Chapter 320: Seizing the House of the Marquis Dingxiang

Clang—

The heavy Zhuqi Daimen was kicked open from outside, wood chips flying, and a squad of men clad in Xuanse Jinshen poured in like a school of fish.

They hung curved blades at their waists, their cuffs embroidered with silver cloud patterns, and their steps were steady as iron.

Their faces showed little expression, only eyes as cold as quenched ice, scanning the courtyard with unabashed scrutiny and pressure.

In the main hall, Lady Li Miaoyi, the Marquis' wife, heard the commotion, lifted the curtain and stepped out; seeing the scene, her complexion turned instantly pale, yet she forced herself to stay calm, pulling the young son behind her into her arms, and shouted sharply, "Who are you!"

"Under the Son of Heaven's command, you dare to forcefully break into our Marquis' residence and act recklessly!"

"Is this some kind of thrill!"

You Xian raised his hand, pointing to the silver‑thread cloud embroidery on his cuff, his voice cold as winter ice, "Lady Li just asked who we are—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Li Family's ashen face, his tone carrying a barely perceptible sarcasm, "Are you blind, or do you not recognize the official uniform of my Mingjing Office?"

"Mother, I'm so scared!" the young son behind her, frightened, clutched tightly to Lady Li Miaoyi's clothing, trembling, said, "Why is the Mingjing Office coming to our Marquis' residence!"

Though he was still young, he had already heard of the notorious reputation of the Mingjing Office…

After all, whenever he wouldn't sleep properly, his mother would frighten him with the Mingjing Office, saying that if he didn't sleep obediently, the Mingjing Office would seize him.

But this time, the Mingjing Office truly arrived…

"Son, don't be afraid!"

Lady Li Miaoyi inhaled deeply, hugging the young son tighter, and with her other hand gently patted the child's trembling back, trying to soothe his fear with her own warmth.

Having done all that, she lifted her gaze to the leader You Xian, her voice still trembling yet deliberately raised a few tones, each word clear: "My husband is the Marquis Dingxiang!"

Lady Li Miaoyi deliberately emphasized the three words "Marquis Dingxiang".

Her gaze swept over the embroidered‑uniform envoys continuously pouring in and subduing the household guards, attempting to use that status to suppress the chaos before her.

"I understand…"

You Xian merely gave Lady Li Miaoyi a faint glance, the corner of his mouth even curling a barely visible cold smile, as if looking at a child who didn't grasp the depth.

He paused again, then continued, "It is precisely because something happened to your Marquis that our Mingjing Office is here to pay a visit!"

"What crime has my husband committed?" Lady Li Miaoyi, holding the young son, forced herself to stay calm and asked.

Since the messenger from Jing Zhao Fu arrived the previous night to deliver a report and left the residence, her husband Changde had not returned…

She only heard rumors from neighbors that he entered the Mingjing Prison and left a blood‑written suicide note.

You Xian lifted his eyes to Lady Li Miaoyi, his gaze unruffled, as if reciting a pre‑written dossier: "He merely embezzled military provisions, formed a faction for personal gain, killed court officials' families, and plotted treason!"

Having spoken, he raised his hand, clasped his fist toward the palace, and said, "Your Majesty's benevolence, considering the Marquis' past meritorious service, shall strip him of his title, behead the male members of the three lineages, send the women into the Jiaofang Si, and confiscate all property!"

"What?!"

Lady Li Miaoyi's complexion turned as white as paper, her lips pressed into a bluish‑purple hue from shock, she screamed, her voice cracking with emotion: "How could my husband possibly do such a thing!"

Tears finally burst their dam, streaming down her pallid cheek, splashing onto her collar and leaving a small damp stain: "Someone must be framing us!"

She raised her voice sharply, as if to pierce the Marquis' courtyard walls and reach the heavens, "My husband has been wronged! I implore Your Majesty to see clearly! I implore Your Majesty to uncover the truth!"

While shouting, she tried to rush forward, but two embroidered‑uniform envoys stepped forward and blocked her.

Cold hands clamped her arm, the force so great it nearly crushed her bones.

"Release me! You bunch of treacherous ministerial thugs!" Lady Li Miaoyi struggled desperately, her hair bun in disarray, hairpins falling to the ground, no longer resembling the dignified Marquis' wife she usually was.

"Go appeal to the Jiaofang Si!"

"Take her away!"

You Xian, seeing this, expressionless, ordered the embroidered‑uniform envoys on his left and right.

The two envoys immediately stepped forward, disregarding Lady Li's struggles and cries, half‑dragging and half‑lifting her toward the side door.

The young son in her arms, terrified, burst into loud sobs, reaching out with tiny hands crying "Mother", his wail heart‑breaking, yet only drew a colder response from the envoys.

You Xian turned his head, looking at Deputy Envoy Hou Mochen Xiao beside him, "Deputy Envoy Hou Mochen, you will preside over this house‑search!"

"Understood." Hou Mochen Xiao nodded in response.

"Brothers, move!" You Xian raised both hands, gave a light wave, and laughed loudly.

The embroidered‑uniform envoys of the Vermilion Bird Guard seemed to shed an invisible restraint, their previous steadiness instantly replaced by a sharp, fierce vigor.

Each one was brimming with fighting spirit, rubbing their fists together.

After all, there were again plenty of spoils to be taken…

As soon as the words fell, several tall embroidered‑uniform envoys lunged forward like wolves and tigers.

