Chapter 100: Brother’s Misconduct, Household in Turmoil

Chapter 100: Brother's Misconduct, Household in Turmoil

"Sun Zhipeng is beyond foolish, incited by a servant girl to tarnish someone's honor; after his failure, he refused to reflect and instead hired thugs to attack a man and kidnap his wife; in court, he admitted everything without hesitation, and his past misdeeds were brought up again."

"Public opinion burns like fire and flows like floodwaters. To teach my brother a lesson and resolve the issue, I had Sun Zhipeng reflect on his mistakes in the county jail, and in front of everyone, he publicly apologized to Lu Mingchao."

"And what was the result? Mother, in a fit of rage, pressured Qu Ying to push Lu Mingchao into the icy lake at the magistrate's wife's plum blossom banquet, leading to a complete disaster."

"Afterwards, the feud between the Sun family and Lu Mingchao became deadly, making reconciliation nearly impossible."

"Already drowning in crises, Qu Ying brazenly seduced me, and mother planned a lavish banquet to welcome her into the family."

"One thing after another—how am I to blame for all this!"

"When father defends Sun Zhipeng's wrongdoings, perhaps he should also consider speaking out for me."

"Father, you and mother only have one son left."

"If you keep talking nonsense, the Sun family line will die out."

Old Master Sun's fingers trembled slightly, his thoughts tossed like a storm, uncertain.

After a long silence, he finally managed to utter with difficulty, "Even so, Peng'er cannot die."

"The Sun family's wealth ensures a life of luxury."

Sun Zhiye frowned slightly, his gaze profound, as if trying to pierce through the window lattice to gaze at the distant horizon, and said solemnly, "I aim for far more than a life of luxury."

Sun Zhiye's voice carried a lonely, icy edge, "I want to surpass others and become a business legend."

"So, father, convince mother not to stand in my way."

"A general's success is built on the bones of thousands, as it has always been since ancient times."

"If you come to understand, you can accompany me tomorrow morning to bring my second brother back."

"Mother is naive; let her think my second brother killed himself."

"Father, listen, the courtyard is eerily quiet tonight."

Sun Zhiye waved his sleeves and turned to leave, filled with a heroic spirit.

Old Master Sun watched the figure disappearing into the night, his emotions extremely complex.

The Sun family's lineage...

These few words gripped his lifeline.

Meanwhile, several figures passed by the dilapidated temple in the west of the city.

The old temple, its doors and windows long broken, allowed the fierce wind to sweep through unchecked. Inside, a pile of embers on the ground was barely alive, with only a few sparks struggling in the cold wind.

Around, groups of beggars of all sizes huddled in corners, seeking shelter from the wind, tightly curling up to fend off the biting cold.

"Brother's misconduct,"

"Household in turmoil."

"Wife and brother entangled in adultery,"

"The wastrel died in prison."

"Lies attempt to blot out the heavens,"

"But the net of heaven is vast, and nothing escapes it."

The beggars, too cold to sleep, listened to voices from the alley outside the ruined temple, their hair standing on end.

"The brother is deceitful,"

"The household is in turmoil."

"The wife and brother are entangled in an illicit affair,"

"The wastrel died in prison."

"Lies attempt to blot out the heavens,"

"But the net of heaven is vast, and nothing escapes it."

The beggars unconsciously murmured the repeated verses.

Similar scenes were playing out elsewhere.

As dawn broke, the sky turned gray. Hungry and cold, the beggars huddled in tattered clothes, scurrying through streets and alleys in search of food discarded by the wealthy, nervously recounting the rhymes they had heard in their half-asleep state the night before.

By morning, the rhymes had spread through every street and alley.

The children, though they didn’t understand the meaning, quickly learned the verses and sang them as they played.

Some sharp-minded folks, putting the pieces together, began to connect the dots.

The household is in chaos!

The Sun family in Changhe County is the most haunted; next to them, any other household seems tranquil.

The wife and brother are entangled in an illicit affair!

The cousin staying at the Sun residence, who was engaged to the second young master of the Sun family, ended up as the concubine of the eldest son.

But the second young master of the Sun family is still alive.

Many people whispered this to themselves.

In Changxi Village, where the smoke of cooking fires rises.

The Xie family lives at the mountain’s base, secluded from the village. In the morning air, there’s no scent of food from nearby homes, missing the warmth of daily life, but the fresh mountain breeze carries the scent of nature.

Xie Yan, up early, skipped sword practice and instead set up a straw target by the empty courtyard wall. Dressed in tight martial attire, he held a crossbow.

Lu Mingchao leaned by the window, watching intently.

Xie Yan pulled an arrow from the quiver, nocking it and drawing the bow in one smooth, decisive motion. With a whoosh, the arrow flew like lightning, its whistle slicing through the air. It traced a perfect arc, swift and true, striking the bullseye with unerring precision.

Lu Mingchao couldn’t judge such expert skill.

All she knew was that Xie Yan’s stance was rock-solid, and his arrows packed a punch. With that kind of arm strength, he could probably lift a hundred kilos without breaking a sweat.

Then, arrow after arrow flew.

She soon realized with astonishment that Xie Yan's target was no longer the bullseye of the straw target, but the arrow he had previously shot. Each arrow precisely hit the previous one, without the slightest deviation.

Each arrow followed suit.

The bow stretched like a full moon, the arrow soared like a shooting star.

Every arrow found its mark, without fail.

Lu Mingchao was utterly amazed, her mind reeling for a long while.

This thrilled her even more than discovering Xie Yan's exceptional swordsmanship.

The folks of Changxi Village lauded Xie Yan's hunting prowess as nothing short of masterful. Year-round, even in the harshest winters when snow blanketed the mountains, he never came back without game, which was still somewhat modest.

Lu Mingchao watched with keen interest, stepping forward eagerly, wanting to try her hand.

She had only ever played darts and had never attempted archery.

"A Yan, can I try?"

Xie Yan, calm and collected, with steady breaths, cast a sidelong glance at Lu Mingchao. The intensity in his gaze had already melted into warmth.

As he passed the bow and arrow to Lu Mingchao, he offered a gentle smile. "Mingchao, feel free to try this bow, though it may not suit you well. If archery appeals to you, I can craft a bow tailored to you, making it easier to learn."

Lu Mingchao grasped the bow, feeling its weight, and fumbled with the arrow, trying repeatedly to nock it.

She couldn't proceed; the bow wouldn't budge.

"Mingchao, you need strong arms to draw the bow," Xie Yan said, standing behind her. He enveloped her, guiding her hands, correcting her stance, raising to aim, and the arrow flew from the bowstring, striking the arrow embedded in the straw target.

His warm breath grazed her neck and ears, but Lu Mingchao felt no hint of romance, only pure joy and exhilaration.

The arrow had been guided by her hands, so in a way, it felt like she had shot it herself.

Lu Mingchao adored the instant the arrow cut through the air and struck the target.

Xie Yan chuckled, plucked another arrow from the quiver, and together they sent it flying.

His soft laughter, like the sun's rays, warmed her heart.

"A Yan, I like it."

Lu Mingchao's eyes sparkled.

"You still owe me a few martial arts moves you haven't taught me."

"I'll teach you when the weather warms up and the muscles and bones stretch out."

A myriad of emotions flickered across her brow.