Chapter 69: The Feather Under the Arrow

  "Are you sure?" The tone was light, the gaze sharp, and Zhang Tianba involuntarily took two steps back.

  "Hmph, you... don't be so arrogant. Each of my brothers has taken several lives with their own hands. I'm telling you, no matter how formidable you are, if we all gang up on you, what can you do?"

  Ma Achai picked up an axe standing nearby and blocked Yuan Longqiao's path, his voice trembling with suppressed rage as he whispered: "Fang brothers, you'd better leave quickly. Take your siblings and go."

  "Go, haha! None of you will be able to leave today!" Zhang Tianba raised the hoe in his hand, and the big man behind him immediately became excited and rushed forward.

  Yuan Longqiao suddenly turned around and pulled Xia Tian, Ma Sao and Doggy under the eaves, then quickly picked up a hoe and joined the battle.

  Ma Zhai, relying on brute force, fought back without any technique. Although he didn't lose his life immediately, he was completely at a disadvantage against these local ruffians and soon found himself covered in blood and bruises. Ma Sao saw her husband being beaten and couldn't stay put anymore. She even left Dogzi behind, rushing forward like a madwoman to kick and punch the big men surrounding Ma Zhai. Xia Tian didn't have time to grab hold of her and could only desperately protect Dogzi. Standing under the eaves, she anxiously stared at Yuan Longqiao, who was surrounded in the center, clenching her fists, unable to find any confidence.

  "Halt, or arrows will fly!" A loud shout suddenly rang out, and the courtyard was instantly illuminated by countless torches. Many soldiers with bows at the ready appeared on the walls of the courtyard, among them the speaker, Yuwen Qiming.

  Zhang Tianba and his men had never seen such a scene before. They were all frightened pale and stunned like wooden chickens.

  "Hand over these rebellious imperial clansmen and the commoners who dare to offend their superiors to the Ministry of Punishment for punishment." A gentle voice accompanied by footsteps slowly entered the already crowded courtyard. The crowd looked towards the gate, this voice was not loud but clear and pleasant to listen to, making people feel inexplicably relieved in their hearts.

  The gate was divided into left and right, and two majestic guards walked in first. Their sharp eyes scanned the crowd in the courtyard one by one, standing guard at the door with full vigilance.

  Time seemed to stand still at this moment, and the air also stopped flowing. Because a pair of embroidered silver peony boots stepped across the threshold. A white cloak with snow-white sable fur, silk-like black hair tied loosely with a ribbon, hanging down behind her back, a yellow coronet decorated with peonies was worn on her forehead, hidden in her hair, shining under the firelight, beautiful and magnificent, difficult to distinguish between male and female.

  A clear hissing sound suddenly echoed in the courtyard. Zhang Tianba's mouth was wide open, and his cow-like eyes were full of unbridled astonishment and lust.

  Without stopping, the man walked through the crowd and arrived in front of Yuan Longqiao, bowed his head and said with a warm voice filled with suppressed joy: "Nice to meet you, Third Brother, I'm late."

  Yuan Longqiao seemed not surprised at all, and nodded slightly: "Thanks, Fifth Brother."

  A gentle smile played on his lips, and Yuan Longqi was about to speak when he suddenly caught sight of Xia Tian standing under the eaves. Her beautiful phoenix eyes flashed with a hint of surprise before quickly returning to normal. "Third Aunt," he said with a respectful bow, his movements perfect and flawless.

  Things happened so suddenly that Xia Tian couldn't tell whether she was thrilled or disappointed as she stared at Yuan Longkui, who had appeared out of nowhere. As she walked up to him, she silently took his hand in hers.

  Yuan Longqiao lowered his head and looked at her. His hand, which was originally going to be withdrawn, suddenly turned over and tightly grasped hers when he saw her gaze.

  "Hey, I'm telling you guys..." Zhang Tianba's loud voice suddenly rang out, but before he could finish speaking, a clump of mud thrown from the air blocked his mouth.

