Chapter 23: Trying to Steal My Wife? You’ve Gotten Too Bold

Bullying his own sister and overturning their family’s stall—Zhao Yide had long been simmering with rage. As soon as Ye Xiu finished speaking, he rose like a towering iron pillar. Having once slain invaders, he was a ruthless man who never held back when it came to violence. How could a few petty tax collectors, who bullied the common folk, ever be his match? In the blink of an eye, the tax collectors were curled up on the ground, letting out shrill, piercing wails.

Madame Zhao stared in dumbstruck silence, while Zhao Youyou covered her eyes, unable to bear the sight. Old Man Ye’s lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes filled with nothing but admiration.

Ye Xiu grabbed Huang Biao by the hair. "Are you here to collect taxes, or to abduct people?"

"This..."

"Hmph!" Ye Xiu slammed Huang Biao’s head hard against the ground. "I’ll ask you one last time: are you collecting taxes or abducting people?"

Huang Biao let out several piercing screams before stammering, "It’s... it’s the Tax Commissioner. He intends to take a concubine, but the Zhao family keeps citing their past meritorious service and refuses to show respect. That is why he sent me here to force the tax payment."

"Damn you, trying to snatch my wife?" Ye Xiu’s face darkened, his voice sharp and cold. "Although my family’s fortunes have declined, I am not someone a mere Tax Commissioner can humiliate. Brother Zhao, break his dog legs. I will sit right here and wait. I want to see exactly how this Tax Commissioner intends to forcibly abduct a woman!"

*My wife?* Upon hearing this, Zhao Youyou suddenly forgot all her fear. She widened her eyes, staring at Ye Xiu with a gaze shimmering with brilliance. In an instant, Madame Zhao’s anxious heart settled; if her capable future son-in-law was handling this, there could be nothing better.

Zhao Yide did not hesitate; he picked up a wooden club and struck it fiercely against Huang Biao’s lower leg.

*Crack!*

The sound of bone snapping echoed through the air, and Huang Biao let out a howl before fainting dead away. The surrounding tax collectors, having never witnessed such a scene, turned pale with terror, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

As the crowd of onlookers grew, the patrolling city guards soon arrived. Unlike the bullying tax collectors, these guards were sharp-eyed and knew how to read the situation. The squad leader bowed toward Old Man Ye and Old Man Sun, "Gentlemen, what is...?"

Before they could answer, Ye Xiu spoke unhurriedly, "This is beyond your jurisdiction. Go and bring your Assistant Prefect here."

"Young man, you must be joking. How can a mere brawl disturb the Assistant Prefect?" The squad leader looked Ye Xiu up and down. His attire was plain, yet he possessed an indescribable aura.

"Disturb?" Ye Xiu glanced at the squad leader. "Then have Xu Yougong come instead."

"Xu Yougong is..." The squad leader stopped mid-sentence, his expression changing drastically. "How dare you! How can you address the Prefect by his given name?"

"Officer," Old Man Ye said with a beaming smile, "the young man told you to go find him, so you should go. You won’t be wrong."

"Mr. Ye, this..." The squad leader was caught in a dilemma. On one side were the tax collectors, and on the other, a banished former Censor-in-Chief... After much deliberation, he gritted his teeth, looked at the guards behind him, and said, "All of you stay here to protect the scene. I am going to the yamen."

At the Jinling Prefecture Yamen, there was little official business today. Shopkeeper Liu from the tavern had sent over half a catty of fine wine, claiming it was a new batch about to hit the market and asking him to have a taste. Assistant Prefect Cao Youde immediately ordered four side dishes and summoned the Vice Prefect, Wang Liang, to enjoy the afternoon.

They were just about to start drinking when the squad leader arrived.

"You need me to show up for a brawl? Is your brain made of pig fat?" Cao Youde was furious. "I think you should stop being a squad leader."

"Old Cao, don't be so hasty." Wang Liang pondered for a moment, looking at the squad leader with suspicion. "Tell us exactly what happened."

The squad leader recounted the incident, placing special emphasis on Old Man Ye. "That young man broke the tax collector's leg, and instead of running, he addressed the Prefect by his name. I... I cannot gauge his background, so I had to come back to seek your help. If he happens to be a scion of some noble house, I cannot afford the consequences..."

