Just after Lu Zhang’s n had left, Lu Yan didn’t have a chance to speak with Lu Qing before the Colonel who escorted Lu Zhang out of the courtyard returned.
He politely cupped his hands towards Lu Yan: "Great General, please release our brothers so they can return to the Capital with us.
Prince Yi said that without evidence, holding them is unjustifiable. He understands your temper is quick and fiery. If detaining them was an act of anger, it’s their honor to appease you.
But these are Prince’s n. Any adjudication should be handled by the Prince, who will then report to the Holy Emperor for a unified decision. Otherwise, it’s private punishnt, sothing the Holy Emperor detests.
The Prince asked to remind the Great General not to repeat this mistake. Even if the Holy Emperor initially believes your actions were impulsive, repeated mistakes will erode that trust."
"You!" Lu Yan, eyes wide with anger, reached for his sword, ready to cut down the annoying Colonel into pieces.
Lu Qing swiftly gestured to Lu Yan’s soldiers: "Untie them and release them."
The soldiers hesitated, glancing at Lu Yan’s burning anger. But seeing he didn’t contradict Lu Qing, they untied Lu Zhang’s n.
The Colonel grinned, bowing to Lu Qing: "Thanks to Prince Xiaoyao for the support!"
With that, he gestured for his n to follow, and they quickly departed, their footsteps fading away.
Lu Yan stood alone, breathing heavily in anger. The quiet around made him more irritable. Unable to bear it anymore, he unsheathed his sword and, with a shout, struck at a tree in the courtyard.
The tree’s trunk, as thick as a large bowl, had stood for years. Lu Yan’s strike cut it cleanly, making it fall. If not for the courtyard wall, soldiers nearby wouldn’t have been able to dodge in ti.
From the soldiers’ reactions, Lu Yan’s temper was expected. None looked surprised; they wisely stayed silent, avoiding any missteps.
"Third Brother, what strength in that strike," Lu Qing remarked, praising the blow, "That’s not sothing ordinary people can achieve."
Lu Yan, expecting criticism, was montarily stunned by the complint, his anger caught and unable to express itself further.
"Hey!" he awkwardly tossed his sword aside, "Brother, what do you an by this?!
If I did wrong, just scold . I’m used to it now. But praising leaves at a loss!"
Lu Qing chuckled, pointing to the room Lu Zhang had just used: "Prince Yi and his n don’t need our help with packing. Why don’t we chat here?
By the looks of it, you won’t be sleeping anyti soon."
"Sleep?! I’m too furious to sleep!" Lu Yan snorted, "Fine, let’s go chat!
You guards, keep watch in the courtyard. If anyone sneaks around, kill without rcy!"
With that, he led the way inside.
Lu Yan motioned Zhu Yu to join him, and whispered as they entered: "Have you seen that Colonel beside Lu Zhang in Shuo Land before?"
"No, never," Zhu Yu confird firmly.
Lu Qing’s eyes twinkled with amusent and nodded, "Intelligence doesn’t always an wisdom, and what seems foolish is not always so."
Zhu Yu nodded understandingly: "I also felt the Colonel overstepped, even overshadowing Lu Zhang.
He seems to defend Lu Zhang, but ruins his relations with others, creating discord at every turn.
Yet Lu Zhang never reprimanded him.
I sensed sothing odd. Perhaps that Colonel is Duke Yan’s confidant, placed to watch over Lu Zhang without undermining his authority.
Lu Zhang knows this. Away from Duke Yan’s guidance, he can’t assert himself in front of the confidant, hence his awkward position now."
"Indeed, that’s what I thought too," Lu Qing nodded, telling Yan Daoxin beside him, "You should rest now. Keep alert tonight; we don’t know if the Fake Castle Master might return for the Chang’e Drunk."
"Don’t worry, I’ll stay awake all night. If the Fake Castle Master doesn’t return by morning, I can rest then," Yan Daoxin nodded, waving Lu Qing on, "Go, clear things with Lu Yan.
With Lu Zhang gone, if the Fake Castle Master doesn’t return, we won’t stay long. Prepare to move, no need to worry about ."
With that, he turned and left.
Lu Qing nodded to the soldiers at the gate. They understood and followed Yan Daoxin, ready to stand guard.
Zhu Yu looked around the courtyard, noticing the absence of the runes and Fu Lu. She looked questioningly at Lu Qing.
Lu Qing, anticipating her question, said, "Don’t worry about them, they might return later."
Knowing they were sent by Lu Qing, Zhu Yu relaxed and followed him inside, carefully closing the door.
As "Chief Historian Yu," Zhu Yu often stayed by Lu Qing’s side. Lu Yan, seeing her enter, wasn’t surprised, assuming she was a trusted subordinate of Lu Qing.
However, seeing Lu Qing move a chair for her first, then sit himself, Lu Yan couldn’t hide his astonishnt.
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