flying fish robe.
Then--
"Snapped!"
A sharp, resounding slap suddenly rang out.
The whole world seemed to stand still at that moment.
The Imperial Guards froze on the spot.
Their hands were still gripping the hilts of their knives, but they were completely frozen in place, as if under a spell.
They stared in disbelief at the scene before them—their commander had been slapped across the face by a spoiled brat.