Chapter 250: The Doomsday of the Enemy

In Baihuayuan.

Although it was winter, the garden was filled with blooming flowers, a riot of red and purple.

A breeze brushed past, and flower petals drifted down.

On the flower path in the very center, Bai Qingtong was walking and talking with a tall woman dressed in purple martial attire.

The woman had a graceful figure, wore her hair in a high ponytail, had a long sword hanging from her waist, and radiated a unique, heroic aura.

When Luo Zijun entered from the garden gate, she seemed to notice him immediately; she stopped in her tracks and looked over with a sharp gaze.

Bai Qingtong also stopped walking.

Luo Zijun hurried over and cupped his hands in a salute, though he did not know how to address her.

Bai Qingtong quickly explained: "Brother-in-law, this is Ziyi. She is a personal guard by the Queen's side and also a commander of the Imperial Guard. She came today because the Queen ordered her to help you."

Luo Zijun felt a surge of joy and hurriedly lowered his head to salute: "Luo Zijun greets Ziyi."

Ziyi's gaze, sharp as a blade, scanned him up and down, and she said coldly: "Young Master Luo, there is no need for formalities. Her Majesty ordered me to come find you and told me to await your orders at any time."

Luo Zijun looked up at her and asked: "I wonder how many men Ziyi can take out of the city?"

Ziyi's gaze was cold as she said: "Three hundred archers and five hundred Imperial Guard soldiers. If that is not enough, I can also mobilize the garrison of the Xingguang Camp outside the city."

Luo Zijun quickly said: "That is enough, that is enough. I wonder when Ziyi can take the men and depart?"

Ziyi said: "At any time."

Luo Zijun asked: "Can we move quietly, without letting others know?"

Ziyi said coldly: "Then we shall depart late at night, wait at the military camp outside the city, and blend in with the garrison there."

Luo Zijun pondered for a moment, cupped his hands, and said: "Then I will trouble you, Ziyi. Let us depart tonight and wait for my notification outside the city, is that acceptable?"

Ziyi took out a token, handed it to him, and said: "Once you leave the city, send someone to the Xingguang Camp to notify me, and I can bring the men over at any time."

Luo Zijun hurriedly took the token and said: "Many thanks."

Ziyi said nothing more and left directly.

Bai Qingtong hurried to follow: "Ziyi, I will see you out."

Luo Zijun rubbed the token in his hand, thought carefully for a while, looked up at the sky, and prepared to leave the estate.

Just as he reached the gate, Bai Qingtong returned and asked hurriedly: "Brother-in-law, where are you going? You aren't planning to go to Jile Villa right now, are you?"

"Jia Mansion."

Bai Qingtong was stunned, then immediately realized: "I will go with you."

Saying this, she hurried to call for a carriage.

The two boarded the carriage, and seeing that he was deep in thought, Bai Qingtong did not dare to disturb him.

The carriage soon stopped in front of the Jia Mansion.

It was already evening, and the setting sun was hanging on the horizon, about to sink below the mountains.

Jia Tanchun soon heard the news and came out to welcome them.

As the group walked up the steps, Jia Tanchun leaned toward Luo Zijun and whispered: "Young Master Luo, after Lai Da returned, he resigned from his position as the chief steward of the mansion. Today, he even sent some of the Lai family's younger generation out of the city; it seems he is already preparing to leave this place."

Luo Zijun asked: "Is he still in the mansion now?"

Jia Tanchun said: "He is. Lai Mama has not left yet, and he is still trying to persuade Lai Mama to leave with him. Today, Lai Mama made a scene in front of the Old Ancestor, claiming that someone wants to harm their Lai family."

The two walked up the steps and said no more.

A smile appeared on Jia Tanchun's face as she said: "Young Master Luo, Baoyu has missed you; you finally thought to come see him today."

The group walked into the courtyard.

Luo Zijun, with a face full of smiles, talked with Jia Tanchun as they went to the back courtyard.

At the same time.

A servant quietly left the front courtyard and went to a small courtyard in the back.

