Chapter 141: Horse Trampling the Central Gate

**Beacon Towers for the Vassals**

The Lu Residence inexplicably closed its gates in broad daylight. Er Qiao, a maid affectionately known as such, hurried back to the courtyard to relay this sensitive news to her mistress. This seductive widow, who was making the biggest splash in Jiangnan, lay on a couch reading a scholar-beauty novel, though it was truly unreadable compared to "First Snow."

She was distracted upon hearing Er Qiao's report. She had thought her brother wouldn't arrive in Yangchun City for at least another two or three days, and she paid no mind to the Lu Residence's minor actions. She wasn't foolish; the family of Liu Liting from Jiangxin Prefecture was only considered a low-tier second-rate aristocratic family in Yang Province. How could they possibly gain favor with the imperial court? The Huting Lu family had complex marital ties with the other three great aristocratic families; while it couldn't be said that they prospered together, it was true that they suffered together. Without Lu Xuanlang's tacit approval, how could a favored imperial concubine from the palace be brought into the matter? It was even possible that Lu Xuanlang, her nominal father-in-law, was the one orchestrating things behind the scenes, but she was simply too lazy to bother. No matter how Lu Qinuan died, she had to bear the blame for her husband's death. Regardless of how harsh and cold her in-laws were, she meticulously fulfilled all the courtesies expected of a daughter-in-law. As for frequently visiting famous mountains and grand temples to listen to renowned scholars debate metaphysics, and being slandered for it, she cared even less. She simply enjoyed seeing those self-proclaimed elegant scholars and gentlemen become agitated and excited as if given a shot of adrenaline when she took her seat. Thus, when Liu's wife slapped her at Baoguo Temple, she merely smiled; Heaven knew who was truly pitiable.

Having married far into Jiangnan, she had, over the years, seen through these aristocratic scholars. Most were arrogant, resting on their ancestors' laurels, unmotivated to progress, and simply coasting on past achievements. Upright officials from Jiangnan prefectures, taking censors in the capital as an example, were entirely different from their Northern counterparts. They liked to frequently pick trivial fights with His Majesty the Emperor. They feared neither imperial flogging nor public humiliation in stocks, and would occasionally resort to 'death remonstrances' by banging their heads against pillars. It felt as if they were afraid the Son of Heaven wouldn't get angry or annoyed. Their adherence to orthodoxy and loyalty to rituals bordered on fanaticism. No wonder many scholars said that officials from Jiangnan were the most like true subjects.

However, Jiangnan truly produced a small group of highly capable individuals. They understood adaptation, were skilled in their methods, and could govern the country and benefit the people. Yet, none of these civil and military officials, once they had left Jiangnan and achieved their success, were willing to return. They were not keen on philosophical debates either. But no one denied that it was these important ministers who truly supported Jiangnan's prosperity. If she were to say, Lu Daolin, the head of the Lu clan who managed half of the Imperial Academy, was one. Yu Lian, the Minister of Personnel, and Xu Gong, the Dragon-Soaring General, could each be counted as one. As for Lu Xuanlang and a large group of so-called famous scholars and great Confucianists renowned across the land, they lacked much in terms of vision and perspective. These old fellows only cared about the rise and fall of their clan's prestige. If it rose, they were ecstatic; if it fell, they mourned as if for a deceased parent. In their eyes, the military men who made great contributions to the dynasty during the Spring and Autumn Wars were merely crude, martial types. The term "military family" carried far more scorn than praise, and was particularly disliked in Jiangnan.

If she were just an ordinary daughter of a military family, the moral gentlemen would have long since broken her spirit. Fortunately, who was she? She was Xu Xiao, the Human Butcher's eldest daughter!

The maid, who most cherished and respected her mistress, asked softly with a hopeful expression, "Mistress, when will the Young Lord arrive in our Yangchun City?"

The widow Xu Zhihu lightly scraped the young maid's delicate cheek with her finger, teasing, "Count on your fingers, how many times have you asked in the past two days? Ten times, perhaps?"

The young maid blushed and said, "This servant merely hopes His Highness can avenge you, Mistress. Liu Liting and that shrew are truly detestable."

Xu Zhihu put down her book, stretched, and smiled, "The day after tomorrow at the latest, I suppose. The last time my brother sent a letter, he was already approaching Xiongbo Prefecture."

Er Qiao, the maid the widow had bought for ten taels of silver from the roadside, laughed aloud, her limpid eyes curving into crescent moons. She cleverly and obediently said, "Compared to the Second Princess, His Highness still prefers you more, Mistress."

Xu Zhihu embraced the maid's slender body, resting her chin on her forehead, and chuckled heartily, "You certainly know how to talk."

