Chapter 355: Brotherly Love

Chapter 355: Brotherly Love

Just as Meng Qianqian and the others were leaving the Thousand Flowers Pavilion, they ran into Lu Yuan, who had hurried over from Yingchun Road.

Lu Yuan saw Yu Li on Meng Qianqian's back and then glanced at Lin Xiaoru, who was dressed as a man.

"It was Xiaoru who saved my cousin," Meng Qianqian explained.

Lu Yuan cupped his hands and bowed respectfully to Lin Xiaoru, "Thank you, Miss Lin."

Lin Xiaoru replied, "It was nothing, no need for such formality."

Lu Yuan took Yu Li from Meng Qianqian and carried him on his back.

Meng Qianqian said to Lu Yuan, "I'll take Xiaoru home first, and you can bring my cousin back to the manor."

Lu Yuan asked, "Is my cousin's injury serious?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "I've treated him with needles. It's not too serious; he'll be fine after a good rest."

Lu Yuan understood, "I'll escort you."

Meng Qianqian looked at Lin Xiaoru.

Lin Xiaoru said, "Oh, I have no objections."

The carriages of the two families were nearby, one at the east end of the street and the other at the west end.

Meng Qianqian boarded Lin Xiaoru's carriage, while Lu Yuan carried Yu Li and got into his own carriage.

"Xiaoru, how did you catch up with them?"

Lin Xiaoru explained, "I'm very familiar with the layout of the capital. I took a shortcut and caught up with them. That person seemed to know some light body techniques, but I was still faster taking the shortcut."

"I see," Meng Qianqian nodded, then spoke to Lin Xiaoru seriously, "Xiaoru, I'm very grateful to you for saving my cousin. If something like this happens again, you can report it to the authorities."

Lin Xiaoru thought for a moment, "Oh."

Meanwhile, back at Lin Xiaoru's home, Lin Jijiu and Lady Lin were surprised to see their son return alone. "You didn't go to your maternal grandparents' home? Where's your sister?"

"I didn't see her."

"She went to pick you up!"

"What?"

Lin Xiaoru was nowhere to be found, and the family was in a panic. They quickly sent people to search for her at the Imperial Academy, thinking that perhaps the siblings had missed each other on the way.

However, after an hour, no one could find any trace of Lin Xiaoru.

Just as the family was growing increasingly anxious, Lin Xiaoru finally returned home.

Lin Jijiu, Lady Lin, and their son had been pacing back and forth at the entrance, their bodies covered in snow.

"Father, Mother, Brother," Lin Xiaoru greeted them.

She had changed back into her feminine attire, looking the same as when she had left.

Lady Lin sobbed, "Where have you been? You scared your mother to death!"

Lin Jijiu noticed that his sister was safe and breathed a sigh of relief. He also noticed Meng Qianqian, who had accompanied his sister, and Lu Yuan, who had just alighted from the other carriage.

The young couple bowed to Lin Jijiu and Lady Lin, showing respect to their elders.

Given the seriousness of the matter, Meng Qianqian did not hide anything from the two elders and recounted in detail how Lin Xiaoru had saved her cousin.

Lady Lin was so shocked that she forgot to cry.

Lu Yuan bowed deeply to Lin Jijiu, "The Duke's Manor is forever indebted to the Lin family, and we will never forget your kindness."

Lin Jijiu said nothing and turned to enter the mansion.

Lady Lin looked back at her husband and then at Lu Yuan, who was still maintaining a bowing posture, and sighed silently.

On their way back, Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan talked about Yu Li.

"I didn't pay much attention earlier, but now that I've calmed down, it seems like the process of saving my cousin was a bit too smooth."

"Do you mean you or Miss Lin?" Lu Yuan asked.

Meng Qianqian pondered for a moment, "Both. Xiaoru and I entered the Thousand Flowers Pavilion one after the other. There are many experts in the pavilion, but Xiaoru knocked out a flower queen and moved my cousin from a private room to a small tea room without being noticed. When I was looking for someone, I made quite a commotion, but no one stopped me."

