Qin Shi was at a loss, his gaze shifting toward the Zong brothers. Zong Wenxiu showed no expression, while Zong Jincheng leaned back in his chair, casually crossing his legs, exuding the air of a spoiled second-generation rich kid.
"How could this happen... How did our reunion turn out this way? Aren't we friends?" Qin Shi muttered softly.
His guard advised, "Young Master Qin, you can't continue like this. Second Young Master has warned you so many times, yet you refuse to listen. Look, all this constant yielding only brings temporary relief. Afterwards, they'll only grow more brazen, and the number of people bullying you will increase. Even your former friends might start bullying you along with them."
Qin Shi's eyes began to redden. He still refused to give up hope, staring at Zong Jincheng. But it was clear that the young rogue's acting skills were improving; he even called He Zheng back to his side, personally demonstrating how to beat someone up.
Feeling utterly isolated, Qin Shi closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks. The voice of the young boy, filled with despair, echoed, "Hit me."
The guard Lord Qin had arranged for him was very strong and easily overpowered the children from the Martial Academy who hadn't yet mastered their skills. However, the guard always held back, not daring to harm these children from influential families.
Taking advantage of this weakness, Liu Xu gathered a group of people to surround the guard. Meanwhile, he stretched his muscles and approached Qin Shi, saying, "Let's have a one-on-one. I promise not to cripple you. Hmm, where should I hit? Your hands, maybe? Since they say that fingers are connected to the heart, hitting the hands is the most painful."
Qin Shi's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't let them damage his hands.
If his hands were crippled, he wouldn't be able to write.
"Why do you all force me like this..." Qin Shi shot Liu Xu a red-eyed glare. When Liu Xu rushed over to grab his hands, Qin Shi kicked out at Liu Xu with a swift move.
Both Zong brothers were stunned.
Impressive, Qin Shi, you've actually started counterattacking.
Liu Xu was caught off guard by the kick, but being from the Martial Academy, he quickly recovered and grabbed Qin Shi, starting to beat him up. However, Qin Shi fought back, striving to protect his hands while also engaging in the brawl.
Zong Jincheng stood up from his chair and told his two companions, "Prepare to join in."
He Zheng asked, "Are we going to hit Qin Shi?"
"No, we're hitting Liu Xu," Zong Wenxiu interjected.
Zong Jincheng rushed over and started kicking Liu Xu, while Zong Wenxiu pulled Liu Xu off Qin Shi. He Zheng then joined Zong Jincheng in attacking Liu Xu.
"Ah... Help! Zong Jincheng, you're hitting the wrong person! We're on the same side!" Liu Xu screamed.
Zong Jincheng straddled him and continued beating him while yelling, "Who's on your side? I hate people from the Martial Academy the most! You think you have martial arts to bully others? Learning martial arts is for protecting the country, not for you to bully the weak! He Zheng, hit him!"
"Coming, coming!"
"Ah... My face... My mouth... Let go of me, you scoundrels... Ah..." Liu Xu's screams didn't stop.
Qin Shi was dumbfounded.
What... What is happening here?
The busiest stall was now a scene of a chaotic brawl. Peddlers and onlookers fled in panic, while patrol officers soon arrived, arresting all the young troublemakers one by one.
"Let go of us! Do you know who we are?" the young troublemakers shouted.
The officers replied, "With the New Year approaching, the Crown Prince has ordered the capital to be on high alert. You're causing trouble in a public place; I don't care who you are! Even the emperor’s relatives aren't exempt; take them away!"
"Crown Prince..." Zong Jincheng was stunned. He quickly pulled out the jade pendant the Crown Prince had given him, shouting, "I have the Crown Prince's jade pendant! Let us go!"
The officers walked over, inspected the jade pendant the young troublemaker had produced, and their stern expressions gradually grew longer...
After a while, they finally spat out with a black face, "Impersonating the Crown Prince's jade pendant is a serious offense! Take them all away."
Zong Jincheng: "???"
What’s going on here? That jade pendant was gifted to me by the Crown Prince himself!
Meanwhile, Xu Wan, Madam Shen, and Madam He were browsing in a clothing store, planning to choose new outfits for their children for the New Year, when suddenly servants from the Zong and He families rushed in, anxiously reporting, "Madam, madam, it's terrible! Young Masters have been arrested by the officials!"
The three ladies exclaimed, "What?!"
Zong Jincheng, Zong Wenxiu, and He Zheng—none of the three brothers escaped. They were all taken to the magistrate's office, waiting for their family to bail them out.
Zong Wenxiu and Qin Shi were terrified.
Zong Jincheng, He Zheng, Liu Xu, and others, who were known for their constant fights, had never been to the magistrate's office before, but they knew it wouldn't be a big deal, so they were more courageous than most children.
The magistrate's office was aware of their identities and would usually just ask a few questions before releasing them. However, due to the Crown Prince's recent decree, they had to bring them in for a formality.
Zong Jincheng held the jade pendant and examined it repeatedly, unable to understand, "What's going on? That really was the pendant given to me by the Crown Prince..."
The Crown Prince had clearly told him that with this pendant, even someone as powerful as Luo Jingfeng wouldn't dare touch him.
So what was happening now?
Why didn't these officers fear the pendant, though it intimidated even Luo Jingfeng?
Xu Wan and Madam He were outside completing the paperwork and waiting for their children to be released. They saw Madam Qin rushing over in a hurry, accompanied by... Qin Ye.
Madam Qin was introducing herself while Qin Ye examined his brother's record.
Involved in a fight... Participated in a brawl.
Zong Jincheng... It was him again, the one who helped his brother in the brawl?
Madam Qin was still explaining, "My eldest son has never argued with anyone. How could he have been involved in a brawl? He must have been the one being attacked."
Qin Ye: "..."
Although it was hurtful to hear, it was the truth.
However, the officers responded, "He was involved in the brawl. Qin Shi not only participated but also initiated the fight. Zong Jincheng and He Zheng were helping him."
At this, even Madam Qin was shocked.
Qin Ye also looked up, studying his brother's handwriting on the record. His brother had truly fought back; he had resisted?
Since Qin Shi and Zong Jincheng's group were considered acting in self-defense, the magistrate's office released them first. As soon as Zong Jincheng stepped outside, he saw Xu Wan and immediately froze.
He angrily glared at Shunzi: Who told you to notify Xu Wan?!
There were so many relatives in the mansion—even if they didn't call the grandparents, they could have called the second aunt. Why did they have to call Xu Wan!
His relationship with Xu Wan as a mother-son pair was already fragile. Now, his embarrassing situation of being arrested and locked up after a brawl was not only witnessed by her but also had her come to bail him out personally. She must feel so embarrassed.
Xu Wan must be furious with him right now.
Zong Jincheng was both angry and anxious, afraid that Xu Wan would ignore him. He shifted his feet uneasily, unwilling to go over, growing more and more fearful until a familiar figure approached.
Xu Wan bent down and asked, "Jincheng, are you okay?"
Zong Jincheng suddenly looked up, feeling as if spring had arrived.