Lai Da was wearing loose robes and was slowly practicing boxing in the courtyard, which looked like ordinary exercise.

The servant pushed the door open and entered, standing to the side with a bow, not daring to speak.

Lai Da finished another round, stood his ground, retracted his fists, exhaled a long breath with his eyes closed, then opened his eyes and looked at him: "What is it?"

The servant said respectfully: "Master, that brat has arrived."

Lai Da's gaze turned cold: "Where did he go?"

The servant said: "He went to the back courtyard with Bai Third Miss, saying they were going to see Second Master Bao."

Lai Da's expression turned gloomy, shifting for a moment before he said: "Pack your things tonight, leave the city tomorrow, and go wait for me at Jile Villa first. Once I finish handling the remaining matters here tomorrow, I will come find you."

The servant hesitated for a moment and asked: "Master, are we really going to leave this place? Aren't you already in the clear?"

Lai Da sneered: "Being in the clear now does not mean I will be in the clear later. That brat has now climbed to the top of the branch, and this Jia Family can no longer be relied upon. If I don't leave now, I fear that when I want to leave later, I won't be able to."

The servant did not dare to say more, lowered his head, retreated, and helped him close the door.

"Bang!"

Lai Da's figure suddenly appeared in the corner, and with one punch, a large tree trunk in the corner was instantly shattered.

Luo Zijun met Jia Baoyu in the back courtyard; the other party was incredibly excited, holding his hand and talking incessantly.

Jia Tanchun, Lin Daiyu, and the others were giggling on the side.

The sun soon set.

In the Jia Mansion, lanterns were hung up, and some precious Moonlight Stones were even embedded in the walls, on the wooden pillars of the corridors, and along some small paths; under the moonlight, they emitted a faint glow, making the mansion much brighter.

It was said that the Jia Mansion was in decline, but the level of luxury was still incomparable to that of ordinary wealthy families.

Seeing that it was already dark outside, Luo Zijun took the opportunity to rise and take his leave.

Jia Baoyu was reluctant to let him go, pulling on his sleeve and begging him to stay the night for a long talk.

Luo Zijun used the excuse that his wife was waiting at home, and he quickly left with his sister-in-law, who had been giggling the whole time.

Jia Tanchun led her maidservants, escorting the two of them all the way.

Just as they were nearing the front courtyard, Luo Zijun suddenly saw a familiar figure on the veranda to the right, holding a broom and sweeping the fallen leaves on the ground.

Luo Zijun narrowed his eyes and said, "Miss Tanchun, you go ahead and talk with the Third Miss first; I will be over in a moment."

After speaking, he walked straight toward the figure on the veranda.

Bai Qingtong hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice to the person behind her, "Hua'er, you wait here."

Hua'er said in a low voice, "Yes, Miss."

The group then continued to walk forward.

Luo Zijun climbed the steps, stepped onto the veranda, and looked at the figure sweeping the floor, saying, "Oh, Steward Lai is sweeping the floor himself?"

Lai Da looked up gently, his face immediately full of smiles: "So it is Young Master Luo."

He then sighed and said, "Alas, I am no longer the steward of this Rongguo Mansion. I am getting old, and the Master and Mistress saw that I was pitiful and took pity on me; they have already removed my lowly status and are preparing to let me return to my hometown to retire."

Luo Zijun asked in surprise, "Is that so? Can Steward Lai bear to leave this place?"

Lai Da gave a bitter smile: "What if I can't bear it? When a person is old, they are useless; why insist on lingering here?"

Luo Zijun said, "I heard that over these years, Steward Lai has earned quite a lot of silver in the Jia Mansion, not only buying several mansions but also building a Xiaoguanyuan. By the way, I heard that Steward Lai also opened a distillery that brings in a fortune every day."

Lai Da's eyelids twitched as he looked at him, but he did not speak again.

