The prince is very fierce

It was a winter day, and Chang'an was in peace and prosperity. Only Kuishou Street had some disturbances. The Imperial Guards had arrived and closed the road to prevent the incident from spreading.

After Xu Buling threw away the head, he returned to his house to bathe and change his clothes. He changed into a clean white robe, a jade belt around his waist, and because he had not yet reached the age of a crown, he only put a jade hairpin on his head.

After he had packed up, footsteps were heard outside the courtyard. Old Xiao stood at the door with a cane:

"Young prince, the emperor wants you to come to the palace for questioning."

"I know, Aunt Lu will definitely scold me tonight. Go buy me a box of rouge and powder, Xianzhizhai, osmanthus-flavored ones... Forget it, buy them all and I'll choose them myself."

"Okay."

After Xu Buling tidied up his clothes, he quickly walked out of the house, jumped on his horse and galloped to the imperial city. He did not dismount, but went straight through the palace gate.

Riding a horse in the imperial city and wearing a sword and shoes to the palace is a privilege granted by Emperor Xiaozong to meritorious officials. Xu Buling just didn't use it before. Today, he was scolded for being "arrogant", so he didn't follow the rules at all.

Dingdang Dingdang--

The crisp sound of hooves and horse bells echoed each other and stopped directly under the white jade steps of Chengqing Hall.

In the towering palace, there was a clear noise, and many people were scolding.

Xu Buling turned a blind eye to it. After throwing the horse whip to the imperial guards, he strode up the steps outside the palace. There was no tension or repentance on his face, and he was even a little impatient.

Tap tap tap--

The sound of boots could be clearly heard outside the palace.

Xu Buling stepped into the palace and saw hundreds of eyes looking at him with different expressions. Only a small group of officials in the front looked straight ahead.

Among the female guests on the left side of the palace, Mrs. Lu sat behind the table, holding a teacup and looking like she had nothing to do with it.

The other ladies were whispering to each other:

"Xu Shizi is here..."

"He's so handsome, he won't be pushed out and beheaded..."

"Even if Lord Li is pushed out and beheaded, Xu Shizi won't be..."

"You stupid girl, shut up..."

Xu Buling felt a headache when he heard this. He was so cruel, and there were still people worried about him? He looked over to see which girl was so considerate, and suddenly found that Song Yufu was also sitting next to Madam Lu.

According to Song Yufu's temperament, she should be very angry or worried when she learned that he killed people indiscriminately, but at this time, Song Yufu looked strange and gave him a positive look, as if she was saying, "I'm here, don't be afraid."

Xu Buling's steps were unsteady, and he was a little panicked!

This stupid girl won't say good things for me, right?

Just in case, Xu Buling's eyes turned cold, and he gave Song Yufu a fierce look, indicating that she should not meddle in other people's business.

Song Yufu bowed her head weakly, looking very aggrieved, as if she had a lot to say.

It was just a few steps, and there was no way to exchange glances.

Xu Buling strode across the smooth floor of the hall, stopped in the middle of the hall, raised his hand and bowed:

"Xu Buling, I pay my respects to His Majesty."

His voice was loud and full of energy, without any sense of guilt or remorse.

The hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes were on Xu Buling and Li Baoyi, waiting for Xu Buling to give an explanation, or a way out, so that His Majesty could give a symbolic punishment to calm the matter down.

But Xu Buling's domineering look did not mean to give His Majesty a way out. Could there be a reason for this? No matter what the reason, you can't throw your head in front of someone's door. What a big grudge...

After a short silence, Song Ji said:

"Xu Buling, Li Tianlu was killed last night, his head was cut off, and it was thrown outside the Li family's door today. It was you who did it."

"Yes."

Xu Buling didn't have the slightest intention of evading, and admitted it very straightforwardly.

"Your Majesty! You have to make the decision for me!"

Li Baoyi's eyes were bloodshot, but he knew that it was impossible to kill Xu Buling. At this time, he could only look at Song Ji, hoping to give a slightly fair judgment.

The ministers were still watching, after all, the reason was still unknown.

Song Ji took a breath and asked in a deep voice: "Why did you kill Li Tianlu? But there is a reason?"

Xu Buling said calmly: "I drank some wine in Changle Palace last night, and went out to relax at night. I encountered a little conflict in the suburbs. It was the Li family who hired someone to kill the Wolf Guard. I helped out, and when I heard about the Baimazhuang incident, I went to kill Li Tianlu."

"..."

The ministers nodded. If this is true, the reason is reasonable.

