Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

"And who are you people?"

Yu Zhongquan narrowed his eyes, drew his long sword, and stared at Zhou Feng and the others with a solemn expression.

Although he held a high position in the Imperial City Guard, when it came to actual combat skills, he was far inferior to those of the frontline combat personnel.

At least Gu Qianfan, whom he once regarded as a rival, was more than twice as strong as him.

His current position is inseparable from Lei Jing's promotion; true to his name, he is only loyal to power.

Meanwhile, the burly men following behind Zhou Feng, though unarmed, exuded an undeniable murderous aura, suggesting that each of them had taken more than one life!

This imposing aura caused Yu Zhongquan and his men to involuntarily take two steps back.

"I say, Lord Yu, if you want to frame someone, at least be a little more professional! Create some false evidence, fabricate charges of treason, and you'll have a legitimate reason. Arresting someone without any evidence is just showing a complete disregard for me."

Zhou Feng followed closely past Yu Zhongquan and stood directly in front of Zhao Pan'er.

The latter stared intently at him, but did not dare to interfere.

"This is an investigation by the Imperial City Guard. Sir, what is your position? How dare you utter such defamatory words!"

It's certain that Yu Zhongquan was framed, but to have it said to his face is somewhat undignified.

"You have no right to speak to me. You there, go back to the Imperial City Guard and have Lei Jing come here."

Zhou Feng didn't even look at Yu Zhongquan; instead, he turned his gaze to one of his subordinates behind him.

The man was taken aback and looked at Yu Zhongquan with a conflicted expression. At this moment, the latter was also somewhat undecided. After hesitating for a few moments, he finally nodded.

Since the other party dared to address the director by his given name, he must have some powerful backing.

Moreover, their arrest this time was against the rules, and they had no evidence whatsoever. If things really escalate, it will be beyond their ability to handle.

"you…"

Yu Zhongquan stepped forward, but before he could finish speaking, Chen Xiao reached out and knocked the long knife out of his hand. Tie Jianguo then slapped Yu Zhongquan in the chest, causing him to stumble back a few steps and almost fall.

"Until Lei Jing arrives, all of you stay here quietly and no one is allowed to leave."

Zhou Feng, feigning composure, took Zhao Pan'er's hand and turned to give Yu Zhongquan a cold look.

His tone was very calm, but the elite soldiers who came with him simultaneously drew their pistols from their waists and coldly locked onto their targets.

With a distance of less than 10 meters in front of them, each of them can hit exactly where they are pointed, without making a single mistake!

Chen Xiao went to the main hall and brought two chairs for Zhou Feng and Zhao Pan'er to sit on the veranda. He, Tie Jianguo, Sun Sanniang, and Song Yinzhang stood behind them.

The seven or eight Imperial Guards were surrounded in the courtyard, looking like monkeys in a circus, their faces flushed red, but they were helpless.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhongquan's men from the Imperial City Bureau finally rushed back to the bureau and stood before Lei Jing.

After hearing his embellished description, Lei Jing's hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from anger.

Since he took charge of the Imperial City Guard, which official in the capital city of Tokyo doesn't respectfully address him as "Lord Guard"?

Now, some hotheaded young man, a nobody official, dares to call him by his name and even ask him to come over in person just to protect a merchant girl from Qiantang.

What arrogance and disregard for others!

"It seems that our company has been too inactive, to the point that everyone in Tokyo has forgotten about our methods."

Lei Jing sneered, slammed his teacup on the table, and stood up: "Today, this department will see which fool dares to provoke us!"

"Go to the Investigation Division and bring over the information on that merchant girl named Zhao Pan'er. We want to see what kind of background this woman has who can mediate between the daughter of Observer Gao and Scholar Ouyang!"

In the short time it took Lei Jing to change into casual clothes, his subordinate returned from the Investigation Department and handed him a report with both hands while bowing.

Lei Jing casually took it, glanced at it inadvertently, and suddenly froze.

The four characters "Celestial Master Zhou Feng" were like a bucket of ice water, chilling him from head to toe.

This is clearly Zhao Pan'er's information, so how come this person's name appears?

Without the slightest hesitation, Lei Jing grabbed the intelligence report, brought it close to his eyes, and carefully read through it before slowly sitting back down in his chair.

His expression changed from gloomy to astonishment, then to anger, and now he was even gritting his teeth.

This merchant girl from Qiantang, Zhao Pan'er, has actually become engaged to the Celestial Master Zhou Feng. The two even used this to force the third-ranked scholar, Ouyang Xu, to apologize at the Kaifeng government office!

Damn!

How come he didn't know about this before?

To others, Zhou Feng was just a Taoist priest.

But he was Lei Jing, the chief of the Imperial City Guard. In the entire city of Tokyo, whether in the outer city or inside the palace, there was nothing that could be hidden from him.

Including yesterday when Zhou Feng entered the palace to present treasures, the Emperor personally bestowed upon him the title of "True Lord Who Protects the Nation, Reveres the Mysterious and Manifests the Way." Today, the temple plaque has been granted, and documents have been sent to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Ministry of Rites!

This is an eight-character title!

Lei Jing's temples were throbbing.

What does an eight-character title mean?

Since the founding of this dynasty, only a handful of Taoist priests have been granted a six-character title. An eight-character title signifies the status of a royal deity, someone truly favored by the emperor and showered with imperial favor!

Now, Gao Hu's daughter is actually asking him to kidnap Zhou Feng's fiancée?

Asshole!

Lei Jing suddenly had the urge to rush straight to Gao Guancha's residence and strangle Gao Hui to death!

She really screwed me over this time!

Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, Lei Jing calmed down a bit. He then folded the intelligence report, put it in the box on his desk, and stood up to leave.

As he walked, he instructed his men, "Prepare a fast carriage immediately; we're going to Zhao Niangzi's residence."

"Master Si, should we bring more men?"

Lei Jing glanced at his subordinates as if they were idiots: "Are you going to fight? Why did you bring so many people?"

When that Taoist priest performed the spell, he was in the Imperial Garden.

That huge artificial mountain was blown to pieces with a bang. How many people could he have brought?

Besides, they're not competing with you in terms of numbers; they're talking about imperial favor and the power of discourse in front of the emperor.

Does Lei Jing think he can compete with others using his brain?

That idiot has absolutely no sense of propriety. I'll transfer him to the Palace Affairs Office and put him on duty year-round. Surely he won't need to use his brain then!

After walking quickly out of the Imperial City Guard, Lei Jing suddenly slowed down.

He can't rush it, or he'll seem anxious, and if he's anxious, he'll seem guilty.

He needs to be more composed and steady, and not show too much weakness!