Luo Zijun seemed to suddenly remember something else: "Oh, I almost forgot. I heard that Steward Lai's distillery sold fake liquor and was burned to the ground by someone. Those mansions and the Xiaoguanyuan and such have all been sold to pay off debts. It seems you are now penniless? Also, I heard that your nephew, Steward Lai, was beaten to death by those customers. Is that true?"

The muscles on Lai Da's face twitched, and his gaze stared at him like a venomous snake.

Luo Zijun met his gaze for a moment and said calmly, "It seems Steward Lai has already guessed it. However, I still wanted to tell you myself... it is not over yet."

Lai Da gripped the broom in his hand, his teeth grinding with a creaking sound.

Luo Zijun suddenly added, "By the way, I heard that Steward Lai still has a property outside the city?"

The muscles on Lai Da's face twitched a few times, and a trace of mockery suddenly appeared in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, "Boy, don't get too carried away. The higher you climb, the harder you fall! That place, let alone a mere Matrilocal Son-in-law of the Bai Family like you, even the head of the Bai Family would not dare to touch it."

"Oh? It seems Steward Lai is not just a dog of the Jia Family. However, no matter whose dog it is, as long as it is a dog, it will definitely be beaten to death."

Luo Zijun said no more and smiled to bid farewell.

"Steward Lai, I hope that when we meet next time, you will still be as healthy as you are today."

After speaking, he turned and left.

Lai Da stood on the veranda, his gaze staring viciously at his gradually receding back, and the handle of the broom in his hand turned to powder with a "Crack!"

Luo Zijun and Bai Third Miss left the Jia Mansion together and boarded a carriage.

Lanterns lit up on the street, and pedestrians were as thick as weaving, a scene of prosperity.

"Third Miss, help me send someone to keep an eye on the Jia Mansion to see if he leaves the city tonight."

"Hmm. Brother-in-law, when will you take action?"

Luo Zijun lifted the curtain and looked at the street outside, saying, "Tomorrow, before dawn. We must give him some time to prepare."

Bai Qingtong said, "Then I will go with Brother-in-law tomorrow morning."

Luo Zijun looked at her and said, "It is very dangerous."

Bai Qingtong smiled and said, "Brother-in-law is a scholar and isn't afraid, so what do I have to fear as a martial artist? It is precisely because it is dangerous that I must go to protect Brother-in-law."

Luo Zijun stared at her for a while and asked, "What is Third Miss's cultivation level now?"

Bai Qingtong said with some pride, "I am about to break through to the Six Realms."

Luo Zijun said, "Third Miss is truly amazing, both scholarly and martial. By the way, can I still practice martial arts now?"

Bai Qingtong shook her head: "Martial arts must be practiced from childhood, and one needs a Medicine Bath every day, as well as tonics; it is very troublesome. Brother-in-law, it is too late for you now."

"Oh."

Luo Zijun nodded.

Bai Qingtong smiled slightly and said, "Brother-in-law, don't worry. In the future, I will protect you. You just need to focus on your studies."

The carriage soon arrived at the Bai Mansion.

After Luo Zijun got off the carriage, he said, "Third Miss, go back first. I am going to the Su Guo Fu."

Bai Qingtong blinked and said, "Can your sister-in-law go with you?"

"No."

Luo Zijun refused: "I need to have a private word with my sister and brother-in-law."

Bai Qingtong hummed and said, "Stingy."

Saying this, she entered the Anguo Mansion herself.

Luo Zijun went straight to the Su Guo Fu, but at this time, his brother-in-law was still on duty.

Luo Zijun sat in the small courtyard, eating the dinner his sister had made while chatting with her, his mood feeling exceptionally calm.

After a while, Li Zhengshan finally returned.

As soon as he entered the small courtyard, Luo Zijun stood up and pulled him out, saying, "Brother-in-law, there is something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

Li Zhengshan glanced at his wife in the courtyard, feeling a bit puzzled.

Luo Jiaorong said angrily, "Zijun, what is it that you still have to hide from your sister?"

Luo Zijun said at the door, "It is a matter between men."

At the same time.

In the alley behind the Rongguo Mansion, a carriage slowly drove out from the darkness.

(End of chapter)