Gu Changge squeezed himself between the two.
He used his not-so-broad back to shield Su Qingzhou, simultaneously blocking Jiang Yuechu's murderous gaze.
"Oh my, what a coincidence! Miss... Miss Jiang, you're here too?"
Jiang Yuechu looked at Gu Changge, who had suddenly popped out, and the trace of Evil Qi in her eyes slowly dissipated.
"Inspector Gu."
She nodded slightly, her tone softening somewhat.
"Do you enjoy joining the excitement too?"
Gu Changge gave a wry smile.
"How is this joining the excitement? It's just... being forced here by the old man at home."
He gestured around him, looking helpless.
"Since my sister isn't in the Capital City, this kind of troublesome job that requires showing face naturally falls to me."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu could understand.
In large Families, there were always unavoidable social obligations.
"Since we've run into each other, let's sit together."
Jiang Yuechu pointed to the empty seat beside her.
Amidst all this room full of false pleasantries, running into an acquaintance was quite nice.
"Good, good, good!"
Gu Changge felt as if he had received a great amnesty, quickly sitting down and conveniently shoving Su Qingzhou aside.
Su Qingzhou stumbled back two steps, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Gu Changge! What is the meaning of this?!"
He gritted his teeth, glaring furiously at Gu Changge.
Although the Gu Family was also a prominent clan, Gu Changge was merely a martial artist who only knew how to wield weapons; normally, Su Qingzhou wouldn't even look him in the eye.
How dare he ruin his good fortune now?
Gu Changge turned his head to look at the enraged Su Qingzhou, feeling speechless inside.
Buddy, I'm saving your life!
Can you damn well read the room?
Do you really think this venerable lady is some delicate young lady from a noble Family?
That's a fierce person who chopped down the Lotus Cultivation Demon King with a single strike!
"Brother Su, Brother Su."
Gu Changge lowered his voice, sincerely advising him, "Listen to your brother's advice: you cannot afford to provoke this one."
"Cannot afford to provoke?"
Su Qingzhou sneered, "Isn't she just someone brought in by the Wei Residence? What? Could she possibly be a princess on a secret inspection tour?"
Gu Changge felt his temples throbbing violently.
Are these scholars?
Are their brains filled with paste?
Just as he was about to advise him further.
A cold, light laugh came from behind him.
"Heh."
Jiang Yuechu picked up her wine cup and took a small sip.
"Scholar Su, is that right?"
"If you are unconvinced, we can discuss it using a different method."
Jiang Yuechu smiled slightly.
That smile was like a hundred flowers blooming, stunningly beautiful.
But the words she spoke made the hairs on Gu Changge's body stand on end.
"I hear Scholar Su is exceptionally talented in literature and can speak in polished prose."
"Coincidentally."
"I also know a little bit about martial arts."
Jiang Yuechu slowly stood up, her light purple skirt spreading out like mist.
"How about..."
"We see right here in this hall whether your mouth is harder, or my fist is harder?"
"..."
The entire hall fell into dead silence.
Su Qingzhou's face twitched, and his eyelids jumped wildly.
Discussing based on the hardness of fists?
What kind of logic is that?
"You... you disgrace the scholarly class! This is an absolute disgrace to the scholarly class!"
Su Qingzhou's face flushed red, his folding fan pointed at Jiang Yuechu, and his fingers were trembling.
"I, Su, am a scholar, one who speaks of the teachings of the Saint! How can I stoop to the level of a... a barbarian woman like you?!"
Although his words were defiant, his body honestly shrank backward.
Jiang Yuechu clicked her tongue, looking at his outwardly fierce but inwardly cowardly appearance.
"So much nonsense."
Before her voice even faded.
The light purple skirt lifted slightly.
Everyone felt a blur before their eyes.
Boom—!!!
Su Qingzhou felt as if he had been struck head-on by a galloping warhorse.
He didn't even have time to scream before his body was sent flying backward.
The fine wine and delicacies that were on the table scattered everywhere with a crash.
Su Qingzhou lay curled up amidst the mess, a large section of his chest caved in, blood oozing from his mouth and nose. He was only exhaling, not inhaling.
He was clearly half-dead.
"..."
Wei Qing was stunned.
Gu Changge was also stunned.