"Yan Niangzi," Lu Yuan said.

A hint of surprise flashed in Meng Qianqian's eyes, "Do you mean she was secretly helping us?"

Lu Yuan analyzed, "The Thousand Flowers Pavilion is not a place to be trifled with. Even a fly entering would be slapped away. If it weren't for Yan Niangzi's tacit approval, tonight's operation would not have gone so smoothly. As for her approval, whether it was to help or to set a trap, it's hard to say for now."

Meng Qianqian felt that Lu Yuan's analysis made sense.

After a moment of thought, Lu Yuan said, "You go to sleep first; you don't have to wait for me."

Meng Qianqian asked, "Where are you going again?"

Lu Yuan asked coldly, "What do you mean by 'again'? Meng Xiaojiu, I occasionally go out once, and you won't even allow that? It hasn't been long since our wedding, and you're already so clingy?"

"I..." Meng Qianqian was at a loss for words.

How did it become her being clingy? She had merely asked a question, and he interpreted it in so many ways. Wasn't this his own issue?

Meng Qianqian angrily got off the carriage.

"Still angry?" Lu Yuan coldly hummed, "I understand. I'll try to come back early to avoid you feeling lonely in the long night."

Who was feeling lonely?

Meng Qianqian bent down and picked up a snowball, wanting to throw it but ultimately restraining herself.

Her cold syndrome hadn't fully recovered, so she didn't want to bully him.

Lu Yuan called a servant to carry the unconscious Yu Li into the manor.

Wu Ge'er asked, "Grand Marshal, where are you going?"

Lu Yuan replied, "To the Chancellor's Mansion."

Xun Qi was writing a letter in the study.

Suddenly, a servant reported, "Young Master Qi, the Grand Marshal wishes to see you."

Xun Qi furrowed his brows, "I won't see him."

"Young Master Qi, why are you being so stubborn? Are you hoping for a quicker death?"

Along with this careless voice, Lu Yuan strode into the study, wearing a silver fox cloak.

The two guards exchanged glances, "Young Master Qi..."

Xun Qi spoke indifferently, "You may leave."

The guards retreated, leaving only Lu Yuan, Xun Qi, and a hidden secret guard behind the screen in the study.

Lu Yuan, not considering himself an outsider, pulled a chair and sat down opposite Xun Qi. He withdrew his hand from the hand warmer and threw two things at Xun Qi.

A dagger and a secret letter.

"Your handwriting, after all these years, still shows no improvement."

This secret letter was found on Yu Li's body, and it was a map of the capital's military deployment.

Lu Yuan coldly smiled, "Trying to fabricate charges of treason and collusion with the enemy against the Grand Marshal's Manor? Let me guess, which country's spy is this Flower Queen? Beiliang? The Western Regions? Beiliang, the battle at Beiliang was my doing. If my military achievements are erased, the reputation I've painstakingly built among the people will vanish like smoke."

"Truly lacking in standards, your schemes are as poor as your calligraphy, showing no improvement over the years!"

Xun Qi looked at Lu Yuan coldly, "Are you here to mock me?"

"Yes."

Lu Yuan readily admitted, "You spent ten days or half a month planning, but your opponent broke through your scheme in less than an hour. If I were you, I'd use the dagger I gave you to end my life in shame."

Xun Qi, not in the mood for jokes, said, "You might as well keep it for yourself!"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "If you don't die, someone else will."

Xun Qi turned away, "I'm not in the mood for your riddles."

Lu Yuan hooked his lips, "Xun Qi, the Chancellor's power is waning, why can't you face reality?"

"You betrayed your adoptive father, and now you want me to become a traitor to the Chancellor's Manor like you? Is that the only way you can feel less despicable about your actions?"

"Despicable?"