"This is interesting." Cao Youde took a sip of the wine, his eyes suddenly widening. He cursed, "Holy hell, this wine..."

Wang Liang paused, downed his cup in one go, and then froze in place. A long while later, he slammed the table hard. "Damn fine wine!"

The squad leader was bewildered. The other side had broken a tax collector’s leg—why were these two not the least bit worried?

Cao Youde and Wang Liang exchanged a look, both coming to a silent understanding.

"Squad Leader Zhou, go and summon the Tax Commissioner, Zheng Kui."

Before long, Zheng Kui arrived. "I pay my respects to the two officials," he said with a bow.

"Squad Leader Zhou, give him fifty slaps to the mouth!" Cao Youde didn't even look at Zheng Kui.

Squad Leader Zhou hesitated, then raised his hand and slapped Zheng Kui across the face.

"Are you not eating? Did you have no meal?" Cao Youde slammed the table again. "Use the execution board! If it doesn't leave a mark, I’ll have the bailiffs give you a hundred strokes!"

Squad Leader Zhou’s face turned pale. Realizing this was serious, he retrieved an execution board and struck Zheng Kui across the face with all his might.

*Smack!*

*Argh!*

Zheng Kui screamed in agony. Just as he was about to plead his case, the second blow landed. Fifty strokes were delivered without fail. Zheng Kui’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, and bloodied froth dripped onto the floor.

"Forcibly abducting a woman, and from a family with meritorious service?" Cao Youde kicked Zheng Kui over. "Get out of here immediately, clean up your mess, and if you dare bother the Zhao family again, I will kill you!"

Zheng Kui was completely stunned. He had investigated thoroughly—the Zhao family only had an honorary title and no backing. Why had this reached Cao Youde?

"Get out!" Cao Youde glared. "Remember this: if you don’t handle this well, I will have your entire family exiled to Lingnan!"

Zheng Kui, a mere eighth-rank Tax Commissioner, dared not offer any further excuses and followed Squad Leader Zhou to the North Gate Bridge.

"Old Cao, aren't you going to ask who that young man is?" Wang Liang asked, his expression profound.

"Ask my foot." Cao Youde poured another cup of wine. "Exiles are always sent to Lingnan; who gets sent to Jinling? Ye Xiren will soon be restored to his former position. I am just a small Assistant Prefect of Jinling—if I offend a Censor-in-Chief, would I be insane?"

"But what about that young man? You didn't ask about him either?" Wang Liang pressed.

"Old Wang, how many people in our city of Jinling can address the Prefect by his name?" Cao Youde took a sip of wine. "Regardless of who he is, he will surely accept the favor I’ve done him. If I ever run into trouble, he might just pull me out of it."

"Old Cao, what if he’s just bluffing?" Wang Liang was still unconvinced.

"A man favored by Ye Xiren who breaks a tax collector’s leg—do you think he's bluffing? Setting the young man aside, I have to give Ye Xiren some face anyway."

Cao Youde laughed heartily. "That 'living ancestor' in the capital has embezzled over eight million taels, and he’s confessed to all his crimes. It’s just a matter of how the judgment will fall. But the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Judicial Review—not a single person dares to take over the case. Those in the capital are afraid to touch it, so they can only find these exiled officials to take the fall. I’ve heard rumors that Ye Xiren should be returning to the capital by the end of the month. Before he leaves, we should host a banquet to see him off."

At the mention of the legendary "Account-Balancing Saint," Ye Tianxiang, admiration appeared in Wang Liang’s eyes as well. "The reason no one dares to take the case is that the Cabinet and the Six Ministries cannot discern the Emperor’s true intentions. Whether he lives or dies remains a mystery."

Cao Youde lowered his voice. "Old Wang, in my view, Ye Tianxiang will not be executed, but he won't be released either!"

"Could you elaborate?" Wang Liang looked confused, not understanding what he meant.

Cao Youde put on a mysterious air. "In officialdom, wherever you go, it’s all about human sentiment and worldly wisdom. I cannot say more, I cannot say more... Let us continue to drink..."