Outside the Lu Residence, the second steward, who had just understood Lu Xuanlang's intentions, heard the harsh sound of hooves. He gave a signal, and a doorman, whose status in Huting Prefecture was comparable to a sixth-rank official, quickly opened the side gate, allowing only one person to pass at a time. The second steward's original surname was not Lu; the Lu family, recognizing his loyalty, bestowed upon him the surname Lu. Do not underestimate this change of surname; in an era where noble families viewed commoners as dogs, it was an immense honor. The second steward was now named Lu Dongyang. The chief steward, who had served the Lu clan for over ten generations, had accompanied the family head to the capital. Lu Dongyang held significant power within the Huting branch of the family. Having been influenced by the Lu clan's simple and upright family traditions, he particularly enjoyed wearing wooden clogs, crane-feather cloaks, and wide sleeves on snowy days, claiming that in this life, he most preferred cold clothes, cold drinks, cold food, and cold sleeping. Huting Prefecture had thus given him the elegant title of "Mr. Four Colds." He stepped out of the side gate alone and, seeing a group escorted by forty-five elite light cavalry, felt a slight chill in his heart. However, his stance was as steady as a mountain. He pointed to the "No Visitors" sign hanging nearby and said coldly, "The Lu Residence is not receiving guests today. You may leave your calling card with me, and visit again when we are free."

Commander Yuan Meng's face was grim, but he couldn't immediately lash out. The Young Lord was not present, and after all, the Young Lord's closest elder princess still resided there, so it was not wise to act rashly. As for how transcendent the Lu clan's status was in Jiangnan, or how intertwined their power was, why would he care about such murky affairs?

Perhaps seeing through the awkward situation of these Northern Liang barbarians, the second steward Lu Dongyang, relying on the profound prestige of the prestigious Lu clan, instantly shook off the initial shock of hearing about this group's bloody actions, and was no longer afraid. A sneer rose in his heart. Fifty light cavalry daring to act so presumptuously in Huting Prefecture truly had a death wish. Those so-called scholars who unfortunately bled to death in the tavern, what kind of scholars were they? In Huting Prefecture, they were merely low-class individuals, at best descendants of servants or minor officials, miles away from becoming true gentry. Killing a few low-level nobodies, did they really think they could run rampant in Huting Prefecture? They would have to bow their heads and beg the Lu Residence to handle things! How could these rough military types be worthy of entering the Lu Residence!

From inside the carriage, Princess Jing'an, Pei Nanwei, had been playfully watching the scene unfold, lifting the curtain, enjoying the spectacle as if watching tigers fight from a mountain.

After the ten great aristocratic clans of the Spring and Autumn period, which had stood for centuries, were overthrown by military figures like Xu Xiao and Gu Jiantang, and several major vassal kings, the Liyang Dynasty vaguely formed three major aristocratic blocs, with Jiangnan being one of them. After the dynasty destroyed the eight kingdoms, besides issuing edicts for some aristocratic families from the eight kingdoms to move to the capital and band together with local noble families through marriage, forming another bloc, some other aristocratic families voluntarily migrated northward over twenty years, most frequently during the Hongjia reign, numbering no less than 300,000, hence known as the "Hongjia Northern Migration." Most chose the prosperous Jiangnan, far from the capital, which undoubtedly strengthened the power of Yang Province's four great clans. Under the influence of its contemporary head, Lu Daolin, the Huting Lu clan had recruited talent second only to the Yu clan in number. The Lu clan naturally had its arrogant confidence. If the man who dared to stab a Qingzhou general to death with a spear on the battlefield in front of Zhao Heng were present, this undercurrent of conflict would be unremarkable; he would undoubtedly lead those fearless White Horse Cavalry to simply crush them. But since he had gone to Jiangxin Prefecture, it became interesting. If, by chance, the Huting Prefecture's government had a powerful military general who wasn't afraid of the Northern Liang army, it would certainly become much more lively and interesting.

Thinking of this, Princess Pei finally showed a long-lost smile.

Jiang Ni, sitting in the same carriage, was mesmerized; this older sister was truly beautiful.

The old sword god, Li Chungang, was lazily dozing against the carriage door, determined not to meddle in such domestic affairs.

At some point, Yu Youwei stepped down from the carriage, holding the white cat Wu Meiniang, and stood at the foot of the steps. She looked at the second steward, who was presumptuously posturing before the Fengzi Camp, and calmly said, "Open the main gate."

Lu Dongyang scoffed and pointed to the sign.

Yu Youwei turned to Yuan Meng, who was on horseback, and calmly said, "Commander Yuan, since the Huting Lu clan treats us with such 'courtesy,' we naturally must reciprocate."

Yuan Meng was perplexed. Firstly, he wasn't entirely clear about the relationship between His Highness and this beautiful woman, who was a courtesan by origin. Since she was qualified to accompany His Highness out of Northern Liang, she must be far from ordinary; only a fool would treat her as a common courtesan. Secondly, her talk of "reciprocation" implied much more, so he looked at the courtesan, who had always given the impression of a gentle disposition, waiting for her to continue. If she had merely told the Fengzi Camp to turn back and leave, he would have certainly underestimated her. Unexpectedly, Yu Youwei sneered, "Stab this blind servant to death. His Highness previously said that after killing someone, the body should be thrown at their doorstep; it seems we don't even need to waste effort on that here. Then, demolish the main gate. We are merely here to see the elder princess. If she later says that having no main gate is unsuitable, then the Lu Residence can simply reinstall it. If the elder princess doesn't agree, whoever dares to act, just kill them again."

Yuan Meng burst into laughter, cupped his fist in salute from horseback, a hint of respect now in his eyes. Then he turned and said in a deep voice, "Draw swords and reciprocate!"

Yu Youwei, holding the adorable white cat, turned and walked back to the carriage. The crimson-faced second steward was left speechless with rage and resentment. When he saw the Northern Liang cavalry drawing their swords with a clang, the fear that had finally receded once again enveloped his entire body. Especially upon realizing that the fierce commander was spurring his horse up the steps, he immediately turned, terrified, and tried to run into the side gate for help. But a person, after all, cannot outrun a horse, let alone a Northern Liang warhorse. As the second steward Lu Dongyang stepped over the threshold, Yuan Meng slashed down with his blade. Lu Dongyang fell into a pool of blood, struggling to crawl forward. This sight made some servants inside the residence shriek in alarm. Yuan Meng dismounted and delivered another heavy stab to "Mr. Four Colds." Then, grabbing one of his legs, he tossed him out of the side gate. After all, the Young Lord had specifically instructed them before leaving to throw bodies at the doorstep.

Yuan Meng ignored the Lu Residence servants, who had scattered like birds and beasts, and standing at the entrance, he grimly ordered, "Demolish the main gate!"

Princess Pei was stunned, and looking at Yu Youwei, whose words and actions had always been gentle as water, she felt bewildered.

Liu Residence, Jiangxin Prefecture.

The Liu family was considered a prestigious and well-established family in Yang Province. However, aristocratic clans also had their various ranks; compared to the colossal four great aristocratic families, their status differed as much as clouds from mud.

Liu Liting, also known as Mr. Chengzai, was currently gently comforting his wife. He was famous in Jiangnan for his exquisite culinary skills. Lately, he had even disregarded the ancient teaching that a gentleman avoids the kitchen, cooking for his wife almost every day, going to great lengths to please her with varied dishes. Liu Liting was tall and slender, standing out in Jiangnan. With an elegant appearance and a background from a prominent aristocratic family, such a man naturally had no shortage of romantic pursuits. A few years ago, when he first saw the widow during a philosophical debate at Baima Temple, he was captivated. What if she was a widow? She was the eldest daughter of that Human Butcher, and so alluringly beautiful she looked as if water could be squeezed from her with a light pinch. But although her reputation was terrible, seeming as if anyone could have slept with her, Liu Liting, a seasoned womanizer, knew deeply that this born enchantress was very cold by nature. This precisely stoked Mr. Chengzai's boundless desire to win. He paid her immense attention, eager to serve her like a queen, attending to her every need. A few days ago, she finally relented. While admiring peonies at Baoguo Temple, she half-jokingly said that if he dared to divorce his wife, she would consider him.

Thinking back, Liu Liting broke out in a cold sweat. How could he have been so deluded, failing to see her ruthless nature? The widow was clearly waiting to watch a show! So, after creating a huge mess, his wife, for some unknown reason, became connected to a favored imperial concubine in the palace. He no longer cared about his scholar's demeanor or reputation, and immediately wrote a poem of disavowal, throwing it outside the Lu Residence's gate. Fortunately, the widow was already notorious; who would side with her? Otherwise, the Lu Residence would not have remained silent, allowing him to slander her. Ha, Liu Liting secretly rejoiced at this thought, feeling blessed in disguise. If not for this widow, who deserved to be drowned in a pig cage, how else would he have known that his wife's family had connections within the imperial palace in the capital? This was a direct line to Heaven, a divine ear!

Liu Liting massaged his wife's shoulders, carefully asking with a feigned smile, "My dear, why has there been no news from the palace recently? Why hasn't that concubine issued an imperial decree to Jiangnan?"

Liu's wife adopted an indifferent attitude, though in reality, she could only pretend to be mysterious. Not to mention her, even her own family wasn't entirely clear at first how to provoke the concubine who wrote "Admonitions for Women" to anger. Her father had stayed up late, poring over the family records, only vaguely finding a very distant familial connection. As for why there was a lot of bluster but little action, with the matter suddenly going silent, how could someone from her family background possibly know the truth behind it? As for her husband beside her, how could she not know of his unseemly desires? But having married him, she had to obey him. She could only vent all her anger on that dissolute widow. Furthermore, in her opinion, that slap was entirely justified; such an immoral widow who constantly thought about seducing other men's husbands deserved to be paraded through the streets! A man having three wives and four concubines is fine, but you, a widow, wouldn't by any chance want three thousand male consorts, would you?!

Fearing her husband would continue to dwell on the imperial concubine matter, she merely said coldly, "It's late. Let's go to sleep."

Liu Liting glanced at his wife's appearance and secretly sighed to himself: she truly couldn't compare to the naturally enchanting Widow Xu.

In the moonlight, outside the Liu Residence, fifty brave light cavalry ignored the night curfew, forcefully entered the city, and headed straight there.

The young master leading them, dressed in a white robe and riding a white horse, did not stop. He spurred his horse forward, pulled the reins, and the horse's hooves smashed into the main gate of the Liu Residence, trampling it with a thunderous crash!

After trampling the main gate, he galloped straight into the Liu Residence.