Lu Yuan laughed as if he'd heard the biggest joke, "When it comes to despicability, who can compare to our adoptive father? You willingly serve him, but in his eyes, you, Xun Liu, are all just dispensable pawns. If you don't care about yourself, do you not care about your sixth brother either?"

Xun Qi frowned, "Why bring up my sixth brother?"

Lu Yuan spread his hands, "Whatever you care about, I'll bring up. He's been detained in the Ministry of Punishment for so long, and you still haven't been allowed to take the blame for him. Are you still feeling smug, thinking he has some paternal feelings for you?"

"Sigh, I don't understand. He gave everyone the same mind-numbing soup, but why are you and Luo San so stupid as to be beyond salvation?"

Xun Qi's voice turned cold, "Don't jump from one topic to another!"

Lu Yuan said, "Xun Liu's loyalty isn't to the Chancellor, he's doing this for you, and everything he does is for you."

Xun Qi's heart suddenly sank with an ominous premonition, "What are you trying to say?"

Lu Yuan stood up calmly, his hands tucked into the hand warmer, "Xun Qi, you're willing to save someone who's using you without a second thought. One day, you'll regret it."

Xun Qi stared at Lu Yuan as he disappeared into the wind, shouting, "You traitor! You betrayed our adoptive father, you betrayed us! You'll regret it! You'll pay for your betrayal!"

His veins popped on his forehead, and his chest heaved violently. Despite breaking into a sweat, his back couldn't stop shivering, as if something terrible was about to happen.

In the middle of the night.

He was awakened by a nightmare.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he heard the secret guard rush in, not even bothering to close the door, and report, "Young Master Qi, Young Master Liu is in trouble!"

Xun Qi jumped up and pulled open the curtain, "What happened to my sixth brother?"

The secret guard hesitated, "He returned to the capital... straight to the Ministry of Punishment... Young Master Liu... he... turned himself in."

Xun Qi didn't know how he made it to the Ministry of Punishment. He even forgot to put on his outer robe. He stood at the solemn and majestic gate, shivering all over.

However, he couldn't tell if he was shaking from the cold or from fear.

"My sixth brother... where is he? I want to see him! He's innocent! Don't listen to him! He's lying!"

Xun Qi charged inside like a madman.

Despite having no martial arts skills, it took seven or eight strong men to restrain him.

The lead officer panted, "Forgive me, Young Master Qi!"

When rabbits are desperate, they bite, and when people are desperate, they bite too!

Xun Qi struggled, his cheeks grinding against the ground, leaving several scratches, "Let go of me! I want to see the Minister of Punishment! I want to see him!"

The lead officer said, "The Minister is in the middle of an interrogation and can't see you."

Xun Qi gritted his teeth, "Is he interrogating my sixth brother? Is he?"

The officers exchanged glances and nodded slowly.

Xun Qi roared in the direction of the prison, "Minister! My sixth brother isn't the mastermind! He's not! Don't believe him! He's brainless! He's just a brute! He doesn't have that ability—interrogate me—interrogate me—"

"Interrogate me—"

"Interrogate me..."

Xun Qi's roar gradually weakened, his voice becoming choked with despair.

(End of Chapter)His throat was sore and his eyes were red-rimmed.

"You're interrogating me... Don't interrogate me, Sixth Brother... He only knows martial arts... He knows nothing else... He understands nothing..."

"You're interrogating me... Interrogate me..."

The yamen runners looked at him, their faces averted, unable to bear the sight of a grown man in such a state.

But Minister Xing had given strict orders, allowing no one to enter.

They were helpless.

Suddenly, a pair of footsteps crunching through the snow came to a halt before Xun Qi. The purple hem of a garment was visible beneath a silver fox cloak, like a glimmer of light in the dark night.

Xun Qi's heart skipped a beat, his gaze lifting upwards, "Lu Yuan..."

Lu Yuan addressed the yamen runners, "Let him go."

The lead yamen runner hesitated, "Grand Marshal, Minister Xing has ordered... He's in the middle of an interrogation and no one is allowed to enter."

