This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Huai De Fang, Cheng Mansion.

Cheng Jun rode back, dismounted at the gate, and walked into the mansion, where he was greeted by the steward wearing a gauze soft turban and a flat-style turban.

"Sanlang is back!"

When Cheng Zhong saw the xiezhi crown on his head and the imperial censor's robe on his body, he was both surprised and delighted and said, "Sanlang, you've become an imperial censor?"

"What? My third brother has become an imperial censor?"

"You really got it?"

Upon hearing the sound, the Cheng brothers, Chumo and Chuliang, walked over with obvious delight.

"Thanks to my eldest and second brothers, I was able to live up to my mission and become an imperial censor!"

Cheng Jun smiled, handed the reins of the black Turkic horse to Fang Zhong, and said, "Uncle Zhong, take the horse back to the stable."

Cheng Chumo was admiring his official robes when he heard this and waved his hand, saying, "Didn't I tell you, once you become an imperial censor, I'll take you out for drinks and entertainment? Tie your horse to the door first, we'll be riding it later!"

Cheng Jun patiently said, "Then you should take it back to the stable, so it doesn't get stolen."

Cheng Chumo asked in surprise, "Who is so bold as to touch the horses of our Cheng family?"

Cheng Jun said, "It's better to be prepared."

Cheng Zhong took the reins and smiled, "Since we have a joyous occasion at home, we'll do as Sanlang says today. This old servant will take the horse back to the stable first, and then bring it out when Sanlang needs it."

Old Cheng really didn't choose the wrong person... Cheng Jun looked around and, not seeing Cheng Yaojin, asked his two older brothers, "Where's our father?"

Cheng Chuliang said, "Our father has led his troops out of the city."

Upon hearing the words "regiment," Cheng Jun felt his memories kicking at his head like wild donkeys.

It reminded him of his connection with the Cheng family's retainers.

The term "部曲" originated in the Qin and Han dynasties and was the name of a military organization.

Nowadays, it actually refers to a private armed force composed of clans, retainers, and sons of local powerful families or high-ranking officials, also known as family soldiers, who directly obey and pledge allegiance to the head of the family.

The Cheng family's retainers numbered twenty, all of whom were once trusted soldiers under Cheng Yaojin. Now, they were either too old or had been wounded. Like the steward Cheng Zhong, they had all stayed at the Cheng family to work.

In modern terms, the Cheng family's retinue was basically a combination of a chief of staff and a guard platoon... Cheng Jun rubbed his head and asked, "Didn't they say when they'd be back?"

"It'll probably be this afternoon!"

After Cheng Chumo finished speaking, he tugged at the sleeve of Cheng Jun's imperial censor's robe and said enviously, "Third brother, you look really handsome in that outfit. Could we borrow it for a bit?"

Cheng Jun replied without hesitation, "Let me change my clothes!"

Cheng Chumo was delighted, "Okay, we'll wait for you!"

Cheng Jun returned to his residence, took off his blue official robe and the xiezhi crown, folded them neatly and put them aside, and then changed into the blue robe with cloud patterns that he had brought back.

Suddenly, he felt a stomachache and opened the door, saying, "Eldest brother, second brother, the official robe is in my room. I'm going to the outhouse. You can come and put it on yourselves!"

"it is good!"

Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang excitedly walked towards his house.

The old steward delivered the Turkic horse to the stable. When he returned, he saw the brothers Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang changing into the imperial censor's robes in Cheng Jun's room, and couldn't help but smile.

At this moment, the sound of horses neighing suddenly rang out outside the Cheng residence.

The next second, a stunningly beautiful young woman dressed in a white floral-patterned Hu-style robe walked in, carrying a riding whip and with a chilling expression.

In ancient times, men and women who could ride horses were either rich or noble.

Cheng Zhong dared not be careless and immediately stepped forward to examine the other party.

Upon seeing the girl's appearance clearly, Cheng Zhong's expression suddenly changed. As Cheng Yaojin's personal steward, he had seen not only dignitaries but also Li Shimin several times. He immediately recognized the girl's identity and hurriedly clasped his hands in a salute, saying:

"Cheng Zhong, the old steward of the Cheng family, greets Your Highness!"

