Chapter 248:
Yu Cheng was also a great general who had guarded the border for many years, with unyielding integrity; even after enduring endless torment, he remained defiant.
After forcing down a bowl of ginseng soup, he even had the strength to curse.
Lu Ziyan dug in his ear, suddenly feeling inexplicably curious.
He strolled over leisurely, using the horsewhip in his hand to lift the other’s chin, and said slowly, “You hate me?”
“Was it you who disregarded your honor, actively intervening in the struggle for the throne, colluding with external enemies, and now you’ve become a prisoner—unconvinced?”
Yu Cheng spat, but before he could speak, Ming Feng beside him immediately raised his foot and directly kicked out two of his teeth.
Lu Ziyan didn’t stop him. He looked at those old eyes filled with hatred and said indifferently, “I hear that Old General Yu had only one daughter in his life, whom he cherished like a treasure, treating her as the apple of his eye, and once declared that the Yu family army was his beloved daughter’s dowry?”
He suddenly laughed. “It’s probably that very statement that made your fine son-in-law have ideas.”
That laugh was full of malice. Yu Cheng, who was spitting blood, stiffened all over upon hearing this. “You!”
“The First Prince’s Consort, right?” Lu Ziyan’s smile grew even deeper. “Do you think with a father guilty of colluding with the enemy and treason, she can still sit securely in her position as First Prince’s Consort? Or will her husband risk everything to protect her?”
As he spoke, he tsked lightly. “Anyone I want to deal with, that useless First Prince couldn’t protect even if he tried.”
“Wait and see. In a few days, I’ll send you father and daughter to reunite.”
He smiled and patted the other’s face flat with the horsewhip, saying, “Conveniently, my men under me have all weakened their bodies from the cold waters of Dayang Lake, so I’ll have to trouble General Yu’s beloved daughter to comfort them.”
“You dare!” Yu Cheng’s eyes nearly split open. “Xin’er has already married into the imperial family and is recorded as imperial family female relative on the jade records. No matter how grave my crimes, they can’t extend to wife and daughter!”
His only daughter was the First Prince’s Consort, not far from the position of future Empress.
It was acceptable for the female relatives of criminal officials to be sent to the Music Bureau or the military camp, but there had never been a precedent for imperial family female relatives being demoted to serve the army.
Lu Ziyan sneered upon hearing this, then suddenly swung his hand and brought a heavy whip down on his face. “You’re worthy of mentioning female relatives?”
Wasn’t his Wanwan a female relative?
Who struck first at his female relative!
Since they dared to act, they had to be prepared to accept his mad revenge.
It all stemmed from Consort Yu being bewitched by the First Prince and dragging her own father to take sides.
So how could she escape unscathed?
Even death would be too easy for her.
Didn’t she want to be Empress?
He would make her the lowest camp prostitute!
Such a noble and precious woman would never appear in the military camp again.
Unprecedented before, and probably none after.
After savoring Yu Cheng’s despair for a while, Lu Ziyan soon felt bored again.
Despair?
Blame him?
Then who should he blame?
He despaired day after day—who made him despair like this—shouldn’t they pay the price!
If he could, he wouldn’t want those few nights of bedroom pleasures; he only hoped his Wanwan was doing well in the Capital City.
She could be angry at him, even make him spit blood with anger, or be bewitched by that sickly person—it didn’t matter.
As long as she was alive, it was fine.
“Master,”
As Lu Ziyan walked out of the Disciplinary Hall, a guard waiting outside bowed in salute. “News from the Capital City: the Young Lord of Xuanping Marquis’s Estate has gone to Bianzhou by imperial order to serve as the chief examiner for this Autumn Imperial Examination. By the dates, he should arrive about now.”
When Lu Ziyan returned to the Capital City from the Northern Region, besides personally eliminating all enemies who bore the revenge for his wife’s death, he often felt world-weary; the only ones who could make him care more were the Xie Family people.
In his past life, after the Xie Family father and son learned that their daughter’s death was related to Imperial Consort Shu, they withdrew from the imperial court, even giving their title to the second wife. Later, when his bloodlust surged, warring everywhere wasn’t enough; countless officials in the imperial court had their heads chopped off by him.
Only the Xie Family people—he never touched a single one.
Actually, after Xie Wanning died, Lu Ziyan had long lost emotions like guilt. Even toward the several Madams of the Lu Family, he was cold-hearted, but for the Xie Family people, perhaps out of affection for his wife’s sake, he felt he owed them.
Especially in this life, having experienced rebirth once, he was very superstitious and always felt his Wanwan was watching him somewhere he didn’t know.
So, he should treat her family well and protect her family.
That way, when they met under the springs, he could have a bit more confidence to make her hug him.
He was in too much pain.
If she hugged him a little longer, it would be fine.
