CWTGD Chapter 256: What is Xiao Yan's True Purpose?

After Xiao Yan steadied Tang Ning, he raised his eyes to look at the Fourth Prince, his gaze showing displeasure. "Your Highness, what did you say to me earlier at Hengting Pavilion? You wanted me to protect you and the Empress, and in return, I lent you the Black Armored Guards. But just now, if it hadn't been for Cang Lang, were you planning to let the criminal from the Lu family enter the palace?"

When it comes to accusing others first, no one is better at it than Xiao Yan.

The Fourth Prince remembered his hesitation earlier and immediately felt guilty. "Xiao Yan, I..."

"If Your Highness can't do it, then I'll take care of it."

"No need!"

The Fourth Prince quickly forgot why Xiao Yan and Song Tang Ning had changed their minds and returned with the Lu family. He was afraid Xiao Yan would really take action. He had already torn ties with the Lu family, and now a big commotion had happened. If Xiao Yan took over at this point, it would make him look indecisive and still connected to the Lu family.

"No trouble, Xiao Yan. I'll handle it."

The Fourth Prince's heart hardened as he turned to Cheng Ping. "Take Lu Zhongshu and the others to the front hall. No one is allowed to leave without my orders. Also, have the Lu family women questioned separately. Take their attendants, and don't let anyone go."

"Xie Guogzheng!!!"

This time, not only Lu Qin, but even Lu Chongyuan's eyes were filled with rage.

He had guessed that someone had manipulated the situation, and when he saw Xiao Yan, he understood most of it. He also realized that the Fourth Prince was probably being incited and used by Xiao Yan, but the Fourth Prince's attitude of completely wiping out the Lu family still made him both heartbroken and furious.

This was his own grandson, the person he had supported for many years.

How could he be so foolish and easily manipulated? The Lu family was his greatest support, and yet he was about to destroy it with his own hands!

"Xie Guogzheng, don’t let Xiao Yan deceive you. This eunuch is just using you..."

Bang!

Before Lu Qin could finish, a sharp arrow pierced his calf, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground, screaming in pain.

Xiao Yan was playing with a crossbow in his hand. "Lord Lu, it seems you still haven’t learned what respect means. Since your tongue can’t differentiate how to speak properly, why not just... lose it?"

The crossbow was aimed directly at Lu Qin's head, the cold gleam of the bolt indicating that it could take his life at any moment.

"Xiao Yan, you dare..."

Before he could finish the word "dare," the crossbow shook, and the bolt shot toward Lu Qin.

The arrow, a few inches long, struck with a thud into Lu Qin's thigh. He was about to scream in agony but suddenly locked eyes with Xiao Yan's cold, dark gaze.

There was no warmth in those eyes, as cold as an ice cave, like looking at a dead person. Lu Qin suddenly recalled the day when Xiao Yan had used a sharp blade to wound his leg, and he shuddered with fear, almost losing control of his bladder, his face pale as he clutched his bleeding leg.

The rest of the Lu family looked just as pale.

The Fourth Prince looked horrified. Xiao Yan glanced sideways and said, "Your Highness, aren’t you going to interrogate them?"

...

The Fourth Prince personally went to interrogate them. Xiao Yan stood with Tang Ning in the courtyard, watching as the Lu family members in the nearby flower hall were furious but dared not speak after seeing Lu Qin’s fate. Tang Ning’s gaze lingered on Lu Chongyuan, who, though angry, had suddenly become calm. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he wouldn't just surrender so easily.

Her gaze shifted to Lu Chongyuan’s quiet but sharp second son, Lu Erlang.

Tang Ning had seen this second son of the Lu family before during her visits. He was always quiet, barely noticeable. But the way he reacted earlier, decisively and harshly, made her suspicious.

As if feeling her gaze, Lu Erlang suddenly looked up, his eyes locking with hers. Instantly, she felt a chill, as if a wild beast had its eyes on her. The sense of danger made her furrow her brow, and before she could think further, she felt her head being gently turned by the person beside her.

The coldness dissipated, and Tang Ning was left confused. "Brother?"

Xiao Yan held something in his hand and raised it. "Do you want it?"

"Hmm?" Tang Ning's eyes brightened.

He led her aside and, glancing coldly at the retreating Lu Erlang, he turned back to her with a warm smile. "I saw you staring at it earlier. You seemed eager to have it."

Tang Ning immediately felt embarrassed. She had indeed admired Xiao Yan's crossbow. It was unlike any she had seen before. Most bows and crossbows were heavy and unwieldy, but this one was delicate and compact. Even though the arrow wasn’t long, it had tremendous power.

Xiao Yan handed it to her. "Try it?"

Tang Ning hesitated. "Can I?"

Without answering, Xiao Yan simply placed the crossbow in her hands, showing her how to load the arrow and pull back the string. He guided her to aim, then pressed a button, and the arrow shot out with a sharp “ding,” embedding itself into a nearby tree trunk.

"This crossbow is well-crafted and can be disassembled for easier concealment. It can even be worn as a bracelet or ornament. In an emergency, even if it’s not fully assembled, you can use it as a hidden weapon."

