The bustling streets, filled with vendors calling out their wares, fully displayed the prosperity of the Capital City of the Dayuan State.
Under the bright light of day, neither the noble clans nor the high-ranking ministers of the court dared to stir up trouble in public. Otherwise, the laws of the Dayuan State would show no mercy.
Yet, no one expected that today, someone would truly dare to disregard the laws of the Dayuan State, driving through the crowds to clear a completely unobstructed path along the main thoroughfare of the bustling capital.
Soon, a magnificent carriage appeared in everyone’s view. Flanking the carriage were several dozen armored guards, clutching swords and spears.
Such a display and behavior quickly stirred up the dissatisfaction of the common people.
"Who has such airs? In broad daylight, daring to drive people off the streets in the capital! I must report this to the authorities!"
"Brother, look closely at the flag on that carriage. Even if you report it, the authorities won't pay you any mind."
As the carriage drew closer, the disgruntled citizens finally saw the flag hoisted upon it. To be precise, it was a red triangular battle standard, upon which the words "Langya Prince's Estate" were clearly inscribed.
Everyone in the Dayuan State knew that the Langya Prince's Estate had performed meritorious service for the nation—the highest and most distinguished kind. They were permitted to ride horses through the palace, excused from bowing before the Sovereign, and granted a gold medal for life.
With such honors, many of the laws of the Dayuan State were rendered ineffective against them.
However, ever since the Langya Prince, Chu Leiting, and his entire family died on the battlefield five years ago, the Langya Prince's Estate had kept an extremely low profile. One could even say that if they could avoid leaving the house, they wouldn't emerge at all.
So what was going on today? The Langya Prince's Estate was acting with such fanfare; if not for the relatively small number of people, the citizens would have truly thought the Sovereign himself was on a royal procession."I just heard the news: the All-out-of-this-world Nation Grand General went to the Langya Prince's Estate yesterday to break off her engagement. Although the Heir to the Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya agreed, he demanded that the Grand General return all the betrothal gifts."
Hearing this, the people on the street were not surprised. Everyone knew the Heir to the Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya was a useless wastrel born incapable of practicing Martial Dao, and that the Langya Prince's Estate had declined since that battle five years ago.Meanwhile, the Guo-Allure Nation Grand General had just returned from a victorious campaign, won the appreciation of the Sovereign, and was destined to wield great power at court.
Two people of such mismatched status were a poor fit, and many even felt Lu Xueqing deserved better. Now that they heard Lu Xueqing had broken off the engagement, the people were naturally pleased.
"This is a good thing.The Guo-Alluring Nation Grand General is the goddess of all Dayuan citizens; as long as she is here, our borders will surely remain safe. If Chu Xuan dares to use the broken engagement as an excuse to cause trouble for the Grand General, I'll be the first to object."
"Chu Xuan is a useless heir, even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare cause trouble for the Grand General. But the problem is, not only did the Grand General refuse to return the betrothal gifts, she also insulted the entire Langya Prince's Estate by sending a 'begging three-piece set.' That is what angered Chu Xuan, and now he is going to the Grand General's Estate in person to demand an explanation."
What!
Not only did she refuse to return the gifts, she insulted the entire Langya Prince's Estate with a begging three-piece set?
Although the citizens respected Lu Xueqing, to tell the truth, compared to the Langya Prince and his wife—who died on the battlefield five years ago—along with their nine sons, she still fell far short.
The heroes who defended the nation and the great war hero who fought in the west might be gone, but they would forever live in the hearts of the people. Therefore, while no one cared about Chu Xuan being insulted personally, they could not tolerate the entire Langya Prince's Estate being humiliated.
"How could the Grand General do such a thing? She is a soldier herself; does she not understand that the Langya Prince's Estate served our entire Dayuan? If not for them sacrificing themselves to drive back the enemy back then, how could she have all this today?"
In an instant, the public opinion among the people shifted, and many who had once viewed Lu Xueqing as their goddess began to condemn her.
Inside a brothel:
"Boss, it’s bad, something major has happened!"
Yuji, the owner, was mixing a new batch of wine. Interrupting her, she glared with a dark expression, "It better be something major, otherwise, you won't need to be a man anymore."
The brothel manager turned pale, but reported anyway, "Boss, it’s... it’s the Heir to the Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya! He—he has left the estate!"
Clatter!
Hearing this, the wine cup in Yuji’s hand fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.
"Are you sure? It’s the Heir to the Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya? Not some other heir?"
"Boss, for the past five years, you have ordered me to keep a close watch on the Langya Prince's Estate. How could I possibly be mistaken?"
Yuji slowly calmed herself down and asked, "Did you find out why he left the estate?"
"It is said that the Langya Prince's Estate was insulted, and the Heir is leading men to the Lu Family to demand an explanation."
"The Lu Family? Lu Xueqing’s Lu Family? Could it be that the Heir has broken completely with Lu Xueqing?" Yuji muttered to herself.
A moment later, her expression shifted violently. A powerful murderous aura radiated from her entire body as she said fiercely, "Notify everyone. Infiltrate the area around the Lu Family in secret."
"Yes, Boss."
As soon as the manager left, Yuji walked to the window and looked down at the street at the carriage that had just entered her line of sight.
"Lu Xueqing, oh Lu Xueqing, you had better hope it isn't what I think. Otherwise, I will wipe out your entire Lu Family."
By high noon, under the gaze of the city’s populace, Chu Xuan’s carriage had arrived at the entrance of the Lu Family estate.
"Who comes? Daring to wear armor and carry weapons outside our Grand General's Estate! Are you tired of living?"
The Lu Family servants guarding the gate saw the scene, but instead of showing fear, they wore arrogant, disdainful expressions.
Heiyun dismounted and walked to the front of the carriage, cupping his hands and bowing. "Please give the order, Heir."
"Kill them."
From inside the carriage, Chu Xuan’s voice rang out coldly. With those two words, Heiyun moved. In an instant, he appeared before the servant guarding the gate and snapped his neck.
The other Lu Family servants were terrified. Just as they were about to draw their swords to retaliate, the other men from the Langya Prince's Estate moved first, subduing them all.
Heiyun glanced at the servants; his eyes, as if looking out from the depths of hell, caused the servants to shrink back in terror, not daring to move a muscle.
Following this, Heiyun’s internal energy surged, blasting open the gates of the Lu Family estate. He roared, "The Heir to the Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya has arrived in person! Lu Youwei, get out here and welcome him..."
His voice, like a tolling bell, resonated throughout the entire Grand General's Estate and echoed through the neighboring streets, refusing to fade.
"What powerful internal energy. At least a peak Third Grade cultivation, right?"
"Peak Third Grade? Even I, at the early Fourth Grade, wouldn't dare claim to have such deep internal energy."
"Then it must be Fourth or even Fifth Grade! I never expected the Langya Prince's Estate to still have such a master in their ranks! It looks like there's really a show to watch today!"
Among the citizens following them were many martial artists, but compared to Heiyun, they felt inadequate."It is said that the Nation-Toppling Grand General has reached the Fifth Grade, and she has the support of the Prime Minister’s son, who is a Sixth Grade master. The foundation of the Langya Prince's Estate is simply not enough to match that."