Someone moved the heavy jewelry chest, dumping its contents of jewels and ornaments straight into a sack spread on the floor.

Someone stepped on tables and chairs to reach the hidden compartment in the beam, moving with a skill honed as if practiced thousands of times.

Another held a hammer, pounding the wall, evidently searching for a hidden layer that might contain a Secret Letter.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, falling on the strewn debris, reflecting the almost exhilarated expression on Hou Mochen Xiao's face.

From the western side chamber came a burst of women's startled cries and shoving.

Several embroidered‑uniform envoys were driving the women of the residence toward the center of the courtyard.

Leading them was the Marquis Dingxiang Changde's concubine, who usually adored beauty; now her hair was disheveled, her luxurious ru‑skirt torn askew, tears streaking her face, yet she could not hide her meticulously maintained charm.

The women, frightened by the spectacle, became as silent as cicadas, huddling their shoulders and crowding onto the empty patch in the courtyard's center.

Sunlight fell on their faces, reflecting expressions of terror or humiliation.

Chen Yan, hands clasped behind his back, posture upright as a pine, looked toward Yu Yan standing on the left, and Hou Mochen Xu beside him, smiling, "Yu Yan, Xu, this is your first time participating in a house‑search, right?"

"Indeed." The two nodded in response.

Chen Yan slowly raised his hand, his fingertip lightly touching the huddled women in the courtyard's center, smiling calmly, and said, "The ladies of this residence, you two may select them first."

Yu Lao, Pillar of the State, and Hou Mochen, Pillar of the State, having placed these two beside themselves, naturally would not shortchange them.

It was a perfect chance to grant some newcomer benefits, serving as a meeting gift…

And to boot, bind these two Pillar‑of‑the‑State heirs to his warship.

"Sir, this isn't appropriate, is it?"

Hou Mo Chenxu's fingers unconsciously twisted the jade belt at his waist, his gaze flickered among the group of women, his heart stirred slightly, yet he hesitated, "Doesn't the decree say…."

He wore an unmistakably cowardly, scheming look.

"What's inappropriate?"

Yuwen Ze, seeing this, let out a light laugh, patted Hou Mo Chenxu on the shoulder, teasing, "Who can prove that the girls you pick are the women from the Dingxiang Marquis Mansion?"

He truly didn't understand why there was any entanglement or hesitation.

The final right of explanation lies with his A Xiong, in his father's hands!

"This…." Hou Mo Chenxu was momentarily speechless, thought it reasonable, yet still didn't dare.

Yuwen Ze, looking at this motherly scene, was impatient, urging, "If you keep hesitating, you'll have to pick what's left by others!"

"How about that pair of sisters?"

"Which of you two wants to try a double match?"

Saying so, he raised his hand, pointing at the two girls tightly cuddling, dressed in lotus‑pink ru skirts.

They were about sixteen, a pair of twin daughters of the Marquis, not yet presented to the hall; though their faces were streaked with tears, they could not hide their breathtaking beauty.

The elder sister on the left had brows like distant indigo, eyes like autumn water; tears rested on her long lashes like butterfly wings dusted with morning dew, trembling lightly, exuding a delicate charm.

Her skin was whiter than snow, neck slender; even with her hair knot in disarray and a few strands of dark hair hanging by her cheek, she added a pitiable allure.

The younger sister on the right bore a different charm, her brows and eyes brighter, lips naturally crimson, bearing the tender delicacy of a maiden.

"I want!"

Yu Yan, unable to wait, stepped forward, his gaze circling the sisters, and swallowed a hard gulp of saliva.

Having been suppressed for so long in the State Duke Mansion, he also wanted to try something new…

This chance must not be missed!

Yuwen Ze nodded with satisfaction, gestured for the embroidered‑clad envoy to bring the pair of sisters over.

Hou Mo Chenxu, seeing that Yu Yan had chosen, no longer hesitated, taking the concubine aged around twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight.

Chen Yan took the Silver Note sent by You Xian, counted them briefly, pulled out two of them, and laughed, "The gold and silver taken from the Dingxiang Marquis Mansion are to be divided among many…"

"A Yan, A Xu, each of you gets five thousand liang; don't complain it's too little!"

Saying so, he handed them straight up.

"Plenty… plenty!"

Yu Yan subconsciously leaned forward, his gaze magnetized to those paper slips scented with ink, glued to them, forgetting even the rhythm of his breathing.

Hou Mo Chenxu's throat moved, the corners of his eyes and brows tinged with uncontainable excitement.

It's no wonder they were reckless; after all, previously in the mansion, the silver was strictly controlled…

A monthly allowance of a hundred liang was already good.

"No wonder Chen Duzhu's personal fate is so good!"

"And so many are willing to die for him!"

Yu Yan's fingertips gripping the Silver Note trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but sigh.

He finally understood why his grandfather sent him to Chen Duzhu's side…

——

"I was originally a true Young Master from a top, illustrious noble family, lost abroad, but was harmed by scheming villains; my family abandoned me, elders shunned me, even drove me out of the house, cutting ties! I intend to wield the weapon of law, find my lost relatives, reclaim what is rightfully mine! Are you interested in hearing my revenge plan? Give me a free little gift, and listen to my detailed revenge plan." The copy is plagiarized, the trope learned, the rose stolen, the courage borrowed, but the love for a free little gift is innate.