CWTGD Chapter 138 - First courtesy, then force? I'm your father!

It was barely midday, and gossip about the uproar at the Lu estate had only just died down. Just as people were settling in to discuss the latest rumors, they suddenly noticed waves of Black Armored Guards pouring out from the Privy Council, heading straight for the affluent eastern quarter of the city with fierce, imposing momentum.

The last time such a display had occurred, the Song Dukedom was stripped of its title. Before that, an official of the third rank had been purged. This time, many who witnessed the guards gathering shuddered, quietly dispatching servants to trail behind the Black Armored Guard at a distance.

When the trailing onlookers spotted Xiao Yan, donned in his signature crimson robes and cold as moonlit frost, leading the guards straight to the Lu family residence, their expressions shifted with alarm.

Didn’t Director Xiao just take a pound of flesh from the Lu family? What could he possibly be after now?

The Qian residence, which was also located in the eastern district and a bit closer to the Lu estate, managed to rally their household faster. Before the Black Armored Guard even arrived, Qian Baokun and his three sons, flanked by fifty or so strong men, had already assembled in front of the Lu family’s gates.

The hot-tempered second brother of the Qian family was the first to shout, “Smash it down!”

“Who are you people… hey, what do you think you’re doing?!”

“What… stop!”

The gatekeepers at the Lu estate were stunned and rushed forward to block the intruders. But the Qian family’s men, armed with thick wooden rods, beat them back with ease, leaving cries of pain in their wake. The Qian family seized the chance to kick open the gates.

Standing at the threshold, the eldest Qian brother barked, “All of you—go find that good-for-nothing Lu! Other than Lu Chongyuan and the old matriarch, hit anyone who dares to stand in your way!”

The Qian family guards, loyal retainers brought from Lingnan who’d been fiercely trained and protected under Qian Baokun’s patronage, surged into the estate with bamboo and wooden staves. Though they avoided fatal injuries, they left many temporarily incapacitated as they fought their way to the front hall.

By the time the three Qian brothers reached the main courtyard, they’d already left nearly half the front courtyard in ruins. Only then did the Lu family’s exhausted guards scramble to intervene, horrified at the scene of servants strewn across the courtyard, crying out in pain. Lu Qin’s face darkened to a stormy shade. “Who are you rabble, daring to cause havoc at the Lu residence?!”

Lu Zhao, equally enraged, shouted, “Who do you think you are, trespassing on Lu family property?!”

“I’m your father!” the second Qian brother spat, his voice dripping with venom. He hated Lu Zhizhi for what he’d done to his beloved sister and held his father equally responsible. Though he loved teasing his little sister, he never allowed anyone else to so much as lift a finger against her.

With a heavy swing, he struck a priceless porcelain vase, smashing it to pieces on the ground. “Drag that dog Lu Zhizhi out here right now!”

Lu Zhao’s heart clenched, and Lu Qin’s face turned stormy.

Again! It’s him again—Lu Zhizhi!

Trying to maintain some composure, Lu Zhao took a closer look at the intruders, noting their luxurious attire and vaguely familiar faces. He forced himself to lower his voice. “Whose sons are you? Surely this is some sort of misunderstanding. My son hasn’t been at the estate recently, so there’s no way he could’ve offended you gentlemen…”

“We’re well aware he’s been in the Imperial Prison!” sneered the third Qian brother, whose sharp tongue wasted no time. “Your precious Lu heir broke into forbidden grounds and was imprisoned under imperial decree, earning himself a beating by the Emperor’s command. All of Jing knows that!”

“You!” Lu Qin roared.

Lu Zhao, though equally furious, tried to control himself. The Lu family had just barely weathered its last storm, and Lu Chongyuan was still recovering after falling ill from rage. Their household could not afford another scandal now. Stepping in front of Lu Qin, Lu Zhao looked at the three Qian brothers and asked, “If you know this, why have you come here for him?”

“To break that vile bastard’s legs!” replied the second Qian brother coldly.

At that, Lu Zhao’s temper finally snapped. “I am speaking to you politely! If you continue with this insolence, don’t blame me for handling you as intruders!”

The eldest Qian brother, silent until now, spoke in an icy tone. “And just how do you intend to ‘handle’ us, Lord Lu?”

“Your Lu family failed to raise your son properly. First, he shamed the Princess of Yiyang, then broke the law. The princess chose to spare him by accepting your so-called apology and annulling the engagement, but the very day he was released from prison, he dared to ambush both the Princess of Yiyang and my sister, laying hands on them!”

The eldest brother’s voice grew colder with each word. “And when Lu family servants injured my sister and nearly assaulted Miss Rong in broad daylight, you think you can avoid blame? Does Lord Lu intend to murder us on your family’s grounds just as your servant nearly killed our sister?”

