Chapter 91
He had just acted on impulse, lying to Grandma Si that Ah Shu was his sister.
But in truth, Ah Shu really was his sister.
If she was truly his aunt’s daughter, then she was his cousin in the truest sense.
Their blood ties were undeniable, so it wasn’t really a lie after all.
Supported by Luan Feng, Ah Chan tottered forward and waved her little fists at Lu Hanzhi, babbling, “Je-je… Ah-je…”
Lu Hanzhi stepped forward to catch Little Fatty Chan, but then he noticed Ah Chan staring curiously at Ah Shu, who was crouched on the ground.
Ah Shu lifted her face and smiled at Ah Chan. Ah Chan smiled back.
In that moment, the two silly children seemed to form an instant connection. Ah Chan babbled, “Yiya ya wu ah!”
Ah Shu responded, “Mmm mmm mmm… Hee hee hee… Ha ha ha!”
Ah Chan replied, “Hmm hmm… Mmm mmm ya!”
Ah Shu grinned and said, “Hee hee hee… I… I’m called Ah Shu…”
Lu Hanzhi was astonished. He turned to Yuwen Min and said, “She… she can introduce herself?”
Ah Chan tilted his head at Ah Shu. Clearly, self-introduction was still a bit challenging for an eight-month-old baby.
But his big, bright eyes blinked rapidly, showing his deep curiosity about this girl.
Lu Hanzhi introduced Ah Chan, “Ah Chan, call her Aunt.”
Ah Chan curiously stared at this strange aunt in front of him and said, “Ah bu! Ah bu bu!”
Lu Hanzhi burst out laughing. So even this little rascal couldn’t escape from the “Ah bu” curse when calling someone “Aunt.”
Note: aunt is Gugu.
Yuwen Min was also amused. He stepped forward, patted Ah Chan on the head, and said, “For someone so little, Ah Chan speaks surprisingly clearly. That’s really smart.”
Lu Hanzhi asked, “What about Your Highness? When did you start talking?”
Yuwen Min was momentarily stunned before replying, “No one cared.”
Lu Hanzhi looked up at him. Yuwen Min continued, “Who would care when an unfavored prince started speaking?”
As they walked along, Lu Hanzhi increasingly felt the harsh reality of the struggle for the throne.
Even though Yuwen Min had become someone emotionally impenetrable in his darkened state, he was still someone who made people want to step forward and embrace him out of pity.
In the next second, Lu Hanzhi did exactly that.
He stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Yuwen Min’s shoulders, and said, “Maybe no one cared when you first spoke, but someone cares about what you say from now on. My husband, you have me by your side.”
Yuwen Min’s lips twitched. He said, “You’re by my side, but who’s going to be there for that big pig trotter?”
Lu Hanzhi looked surprised. “Last time, Your Highness kissed me so eagerly that I thought you were going to fight him for me! What now? Your Highness just kissing me for fun?”
Yuwen Min: …
Lu Hanzhi wasn’t done yet. “Ugh, why are you men all like this? Shouldn’t you take responsibility after kissing someone?”
Yuwen Min, having lived two lifetimes, felt this was the first time he had ever encountered someone so shameless.
But he truly was willing to take responsibility—as long as you don’t leave.
Then I will be with you for the rest of your life.
Yuwen Min, however, changed the topic. “The secret guards will handle things here and continue investigating. We need to return to the capital quickly. A pigeon message from the capital reports that Yuwen Mingji and Yuwen Jing are likely to make their next move soon.”
Lu Hanzhi sobered up from his teasing and asked, “Have we found out what they’re planning?”
Yuwen Min replied, “Dongping only reported that Yuwen Mingji entered Young Lady Lu Fu’s room and stayed for half an hour before coming out. They must have been plotting something.”
Lu Hanzhi’s expression suddenly turned strange. “Oh? Half an hour? Little Imperial Uncle, quite impressive!”
Yuwen Min: …
Just half an hour—was that even worth mentioning?
I…
Tsk! I never did anything like that!
Why did he always end up being dragged into these strange conversations?
Yuwen Min said, “Anyway, it’s best if we return to the capital as soon as possible. The countryside is even more unsafe.”
Lu Hanzhi nodded. “Alright then, let’s prepare to head back! We’ve gained quite a lot from this trip anyway. If Doctor Lin can heal Ah Shu, we might finally uncover the truth from back then.”
They hadn’t expected that after only one day here, they would have to rush back already.
Originally, they had planned to investigate the truth slowly, but instead, the truth had practically fallen into their laps.
Of course, it wasn’t going to be that easy to uncover everything.
Even if Ah Shu recovered, would anyone believe that the face she wore was truly that of Su Wan’ning?
After staying the night in Xinglin Slope, they packed their belongings the next day and set off for the capital.
Yuwen Min left orders with the secret guards stationed here and also assigned an old maid to manage the household.
He Ming brought the carriage over. Lu Hanzhi carried Ah Chan and got into the first carriage.
Xiao Liuzi no longer rode in the carriage. He and Yuwen Min each mounted a horse.
The group retraced their route, but to avoid unexpected incidents, they took an alternate path.
Even so, as they passed through a small forest, Lu Hanzhi and the others were ambushed by assassins.
Lu Hanzhi stayed inside the carriage with the child, not particularly afraid.
With lightning speed, he used an exchange coupon he had obtained earlier to redeem the highest-grade defensive armor from the exchange shop and put it on Ah Chan. This armor was identical to the one on Yuwen Min’s heavy sword.
