The Second Prince first laughed, then was immediately seized by a fit of coughing.
"Ah, Your Highness, you’re coughing up blood! Help, somebody help!"
Anyone who has navigated the workplace likely understands a crucial principle: the importance of following a good leader. This holds even truer for those experienced in hierarchical systems.
Right now, Zheng Fan felt that following Lord Jingnan was actually quite agreeable.
Firstly, when he had swaggered into Qian State territory, flaunting his prowess, and was nearly caught by them like a dumpling in a wrapper, it was Lord Jingnan who led ten thousand Jingnan troops to his rescue.
And now, ever since Lord Jingnan’s arrival in the capital, he perfectly embodied what it meant to be domineering. Following such a leader meant, at the very least, one wouldn’t have to suffer indignities.
The Third Prince’s residence was just behind that of the Second Prince. When Lord Jingnan led his personal guard over, it seemed word had already reached the Third Prince’s residence in advance, as a crowd had gathered at the entrance.
They were a group of palace maids, eunuchs, and scholars. The Third Prince had a reputation for being learned. The royal Ji Clan of Yan had always given the impression of martial prowess. After many generations, a ’genetic mutation’ of sorts had finally occurred: a scholarly type had emerged among the princes.
This persona naturally made the Third Prince the darling of Yan’s scholars. Consequently, there was no shortage of people to champion his cause or view him favorably.
Because the Third Prince hadn’t been assigned a fiefdom away from the capital and still resided in the princely manors, he didn’t have his own personal guards.
The Eldest Prince controlled the military forces of Tiancheng County, so he wasn’t short on soldiers. The Second Prince led the Imperial Guard in the capital, and the contingent of Imperial Guards stationed outside the princely residences took their orders from him. Besides these two, there was one other prince who enjoyed the privilege of a personal guard allotment: the leisurely-titled Prince, Ji Chengjue.
More precisely, the only one who could openly possess a personal guard quota, rather than relying on county soldiers or the Imperial Guard to make up the numbers, was the Sixth Prince.
However, Ji Chengjue wasn’t one to gloat over this special treatment. This was because, one day, after a particular father-son audience, the Yan Emperor had lavishly rewarded his sixth son. He granted him the emoluments of a full Prince, equivalent to enjoying high-ranking official treatment in later eras. Latest content publıshed on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝕟𝕖𝕥
The very next day after this bestowal, Ji Chengjue’s maternal grandfather’s entire family was exterminated. His mother was consigned to the Cold Palace by his Imperial Father, and later, she was ’granted’ a white silk cloth—a death sentence.
Lord Jingnan’s personal guards were elites, handpicked from the Jingnan army. The sheer oppressive aura they exuded upon approach sent the assembled scholars, eunuchs, and palace maids into a panic.
"How dare you approach so insolently!"
A few scholars, craning their necks stubbornly, began to shout.
This scene was all too familiar to Zheng Fan.
Lord Jingnan didn’t halt his steps but continued to advance.
At such a moment, as a subordinate, one needed to clear the way for one’s superior.
Truth be told, in his previous life, Zheng Fan had been his own boss and hadn’t really experienced the dynamics of being an employee. But since waking up in this world, he had truly learned the art of sycophancy—or perhaps, had it ingrained in him by being on the receiving end—to the point where it had become instinctual.
Zheng Fan drew his saber and strode forward.
The personal guards following Prince Jingnan immediately emulated Zheng Fan, drawing their sabers and swiftly falling in behind him.
Damn, these guys really know how to make a guy look good! This is the feeling, even if it’s just borrowing the tiger’s might, it feels so damn good!
Zheng Fan savored this moment. His own barbarian soldiers at Green Willow Fortress were terrified of him, yes. They obeyed his commands without question in battle, but in daily life, they looked at him as if he were a demon, trembling at his sight.
Not like these personal guards of Lord Jingnan—so in sync, so cooperative.
Besides, just from an aesthetic standpoint, this troop of well-equipped, armored personal guards was more than a cut above the barbarian soldiers in his own fortress.
Especially after Fanli taught those barbarian soldiers to shout ’Ula,’ his sense of aesthetics had completely shattered.
These personal guards, coordinating their movements with his, felt like leading a team of Olympic gymnasts. What a rush!
"Personal Guard!" Zheng Fan bellowed.
Nearly a hundred men roared in unison.
HISS... Exhilarating!
"The Lord is here! Anyone who dares to obstruct him will be killed without mercy!"
"Killed without mercy!"
"Killed without mercy!"
Over a hundred personal guards roared in unison, simultaneously quickening their pace with Zheng Fan.
These men, Zheng Fan included, were veterans of slaughter, familiar with the sight of blood. As they charged, their sheer momentum and killing intent instantly broke the nerve of the palace maids, eunuchs, and scholars intending to block them.
They screamed and scattered in all directions; not a single one dared to remain and obstruct the way.
Zheng Fan led the charge, storming into the Third Prince’s residence.
He didn’t even enter any buildings. In the front courtyard, he spotted two figures seated at a stone table—one young, one old—with a eunuch standing respectfully nearby.
As Zheng Fan strode in, the eunuch remained standing as if dozing, while the Third Prince calmly sipped tea with his mentor.
Zheng Fan waved his arm.
The personal guards behind him immediately fanned out, surrounding the area.
These men are truly perceptive, Zheng Fan thought. I must tell Blind Man to train my future personal guards just .
Shortly after, Lord Jingnan entered with measured steps.
When Lord Jingnan’s figure appeared, the eunuch was the first to drop to his knees, announcing, "Your humble servant, Wei Zhen, pays respects to Lord Jingnan."
The Third Prince and his mentor, who were still drinking tea, exchanged a smile and rose together. "Nephew Ji Chengyue greets Uncle," said the Third Prince.