Chapter 19 (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Second Prince, Fang Yan, Wen Zihao and the rest standing at the side all heaved a sigh of relief as all this happened too quickly, making them feel as though their nerves were so tense it might snap.
“My father asked me to welcome all of you. How can there be such nonsense happening before the palace gate? Please get ready since the Fang and the Wen family heads have both arrived and it is almost time for the imperial feast.” Seeing as it was almost time and Ren Jie had already lowered the blade, the Second Prince proceeded to wrap up the situation.
Except nobody bothered about what he said because he was not the one with the authority now.
Since when did this fellow become so brave to even do this to Gao Peng who enjoyed such fame and reputation in the Jade Capital. Nobody had dared to do it besides Lan Tian. Could this be why Fang Qi wanted to get rid of him previously? A thought emerged in Fang Yan’s head as he looked at Ren Jie.
“Awesome!” Fatty Gao Ren excitedly clenched his fists and waved them around as he cheered Ren Jie on. Actually, he was just too excited and could not calm himself down because this was way more exciting than burning down Fang Qi’s yard and beating Gao Fei up with ironwood stools.
Especially since they had forced the famous Gao Peng of the Jade Imperial Academy to kneel down and cry. Thinking back about his haughty smile, he could not help but to feel incredibly satisfied.
As he thought about what happened recently, Gao Ren could not help but think that he did not seem to return home in anger like he used to do with Ren Jie in the past. In fact, they always returned incredibly satisfied. Since when did it start becoming like this?
With a wave of his hand, Tong Qiang immediately released Gao Peng like a machine and some of the Ren’s personal guards brought Gao Peng away while the rest continued to stand guard next to Ren Jie and his carriage. Even the Second Prince, Fang Yan, Wen Zihao and the rest were cleared from Ren Jie’s side.
As the captain of the Ren’s personal guards, his greatest mission in life was to protect the family head at all cost. This was something that all the family clans tried to uphold with their guards, but few of them were able to do it as well as Tong Qiang.
“Are… are you done! Do you know what you have done?” The elders of the Ren family were finally able to enter, and the moment they did, Ren Hanlin raised a shaking finger and pointed it at Ren Jie.
While the five family clans, including the royal family, had never been on good terms with each other, they would usually not go to extremes in public as it was still important to remain amicable. However, what Ren Jie did was akin to falling out with the Gaos in public, and Gao Peng was a rare talent even in the Gao family as well. He was basically the next family head. When he took over the position, it was obvious what his next step would be.
“This is the palace. Look… look at what you did in front of the palace. You openly challenged the authority of the royal family and the country’s law. You… As the family head you must know that your every word and action represents the Ren family.”
Ren Wenxu was also shaking from anger.
Ren Junyang looked at the Death Exemption jade tablet in Ren Jie’s hand somberly. “How can you use the Death Exemption jade tablet like this, this is shared by the whole family clan. Do you know what will happen after this? The forces that support the Gaos will completely fall out with us, and the other family clans will also be wary of us or even link up to go against us. You…”
“What about me?” Ren Jie dangled the Death Exemption jade tablet in front of the three worked up elders. “How else should I use it? By giving it offerings every day? Also, the Death Exemption jade tablets shared by the family clans are passed down by the Patriarch, but this one here is from my father Ren Tianxing. Since he has given it to me, it’s mine and I shall use it as I please.”
“Link up? Don’t you do that all the time?” Ren Jie gave a dry laugh and ignored the three Elders, giving them a wave of his hand. “Alright, it’s time for me to attend th Emperor’s feast. You can go back.”
“What… go back?
Second Elder Ren Junyang, third Elder Ren Hanlin and fourth Elder Ren Wenxu were all stunned. They had made many preparations to bring Ren Jie along to this imperial feast.
They also had many other things to do at the imperial feast, but now that Ren Jie had asked them to go back. They were at a loss. They suddenly recalled that the tradition was that only the family head would be invited, and everyone else that attended was brought along by the family head.
Just then, another two troops of men and carriages arrived. It was the Wen family head, Wen Yong, and the Fang family head, Fang Tianen.
“Second Prince, it is time.” Fang Yan gently reminded the Second Prince.
The Second Prince had a dark expression as he had not thought about it during the incident since everything was too tense, and there was even a Death Exemption jade tablet. Now that he thought about it, he felt angrier and angrier at the fact that he, as the Second Prince, was scolded by this fellow. He was supposed to welcome them too, yet he did not show him any respect. Didn’t that mean that he spoiled his task and even snubbed him?