Chapter 333: Did You Abduct the Young Lady of the Lu Family?

Chapter 333: Did You Kidnap the Lu Family's Young Lady?

Fuming at Qiao Song's arrogance, Liu Jingyuan had to keep his indignation in check. Considering the bigger picture of their plans, he feared Qiao Song might suddenly turn on him, so he had no choice but to bite his tongue and keep enduring.

"Fine!"

The two short words were barely squeezed out through gritted teeth.

Giving a casual salute, Xie Yan was done with the standoff on the city wall. He turned and descended the stone steps back to the temporary camp.

Under the dim candlelight, Old Master Xie carefully wiped the bloodstains from his broadsword, as if reliving his battlefield days.

With advancing age, all he could do was study his sword by candlelight.

After the Xie family was annihilated under trumped-up charges, there were no broadswords, no sharp swords, nor spears—only backbreaking mining work day after day.

At the sound of footsteps, Old Master Xie set down his broadsword and turned to face the newcomer.

"Yan'er, let your grandfather take a look at you," Old Master Xie motioned Xie Yan closer.

Xie Yan removed his mask and knelt before his grandfather.

Old Master Xie gazed at the scars radiating from the corners of Xie Yan's eyes, his expression a mix of sorrow and heartache.

When everything fell apart, it was Yan'er who shielded the last flicker of hope.

"Grandfather, Fourth Brother has married," Xie Yan said, his voice full of pride.

Hearing this, Old Master Xie was truly surprised.

"The one he loves?"

Xie Yan nodded solemnly. "The one he loves."

"The person he would willingly join hands with through life and beyond, without regret."

"As long as it's his beloved, that's good," Old Master Xie said sincerely.

Xie Yan's features relaxed, his tone unconsciously tinged with tender affection. "Grandfather, you've met her before."

Old Master Xie hesitated. "A noble lady from the capital?"

"Or perhaps a general's daughter?"

Xie Yan replied, "Lu Mingchao."

Seeing the light in Xie Yan's eyes and his open adoration, Old Master Xie fully believed the claim of love. His gaze, voice, tone, expression, and every gesture carried emotion. His grandson seemed like his whole being radiated love.

"Lu?"

"A daughter of the Yongning Marquis's household?" Old Master Xie asked, clearly confused.

"Is she from the Marquis's collateral branch?"

Xie Yan set his jaw. "She is the Marquis's own daughter."

Old Master Xie's eyes snapped open in disbelief as he stared at Xie Yan. "The Lu family's young lady who's betrothed to the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo?"

If it was the Lu family's young lady, he had indeed seen her before.

At a tender age, she was both talented and beautiful, the jewel of the capital.

Yet, this jewel had her heart set on Gu Huai of the Duke of Zhenguo, never giving another man a second glance.

If the Xie family hadn't fallen from grace, Yan'er might still have had the standing to compete with Gu Huai. But now...

Even if he favored his own kin, he couldn't lie to himself like that.

He knew of the heir to the Duke of Zhenguo.

Around the same age as Yan'er, from an eminent family, and with the refined appearance of a noble gentleman—he stood above all other young men in the capital, a true paragon.

Suddenly, Old Master Xie's voice turned gravelly as he probed, "Did you kidnap the Lu family's young lady?"

"Or is this just unrequited love on your part?"

"Yan'er, our Xie family does not engage in such deeds."

"Besides, you can't force love. Didn't Second Brother teach you anything?"

Xie Yan's breath hitched.

"Grandfather, there's more to it."

"But Mingchao and I are truly in love. She married me of her own free will."

"What of her betrothal to Gu Huai?" Old Master Xie asked, half-convinced.

Xie Yan replied, "That involves her true origins."

He briefly recounted the events of the past half-year to Old Master Xie.

Sighing deeply, Old Master Xie murmured, "So that's how it is."

"She's carrying your child, yet as her husband, you cannot be by her side..."

"Yan'er, I've never approved of keeping concubines, let alone now that our family is no longer what it once was. She has stood by you through hardship and taken risks with you. In the future, even if the Xie family restores its standing, you must remain devoted to her and never let her feel so much as a moment's unhappiness."

"So, you..."

"Grandfather," Xie Yan looked up. "I will not keep a concubine."

"In this life, there is only her."

Xie Yan's eyes crinkled with affection. "Grandfather, you may not know this, but Mingchao is the type who would leave if the love wasn't returned—she knows when to hold on and when to let go."

"Why would I ever risk upsetting her by taking a concubine? I fear nothing more than her abandoning me."

"To stick together through thick and thin is already a blessing."

"If you met her, you'd come to love her too."

Old Master Xie reached out and patted Xie Yan's shoulder. "I already think the world of her now."

He still remembered that winter when he had just been exiled to the northern lands—Yan'er had moved heaven and earth to send him warm clothes and bedding.

At that time, Yan'er was cold and silent, more like a lifeless shell.

His entire being was filled with piercing bloodlust and hatred.

Back then, Old Master Xie had worried that Yan'er's temperament was flawed and that, over time, he might spiral into catastrophe.

But now, upon their reunion, Yan'er finally looked human again.

The tenderness in his voice when he spoke of Lu Mingchao was unmistakably genuine.

This was good.

"If things in the Northern Frontier go according to plan, you might be able to accompany Mingchao during her childbirth."

Xie Yan said with ironclad certainty, "It will go smoothly."

It had to.

He was worried that the palace sovereign had grown suspicious of Mingchao.

"Grandfather, the two generals holding Zhenzhi Pass for me are my men—trustworthy.

"But they are still green in warfare, so I must trouble you to guide them, to eliminate all hidden dangers at Zhenzhi Pass as quickly as possible and turn it into an iron fortress, rebuilding its defenses."

"After all, we must assume the worst-case scenario."

"After I return to Shengyan Pass with Liu Jingyuan, I will also work to rebuild my power base and regain control of the Northern Frontier Army."

"The Northern Frontier will serve as our base to set things right and crown Huaiqian."

The current emperor would never admit his mistakes, nor would he exonerate the Xie family or the countless other families who had been executed, exiled, or had their properties confiscated.

If the emperor would not grant justice, they would take it themselves.

Old Master Xie nodded. "Rest assured, Yan'er."

"Your grandfather may be old, but I've still got it."

"However, if we are to assume the worst-case scenario, provisions, salt, medicine, and winter cloth must all be stockpiled in advance."

The Northern Frontier was battered by howling winds and bitterly cold winters—such supplies were indispensable.

Xie Yan said, "Grandfather, Mingchao has already prepared everything."

"Nothing will go wrong."

Once again, Old Master Xie was impressed anew.

"Yan'er, you've got yourself a treasure."

"Grandfather, I must go now."

Old Master Xie nodded.

As Xian Yan bid his grandfather farewell, Liu Jingyuan was also drilling into the slack-jawed Tian Binjun.

"Binjun, cut the reckless act," Liu Jingyuan scolded in a low voice. "Exile though he is, Old Master Xie, after tonight's battle, has reclaimed his command—Zhenzhi Pass backs him now."

"Don’t screw this up and let an old fox get the drop on you."

"By then, God himself couldn’t save you."

Tian Binjun scoffed, "Brother-in-law, you’re underestimating me."

"Even if I’m not the most capable, I’m not so incompetent that I can’t handle an old man like Old Master Xie."

"Brother-in-law, just tell me straight—what do you need me to do?"

Liu Jingyuan suppressed his rising anger, scanning their surroundings before repeating: "Same as before—turn Zhenzhiguan Pass into a death trap."

[muttering] "Little Bodhisattva..."