Chapter 71: Hitting The Road
Seeing that Madam Xie was already furious, her guards didn’t dare hesitate and quickly joined in, surrounding Lu Yun and Madam Cui’s people together with Cuihe Garden’s guards in the middle.
At this point, the atmosphere in the garden was tense to the extreme, and those young masters and misses didn’t dare make a sound. They had lived this long but had truly never seen such a situation… One must know, the Great Xuan Dynasty had extremely strict hierarchies, just like how commoners absolutely dared not offend aristocrats, and within aristocratic clans, collateral lineage disciples absolutely dared not disrespect direct lineage disciples.
Therefore, it was common for direct lineage disciples to arbitrarily bully collateral lineage disciples, who always had only to endure the humiliation, not daring to fight back. So even in duels, no one had ever seen a collateral lineage disciple defeat a direct lineage one, let alone beat the other until they were searching for their teeth on the ground!
Although Lu Yun and Xie Tian belonged to two different clans, they still had to follow this rule. Madam Xie’s shouting now suddenly reminded everyone that Lu Yun and Xie Tian’s statuses were worlds apart. If she really acted unreasonably, Lu Yun truly couldn’t leave this place!
“Haha!” Madam Cui, whose veins carried the Pei Clan’s blood, was not alarmed but instead laughed upon seeing this: “Looks like you’re still planning to bully with numbers. Old Zhang, release the fireworks!”
Old Zhang was Madam Cui’s guard leader. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but worry: “Madam, according to clan rules, fireworks can only be released for aid from nearby retainers if a clan disciple’s life is threatened!”
“Release them as I say, what nonsense!” Madam Cui’s willow brows shot up, radiating dominance.
“Yes!” Old Zhang had no choice but to take a firework from his bosom and was about to light it to send into the sky.
The crowd erupted in an uproar upon seeing this. It seemed Madam Cui was going all out to protect Lu Yun. Madam Xie faltered for a moment but, seeing her son’s miserable state, how could she swallow this insult? She stubbornly declared: “We’ll release fireworks and call for reinforcements too!”
Xie Min suddenly felt a massive headache. If the two of them released the fireworks, it would escalate into a conflict between noble clans, and no one could handle that!
At that moment, Lu Yun, protected behind Madam Cui and her daughter, spoke up. “Aunt need not make a big fuss. They surely won’t dare touch me.”
Amid the stunned gazes of Madam Cui and her daughter, Lu Yun calmly walked up to Xie Min and her sister-in-law, saying breezily: “Tomorrow His Majesty is going to the palace to avoid the summer heat and specifically named me to accompany him. If you two want to keep me here, please trouble yourselves to inform the palace so His Majesty doesn’t wait in vain.”
“Ah!” The surrounding spectators exchanged looks, asking each other if this was really true. “It seems like it really is…”
Madam Xie froze on the spot. No matter how unworthy the Initial Emperor was, he was still the supreme emperor above the noble clans. How could she, a mere woman, dare keep someone he had specifically named?
Xie Min’s expression changed several times, but inwardly she relaxed. With a cold snort, she said: “No wonder you’re so fearless; turns out you have a protective talisman! Unfortunately, it can protect you for a moment but not forever. When you return, we’ll settle the score!” Without waiting for Madam Xie to speak, she irritably waved her hand: “What are you standing around for? Hurry and carry the young master inside!”
The guards hurriedly and clumsily carried Xie Tian off the scene. Xie Tian’s injuries weren’t actually severe; while being carried by the guards, he could still glare at Lu Yun with a face full of venomous resentment, but he didn’t hurl any harsh words. It wasn’t that he feared Lu Yun, but his mouth was full of gaps and he couldn’t speak…
But his mother was still there.
Seeing Xie Min had no intention of continuing the dispute, Madam Xie hatefully glanced at Lu Yun and viciously spat: “We’ll see!” Then she hurriedly followed her son to leave.
Xie Min’s face was ashen too, and she wordlessly chased after her sister-in-law, leaving the group of guests exchanging bewildered looks, unsure whether to leave or stay after things had blown up like this. Lu Yun’s family had no such dilemma; with matters at this point, they definitely couldn’t stay any longer. Moreover, they probably wouldn’t even be able to enter Xie Clan gates in the future.
Under everyone’s gaze, Madam Lu led her brother and sister out of Cuihe Garden, preparing to board the carriage and go home.
Having ruined Madam Lu’s relationship with the Xie Clan, Lu Yun felt a bit uneasy in his heart. Before boarding the carriage, he softly said: “It was son who was impulsive…”
Madam Lu glanced at Lu Yun but said nothing.
“Seventh Sister, wait.” At this moment, Madam Cui’s voice rang out. Madam Lu turned back and saw her leading Cui Ninger out of Cuihe Garden as well.