Hearing the name “Qian” spoken with such cold authority, Lu Zhao’s expression shifted as he took a closer look at the young man in front of him. Recognition struck. “You’re Qian Qingran, eldest son of Minister Qian?”

Qian Qingran’s gaze was frigid as he replied, “I’m honored that Lord Lu remembers.”

Lu Zhao’s face turned a deathly shade. Though Qian Qingran was not widely known in the capital, his accomplishments were no secret within government circles. Unlike the typical sons of noble families, Qian Qingran had left for a provincial appointment at a young age rather than remain in the capital. His tenure there had brought remarkable results, so much so that Lu Chongyuan himself had once remarked that, within two years, the young Qian would be a rising star upon his return to the capital. Recently, Qian Qingran had indeed returned for official business, though this was Lu Zhao’s first time seeing him in person.

Glancing at the two younger men beside Qian Qingran, their faces dark with anger, Lu Zhao recognized them as the other two Qian brothers he had only seen from a distance.

If anyone else had barged into the Lu residence, smashing things and pointing fingers at Lu Zhizhi, accusing him of defiling a young lady of their family, Lu Zhao might have dismissed it as nonsense. But this was the Qian family, speaking of a matter as grave as the honor of their daughter. There was no way they would be making this up.

His face paling, Lu Zhao spoke in a low voice, “Surely, there must be some misunderstanding. My son doesn’t even know Lady Qian…”

“Misunderstanding? What a load of nonsense!” the second Qian brother spat, gripping his staff. “My sister was carried back home, bruised all over, and the Rong family girl was in even worse shape, drenched in blood! And you dare tell me it’s a misunderstanding? Bring Lu Zhizhi out here! If I don’t break his legs today, I’ll change my family name!”

The third Qian brother shouted, “Hand him over—now!”

In desperation, Lu Zhao stammered, “He’s not here…”

The third Qian brother gave a cold laugh. “Do you take us for fools? If he’s not here, is he supposed to have flown away? You think just because you’re from a noble family, you can mistreat a lady of the Qian family? Have you forgotten that we’re not to be trifled with?”

The second Qian brother turned to his elder brother. “Why are you wasting words with them?” Then, turning to the Qian servants behind him, he ordered, “Smash everything! If the Lu family doesn’t hand him over, tear this place down.”

With that, he began by shattering another pair of porcelain vases on the table beside him.

The other Qian family members joined in, swinging bamboo rods and wooden staffs at anything within reach. As a prominent noble house, the Lu family’s front hall was filled with priceless objects, all carefully displayed as a testament to their wealth and status—porcelain vases, cups, wall scrolls, jade stands… All these luxurious items were reduced to rubble.

Seeing the Qian family wreaking havoc, the Lu servants rushed to intervene. Lu Qin, heartbroken at the destruction, shouted, “Stop them! Hurry up, stop them!”

“Don’t harm them!” Lu Zhao ordered hastily. It was wrong of the Qian family to bring trouble here, but the Lu family had been in the wrong first. If they harmed any of the Qian brothers, it would be disastrous for them, potentially sparking an irreparable feud between the Lu and Qian families.

But Lu Zhao’s warning came too late.

The second and third Qian brothers charged deeper into the estate. In the ensuing scuffle, one of the Lu family’s guards, cornered and nearly struck in the face with a staff, reflexively drew his sword and slashed toward the second Qian brother.

Just as the staff stopped an inch from the guard’s face, the second Qian brother smirked, shifted his weight, and deliberately exposed his arm to the oncoming blade.

“No, don’t—!”

Swish!

Blood spurted from the second Qian brother’s arm as he collapsed to the ground, clutching his injury and letting out a pained scream.

“Second Brother!”

“Qingyu!”

The eldest and youngest Qian brothers immediately rushed to his side, followed by their servants, who stopped their assault to regroup, warily eyeing the stunned Lu guard still holding his drawn sword.

Lu Zhao’s face darkened. “Who gave you permission to draw your sword?”

“They were…”

Slap!

Lu Zhao struck the guard across the face, cutting off his explanation. He was nearly livid with rage. He was just about to offer an apology and send for a doctor when a cold, mocking laugh echoed from outside the door.

“A fine Lu family indeed—a noble family at that! After dishonoring my daughter, were you planning to kill my sons, too?”

Lu Zhao looked up to see Qian Baokun standing at the entrance, his expression murderous. Behind him, a swarm of Black Armored Guards streamed into the courtyard, quickly filling the entire front yard. But the sight that truly shook Lu Zhao to his core was Xiao Yan, striding in with an aura of chilling menace, his dark boots thudding against the floor as he entered.

“Minister Qian, this is all just a misunderstanding…” Lu Zhao said, struggling to keep his voice steady.

