Chapter 285: Chapter 285 “The Future Husband Has Learned How to Make Yueyue Obey…
Qi Yue also became tense, feeling that what Lou Chuhe was about to reveal had something to do with the sudden disappearance of the Lou Family’s original Fengyi County estate over forty years ago.
Indeed, Lou Chuhe, with tears in his old eyes, recounted a piece of history that had been erased.
The investigative report stated that the Lou family hailed from Fengyi County, but it was incomplete. To be accurate, it should be the Lou Family Estate of Fengyi County in Yanjing.
It turned out that the ancestors of the Lou Family were officials as well, producing a Magistrate and a County Magistrate. However, by the time of Lou Chuhe’s father, the family had fallen into decline.
Still, thanks to the modest wealth amassed by their forebears, the family lived quite comfortably after the birth of Lou Chuhe, with a hundred acres of good land to support them.
But the trouble lay precisely with those hundred acres of good land.
...
Over forty years prior, it was precisely when the third Emperor of Donggao, the current Emperor’s father, ascended to the throne.
Most emperors, upon their accession, seek to find a good place for their tomb, and this predecessor of Donggao was no exception.
The construction of imperial tombs requires a location, and it can’t be too far from Yanjing!
As a result, the Lou Family Estate was included within the selected area.
One must know that the land for an emperor’s tomb is incredibly vast; thus the Lou Family Estate was doomed, along with the surrounding hundred acres of fertile land that would also have to be cleared.
Typically, such Imperial Court land requisitions provide some compensation to the peasants of the estate, granting them permission to relocate.
But when such matters are left to those below, things don’t proceed as intended.
After all, compensation involved a hefty amount of silver, and the Lou family lacked power and influence.
Someone hinted to the official in charge of relocating the village that they could resolve the matter without spending a penny, and thus tragedy struck.
One night, past midnight, a large group of soldiers suddenly stormed into the estate, shouting about capturing traitors, killing anyone they saw, spilling blood with every strike.
Lou Chuhe was fortunate to have been studying abroad at the time and was not at home, which spared him from the calamity.
Lou Chuhe was fortunate to have been studying abroad at the time and was not at home, which spared him from the calamity.
Subsequently, an upright minister from the Imperial Court noticed something amiss about the incident and escalated the issue.
The truth turned out to be that a certain Prince had engineered the event to embezzle the compensation silver intended for the Lou family.
But what of it if the truth was uncovered? The Lou family was already dead, their estate and lands taken, and the Imperial Court naturally suppressed the matter, claiming that the Lou family had entertained traitors that night and thereby brought disaster upon themselves.
However, thanks to the persistent efforts of the upright minister, the Imperial Court did not entirely force Lou Chuhe, the survivor, into extinction.
That’s how Lou Chuhe came to live in Yecheng, where he married and had children, and decades have since passed in the blink of an eye.
With such a severe scandal in Fengyi County, how could the Imperial Court allow its continuation? Therefore, the local annals were revised, and that place was simply erased.
“Marquis, I have an irreconcilable vendetta against the Song imperial family; I would never betray Yecheng, never betray the Marquis. I hope you see clearly!”
“….” Qi Yue exchanged a glance with Zhao Xiyan, both at a loss for how to comfort the old man.
Though these events had happened over forty years ago, some inquiry might still reveal the truth; Lou Chuhe had no reason to fabricate such a story.
It was evident that he intended to pretend to surrender, even bringing his family along, he was prepared to face death.
Indeed, Lou Chuhe suddenly knelt down again, imploring, “Please, Marquis, grant my request. No matter life or death, I will provide you with an explanation!”
In truth, letting Lou Chuhe go was not entirely out of the question.
As long as Zhao Xiyan kept to the original plan and did not include Lou Chuhe in it, there should be no issue.
Even if he disclosed the situation in Yecheng, the problem would not be too severe.
However, Qi Yue still sensed something strange.
Even if Lou Chuhe was determined to seek death for revenge or the like, would he not consider his wife and son and also drag them into it?
It was indeed odd.
Suddenly she heard Zhao Xiyan say, “Your request is granted. Go and make your preparations. Later today, you will be allowed to leave.”
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Lou Chuhe immediately bowed twice and hurriedly left.
Unable to help herself, Qi Yue asked, “Xiyan, knowing there is something off about Lou Chuhe, why would you let him leave?”