It could withstand at least three lethal attacks.
Lu Hanzhi also had a layer of protective armor, but as an adult, he had the ability to escape if necessary.
Outside the carriage, Yuwen Min sat atop his horse, blocking the way in front.
Xiao Liuzi had disappeared somewhere—probably lying in wait.
Lu Hanzhi asked Yuwen Min, “Are they assassins?”
Yuwen Min replied, “Bandits.”
Lu Hanzhi clicked his tongue. “Can’t they think of something new? Always disguising themselves as bandits—have they ever considered the actual bandits’ feelings?”
With a sharp clang, Yuwen Min’s heavy sword struck the ground, embedding itself more than a foot deep.
He stared at the so-called “bandits,” saying nothing, and instead, launched a spinning kick, sending five of them flying.
The remaining attackers charged at him in unison. Yuwen Min swept his cold gaze over them, stepped forward, and drew his heavy sword. With a single slash, a bandit’s head rolled to the ground.
This was the first time Lu Hanzhi had seen Yuwen Min fight. The swift and decisive strikes made his blood boil.
He quickly covered Ah Chan’s eyes just as Yuwen Min’s heavy sword slashed out again, claiming two more heads in a matter of seconds.
Lu Hanzhi couldn’t help but cheer, “Nice one!”
Yuwen Min glanced back at him coldly and said, “Stay hidden!”
The moment his words fell, a whistling arrow sliced through the air. With a swift swing, Yuwen Min’s heavy sword cleaved it in half before it could reach the carriage.
By now, several secret guards had engaged in combat with the remaining bandits.
Lu Hanzhi inhaled sharply. That arrow had been aimed straight at his face.
He patted his chest, then heard Yuwen Min say from outside the carriage, “These people came prepared. This won’t be their only wave.”
Lu Hanzhi asked, “Then what do we do? Should we run?”
Yuwen Min let out a cold chuckle. “Run?”
They were in need of heads to offer to the blade!
In the next second, a flurry of flashing blades and splattering blood filled the air.
Lu Hanzhi lowered the curtain of the sedan chair, covered Ah Chan’s ears, and held him tightly in his embrace.
Outside the carriage, the sounds of combat were as swift and ruthless as slicing melons and chopping vegetables, interspersed with agonized screams. One wave after another, the assassins fell at Yuwen Min’s hands.
Moments later, the commotion ceased. Yuwen Min’s voice rang out, “Xiao Liuzi!”
Xiao Liuzi landed lightly on the ground and saluted Yuwen Min. “Master, the threat from the archers has been eliminated.”
Yuwen Min nodded and looked toward a nearby elevated position. There, a dozen archers stood frozen in place, gripping bows with snapped strings, their faces filled with bewilderment.
In the next instant, a heavy sword flew toward them. In the blink of an eye, they were all sent to meet the King of Hell.
Lu Hanzhi’s heart pounded wildly. Though he had experienced countless battles since transmigrating into this world, this was the first time he had witnessed someone being killed right before his eyes.
At last, he understood why Yuwen Min, after turning to the dark path, was able to single-handedly topple the entire court.
With such martial prowess and courage, even without his descent into darkness, he would have been an extraordinary force to reckon with.
Lu Hanzhi’s palms were slick with sweat. He remained inside the carriage without stepping out, and Yuwen Min did not speak to him further.
Instead, Yuwen Min gave orders to Xiao Liuzi, “Scout ahead and find a household where we can spend the night.”
Xiao Liuzi mounted his horse and rode off. Meanwhile, He Ming, who had been hiding beneath the carriage, crawled out and resumed driving it.
He Ming was likely still in shock—his hands trembled slightly as he held the reins.
Not until Xiao Liuzi successfully located a rural household and arranged accommodations did Yuwen Min lift the carriage curtain and say to Lu Hanzhi, “Let’s rest here for the night before continuing our journey.”
Lu Hanzhi carried Ah Chan out of the carriage. Yuwen Min supported him and studied his face. “Were you frightened?”
Lu Hanzhi shook his head.
Yuwen Min’s expression remained cold as he said, “What you saw just now—that was the real me. I am ruthless and bloodthirsty. I am not a man of pure goodness.”
Lu Hanzhi glanced at him and replied, “I know.”
Yuwen Min continued, “No, you don’t. I have been this way since childhood. Even the eunuchs around me feared me. They all thought I was a monster, a beast. You don’t need to pretend otherwise.”
Lu Hanzhi thought to himself, How could I not know what kind of person you are?
I’ve read the original story and witnessed how you swept through your enemies like cutting melons. How could I not know what kind of person you are?
However, he remained silent and simply stepped forward, patting Yuwen Min on the shoulder. “How about we have a heart-to-heart talk?”
Yuwen Min: “???”
He had noticed that Lu Hanzhi had been very fond of talking with him lately.
Lu Hanzhi thought to himself, I don’t have a choice!
The system assigned me this mission, and I have to complete it. If I don’t, I won’t be able to proceed with the next mission.
I’ve come this far—I won’t let the plot reset to zero.
This time, instead of deciding on the topic himself, Lu Hanzhi asked Yuwen Min, “Is there something you want to say to me? Or perhaps something you wish to ask? Whatever it is, I will answer.”
After all, he had already discussed everything—from astronomy to geography, from livelihood to governance and technology—yet this mission remained unresolved.
Yuwen Min seemed to have something on his mind. After a brief silence, he finally lifted his gaze to Lu Hanzhi and asked, “Tell me—who exactly are you?”
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