“Misunderstanding?” Qian Baokun sneered. “Was it a misunderstanding that your son assaulted my daughter in the street, or that your family’s servants nearly killed my son? Don’t you dare gloss over this.”

Lu Zhao tried again, “Minister Qian…”

“Why waste your breath on them, Father?” Lu Qin, glowering, cut him off. “Qian Baokun, you may be Minister of Revenue, but that doesn’t give you the right to trespass into the Lu family residence. You must know the punishment for violating the estate of the Zhongshuling.”

Xiao Yan replied coolly, “And what if we did trespass?”

Lu Zhao couldn’t suppress his rage any longer. “Xiao Yan, are you going back on your word?”

“We’ve already fulfilled our end of the agreement. You took the books you wanted, and my family made no objection to your elevation of Song Tangning. My father made it clear that after this, all prior grievances would be settled. Now you barge in here with the Black Armored Guard—what do you want?”

Xiao Yan’s gaze was icy. “The previous matter is settled. This is about something else entirely.”

He looked up, his expression darkening. “I’ve said it before—whoever troubles my family will not walk away unscathed. It seems the Lu family has yet to learn its lesson.”

Lu Qin clenched his fists, trying to restrain his resentment. Despite his animosity, he understood that provoking Qian Baokun into fully siding with Xiao Yan would only worsen the situation. Though he was furious at Lu Zhizhi for repeatedly causing trouble, he knew it was critical not to drive a wedge between the Lu and Qian families.

In a low voice, Lu Qin said, “Minister Qian, are you really willing to join forces with Xiao Yan against the Lu family?”

“We will investigate the situation regarding your daughter, and if anyone in our family has wronged her, we will ensure justice is served. But coming here with Xiao Yan and allowing your sons and his guards to raid our home… when the Emperor finds out…”

In all of the capital, everyone knew Qian Baokun as someone who avoided conflict and maintained neutrality, securing his long tenure as Minister of Revenue by steering clear of political factions or any disputes that didn’t concern him directly.

The Black Armored Guard may be Emperor An’s fierce hounds, but if they were to align with the Ministry of Revenue, that would be an entirely different story.

Lu Qin was certain that Qian Baokun, with his cautious nature, would back down. However, Qian only scoffed, “Quite the impressive mouth, Master Lu. Are you trying to suggest that I’m colluding with Lord Xiao?”

“Just so happens, I paid a visit to the palace before coming here.”

The color drained from both Lu Qin’s and Lu Zhao’s faces. Without wasting further words, Xiao Yan lifted a hand, flicked his finger, and said coolly, “Break his leg.”

“You dare, Xiao Yan—!”

The Black Armored Guard surged forward, and Lu Qin shrieked.

The Lu family servants rushed forward to intervene but were no match for the Guards. Remembering what happened to Qian’s second brother, none of them dared to draw swords. In a matter of seconds, Canglang reached Lu Qin.

“What do you think you’re doing, Xiao Yan, you mad dog! If you harm me, the Lu family will never forgive you—”

“Aaargh!”

Canglang brought the hilt of his sword down hard on Lu Qin’s shin, and with a sickening crack, Lu Qin collapsed to his knees, screaming in agony.

“Second Brother!” Lu Zhao’s face contorted in horror as he moved to intervene.

Canglang merely swung an arm back, striking Lu Zhao’s nerve points and forcing him back effortlessly. “Better to stay clear, Lord Lu. It would be difficult to explain any accidental injury to the Director.”

Despite his courteous tone, Canglang then pressed his boot firmly onto Lu Qin’s broken leg, forcing him back down as he attempted to rise, making him scream in pain.

“Master Lu, my apologies,” Canglang said, voice cold. “But it’s an ancient custom for sons to repay their fathers’ debts, and brothers to bear each other’s burdens. Since Lu Zhizhi harmed my lady, but your rank protects him, you’ll just have to pay in his place. After all, you’re only marginally more competent than a dead weight.”

Canglang ground his heel into the injured leg. “Next time, refrain from threatening our young lady—our Lord Governor doesn’t like it.”

Lu Qin, writhing in pain, felt as if his bones were being crushed, but his pride remained, refusing to give in. Even through the searing pain and beads of cold sweat, he spat out vile curses. “Your Governor? Just a despicable creature neither man nor woman, crawling his way up by flattering the Emperor! The way he shields Song Tangning—he must be raising her as a private plaything—”

“Ahhhh!”

The shriek silenced the Qian family men, who shuddered at the sound. They looked over to see Xiao Yan, now holding a thin blade dripping with blood, its edge pointed directly between Lu Qin’s legs, next to a severed ear lying on the ground.

“I didn’t catch that, Master Lu. Care to repeat it?”

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T/N: Tangning sleeping peacefully while people lose body parts for talking bad about her. Xiao Yan the man you are!
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