But it took so long to hear about the Baimazhuang incident, and they went to cut off Li Tianlu's head and threw it at the door of the Li family. It's a bit too much. The emperor has already punished the Li family.

Li Baoyi, who was kneeling on the ground, was stunned when he heard this, and then said sadly:

"You are slandering me! How could my Li family hire someone to kill the Wolf Guard."

Song Ji looked at Eunuch Jia: "Go and check."

"Yes!"

Eunuch Jia immediately took the order and asked the eunuch to leave the palace.

It was impossible to conceal what happened on the snowy plain last night. The Detective Division had already arrived. The only thing Xu Buling could do was to distance himself from Zhu Manzhi and act bravely instead of acting after planning.

Soon, the eunuch who went out to inquire came back and bowed:

"According to the Detective Division, a murder occurred near the East Suburb Post Station outside the city last night. Two thieves attacked and killed three wolf guards, resulting in one death and one injury. Later, Prince Xu passed by and killed the two thieves. He found the Li family's brand on the thieves' bodies."

The ministers nodded slightly. The cause and effect were correct.

Li Baoyi didn't know that Li Tianlu had hired a killer privately, but knowing his son's temper, his heart sank immediately.

Song Ji sighed and continued to ask: "Are there any more?"

The young eunuch bowed his head respectfully: "The remaining female wolf guard is unharmed. She was the female wolf guard who had followed Master Xiao Ting to investigate Baima Manor. According to her, Li Tianlu wanted to kidnap her back..."

"You are so brave!"

While talking, a loud laugh suddenly rang out in the hall.

Xiao Ting, who was sitting among the young masters and enjoying his meal, was happily watching Xu Buling's jokes. Suddenly, he heard this and was immediately annoyed.

Although he and Xu Buling conspired in the Baima Manor incident, he took the first credit. The female wolf guard was in the same group with him. How could she be plotted against by a small Li family? Isn't this a slap in the face of his Xiao family?

Xiao Ting wiped his mouth with his sleeve, stood up and cursed: "You are so good, Li Baoyi, I treat you like a brother, but you actually tripped my people behind my back..."

This is just a joke.

Xiao Chuyang said nothing and had no intention of stopping it.

Song Ji couldn't stand it anymore, so he raised his hand and said, "Xiao Ting, sit down first. This matter has nothing to do with you."

Xiao Ting stopped talking, spread his hands and looked at Xu Buling helplessly, with an expression of "It's not that uncle won't help you", and then sat down.

Li Baoyi knew that he was in the wrong, but how could he let go of the revenge of killing his son just because he was not in the right. He knelt down and walked forward a few steps, saying sadly:

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty has already punished my Li family for the Baima Manor incident. My son is young, and he must have been bewitched by the villain to make such a bad plan, or he didn't make any ideas at all, but his subordinates acted privately to please my son. My son just didn't discipline the servants well, which is unforgivable, but not punishable by death! And even if he wants to deal with it, it should be your Majesty who speaks up. Why did Xu Shizi take action on his own? My whole family, young and old, threw their heads in front of the mansion gate! It's really... heartless! Your Majesty!!"

Li Baoyi cried out in pain and burst into tears.

Many court officials frowned slightly, thinking that it made sense.

Xu Buling was not the Prince of Su yet. Even if there was a reason, it was still an act of usurpation to kill first and then report, and his behavior was too radical.

Song Ji thought for a while and said:

"Xu Buling, I have already punished the Li family. Although you had a reason, your behavior was too reckless. You must change your temper in the future... Go to the bell and drum tower and be confined for a month. This will not happen again."

"Yes!"

Xu Buling glared at Li Baoyi coldly, then walked to his desk and sat down as if no one was around, poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip.

This look was too arrogant, and many officials frowned slightly.

But Xu Buling had such a reputation since he was a child. He was brave and aggressive and did things without thinking. This time, killing Li Tianlu was not considered evil. At most, he was unreasonable. If he really wanted to punish him according to the law, he would probably have to praise him as a "righteous man", and the officials could not say anything.

Logically speaking, at this point, Song Ji could just say a few more words to comfort Li Baoyi, who had lost his son, and the matter would be over. After all, the Li family was in the wrong, and the person was already dead, so what else could be done?

But just as Song Ji was about to say a few words to comfort Li Baoyi and let the matter go, a righteous voice suddenly sounded from the corner of the hall:

"Your Majesty! Prince Xu is upright and has a heart for the people. He is a talent for the country and should not be punished like this."

Xu Buling staggered.

Mrs. Lu, who was drinking tea in small sips, was caught off guard and choked and started coughing...

"Cough cough - cough cough cough -"