“Who are you? What do you want?” an old man with white hair shielded a young girl behind him.
Though dressed in coarse linen, the girl’s inherent beauty was undeniable.
Moreover, the hand clutching the parcel was adorned with slender, jade-white fingers, hinting at a pampered upbringing as a noble lady accustomed to a life of ease.
The man blocking the grandfather and granddaughter was burly with a full beard, his square face devoid of any uprightness, instead radiating extreme vulgarity. His eyes were fixed on the girl behind the elder.
A smile curved his lips as he narrowed his eyes, “I advise you to hand over your granddaughter obediently, and I’ll spare your old life. Otherwise…”
The bearded man grinned wickedly. The girl behind the elder bit her lower lip fiercely, her rosy lips turning pale from the bite.
The elder, glaring at the bearded man, erupted in a torrent of curses, “In broad daylight, under the clear sky, you… you actually abduct a civilian girl! You will be convicted.”
“Convicted… Hahaha…” The bearded man laughed arrogantly, followed by a cold sneer, “The current Commandant is my brother, Zhu Keyu. Have you heard of Commandant Zhu?”
The elder’s body trembled, “You…”
“Scared? If you’re scared, hand over your granddaughter.” the bearded man said impatiently.
He had been coveting the girl behind the elder for many days.
“Grandfather…” the girl whimpered, hiding behind the elder, not daring to look.
The elder’s face was filled with compassion and sorrow, lamenting, “I never imagined I would come to this day.”
“Enough nonsense, hand over the person, and I’ll spare your old life,” the bearded man snorted coldly.
Just as the elder was about to refuse, he suddenly saw the person behind the bearded man, and his entire body jolted.
“Lord Zhou, long time no see!” a young man in a Commandant’s uniform stood there.
The bearded man turned his head, and upon seeing the young man, his eyes widened in surprise, “Why are you here?”
“Brother, these two are wanted criminals of the court. It’s fortunate that Brother captured them. I will report to the Regent and help Brother secure an official position,” Zhu Keyu said.
The bearded man’s eyes lit up, “Excellent. Don’t forget.”
“Brother, you jest. When have I ever gone back on my word?”
The bearded man glanced reluctantly at the girl behind the elder. Thinking of the official position he would soon hold, he felt no regret.
Watching his brother depart, Zhu Keyu waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him surrounded the elder and the girl.
“Brother Yu, what are you doing?” The girl was still somewhat disbelieving, looking at Zhu Keyu with an incredulous expression.
A fleeting, indescribable emotion crossed Zhu Keyu’s gaze, but it quickly vanished. He lowered his head, looking at the jade ring on his finger, and slowly took it off.
The girl’s body trembled, and she said hollowly, “Brother Yu, you…”
When Zhu Keyu raised his head again, his gaze held no other emotion, only a cold stare. He said coldly, “Lord Zhou, if you willingly come with this official, I will not trouble you or Miss Zhou. Otherwise… do not blame me for disregarding our past camaraderie as officials.”
Zhou Lijun took a step back, her face turned deathly pale, her voice as light as a feather, “Brother Yu, you’ve changed…”
Zhu Keyu did not reply, only looking at Zhou Zhengtong.
Zhou Zhengtong patted his granddaughter’s hand and said, “Lijun, you see how some people will stop at nothing for their future. His heart only knows ruthless ambition.”
Zhou Lijun’s face was pale and bloodless. She bit her lower lip, “Grandfather, what should we do?”
Zhou Zhengtong gazed into the distance. Was heaven determined to destroy his Zhou family?
Was it worth it, to have his family ruined simply for refusing to collude with the Regent?
Zhu Keyu gave Zhou Zhengtong no chance. He waved his hand and said coldly, “Take them. If they resist, kill them without mercy.”
Zhou Lijun shivered. For the first time, she saw a strange, cold side to the Brother Yu who had once been gentle to her.
So cold-blooded and ruthless, kill without mercy?
She smiled, a desolate smile like the autumn rain.
“Well said, ‘kill without mercy.’ I never knew that in broad daylight, under the clear sky, someone would brazenly utter those four words.”
A clear, melodious voice echoed coldly from a distance. Everyone turned towards the source of the sound.
They saw a slender figure slowly approaching.
A long dress of water and sky color trailed behind her as she walked. The hem danced in the wind, swaying with her black hair that cascaded down her back.
Her steps were slow, yet steady.
The girl wore a veiled hat. Although her face was hidden by the light gauze, a gust of wind revealed her side profile, which was remarkably beautiful.
The girl stopped. She stood there, unmoving, her eyes, through the light gauze, fixed on Zhu Keyu.
Cold as frost.
Those eyes seemed vaguely familiar.
Then, the girl’s red lips parted slightly, “May I ask, Commandant Zhu, what crime has this old man committed that requires you to decree ‘kill without mercy’?”
Zhu Keyu pursed his lips and said coldly in a low voice, “Young lady, I advise you one thing: it is better to mind your own business.”
The girl’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Is that so? But I enjoy meddling. Does Commandant Zhu also intend to ‘kill me without mercy’?”
Zhu Keyu narrowed his eyes. This unexpected interruption was ruining his plan.
“You exaggerate, girl. This official will not kill innocent people without cause,” Zhu Keyu said.
“Then may I ask, sir, what crime has this elder committed? If he truly has a crime, I will leave immediately. If not…”
The girl looked up, her eyes beneath the veil clear and unwavering, “I will see this through to the end.”
Zhu Keyu gasped and said coldly, “Do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.”
The girl scoffed, “I never drink forfeits.”
Zhu Keyu smiled coldly, his gaze hardening. “Since that is the case, do not blame this official for not giving you a chance.”
He waved his hand and commanded coldly, “Take them down.”
The girl narrowed her eyes, about to speak, when someone else did, “Commandant Zhu.”
Zhu Keyu looked up at the newcomer, his gaze icy. “This subordinate did not realize that the Prime Minister enjoys meddling in affairs.”
Hua Yunjin hurried forward and immediately saw the veiled girl surrounded by the crowd. Seeing that she was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He approached Zhu Keyu and said sternly, “Commandant Zhu, regarding Lord Zhou’s case, this Prime Minister needs to re-examine it. Commandant Zhu will likely not be able to take Lord Zhou away.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Keyu looked down at Hua Yunjin dismissively and said coldly, “Prime Minister, by opposing this subordinate in such a manner, are you not afraid that the Regent will be displeased with you?”
“The Regent has been displeased with this Prime Minister for more than a day,” Hua Yunjin replied indifferently.
Zhu Keyu was speechless with anger. If Hua Yunjin did not have the Empress’s backing in the form of the Phoenix Concealment, he would have died countless times by now.