Chapter 52 – Which Is Greater, Fist Power or Authority?

After arriving at the imperial palace, Captain Liu and Tang Jingrui quietly pulled Mu Nanjin to the back of the crowd and asked in low voices,

“Mu Nanjin, before we meet His Majesty, tell us honestly, why exactly did you help Xiaoqing Tower? We can at least put in a few good words for you before the Emperor.”

Mu Nanjin said evenly, “Liang Shisun and his lot beat up my people.”

Captain Liu’s eyes widened. “Someone from Xiaoqing Tower is your lover?”

Tang Jingrui: “…”

Mu Nanjin shot Captain Liu a sidelong look. “Xiaoqing Tower is mine.”

Both men stared in disbelief. “Yours? Isn’t Xiaoqing Tower owned by Young Lord Gong Xiurong?”

“He gave it to me before he left, along with two other brothels.”

Captain Liu and Tang Jingrui: “…”

That was… quite generous.

But then again, Mu Nanjin had once saved Gong Xiurong’s life.

It was said that a life-saving grace was greater than heaven itself, so gifting three brothels to one’s savior wasn’t exactly unreasonable.

“Liang Shisun and his group not only beat up my people,” Mu Nanjin continued, “they also ate, drank, and took girls from my establishment, then refused to pay.”

Captain Liu exhaled sharply. “Got it.”

When they reached the imperial study, he reported the matter to Kan Chaoyan, who in turn relayed it to the Emperor.

The Emperor’s face darkened with fury. He glared down at Liang Shaochu and the other grandsons kneeling before him.

“You are members of the royal family, yet you bring shame upon the imperial name. Visiting brothels is bad enough, but refusing to pay and even assaulting civilians? You’ve utterly disgraced the royal house!”

The four grandsons bowed their heads so low they could barely breathe.

“When even a prince who commits a crime must face the same punishment as a commoner, what makes you, mere grandsons, think you’re above the law? I sentence each of you to ten strokes of the rod. Do you accept?”

“We accept.” None of them dared to object before the Emperor.

【Ten strokes that don’t even break the skin, too light! I don’t accept.】

【They owe me silver, and that’s as good as killing my parents. Old Emperor, hurry up and make them pay for their whoring!】

The Emperor coughed lightly. “And as for the silver you owe, settle it immediately. Don’t let such shameful matters spread around the capital.”

Liang Shaochu covered his mouth, eyes reddened. “But, Royal Uncle, what about her? She hit me! Look, my teeth are all gone!”

He lowered his hand, revealing a mouth full of blood. Only a few big teeth were left; it was truly a pitiful sight.

The Emperor frowned.

Mu Nanjin shot him a cold glance. “I hit only one person. But you, you hit everyone in my Xiaoqing Tower.”

Liang Shaochu protested angrily, “You still think you’re in the right? Do you even realize that striking a member of the royal clan is a capital offense?”

Mu Nanjin asked coolly, “Didn’t you just say that fist power reigns supreme? How is it suddenly a capital crime now?”

“I was talking about authority, not actual fists!”

“In my eyes,” Mu Nanjin replied calmly, “my fists carry more weight than your so-called authority.”

“You, you’re being unreasonable!”

“Unreasonable?” Mu Nanjin arched a brow. “Let me ask you, when two emperors from different nations meet, who holds greater authority? Do they bow to one another like ministers?”

Liang Shaochu froze. “Their authority is equal. They don’t need to bow.”

“And when their power is equal,” Mu Nanjin continued, “how do they make one side submit to the other?”

Everyone’s minds flashed with the same answer, war.

Only through battle could one determine victory or defeat and make the other side yield. And wars were fought with fists and steel.

Seeing comprehension dawn on their faces, Mu Nanjin smirked faintly.

【Don’t even understand that strength commands respect, what a bunch of idiots.】

The Emperor and his ministers: “…”

We weren’t even arguing with you, why insult us too?

Liang Shaochu still tried to press his point. “But that doesn’t erase the fact you struck a royal! If you go unpunished, where’s the dignity of the royal house? Everyone will think we’re easy to bully, ah!”

He pulled at his wound and quickly clutched his mouth.

The Emperor shot him a glare. “You were the ones in the wrong first; she merely defended herself. The matter ends here. No one is to bring it up again.”

【Ends here? Not happening, they still owe me money! Might as well make them pay right now.】

“But…” Liang Shaochu tried to argue, but the man beside him tugged discreetly at his sleeve, signaling him to stop talking.

Just then, the chief eunuch entered and announced, “Your Majesty, the imperial physician has arrived.”

The Emperor sat down. “Send him in to examine the young lord’s injuries.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Moments later, the physician entered, examined Liang Shaochu, stopped the bleeding, and reported,

“Your Majesty, Young Lord Liang’s injuries are not serious. However… I fear his teeth will not grow back.”

Liang Shaochu panicked. “What should I do then? How will I face people from now on?”

The Emperor glared at Mu Nanjin.

Couldn’t she have aimed somewhere else? Of all places, his teeth! Now what?

If the teeth couldn’t be replaced, the royal clan would surely raise hell.

【If they won’t grow back, just ask the National Preceptor. He can definitely make new ones sprout.】

【The National Preceptor is that useful, yet you don’t make good use of him. What a waste of talent, and of his salary.】

The Emperor turned to Liang Shaochu. “I’ll have the National Preceptor restore your teeth.”

