Chapter Ten: Quarreling Over Trifles

  The diners on the second floor heard this voice, and their expressions, which were just intoxicated with the beautiful music, suddenly became a bit stiff. They seemed to be very afraid of the person who spoke earlier. The face of the girl Jiang Rou on the central stage also turned pale, and her eyes revealed deep fear.

  Ji Qingchen was somewhat perplexed, wondering what kind of person could say just one sentence and make the diners on the second floor so uneasy that they couldn't sit or lie down, and make the singing girl so frightened. As he thought this, he saw a man in his thirties with a pale complexion and a gloomy face appear on the second floor, fixing his gaze on Jiang Rou as soon as he came up. Without guessing, Ji Qingchen knew that the man must have been the one who made the lewd remark earlier. Behind the middle-aged man were four burly henchmen, glaring menacingly at the diners on the second floor.

  "The young lady Jiang Rou continues, I won't disturb your singing, let's wait until you finish and then we'll go to the mansion for a drink, it's not too late. The middle-aged young master spoke casually, but his eyes were flirtatious and his words were frivolous, making Ji Qingchen feel very disgusted."

  Jiang Rou on the central stage didn't dare to look directly at the middle-aged man's gaze, her eyes revealed a pleading expression, carefully scanning the surroundings of the hall, wanting to find someone who could speak up for her at this time. However, all the diners on the second floor had long been intimidated by the middle-aged man's power, where was there anyone who dared to come forward and help her out? Everyone lowered their heads, drinking wine with a heavy heart, afraid that they would accidentally get themselves into trouble. Seeing the indifference of the diners on the second floor, Jiang Rou's eyes were slightly resentful, and her eyebrows revealed a desperate attitude.

  Just then, Jiang Rou looked around again with a reluctant gaze, her eyes suddenly falling on the jade case where Ji Qingchen was sitting. Seeing Ji Qingchen's warm smile, she suddenly felt a faint warmth.

  She saw the noble young man with his hair tied back and a white robe, standing tall and handsome, with a faint smile on his angular mouth, warm like spring. Jiang Rou didn't know what was wrong, but at this moment, she felt as if she had found her own family member, and suddenly felt a warm current surging up her body.

  The middle-aged gentleman who had just gone up to the second floor, since his gaze fell on Jiang Rou's body, hadn't left it. Now seeing Jiang Rou staring blankly at Ji Qingchen in a daze by the window, with countless tenderness in her eyes, the smile that was proudly displayed on his face suddenly froze. Since Jiang Rou arrived at Tianxianju to sing, she sang for many days, and he came here to listen for many days. Every time Jiang Rou finished singing, he would give a large sum of silver as an offering, but still hadn't gotten a smile from her. But this somewhat weak-bodied, pale-faced poor scholar, how could he win Jiang Rou's heart? The middle-aged gentleman thought about this, and his already iron-blue face turned even colder, taking big strides towards Ji Qingchen.

  "This brother, I've taken a liking to your spot, and I'd like you to move elsewhere to drink." The middle-aged young master walked up to Ji Qingchen's face and said in a commanding tone.

  Ji Qingchen ignored the middle-aged man's words and continued drinking, while Guo Yun opposite him had already half-crouched down, ready to strike at any moment.

  The middle-aged young master came from a prominent family and was also the tyrant of Ningzhou City. No matter where he went, everyone would show him respect by addressing him as "Liu Dàgōngzǐ" (Young Master Liu) and offering him the best things. Now, seeing Ji Qīngchén ignore him, he became furious, for he had never been treated this way before. His followers were also arrogant, a group of bullies who would not hesitate to teach Ji Qīngchén a lesson without waiting for their master's order. One of them, a tall and rough-looking man, stepped forward, ready to take action.

  "Damn it, you little brat must have eaten the heart of a leopard! Our young master is talking to you, are you deaf or mute!" The big man cursed loudly, taking two steps forward and about to grab Jie Qingchen's collar. Just as his hand was about to reach Jie Qingchen's chest, Guo Lin's figure flashed by, grabbing the big man's wrist. With a forceful pull, there was a "crack" sound, and the big man's arm was already broken. The big man let out a blood-curdling scream, stumbling backwards, and fell to the ground in front of the jade case. Then, another mournful scream echoed through the air as the big man's broken hand was nailed to the jade case by a chopstick.

