Chapter 817: Someone from Lu Jia Village Arrives

On the third day of Chen Wuji's stay in Hezhou, a somewhat improper-looking old man suddenly appeared outside the government office begging. The clerks and soldiers guarding outside, adhering to Chen Wuji's usual demand, did not dare to forcibly drive him away; instead they gave him food and drink and found a place for him to rest.

Unexpectedly, after finishing his meal, the old man turned and squatted again outside the main gate.

This left the guarding soldiers somewhat speechless: "I say, old man, you've eaten and drunk; hurry up and leave. You make it seem as if we've done something bad to you."

The old man tilted his head, picking his teeth with his fingernail, ignoring the soldier who had just brought him food.

His attitude instantly angered the soldier; he glared and coldly shouted, "I say, old man, what's the matter with you? Hurry up and leave, or I won't be polite."

The old man spat out the vegetable leaf he had picked from his teeth with a "pah", glared and shouted, "Impolite? Come on, show me your impoliteness—Chen Wuji that little bastard harmed my granddaughter; I still can't seek justice?"

The commander's expression instantly turned cold: "Old man, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't talk nonsense—how has our lord harmed your granddaughter?"

All the guards stationed around the government office were soldiers of the Personal Guard.

Among the various troops of Nan Jun, this is the most loyal and also the most fervent toward Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji's treatment of the soldiers, and in every aspect raised to an extremely high level, had brought them to a point of blind loyalty toward him as their lord—so much that they cannot bear any bad word about him and instantly become angry upon hearing it.

"Go, go, go, step aside and let that Chen Wuji brat come talk to me—what are you even?" The old man glanced askance, his face full of contempt.

The commander's hand was already on his sword hilt: "Old man, I advise you to speak clearly, then leave this place; don't stir up trouble or spout nonsense."

"Hey!" The old man suddenly jumped up, glaring and shouting, "You little bastard, are you threatening me? Go, go report—you yourself go ask Chen Wuji that brat whether he harmed my granddaughter; I am surnamed Lu!"

"Surname Lu?" The commander blinked, eyeing the old man suspiciously, "From Lu Jia Village?"

The old man was a bit surprised, then he lifted his neck firmly: "Exactly!"

The commander momentarily lost for words: "I say, sir, if you want to see our lord just say so—why all this? Your manner… is rather unsightly."

The old man froze: "What do you mean, you little bastard?"

The commander shook his head: "Our lord happens to be in the manor now; I'll take you inside."

"No, wait—you shouldn't be driving me away, so why are you bringing me in?" The old man was genuinely bewildered; this fellow's reaction was a bit odd.

He came to beg, to cause trouble—not to pay a visit!

The commander turned and glanced: "Because our lord's lady is indeed surnamed Lu, from Lu Jia Village. People say that place is not quite proper, its speech and deeds differ from the norm… so you must be some ancestor of the lady?"

The old man: ……

"Hiss, how has our Lu Jia Village become abnormal? You brat, explain yourself clearly!" These words coming from an ordinary commander made the old man instantly unwilling.

How has their Lu Jia Village become abnormal?

What a normal and beautiful village it is!

The commander gave a dry laugh: "It's not that abnormal; you could have simply come to see our lord directly, yet you insisted on making a fuss…"

"I…" the old man's face stiffened, then he quickly reacted: "You damn it, I'm not here to see that brat Chen Wuji at all—I'm here to demand justice."

"But that still means you want to see our lord, right?" the soldier countered.

That question left the old man stumped.

The soldier chuckled and asked: "Old master, may I boldly ask—have you seen our lord?"

The old man stared for a moment, then flung his hand in frustration: "Seen!"

The soldier silently chuckled, brought the old man into the government office, then handed him over to the guards of the inner court's Personal Guard, and finally brought him before Chen Li.

Chen Li heard the guard's report, gave the old man a strange look, then said solemnly: "Old master, the Commander-in-Chief is currently conferring with Hezhou's civil and military officials; please wait a moment."

The old man said nothing, turned, sat cross-legged on the steps, his cloudy yet profound gaze sweeping the surroundings, then lowered his head to pick at his own nails.

He cared nothing for his appearance, as if he had none at all.

All of his movements fell within Chen Li's sight; especially the places he had just looked at made Chen Li's eyes sink slightly, his expression instantly tightening.

Although the old man's gaze lingered only briefly, every place he looked at hid Chen family experts.

That was the last line of defense of the government office, yet the old man merely glanced and instantly understood everything; the three words "grand master" sprang to Chen Li's mind.

He made no move, merely calmly glanced at Kong Jianshi not far away, who was idly leaning on a broom; their eyes met briefly, then each went on with his own business.

"Old sir, did you come today specifically to see Lady Lu?" Chen Li suddenly asked.

The guard's report left him uncertain about the old man's purpose and hard to tell friend from foe; he needed to confirm the old man's identity—whether he truly was a relative of Lady Lu.

The old man sat on the ground, clasped his hands hastily, and said, "No more secrets, old man Lu Da, I come here by Commander Chen's order. As for my earlier behavior outside the gate, it was purely because I'm used to acting crazy; I forgot my purpose for a moment."

Chen Li's mouth twitched slightly; he had a faint suspicion.

Lu Jia Village does not engage in court affairs, nor does it involve itself in the Rivers and Lakes.

Perhaps his earlier absurd actions were meant as a probe.

As for the excuse of being used to acting crazy, Chen Li would not believe a word of it.

Used to acting crazy, then forgetting his purpose and going crazy for a moment at the gate of a heavily garrisoned office? That kind of talk might fool a three‑year‑old, but even adults would likely not believe it.

At that moment, Hezhou's civil and military officials exited the gate in single file, conversing in low voices.

Everyone's expression was somewhat solemn.

At today's meeting, Chen Wuji spoke of nothing else but one matter: seeking trouble.

In the patrols of the previous two days, no major problems were found, but many minor issues turned up.

When those people had mostly left, Chen Wuji and Qin Feng finally walked out.

"My lord, someone from Lu Jia Village has arrived—a grand master."

Chen Li quickly stepped forward to report, while glancing at Kong Jianshi about seven or eight steps away.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wuji glanced at Lu Da sitting on the stone steps.

"This person just caused a disturbance outside the office—first begging, then claiming our lord harmed his granddaughter!" Chen Li reported truthfully.