Forced to be a concubine? I turned around and married the scumbag's father.

When Jiang Qifu got up, the black-armored guards had already led Cao Li and the others to the government office.

The aide quickly helped Jiang Qifu up: "Sir, you should go and see him quickly. You must think it over carefully. Don't offend the Mu family army."

Jiang Qifu was dazed from the fall, his head buzzing.

The aide sighed and quickly helped him up, but his leg seemed to be broken, and he cried out in pain whenever he exerted himself.

A servant from the Jiang family came running up, panting and crying, "Sir, sir, the government office has been occupied by the Black Armor Guards, and they've even taken over the rooms in the backyard. They want the madam and concubines to move out."

Jiang Qifu, a mere merchant, actually managed to become a prefect, rising from the lowest rungs of society to the highest echelons. To demonstrate his superiority, he moved his family into the backyard of the government office and acquired several other residences, expanding the backyard into a three-courtyard complex, effectively turning the government office into his own Jiang family mansion's backyard.

Jiang Qifu was furious: "This is outrageous! I am an official appointed by the imperial court, how dare they occupy my land!"

Supported by the two men, he gritted his teeth and limped to the government office.

The onlookers all knew that Lord Du had returned. Cao Li and the other officials worked with Lord Du to repair the breach in the dike, thus averting the danger in Gongzhou.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Gongzhou, and the people cheered and spread the word. One person told ten, ten told a hundred, and the whole city was in an uproar.

When the doctors from the city's pharmacies heard that Lord Du and several other officials had fallen ill, they all rushed to the yamen with their medicine boxes and the best medicinal herbs they had.

When Jiang Qifu arrived, the place was packed with people.

His wife, children, and a group of concubines huddled in a corner, too frightened to utter a sound.

Jiang Qifu was furious.

But when he saw Chi Yan standing in the government office with ten black-armored guards like gods of death, he dared not act rashly.

Fearing his anger, the advisors quickly advised, "Let the madam and the concubines go back to the Jiang residence first. We need to ease the tension first."

Jiang Qifu asked timidly in a low voice, "You won't dismiss me from my position as prefect, will you?"

His aides comforted him, saying, "How could that be? A prince has no authority to appoint or dismiss officials appointed by the imperial court."

Jiang Qifu immediately straightened his back and was about to speak when his advisor changed the subject.

"But who knows, maybe the First-Rank Prince has the right to act first and report later."

Jiang Qifu turned pale with fright and quickly waved to the group of women, saying, "Hurry back to the Jiang residence."

A group of women and two toddlers, carried by their wet nurse, ran off in a flash.

Jiang Qifu took a deep breath to calm himself down, but as soon as he lifted his foot, a piercing pain shot through him, and he screamed in agony.

He had completely forgotten that his leg was broken.

His staff and servants quickly helped him up, with one servant shouting, "Doctor, doctor, come quick! Our master has broken his leg!"

No one cares about him.

Chi Yan nodded to a doctor: "Go and take a look."

The doctor reluctantly walked over and grasped Jiang Qifu's ankle. "It's just a dislocation."

As soon as he finished speaking, he exerted force with both hands, and Jiang Qifu screamed in pain repeatedly.

With a click, the doctor stood up: "All done."

He turned and ran away.

Jiang Qifu was so angry that he immediately cursed, "You bastard! You used to beg me like a dog, but now that the Du guy is back, you think you've changed masters? Dream on!"

His aide panicked and hurriedly pulled him aside: "Sir, is your foot alright?"

Jiang Qifu snapped out of his daze: "Oh, it's done."

Staff member: "That's good. How about this, they've all worked so hard, how about we prepare two large tables of food to treat them?"

Jiang Qifu's eyes lit up: "Excellent, excellent, let's do it that way."

The aide approached Chi Yan with a fawning smile: "My lord, you must not have eaten yet? Our lord is considerate of your hard work and would like to prepare two banquets so that everyone can eat and drink their fill. What do you think?"

Chi Yan remained noncommittal.

The staff took it as a yes and immediately ordered the Jiang family servants to make the necessary arrangements.

As expected of the richest family in Gongzhou, the Jiang family managed to prepare two large banquet tables in the blink of an eye, with plenty of chicken, duck, fish and meat, even in the face of such a severe disaster.