  Someone patted the dirt off their hands, chuckling and saying: "Third Brother, Fifth Brother, aren't you guys suffocating standing in this huge crowd? Can't we talk later?" The tone suddenly changed, and with a stern voice, as if ordering the soldiers outside: "Quickly, take all these stubborn commoners into custody."

  "Yes." The uniform and neat responses could be heard by many people outside the hospital as well.

  He knew he had provoked the wrong person, Zhang Tianba was now fully recovered, spat out the mud in his mouth, raised the hoe in his hand and shouted loudly: "Brothers, if we are caught, we will only have one way to die, follow me and charge!"

  "Charge!"

  The big men behind him also picked up their weapons and rushed towards the gate.

  "Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" A burst of air-piercing sounds, and everyone who made a false move had an arrow shaft stuck in their calf.

  "Ah——"

  "Ah yo!"

  The sound of wailing is incessant.

  The dog didn't understand what was happening and only felt frightened. He had originally been following Xia Tian, but upon seeing this scene he suddenly burst into tears and ran to Ma Sao.

  "Whoosh!"

  In the summer, I suddenly saw a flower in front of me and shouted "Be careful, kid!" and was about to pounce on the dog.

  She can talk! Yuan Longqi was shocked and unexpectedly dodged the flying arrow that shot towards him.

  Furrowing his brow, Yuan Long instinctively pulled Xia Tian into a protective hug, his deep eyes flashing with complex emotions.

  "Big Brother Wu! Yuwen, tell them to stop at once!" A furious voice burst into the courtyard, and the person followed right after. "Third Brother, you...," Yuan Longlin glared at Xia Tian, hesitantly saying, "Are you guys alright?"

  Yuan Longqi covered his arm, which was scratched by the arrow feathers, and although he didn't speak, his gaze at Xia Tian also seemed to be asking the same question.

  "Your arm..."

  Phoenix eyes slightly curved, the handsome face seemed to have a layer of illusory luster on it, "Thank you, Third Aunt, Long Qi is fine."

  Ma's wife held the dog in one hand and supported Ma Achai with the other, while the whole family stared blankly at everything in front of them, unsure of what to do. Although they had long known that this Fang brother was a wealthy and noble person, they had only thought he was just a rich young master, but they did not expect his identity to be so prominent.

  Soldiers came up and dragged them away. The dog clung to the leg of Ma Niangzi, wailing loudly, its cries shaking people's eardrums.

  "Don't touch them!" Xia Tian rushed forward and slapped away the soldier's hand, scolding, "They are my benefactors, along with His Highness."

  "Yes, Your Highness, forgive me."

  "King... Queen?" Ma Achai stared blankly at Xia Tian, completely unable to react.

  Yuan Long glanced at the now tidy and clean courtyard and instructed: "Have the military doctor treat their injuries, and reward them well."

  Turning his head to look at Ma Achai's family, Yuan Longlin nodded in agreement: "Yes, Third Brother can rest assured."

  Yuan Longqi covered his injured arm, his eyelids drooping to conceal the pain in his eyes. Although they were brothers, there was also a difference between them. With a soft sigh, he raised his eyes and restored his usual calm and gentle demeanor.

  "Long Qi!"

  Yuan Longqi suddenly turned his head towards Xia Tian, was she calling him? Long Qi?

  Yuan Longlin furrowed his brow and glanced at Yuan Longqiao very quickly, looking somewhat embarrassed. "...Third Aunt, what instructions do you have?"

  He slightly curled up one corner of his mouth, and a hint of mischief flashed in Xia Tian's eyes, "The Fifth Prince was also injured, don't forget to help him find a good doctor too."

  A warm feeling ignited in his heart, Yuan Longqi looked at Xia Tian with a gentle gaze and smiled: "Thank you, Third Aunt."

  Yuan Longqiao on the side remained expressionless, as if he was neither concerned nor had heard any of it.