Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong were Qing Huai's personal guards and comrades who had gone through life and death together for many years.
Faced with Qing Zheng's vicious words, Liu Qiong was so angry that his eyes spewed fire, and his fists were clenched until they creaked.
"What, you want to hit me?"
Qing Zheng glanced at Liu Qiong from the corner of his eyes. He pointed at his nose provocatively." Come, hit him here!"
"Liu Qiong, don't be rude!"
Zheng Fang berated Liu Qiong. He bowed and said," Eldest Young Master, don't lower yourself to the same level as us boors. You can go back to your work."
Liu Qiong suppressed his anger and bowed.
Qing Zheng was the eldest son of the Duke of Qing and had a noble status. With their status, Qing Zheng could immediately call for people to arrest them if they were to retort, let alone hit him.
Qing Huai was not in Bianjing. Once they were captured, they could forget about coming out.
Therefore, the two of them could only endure.
However, the more they acted like this, the more arrogant Qing Zheng became. He deliberately provoked them." You haven't answered my question. Did you come back to report Third Brother's death?"
"Replying to Eldest Young Master, Lord Marquis is in good health."
"Lord Marquis! Lord Marquis! I told you long ago that you are not allowed to call Marquis Qing Huai in the Qing Public House!"
Qing Zheng was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He kicked Liu Qiong a few times.
Ever since he was young, he had never looked at Qing Huai properly. However, this bastard son had actually obtained a title in the army.
Qing Zheng clearly remembered how happy the Duke of Qing was when the news of Qing Huai's meritorious service in the army and obtaining a title of nobility came back. The entire Qing Public House was in jubilation.
In the following years, Duke Qing revealed his intention to pass his title to Qing Huai more than once.
This made Qing Zheng afraid and angry.
It was also from that day onwards that Qing Zheng thought of all sorts of ways to suppress Qing Huai.
Unfortunately, he was just a silkpants in the capital. His tentacles could not reach the border. Not only had Qing Huai not been suppressed in these years, but he had also made many meritorious deeds. His title rose again and again, all the way to the Marquis, who was one step away from the Duke of Qing.
The titles of nobility in Great Kang were divided into Wang Jue, Wang Jue, Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. Wang Jue was the emperor's brother and son, while Wang Jue was the royal family's relative.
According to the laws of the Great Kang, all titles would decrease with each generation.
For example, after the death of the Duke of Qing, Qing Zheng could inherit the title, but not directly inherit the title of Duke. Instead, he would be reduced to Marquis.
And Qing Huai was now a Marquis.
Feudal society paid the most attention to hierarchy. As Qing Huai's eldest brother, even if Qing Huai was later conferred the title of Duke, he had to take the initiative to salute and greet Qing Zheng when he saw him.
This was also Qing Zheng's capital to be arrogant.
However, Qing Zheng felt uncomfortable in his heart. He felt that Qing Huai had stolen the limelight from his son.
The title of nobility had always been the biggest scar in Qing Zheng's heart. He did not allow anyone to call Qing Huai Lord in the Qing Public House.
Liu Qiong had addressed Qing Huai as Lord Marquis just now to vent the dissatisfaction in his heart and deliberately expose Qing Zheng's scars.
Although Qing Zheng was a playboy, he was not a fool. He could hear that Liu Qiong was mocking him. He kicked him a few times to vent his anger. He actually picked up the wooden stick that was erected at the side and swung it at Liu Qiong.
The wooden stick was a military stick used by the gatekeeper to prevent accidents. It was as thick as an arm. If Qing Zheng really hit him casually, Liu Qiong would lose a layer of skin even if he was not killed.
Zheng Fang hurriedly rushed over to beg for mercy." Eldest Young Master, Liu Qiong just came back from outside. It was a slip of tongue. He didn't do it on purpose. Please forgive him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Fang was hit on the head.
Realizing that they would not be able to escape today's beating, Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong could only squat down and cover their heads as much as possible.
She prayed in her heart that Qing Zheng would let them off quickly.
It was as if the heavens had heard their prayers. Qing Zheng had only hit them a few times when he heard a dignified reprimand from the side." What are you doing?"
He raised his head and saw that the Duke of Qing had returned from court.
"Father, these two servants are disobedient. I'm teaching them a lesson!"
Qing Zheng was no longer as arrogant as before. He bowed and replied.
No one could find any fault with his manners.
" What's the point of teaching the servants to go inside at the gate?"
In the feudal era, servants were treated like livestock. Duke Qing was just unhappy that his son was beating people at the door, so he asked casually and prepared to enter.
" Wait!" Zheng Fang mustered up his courage and shouted," Duke, please wait a moment. Third Young Master asked me to send you a letter!"
"Qinghuai?"
"Who are you?" Duke Qing stopped and looked at Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong.
Usually, when Qing Huai returned to the Qing Public House, he would only bring Zhong Wu and the housekeeper, so the Duke of Qing did not recognize Zheng Fang.
"This lowly one is Third Young Master's personal guard."
Liu Qiong took out a letter from home and held it above his head with both hands.
Duke Qing checked the seal to make sure it was complete and opened the envelope.
After reading a few sentences, he frowned slightly.
Qing Zheng really wanted to see what was written in the letter and rubbed his hands anxiously.
Just as he was thinking about how to find out, he heard Duke Qing ask,"Is Qing Huai going to the battlefield again?".
Qing Zheng's eyes lit up when he heard this.
"Replying to the Duke, ever since Lord Marquis returned to Jin Chuan, he has been thinking about his brothers in the Ironforest Army day and night, and has lost a lot of weight." Zheng Fang replied.
"Does Qinghuai know where the Ironforest Army is stationed?" Duke Qing asked.
"This subordinate does not know if Lord Marquis knows, but before leaving, Lord Marquis asked this lowly one to kowtow to Lord Duke. Please grant Lord Duke's wish!"
Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong knelt down together and kowtowed to Duke Qing. Then, they placed their heads on the ground and waited for Duke Qing's answer.
"Take them to the west garden."
Duke Qing did not reply to Zheng Fang. Instead, he waved his hand and asked the gatekeeper to take Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong away.
"Yes, sir!"
"Please follow me," the gatekeeper bowed and accepted the order.
Zheng Fang knew that the Duke of Qing had not thought it through, so he kowtowed again and left with the gatekeeper.
"If you have nothing to do, read more books. Don't wander around all day!"
Duke Qing shot a dissatisfied glance at Qing Zheng and left with his entourage.
"Yes, sir!"
Qing Zheng bowed and replied, but his eyes were sparkling.
He was going to go to the casino, but now he was not in the mood. He turned around and ran to his yard.
He returned to the study and took out a map. As soon as he opened it, the second son of the Qing family, Qing Fan, rushed in.
" Big Brother, I heard that Qinghuai wrote a letter asking Father to help him take back his military power. You were there at the time, so why didn't you persuade Father?"
"Qing Huai is already a marquis now," said Second Brother Qing."What if he wins a few more battles?"
"Father is speaking, how would I dare to interrupt?"
Qing Zheng said unhappily.
" Uh…" Second Brother Qing also thought of his father's dignity and asked," What should we do now?" Do you want to ask Mother for help?"
" No need." Qing Zheng waved his hand." Second brother, do you know where the Ironforest Army is now?"
"How would I know?"
"The Ironforest Army is now in Clearwater Valley!" Qing Zheng reached out and tapped on the map.
"Is there a problem with Clearwater Valley?" Second Brother Qing immediately caught the main point of his eldest brother's words.