“Elder Sister.” Madam Lu greeted.
“I asked about what happened earlier; it’s all this dead girl’s fault.” Madam Cui glared at Cui Ninger and said in a deep voice: “Hurry and apologize to your aunt!”
“Aunt, it was all my fault.” Cui Ninger’s eyes reddened as she quickly and obediently apologized to Madam Lu.
“I’ve long heard of that Xie Tian’s reputation.” Madam Lu shook her head, gently stroking Cui Ninger’s hair, and said softly: “Relying on his elders’ indulgence, he bullies men and women all day. He scared you, didn’t he?”
Cui Ninger nodded vigorously, and Madam Lu smiled faintly: “Then what Lu Yun did was right. If he hadn’t stepped in, I definitely would have broken his legs.”
“I knew Aunt loves me the most.” Cui Ninger felt relieved, clinging to Madam Lu’s arm and breaking into laughter through her tears.
“You child!” Madam Cui shook her head helplessly. “Alright, stop standing at people’s doorway. Let’s hurry back.”
Thus, Madam Lu and Madam Cui rode together, the three youngsters in one carriage, slowly leaving the estate escorted by guards from both families.
.
In the carriage, Madam Cui said with some concern: “Little Sister, I’ll have an eunuch speak to Grand Guardian Xie about his grandson later, so the old man doesn’t listen to slander and take it out on your paternal family.”
“Elder Sister need not trouble herself.” Madam Lu shook her head and politely declined: “This little matter, Lu Xin can handle.”
“Alright then, if anything comes up, just say so anytime.” Madam Cui nodded, feeling slightly puzzled: “On the road back to the capital, Lu Yun seemed so steady. How come he’s so impulsive today…”
Madam Lu had no interest in discussing Lu Yun and shook her head: “I don’t know.”
“Sigh…” Madam Cui sighed and dropped the topic.
In the carriage behind, Cui Ninger sat next to Lu Ying, facing Lu Yun. Knowing he could stay silent forever if she didn’t speak, Cui Ninger kicked his calf lightly with her toe, made a funny face at him, and said: “Thanks.”
Lu Yun slightly shifted his legs away and said indifferently: “No need to thank me.”
“Hey, I just wanted you to help me fend him off a bit.” Seeing Lu Yun’s disdainful look, Cui Ninger rolled her eyes: “With all your cunning, you must have had plenty of ways. I didn’t expect you to go straight at him with fists, and hit so hard too.”
“I didn’t do it for you.” Lu Yun shook his head: “It was because he insulted me first and dared to speak disrespectfully to my elder sister.”
“…” Cui Ninger deflated instantly, and Lu Ying hurriedly punched Lu Yun.
The carriage fell quiet for a moment before Cui Ninger asked Lu Yun: “Do you often get into fights?”
“This is my first time.” Lu Yun told the truth. And it was true; before, he had always been killing…
“Doesn’t look like it.” Cui Ninger eyed Lu Yun suspiciously: “You clearly fight often…”
Lu Yun shrugged, looking like there was nothing he could do if she didn’t believe him.
“That Xie Tian is no good,” Cui Ninger reminded Lu Yun: “He took a big loss this time; he definitely won’t let it go easily later.”
“Mm.” Lu Yun nodded and continued reading the book scroll in his hand, clearly not taking it to heart.
“You!” Cui Ninger rolled her eyes in anger and turned to Lu Ying: “Elder Sister, you have to make him change this hot temper, or he’ll suffer big losses later.”
“Anyone who can make my little brother suffer probably hasn’t been born yet.” Lu Ying laughed carelessly: “Rather, little sister, how did you provoke that Xie Tian?”
“Don’t mention it.” Cui Ninger sighed dispiritedly: “Last month, my older cousin held a poetry gathering, and that Xie guy came too. Then he targeted me. Wherever I was, he’d surely show up. Like a piece of sticky candy, impossible to shake off…”
“So he had his eye on little sister.” Lu Ying smiled in realization: “Then it was my little brother being nosy.”
“No way!” Cui Ninger flushed red and hurriedly explained: “He was grossing me out so much that I wanted to use Little Yun as a shield.” Glancing at Lu Yun, she added: “Didn’t expect this kid to look all listless but be a… powder keg that ignites at a spark!”
“You’ve finally seen through him!” Lu Ying burst into giggles, and the two girls laughed together.
As for Lu Yun, described as a human-shaped powder keg, he awkwardly shifted his gaze out the carriage window. Outside, everything seemed normal, as if the White Ape Society had no intention of acting again.
It made sense; the White Ape Society dared to target collateral lineage like him from noble clans but would never lightly touch direct lineage like the Cui mother and daughter… Moreover, with two stakeout assassins vanishing without cause, it was enough to make them wary and not dare act rashly for now.
