The newcomer was a stern, square-faced middle-aged man.
He came empty-handed, but wore official robes — clearly he had rushed over without changing.
Zheng Shangming said nothing, feeling only the deepest shame and fury. For the man who had arrived was none other than his father — Zheng Shi, known as the Commander of the Northern Garrison.
He was no longer a three-year-old child who needed his father to clean up his messes. For someone as proud by nature as he was, this was nothing short of humiliation.
The official robes of a Patrol Commander naturally revealed his identity.
Though Wang Yiwu had never met the Commander of the Northern Garrison face to face before, he would hardly fail to recognize him now.
He was not afraid, per se — it was just that this development fell outside of Wen Lianmu's plan.
Things spiraling beyond one's control was always unpleasant.
Wang Yiwu studied the newcomer with a scrutinizing gaze for a moment before speaking first: "This man trespassed into the Grand Marshal's Office. I was about to apprehend him and hand him over to the Grand Marshal upon his return for judgment. Why do you obstruct me?"
Zheng Shi could never have imagined that Wang Yiwu was sizing him up to weigh the possibility of defeating him.
But he was already quite angry — the War God's final disciple was truly far too arrogant.
He had always been stern, and this anger showed little on his face.
"The Patrol Bureau is charged with maintaining public order. You engage in open violence on the streets — does that mean I have no authority to intervene?"
These words struck at the heart of the matter.
To set such a trap when speaking to someone of a younger generation — the depth of Zheng Shi's anger was plain to see.
The Capital Patrol Bureau's authority over Linzi's security was established by law and granted by the Qi Emperor.
On what grounds could Wang Yiwu deny such authority?
To put it bluntly, even Jiang Mengxiong had no right to do so.
"Sir naturally has every right to intervene!"
Wen Lianmu had rushed out in great haste as well. In truth, the moment he heard Zheng Shi's voice, he was startled for only an instant before hurrying outside.
He feared that Wang Yiwu's pride might flare up and worsen the situation.
Once outside, he decisively took the lead in the conversation before adding: "However, we are handling matters pertaining to the Grand Marshal's Office — it seems we need not go through the Patrol Bureau."
"Look at where you are standing right now. Are you inside the Grand Marshal's Office?"
Zheng Shi reprimanded him sharply: "Inside the Grand Marshal's Office, behind closed doors, I do not interfere. If there is truly some abominable deed, the Emperor's will shall decide. But outside the Grand Marshal's Office, public order is my responsibility! I eat the Emperor's salary and serve the Emperor's cause — what of the Grand Marshal? If you commit crimes, would the Grand Marshal shield you?"
Zheng Shi's words rang with righteous authority, yet bristled like a hedgehog, pricking at every angle.
Wang Yiwu said nothing. Now that Wen Lianmu was here, and since this matter had been entrusted to Wen Lianmu's planning, he would leave the response and decisions to him.
"Commander speaks truly. We would never dare commit any crimes."
Wen Lianmu offered this concession first, then abruptly shifted his tone, revealing his edge once more: "However, as I understand it, this Zheng Shangming who trespassed into the Grand Marshal's Office happens to be your son. I'm afraid you are not in a suitable position to adjudicate this matter."
"That is easily handled." Zheng Shi continued with a cold expression: "I ask that Young Master Wang Yiwu and Zheng Shangming both accompany me to the Patrol Bureau. I, Zheng Shi, must recuse myself — there are plenty of impartial officials within the Patrol Bureau! Even if the entire Patrol Bureau lacks the War God's trust, we can always humbly petition the Emperor's judgment!"
To escalate such a matter before the Qi Emperor would be a tremendous loss of face.
But for the sake of his own son, Zheng Shi clearly had this resolve. And he made that resolve evident.
His very presence here, including the official robes he wore, was a manifestation of that resolve.
Wen Lianmu exchanged a glance with Wang Yiwu before speaking: "Brother Wang and I both have military duties to attend to. If the Patrol Bureau insists on Brother Wang's cooperation in the investigation, you must first apply to the Ministry of War — request the Tianfu Army to release him through proper channels."
