Chapter 179 – Beating a Dog Depends on the Owner
“Oww.”
Finally, Long Yu’s gaze shifted to the Yan family.
Having maintained the bowing posture for so long, Yan Shujing felt like her back was about to break. When Long Yu’s gaze fell upon her, she let out a delicate cry, her eyes slightly teary as she looked at him.
Yan Shujing, not lacking in beauty and deliberately playing weak, tried to seduce Long Yu. Her cry might have softened the hearts of other men, who would have rushed to help her up. Unfortunately, Long Yu was not like other men.
Seeing her act, Long Yu remained completely indifferent. He had intended to allow the Yan family to stand up and leave, but observing Yan Shujing’s eager attempts to seduce him, he changed his mind, picked up his chopsticks again, and took a bite of wild mushroom.
“Madam, this mushroom and meat dish is delicious.”
Hearing such an untimely comment, Ms. Zhong momentarily didn’t know how to react.
“Ah, if General Zhan likes it, please have some more.”
Yan Shujing, who thought she had successfully seduced Long Yu and was about to escape her plight, was caught off guard by his sudden shift of focus, leaving her gritting her teeth and glaring angrily.
Damn this mushroom and meat dish! Was she, Yan Shujing, not even comparable to a plate of mushrooms and meat?
Seeing Yan Shujing’s unsuccessful attempt at seduction and her infuriated look, Yan Xiaosi couldn’t help but secretly laugh, while also admiring Long Yu.
It seemed General Zhan was an expert at discerning true intentions and was not swayed by a woman like Yan Shujing, full of pretense.
Yan Xiaosi clearly saw Yan Shujing’s attempt to seduce Long Yu. As Long Yu’s personal guard, Long San also didn’t miss any of her actions.
The master currently prefers men. This woman’s foolish attempt to seduce the master is laughable. Back in Xijing, many beautiful and noble ladies tried to seduce the master to no avail.
Long Yu, in his leisurely manner, continued to eat for another quarter of an hour. Hearing Old Master Yan’s faint gasps, he finally put down his chopsticks.
“Old Master Yan, considering your old age, I will not hold you accountable today. All of you, stand up and leave quickly.”
Hearing this, the Yan family members sighed in relief.
However, having knelt for so long, they struggled to get up, especially Old Master Yan, who was of advanced age.
Old Master Yan, leaning on his cane, wobbled unsteadily, nearly falling to the ground.
Yan Wenfeng quickly reached out to support him.
Once he was stable, Old Master Yan’s gaze briefly passed over Yan Xiaosi.
At this moment, he both hated and feared his grandson. He dared not provoke him easily now.
“Thank you for your understanding General Zhan,” he said gratefully.
“Let’s go. Wenfeng, Shujing, we’re leaving.”
Just as Old Master Yan, supported by his cane and Yan Wenfeng, turned to leave, Long Yu suddenly stopped them, “Wait.”
Hearing this, the faces of the Yan family members changed dramatically.
Old Master Yan had no choice but to turn back, looking at Long Yu with trepidation and respectfully asking, “Is there anything else General Zhan wishes to instruct?”
Long Yu, with his legs crossed, sat on a stone bench, gently tapping on the stone table with one hand. His expression was inscrutable, making it impossible for others to gauge his mood.
“Yan Xiaosi has been recruited under my command as a military doctor. From now on, he is mine to command. I would like to remind Old Master Yan that even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner.”
Old Master Yan was startled by this.
Fortunately, he hadn’t harmed Yan Xiaosi today. Otherwise, considering how much General Zhan valued his subordinates, the Yan family might have faced severe consequences.
“Thank you for the reminder, General Zhan. I will remember it,” Old Master Yan said respectfully.
Unable to do anything to Yan Xiaosi even with Old Master Yan stepping in, the three members of the Yan family’s first branch were seething with anger, especially Yan Shujing.
Yan Shujing glared resentfully at Yan Xiaosi. How did Yan Xiaosi manage to gain favor with General Zhan?
Though they were indignant about Yan Bozhang being imprisoned in the county jail, in front of Long Yu, they dared not say anything and had to leave the cave silently, swallowing their pride.
As soon as the Yan family had left, Yan Xiaosi, with a sullen face, said to Long Yu, “General Zhan, it’s getting late. You have had your meal, please leave. My elder and second sisters are unmarried girls; it’s improper for you to stay here any longer.”
Long Yu had seen people who burned their bridges after crossing the river, but never someone who did it as swiftly. Irritated, he reminded her, “Yan Xiaosi, don’t forget that I just helped you.”
Hearing Long Yu’s displeased tone, Yan Xiaosi replied with equal displeasure, “General Zhan, you did help me out, and I am deeply grateful, but I am not a dog that you own.”
The corners of Long Yu’s mouth twitched slightly.
So, this sudden change of attitude was because of that remark.
But as the mighty War King of the Great Chu, how could he apologize to such a small creature? Besides, he had said that to protect her.
“It is indeed late, and I have had my fill. I will not disturb madam any further.”
Ms. Zhong, carrying an oil lamp, escorted Long Yu and Long San out of the cave. She quickly returned, put down the lamp, and eagerly asked Yan Xiaosi, “Xiaosi, did you really agree to be a military doctor in General Zhan’s camp?”
Not only was Ms. Zhong anxious, but Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue also nervously looked at Yan Xiaosi.
Yan Shuxue said, “Xiaosi, didn’t you say before that you didn’t want to be a military doctor?”
Yan Shuqin added, “Xiaosi, you are a woman, and the military camp is full of men. How will you live there?”
Yan Shuqin’s concerns were exactly what Ms. Zhong worried about.
Ms. Zhong’s brows furrowed with worry. She sighed heavily and said, “Xiaosi, women are not allowed in military camps. If someone discovers your true identity, you could be punished.”
“Mom, big sister, second sister, I don’t want to go to the military camp either,” Yan Xiaosi said, looking dejected.
“It’s just that today, I carelessly ate all of General Zhan’s imperial pastries bestowed by the Emperor and had no money to pay him back. I had no choice but to agree to be a military doctor. Mom, big sister, second sister, you don’t need to be so nervous. With my intelligence, I will definitely not let anyone discover my true identity.”
“But one can’t hide the truth forever. I’m still not at ease,” Ms. Zhong worried.
“Mom, but I have already agreed. I can’t back out now. We can’t afford to offend General Zhan. For now, he has been kind to us, but such a person, once angered, is much more terrifying than County Magistrate Yao Jin.”
Yan Xiaosi had a general understanding of what kind of person Long Yu was after a couple of interactions. Powerful, decisive, and smart – with her current abilities, she could only try to please him, not offend him.
