Chapter 178 – Good Citizen
Old Master Yan was momentarily intimidated by such a gaze, but it never crossed his mind that a nobleman from Xijing would appear in this cave late at night. He simply assumed Long Yu was a bad influence that Yan Xiaosi had made friends with outside.
As someone who had served as a county magistrate, he wasn’t easily frightened by someone else’s gaze.
Old Master Yan steadied himself and gave Long Yu a cold glance, speaking with a hint of authority, “This is a matter of the Yan family, and it would be best for outsiders not to meddle.”
When Long San made a move, Yan Wenfeng wanted to warn Old Master Yan, but Long Yu’s aura was so intimidating that Yan Wenfeng found himself unable to utter a word, despite his throat moving.
Long Yu smiled and said, “What if I decide to meddle in this affair today?”
Hearing this, Yan Xiaosi felt the tension in her heart slightly ease.
With the Yan family’s numerous and strong members, relying on her cultivated spiritual power, she might be able to scare them away. However, using her spiritual power in front of Long Yu would expose some secrets. If Long Yu intervened, she wouldn’t need to use her spiritual power.
She looked at Long Yu with gratitude in her eyes.
It seemed that General Zhan had guessed that the Yan family would come here tonight to cause trouble, so he came under the pretext of having a meal to help.
Old Master Yan snorted coldly and tapped his cane on the ground.
“To meddle in our Yan family’s affairs, you would need to have the capability, young master.”
Long San, furious, shouted coldly at Old Master Yan, “How dare you! A retired county magistrate speaking to my general in such a manner.”
Never had anyone dared to speak to his master like that. Even the current Emperor and the Empress Dowager would show respect to his master.
Hearing the word ‘general,’ Old Master Yan’s expression momentarily froze.
No wonder when he first entered the cave, he felt an imposing aura from this man. Could this man be the general from Xijing?
Remembering that Yan Xiaosi was once summoned to the county court, his grip on his cane trembled.
Yan Wenfeng took a deep breath, trying to suppress the fear in his heart. He walked weakly to Old Master Yan’s side and whispered, “Grandfather, the man wearing the mask is General Zhan from Xijing.”
Hearing this, Old Master Yan nearly fainted.
Having offended this nobleman from Xijing, what future did the Yan family have?
Struggling to maintain his composure, filled with regret, Old Master Yan asked Yan Wenfeng, “Wenfeng, if you knew, why didn’t you warn me earlier?”
“Grandfather, it’s not that I didn’t warn you. I’ve only met General Zhan once. By the time I recognized him, you had already clashed with him.”
By saying this, Yan Wenfeng avoided being scolded by Old Master Yan. If Old Master Yan knew he was too intimidated by General Zhan’s aura to speak, he would be extremely disappointed.
Old Master Yan and Yan Wenfeng’s conversation was not heard by Ms. Li. She saw Old Master Yan, who was just now full of intimidating presence, suddenly look as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant.
“Father, what’s wrong with you? Yan Xiaosi, that bastard, caused our family head to be thrown into the county jail. Father, why don’t you order the servants to capture this bastard and punish him severely?”
Slap!
Before Ms. Li could finish her words, her face was struck by a hard slap.
Long Yu’s appearance tonight was obviously to protect Yan Xiaosi. It seemed that this noble person from Xijing valued Yan Xiaosi highly.
His eldest son had been thrown into the county jail, ruining his reputation. He would never have a chance to enter officialdom again in his lifetime. For such a worthless son, offending this nobleman from Xijing and Yan Xiaosi was not worth it.
Old Master Yan’s mind raced as he quickly weighed the pros and cons before raising his hand and delivering a harsh slap to Ms. Li’s face.
Ms. Li’s cheek immediately turned bright red, burning with pain.
“Dad, it was Yan Xiaosi who did wrong. Why are you hitting your daughter-in-law?” she protested.
“Ignorant woman, shut your mouth,” Old Master Yan coldly reprimanded, glaring at Ms. Li with a clear warning in his eyes.
Ms. Li was intimidated by Old Master Yan’s gaze and reluctantly closed her mouth.
Seeing Ms. Li quiet down, Old Master Yan sighed in relief and knelt on the ground, leaning on his cane.
“Commoner Yan Boxian pays respects to General Zhan. I was unaware of General Zhan’s presence here and have caused offense. I hope for your understanding and forgiveness,” he pleaded.
Old Master Yan’s actions and words stunned Ms. Li, Yan Shujing, and several of the Yan family servants who had come along.
Yan Shujing’s gaze shifted to Long Yu, examining him carefully. When she first entered, like Old Master Yan, she thought Long Yu was just a bad influence Yan Xiaosi had befriended outside and didn’t take him seriously, giving him only a cursory glance.
Now, taking a good look at Long Yu, she realized that this General Zhan from Xijing was indeed extraordinary. The half of his face that was visible was very handsome, and she found herself curious about the half hidden behind the mask. Such a person of his stature surely wouldn’t be lacking in looks.
“Commoner Yan Shujing pays her respects to General Zhan. My grandfather’s actions were unintentional, and I hope General Zhan can forgive him.”
Ms. Li turned her head and saw that Yan Wenfeng and the other Yan family servants, just like Old Master Yan, were already prostrate on the ground, and Yan Shujing was also bending over in a bowing posture.
“Commoner pays her respects to General Zhan.”
Thinking of her recent insults towards Yan Xiaosi, Ms. Li fell to her knees, trembling like a leaf.
Yan Shujing maintained her bowing posture, speaking softly and waiting for Long Yu to instruct her to rise. However, Long Yu didn’t even spare her a glance and directly addressed Old Master Yan, “Yan Bozhang, as the steward of Xize County, colluded with several local ruffians and used money to harm the good citizen Yan Xiaosi. This act violates the laws of our Great Chu Dynasty. It was I who ordered him to be thrown into the county jail. If Old Master Yan has any complaints, feel free to discuss them with me.”
The term “good citizen” not only caused Yan Xiaosi’s mouth to twitch, but Long San’s mouth also spasmed violently.
Yan Xiaosi felt that labeling her as a “good citizen” was quite a stretch.
In Long San’s mind, if someone like Young Master Yan could be called a good citizen, then the Great Chu Dynasty would have no troublemakers and the world would be at peace.
This was clearly a defense of Yan Xiaosi. Old Master Yan wasn’t foolish and quickly expressed his position: “I have no complaints. My son was foolish and made a mistake. Being thrown into the county jail by General Zhan is what he deserved. I blame no one else.”
Long Yu pursed his lips in satisfaction.
“It’s good that you understand, Old Master Yan.”
His icy words resonated above them. Old Master Yan, sweating coldly, didn’t dare to raise his head to look at Long Yu.
Long Yu continued eating his meal, leaving the Yan family members kneeling or maintaining their bowing postures.
After about a quarter of an hour, he finally put down his chopsticks and casually looked at the Yan family members still kneeling on the ground.
