Chapter 164: A Thousand Years Ago, Where Was the Pei Family

It was originally rainy during the Qingming Festival, and the sky was overcast today, but the rain never fell.

But at this moment, the rain drifted, and then it became bigger and bigger, until it was a downpour.

The Pei family ancestral hall was quiet, and there was no one holding an umbrella.

The Pei family looked at the corpse of Third Uncle on the ground, their hearts were blank. Even the characters that Pei Qingyan called Third Uncle, others had to call "Third Uncle Gong", belonging to the respected clan elder level, which is also the reason why Pei Qingyan found it difficult to make any big treatment.

As a result, the so-called respected clan elder was sneaked in by an outsider and killed publicly in front of the ancestral hall.

Even Pei Qingyan's brain was buzzing at this moment, and he didn't know how to speak for a while, and his heart was rapidly analyzing and deducing.

Pei Chuyun stood by the misty rain, looking at the appearance of Lu Xingzhou and her brother confronting each other, her beautiful eyes were a bit misty, as if she were crazy.

Letting him follow as the backbone was to find someone to come up with ideas when encountering problems. Pei Chuyun herself didn't expect that Lu Xingzhou, who was also extremely heavy on interest analysis, would take the initiative to attack like this. He now even has to bear the risk of being directly taken down by Pei Qingyan, not to mention future things.

Unless she, Pei Chuyun, can have the ability to influence the Pei family's behavior in the future, but don't count on it within ten years.

He just stood up for her.

Lu Xingzhou reached out and pushed Pei Yu's soft sword calmly, and said loudly in the sound of the rain: "Parents' hatred is not shared. Pei Xiang should be gratified that Chuyun has such filial piety, which means she can also maintain you like this."

Pei Qingyan's eyes moved slightly, and slowly said: "Yun'er's matter is our Pei family's family matter, let's talk about it later. What identity did Lu Young Master break into our Pei family ancestral hall and kill my Pei family clansman?"

"Help the sweetheart avenge her parents." Lu Xingzhou bowed: "Lu Mou is not talented, wants to propose marriage to Miss Chuyun, and seek to marry Miss Chuyun. This person's head is just one of the betrothal gifts."

Many Pei family members opened their mouths halfway, and didn't close them for a long time.

Awesome.

Breaking into the Pei family to kill, and being killed by you as a betrothal gift, right?

It's just a pity that no family will recognize it, and Pei Qingyan naturally won't recognize it: "If Lu Young Master wants to propose marriage, then please go to the door with a matchmaker according to the etiquette, and we will discuss it again."

Lu Xingzhou smiled brightly: "Then thank you Pei Xiang."

"Of course, I won't agree if you come."

"..."

Pei Qingyan said lightly: "Now you and I have to discuss is your disguise and breaking into the Pei family. Come, take this absurd person, beat him a hundred times, and throw him out."

The discerning person has heard Pei Qingyan's meaning of not pursuing it, just covering up the Pei family's face. With Lu Xingzhou's cultivation, even if the servants beat him ten thousand times, it would be like scratching an itch, and there would be no damage at all.

As a result, Pei Chuyun suddenly jumped up as if waking up from a dream, blocking in front of Lu Xingzhou: "Don't hit him! What's wrong with him helping me avenge, I brought the person in, either beat me to death, let outsiders see how Pei Xiang protects his own woman and children!"

Lu Xingzhou looked at Pei Qingyan, and then at Pei Yu on the side. The father and son's faces were like a subway old man mobile phone printed from the same mold.

Lu Xingzhou clicked Pei Chuyun's shoulder from behind: "That, don't worry..."

Pei Chuyun, who was like a fried cat, was clicked so lightly, and honestly gave up her position.

Pei Qingyan: "..."

Lu Xingzhou coughed: "Lu Mou is reckless, broke into the Pei mansion, and disturbed the ancestral hall. Willing to accept Pei Xiang's disposal, absolutely no resistance. But I hope to look at the Alchemy Academy's face, leave Lu Mou some face, first, Brother Pei does it himself, second, execute the punishment in a quiet room without anyone..."

Pei Qingyan

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

Pei Chuyun took small, hurried steps to follow, but Pei Qingyan grabbed her, then swept his cold, stern gaze across the room: "Third Uncle died of a sudden, severe illness. Remember that. If even half a word of today's events leaks out, you know my methods!"

The onlookers, knowing the gravity of the situation—that a slip-up could cause a massive upheaval in the Pei family—dared not talk nonsense and bowed to acknowledge the order: "Yes, we understand."

Pei Chuyun sighed. In truth, if one really wanted to do it, it was just that simple.

Pei Qingyan didn't quite dare to look at his daughter and said in a low voice: "Just honestly follow the ancestral rites. As for Lu Xingzhou... Yu'er has his own discretion."

Pei Chuyun knew by now, of course, that Lu Xingzhou and Pei Yu wouldn't be beaten in the quiet room; they might even get something to eat.

In the quiet room, Pei Yu helplessly poured wine for Lu Xingzhou: "I say, Brother Lu, you were too impulsive today. In fact, even if you hadn't acted, with Chuyun's ability, assassinating Yu Tu in a few days would have been easy. Why did you have to make such a scene today?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "I have been seeking revenge against the Huo family for ten years. I know very well what it feels like to see an enemy right before your eyes and yet have to hold it all in... If one has the ability to take revenge, one doesn't want to wait even for a moment, let alone be stopped by one's own father. Brother Pei, can you understand Chuyun's emotions at that moment?"

