novelraw Chapter 420 - 317: Trust Me
Chapter 420 - 317: Trust Me
During the standoff between the two sides, Song Zhi considered the possibility of being humiliated by Gu Lan.
After all, leading the imperial guard to barge into the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion without evidence and searching for a non-existent Prince Xiang was an act of forcing a confession through torture. Dingyuan Marquis was still around, and if provoked...
But Song Zhi did not expect Gu Lan to actually ask him to apologize to a mere guard...
"What did you say?"
Song Zhi retorted, doubting his own ears.
Gu Lan calmly met his gaze, his eyes sharp:
"Did Commander Song not understand? I want you to apologize to Uncle Zeng."
"A servant?" Song Zhi instinctively questioned.
"And so what if he is a servant? Does being a servant mean he should be unjustly humiliated by the imperial guard? Are the imperial guards inherently superior?" Gu Lan coldly retorted.
Tan Ce, who had just taken Xie Yun away, returned and sneered, "A mere servant wants the Commander to apologize? Has Young Master Gu gone mad? Besides, he obstructed the imperial guard—"
"Enough!" Song Zhi tightly knitted his brows, interrupting Tan Ce.
Tan Ce wanted to say more but closed his mouth upon seeing Song Zhi’s gloomy expression.
Just as Song Zhi was about to speak, he turned his head at the sound and saw a household servant of the Marquis Mansion supporting an elderly man with silver hair, who was spirited and full of energy, walking over.
The elderly man was short, dressed like a common servant, and had an unremarkable appearance. He walked with a limp, as if he had hurt his leg.
Upon seeing Gu Lan, he mustered the strength to shake off the servant’s support, stood upright with dignity, and loudly declared:
"Zeng Dajing, former flag bearer of the Seventh Battalion of the Dingyuan Army, greets the Princely Heir!"
In an instant, a chilling aura unique to military men emanated from his small stature.
Even though the elderly man was advanced in age, the aura he exuded was not inferior to any of the imperial guards, nor weaker than any of the household soldiers outside.
"An old soldier of the Dingyuan Army..." Song Zhi mumbled to himself.
Zeng Dajing turned around and willingly stood in front of Gu Lan and the matron, trembling as he raised a stick used by servants for defense, staring straight at Song Zhi.
"As a household servant, Uncle Zeng must protect the Princely Heir, and as a soldier, my duty is to protect the General." Zeng Dajing said solemnly.
He was a servant, but also a soldier of the Dingyuan Army, entrusted with the duty to protect those behind him.
Song Zhi looked at him, recalling how upon entering the Marquis Mansion, someone amidst the chaos had forcefully pushed away the servants blocking the door.
He glanced back at the household soldiers and imperial guards outside, ready to clash at any moment, took a deep breath, lowered his head, and bowed deeply:
"I acted without military orders and harmed the old General. It was my mistake and I am willing to accept military punishment."
Zeng Dajing had not anticipated such a scene, a surprised flush appeared on his face, and he looked at Gu Lan in bewilderment:
"Princely Heir, this... my leg is fine, it’s just an old ailment, and I’m not a General, just a small soldier who carried the flag for the old Marquis—"
Gu Lan softly replied, "His apology was only right and proper. You just need to accept it."
Her words seemed to possess a calming power, and Zeng Dajing, no longer flustered, smiled bashfully and nodded: "Alright... then this old servant will defer to the Princely Heir."
Gu Lan narrowed her eyes, staring at Song Zhi’s warm and stern face, and spoke lightly:
"With this Princely Heir here, no one can harm the people of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Furthermore, Uncle Zeng used to be a soldier of the Dingyuan Army who fought with blood and sweat; he should not be humiliated by you afterwards.
Commander Song apologizes today because this Princely Heir stands up for Uncle Zeng. What if this Princely Heir wasn’t here? What if Uncle Zeng was just a common person? Would Commander Song then let the matter slide? Song Zhi, never forget your past experiences, and consider how your current actions mirror those of the former County Magistrate."
Song Zhi’s mother had been insulted by the County Magistrate and committed suicide. His father, in fury, attempted to kill the Magistrate’s family, implicating their own kin in the process, while the Magistrate remained unpunished, continuing to oppress the local common people...
Song Zhi’s face turned ashen, and he remained silent, his expression somber.
At this moment, a horse galloped in swiftly like the wind.
"The Emperor has decreed, Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, receive the decree—" The messengers were two little eunuchs unfamiliar to Gu Lan, yet they nodded at Song Zhi, suggesting they were regulars before the Emperor.
Gu Lan lightly shook her folding fan, her gaze imperious, her demeanor justly infused with a trace of anger and audacity: "Announce the decree. I want to see what the Emperor intends to do by surrounding the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion."