Chapter 180: A Thousand Years Ago, Where Was the Pei Family?

The Qingming season is normally rainy; today the sky remained overcast with dark clouds, yet the rain never fell.

But at this very moment, a drizzle suddenly began, growing heavier and heavier until it poured down in sheets.

Before the Pei family ancestral hall, there was an eerie silence; not even a single person holding an umbrella could be seen.

The Pei family members stared at the corpse of Third Uncle lying on the ground, their minds blank. Even Pei Qingyan, who addressed him as Third Uncle, while most others would have to call him "Third Grand-Uncle," was a clan elder of high virtue and great prestige; this was precisely why Pei Qingyan found it so difficult to make any major decisions regarding the matter.

As a result, this so-called clan elder of high virtue and great prestige had been infiltrated by an outsider and publicly killed right before the ancestral hall.

Even Pei Qingyan's mind buzzed with a ringing sound at this moment; for a while, he did not know what to say, his heart rapidly analyzing and deducing the situation.

Pei Chuyun, through the misty rain, watched Lu Xingzhou confronting her brother; her gaze was more hazy than the drizzle itself, as if she had been struck dumb.

She had asked him to come along to be the backbone, expecting someone to offer advice if problems arose. Pei Chuyun herself had never imagined that Lu Xingzhou, a person who usually placed extreme importance on analyzing pros and cons, would launch such an offensive move; he was now even risking being directly apprehended by Pei Qingyan, let alone what might happen in the future.

Unless Pei Chuyun herself could gain the ability to influence the Pei family's actions in the future, but one should not expect that for at least ten years.

He was only standing up for her.

Lu Xingzhou calmly reached out to push aside Pei Yu's limp sword, and amidst the silence of the torrential rain, he spoke loudly: "The grudge against one's parents cannot be shared under the same sky. Prime Minister Pei should be gratified that Chuyun possesses such filial piety, which means she can also defend you in this manner."

Pei Qingyan's eyes shifted slightly, and he slowly said: "The matter of Yun'er is a family affair of the Pei clan; let us set that aside for now. By what right does Young Master Lu intrude upon our Pei ancestral hall and kill our Pei clan members?"

"To avenge the parents of the one I love." Lu Xingzhou bowed deeply: "I, Lu, am unworthy, but I wish to propose marriage to Prime Minister Pei and seek to wed Young Lady Chuyun. This man's head is merely one of the betrothal gifts."

Many in the Pei family had their mouths half-open, unable to close them for a long time.

Awesome.

You broke into the Pei family to kill someone, and you've turned it into a betrothal gift, have you?

It is just a pity that no family would accept it, and naturally, Pei Qingyan would not accept it either: "If Young Master Lu wishes to propose, then follow the proper rites and formally send a matchmaker to our door; we shall discuss it further then."

Lu Xingzhou smiled brilliantly: "Then I thank you, Prime Minister Pei."

"Of course, even if you came, I would not agree."

"..."

Pei Qingyan said indifferently: "What we must discuss now is your matter of disguising yourself and unlawfully intruding into the Pei family. Come, seize this reckless rascal, beat him with one hundred strokes of the cane, and throw him out."

Those with clear eyes already heard that Pei Qingyan did not intend to pursue the matter further; it was merely to save the Pei family's face. For someone of Lu Xingzhou's cultivation, even if a common Retainer beat him ten thousand times, it would be like scratching an itch, causing absolutely no harm.

But Pei Chuyun suddenly jumped up as if waking from a dream, blocking the path in front of Lu Xingzhou: "Do not hit him! What fault is there in him avenging me? I brought him in; either kill me, or let outsiders see how Prime Minister Pei protects his own women and children!"

Lu Xingzhou looked at Pei Qingyan, then at Pei Yu beside him. The expressions on the father and son's faces were practically identical, like a subway old man looking at a phone.

Lu Xingzhou tapped Pei Chuyun's shoulder from behind: "Um, don't rush..."

Pei Chuyun, like a startled cat, was so lightly tapped that she obediently stepped aside.

