Chapter 31: The Abstinent Lu Households Commander, the Arrogant Saint Heir
Chapter 31: Chapter 31: The Abstinent Lu Households Commander, the Arrogant Saint Heir
The Prefecture City, Jin Guan.
Inside the Jing’an Guard’s North Town Thousand Households in Shu State, the rakish Lu Dingchuan, Households Commander, was focused on his official documents. His robe was open, revealing a chest full of bronze, sinewy muscle.
Following the sound of hurried footsteps, a subordinate rushed in and announced, "My lord, an urgent report from Tongzhou."
"Send them in." Lu Dingchuan looked up, revealing a righteous, square-jawed face with a neatly trimmed mustache.
"Yes, sir!" The subordinate accepted the order and left.
A moment later, Sun Youliang trotted in. The instant he crossed the threshold, he dropped to one knee and announced loudly, "Sun Youliang, officer of the Jing’an Guard’s Tongzhou Hundred Households, pays his respects to the Households Commander!"
"What is it?" Lu Dingchuan lazily sized up Sun Youliang. ’He looks more like a scholar than a warrior, so refined.’
Sun Youliang set down the bundle from his back, took a letter from his robes, and presented it with both hands. "This is a personal letter from Standard-Bearer Pei Shaoqing for the Households Commander. All the details are inside. Please, Lord Households Commander, read it yourself."
A Standard-Bearer standing nearby—round-faced, slightly plump, and fair-skinned, with a bushy beard—strode forward, snatched the letter from Sun Youliang’s hands, and presented it to Lu Dingchuan.
"The son of Marquis Weiyuan... I seem to recall him being just a junior officer, no?" Lu Dingchuan took the letter but didn’t open it right away, asking the question nonchalantly.
Of course he knew that the son of such an important figure was serving as a low-level grunt under his command.
Sun Youliang knew that Zheng Xuancheng must not have sent out the official request for Pei Shaoqing’s promotion yet. He answered respectfully, "In response to the Households Commander, Standard-Bearer Pei performed a great service upon his arrival in Tongzhou. It just so happened that a Standard-Bearer position was vacant, so Hundred Households Commander Zheng appointed him to temporarily fill the role. This should also be mentioned in the letter."
"Heh. So Zheng Xuancheng has a keen eye for talent and knows how to use his people." Lu Dingchuan chuckled, assuming it was just Zheng Xuancheng’s attempt to curry favor with Marquis Wei Yuan’s Mansion. He then looked down, opened the letter, and began to read it carefully. His expression grew darker and darker, his brow knitting into a tight knot.
SLAP! He slammed the letter down on the desk and stared intently at Sun Youliang. "Is this true?"
"I wouldn’t dare lie," Sun Youliang replied respectfully.
Lu Dingchuan’s face was a storm of emotions. ’That disgraceful fool Xu Zhiyong posing as a bandit to commit robbery is one thing—a trivial matter. But Zheng Xuancheng being the Squad Leader of the Profound Sect’s Tongzhou Branch? That’s a huge problem!’
As his superior, he would be held responsible for this oversight.
The only saving grace was that the person who resolved the matter was Pei Shaoqing, who was also part of the Jing’an Guard.
It could be considered an internal correction, a way to redeem the mistake with a meritorious act.
’But the rumors I’ve heard through my channels all said Pei Shaoqing was useless. How is it that the moment he leaves the Capital City, he’s like a tiger unleashed from its cage? Could there be something fishy about all this?’
"A tiger father does not beget a dog son. He is truly the scion of a noble house. Standard-Bearer Pei has done very well." Lu Dingchuan snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Sun Youliang. "You may stay in the Prefecture City for a day. Tomorrow, take my reply and Standard-Bearer Pei’s official letter of appointment back with you."
"Yes, sir!" Sun Youliang agreed, then glanced at the bearded Standard-Bearer before forcing a fawning smile at Lu Dingchuan. "My lord, Standard-Bearer Pei has a few more things for me to convey to you in person. Would it be convenient to dismiss the others?"
Lu Dingchuan simply waved his hand.
The bearded Standard-Bearer bowed and walked out.
"What else does Standard-Bearer Pei have to say? Speak."
Sun Youliang took the bundle from his shoulder, opened it, and produced a pair of exquisitely crafted White Jade Cups. Holding them up with both hands, he said, "These are stolen goods recovered from Zheng Xuancheng’s home. The Standard-Bearer suspects they may hide a secret of the Profound Sect, so he ordered me to bring them for your inspection."
Lu Dingchuan was stunned for a moment, then he chuckled.
’Interesting.’
’This Young Master Pei not only knows how to get things done, but he also knows how to handle people. Was he just playing the fool to catch the wise back in the Capital City? Has he finally dropped the act now that he’s out of his cage?’
"Bring them here," he said with a smile.
