Liao Zhiyuan forced a smile which looked worse than his cry. He surrendered, “Chief, simmer down. I will do as you bid me. This kind of Leihuojian exploder could kill a bunch of people within once. Don’t you think it is too wasteful if you use it on me twice?”

“Listen to me carefully. I know you are close to Qi Xuanyu. You must have a way to know the real reason why he is interested in He Danggui. I only care about the result instead of the process and reason!” Lu Jiangbei lay back on the pillow slowly. Staring at the crystal ceiling of the snow cave, he said, “Once you get the report from Daning, you should meet Qi Xuanyu to figure it out. And this thing is...as I ask you personally. I will repay you for this. You can ask me to do whatever you want. I promise.”

Liao Zhiyuan had been awaiting this result originally, but now he only got it after he provoked Lu Jiangbei that much, which made him feel bad. He waved his hand and said with humility, “Chief, don’t say that. Our friendship is much deeper than reward! Don’t worry about it. No matter how hard it will be, I will get the information you want!” Meanwhile, he had planned and prepared the methods in his mind about how he would catch and torture Qi Xuanyu.

Settling this matter, Lu Jiangbei turned over with eyes shut. He felt something was pressing his chest, so he touched and found it was the dagger with He Danggui’s portrait on it. He raised it up, waved it to Liao Zhiyuan and inquired flatly, “Didn’t you say that you’ll give it to Gao Jue? Why do you give it to me?” His tone didn’t tell his moods.

Liao Zhiyuan smiled fawningly, “As the saying goes, ‘Give heroes swords as weapons, and give ladies rouges as gifts.’ The dagger is sharp, besides there was a beauty on it. You are a hero, a peerless kung fu master, a handsome young childe, and it’s too... Oops, sorry, I lose my words to describe it. Just keep it, I will never tell Childe Duan that you collect his fiancée’s portrait and love her secretly (not if I’m drunk)!”

Liao Zhiyuan got an idea suddenly, after seeing Lu Jiangbei drew the dagger from its scabbard and stared at the portrait of the blade in a daze. Then he gesticulated and suggested, “Chief, I have an idea. When you use this dagger to fight with the enemy, you should show them this portrait to captivate them and make them be obsessed by Chick He’s beauty at that moment. While the moment is very important for the fight of masters. When they are in a daze, you can defeat them with one move! Aha, this is a very excellent method. I will get a similar dagger for me, and I can make another two daggers for Childe Duan and Gao Jue. Then we, ‘The Four Chides of the Imperial Guard’, can be invincible and unbeatable!”

Lu Jiangbei stuffed the dagger under his pillow and closed his eyes, “Oh, right. Lynx, there is a red-covered Tangwen report on my executive desk. It was sent from Yangzhou today. According to this report, the trap has been set up in Yangzhou. Now we are waiting for Bai Yangbai to show up and take the bait. If you have read it and didn’t find any flaws, present to His Majesty when you go to the capital. He is very concerned about this matter.”

“Oh, fine. I will try my best to remember this, but you know I’m very forgetful. You recuperate properly here and take care. I will go back to the Mountain Villa to crave the portrait!” Liao Zhiyuan waved farewell to him. Stepping those brash ices which had been shattered by Lu Jiangbei’s Leihuojian exploder, he advised kindly before leaving, “Chief, I have to warn you... This dagger is really sharp. If you hold the portrait to sleep, it’s hard to avoid distractions and fantasies, and the Qingxin Formula will be failed. That is not the most important point. The most important thing is... Chief, don’t use it to attach, touch, and poke some improper body parts... Remember, you can only heal some wounds, while others you can’t!”

Saying that, he peeked Lu Jiangbei’s crotch with his flexible eyes and said with a sinister smile, “Chief, I thought you never go to the brothel because you have erectile problems. But when I touched it accidentally, I found you are gifted. Hoho, it’s a big news! I think you are okay with that... I publicize it?” Seeing that Lu Jiangbei opened his eyes suddenly and stared at him, Liao Zhiyuan said innocently, “Chief, why are you staring at me? It was Jiang Pi and Du Yao who said you have ‘problems’. You can punish them after healing! And I’m going to clarify it for you. Don’t misunderstand me!”

After saying that, he thrust against the ground to leap away before Lu Jiangbei released the second powerful exploder.

※※※

The sky was serene and clear in autumn morning, and a few cirrus clouds could be seen occasionally. The clouds flew with the wind, making the sky more blue and boundless. While in the compound of the East Yard in Yangzhou City, there arose a loud weeping that echoed the sky.

“I’m innocent! Luo Baiqian, you were out roaming day and night. I didn’t know what you’ve been doing, not to mention to find you. Now, you’re suspecting me! How dare you! When our son was sick, you were not around. When our son was at his last gasp, I sought you all over the world! But where were you? (Whining...) Now Zhu was dead. You rushed into Liu Li Tang with the smell of liquor and said you twisted your waist because you fell, then you went into the wing-room to sleep! Luo Baiqian, look at him! Your son’s body laid into the coffin. He hasn’t even aged four. His eyes haven’t closed. How could you even sleep?! (Whining...)”

Sitting at the threshold of Liu Li Tang, First Younger Mistress Luo, Ms. Dong, was weeping herself out, looking totally different from her usual demure image. Her chignon was loose. A lot of hair hanging disorderly over her face and mixed with her tears. She was in her worst look right now. The pain of losing her son, plus the panic that her husband was distant to her in the recent days, made her lose control finally. She took the chance of her son’s funeral and yelled out her grievances during those days.