Pei Qingyan: "..."

Lu Xingzhou cleared his throat: "I, Lu, was unruly, unlawfully intruding into the Pei residence and disturbing the ancestral hall. I am willing to accept Prime Minister Pei's punishment and will offer no resistance. However, I hope that in consideration of the Alchemy Academy, you will leave me some face: first, let Brother Pei administer the punishment personally, and second, carry out the execution in a quiet, private room..."

Pei Qingyan thought to himself that this fellow truly knew his place, and said indifferently: "Agreed. Yu'er, take him to find a quiet room, and you shall administer the punishment personally. If you miss a single stroke, you will be held accountable."

Pei Yu sighed helplessly: "Brother Lu, please."

Pei Chuyun was about to follow with small, hurried steps, but Pei Qingyan grabbed her by the collar, then swept his cold gaze over the entire crowd: "Third Uncle died of a sudden illness; remember this well. If even half a word of today's events leaks out, you shall know my methods as Prime Minister!"

The onlookers deeply understood the severity of the matter; if mishandled, it could cause a huge uproar within the Pei family. Who dared to speak nonsense? They all bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, we understand."

Pei Chuyun sighed; in truth, if one really wanted to do it, it was this simple.

Pei Qingyan, somewhat reluctant to look at his daughter, said in a low voice: "You just stay and honestly participate in the ancestral worship. As for Lu Xingzhou... Yu'er knows what he is doing."

At this moment, Pei Chuyun naturally knew that Lu Xingzhou and Pei Yu entering the quiet room would not only avoid being beaten but might even get to eat meat.

Inside the quiet room, Pei Yu helplessly poured wine for Lu Xingzhou: "I say, Brother Lu, you were too impulsive today. Actually, even if you hadn't acted, with Chuyun's abilities, assassinating Yu Tu on the road in a few days would be an easy matter; why did you have to make such a huge scene today?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "I avenged the Huo family, enduring for ten years; I know very well what it feels like to see an enemy right before one's eyes yet have to hold back desperately... If one has the ability to take revenge, one does not want to endure for even a moment, let alone being stopped by one's own father. Can Brother Pei understand Chuyun's emotions at that moment?"

Pei Yu remained silent. "Moreover, at that moment, who could guarantee that your Third Uncle would not be sent back to Hedong under Prime Minister Pei's strict defense, never to have another chance?" Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Brother Pei, when calculating pros and cons, I, Lu, am not necessarily less capable of calculation than you. But when will you calculate the feelings of your own daughter or your own sister?"

Pei Yu was silent for a long while, then finally raised his cup in a toast: "Although that was not my mother... I can still think a little about such feelings. On behalf of my sister, I thank Brother Lu."

The two drank, and Pei Yu added: "Now, reflecting on it, since Brother Lu's subsequent words were appropriate, saying he cut himself off from the Pei family is perhaps too hasty; my father's heart might actually appreciate it. But forgive me for speaking bluntly, at least in the short term, my father must distance himself from you more; otherwise, in the eyes of the clan members who know today's events, it would be tantamount to tacitly approving an illicit relationship and shielding an adulterer, which is simply too embarrassing. Killing Third Grand-Uncle might still be considered reasonable in everyone's hearts, but this truly has no justification."

"So why is it an illicit relationship and an adulterer? Why can't we lay it all out openly?"

"Does Brother Lu truly not know?"

"What?"

"Regarding Princess Zhao Huang, although no one speaks of it openly, it does not mean we have no suspicions. Since you already have Princess Zhao Huang, what does proposing to Chuyun mean?" Pei Yu said: "We even thought perhaps you were pursuing Chuyun on the surface just to show Your Majesty, making Your Majesty believe you had no illicit relationship with Princess Zhao Huang. I am sorry, but the reputation of the Pei women is not something to be used by Brother Lu for calculation."

