Lu Mingan’s hands were still trembling slightly.
He still hadn’t fully processed what had just happened.
When he saw Lu Minghui kneel down back then, he had, for a moment, actually softened.
It was truly foolish—someone who had been foolish since childhood wasn’t going to suddenly change when they grew up. Lu Minghui had clearly suffered enough losses already.
But then he thought about how, when they were little, Lu Minghui had always trailed after him like a little shadow, a clingy little brother.
That instinctively made him hesitate.
Until he saw Lu Minghui’s right hand secretly reaching for his boot.
He knew Lu Minghui’s tricks all too well.
On the surface, he would surrender, but the moment you let your guard down, he would suddenly lash out.
The memory of being hunted and fleeing in utter humiliation all those years ago flooded his mind—his young son was only a few years old then, forced to endure a life of fear and hardship, even falling off a cliff, his eyesight gone for a time.
And who caused all of this?
Who pushed them into such desperation?
It was Lu Minghui!
The tears Lu Minghui was shedding now were just crocodile tears—he still just wanted to keep killing.
Without hesitation, Lu Mingan kicked away the sharp dagger Lu Minghui had just pulled out.
Lu Minghui instantly showed his true colours, viciously glaring at him and yelling, “Why didn’t you die in Jiangxi? Why did you come back?!”
Like a madman, he charged at Lu Mingan, cursing in bitter rage, “Why have you always been the one pressing me down? You were always the smarter one since we were little. You read better than me, fought better than me.
“All the adults liked you. They said you were the true hope of inheriting the marquisate! Even Min Wang liked you—when he was choosing a companion to study with, he picked you at first glance! But why you?!”
Why?!
He, Lu Minghui, was the eldest legitimate son, the one who should have inherited the marquisate.
Why should there have been a Lu Mingan to block his path?!
Especially later, when Lu Mingan married the Eldest Princess, his status skyrocketed.
He gained military command over Fujian, became Min Wang’s right-hand man. It was easy to imagine that if Min Wang ascended the throne in the capital, Lu Mingan would completely surpass him!
At that time, Duke Chu had come to him with an offer of cooperation.
He had been worried he’d never have the chance to eliminate this threat—but someone handed him the opportunity. What was there to be afraid of?
Even now, he did not regret it.
If he regretted anything, it was that he had gone too easy, he hadn’t been ruthless enough!
He should have sent more people back then. He should have given the order: kill on sight, no exceptions, no survivors!
Otherwise, how would today have come to pass?!
Like a man with nothing to lose, he slashed wildly at Lu Mingan, each strike aimed to kill.
Lu Mingan, too, was full of years of suppressed rage. As Lu Minghui attacked more and more viciously, closing the distance, Lu Mingan suddenly exposed a flaw—allowing Lu Minghui’s dagger to stab deep into his shoulder.
The blade sunk to the bone and couldn’t be pulled out.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Mingan grabbed hold of his chance. With his uninjured right hand, he raised his sword and brought it down hard on Lu Minghui’s neck.
The strike nearly severed Lu Minghui’s head.
Lu Minghui instantly collapsed, the dagger falling from his hand. He knelt on the ground with wide, unblinking eyes, then fell backward, lifeless.
The courtyard was littered with corpses.
Outside the estate, there were more corpses everywhere.
It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, but in this moment, Lu Mingan couldn’t help but burst into loud, hearty laughter.
How many years had it been? How many years had he lived like something less than human?
How many years had he been forced to flee, to dodge endless assassins?
Even when his son, Lu Jintang, was burning with fever, he had to venture into town to find a doctor—only to bring annihilation upon the entire village.
Now, finally, he had avenged himself and the guards who had died to protect him all those years ago.
Qi Yuan was right.
When would the emperor ever bring him justice? The year of the monkey? The month of the never?
It was even possible that these people wouldn’t die at all.
Their network of connections stretched throughout the court and the common folk. Sure, there would be those calling for their deaths, but even more people—due to interests or personal ties—would speak up on their behalf.
By then, they might just end up with a sentence of exile or a demotion in rank?
How could that possibly compare to the satisfaction of killing them with his own hands?!
He was standing there when he felt Zhou Wang grab his hand, and slowly turned to look at him.
There was blood all over him, that much was obvious—but Zhou Wang chose not to see it.
He still had a blade in his hand, and Zhou Wang chose to ignore that, too.
What Zhou Wang cared about most was only one thing: “Mingan, is Xiao Mo okay?”
Heaven and earth, please protect Xiao Mo and keep him safe!
Otherwise, his fate wouldn’t be any better than Lu Minghui’s, who now lay sprawled on the ground.
Oh, right. Lu Minghui…
He glanced at Lu Minghui, then at Lu Mingan. “Why did you kill him?”
Weren’t they biological brothers?
The rush of vengeance still made Lu Mingan’s hands tremble slightly, his heartbeat quickened. He took a slow, deep breath. “He brought a group of men to kill me and His Highness. To protect His Highness, I had no choice but to kill him.”
“Oh.” Zhou Wang gave a perfunctory response, his mind still dazed.
But in the very next moment, he snapped out of it, jumped up and asked in disbelief, “What did you say? Lu Minghui tried to kill His Highness?! Why would he want to kill him?!”
Was he insane?!
But Zhou Wang wasn’t stupid. He was just stunned at first—but quickly came to his senses.
Why would someone be so desperate to kill Xiao Mo?
Who out there had to get rid of him no matter what?
Of course—it was the same people who had tried to assassinate Liu Wangfei and Xiao Mo before!
Unbelievable!
Lu Minghui! He was the one who, decades ago, had tried to kill Liu Wangfei!
Zhou Wang looked at Lu Minghui’s corpse on the ground and took a deep breath. “Where’s His Highness?”
Lu Mingan sheathed his blade and said in a low voice, “The prefect of Tongzhou, Ma Xuan, arrived with guards from the local garrison. They’re escorting His Highness to hide in the back mountains.”
Thank goodness!
If Lu Minghui’s dead, then so be it.
Truly reckless beyond belief.
Back then, in Fujian—fine, maybe. The emperor had gone to the capital, and Lu Minghui’s loyal men were left in charge of Min territory.
So he dared act because he was bold enough to gamble.
But now? Did he even realize where he was?
This was the capital!
He must’ve had the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard to do something so reckless.
Zhou Wang took a deep breath. “Alright. I’ll go to the capital with you. But first, let’s find His Highness.”
Lu Mingan slowly let out a breath and answered in agreement.
The capital wasn’t exactly peaceful now, either.
After Jiang Yanzhen entered the Shuntian Prefecture office, he couldn’t help but go mad.
Because Hu Yichuan was alive and well—completely unharmed and full of energy.
And the assassins he had sent? Three were dead, two were captured alive.
Useless pieces of cr*p!
Especially the two that survived—they even directly named him as the one who gave the orders.
He was so furious, he nearly coughed up blood. He roared, “You dare slander me?! It is a grave crime for a servant to falsely accuse his master! By law, each of you should be flogged thirty times!”
And with thirty strokes of the rod, who knew if they’d even survive?
Jiang Yanzhen still held on to a shred of hope—that this matter could just end here.
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to at least 20+ chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
