Chapter 157: Chapter 106: Let the Liu Family Feel the Surging Will of the People

"Stop talking nonsense. They’re the ones being scumbags, what does it have to do with you!"

Lu Yuan, seated in the main hall, glared at Song Meiqin.

Lu Yuan had learned about the day’s events after waking from his afternoon nap.

On top of what had happened before, there were new developments.

Specifically, Song Meiqin had gone to see the County Magistrate again.

She wanted to know what was really going on.

The County Magistrate was like a mouse in a bellows—getting squeezed from both ends.

Although Song Meiqin was no longer the wife of a high-ranking official, her younger brother was still a Vice General.

And he was only twenty-eight this year—no, twenty-nine now.

A Vice General at twenty-nine had a limitless future.

What’s more, this Vice General had married the Governor’s daughter.

There was no way the County Magistrate would dare to offend Song Meiqin.

But as much as he didn’t dare to offend Song Meiqin, he was even more terrified of offending the other party.

And who was the other party? It was obvious.

Song Meiqin’s former in-laws, of course. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The County Magistrate’s refusal to dispatch Officials for this incident was on their orders.

Of course, the County Magistrate didn’t say this outright.

But no one was a fool; it was easy enough to guess.

Regardless, the County Magistrate absolutely refused to dispatch any Officials.

After all, while Song Chi might be a Vice General, he wasn’t the County Magistrate’s direct superior.

It was just like before, when the City Gate General from the Provincial City dared to charge right into Song Meiqin’s in-laws’ residence to take her away.

In the Divine Ling Empire, the Martial and Civil branches were separate.

The City Gate General was a military man, so he had no fear of Civil Servants.

By the same token, the County Magistrate naturally wasn’t afraid of Song Chi.

This was, of course, relative to Song Meiqin’s former in-laws, the Liu Family.

As for the Governor...

He would deal with that if and when the Governor sent men to find him.

But the current situation was that forget finding the Governor...

...even Song Chi couldn’t be reached.

After all, Song Chi’s mission north to suppress bandits was classified as a military secret.

When Song Chi had come to speak of it, Lu Yuan had stopped him from saying more.

When Song Meiqin returned from the Government Office, she was filled with self-reproach.

Especially since she couldn’t even contact her own brother.

She felt she had become a burden to the family, which made Lu Yuan unhappy to hear.

Lu Yuan then pulled Song Meiqin into his embrace and said fiercely:

"Don’t punish yourself for someone else’s mistake.

What’s this about being a burden? How are you a burden?

I was the one who asked you to come home for the New Year. If you’re going to blame anyone, blame me.

Auntie, you tell me, do you blame me!"

Having said his piece, Lu Yuan looked toward Zhao Qiao’er, who was beside them.

Hearing this, Zhao Qiao’er gave him an incredibly flirtatious eye-roll and said in a slightly hoarse voice:

"Why are you still calling me ’Auntie’~"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Calling you ’Auntie’ is more exciting~"

At his words, Zhao Qiao’er blushed and pouted coquettishly.

"You’re awful~"

Lu Yuan and Zhao Qiao’er continued their banter.

This exchange made Song Meiqin, still in Lu Yuan’s arms, feel both touched and anxious.

She was touched by Lu Yuan’s reassurances.

Anxious because...

’At a time like this, how can those two not be worried?’

After his grinning exchange with Zhao Qiao’er, Lu Yuan looked down at Song Meiqin in his arms, lifted his chin slightly, and said:

"Don’t be afraid. So what if the Officials won’t help? It’s not like we can’t handle this!"

Lu Yuan had just finished speaking when the old Steward’s voice came from outside the East Wing’s door.

"Madam..."

Lu Yuan called out directly,

"Come in."

The old Steward entered, bowed toward Lu Yuan and Zhao Qiao’er, and said,

"All the Travelers from the manors have now been withdrawn to the carriages.

Now, we just have to see if the Celestial Master from Dou Shi Temple can be persuaded to come."

Since the Liu Family from the Provincial City could pressure the Taiping City Government Office into inaction, there was no guarantee they couldn’t do the same to the Celestial Master of Dou Shi Temple.

This was everyone’s greatest fear.

But Lu Yuan said bluntly,

"It doesn’t matter even if the people from Dou Shi Temple don’t come.

Tonight, the city workshop starts production immediately. We’ll make Firearms and Mortars.

We’ll make a Firearm and a Mortar for every Traveler we have!

If they won’t come, then we’ll deal with those Xingzi ourselves!"

At this point, Lu Yuan was no longer afraid of any trouble the Mortars might cause.

’What trouble could there be?

If someone really tries to make an issue out of this,

...Lu Yuan had a perfectly good reason.

Why did I make this stuff?

To help the Court suppress bandits, of course.

Don’t believe me?

If you don’t believe me, go ask Vice General Song.

I’m in the right, so what is there to be afraid of?’

After hearing Lu Yuan’s orders, the old Steward looked toward Zhao Qiao’er.

It was the same as always.

The old Steward would obey the Young Master’s words without question.

But that was only when the Madam was not present.

If the Madam was present, he absolutely had to get her approval first.

Zhao Qiao’er, for her part, said in a lazy, hoarse voice,

"Do as my sweetheart says."

The old Steward hadn’t been home yesterday, but he had heard things upon his return today.

He’d heard about the... commotion coming from the Madam’s room last night.

No wonder her voice was hoarse.

Upon hearing Zhao Qiao’er’s words, the old Steward immediately bowed, acknowledged the order, and withdrew from the East Wing.

With these weapons, they naturally wouldn’t have to fear the Da Xingzi.

But this matter...

...wasn’t just about the Da Xingzi.

There were far too many other problems.

For one, what was the deal with this Da Xingzi? Was the Liu Family behind them as well?

That was hard to say.

But that wasn’t important. What was important was that the Liu Family was definitely behind the Taiping City Government Office’s inaction.

That meant the Liu Family had made its move.

They were starting to move against the Zhao Family.

That made the problem much bigger. Even if they resolved the Da Xingzi incident this time...

...what about the next time?

What would it be then?

They couldn’t just keep reacting to one attack after another, could they?

A dozen or so Travelers had died this time. What if a dozen more died next time, and even more the time after that?