Chapter 56 Overbearing

Jingshan District, Han Prince’s Mansion.

As curfew approached, the servants and maids in the mansion tidied up their tasks, washed up, and each retired to their rooms to sleep.

The curfew forbade commoners from roaming the streets, but it was not absolute. At any time, under any policy, there were always those who operated outside the rules, claiming “privilege” as their right.

The nobility and high officials formed the top echelon of privilege in the Tang Dynasty.

Although these dignitaries did not completely disregard such policies and rarely ventured out after curfew, nights filled with endless revelry were commonplace.

However, the Han Prince’s Mansion was unlike other noble families. After curfew, there were essentially no banquets or gatherings; lights were extinguished promptly, and the entire residence fell silent.

Yet tonight, just as the servants and maids returned to their quarters, ready to rest in the warmth of their beds after a tiring day, a sudden commotion of shouting and neighing startled them.

The servants were perplexed—when did horses ever ride into the mansion?

The Han Prince was a refined scholar, well-versed and cultured, but he despised vulgar and coarse warriors. He always traveled in sedan chairs, never on horseback.

The stable housed only draft horses; there was not a single fine steed.

They hurried outside to see several well-fed, vigorous horses trotting briskly under the dim lights, recklessly charging into the inner courtyard and heading straight for the main hall.

The servants, clueless about the situation, whispered curiously—who dared be so bold as to ride horses within the Prince’s Mansion?

Naturally, some recognized the leading figure: a young man clad in a brocade coat and sable hat—the younger brother of Lady Fang, the Prince’s wife, and the Prince’s brother-in-law. They immediately understood the situation and excitedly whispered to those unaware.

“Did you see the leader? That young man in the fur-lined coat—guess who he is?”

“This is going to be a show!”

“You really don’t know?”

“I’ll tell you—that’s the second son of Minister Fang, Lady Fang’s own brother...”

“Right, the one who’s been fighting underground boxing for a hundred years...”

“Still don’t get it? You’re really slow—The Prince bullied the Princess, and now her brother is storming in to settle the score...”

“What? Lawless? Riding horses inside the Prince’s Mansion is lawless? Tsk tsk, your knowledge is limited. Do you know Prince Qi Li You? Or Prince Wei Li Tai? Fang Erlang beats anyone he catches to a pulp, and nothing ever happens to him afterward...”

“Hey, did the two brothers of Mrs. Cao stay in the guest rooms today?”

“So excited—let’s wait and see...”

The servants whispered among themselves. Soon, everyone knew that the arrogant intruder was none other than Fang Jun, one of the “Four Disasters of Chang’an” and a century-long underground boxer, Lady Fang’s younger brother.

Everyone in the mansion was aware of the incident: the Princess had been scolded by the Prince and had angrily returned to her natal home. Regardless of personal stance, they all understood that Fang Jun had come to the mansion that night to stand up for his sister.

Fang Jun, indifferent to the gossip swirling about him, urged his steed to charge recklessly toward the main hall, followed closely by his companions. The Prince’s Mansion erupted into chaos—people shouting, horses neighing, a scene of turmoil.

Fang Jun reined in at the main hall’s triple-leaf six-paneled door, shouted loudly, “Li Yuanjia, come out here!”

His voice resonated deeply from the diaphragm, loud and clear, echoing far into the quiet snowy night.

Everyone inside the mansion changed color—calling the Han Prince by name like this could only mean trouble...

A middle-aged man in a black robe hurried over, his round figure struggling to keep pace. By the time he reached Fang Jun, sweat beaded on his forehead, his plump white face flushed red, breath coming in gasps.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he looked up with a round, smiling face and said cheerfully, “Second Young Master is so... anxious. May I ask what this is about?”

He had wanted to say “so rude,” but knowing Fang Jun’s infamous temper, he thought better of it—better not to provoke him.

Fang Jun recognized him immediately. This was Zhao Fuzhong, the steward of the Han Prince’s Mansion. Fang Jun had visited several times before, and Zhao was always the one to receive him. Whenever Lady Han, the Princess, had something to offer her parents, Zhao would deliver it to Fang’s home. He was a man of many talents and connections.

Fang Jun’s face darkened. Without answering, he asked, “Is your master at home?”

Zhao wiped his sweat, “No, he’s not.”

“Really not?”

“Yes, really not...” Zhao Fuzhong smiled wryly. With all this shouting, even a turtle would come out...

Seeing that the steward spoke truthfully, Fang Jun snorted and refrained from pressing further. Instead, he asked, “Are you aware that my sister was scolded by the Prince?”

Zhao looked troubled, unsure how to respond, and mumbled, “Well... somewhat aware...”

“Explain what happened,” Fang Jun said, raising his riding whip and pointing its tip at Zhao’s nose with a dark expression. “If you lie, I’ll whip you to death!”

Zhao’s round face twitched slightly, flushing a bit, but he quickly regained composure.

Though the steward was a servant, his mother had been the Han Prince’s wet nurse, and they had been raised on the same milk. Naturally, he was very close to the Prince. Within the mansion, the Prince treated Zhao with brotherly respect. Who dared treat Zhao as a mere servant? Being threatened with a whip made him ashamed and angry.

But then he thought—who was Fang Jun? A complete fool. Trying to reason with him?

Ha!

So Zhao Fuzhong took no offense at Fang Jun’s rudeness but knew he had to answer his questions.

No matter how foolish Fang Jun was, as the Princess’s brother, he was family—and that was his master. Fang Jun could be irrational, but Zhao could not.

After a moment’s thought, Zhao gathered his words and slowly explained, “That day, Mrs. Cao’s father spent a fortune to purchase a vase, said to be from the Jin Dynasty imperial palace, and gave it to Mrs. Cao. She liked it very much and had a maid pack it carefully to present to the Princess for appraisal. But the Princess, accidentally, dropped it, and it shattered...”

“Broken is broken. A mere vase—not the Empress Dowager’s treasure—what’s the big deal?” Fang Jun said.

He guessed Zhao wouldn’t lie. Whether his sister had broken the vase intentionally or not was unknown.

But thinking about it, a concubine showing off a vase in front of his sister, with her temperament, it wasn’t impossible she smashed it on purpose.

So Fang Jun said “broken is broken, so what” instead of “did my sister break it,” as he wasn’t here to solve a mystery but to defend his sister.

Zhao began sweating again. Broken? That was a treasure bought for over a thousand coins... Still, he admired Fang Jun’s boldness and carefully chose his words, unwilling to anger this “devil.”

“Mrs. Cao was heartbroken and wept silently. The Princess spoke, but Mrs. Cao remained silent. This angered the Princess, who then ordered the family law to be enforced...”

His account was brief and somewhat incomplete, but Fang Jun could tell Zhao was not siding with anyone; as a servant, he could not arbitrarily stir trouble.

Fang Jun looked up at Zhao, thinking Li Yuanjia was probably not in the mansion. But having made such a grand entrance on a snowy night, could he just turn back halfway?

That was impossible!

Certainly, the Emperor would hear of his nighttime arrival into the city, and punishment would surely follow. House arrest might be minor; exile to the frontier was possible...

So, he decided to see this through—to stand up for his sister and clear her name!