A large table for fifteen people was laden with fine wine and delicacies.

The aide came over with a smile and said, "Sir, the banquet has been prepared and is set up in front of the yamen hall."

Chi Yan ignored him with a cold expression.

Jiang Qifu felt a little nervous seeing this scene. Suppressing his displeasure, he shamelessly flattered, "My lord, you are truly wise and mighty..."

Before he could finish speaking, a group of horses stopped at the gate along with a carriage, and then a group of people came in.

Chi Yan and the others turned around in unison and respectfully clasped their hands in a salute.

Jiang Qifu turned his head to look.

Mu Junyan, dressed in a black robe, strode in like a god of death descending from the heavens.

Behind him, several valiant female guards surrounded a beautiful woman dressed in a brocade dress.

Jiang Qifu was shocked when he saw the woman's face clearly: "Du Yun?"

Du Yun glared at him with hatred, then looked away and followed closely behind Mu Junyan.

Mu Junyan didn't even glance at Jiang Qifu, but walked directly to the two large tables and glanced at them.

He said coldly, "Gongzhou has suffered such a severe flood, yet someone still manages to prepare such a lavish feast?"

Jiang Qifu panicked and hurriedly stepped forward to bow: "Jiang Qifu, Prefect of Gongzhou, greets Prince Yong."

Mu Junyan seemed to have just seen him, raising an eyebrow: "Jiang Qifu?"

Jiang Qifu smiled broadly: "Your Highness, it is indeed I."

Mu Junyan turned to look at Du Yun: "But this is Jiang Qifu, who forced you to marry him. You and your father refused, so he framed your father, causing him to be exiled and forcing you to become a government slave?"

Jiang Qifu: "...!"

"No, no, no, it's a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding."

Du Yun's eyes were filled with hatred and tears welled up: "Your Highness, it was him. He forced me to marry him. My father refused, and I was unwilling. He used the power of the Jiang family to frame my father. My mother and I were enslaved and my mother committed suicide because she could not bear the humiliation."

Mu Junyan's icy gaze fell on Jiang Qifu.

Jiang Qifu trembled with fear: "It's a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding. I truly admire Miss Du. But later, people from the capital came to investigate and said that Lord Du was corrupt and was sentenced to exile. It had nothing to do with me."

Du Yun was furious and pointed at him angrily, saying, "You're talking nonsense! You slandered my father without any evidence, fabricated false evidence, and arrested him without any interrogation."

Mu Junyan waved his hand, and Du Yun immediately shut up, stood properly, and lowered her head to wipe away her tears.

Jiang Qifu said with a mournful face, "Your Highness, I really didn't know anything about it. My position as prefect was also bestowed by the decree of the Prince of Ping'an, no, His Majesty."

Mu Junyan nodded: "Everything must be based on evidence, so we will investigate thoroughly."

Jiang Qifu felt a little relieved. Evidence? What evidence could there be?

Some of them were fake and destroyed long ago. The Jiang family is also finished. His title of prefect was a legitimate imperial edict issued by the Ministry of Personnel.

Mu Junyan changed the subject: "Did Lord Jiang arrange these two tables of food?"

Jiang Qifu hurriedly said, "This mere feast is nothing to mention. Your Highness has saved the people of Gongzhou from dire straits, and I am deeply grateful. Your Highness and all the officials must have worked very hard and have not yet eaten. Please enjoy your meal."

"Gongzhou has suffered a disaster, and the people are living in misery. More than 10,000 farmers outside the city are homeless. We dare not eat such a feast alone."

Jiang Qifu was taken aback. What did that mean?

Mu Junyan said with a forced smile, "Since the Jiang family is so wealthy that they can afford such a lavish feast, then let's simply set up a continuous banquet in the city and let all the people of the city come and eat. It doesn't need to be too extravagant, just enough to fill them up. What does Lord Jiang think?"

Jiang Qifu was stunned for a moment, but he had no choice but to agree.

"Excellent, excellent, I'll get on it right away."

Soon, the Jiang family set up a long, continuous banquet on the main street in front of the government office.

Anyone in the city, regardless of who they are, can come and eat.

Moreover, Prince Yong decreed that the banquet should last for three days.