"Yes, sir!" Sun Youliang grinned, rose, and presented the cups with both hands. As Lu Dingchuan was admiring them, he added in a low voice, "Standard-Bearer Pei was unable to come and see you in person, my lord, so he specially instructed this subordinate to express his goodwill. I have long heard that the Furong Pavilion in Jin Guan City is filled with beauties as plentiful as clouds. I was hoping I might be so bold as to ask you, my lord, to take this humble one to broaden his horizons when you have the time."
Bribery, after all, was nothing more than gifts of money and women.
"Insolence!" Lu Dingchuan’s smile vanished. His face darkened as he set down the White Jade Cups and rebuked him coldly, "What kind of person do you take me for? As if I would ever frequent a den of vice like that! For Standard-Bearer Pei’s sake, I will overlook this. Now, get out!"
"I misspoke, my lord! Please forgive me!" Sun Youliang broke out in a cold sweat, leaving dejectedly.
"Hmph!" The bearded Standard-Bearer outside the door snorted, gloating. "Everyone in Jin Guan City knows that our Households Commander has impeccable self-control, is uninterested in women, and carries himself like a true gentleman. You deserved that scolding."
"Yes, this humble one is just a vulgar man..." Sun Youliang started to say something placating, but the bearded man had already turned and re-entered the office. He could only lower his head in embarrassment and leave.
’Damn it, I completely misjudged him.’
’I never thought Lu Households Commander was actually a man of integrity.’
"My lord, what’s happened in Tongzhou?" After entering the room, the bearded Standard-Bearer walked right over to Lu Dingchuan and plopped down in his lap to ask.
Lu Households Commander wrapped his arms around the bearded man. "The letter’s on the desk. See for yourself."
Yes, it was true. He had no interest in women.
The bearded man picked up the letter. After reading it, his eyes darted about. "I never imagined Zheng Xuancheng was hiding so deep. Doesn’t that mean there’s a Hundred Households Commander vacancy in Tongzhou now? Oh, my dear lord~"
"Alright, alright, it’s yours, it’s yours." Lu Dingchuan’s face lit up with a grin, but then he sighed. "I really can’t bear to let a stunner like you leave my side. However, I never treat my bed-partner unfairly. Once you get to Tongzhou, investigate this matter thoroughly from start to finish. There might be more to this story."
"Thank you, my lord." The bearded Standard-Bearer was instantly overjoyed. ’I’ve finally made it. No more selling my ass. Once I’m promoted and in Tongzhou, I’ll be in charge of my own territory.’
.........
「At the same time.」
The Kaiyang Saint Heir of the Profound Yellow Sect arrived in Tongzhou.
"We welcome the Saint Heir!"
The Shopkeeper of the Ju Yuan Inn led a group of people to greet him.
The Kaiyang Saint Heir appeared to be in his early twenties. Dressed in spotless white robes and holding a folding fan, he was quite handsome and debonair.
He scanned the bowing crowd condescendingly. "Where is the Sub-Squad Leader of the Tongzhou Branch?"
"Replying to the Saint Heir, the Squad Leader is occupied and cannot leave, so he ordered us to welcome you. I am Old Ma, the Vice Squad Leader of the Tongzhou Branch," the Shopkeeper said with utmost respect.
"Occupied?" The Kaiyang Saint Heir’s face instantly turned cold. He scoffed, "Is he looking down on me, or is he looking down on the Sect Leader?"
Old Ma and the others all frowned inwardly. ’This Kaiyang Saint Heir is far too arrogant. He’s not going to be easy to get along with.’
But what could they do? He was the Saint Heir.
Although he was frustrated, Old Ma didn’t dare show it. "Saint Heir, please see clearly. The Squad Leader is completely loyal to the Holy Sect. He would never have such intentions. He truly is unable to get away."
"Enough. No need to make excuses for him. I will report this matter exactly as it happened," the Kaiyang Saint Heir said.
A young man dressed as an attendant couldn’t help but retort, "You’re being too tyrannical, Saint Heir."
"Insolence!" The folding fan in the Kaiyang Saint Heir’s hand shot out instantly. It struck the attendant, sending him flying back more than ten meters before he crashed heavily to the ground, spitting up blood.
"Xiao Wu!" "Xiao Wu, are you okay?!"
A group of people rushed over to help him up, glaring at the Kaiyang Saint Heir. They were furious, but none dared to speak.
The Kaiyang Saint Heir caught the returning fan and regarded them with cold eyes. "Even a common disciple dares to speak to me with such disrespect. No wonder the Squad Leader dared not to greet me. Does your Tongzhou Branch still belong to my Holy Sect?"
"Saint Heir, please forgive us! It is my failure to discipline my subordinate that led to him offending you. I beg you to show mercy and spare him this one time." The Shopkeeper immediately dropped to his knees to plead.
"Next time, I’ll kill him," the Kaiyang Saint Heir warned with chilling intensity. He flicked his fan open and began to wave it gently. "I have come to Tongzhou on an important mission to hunt down a traitor to our sect. During this time, the Tongzhou Branch will follow my orders exclusively. Do you understand?"
"We obey!" Although they were all seething with resentment, they had no choice but to submit.
The Kaiyang Saint Heir’s face showed a glimmer of satisfaction.