Liang Shaochu finally relaxed.

【Huh? Why does the Emperor always think exactly what I’m thinking? Could it be…】

The Emperor stiffened nervously.

【Could it be that His Majesty and I share a telepathic bond?】

Everyone: “…”

Mu Nanjin shivered slightly.

【The last thing I want is to share a ‘telepathic bond’ with the old Emperor.】

The Emperor felt utterly despised and nearly choked on his own frustration.

Mu Nanjin said matter-of-factly, “Since your injuries aren’t serious, you can now pay me the twenty thousand taels you owe.”

“Twenty thousand taels, ah!”

Liang Shaochu’s excitement reopened his wound, and tears welled in his eyes.

The man in the azure robe, Liang Shaoping, grandson of Prince Zun, snapped, “You’re extorting us!”

【If I don’t bleed you dry now, when else would I? Your family’s filthy rich anyway, time for you to cough up some silver.】

The Emperor and his ministers: “…”

Mu Nanjin ignored their glares. “You drank the most expensive wine in my establishment. Each jar costs a thousand taels. Let’s say you drank fifty jars; that’s fifty thousand taels.”

The Emperor: “…”

Even I don’t drink wine that expensive.

The four grandsons: “…”

“And,” Mu Nanjin continued, “you injured two hundred of my people. Compensation, at least one hundred taels per person. That’s twenty thousand taels. Add medical expenses…”

Liang Shaoping growled, “Medical expenses?”

“My people will need at least half a month to recover. Do you know how much profit I’ll lose in that time? Shouldn’t that be compensated?”

“…”

“The loss of income alone is five thousand taels, and there’s also emotional damage.”

“Emotional damage? You’re just making things up!”

If not for the Emperor’s presence, Liang Shaoping would have swung at her.

“My people suffered great shock. Each deserves at least another hundred taels. That’s another twenty thousand. Finally, you broke furniture and decorations in Xiaoqing Tower. Repairs will cost at least fifty thousand taels.”

“Fifty thousand taels could buy a mansion outside the capital!”

Mu Nanjin countered calmly, “Could you buy one filled with rare paintings and priceless décor? Everything in my Xiaoqing Tower is crafted from the finest materials. How else do you think we attract so many elite patrons?”

Liang Shaoping: “…”

The Emperor asked, “Any further objections? If not, pay her now.”

The four exchanged glances, then each handed over fifty thousand taels in silver notes.

The Emperor’s fury rose even higher.

His own sons lived in luxury, yes, but they couldn’t casually produce that much silver without blinking. Yet these grandsons of the Four Princes could. The wealth of the Four Royal Houses was truly staggering.

Mu Nanjin accepted the notes with a satisfied smile. “You may now go receive your punishment.”

Liang Shaoping and the others glared at her, eyes full of murderous resentment.

The Emperor waved them off. “Enough. Leave.”

Mu Nanjin, delighted with her twenty thousand taels, left the imperial study cheerfully.

Captain Liu and Tang Jingrui followed behind her.

Kan Chaoyan asked, “Earned twenty thousand taels, feeling pleased?”

“Mm.” Mu Nanjin pressed the notes against her chest. “You guys coming to Xiaoqing Tower? I’ll give you a ten percent discount.”

Captain Liu and Tang Jingrui: “…”

Kan Chaoyan couldn’t help laughing. “Little girl, you even try to do business with us now?”

Just then, Captain Liu whispered in his ear, “Lord Kan, it’s the four Princes’ sons.”

Kan Chaoyan looked up to see four middle-aged men in princely attire approaching. He immediately led the others to bow. “Greetings, Your Highnesses.”

The four Princes were in a hurry to check on their sons. A mere fourth-rank official like Kan Chaoyan wasn’t worth their attention, so they brushed past quickly.

When they were gone, Captain Liu said, “I doubt this will end here. They’ll definitely cause more trouble later.”

Mu Nanjin didn’t care in the slightest.

【If they dare cut off my profits, I’ll cut off their futures. Let’s see who’s more ruthless.】

Captain Liu and the others: “…”

By the time the four Princes entered the imperial study, their sons had already finished their ten strokes, just as Mu Nanjin predicted, not even breaking the skin.

Seeing their sons unharmed, they relaxed. After paying respects to the Emperor, they left with them.

On the way, Prince Zun’s son asked Liang Shaoping, “What exactly happened?”

Liang Shaoping recounted everything in detail. “Father, I realized His Majesty is very partial to that girl. He clearly sides with her.”

Prince Zun’s son frowned. “What’s her name?”

Liang Shaoping thought for a moment. “I think… Mu Nanjin.”

Prince Yu’s son, Liang Shaoxin, nodded. “Yes, Mu Nanjin.”

“Mu Nanjin!?” Prince Zun’s son’s voice rose sharply.

The others’ expressions darkened as well. “So it is her. What rotten luck! Of all people, you had to provoke her.”

Ever since arriving in the capital, they had gone out of their way to avoid Mu Nanjin, afraid she might share their secrets.

Yet their foolish sons had gone and crossed her head-on.

Liang Shaoping asked curiously, “Father, who is she? Why are you all so afraid of her?”

Prince Zun’s son said grimly, “This isn’t the place to talk. We’ll discuss it when we get back.”