Chapter 34

When Lu Zheng returned home and walked into the courtyard, he heard the laughter and conversation between Pan Chengfeng and his father, Lu Kun. At that moment, a long-lost smile appeared on his lips, and he quickened his pace, hurrying into the hall.

First, he exchanged a few pleasantries with Pan Chengfeng, and then the three of them settled into their seats, drinking and chatting merrily.

"Father, did you call me back because Ye Yu has already gone to Yushan Mountain?"

Lu Zheng, who had spent a night of revelry at the Drunken Spring Pavilion and now hurriedly returned home, felt extremely thirsty. He picked up his teacup and asked.

Lu Kun merely stroked his beard and smiled, then turned to Pan Chengfeng and said, "This matter is all thanks to Second Master Pan's brilliant plan!"

"Ah! Brother Lu, our friendship is deep, there's no need to be so modest. If it weren't for your assistance, this wouldn't have succeeded..." Pan Chengfeng waved his hand, not taking any credit, and smiled as he bowed to Lu Kun.

"Ha ha ha!" The two then exchanged a knowing smile, everything unspoken.

Lu Zheng, watching the two of them chat happily, felt his mood improve significantly.

After finishing his tea, he put on a smug smile and said, "You two don't need to be so modest. As long as Ye Yu doesn't return, it won't be in vain for Father and Uncle Pan's efforts!"

"Indeed, my virtuous nephew. That Li Da Yin on Yushan Mountain is a vicious brute, he will surely ensure that Ye Yu doesn't return! I heard that Ye Yu is so foolish as to dare to compete with you for a beauty.

"Hmph! He must be tired of living! This is a good opportunity to eliminate your heart's greatest worry!"

Pan Chengfeng, with an innocent face, seemed to be thinking of Lu Zheng's well-being in everything he said.

But to County Magistrate Lu Kun, his brows furrowed slightly, and he calmly said, "Second Master Pan, you are mistaken. We are merely each getting what we want! Isn't that right, Second Master Pan?"

"Ah... ha ha! Brother Lu, you are absolutely right!"

Pan Chengfeng realized he had let his guard down and said something inappropriate. After some more casual conversation, he got up and tactfully left the Lu residence.

As soon as Pan Chengfeng left the hall, Lu Kun's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, stern expression. He glared in the direction Pan Chengfeng had gone and coldly snorted, "Playing mind games with me..."

"Father, do you mean Uncle Pan is still playing mind games with you?" Lu Zheng, though he could see that Pan Chengfeng was shrewd, didn't feel that he was playing any tricks from their conversation.

Lu Kun turned and glared fiercely at Lu Zheng, "No wonder you've been played by that little brat Ye Yu time and time again! It's not his fault, but yours for being too stupid!"

"Father!..."

"Hmph! In terms of talent, you are inferior to Pan Zhi, the son of the Pan family; in terms of intelligence, you are inferior to the crippled boy Ye Yu! Do you really think that Second Master Pan was speaking on your behalf just now?"

Although being compared to Ye Yu by his father made Lu Zheng very unhappy, he didn't dare to show it. He argued, "Father! Regardless, you and Uncle Pan had already agreed beforehand. He wants Ye Yu's formula and blueprints, and we will confiscate Ye Yu's property and profit from it! This way, we achieve a win-win situation, don't we?"

"Win-win? Hmph! It's more like a one-sided win! If you hadn't been blinded by hatred and been swayed by Second Master Pan's deceitful words, would I have gotten involved in this for you?"

"Father! I admit it was wrong of me to decide this without consulting you first, but I don't think it was a mistake! Not only do I have a deep grudge against Ye Yu, but his closeness to Uncle Liu Yuanshan already shows he is not on our side! If we don't eliminate him soon, he will surely become a future threat! Besides, with Ye Yu's vast wealth, once he is dead, Father, you can..."

Lu Kun, looking at his son's不服气 (unyielding) face, suppressed his anger and sternly said, "You are thinking too simply!"

"Lord, Zheng has just returned, and you are scolding him so much. I think Zheng did nothing wrong. Ye Yu has humiliated him many times, and he deserves a lesson..."

As Lu Kun was speaking, a beautiful woman, supported by a maid, walked out from the inner chambers and entered the hall. This woman was Lu Kun's wife and Lu Zheng's mother, Lady Wang.

"Hmph! A mother who spoils her son! Do you really think Second Master Pan is being kind? Foolish! Second Master Pan is just a merchant, while I am an official of the court. If this matter is exposed, he can escape responsibility, but I will be the one to bear the brunt!"

Lu Kun, still feeling aggrieved, glared at Lu Zheng and continued, "Didn't you hear just now? This matter is not settled yet, and Second Master Pan already wants to wash his hands of it! Compared to his brother Pan Chengjun, he is much more treacherous..."