The bottom line was drawn clearly: if Zheng Shi attempted to seize Wang Yiwu on the spot, Wang Yiwu would absolutely refuse to cooperate and would resist. And he would certainly take the matter all the way to Jiang Mengxiong.
At the end of the day, Zheng Shangming's rampage through the Grand Marshal's Office was a fact. And the entire process — through Commander Lei of the Zhanyu Army, of dispatching Zheng Shangming to track Jiang Wang — had been conducted in full accordance with regulations.
Even if the matter were blown up, there was plenty of room to fight it out.
Though the Commander of the Northern Garrison was a powerful figure in Linzi, the Grand Marshal's Office was not the least bit intimidated. Otherwise, they would not have had a contingency plan to detain Zheng Shangming outright. Fundamentally, they simply did not take Zheng Shi very seriously.
Having led the Northern Garrison for so many years, Zheng Shi could certainly perceive such disdain.
But he did not fall out with the younger generation. He merely nodded: "Very well! I have witnessed the Grand Marshal's Office's authority!"
He turned to glance at Zheng Shangming and said coldly: "Are you not leaving?"
Zheng Shangming said nothing, lowering his head as he followed behind.
Once they had left the street where the Grand Marshal's Office was located, Zheng Shangming stopped walking and refused to go any further.
But he merely stood there, without actually leaving. His two feet pointed toward two different streets — clearly his heart was torn, uncertain where to go.
It was nothing but instinctive pride that prevented him from immediately returning under his father's wing after suffering a setback.
Call it a matter of saving face, or call it a stubborn, pigheaded temperament.
As someone who had been through it all, Zheng Shi understood perfectly.
This was the moment his son was first broken by reality — and also the moment he truly grew up.
Zheng Shi turned around and looked steadily at his son. His voice carried a rare hint of softness: "Come home with me. The military is no sanctuary either. The circumstances of one's birth — that is not something you can decide. But there are many things you can decide."
He suddenly realized his son had grown so tall — he was a man now. And it seemed he had never once spoken these heartfelt words to his son, had always seen him as nothing more than a rebellious child.
Time... had been far too hurried.
"Your mother left early, and I was consumed by official duties, neglecting you in daily life. You have resented me since childhood and refused to depend on me — I understand that."
"You believe that whatever I can do, you can do as well. That is admirable spirit, and it delights me."
"But, Shangming. I built everything from nothing, carving out my own career with my own hands. Not so that my son would imitate me — but so that when my son starts building his own path, he would not have it as difficult and as grueling as I once did. Can you understand?"
As Zheng Shi spoke, all his emotions eventually dissolved into a single sigh: "Being my, Zheng Shi's, son is nothing to be ashamed of."
Zheng Shangming kept his head lowered, never uttering a word. But his shoulders began to tremble, gradually beyond his control.
...
Before the gates of the Grand Marshal's Office, not a single onlooker was visible on the surface.
Of course, in reality, there were no shortage of eyes watching covertly.
As the father and son departed, a shadow fell over Wen Lianmu's mood. But he showed no sign of dejection, and his words remained perfectly reasoned: "Given Zheng Shangming's character, he would never have notified his father. If even now he had to call upon his father, then all his past efforts on his own — what would any of it amount to? That would be denying himself."
"Rely on his father?" Wang Yiwu said coldly: "If his father were not Zheng Shi, I would have manipulated him and that would have been the end of it. Would he have dared to show up here?"
The words were harsh, but also ruthlessly realistic.
If not for Zheng Shi, Zheng Shangming coming here today would have been a death sentence.
Of course, if not for Zheng Shi, Wang Yiwu would never have bothered manipulating Zheng Shangming in the first place.
"Which is why I say — he lives an awkward, contradictory life."
Wen Lianmu reiterated.
Even now, he did not doubt his own judgment.
"Then how did Zheng Shi find out? And he even came in person."
Wang Yiwu was very displeased.
If anyone else from the Patrol Bureau had come instead, and if he had any certainty of victory in a fight, he would never have let Zheng Shangming leave.
Because this meant the utter failure of the current plan.
He detested failure immensely.