  In an instant, in just one breath of time, the big man who was just fierce and evil is now lying on the jade case like a dog, wailing incessantly. This made the diners in the hall shocked to tremble with fear, they did not expect that the elegant and refined noble young master in front of the jade case would be such a ruthless character, daring to lay a heavy hand on Liu Gongzi's guard, their eyes were full of terrified expressions, lowering their heads and not daring to look at Ji Qingchen.

  "You——" The middle-aged young master did not expect this result. Usually when bullying others, it was his subordinates who beat the opponent half to death. He never thought that today he would be subdued with just one move, and even had a hand disabled. He was frightened by this bloody and ruthless scene, and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "Who are you? How dare you commit murder in Ningzhou City, don't you have any regard for the law?"

  And the three accomplices beside him saw their companion being defeated and took a step back with some trepidation.

  "Are you talking about the law of the king?" Ji Qing's eyes swept over the middle-aged young master with disdain, and she coldly said, "Someone like you who bullies men and tyrannizes women is also worthy of mentioning the two words 'law of the king'? You should immediately apologize to this young lady for your behavior just now, and then roll far away. I can let bygones be bygones regarding your actions today, but if you still don't know what's good for you and want to continue disturbing me from enjoying my wine and music, no matter whose son you are, don't blame me for being ruthless."

  Ji Qingchen's tone was very flat when he spoke, but this sentence came out of his mouth slowly, as if with a thousand pounds of pressure, and the atmosphere in the great hall suddenly became extremely solemn.

  The middle-aged young master was already furious, and after hearing Ji Qingchen's angry rebuke, his face turned alternately pale and red. Thinking that Jiang Rou was watching from not far away and might have discovered his ugly appearance, he became both enraged and ashamed, and angrily shouted, "What are you still standing there for? Don't you dare go up and finish them off!"

  The three henchmen beside the middle-aged young master had been somewhat intimidated since their companion was disabled, but now that they heard their own young master's order, they couldn't help but obey and could only loudly shout as they charged towards Ji Qingchen and Guo Yun.

  The lady in front of the jade table, Ji Qingchen, still hadn't moved, slowly savoring the fine wine in her cup. However, Guo Lin, opposite her, had already leapt out of his seat. Just as three henchmen rushed to the jade table, he took only two breaths to take down the three men with a few swift moves. He then took another step forward and caught the middle-aged man who was about to flee, throwing him heavily in front of Ji Qingchen.

  "Ah——" The middle-aged man was thrown in front of the jade case by Guo Lin, and let out a miserable cry. After a moment, he endured the pain and slowly raised his head, just in time to meet Ji Qingchen's gaze, which had a hint of murderous intent in it. His heart skipped a beat as he thought of what Ji Qingchen had said earlier, and his body became slightly stiff. He stuttered, "Y-you... who are you? You can't kill me, I'm..." But before he could finish speaking, he heard a loud "Bang!" and Ji Qingchen kicked him in the mouth, sending him flying to the side. Then, she said to Guo Lin, "Teach him a lesson, and throw him downstairs again."

  "Yes!" Guo Lin led the way, slowly taking one step at a time towards the middle-aged young master lying not far away, and then a mournful scream spread throughout the hall.

  After a moment, when the shouting stopped, Guo Xun walked up to Ji Qingchen and saluted.

  The lady nodded slightly and let him sit down to continue drinking.

  At this time, the diners in the elegant room on the second floor finally came to their senses. They saw Liu Gongzi being carried out like a dog and wailing incessantly, and they were so frightened that their souls flew away. Who still had the heart to eat? Looking at Ji Qingchen's appearance was like seeing a plague, and they dispersed in all directions like birds and beasts.

  All of a sudden, the VIP room on the second floor became empty, except for Jiang Rou on the central stage, only Ji Qingchen and Guo Lin were left, as well as a scholar in front of the jade case not far from them.

  The Jiang Rou on the stage never thought that such a result would occur, but she hesitated for a moment and still walked down from the stage to stand in front of Qi Qingchen, bowed her head and saluted, "Thank you so much for your help just now, Jiang Rou is grateful. However, I am alone and have no one to rely on. Today, I also offended Liu Gongzi, and I'm afraid I've lost my place to settle down. If the young master doesn't mind, from now on, I am willing to follow by your side to repay the kindness you showed me today."

  After a moment, seeing Ji Qingchen remain silent, she bowed again and said, "I still hope that young master can fulfill his promise."