Chapter 100: Ambush on the Outskirts of the City

At this moment, inside Xiang Junzheng’s study, Xiang Junzheng and Qing Yu were locked in an embrace. Flowers were scattered across the floor, and the inkstone on the desk had been overturned, ink spilling out and staining the rice paper on the table. Driven by the drug, the two passionate individuals were even more frenzied. In truth, the amount of drug Feiying had released was very small, to prevent Xiang Junzheng from noticing afterward, but it could not withstand the mutual affection of the two.

The servant guarding the door outside heard it clearly, his heart pounding. While praying for the two to finish quickly, he could not help but lament: "This is far too bold. In broad daylight, and in the study at that; if the Second Lady finds out, my little life will be in jeopardy."

But both of them were under the influence of the drug, and Xiang Junzheng was so proud of his own virility today that how could he finish so quickly?

Yet, just as the two were engrossed in their tossing and turning, they heard the servant outside shout loudly: "Second Lady! Why have you come?"

Before Lady Li even approached the study, she heard the panting and the delicate, charming pleas for mercy from inside from afar. Lady Li gritted her teeth until they creaked, her eyes nearly spitting fire, and she rushed over in two or three strides.

The servant was so terrified he lost his wits, thinking to himself that he was done for; he only had time to shout once more: "Second Lady, why have you come?" before being shoved aside by Lady Li.

The servant’s shout brought the two engrossed people in the study back to their senses, and they scrambled to pull on their clothes.

Lady Li kicked the door open, the study door letting out a "bang" that shook the rafters with its force.

The servant guarding the door only felt a gust of wind by his ears and a flash before his eyes as Lady Li rushed into the room, and immediately, sounds of crashing and screaming erupted from within.

The servant could not stop wailing in his heart: "It's over, it's truly over."

Lady Li rushed in and climbed onto Qing Yu, hitting and scratching her. Qing Yu desperately protected her face, terrified of being scratched and disfigured.

Lady Li hit and cursed as she did so: "I’ll beat you to death, you shameless hussy! You actually crawled into bed right under my nose. I’ll beat you to death, beat you to death!"

Seeing Qing Yu being beaten helplessly by that shrew, Xiang Junzheng felt a wave of pity. He pushed Lady Li away.

Lady Li fell flat on her back, even more enraged to the point of madness. With a howl, she scrambled up: "Fine! You actually dare to push me! You heartless thing, I’ll fight you to the death!"

Lady Li charged toward Xiang Junzheng, and another round of brawling ensued.

Xiang Zhudie, who was busy applying powder and rouge, had long known about the commotion caused by Lady Li breaking into Xiang Junzheng’s study, but she did not want to pay attention, nor did she have the time; she had an appointment today. It was not the first or second time her parents had fought; as long as it didn't cost a life, she didn't care who managed it.

Two matrons could no longer stand by and watch; the study had been in an uproar with people crying for their parents for quite a while, and they feared that if it continued, someone might die. The matrons could not worry about much else and hurried forward, attempting to pull the two brawling people apart. But just as they got close, Lady Li swung her arm with force, and one matron stumbled and fell to the ground.

Only a crisp "slap" was heard as Lady Li’s swinging arm struck Xiang Junzheng’s face, her nails raking across his cheek, and blood immediately appeared on his face.

Xiang Junzheng only felt a burning pain on his face, so angry that his eyes were about to split; a shrew, this was simply a shrew!

Xiang Junzheng slapped Lady Li hard and roared: "Enough! Look at what you look like!"

Lady Li was stunned by the blow, clutching her face and looking at Xiang Junzheng in disbelief. She had not expected Xiang Junzheng to hit her, his legal wife, for the sake of this vixen. With nowhere to vent the pent-up anger in her heart, she turned to hit Qing Yu again. Qing Yu had long been scared out of her wits and was hiding to the side, weeping. She had thought Lady Li would go crazy, but she hadn't expected her to be this severe, and she couldn't help but look helplessly at Xiang Junzheng.

Xiang Junzheng felt even more pity for Qing Yu and grabbed Lady Li’s hand, which was about to land on Qing Yu’s face, and pushed her away:

"If you don't stop now, don't blame me for divorcing you."

Lady Li stumbled from the push, and upon hearing the word "divorce," she panicked, and her wailing stopped abruptly.

Seeing that Lady Li was no longer clamoring, Xiang Junzheng glanced at her, his eyes filled with annoyance. He put his arm around Qing Yu and flicked his sleeves, leaving.

While the Second Branch was in such a state of chaos, on the other side, Xiang Zijin’s carriage was rushing toward the outskirts of the city.

Outside the carriage curtains, the sky was barely bright, the morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the distant mountains were faintly visible.

"Master, the Second Branch is acting like that; let me slaughter them all to save them from causing trouble," Guazi said.

"Slaughtering them is easy, but we cannot leave behind any evidence. We cannot focus too much of our attention on the inner residence; we have more important things to do. As for them, there is no rush; someone will deal with them eventually," Xiang Zijin said with a faint smile, unhurriedly.

Guazi nodded, half-understanding, and stopped fretting; in any case, listening to the Master was all that mattered. Guazi’s martial arts were better than Huasheng’s, but she was a step behind in worldly wisdom; this girl’s way of handling things was just her fists. Xiang Zijin smiled and said no more. Having rested late last night and risen before dawn today, she felt a bit weary and leaned against the carriage wall for a nap, a trace of fatigue showing between her brows. Guazi picked up a cloak and gently covered Xiang Zijin with it, sitting to the side with her hand on the short blade at her waist, her eyes alert.

The carriage sped along the official road, the wheels grinding over pebbles and making a slight creaking sound. Driving the carriage was Feiying, wearing a bamboo hat. Feiying held the reins, no longer the goofy figure he usually was in front of Xiang Zijin; his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s, constantly vigilant of the movements around them.

The carriage drove into a dense forest, the shadows of the trees swaying, and sunlight cast mottled light and shadows through the branches and leaves. Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the morning silence, and dozens of arrows shot out from the woods on both sides like raindrops.

The carriage jolted violently, and Feiying quickly pulled the reins, the horses neighing as they came to a stop. Feiying let out a low roar: "Master, there is an ambush!"

Guazi instantly leaped out of the carriage, her short blade unsheathed, the blade light like lightning, hacking several arrows to the ground before blocking in front of Xiang Zijin. The arrows flew past the carriage and nailed into the ground.

Xiang Zijin opened her eyes abruptly. "Just in time; I was worried about having nowhere to stretch my muscles," Xiang Zijin chuckled, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.

Not many people knew she was going to the Divine Arm Camp these few days; it seemed that those who came to intercept and kill her were acquaintances. She wanted to see who was so impatient to see her.

Before the words had faded, dozens of black shadows darted out from the woods by the road, holding sharp blades, their eyes fierce. Without a word, they lunged straight at the carriage.