Chapter 445

Chapter 445: This is my son!

Having heard that her son had finally returned, Lady Phoenix’s heart was finally at ease.

Not long after, Xu Pengda, looking disheveled and covered in dirt, walked into the courtyard.

Lady Phoenix’s eyes flickered and she quickly approached him.

Seeing her son covered in mud, with even his clothes torn, Lady Phoenix became increasingly concerned.

However, the words of concern she originally intended to say turned into a reprimand: “What happened to you? You’re already a county magistrate! How could you let yourself look like this? What kind of example are you setting!”

Xu Pengda felt an inexplicable sense of委屈in his heart: “Mother, I was attacked on the road.”

“What?”

The old lady of the Xu family jumped up with a clang, angrily pounding the table.

“Who is tired of living, daring to assassinate an official of the court!”

“Calm down, Mother,” Xu Shuiya hurriedly consoled.

“Yes, Grandma, calm down,” Xu Zheng also stood up, “Pengda isn’t hurt, right? That’s all that matters.”

Compared to the reactions of others, Lady Phoenix remained unusually silent, almost eerily so.

Lady Phoenix grabbed Xu Pengda’s hand and coldly said, “You were attacked. Do you know who those people were?”

Xu Pengda opened his mouth, intending to say, “Those people seem to be because of Brother Five,” but he ultimately did not utter these words. He was worried that if he did, it would cause Mother to blame Brother Five.

“Mother, I don’t know who those people are. I was just fine in my carriage, then they killed my attendants and tried to kill me without reason. Fortunately, a female knight passed by and saved me; otherwise, I wouldn’t have made it back.”

Xu Pengda looked at his mother, truly feeling the aftermath of the near miss—almost not seeing her one last time.

“Come, let’s find Brother Ming!” After pondering for a moment, Lady Phoenix spoke to her son.

“Brother Five? Has Brother Five returned?” Xu Pengda asked in surprise, thinking Brother Five hadn’t come back yet.

“The answer is here, Brother Ming will definitely seek justice for you!” Lady Phoenix nodded.

“Mother, there’s no need to bother Brother Ming. Just send a few people from the mansion with me to the eastern suburbs. My guards died protecting me, I want them to rest in peace.”

Xu Pengda shook his head.

Lady Phoenix glanced at Chunyan beside her: “Chunyan, take some people from the mansion to the eastern suburbs, bring back the bodies of those men, give them proper burials, and console their families. Give each family a hundred taels.”

“Yes, Lady,” Chunyan quickly nodded in agreement.

“Come, let’s find Brother Ming!”

With that, Lady Phoenix stubbornly pulled her son toward the gate of the mansion.

Now that Xu Ming controlled the Jinyi Guard, he managed all affairs big and small within the capital. With officials being assassinated, it naturally fell under Xu Ming’s jurisdiction.

Going to him wasn’t about leveraging connections or abusing power; besides, Xu Ming was their own brother, with a good relationship, so he would surely investigate thoroughly.

Grandma Xu glanced at Xu Zheng.

Xu Zheng understood, quickly stepping forward and pulling his wife: “Phoenix, Pengda said he’ll directly report to His Majesty, who will certainly make the decision. Brother Ming is very busy now, going now might not be appropriate.”

Lady Phoenix raised her head and stared intently at her husband: “We must report to His Majesty, but we must also go to Brother Ming! This is my son! And I am filing a report, can we not file a report?”

Xu Zheng was startled and immediately let go.

Lady Phoenix directly dragged Xu Pengda away, without any hesitation. Watching his wife leave with their son, Xu Zheng walked to Grandma Xu: “Old Patriarch, Phoenix has always been a bit hasty, and she loves her children deeply. Please don’t mind her.”

Grandma Xu shook her head: “I understand Phoenix’s feelings. Actually, I’m worried about Pengda too.”

“That’s for sure.” Xu Zheng quickly agreed, “That’s your grandson, how could you not care?”

“Since Pengda is safe, let’s eat first. We’ll see what Brother Ming says later.” Grandma Xu sighed, then said to Xu Shuiya, “There are only a few days left before the ancestral banquet. Are Brother Yi and Brother Shan back yet?”

Mrs. Qian quickly replied: “Definitely, Old Lady. My Brother Yi will be back tomorrow, much earlier than expected. He values the Xu family’s ancestral rites greatly.”

Mrs. Lin also chimed in: “Our Brother Shan is back too, and he even represents the Yan Yang Sect.”

“Good, good, good.” Grandma Xu smiled, “Let’s eat, let’s eat. No matter what, the ancestral rites are the top priority.”

“Yes, Old Lady.”

Meanwhile, Xu Ming wasn’t at the Xu residence, nor at the princess’ palace, but at the Commander’s Residence of the Jinyi Guard.

After the Emperor issued the imperial decree in the morning, Xu Ming didn’t delay, moving out of the Xu residence and settling into the newly built Commander’s Residence of the Jinyi Guard.

All the maidservants and attendants in the residence were personally selected by the Emperor.

As for how many of these maidservants and attendants were spies for the Emperor, Xu Ming didn’t care.

Rather, Xu Ming was pondering how to recruit other officials and members for the Jinyi Guard.

It could only be said that no matter which world it was, there were its commonalities.

In the previous life’s Blue Ocean Star, there existed a Jinyi Guard as well, and in this world, the Emperor himself created one.

Only, compared to the rank system of the Jinyi Guard on Blue Ocean Star, the Jinyi Guard of Wu Kingdom seemed more casual.

The Emperor had only established Xu Ming as the Commander of the Jinyi Guard, while the lower-ranking officers were all appointed by Xu Ming himself.

This afternoon, Xu Ming had already drafted a memorial and submitted it.

Xu Ming planned to establish two “Deputy Commanders,” eight “Thousand Households,” and eighty-eight “Hundred Households.”

Each household would manage around a hundred people, divided into five groups, with twenty people per group.

If everything went according to plan, the Emperor would respond tomorrow, and would likely agree.

As for these officials, Xu Ming intended to invite Xiong Haizhi, Li Han, and others to serve, then let the Emperor select a few more people to mix in.

Thus, the framework of the Commander would be basically completed.

In just a few days, the Jinyi Guard could officially “open for business.”

“Master.”

Just as Xu Ming was contemplating the framework of the Jinyi Guard, a maidservant approached and bowed respectfully.

The maid’s name was Que’er.

She was chosen by the Emperor.

“What is it?” Xu Ming asked.

“Lady Wang and Young Master Xu have come to visit.”