The young girl raised her eyebrows and asked, "Is the Duke of Su in his residence?"

Cheng Zhongdao said, "He's not here. My lord, the Duke, has gone out of the city on business!"

The girl asked again, "Is Cheng Jun here?"

Cheng Zhong was a little puzzled as to why she would ask about Sanlang's whereabouts. Without thinking too much about it, he nodded and said, "Here!"

"It's good that you're here!"

After the girl finished speaking, she suddenly heard a man's hearty laughter coming from afar, and strode towards it.

From afar, she saw a burly man in a blue imperial censor's robe fiddling with the xiezhi crown on his head, twirling around and proudly showing it off to those around him. Immediately, her almond-shaped eyes widened in anger, and she was furious.

"Is that room where Cheng Jun lives?"

The girl asked sharply.

Cheng Zhong didn't understand her intention, but he still nodded and said, "Yes!"

"That's right!"

The girl gave a cold laugh and walked towards the burly man dressed in a blue imperial censor's robe.

"Big brother, how do I look in my clothes?"

At this moment, Cheng Chuliang was wearing a xiezhi crown and imperial censor's robes, showing off in front of Cheng Chumo.

Cheng Chumo nodded repeatedly, eagerly saying, "It looks great! Second brother, you've been wearing it for so long, it's my turn!"

Cheng Chuliang said discontentedly, "Let me wear it a little longer, I haven't worn it enough yet!"

Just then, the two saw a young girl carrying a riding whip walking towards them, and they curiously looked her over.

Li Lizhi walked up to Cheng Chuliang with an icy expression, glared at him, and said, "Are you happy wearing this outfit?"

Cheng Chuliang didn't know who the girl was, but since she was allowed in by Uncle Zhong, she must have some background. He smiled innocently and said, "You figured it out?"

The girl became even angrier upon hearing this, feeling that "Cheng Jun" in front of her was stirring up trouble, but she still tried to reason with him and asked, "Do you know what kind of clothes you are wearing?"

Cheng Chuliang said, "I'm wearing the robes of an imperial censor!"

The young woman spoke righteously and sternly: "The censor is an official who speaks out, so the selection of censors should be based on literary talent. Yet you resorted to violence, ruining the selection process. Ask yourself, is this the right thing to do?"

Cheng Chuliang asked in confusion, "What does this have to do with me?"

The girl stared wide-eyed in disbelief and asked, "Say that again?"

"What's it to me?" Cheng Chuliang repeated.

"You ruined my father's selection of imperial censors, and you still dare to be so self-righteous..." Li Lizhi's pretty face turned red with anger, and she scolded, "You're bullying me too much!"

Before Cheng Chuliang could react, Li Lizhi clenched her fair hand into a fist and punched Cheng Chuliang in the face.

Just then, Cheng Jun came out of the outhouse and saw a young girl punch Cheng Chuliang, which startled him.

He didn't make a fuss or go over there. Instead, he turned around and walked out of the Cheng residence, standing at the door and looking around.

I spotted a chestnut horse not far away.

Cheng Jun walked over, untied the reins, led the horse to the street corner, then raised his bulging arm and slapped the horse's rump hard.

Snapped!

"Neigh!" The chestnut horse cried out in pain, reared up, neighed, and galloped away.

"Feels good..." Cheng Jun clapped his hands and returned to his residence.

Just then, the girl walked by.

Cheng Jun smiled gently and kindly, scratched his head, and said, "Good afternoon."

The girl snorted coldly, picked up her riding whip, and walked out of the Cheng residence.

"Who dares to steal my horse!"

Not long after, the girl's angry shouts rang out from outside.

Cheng Jun pretended not to hear anything, returned to the room, and saw his second brother sitting on his bed with red eyes after being punched by the girl. He was surprised and said:

"Second brother, why are you crying?"

Cheng Chumo assumed he didn't know and explained, "A woman came to the manor just now and beat him up!"

Cheng Jun was even more surprised, "She made my second brother cry?"

“No, that’s not it,” Cheng Chuliang wiped his eyes, his voice choked with emotion, “I’m crying because it’s the first time I’ve ever been hit so lightly!”

