CHAPTER 253: CHAPTER 253: BREAK HIS LEGS!

"A shao, let’s go!"

Qi Jingyu glanced at the sky, feeling the hour was just about right; it was time to return to the General Mansion. Leaving voluntarily was certainly better than having Li Qingmu come and drag them away.

"No way..."

Cao Xiao just wanted to shake his head when he saw the little fellow standing with hands behind his back, looking very serious.

"If you don’t go back, I’ll call Uncle Mu to come clean you up! Hmmph, I heard from Long Yue that you can’t beat him!"

"..." Cao Xiao was conflicted; why was his martial arts skill so lacking? Unable to beat Long Yue was one thing, but he couldn’t even defeat this nephew-in-law.

This person was someone who had taken up martial arts halfway, whereas he had been diligently training for twenty years. How could this happen?

"Alright, let’s go back!"

The two left under An Xiang’s farewell.

Meanwhile, in a restaurant opposite Tianxiang Pavilion.

The restaurant was called First Pavilion, and although not as famous as Fan Building, it was still well-regarded. Many nobles and celebrities often came here to drink, eat, chat, and laugh.

As evening approached, First Pavilion’s business became increasingly prosperous. In a private room on the second floor, several young men were gathered.

Amon them were Qiao Zizhan, Pei Jinheng, and several unfamiliar faces, yet they were all government officials.

"Brother Zizhan, come, take a sip, have another sip! Haha, good drinker!"

A man with a fair face and no beard was urging Qiao Zizhan to drink. Several friends nearby were also drinking with each other. Two beautiful women were playing the pipa nearby, living a truly extravagant life.

Qiao Zizhan downed his drink in one go, looked at the man urging him, and said, "I heard you’re getting married to the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s daughter later this year? Congratulations, congratulations!"

"Heh heh, yeah, Brother Zhao is really riding high. I heard that the daughter is quite a delicate beauty... Hey, Brother Jinheng, tell us, what does your sister look like?"

"Average!"

Pei Jinheng said indifferently, burying his head and drinking, clearly uninterested in the topic.

"Speaking of which, we’ve seen many noble ladies in the Capital City, but Miss Pei is the only one we haven’t really met. Hmm, should we visit her sometime? Besides, I’ve heard Jinheng’s wife has a scarred face; no worries, I’ve got the finest Jade Beauty Cream..."

The young men had drunk quite a lot; someone spoke with a bit of a lisp, and the words slipped.

Pei Jinheng’s expression turned cold; he slammed the wine cup onto the table with a bang.

"Even if my wife isn’t perfect, she’s not someone you can covet!"

With these words, Pei Jinheng got up to leave.

However, as he turned, he caught a glimpse of two figures emerging from Tianxiang Pavilion opposite.

He was very familiar with one of them.

It was Cao Xiao, Cao Yin’s younger son.

But who was the other person beside him? That young man...

A young man associating with Cao Xiao certainly wouldn’t be ordinary; friendship requires equal status and rank.

He waved a hand, and immediately a man in black appeared by his side.

"Go investigate this young man’s background with Cao Xiao!"

"Understood!"

...

Long Yue encountered Cao Xiao and Qi Jingyu halfway and, seeing no issues with them, breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned around and sternly told Li Qingmu, "Next time, don’t leave them alone in such a place; if something happens, we can’t afford the consequences!"

That was the Young Prince of Prince Lingjiang! How could there be an accident?

Li Qingmu nodded, "Dear wife, I was wrong, I won’t do it next time!"

Actually, with Qi Jingyu’s experience, he should be allowed to roam freely once in a while; staying under the elders’ wings, while protective, might not benefit his growth.

Remember, Li Qingmu killed at fourteen; what could be scarier?

But these words were best left unsaid to Long Yue, as saying them might get him beaten.

"Yu, we’ll be leaving for a while soon. You and A shao should stay home, don’t go to any messy places. Brothels, gambling houses, are absolutely off-limits! Understand?"

"Don’t worry, Mrs. Li, I’ll keep an eye on my young master!"

Shi Qin appeared, having been tailing Qi Jingyu, worried the young lord might cause some out-of-the-box trouble.

"Hey, Little Yue’er, it’s already late; what are you two planning to do?"

"We have business!"

"What business? I’m coming too!"

"No way!"

Long Yue flatly rejected him; this brother-in-law loved to cause trouble, coming along wouldn’t help but might even ruin things.

Thus, Long Yue and Li Qingmu sneaked to the villa.

Hu Dafu had already been informed beforehand and knew they were coming, so he immediately led them to a room to rest.

"My lord, madam, that person has kerosene and a flint; he might act tonight!"

"Good! At night, instruct everyone to rest, with some ambushed nearby, ready to catch him!"

That evening, the farm was eerily quiet, only the calls of birds and insects could be heard.

A slightly obese figure was groping back and forth along the lush embankment, looking somewhat sleazy.

This person was Steward Pang, previously caught by Long Yue, not only driven out but fined ten taels of silver, which pained him for days, and he held a grudge against Long Yue.

He clutched a jar filled with kerosene, and in the other hand, he held a flint, a determined look in his eyes.

"Humph, nasty woman, you aren’t loyal; don’t blame me for turning against you!"

Muttering, Steward Pang wiped his mouth, looked up at the sky.

Tonight was a dark and windy, dry, perfect day for arson, Steward Pang chuckled dryly twice, then peered ahead.

No patrols on the villa!

Great!

Steward Pang took out the kerosene jar and started pouring it along dry straw stacks.

Once he poured a good portion of kerosene in a small circle, he felt the wind and confirmed it was going downwind, then took out the flint.

"Who’s there? What do you intend to do?"

"Catch him!"

"Take him down!"

"..."

Just as Steward Pang was about to light the flint, suddenly several black shadows emerged from the bushes, rushing towards him; he was dumbfounded, never expecting anyone around?

He remembered walking all the way without seeing anyone?

Where did these people come from?

But it was no time to think; setting a fire on the embankment was a major crime, he had to escape quickly!

Steward Pang burst forth with agility incompatible with his body, dodging left and right from two shadows, quickly spotting a gap and darting out.

"Heh heh, a bunch of fools, trying to catch me... Bang! Ow—"

Steward Pang was running when suddenly he hit a wall, as if a hammer struck his eye, causing his body to stagger back.

With just one impact, Steward Pang’s eye became black and blue.

"Ah, ah, it hurts, it kills me... Who’s so wicked to hit my eye, ow—"

Steward Pang was clutching his left eye in agonizing wails when a contemptuous young girl’s voice sneered from the side: "Such guts, daring to come to my villa and commit arson, trying to escape after being caught?"

This voice sounded familiar to Steward Pang; he squinted an eye open to see a charming beauty in front.

Good heavens, it was the mistress of the villa!

His face turned pale at once, shouting, "Mistress, spare me..."

"Spare you?" Long Yue chuckled twice, glancing at the shadow behind her, "Husband, should we spare his life?"

"Maybe!" The shadow was Li Qingmu; he remarked coldly, "Death sentence can be avoided, but punishment won’t be. Break his leg, throw him out!"