Zhao Xiyan glanced at the retreating figure of Lou Chuhe and said indifferently, “Since he is bent on courting death, the best solution is to let him have his way.”
With that, he stood up and spoke to Qi Yue, “Come, Yueyue, will you join me in tonight’s endeavor?”
“You already have a plan?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, we’ll do it together.”
That night, at the beginning of the hour of Zi (11 PM), three figures of differing stature suddenly appeared on the desolate streets: the tall but aging Lou Chuhe, the frail second son of the Lou family, and the hesitant-footed Mrs. Lou.
The trio stealthily made their way to the city gates, squeezing through a gap that had already been opened.
The second son of the Lou family was truly frail, and the exertion had left him gasping for breath, as if his life could ebb away at any moment.
Mrs. Lou sobbed while steadying her pitiful son.
“Master, must we really do this?”
In the darkness, Lou Chuhe “shushed” her, his voice turning icy.
“Keep your voice down. Haven’t we agreed on this? If you want to back out, you can leave now, but Fang’er is key to this matter and cannot leave.”
Mrs. Lou sobbed again.
“Master, you’ve misunderstood. I was just thinking, now with Marquis Zhao, he will surely avenge us. Besides, I’ve heard Miss Qi Yue is a Divine Doctor, perhaps she can cure our Fang’er’s illness…”
“Be quiet. Marquis cares for the whole of Yecheng, not our family vendetta. We must handle this ourselves, do you understand?”
Chastised by Lou Chuhe, Mrs. Lou dared not speak further, her sobs growing quieter.
The continuously panting second son of the Lou family suddenly stabilized, gripping the hands of Lou Chuhe and Mrs. Lou on either side.
“Father, Mother. I’m not afraid. I’ve already come to this state; I’m bound to die anyway. If I can die with a purpose, it would show my filial piety.”
“Good, good son, let’s go!”
The three figures quickly departed into the deeper darkness of the night.
Qi Yue stood atop the city wall, utterly perplexed.
“What on earth does Lou Chuhe want to do?”
Zhao Xiyan said indifferently, “It’s not clear, but seeking death is a certainty.”
“It seems I may have underestimated him.”
“Why do you say that, Yueyue?”
Qi Yue then shared the thoughts she had previously considered.
“People like Lou Chuhe commonly wish to rise again and soar to the heavens. Investing in a promising Controller ahead of time is but human nature, yet it seems he does not mean to do this. Could he indeed possess a lofty sense of justice?”
“Yueyue suggests that Lou Chuhe does not see a future in me, so he uses his actions to achieve his own sense of justice?”
Qi Yue feigned a moment of surprise.
“I had not considered that, but now that you mention it, it does seem plausible…”
Before she could finish, Zhao Xiyan embraced her. Suddenly, she felt lighter, and then she began to float as the sound of the wind whistled past her ears.
On opening her eyes, she saw the darkness below as Zhao Xiyan, holding her, sped across the treetops.
Qi Yue, who knew a little bit about many things, had never mastered Qinggong and had always wanted to experience the sensation of flying through the air.
After flying for a short time, she grew bolder, no longer huddled tightly in Zhao Xiyan’s arms, but instead spread her arms to feel the wind whipping past her fingertips.
“Wow, flying feels so exhilarating!”
“Yueyue, you are truly fearless.”
Amid the wind, the hand around her waist tightened, and Zhao Xiyan nearly wrapped her up completely in his embrace.
Qi Yue took a breath, “What, don’t you like it?”
“I like it very much.”
Warmth spread across the back of her neck, and a pair of sharp teeth gently nibbled her twice without pain or itch.
Qi Yue instantly froze all over and clung tightly to Zhao Xiyan’s lean waist, daring not to move at all.
Only when the sound of the wind by her ears stopped and her feet felt solid ground did Qi Yue manage to murmur weakly in Zhao Xiyan’s embrace.
“Why the sudden attack!”
“Naturally, it’s a punishment,” Zhao Xiyan’s cool lips whispered beside her ear.
“Why punish me?”
“Would you dare look down on your future husband like others now?”
“…You’re talking nonsense, I did nothing of the sort…”
“Then this time I’ll let it go, I’ll trust you.”
“…But I just got suddenly attacked for nothing?”
“Of course not.”
“…So?”
“The future husband has learned how to make Yueyue obedient…”
“….”