Lu Yuan said, "So, not even I, the Grand Marshal, can enter?"

The lead yamen runner hesitated, "This..."

Lu Yuan calmly stated, "If I'm summoned in the middle of the night to assist in an investigation, and I can't even see Minister Xing's face, then I'll return to the Grand Marshal's Manor. If he wants to investigate again, let Minister Xing come to me!"

"Grand Marshal, please wait!"

The lead yamen runner stopped him, "Let me inform him."

He ordered his men to hold Xun Qi down while he went to the prison cell.

Soon after, Hu Shiye personally came out to greet him, "Grand Marshal, please come in."

Lu Yuan glanced at Xun Qi, who was pinned to the ground, "He's with me."

Hu Shiye thought, Is he really going to blatantly lie like this?

"You're blind! Don't you recognize the seventh young master of the Chancellor's Manor?"

Hu Shiye lashed out at the yamen runners, his movements exaggerated and his strength lacking, "Quickly help him up!"

Xun Qi and Lu Yuan entered the Ministry of Justice's prison.

The long corridor was filled with a bloody and foul stench.

At the end of the corridor was the interrogation room. Though it was only a short distance, it felt like a lifetime had passed for someone.

Xun Qi asked, "Did you know about this beforehand?"

Lu Yuan replied, "I just found out. If I had known earlier, I would have stopped it."

Xun Qi's expression became complex for a moment, "I'll thank him on Sixth Brother's behalf."

Lu Yuan said, "I'm not doing this for Sixth Brother. I just want to bring the real culprit to justice and don't want anyone to take the fall for him."

The leading Hu Shiye thought, You two really don't consider me an outsider.

"We're here."

Hu Shiye stood outside the interrogation room, "Minister, the Grand Marshal and Xun Qi have arrived."

Minister Xing nodded.

Hu Shiye made way for the two of them.

Inside the interrogation room, filled with the smell of rust and blood, Minister Xing sat solemnly in a magisterial chair.

Opposite him, Sixth Brother was seated, his hands and feet shackled in iron chains.

"Sixth Brother!"

Xun Qi hurried over and knelt before Sixth Brother, holding his chapped and frostbitten face, "Sixth Brother!"

Sixth Brother smiled happily, "Seventh Brother."

Xun Qi's eyes reddened once more.

Sixth Brother spoke to Minister Xing, "Minister, may I have a private word with my brother?"

Minister Xing nodded and gestured for Hu Shiye to gather the confession and documents on the table.

Xun Qi asked cautiously, "What are those?"

Sixth Brother whispered, "Seventh Brother, don't worry about it."

Xun Qi stood up and said to Minister Xing, "Minister! Regardless of what Sixth Brother tells you, he didn't do those things! I was the one who..."

"Seventh Brother!"

Sixth Brother interrupted him and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Xun Qi's hands were splattered with blood, a shocking sight.

Looking at the blood on his hands, Xun Qi's face turned pale, "Sixth Brother!"

Sixth Brother smiled weakly, "I've stained your clothes... Seventh Brother loves cleanliness... Just like Third Brother..."

The 'Third Brother' he mentioned was Lu Yuan.

Before the appearance of the Celestial Dragon, Lu Yuan was the third in rank.

Sixth Brother continued to spit blood.

Xun Qi knelt before Sixth Brother, trying to catch the blood, but it seemed endless.

Tears welled up in his eyes and fell like raindrops, "Sixth Brother... Why are you doing this... Hurry, get the imperial physician... Get the physician!"

Sixth Brother spoke weakly, "It's useless... Seventh Brother... I've severed my meridians..."

Xun Qi's tears flowed like a spring, "Sixth Brother, why are you so foolish..."

Sixth Brother's breath was faint, "I'm not smart... If I can't make up for it... It'll be troublesome... I've already confessed... You don't need to... take the fall for me... Seventh Brother... You must... live well..."

End of Chapter.

Chapter end