Luo Baiqian also felt very angry, and he yelled back at her, “Dong Xinlan, what is wrong with you? How could I feel good about my son’s death? Yesterday, after hearing this news at the gate, I ran there instantly. Indeed I fell and hurt my waist when I turned off, and I saw a herd of mice running in front of me. I was freaking out! When I hobbled here, Zhu had already died. Even if I were Hua Tuo (a legendary surgeon in Chinese history) or I had all the knowledge that Grandpa had, I also couldn’t save him! I was so sad and mournful that my waist was hurtful badly. What’s wrong I took a nap? You are a shameless, crazy slut. Just because I find the evidence that you were cheating on me, you want to make an unreasonable scene to bluff it out?” 𝘧𝒓e𝑒𝑤e𝙗𝚗o𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝐜𝐨ｍ

After saying that, he threw a man’s belt on the ground and said coldly, “This is an old belt. I don’t remember that I had worn this kind of belt before. This belongs to another man obviously! And it was hiding under your porcelain pillow! Humph, Dong Xinlan, if I didn’t knock the pillow aside, I couldn’t see this thing under the mat! Just say it! Who gave this dirty thing to you?”

Ms. Dong wailed, “I’m innocent! I have been stayed at home all day long. I have been taken care of my son Zhu all the time. I fed him, helped him take medicine, and nursed him. All the servants could testify for me. How could I know the thing was under the pillow?!”

Luo Baiqian didn’t believe her at all. His handsome but ruthless face showed a resentful look. Seeing that Ms. Dong covered her face and wept, Luo Baiqian ground his teeth and sneered, “I didn’t expect that the eldest legitimate daughter from the aristocratic family could be shameless like this! Whether you speak out your intrigant’s name or not today, the physical evidence is here. You have to admit it even if you want to deny it! Dong Xinlan, after I tell this to Madam Luo and my father, I will divorce you. Then you’ll go back to Dong’s Mansion. Let your parents discipline you once again!”

“Ah!” Ms. Dong stood up to make at Luo Baiqian insanely, and she hit him regardless of anything. She squealed, “Ah, Luo Baiqian! I was so blind to marry you. How could I live in Luo’s Family like a hell all these years? I was so wrong! Third Auntie, Third Auntie, you framed me. I’m living in hell! My life is miserable!”

“Third Auntie” that Ms. Dong mentioned was First Mistress Luo, Luo Baiqian’s legitimate mother, Ms. Zhao. After Ms. Zhao gave birth to First Miss Luo Baiying 23 years ago, she had infertility. So, the First Lord took a noble concubine half a year later. Luo Baiqian was born at that time. A few years later, the concubine died unnaturally when she went to Hanqian Temple for pilgrimaging. As his legitimate mother, Ms. Zhao raised him naturally when he was 5 years old.

Luo Baiqian was kind of obedient when he was a child. Ms. Zhao treated him as equal as her own daughter. But he was not her biological son after all. When he got older, he was more distant with his legitimate mother.

4 years ago, Ms. Zhao got an idea. She wanted her illegitimate to marry the daughter of her second elder sister, Lan, as his wife. Thus, not only she could get closer with him, but his children had blood relationship with her. After her grandchildren grew up, they must have a closer relationship with her than the illegitimate. Thinking of that, Ms. Zhao rushed at both Madam Luo and her second elder sister’s mansion, Dong’s Family of Fuzhou City. She spent a lot of efforts to settle down this marriage. Because, at that time, Ms. Dong as a young lady was supposed to marry another childe. And Dong’s Family wanted to take his betrothal presents, but Ms. Zhao stopped it.

In the pavilion of Dong’s Mansion’s garden, Mrs. Dong and First Miss Dong were entertaining Ms. Zhao with Yinzhen tea and the special snacks of Fuzhou City.

Ms. Zhao put her teacup on the table, and persuaded her second elder sister and her niece, “As a lady, it’s more important to choose a good mother-in-law than a good husband. After all, you couldn’t see your husband all the time, but you should serve your mother-in-law who was your eldership. If Lan was unlucky to meet a mean mother-in-law, she would live roughly. I heard that some mothers-in-laws like to find some concubines for their sons to distract their son’s attention on their daughters-in-law, especially when their daughters-in-law couldn’t deliver a boy. In my opinion, this marriage is not promising. Because the young couple couldn’t give birth babies immediately, let alone having a boy. At that time, if her mother-in-law couldn’t wait for having a grandson and take some coquettes for her husband, do you still think Lan would hold her status steadily at that time?”

Seeing that her second elder sister and her niece were touched, Ms. Zhao began to talk about their blood relationship to get them moved. She held her second elder sister’s hands and said, “But I would be a different mother-in-law. I’m her aunt, and I witnessed her growth. My daughter Ying is not intimate with me. So, I like Lan more than my own daughter. If she married Qian, she would be the most important person on the First Branch of Luo’s Mansion, included Ying and Qian! In the first or second year of their marriage, it’s a much joyful thing if they have kids. If not, there are many eminent doctors in our family. Madam Luo and Lan’s future husband are both good at it. They can heal any diseases. Besides, as long as Lan is willing to marry Qian, I will never take any concubine for Qian. If they can always love each other, Qian would not find another concubine. So, Lan could have a complete husband in her whole life!”

After hearing that, Mrs. Dong and First Miss Dong were both convinced by her. So, they turned down the last marriage proposal.