Chu Xiaohe had been stabbed by Tuoba Feiyuan—and she had wounded him in his most sensitive area.
By the time Chu Yueli arrived, Chu Xiaohe was lying on the bed, hovering on the brink of death. The physician had already bandaged him, but the trousers he had removed were soaked through with blood.
The physician said, trembling, "General, I fear… I fear he will never be able to father children again."
Chu Yueli’s mind went blank, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. The Duke’s Estate was a household of martyrs; the Old Duke’s three sons had all perished on the battlefield. The eldest, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, was Chu Yueli’s father; until his death, he had only left behind his daughter and her older brother. Her second and third uncles had died far too young—the second uncle had barely married before heading to the front, and the third had never even taken a wife.
Thus, her older brother was the only male heir left to the Duke’s Estate. Tuoba Feiyuan’s strike had completely severed the family line. Her brother, a man of such integrity and kindness, had been ruined by her for the rest of his life.
Chu Yueli picked up the short blade from the floor and bolted out of the room.
"Miss! Miss, please don't be rash!" Zisu chased after her, her eyes rimmed with red.
Chu Yueli didn't even need to go looking for Tuoba Feiyuan; Lu Fengjin was already dragging her into the courtyard.
"Let go of me!" Tuoba Feiyuan’s face was twisted in arrogance. Unable to break free from Lu Fengjin’s grip, she raised her leg and kicked him hard in the calf. "You dog of a man! Let me go!"
Lu Fengjin didn't even flinch at the kick, but when he saw the blade in Chu Yueli’s hand, his expression shifted instantly. "Ali…"
Chu Yueli raised the knife, strode up to them, and without a word, lunged at Tuoba Feiyuan.
"Ali, what are you doing?" Lu Fengjin immediately freed one hand to grab Chu Yueli’s wrist, urging, "Ali, let’s talk about this!"
"She has destroyed my brother, and I have nothing to say to her! She stabbed my brother once, and I will return the favor!" Chu Yueli struggled with all her might.
Lu Fengjin said urgently, "Ali, it’s just a misunderstanding! I brought her here to apologize to General Chu."
"Apologize?" Chu Yueli wanted to laugh, but she couldn't. "She has ruined my brother's entire life. Is that something an apology can fix?"
"Pah! I won't apologize! So what if I stabbed him?" Tuoba Feiyuan glared at Chu Yueli, her face filled with defiance. "Chu Xiaohe led the siege against my father and brothers, causing their miserable deaths. Stabbing him once is letting him off easy."
"Your father and brothers were traitors! How many innocent civilians died at their hands? They got exactly what they deserved."
Lu Fengjin still held her wrist in a tight grip. Chu Yueli looked up, meeting his gaze with eyes burning scarlet and cold, her voice rasping, "My brother served his country by suppressing the rebellion. He is a hero! This woman is not only the daughter of a traitor, but a murderer of the loyal. Is the Prince here to protect her?"
"Ali, she is just a young girl, she doesn't understand anything…"
"She doesn't understand anything, yet she knew exactly how to ensure the Duke’s Estate would have no descendants?" This was perhaps the first time in all the years they had known each other that Chu Yueli had looked at Lu Fengjin with such icy detachment.
Chu Yueli had always been gentle; she had never quarreled with him. Lu Fengjin had even wondered if she possessed any temper at all. But today, for the first time in his life, he witnessed her fury.
"My family is not to be bullied by just anyone!"
Chu Yueli stared at him coldly, her hand still locked in his. Suddenly, she relaxed her fingers. The blade slipped, she caught it with her left hand, and twisted her wrist in a blur of motion.
"Ah—!"
Tuoba Feiyuan let out a blood-curdling scream, collapsing to the ground in a trembling heap. Everything happened so quickly that even Lu Fengjin couldn't react.
"You reckless girl!" Lu Fengjin’s face drained of color as he shoved Chu Yueli aside to scoop up Tuoba Feiyuan.
Tuoba Feiyuan’s chest was drenched in blood. Chu Yueli’s strike had completely ruined her, cutting deep and viciously.
Lu Fengjin turned pale, roaring, "Someone! Call the physician! Call him now!"
He then looked down at Chu Yueli, his eyes filled with a murderous intent he didn't even realize he harbored. "She is only a young girl! How could you be so wicked? Chu Yueli, you have gone too far!"