Lu Kun's scolding made Lu Zheng lower his head in silence. Calming down, he realized his father's analysis was sound.

But Lady Wang disagreed, "Lord, you are exaggerating! In Qingliu County, even if you break the law, who dares to touch you?

"Old Liu Yuanshan? Hmph! Don't forget that your father-in-law is the Prefect of Chuzhou and a disciple of Lord Long in the capital. Who dares to touch you?"

"Women's talk!"

Lu Kun said only these four words and said no more. Although he was a county magistrate, he had been in the bureaucracy for over a decade and understood things more clearly than this mother and son.

Though his father-in-law was the Prefect of Chuzhou and a disciple of Lord Long Dayuan, the current court was divided between the war faction led by Chen Junqing and Yu Yunwen, and the peace faction led by Zhang Shuo and Long Dayuan, with constant open and covert struggles.

To maintain his long-term wealth and status, Lu Kun had to be cautious in everything. Moreover, everyone in the court knew that the current emperor had the intention to reclaim lost territories.

No one could predict when one of these factions would face a major purge.

The hall fell silent for a moment. Finally, Lu Kun sighed lightly and said, "It's too late to change things now. Remember, do not let this secret leak out, or Liu Yuanshan will be hard to shake off!"

"Yes! I will remember!" Lu Zheng felt relieved that his father was no longer scolding him.

Lu Kun then stood up and warned, "Hmph! If you act on your own again, I won't clean up your mess!" He then walked away with his hands behind his back, his face dark.

...

Yushan Mountain was picturesque, with its undulating peaks and dense forests stretching as far as the eye could see.

But only those familiar with Yushan Mountain knew that, despite its beautiful appearance, it was filled with hidden traps like horse-tripping locks and pits, designed to deter those with ill intentions.

Following a winding path into a valley, the scenery suddenly opened up, revealing a hidden paradise.

On a wall of green stone bricks, about five meters high, a gate stood like a rainbow spanning the mountain. A large plaque hung above the gate, inscribed with the words "Qingfeng Fort."

"Ha ha ha... Sister, open the gate quickly, we have a good haul today..."

With a laugh like thunder, the red-clad woman, Li Ping'er, standing on the gate tower, saw a fast horse approaching the gate, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Li Ping'er, recognizing the familiar voice, smiled with joy and shouted to the guards, "Open the gate to welcome the chief!"

As the gate opened, a towering man on a chestnut horse galloped up. Behind him, dozens of bandits, though out of breath, were all grinning with satisfaction.

The sounds of howls, laughter, curses, and hoofbeats filled the air.

"Brother! It seems we had a good haul today. Look, the brothers are all smiling!"

Li Ping'er, coming down from the gate tower, approached the man. Seeing a woman on the chestnut horse, she knew her brother's old habit had resurfaced.

The man on the horse was the chief of Qingfeng Fort. Though his face was slightly delicate, his tall, muscular build and bronzed skin gave him a unique masculine charm.

Li Da Yin smiled at his sister, then jumped off the horse, holding the red-clad woman. He patted the chestnut horse twice, and the horse, as if understanding, trotted obediently to the stable.

"Indeed! We robbed a corrupt merchant today. But because his concubine was somewhat attractive, I spared his life! Sister, what do you think of this new sister-in-law?"

Li Da Yin's tone was casual, but his hands were not gentle, holding the woman's collar and presenting her to his sister for inspection.

Li Ping'er smiled helplessly, "Brother, this is my sixteenth sister-in-law. Aren't you tired of it?"

"Ah, sister, don't you think her eyes are like Siya's?" Li Da Yin didn't count his women but asked a serious question.

Li Ping'er glanced at the red-clad woman and forced a smile, "Brother, now that you mention it, she does look a bit like her."

"Ha ha ha, sister, I won't talk to you anymore. You take care of the loot, I have important business to attend to..." He then showed a greedy look, and in a flash, he disappeared with the red-clad woman.

Watching Li Da Yin's rapidly departing figure, Li Ping'er sighed and shook her head. She then composed herself and ordered the bandits to store the loot.

By the time everything was settled, it was already mid-afternoon. Suddenly, a rapid running sound broke the silence of the forest, and the birds, startled, flapped their tired wings and flew into the sky.

"Report!" A messenger bandit rushed to Li Ping'er.

"What is it? Speak quickly!"

"A group of people has come from the mountain. The leader calls himself Ye Yu and has brought wealth to pay respects to the fort!"

Li Ping'er was initially taken aback, thinking Ye Yu had arrived quickly. After a moment's thought, she said, "Let them wait at the foot of the mountain. The chief is busy and cannot see guests now!"

"Yes!" The messenger bandit bowed and retreated.

---

The forest fell silent again, and the birds settled back into their nests. Li Ping'er, left alone, pondered the situation. She knew that Ye Yu's arrival was not a coincidence and that the coming days would be filled with challenges.