Although both of them knew this venerable lady had a fierce temper and ruthless methods.
They never expected... this damn place was the Prince Jings Estate!
In front of a hall full of nobles, she kicked the great scholar, renowned throughout the Capital, until he was unconscious or dead?
Sure enough.
After a brief silence, the banquet hall instantly erupted into chaos.
"Impudence! This is utter impudence!"
An elderly civil official suddenly stood up, pointing at Jiang Yuechu and shouting angrily, "Under the Son of Heaven's jurisdiction, inside a Prince's Estate, how dare you commit assault and battery?!"
"Who exactly is this woman? So lawless and reckless, is there no Rule of Law left?!"
"Quick! Call the guards! Seize this person!"
The crowd was agitated.
Especially the scholars who were usually on good terms with Su Qingzhou, they were filled with righteous indignation.
Although scholars were physically weak, their mouths were very quick.
Jiang Yuechu unhurriedly straightened her slightly messy skirt before finally raising her head, her gaze sweeping across the entire hall.
"Since you wish to discuss the Rule of Law, then I shall discuss the Rule of Law with you."
The next second.
She flipped her wrist.
Buzz—
The Sumeru Space in her abdomen circulated.
A silver light appeared out of thin air.
A large cloak, silver-scaled at the base with a fox fur collar, landed in her hand.
Swish—
Jiang Yuechu flicked her wrist and draped the large cloak over her shoulders.
The original soft and alluring temperament instantly vanished without a trace.
"I am an official of the Demon Suppression Headquarters, a Silver Robe Inspector."
"Publicly insulting an official appointed by the imperial court, according to the laws of the Great Tang, what crime is that?"
"..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene instantly quieted down.
A Silver Robe?!
How is this possible?!
Everyone present was a noble from the capital; even if they hadn't eaten pork, they had seen pigs run.
A Silver Robe Inspector of the Demon Suppression Division was truly a major figure with the authority to execute first and report later!
Looking across the entire Great Tang, there were only a handful of them.
Even the Ministers of the Six Ministries would have to respectfully address them as 'Lord'.
Yet this... this delicate young girl who looked barely seventeen or eighteen.
Was actually a Silver Robe?!
Countless eyes stared intently at the silver-scaled cloak.
No matter how absurd everyone found it.
No one dared to impersonate a Silver Robe Inspector of the Demon Suppression Division in this Chang'an City.
That was a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of the Family!
The Young Masters who had originally been pointing fingers or giving Jiang Yuechu flirtatious looks.
At this moment, every single one of them shrank their necks, wishing they could bury themselves under the table.
If they had known her identity earlier.
Even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to look at her twice!
"Cough... cough cough..."
Su Qingzhou on the ground finally managed to catch his breath.
He struggled to prop up his upper body; the intense pain in his chest twisted his originally handsome face into a knot.
Hearing the words Silver Robe, a flicker of fear flashed in his eyes.
But who was he?
He was a scholar.
He was a pure scholar who had received the teachings of the Saint and was about to enter officialdom.
Even if the other party was a Silver Robe Inspector, she couldn't casually trample on his dignity like this!
"You... what if you are a Silver Robe?!"
"The Demon Suppression Division manages demons and monsters, not scholars like me!"
"Today, you injured someone without cause. If you don't give an explanation, my father, Su Wenbing, who is the Left Vice Minister of Personnel, will surely impeach you before Your Majesty!"
Jiang Yuechu lowered her eyes, looking down upon this stray dog still struggling in its death throes.
Her expression was indifferent.
"An explanation?"
"Why should I, an official, explain my actions to you?"
"Furthermore..."
She slowly stepped forward, disregarding the blood on the ground, and leaned down.
She reached out a hand and lightly patted his blood-stained face.
"Lest you forget, my Demon Suppression Division not only slays monsters but also eliminates demons."
Su Qingzhou's body trembled violently.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
Eliminating demons?!
Although he was arrogant, he knew the weight of this accusation.
Once someone was labeled a demon... everyone had the right to execute them!
Even immediate execution on the spot would carry no legal responsibility!
"I... I'm not... I'm a human... I'm a scholar..."
"Shhh."
Jiang Yuechu raised a finger and placed it against her lips.
Interrupting his defense.
"If I, an official, say you are a demon, then you are a demon."