The Lu family’s commotion couldn’t be concealed. When the Black Armor Guards stormed into the Lu estate, the backyard erupted with fear, anger, and chaos, with screams and shouts filling the air.
No one had expected Xiao Yan to dare raid the Lu family estate. The “accidental” smashing and breaking by the Black Armor Guards only intensified the disturbance.
Cang Lang and Jin Yun entered swiftly, each heading in different directions. After a brief moment, they reappeared and exchanged glances.
“How did it go?”
“We found it.”
Cang Lang frowned with regret. “It’s a pity we didn’t have more time to investigate properly.”
“That’s alright. Finding it is enough,” Jin Yun said, glancing around at the chaos and muttering, “Lu Cheng’an should be on his way with reinforcements. Other families will likely arrive soon as well.”
Lu Cheng’an, a member of a side branch of the Lu family and the only one who had pursued a military career, had been deliberately held back before the raid. Meanwhile, Feng Qiuli from the noble families had been delaying others, allowing them to enter the Lu estate.
After all this time, the reinforcements were probably close.
Jin Yun turned to Cang Lang. “Tell the team to retreat.”
Cang Lang nodded, taking a black eagle-bone whistle from his pocket and blowing it. The scattered Black Armor Guards began to regroup and withdraw from the estate.
“Retreat!”
As the Black Armor Guards swiftly exited, they left behind a bewildered Lu family. Cang Lang and Jin Yun returned to the front yard, where they informed Xiao Yan, “Commander, the young master of the Lu family isn’t in the estate.”
“Did you search thoroughly?”
“Yes, he’s nowhere to be found.”
“It seems I’ve misunderstood the Lu family, then.”
The frost on Xiao Yan’s face melted away as he turned to the enraged Lu Chongyuan and his sons, his words almost making them explode in fury.
“If your young master isn’t here, why didn’t Minister Lu say so earlier? Nearly caused a misunderstanding. Although, perhaps it’s a matter of improper family discipline. If it weren’t for that young master’s repeated misdeeds, I wouldn’t have had to go to such extremes.”
Lu Chongyuan trembled with rage. “You…”
The audacity of this man!
Seeing Lu Chongyuan turn pale with anger, Xiao Yan gave him a “kind” smile and said, “No need to feel so guilty, Minister Lu. With such a large family, it’s expected that there may be one or two unruly members. Just make sure to guide him properly in the future.”
“Now that I know the runaway isn’t here, I’ll continue my search elsewhere. If any of you happen to see him, please escort him back to the prison to avoid any further trouble for the family.”
With that, Xiao Yan ignored Lu Chongyuan’s nearly fainting rage and turned to Qian Baokun.
“Minister Qian, I have official duties awaiting me at the palace. If you have business with the Lu family, shall I take my leave?”
Qian Baokun was speechless.
This ungrateful eunuch!
Before arriving, it had been “I stand with Minister Qian,” and now he wanted to leave him behind?
Qian Baokun, not a fool, had sought justice for his daughter but could clearly see that his daughter had not been wronged by Lu Zhiyan. Instead, she had likely acted on behalf of Song Tangning.
Seeing that Xiao Yan was trying to abandon him, Qian Baokun hurriedly spoke, “While I do have a matter to address with the Lu family, my son’s actions in rashly intruding into the Lu estate were indeed inappropriate.”
“I value order and cannot tolerate any misconduct. Since the Commander needs to report back to His Majesty, I’ll join you at the palace to report this as well. As for Young Master Lu’s actions against my daughter, that can be addressed another day.”
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. “Minister Qian wishes to accompany me?”
Qian Baokun’s face twitched. “Naturally.”
Xiao Yan laughed lightly, “Then let’s go.”
Xiao Yan took the lead to leave. Lu Chongyuan, enraged beyond words, shouted, “Stop them!”
With a flash of cold light, a sword flew past Lu Chongyuan’s ear, cutting off a strand of his hair. His head ornament fell to the ground, and his disheveled, graying hair scattered over his face.
“Father!” cried Lu Zhao in shock.
Lu Chongyuan’s face paled as he met Xiao Yan’s indifferent gaze.
Had that strike veered slightly, it would have pierced his skull.
Xiao Yan turned away. “Let’s go.”
Lu Chongyuan stood frozen, lips trembling, unable to speak. The servants, seeing their master’s silence, exchanged glances and didn’t dare move, allowing Xiao Yan and his men to leave amidst the disarray.
Seeing Xiao Yan leave, Qian Baokun gestured to his three sons, urging them to follow quickly.
Cang Lang then took the sword from the beam where it was embedded, leading the Black Armor Guards as they followed suit.
As Lu Cheng’an and the other prominent families arrived with their forces, they were greeted by a scene of destruction at the Lu estate. The once-elegant main hall was in ruins, with trampled flowers and plants scattered across the yard. The Lu family's servants were moaning in pain, helping each other limp around, looking utterly defeated.
“Master!”
“Master Lu!”
The crowd, fearing something terrible had occurred, rushed into the courtyard, only to stop in shock.