"..."

I shouldn't have asked... Cheng Jun turned to Cheng Zhong, who had walked to the door, and asked, "Uncle Zhong, who is this woman?"

Cheng Zhongxian glanced at Cheng Chuliang, and seeing that he was alright, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then he met Cheng Jun's gaze and said with a serious expression, "She is His Majesty's most beloved darling, Princess Chang Le, Li Lizhi, who is fifteen years old!"

Cheng Jun asked curiously, "Second Brother, when did you have a grudge against the princess?"

Cheng Chuliang waved his hand and said, "I've never even met her, how could I possibly have a grudge against her? She's clearly after you!"

Cheng Jun asked in confusion, "Attacked on me?"

Cheng Chuliang pointed to his clothes and said, "Look at what I'm wearing."

The imperial censor's robe... he really came for me!

Cheng Jun's heart skipped a beat, then his brows furrowed even more. "But... I've never seen her before!"

Cheng Chumo said irritably, "Nonsense, if you two had met, would your second brother have gotten beaten up?"

Suddenly, Cheng Chuliang clapped his hands and exclaimed in realization, "I get it! The princess is avenging her father!"

Cheng Jun glanced at him. Although his second brother, Cheng Chuliang, was quite simple-minded, he was undeniably shrewd at times.

"That's right..."

Cheng Chumo suddenly realized that the key to Cheng Jun serving as an imperial censor with them was to leave the emperor with no choice. No wonder he was angry. He looked at Cheng Jun and said, "Third brother, what should we do now?"

Cheng Jun pondered for a few seconds and then said, "I want to enter the palace!"

Cheng Chumo asked curiously, "What are you doing in the palace at this time?"

Cheng Jun sneered, "She came to our house to avenge her father. My second brother was beaten. Shouldn't I also avenge my second brother?"

Cheng Chuliang's eyes lit up and he said, "I understand! This is called reciprocity!"

Cheng Chumo also thought it made sense, and stood up, saying, "I'll go get your horse!"

"..." Cheng Zhong looked at the three of them, seemingly unfazed by the prospect of making things worse, and couldn't help but say, "Sanlang, should we wait for the master to return before we talk about this?"

"We can't wait a moment longer!"

Cheng Jun shook his head firmly and said that he was the one who released the princess's horse, and he had just bumped into her at the door. Once she finds the ownerless chestnut horse, she will definitely be able to guess the reason.

When she returns to the palace and complains to Li Shimin, her brother's punch will be for nothing... Of course, even if she doesn't let her chestnut horse go, Li Lizhi, as Li Shimin's most beloved princess, is destined to make her brother suffer this punch for nothing.

Moreover, Li Lizhi might not only escape blame but also be rewarded!

If it were someone else, they might have tolerated it, after all, the other party is a princess, the emperor's darling.

But Cheng Jun couldn't stand it, because if it weren't for Cheng Chuliang, he would be the one getting punched!

"Third brother, I've brought you your horse!"

At this moment, Cheng Chumo led over the black Turkic horse.

"Big brother, second brother, wait for my news!"

Cheng Jun had already put on his imperial censor's robes again, donned his xiezhi crown, took the reins from him, and in one swift motion mounted his horse, galloping towards the palace with a serious expression.

Just outside Huai De Fang, he encountered that girl again.

I also saw an abandoned chestnut horse not far away.

The girl was walking towards the chestnut horse when she saw Cheng Jun.

Seeing him sitting on horseback, wearing a xiezhi crown and the robes of an imperial censor, the girl instantly realized she had hit the wrong person. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in anger as she exclaimed, "So you're Cheng Jun?!"

"Did you let my horse go?"

"Stop!"

Cheng Jun glanced at her sideways, ignored her, kicked the horse's belly, came to the chestnut horse that was now unattended, gripped the whip, raised his muscular arm, and lashed the chestnut horse's rump hard.

Snapped!

"Neigh!" The chestnut horse cried out in pain and galloped away again.

"drive!"

Cheng Jun was satisfied and spurred his horse to gallop towards the palace.

The girl was left standing there, dumbfounded.