The Beautiful CEO’s Dragon Blood Bodyguard
Chapter 1004: The Princess’s Temper

Chapter 1004: Chapter 1004: The Princess’s Temper

Lin Shanshan was utterly confused, secretly thinking that her brother-in-law was becoming increasingly enigmatic.

Whether they eat or not, what business is it of the water bandits?

Lin Shanshan was still too naive, unable to view issues from the overall situation, single-mindedly wanting to uphold justice.

Eliminating the water bandits would benefit the residents on both banks, as well as the merchant ships that relied on the river for their livelihood.

However, everything should be strategic, not blindly pursuing bandit extermination.

Otherwise, it would be nothing but a brainless move, not gaining any advantage and instead bringing a bunch of enemies upon oneself.

So-called strategy meant using this issue to make a big deal out of it, to garner the greatest benefit for oneself.

The bandits needed to be exterminated, but money also needed to be obtained.

Only then would it be a perfect solution.

Great General Wang Shouren insisted on inviting them back to the Yuzhou Prefecture Yamen as guests, likely to discuss the eradication of the bandit menace.

Long Fei studied the water bandits’ cannons with a calm demeanor, while a woman couldn’t settle down, still fuming about today’s events.

In her view, Long Fei could have killed that scoundrel Li Xuan, but he let the man go.

Lin Shanshan, holding an apple, went over and gave her one, comforting her, "Come on, why the pout?"

Ji Wanyu took the apple and bit into it sullenly, then asked Lin Shanshan, "Shanshan, what on earth is your brother-in-law thinking? If you say he is compassionate, he hasn’t killed few. If you say he is ruthless, he shows mercy unecessary."

She lowered her voice, whispering, "Do you think he might have schizophrenia?"

Lin Shanshan burst out laughing, only Her Royal Highness The Princess would dare say such a thing.

She munched on the apple and spoke up for Long Fei, "Whatever my brother-in-law does, he naturally has his reasons. These water bandits are mundane matters, and it’s already commendable that he helped you with this. What are you complaining about?"

Ji Wanyu tilted her head back and said, "Hey, Lin Shanshan, whose side are you really on? He’s just your brother-in-law, but I am your sworn sister, right?"

Lin Shanshan chuckled with pursed lips, "I stand on the side of justice."

"Valuing love over friendship."

Ji Wanyu hmphed and continued munching on her apple, ignoring her.

People often talk about a princess’s temper, and Lin Shanshan had felt that she had such a temperament herself; today, she truly saw what a real princess’s temper was like.

The large ship flowed downstream and soon docked at Yuzhou City.

Surprisingly, there was a deep-water dock on the shore, and from the boat, ropes were thrown towards the shore, not handled by trackers, but by elephants controlled by people.

Yes, elephants standing five or six meters tall, about the height of a three-story building, with bodies the size of trucks.

They wore specially made iron saddles, with ropes tied to the back, similar to the tow hooks underneath a car.

The elephant drivers exerted force at the same time, and the twenty or so massive beasts pulled together, and the huge warship followed towards the port.

This was a world that took human and animal power to the extreme, not the mechanical world outside.

Liuu Jiangnan, looking at this sight, shook his head and sighed, "There’s great potential, great potential indeed!"

He was someone who had witnessed warships in the harbor with his own eyes and had even joined Murong Chong and Ji Wanyu in visiting them.

Those mechanical-driven steel behemoths were way beyond the current era of this world.

Wang Shouren had already sent messages by flying hawks, informing the local Governor.

Upon learning that Her Royal Highness The Princess and a Nascent Soul Realm expert were aboard the ship, the Governor personally led people to greet them on the shore.

As they disembarked, officials dressed in government uniforms came forward to greet them with a bow.

Great Xia Country was founded on the virtue of water and revered Daoism; their government uniforms were white, possessing a hint of the elegance of Hanfu.

Had it not been for the beast and bird embroideries that represented their official ranks, they would have closely resembled Daoist robes.