In the center stood Lu Chongyuan, pale and barely able to stand, breathing heavily as he leaned on a servant. Next to him was Lu Qin, half-risen from the ground, his thigh soaked in blood.
On the ground where he had been standing was a suspicious, foul-smelling yellow liquid mixed with blood.
Lu Qin’s face twisted in pain, and, seeing the crowd staring, anger and shame overcame him, and he fainted on the spot.
A servant tried to catch him, but Lu Qin fell face-first to the ground with a loud splat as the mixture splattered around him.
The crowd took a collective step back.
Lu Zhao, nearby, looked at the blood on his shoes, his face pale as if he might faint as well.
===========
After leaving the Lu estate, Qian Baokun, barely holding back his frustration, spoke bitterly. “Chief Xiao, if you intended to use this as an excuse against the Lu family, couldn’t you have warned me in advance?”
Xiao Yan turned, a faint smile in his eyes. “Minister Qian, I was only pursuing a fugitive. When did I ever target anyone?”
Qian Baokun swallowed his retort, aware he was in too deep to back out.
Trying to contain his frustration, he continued, “Must we keep up this charade? I was naive to assist you, but my daughter, Qiuyue, acted only to help Lady Song.”
“She was willing to sacrifice her own reputation to stand against the Lu family, thinking she was helping her friend. I thought you truly cared about Lady Song, but I see now…”
Xiao Yan’s expression softened. “I am indeed sincere toward Tangning, and I appreciate Miss Qian’s loyalty to her.”
“Then why…”
Taken aback, Qian Baokun stopped short when Xiao Yan unexpectedly apologized.
Xiao Yan continued, “I know today’s events upset you, Minister Qian. Please rest assured that the consequences of today’s confrontation with the Lu family fall solely on me and will not implicate your family.”
Qian Baokun’s anger flared. “Implications aside, Lu Chongyuan surely bears a grudge now. The consequences will still affect us!”
Xiao Yan replied, “I am prepared to accept the consequences.”
Qian Baokun sensed something unusual.
“While I may face repercussions, what if the Lu family is already guilty?”
Shocked, Qian Baokun remembered Xiao Yan’s accusations against Lu Zhiyan. “You don’t believe Lu Zhinian’s actions alone could take down the entire Lu family?”
Xiao Yan only smiled, handing Qian Baokun a document.
Qian Baokun glanced at it and quickly noticed irregularities in the grain transportation ledger.
“This…”
“It’s the grain ledger.”
Qian Baokun nearly dropped the document. “How did you obtain this? Weren’t the records destroyed during the investigation?”
The corruption in the grain transportation case was massive, totaling hundreds of millions. The mere numbers were shocking.
Xiao Yan pursued the matter relentlessly, exposing those involved, causing chaos among the noble families, who were forced to sacrifice numerous officials in Jiangnan and surrender monopolized businesses to cut their losses and extract themselves from the case.
The Qian family benefited from this, even receiving a letter of gratitude from relatives within the family.
At the time, Emperor An was determined to investigate thoroughly, and Xiao Yan seemed intent on dismantling the noble families. But then the evidence was suddenly destroyed, and all witnesses died before reaching the capital. Local officials connected to the case faced unexpected accidents before the investigation reached them.
The case’s trail went cold, leaving Xiao Yan and the noble families at a stalemate.
But now, Xiao Yan still had the ledger recording the grain transportation corruption.
Qian Baokun held the document, feeling its weight in his hands, and asked, “Chief Xiao, if you’ve had this ledger, why didn’t you continue pursuing the Lu family and let them cut ties to survive?”
Xiao Yan replied calmly, “The ledger is incomplete.”
“Incomplete?”
Qian Baokun inspected the document closely and realized there were indeed missing sections.
Xiao Yan explained, “This ledger was missing half. Only this portion remains, which would merely bleed the Lu family financially but wouldn’t endanger Lu Chongyuan’s life. If the other half were found, it could potentially topple him from his position as Chancellor. Unfortunately, the person holding the other half disappeared without a trace.”
“I had people searching for it for a long time but found nothing. I intended to save this as leverage for later, but now, I’ll use it in honor of Miss Qian’s support for Lady Song.”
Xiao Yan’s expression softened, and he addressed Qian Baokun sincerely. “The actions of your three sons in trespassing on the Lu estate would likely result in severe punishment. Miss Qian’s honor must be preserved, and it’s unsuitable for her to confront the Lu family personally.”
“I will personally settle the incident where Lu Cheng offended both her and Lady Song. As for the other issues, I’ll explain to His Majesty that your three sons entered the Lu estate on my orders, seeking evidence of the missing ledger pages.”
“If trespassing charges arise, I’ll take responsibility. You can claim I forced the situation—I’ve made enough enemies in my position that one more won’t matter.”
Qian Baokun was stunned. “You…”
Xiao Yan was offering to take the blame for his three sons.
Outside, Cang Lang, overhearing, smirked as he held the reins. It was clear even without looking that Qian Baokun was likely as speechless as others who had been fooled by Xiao Yan’s persuasive tactics.
==============
You can read ahead to chapterr 234 here
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