Lu Xingzhou weighed the wine cup in his hand, thought for a moment, shook his head, and laughed: "When I told Chuyun I was publicly pursuing her, I truly did not think of this layer; at the time, we thought there would be many flies around her, and I would act as a flower protector to block them all. Now that you mention it, I realize there is indeed such a function... Hmm... Since that is the case, I wish to ask Brother Pei: if there were no matter of Princess Zhao Huang, would the Pei family be willing to discuss marriage with me?"

Pei Yu shook his head: "It would be difficult. We noble families place too much importance on lineage... Even if Brother Lu were of the Huo family, the Pei family would not look up to him, let alone the fact that Brother Lu does not recognize the Huo family at all; essentially, he is an orphan with no lineage. It is difficult for my father to consider a marriage alliance with such a background; currently allowing Chuyun to be with you is only because Brother Lu himself is truly outstanding... But if we truly discuss marriage, there will be some discrepancies."

"So why shift the blame onto my relationship with Princess Zhao Huang?" Lu Xingzhou laughed: "If you are unwilling, you are unwilling."

Pei Yu was stunned, then also laughed in silence: "You are right."

"I understand the Pei family's thoughts very well, so when I told Chuyun I was pursuing her, we both knew it was a joke and a shield, and I never intended to make it real." Lu Xingzhou paused here, then changed his tone: "But Brother Pei..."

"What?"

"Lineage is created by oneself; a thousand years ago, where was the Pei family?" Lu Xingzhou said indifferently: "I, Lu Xingzhou, will personally ascend to first grade sooner or later, sitting on equal footing with your father. I hope that before this day arrives, the Pei family does not rashly marry off their daughters; otherwise, when that time comes, it will not look good for anyone."

Pei Yu's expression changed slightly.

This statement referred not only to his, Lu Xingzhou's, personal strength, but also to something else... for instance, if he truly did not have that kind of relationship with Princess Zhao Huang and was merely her right-hand man, then if one day Princess Zhao Huang ascended to that position, would he, Lu Xingzhou, not be the Prime Minister of today?

While Pei Yu was turning these thoughts over in his mind, Lu Xingzhou had already stood up, smiling: "Thank you, Brother Pei, for holding back on the hundred strokes. I will not delay Brother Pei's ancestral worship; I, Lu, take my leave."

The Pei family's ancestral worship dragged on for the entire morning.

In the afternoon, Pei Chuyun stood by the window of her pavilion, quietly watching the rain trickle down outside; her beautiful eyes were somewhat melancholic and hazy, her mind drifting who knows where.

She had just been unable to hold back and wanted to go out to find Lu Xingzhou, but there was still someone she had to wait for.

She knew her Master would come.

Sure enough, not long after, her Master's voice transmission reached her ear: "How was what you saw today? Pei Qingyan is cold-hearted and ungrateful; in his eyes, there is only his family. He may feel a momentary guilt and try to make amends to you, but he will never be the kind of father you desire."

Pei Chuyun did not answer.

Master's voice continued to drift over: "Pei Jingshan is merely a fourth-rank nobody. Among those who killed your mother back then, he was just a lackey. A high-ranking and powerful figure from the clan was involved. Do you think Pei Qingyan would turn against them for the sake of you and your mother?"

Pei Chuyun finally spoke: "He won't."

"If you wish to take revenge, you cannot place your hopes on him; you must even list him as an object of caution. The only thing you can truly rely on is the sect, for the sect also wishes to avenge the former Saintess."

Pei Chuyun fell silent for a moment: "I know."

Master's voice sounded very satisfied: "As for what to do next, I will find another opportunity to convey it to you."

"Yes."

"As for that Lu Xingzhou... it seems he is already bewitched by you. You can push harder to achieve true control. This person has great potential; he is worth it."

Pei Chuyun still responded very flatly: "Good."

That voice had vanished at some unknown time; it seemed it was also quite wary of Pei Qingyan's presence and dared not linger.

Pei Chuyun, who had been like a wooden puppet only saying "Yes" and "Good," finally had a trace of a smile tug at the corner of her lips.

What can I rely on, if not just the sect?

You want me to control him, right? Fine.

(End of this chapter)