Chapter 26

Juan finally understood what Hu Xiaotian was talking about and smiled, saying, "It's the lady!"

Hu Xiaotian glared at him, "How dare you say my mother has poor taste!"

Juan hurriedly explained, "Young Master, I didn't mean to disparage the lady. The standards for selecting maids were all according to the lady's wishes. The lady said that the prettier a woman is, the more vicious her nature tends to be. The lady was worried that a very pretty maid might distract you and hinder your studies."

Hu Xiaotian understood. This matter was probably not his fault. His mother was a jealous person who couldn't stand to see women who were too beautiful, fearing that there would be trouble if there were too many pretty maids and servants in the household, and that some unruly people might seduce his father. Although Juan didn't say it clearly, the meaning was conveyed.

Seeing that Hu Xiaotian didn't speak, Juan thought he was still blaming him and said softly, "Young Master, shall I change it for you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Is there any difference between forty and fifty-nine?"

Juan didn't understand his meaning and stared at him blankly.

Hu Xiaotian sighed, "It's still a failing grade! Forget it, talking to you is such a hassle, it's like playing a lute to a cow!"

Juan said, "Young Master, there's no need to worry, your wedding is in October." Juan, being an experienced person, understood that the young master was in the mood for women.

Hu Xiaotian glared at Juan, who was bringing up a sore point, like rubbing salt in a wound.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's gaze, Juan realized he had unintentionally touched a nerve and hurriedly bowed deeply, "Young Master, I'll leave if there's nothing else."

Hu Xiaotian coldly snorted, "No need to see me out!"

Juan came to the door but remembered something and turned back, bowing deeply again, "Young Master, there's something the old servant doesn't know whether to say or not."

Hu Xiaotian, impatient, said, "Don't be so hesitant, speak quickly!"

"Young Master, I heard about the incident at Yan Shui Pavilion. If this gets to the master's ears, it won't be good."

Hu Xiaotian narrowed his eyes, as if asking what he meant.

Juan swallowed, "Huo Xiaoru is a dancer, and you stood up for her, even fighting. If this gets out, the Hu family's reputation will be..."

"Hmm?" Hu Xiaotian's face darkened, scaring Juan into closing his mouth and bowing deeply, retreating in fear. He cursed himself for being meddlesome. The young master's affairs were not his to interfere with. He could do as he pleased, and the master would deal with him when he returned.

The key to happiness lies in whether one has hope for the future. Hu Xiaotian felt that his life had suddenly lost hope, let alone happiness. Arranged marriages were deadly. Given his family's status, he could have found a beautiful girl and lived a happy life. This wasn't too much to ask. He didn't want multiple wives, just a decent-looking wife to enjoy life with, but this simple wish had become a luxury.

If there was anything he still clung to about his current family, it was the Hu family's status and wealth. Without these, Hu Xiaotian didn't know why he should stay. Being a second-generation official could ensure a life without struggle, but it would mean losing some freedom, especially the freedom to choose his own marriage. Should he leave and start over, or stay and follow his parents' arrangements, marry a girl from the Li family, and live a carefree life? This was a very contradictory question for Hu Xiaotian. He wanted freedom but was also attached to the luxurious life.

Images of the mysterious and beautiful Huo Xiaoru, the fierce and charming goddess detective Murong Feiyan, and the fiery Tang Qingxuan kept flashing through his mind. Hu Xiaotian tossed and turned in bed, increasingly frustrated. There were so many beautiful women in the world, but none belonged to him. Was he destined to never have such a life? No, he couldn't live a meaningless life. His fate should be in his own hands.

In the dead of night, as Hu Xiaotian lay in bed, restless and determined, he suddenly heard a light sound from the roof tiles. He was startled and sat up abruptly. After a moment of silence, just as he was about to lie back down, the sound came again.

Hu Xiaotian knew something was wrong. At this hour, such a sound on the roof could only mean a stray cat or a thief. He pulled out a dagger from under his pillow and quietly got out of bed. It was midnight, and it was drizzling outside, a time when no one should be out. He listened carefully but heard no cat.

After a while, there was a sound from the north window. He saw the paper on the window being punctured, and a thin bamboo tube was pushed in. Hu Xiaotian crouched down and approached the window, seeing a wisp of smoke coming from the tube.

Hu Xiaotian held his breath, knowing the tube must contain some kind of knockout gas. He suddenly reached out and slapped the end of the tube, aiming to break the intruder's throat.

A cry of pain came from outside. The intruder, caught off guard, was hit hard and the tube was pushed into his throat, causing him to stagger back, clutching his throat in agony.

Hu Xiaotian, having succeeded in his ambush, shouted, "Catch the thief!"

The Hu family had guards patrolling day and night. Six servants, including Liang Dazhuang, lived in the side rooms to protect Hu Xiaotian. His shout immediately roused the servants. Li Jinhu and Shao Yijiao were the first to rush out, seeing two figures outside Hu Xiaotian's door, one of whom was bent over, clutching his mouth and moaning in pain, the one Hu Xiaotian had hit with the tube.

Li Jinhu roared, "Where are you going, thief?" He drew his saber and leaped in front of the intruder. The black-clad man on the left threw a cold blade at Li Jinhu's forehead.

Li Jinhu swung his saber, deflecting the flying blade, which flew into the grass.

Liang Dazhuang, the last to come out, had a loud voice. As soon as he stepped out, he shouted, "Help! Catch the thief!" His shout woke up the entire household.

Hu Xiaotian looked out the window and saw that over twenty servants had arrived, surrounding the two intruders, who were now trapped and fighting desperately.

Seeing the situation under control, Hu Xiaotian opened the door and rushed out, brandishing his dagger and shouting, "Bold thieves, daring to break into the Grand Tutor's residence! You must be tired of living!" He looked quite heroic and intimidating, taking advantage of the numerical advantage to show off his bravery.

Liang Dazhuang, holding a large saber, rushed to Hu Xiaotian's side, his large, sturdy body blocking Hu Xiaotian, his saber held horizontally, looking like a formidable barrier. He shouted, "I, Liang Dazhuang, am here! Who dares to harm my young master?" This was the perfect time to show his loyalty.

Hu Xiaotian was almost tempted to kick him out. "Do I need your protection? Showing off at the wrong time, you're blocking my view again!"

Liang Dazhuang hurriedly moved behind him, thinking that standing behind him was fine, he wasn't blocking the view anymore.

Hu Xiaotian was unhappy again, "Who's protecting who here?"

Liang Dazhuang was on the verge of tears. This young master was too hard to please, left or right, front or back, nothing was right. Should he lie on the ground? Seeing his flustered state, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but scold him, "You fool, get moving! Call all the servants and guards, we must capture the thieves alive!"

The commotion attracted all the guards and servants in the household. Although the two intruders were skilled, they were outnumbered. Li Jinhu found an opening and slashed one intruder's arm, causing his blade to fall. Several guards then subdued him with hooks. The other intruder, already injured in the throat by Hu Xiaotian, was even more panicked. His legs were pierced by a spear, and he fell to the ground, quickly tied up by the servants.

The courtyard was brightly lit, and the two intruders were tied up like mummies on the ground. Li Jinhu removed their black masks, revealing two men in their twenties, both with decent looks. Hu Xiaotian squatted in front of one of them, grabbing his hair, "You look decent, why become a thief?"

The intruder, the one whose throat was pierced by the tube, was pale and beardless, looking at Hu Xiaotian with fear. The other one, with a beard, shouted, "Kill me if you will, I won't flinch."

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