Gu Xingzhao originally thought the old man would bring Lu Xingyao along to the meeting, but to her surprise, he chose Lu Xingyan instead. After all, during their previous visit to Laiyuan Town, it was Lu Xingyao who had accompanied him.
Lu Xingyao didn’t contest the decision. He knew well that Prince Su had no shortage of skilled warriors, so it made more sense to bring someone clever rather than someone good at fighting.
And when it came to brains, he admitted that aside from the old man, no one here could outmatch his third uncle.
As the incident unfolded, Du Hangwu didn’t believe it was a mere accident. His suspicious gaze fell on the two subordinates who had accompanied him to the county earlier.
The one who had been with Lu Xingyao had returned early with bags of goods, while the other came back much later, despite having bought only two items. There was no reason for it to take that long.
Du Hangwu had previously noticed this man leaking information to Yu Heng in Laiyuan Town, but he hadn’t acted. Now, however, the stakes were higher.
Before, Du Hangwu might have turned a blind eye, thinking it was just some minor information leaks in exchange for money. But now, with the Lu family tied to his fate, his carelessness had led to today’s events.
Even though the Lu family didn’t yet know the full extent of what had happened, Du Hangwu felt compelled to provide an explanation.
Raising his hand, he called over two trusted subordinates. “You two, go tie up Hou Zi.”
The two men hesitated for a moment, recalling when Du Hangwu had swiftly executed Li Si without warning. A cold shiver ran down their spines. “Boss, did Hou Zi commit a crime?”
Du Hangwu shot them a sharp glance. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the two men didn’t dare question further. They grabbed ropes and cloth to bind and gag Hou Zi, ready to take action.
Meanwhile, Lu Qing and Lu Xingyan had already entered the county. Since the situation involved Prince Su, the guards had refrained from intervening, granting them the leeway to leave the group and proceed independently.
Gu Xingzhao followed at a leisurely pace behind them. Earlier, she had thought that the old man still had plenty of vigor, especially when he could joke around with the younger generation. But seeing him now, leaning on a cane and occasionally needing Lu Xingyan’s support, she realized how old he really was.
“Why is that wretched emperor and Prince Su dragging my poor old man into their mess?” Gu Xingzhao muttered to herself. “It’s not like the throne belongs to him.”
She fed Lu Qing a mental boost: “Don’t worry, Lu Qing. I’m right behind you.”
If Prince Su dared harm him, she might not kill the prince, but she’d certainly find a way to cripple him.
[Warning! The host is prohibited from harming high-ranking individuals in the ancient world who do not pose a direct threat to the safety of the person under your protection.]
Gu Xingzhao fell silent. When she had killed the bandits earlier, there had been no such warning. It seemed Prince Su’s status was too high—likely because he was the next emperor.
Although Lu Qing didn’t feel particularly afraid, the ancestor’s words still reassured him greatly.
Lu Xingyan, who had anticipated the ancestor’s arrival, hadn’t expected her to follow them so closely.
He couldn’t help but wonder: does the ancestor walk on the ground, or does she float through the air?
As soon as the two entered the county, two guards dressed in simple attire came to greet them. They respectfully escorted them into the estate, where tea and refreshments were served. Everyone they encountered treated them with the utmost deference.
Gu Xingzhao was mildly surprised. It seemed Prince Su was still interested in winning over Lu Qing.
Lu Qing, however, did not touch the tea or snacks. He and his son waited patiently for nearly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Prince Su appeared.
The man entered the room, dressed in a lavish brocade robe embroidered with gold trim. He was tall and dignified, but a scar marred the right side of his face, stretching from his eye down to the corner of his mouth, giving him a fearsome appearance.
“Lord Lu, long time no see.”
Gu Xingzhao jumped at the sight. When the prince smiled, the scar contorted grotesquely, making him seem even more menacing.
She didn’t usually judge people by their looks, but Prince Su had a rather unnerving presence.
Lu Qing and his son immediately stood up to greet him. “This commoner greets Your Highness.”
But before Lu Qing could finish his bow, Prince Su stopped him, personally helping him up.
“This is not the capital nor the palace. There’s no need for such formalities, Lord Lu. Please, take a seat.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Gu Xingzhao observed Prince Su carefully. His actions were polite and courteous, almost too much so.
She recalled hearing that Prince Su had once been known for his gentle demeanor, even toward his servants. However, after being disfigured, his personality had changed drastically.
But only Lu Qing knew what truly lay behind Prince Su’s polite exterior. This was a man capable of killing his wife’s entire family to protect himself—a man who, even before his disfigurement, was ruthless and calculating, viewing human lives as expendable in pursuit of his goals.
As the three of them sat down, Prince Su ordered his men to bring in Lu Youtang and Ming Yuan.
When they entered the room, Lu Qing immediately stood up in shock. His youngest granddaughter’s forehead was bandaged, and blood had seeped through the cloth, her face pale as a ghost. Ming Yuan’s arm was injured, her clothes stained with blood, and no one had even bothered to bandage her wound.
Lu Qing’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, tightened around his cane. This was outrageous!
Seeing her grandfather and uncle, Lu Youtang’s eyes welled with tears, and she ran into her uncle’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
As the youngest in the family, she had always been cherished and pampered. Even the smallest scrape would have everyone fussing over her. Now, seeing her so badly injured, it was unbearable.
Lu Xingyan, normally calm and composed, had a fierce glint in his eyes. His usually gentle expression turned cold as he fixed his gaze on Prince Su.
“May I ask, Your Highness, why my family members were harmed?”
Prince Su hesitated, racking his brain but failing to recognize the young man in front of him. From his appearance, he seemed to bear a strong resemblance to Lu Qing. Could this be Lu Qing’s youngest son, the one who had been frail and sickly for years?
Looking at him now, there was no sign of weakness. In fact, he seemed to carry more of Lu Qing’s imposing presence than the Eldest son.
Turning to Lu Qing, Prince Su offered an explanation. “Lird Lu, today’s incident was not at my command. It was merely an overstep by my subordinates who, knowing I wished to speak with you, took matters into their own hands. During the struggle, your granddaughter was injured. I’ve already punished those responsible. I hope you can forgive this oversight.”
Gu Xingzhao couldn’t help but roll her eyes. How thick-skinned was this man? A few light words, and he absolved himself of any blame.
If he had owned up to it, she might’ve had some respect for him. But pinning it all on his subordinates while putting on a façade of integrity? What a hypocrite.
Lu Qing had come prepared to have a civil conversation, but upon seeing his granddaughter injured so gravely, his temper flared. “May I ask, Your Highness, what kind of punishment did you give your subordinates?”
Prince Su’s brow furrowed, not expecting Lu Qing to press further. “They each received twenty strokes of the cane.”
Hearing this, Lu Xingyan let out a cold laugh. “Twenty strokes?”
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