He took the crossbow back from her, quickly disassembling it with ease and handing her the bare mechanism.

"This compartment holds ten silver needles, poisoned by Lady Qin. They seal the throat when they come into contact with blood. If you're ever in danger, you can use these needles. Even someone with great martial arts skills would find it hard to avoid."

Tang Ning immediately felt the crossbow was too dangerous to keep. She hastily handed it back to Xiao Yan. "I can't keep this. Brother, you should keep it for self-defense."

Xiao Yan simply returned it to her.

"Brother..."

Tang Ning opened her mouth to speak, but when she saw Xiao Yan looking at her with an intense gaze, his love for her obvious, she felt a rush of warmth in her heart. "Tang Ning, I have no weakness except for you. As long as you are safe, there’s nothing that can make me retreat. Protect yourself, and you’ll be protecting me."

Tang Ning paused, her face softening. She had never doubted Xiao Yan’s care for her, but hearing his words made her heart flutter with joy.

She no longer refused the crossbow, carefully tucking it away.

"I will use it well."

Seeing her serious expression, Xiao Yan’s eyes filled with affection and a smile.

...

In the large front yard of the Lu family estate, the people in the flower hall could only see the back of Xiao Yan, dressed in a dark robe, speaking with the young woman beside him. The Black Armored Guards stood watch outside, and the Lu family was in a state of panic.

Lu Chongyuan sat solemnly, watching Lu Qin writhe in pain and the rest of his family in disarray. A sense of sorrow filled his heart.

Who would have thought that the Lu family would fall to this state?

Lu Siliang, the impulsive young son, clenched his teeth in rage. "The Fourth Prince dares to collude with Xiao Yan and humiliate our mother and the others. Once they find nothing, my grandfather will definitely go to the palace to file a complaint!"

"But what if the Fourth Prince finds something...?"

A young woman spoke timidly, but Lu Siliang glared at her furiously.

"What if? Do you think my mother and the others would ever betray the king?"

The young woman trembled, shrinking in fear. Lu Siliang turned to his grandfather. "Grandfather, you must not let the Fourth Prince get away with this!"

Lu Daluo, however, was not as optimistic. He glanced at the guards outside and remembered the Fourth Prince’s determination to take the Lu family women. Something about this didn’t feel right. He leaned in and whispered to Lu Chongyuan, "Grandfather, what should we do next?"

Lu Chongyuan lifted his eyes to glance at him. "Wait."

Lu Daluo looked anxious. "But what if the Fourth Prince really finds something..."

"Then we wait," Lu Chongyuan said, his tone calm but grim.

He seemed to have calmed down, and although his face was still dark, there was no panic. Slowly, the rest of the Lu family began to settle as well.

The flower hall grew unusually quiet, with even the occasional sounds from the back garden being distinct.

Lu Chongyuan's gaze fell on Xiao Yan’s retreating figure, and he quickly turned his thoughts to the Fourth Prince... no, to Xiao Yan’s true objective.

He had gone to great lengths to manipulate the Fourth Prince, causing a rift with the Lu family, breaking in with his men. Was it really just to capture a Lu family woman who had an affair with King Cheng?

Even if the truth came out, the Lu family’s reputation would be ruined. But it would only involve a scandal between a man and a woman. If it turned out to be one of the Lu family daughters-in-law, someone unrelated to the Lu family, they could sever ties and recover without harm.

Xiao Yan wouldn’t go through all this for nothing.

So what was his purpose?

When the Fourth Prince pushed out the bloodstained Lu Da Furen after her interrogation, Lu Chongyuan’s heart sank. He looked up at Xiao Yan and suddenly realized his true intentions.

Cheng Ping whispered, "I led the search at the ladies' quarters and interrogated their attendants. There was no sign of abnormality with the others, but only the eldest lady, Guo Shi, had an anxious expression and spoke suspiciously. After using torture, we got her to confess."

"According to what she said, Guo Shi had known King Cheng before she married into the Lu family. At the time, she was engaged to the Lu family’s eldest son, but the Lu family had been undecided about whether to support King Cheng or the emperor. For the sake of King Cheng's cause, Guo Shi married into the Lu family and served him."

The Lu family members’ faces changed.

Guo Shi frantically shook her head. "It’s not me. I didn’t..."

She looked at Lu Chongyuan with tear-filled eyes. "Father, please believe me. I never betrayed the family. I’ve never had anything to do with King Cheng. They’re framing me..."

"What about the items found in your room?"

Cheng Ping sneered, disgusted by her actions. "I found letters exchanged between you and King Cheng, hidden in your makeup chest. These letters mention many things about King Cheng’s estate. Although they are unsigned, a comparison with King Cheng's handwriting will reveal the truth."

Guo Shi’s face turned pale as she desperately shook her head. "It’s not me! I’ve never seen those letters! I don’t know where they came from..."

Since Lu Zhaoshu’s incident, she hadn’t had a chance to properly groom herself, and the makeup chest hadn’t been opened for over a month.

She had no idea when those letters were placed inside or who might be trying to frame her. She cried uncontrollably, crawling to Lu Chongyuan in desperation.

"Father, please believe me! Those letters aren't mine! Someone is trying to frame me!"
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