Chapter 1452: Chapter 1452

Long Fei’s gaze moved to Xu Jiye, staring at him and said, "Xu Jiye, you caused trouble at the Prefecture Princess Mansion, instigated people to fight, and even attempted to draw your sword and harm someone. Do you admit to these charges?"

Xu Jiye clenched his fists, almost on the verge of tears.

Damn it, he did draw his sword, but that person was already turned into a bloody mist; he should be the victim here!

His eyes darted around, secretly glancing at Wang Shihao.

Wang Shihao, being extremely shrewd, now dared not involve himself in such a matter and quickly turned his head away.

Long Fei asked, "Xu Jiye, do you have any objections? I’m giving you a chance to speak."

With a bitter face, Xu Jiye knelt down before Long Fei with a thud, repeatedly exclaiming, "I admit, I admit."

Long Fei nodded and said, "Since you accept, then it will be handled according to the laws of South Yangtze Prefecture!"

At his command, soldiers immediately raised their steel spears and shouted, "At your service!"

Long Fei said, "Lock Xu Jiye in the Government Office Prison and wait for the people from the Governor’s Mansion to investigate the case before passing judgment!"

Two guards went over, picked up Xu Jiye, and walked out.

Everyone present didn’t dare to breathe loudly.

Xu Jiye’s clansmen were on the scene, but they didn’t dare reason with these harbingers of death.

On that day, outside the city, in a battle with the Great Xia Army, over a hundred thousand were obliterated into dust.

They were only a few people, barely enough to kill.

Moreover, in this matter, Xu Jiye indeed was in the wrong, as he was the one who attacked first, leaving them unable to refute.

Someone went into the reception hall at the back and informed the Xu Family’s family head, Xu Maocai, about this matter.

Commandery Princess Ji Wanrong and others also listened to the reports from their subordinates, and they all came out from the main hall at once.

Someone, seeing the heads of various families arriving, felt as if they’d found a pillar of support, clenching their hands while whispering, "We are saved, the family head is here."

"It’s nothing, the young master will surely be fine. After all, the Prefecture Princess Mansion counts on us for earning money."

"Indeed, offending one person means offending the entire force of the merchant association; they wouldn’t dare."

"Just wait, the young master will definitely be released soon."

A group of people came over, and the Commandery Princess, acting like a delicate little woman, excitedly walked up, unable to resist holding Long Fei’s arm, cutely saying, "You’re back?"

Everyone was completely dumbfounded, feeling that the Commandery Princess was a completely different person from what they usually saw.

Lin Shanshan and Ji Wanyu, both following behind, laughed happily at Long Fei.

If there weren’t so many people, they would also want to go up and hug him.

The Xu Family head, Xu Maocai, came up, cupping his fists and politely saying to the Commandery Princess and Long Fei, "Your Highness, Great Marshal, my child is ignorant and has offended the heavens, please forgive him! Considering it’s his first offense, please don’t hold it against him!"

Ji Wanrong, with a cold face, replied to him, "Whether or not your son is in trouble depends on the Punishment Court’s verdict. Our Punishment Court has just been established, and this case serves perfectly as an example to publicize the new laws to the public." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⁂𝕟𝕖𝕥

Xu Maocai was stunned and momentarily speechless.

Ji Wanrong asked the merchants present to disperse first and to continue the discussions tomorrow.

Everyone could see the position this Great Marshal held in the Commandery Princess’s heart.

As soon as he returned, the Commandery Princess looked like a newlywed bride, unable to hide the smile on her face, even cancelling such an important gathering.

The merchants all bade farewell and left, gathering around the Wang Family head, Wang Shouxin, outside the door.

Wang Shouxin, with a tight brow, patted Xu Maocai’s shoulder and comforted him with a few words, inviting everyone to have a small gathering at his residence.

The important merchants of the South Yangtze Prefecture followed him.

The news spread back, and Ji Wanrong had people setting up a banquet under the pavilion in the garden, welcoming Long Fei and the others.

Upon hearing this, Ji Wanyu cursed, "These old sly foxes, definitely gone to plot some mischief."

Long Fei raised an eyebrow and said, "Did I ruin your grand business plans?"

Ji Wanrong personally handed him a bowl and chopsticks, smiled, and told him, "Thanks to your intervention, we’ve turned a passive position into an active one. Earlier, during our negotiations with those old guys, they wouldn’t budge an inch. Getting them to share their benefits was really not easy."

Lin Shanshan said, "That’s for sure, how could the monopolists be willing to give up the meat in their mouths for the poor? They’d rather throw it away than share it."

She busily poured drinks for everyone, exceedingly happy to see Long Fei.

Long Fei laughed and asked her, "A few days ago, were you planning to take Wanyu to Chang’an City to find me?"

Lin Shanshan blushed and exclaimed in surprise, "How did you know?"

Long Fei smiled, just wanting to confirm whether the Divine Tree of the Flame Emperor Palace could really gather information.

Now it seemed, the thing was real.

With a wave of his hand, he isolated the space around them with a barrier, and then he told everyone about the negotiations at the Flame Emperor Palace.

The few of Ji Wanrong, all surprised, quickly asked, "Should we call Chu Feng and the others back?"

At this moment, Chu Feng and the others were mingling in the military camp, test-driving the latest model of Ironclad War Chariot with the New Army.

Long Fei shook his head and told Ji Wanrong, "From my observation, things are not yet that dire. There appear to be two factions within the Imperial Court: one is determined to reclaim the South Yangtze, and the other aims to maintain the status quo, collecting various resources in the territories controlled by the Imperial Court. We should prepare for war on one hand, and on the other, according to our planned strategy, implement new policies in South Yangtze Prefecture, boldly reforming. Without money in the pocket, fighting the Demon Race and developing our military is a joke."

Ji Wanrong nodded, pressing her brows and said, "To think that the Flame Emperor Palace has such plans. They want to be recluses, but we won’t be such."

Ji Wanyu said, "Right, to think of themselves as descendants of the Flame Emperor, why such lack of courage?"

Lin Shanshan rubbed her temples and said, "They are probably scared out of their wits by the Demon Race, so they only think about defense rather than taking the initiative to attack."

Ji Wanrong stared at Long Fei and said, "Then let them take all the resources from North Yangtze?"

According to Long Fei, this Land of Rebirth of the Flame Emperor Palace could accommodate over a hundred million people.

At that time, if all the major sects had such ideas, it would undoubtedly dissolve part of the resistance against the Demon Race.

Retreating without a fight indeed felt uncomfortable.

Long Fei comforted, "Everyone has their path; we can’t stop them, just do our part well. The Flame Emperor Palace is strong, and we can’t directly face them now. If they don’t take the initiative, we’ll maintain the status quo and focus on developing ourselves; that’s the most urgent task."

Ji Wanrong nodded, knowing that going head-on would only deplete the Human Race’s vitality.

Only by seeking common ground while reserving differences and jointly resisting the Demon Race is the righteous path.

The Wang Family residence was located along the river outside Southern Capital City.

The scenery was excellent, standing on the five-story pavilion, one could overlook the grand river scene.

Some of the merchants who had just left arrived there under Wang Shouxin’s hospitality.

Maids and servants went in and out, setting up tables for the banquet inside.

Wang Shouxin invited everyone to take a seat, his face not looking too relaxed. Especially Xu Maocai, whose face was almost twisted with anxiety.