"I am Governor Zhang Yannian of Yuzhou, honored to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess and Master Long to Yuzhou."

The leading Governor and the officials behind him all bowed in unison.

"Rise," said the Princess, lifting her hand in true royal fashion. When she was serious, she truly resembled a princess, though her face was flushed with a hint of annoyance.

"Thank you, Your Highness,"

Zhang Yannian rose to his feet and greeted the officials with a smile, "Your Highness, Master Long has shown great courtesy. I have arranged a banquet at my residence. Everyone, please accompany me to the feast!"

Ji Wanyu ignored him and walked straight ahead.

Liuu Jiangnan hastily leaned in to whisper to Zhang Yannian, trying to explain, "Her Royal Highness has been slighted by water bandits and is currently holding back her anger!"

"It’s alright, no worries,"

Zhang Yannian managed a wry smile and bowed with cupped fists towards Long Fei, "So, this is Master Long who valiantly fought the water bandits and shattered their warship with a single sword?"

Long Fei nodded, his demeanor friendlier than the Princess’s.

Zhang Yannian sighed in relief and was secretly amazed at how young this master was. He had met masters of the Nascent Soul Realm before, but those were lofty figures who hardly deigned to spare him a glance. Seeing Long Fei today, he thought to himself that this young master was not so arrogant.

Ahead was a horse carriage, intricately carved and painted, with windows on all sides and sheer curtains at the front, comparable to a luxury supercar of sorts. The horses here, with horns on their heads, were no ordinary beasts.

What piqued Long Fei’s curiosity was that although the carriage’s wheels were made of wood, they were coated with a rubber-like substance. It had remarkable elasticity, somewhat reminiscent of the rubber tires from his world. Riding in it, the wheels rolled surprisingly smoothly. It seems that although the paths of invention differed in two worlds, the eventual outcomes could be strikingly similar.

The Yuzhou Prefectural Government Office was a grand sight, with mahogany gates ten meters tall and thirty meters wide, exuding luxury and prestige. It appears that, in any world, official residences pursued the same extravagance.

Inside the first courtyard, designed to receive guests, there was a vast square in front of the main hall. The layout followed principles of geomancy with artificial hills and water features, surrounding a lake and adorned with lush grass and vibrant flowers, much like a large public park.

Local officials and merchants of all ranks, having heard the news, came to greet them. Some hoped to make an impression in front of the Princess, while others sought to connect with a master of the Nascent Soul Realm.

It was common knowledge that apart from top-tier sects, the leaders of other sects were generally of Nascent Soul Realm cultivation.

Governor Zhang Yannian invited the Princess and Long Fei’s party to take the seats of honor at the main table, flanked by several notable personalities.

The rest rose to their feet and greeted them with a bow, except one man who sat in a principal seat. He was dressed in lavish brocade, with a long beard and an air of arrogance, merely nodding at Ji Wanyu as a greeting.

Governor Zhang Yannian hurriedly introduced him, "Your Royal Highness, this is His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

The Princess nodded but didn’t observe any formalities or acknowledge the Prince further.

On the way, Liuu Jiangnan had already briefed Long Fei about the local situation.

The Great Xia Country’s territory was vast, with numerous descendants of the Royal Family granted fiefdoms across the land.

As elsewhere, the Imperial Court was highly cautious of these royal relatives, imposing many regulations to restrain them.

In this world, their political powers were stripped away entirely. They possessed no governance rights, retaining just a semblance of policy consultation rights.

Despite owning vast lands and wealth, their influence on politics was minimal.

On the contrary, should they dare to act out of line, a simple report from the local authorities to the Imperial Court would swiftly bring the Emperor’s Dragon Hawk Guards to investigate.

The Dragon Hawk Guards, similar to the Brocade-clad Guards from his world, specialized in investigating cases involving the Imperial Family and Nobility along with the Imperial Court officials, wielding considerable authority in this realm.