Pei Yu remained silent. "Besides, at that moment, who could be certain that your Third Uncle wouldn't be sent back to Hedong under the strict protection of the Pei Marquis, never to have another chance?" Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Brother Pei, when it comes to calculating pros and cons, I am not necessarily less capable than you. But when can one ever calculate the feelings of one's own daughter or sister?"

Pei Yu was silent for a long time, then finally raised his cup in a toast: "Although she is not my mother... I can still imagine that feeling a little. On behalf of my sister, I thank you, Brother Lu."

The two drank, and Pei Yu added: "Reflecting on it now, because Brother Lu's subsequent words were appropriate, it would be rash to say you have cut ties with the Pei family; my father might even secretly appreciate it. But forgive my bluntness, at least in the short term, my father will inevitably have to distance himself from you. Otherwise, in the eyes of the clansmen who know about today, it would be tantamount to tacitly allowing an illicit affair and shielding an adulterer, which would look far too ugly. Killing the Third Great-Uncle might be considered justifiable in everyone's hearts, but this is truly unjustifiable."

"So why must it be an 'illicit affair' or an 'adulterer'? Why can't it be spoken of openly?"

"Does Brother Lu truly not know?"

"What?"

"Regarding Princess Chaohuang, although people don't say it out loud, it doesn't mean we don't have our suspicions. Since you have Princess Chaohuang, what is the meaning of proposing to Chuyun?" Pei Yu said: "We even wondered if you were pursuing Chuyun on the surface just to put on a show for His Majesty, to make him think you and Princess Chaohuang have no illicit relationship. I am sorry, but the reputation of the women of our Pei family is not something for Brother Lu to use for his schemes."

Lu Xingzhou weighed his wine cup, thought for a moment, and shook his head with a laugh: "When I told Chuyun I would publicly pursue her, I really didn't think of that layer. At the time, we were thinking that she would have many flies around her, and I would act as a guardian to block them all. Now that you've said it, I realize there is indeed such an effect... Hmm... Since that is the case, I would like to ask you, Brother Pei, if there were no matter regarding Princess Chaohuang, would the Pei family be willing to discuss marriage with me?"

Pei Yu shook his head: "It would still be difficult. We aristocratic families place too much weight on background... Even if Brother Lu were a member of the Huo family, the Pei family would look down on you, let alone the fact that you don't even acknowledge the Huo family. Essentially, you are an orphan with no background. It is very difficult for my father to consider marrying into such a lineage. Currently, he lets you and Chuyun be, only because you are truly outstanding... But when it comes to actual marriage, there would be some discrepancies."

"So why shift the blame onto my relationship with Princess Chaohuang?" Lu Xingzhou laughed: "If you don't want to, you don't want to."

Pei Yu was stunned, then also laughed: "That is true."

"I understand the Pei family's thinking very well, so when I told Chuyun I was pursuing her, we both knew it was a joke and a shield; we never thought of making it real." Lu Xingzhou paused here, his tone shifting: "But Brother Pei..."

"Yes?"

"Family status is created by oneself. A thousand years ago, where was the Pei family?" Lu Xingzhou said calmly: "I, Lu Xingzhou, will eventually attain the First Rank and sit on equal footing with your father. I hope that before that day comes, the Pei family will not marry off their daughter recklessly; otherwise, it won't look good for anyone."

Pei Yu's expression changed slightly.

This sentence didn't just refer to his personal strength, but something else... For instance, if he truly didn't have that relationship with Princess Chaohuang, and was merely her right-hand man, then if one day Princess Chaohuang ascended to that position, wouldn't he, Lu Xingzhou, be today's Pei Marquis?

As these thoughts turned in Pei Yu's mind, Lu Xingzhou had already stood up and smiled: "Thank you, Brother Pei, for your mercy with the hundred staves. I won't delay your ancestral rites any longer. I take my leave."

The Pei family's ancestral rites dragged on for the whole morning.

In the afternoon, Pei Chuyun stood before the window of her pavilion, quietly watching the drizzling rain outside. Her beautiful eyes were somewhat desolate, and her mind had drifted off somewhere.

She had been unable to suppress the urge to go find Lu Xingzhou just now, 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 ears: "What did you see today? Pei Qingyan is cold-hearted and ungrateful. In his eyes, there is only his family. His momentary guilt and compensation toward you will never make him the kind of father you want."

Pei Chuyun did not answer.

Her Master's voice continued: "Pei Jingshan was merely a Fourth Rank. Among those who killed your mother back then, he was just a lackey. There are still high-ranking and powerful people in the clan who participated. Do you think Pei Qingyan would turn against them for the sake of you and your mother?"

Pei Chuyun finally said: "He will not."

"If you want revenge, you cannot pin your hopes on him; you must even treat him as someone to guard against. The only thing you can truly rely on is the sect, because the sect also wants to avenge the former Saintess."

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

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

"Yes."

"As for that Lu Xingzhou... he seems to be captivated by you. You can put in more effort to achieve true control. This person has a bright future; he is worth it."

Pei Chuyun responded quite flatly: "Okay."

That voice had already disappeared, who knows when. It seems they were also quite wary of Pei Qingyan's existence and dared not stay long.

A hint of a smile finally tugged at the corners of Pei Chuyun's mouth, who had been like a wooden statue that could only say "Yes" or "Okay."

What I can rely on is far more than just the sect, isn't it?

You want me to control him, right? Fine.