"The self-destruction of the Nanxiong Marquisate is also your master's undeniable responsibility. When the beam above is crooked, the beams below will naturally be askew."
"Lu Baohong, why are you glaring at me? The demise of a family, regardless of the reason, whether you admit it or not, ultimately falls on the head of the patriarch."
Lu Baohong's ferocious expression, in Xie Jiang's eyes, was merely that of a sheep that could bite. Even with fangs, it was still a sheep.
The ultimate fate of a sheep was to be either a dish.
Or a pot of soup.
"Knowing full well the heinous deeds Lu Baofang committed, and with the family traditions of your Nanxiong Marquisate, no one expected you to uphold justice and eliminate private interests. Yet, as the head of the family, Old Master Lu not only failed to pull Lu Baofang back from the brink and urge him to repent, but instead offered only unwavering protection and indulgence."
"Calling your family's beam askew is even flattering you."
"Your Lu family's Nanxiong Marquisate has long been rotten to the core. It's only you Lu family members who can't smell that stench."
Lu Baohong was so enraged that his hand gripping the saber trembled. If Xu Hengyan hadn't shot him a warning glance, he would have already swung at Xie Jiang's neck.
Xie Jiang signaled him not to be unreasonable. "Look at you, smoke is practically rising from your head. It's not that serious. You said I ruined your Nanxiong Marquisate, so I'm kindly dissecting it for you."
"The true culprits who ruined your Nanxiong Marquisate are Lu Baofang, that ringleader, and the helmsman of the Lu family, Old Master Lu. I have very little to do with it. I merely saw injustice and spoke out, lending my voice to the oppressed victims who couldn't speak loudly enough."
"There are heads for every debt, and masters for every grievance. Your Nanxiong Marquisate Lu family has met its just deserts."
Lu Baohong stepped forward, his fury uncontrollable. "Xie, are you f**king looking for death!"
Xu Hengyan immediately interjected, "Lu Baohong, think carefully."
Xie Jiang found Lu Baohong's loud voice irritating. "If you find my words too harsh and unpleasant, then what were you doing earlier? If you did it, why are you afraid of others talking about it?"
Xu Hengyan felt her words were entirely accurate, but her habit of pouring oil on the flames...
Lu Baohong was already so enraged. Others' courage was made of flesh and blood, while hers was cast from steel.
Xie Jiang didn't care how angry Lu Baohong was. The angrier he got, the more likely he was to lose his reason, and she might be able to escape with Xu Hengyan in the chaos.
While dying and living together, never leaving each other's side was deeply moving, the trope of a hero saving the damsel was equally popular, and it would save her the trouble of truly becoming a hostage.
"I'm not here to curse your ancestors for eighteen generations. I'm just discussing with you that your Nanxiong Marquisate's affairs have nothing to do with me."
"If you insist on saying they are related, then perhaps they are, but only a little..."
"Besides your Lu family members desperately digging your own graves, the other reason for the demise of your Nanxiong Marquisate Lu family, I think anyone with a brain should have understood long ago, right?"
Lu Baohong, with such a large head on his shoulders, couldn't possibly not understand the implications, could he?
Xie Jiang looked at Lu Baohong.
Lu Baohong mentally cursed the ancestors of the Xie family for eighteen generations.
If Xie Jiang knew Lu Baohong's inner thoughts, she would only thank him on behalf of her ancestors.
"What your Nanxiong Marquisate Lu family has done over the years using the hands of the Nanping Lu clan members, do you really think His Majesty is blind and deaf? The reason he hasn't moved against your Lu clan is simply that His Majesty has been waiting for the right moment. This time, he's conveniently riding the wave of the civilian unrest."
"The reputation of the Lu clan is being trampled into the mud. Even if His Majesty were to annihilate your nine branches of the Lu clan, the common people and all the noble families would not only refrain from criticizing His Majesty but would also clap their hands in celebration and praise His Majesty's wisdom."
Finally, Xie Jiang spread her hands in conclusion. "You still think I'm the one who ruined the Lu clan?"
Lu Baohong stared at her intently, his eyes burning with a fierce rage that distorted his face.
Of course, he knew it was that dog emperor who raised the butcher's knife against their Lu clan!
What real impact could Xie's arrogant strutting in the capital have?
Xie's involvement was merely coincidental.
But Xie was absolutely not innocent!
If it weren't for that bastard Xie stirring up trouble, their Lu clan wouldn't have found a single moment of respite.
No matter how much Xie said, she could never wash the blood of the Lu clan members from her hands!
Xie Jiang felt no fear, only amusement and absurdity. "If you still think that way, then you're a pig, and your whole family are pigs."
Lu Baohong roared and lunged forward to kill Xie Jiang.
Xu Hengyan's imposing presence commanded, "Lu Baohong, do you think I was joking with you just now?"
Xie Jiang watched Lu Baofang, who wanted to kill her but hesitated to actually strike, his face turning purple with suppressed rage. She couldn't help but hold her waist and burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha..."
Lu Baohong was like a puppet, his strings held by Xu Hengyan. When Xu Hengyan pulled, he couldn't move.
It was truly amusing.
Xie Jiang wanted to see him get so angry he'd spit blood but had to swallow it back down.
Xu Hengyan was helpless and shook his head at her, signaling her to stop messing around.
Xie Jiang feigned an innocent and obedient expression.
Although her face was not plump, it looked very touchable. Xu Hengyan's hands itched.
"If that Xie dares to say another word insulting my Lu clan, I will..."
Lu Baofang trembled with rage, taking several deep breaths before managing to suppress his anger somewhat.
He constantly reminded himself of the purpose of capturing Xu Hengyan today. How could he, because of someone named Xie, send the remaining Lu clan members to their deaths?
Xie Jiang waved her hand dismissively. "I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore. Do you think I enjoy talking so much nonsense? What is there about your Lu family worth my insult?"
Saying that, she wiped away some water trickling down from her temples. "What I want to say is that I'm here to accompany Xu Hengyan. I've fulfilled my verbal agreement with you, and it's time for you to fulfill yours, right?"
Xie Jiang scanned the knives and arrows pointed at her. "There's no need for this. Everyone relax. I'm not here to cause trouble today. Just pretend I don't exist."
Lu Baohong gritted his teeth. "What trick are you trying to play!"
"Didn't I say I'm here to accompany Xu Hengyan? I'm not playing any tricks, I'm not doing anything. I'm specifically here to keep Xu Hengyan company."
Xie Jiang put on a friendly smile, trying her best to appear kind, lest Lu Baohong still didn't believe her after she'd said the same thing many times.
"You think I'll believe your nonsense!"
How could Lu Baohong believe that Xie, a person so wicked that even Yama dared not take her, had such a simple purpose for this visit.
"If you break your word, do you believe a lightning bolt from heaven will strike you dead?" Xie's patience was wearing thin, her wet clothes clinging to her.