Lu Yunxue stood before the small courtyard, her expression darkened. She shouted, “Mu Zian, I know you’re inside. I can let the matter of you tattling go, but you must help my brother rejoin Master Li.”
After her voice fell, the courtyard remained utterly silent.
Lu Yunxue’s face grew even more unsightly. “Mu Zian, throwing a tantrum has its limits. My brother’s matter concerns the future of the Lu family. Can you not be so childish?”
Still, no response from inside.
At this moment, Lu Yunxue felt a blaze of anger rising in her chest. She thought that her personally coming here was already giving Mu Zian tremendous face. Yet, Mu Zian treated her as if she were invisible.
The steward beside her suggested, “Miss, why don’t we go in and have a look? If you coax Young Master Mu a little, this matter can be resolved, and the Young Master can resume his sword training—wouldn’t that be perfect?”
However, Lu Yunxue’s face turned even colder. “Mu Zian, do you really think you can show off to me this way? Let me tell you, I am the Heroine Marquis, the role model for all women under Heaven in the Great Li Empire. If I personally visit Master Li, he would still give me some face. I came here today to give you a way out. Don’t push your luck.”
As her words ended, a dull voice came from the courtyard, “Scram.”
Just one word, but it expressed Mu Zian’s attitude clearly.
Lu Yunxue was furious. “Fine! Mu Zian, since you refuse the ladder I’ve offered you today, don’t come begging me when you regret it later. Let’s go!”
She turned and left. Back at the Lu residence, the matriarch heard that Lu Yunxue hadn’t even managed to meet Mu Zian and grew anxious.
“Oh dear! What are we going to do? If we can’t get him back under Master Li, Ming’er’s future will be ruined! Xue’er, you must find a way! You can’t just watch your brother be ruined!”
Lu Yunxue was also agitated, but she could only suppress her feelings in front of her grandmother and said, “Grandmother, don’t worry. I am now a favored subject of the Emperor, returning in triumph. If I personally visit Master Li, I’m sure he’ll give me some respect.”
Hearing this, the matriarch quickly said, “Good, good! Xue’er, hurry, lest it gets too late!”
Urged by her grandmother, Lu Yunxue quickly set out. She bought two jars of Peach Blossom Brew from a tavern in the capital, knowing that while Li Jiuxuan had few hobbies, he loved this wine.
“Please announce me. Lu Yunxue wishes to visit Master Li.”
The gatekeeper stepped forward proudly. “My master has said there’s no need to discuss anything regarding Lu Ming. Please leave.”
Lu Yunxue’s face darkened. She, the Heroine Marquis, couldn’t even enter Li Jiuxuan’s residence? What a joke!
“I am the Heroine Marquis of the Great Li Empire.”
The gatekeeper laughed loudly. “Even if you were the Grand Chancellor, if my master refuses to see you, then he refuses. Let alone you—a mere low-ranking marquis.”
…
At the Lu residence, the matriarch paced anxiously in the courtyard. After a long time, Lu Yunxue finally returned. Seeing her, the matriarch rushed over and asked, “Xue’er, how did it go? Did Master Li agree to take Ming’er back?”
Lu Yunxue, looking tired and helpless, set the two jars of Peach Blossom Brew down on the table. “I didn’t even get to see Master Li.”
Hearing this, the matriarch grew frantic. “Xue’er, what’s going on? You’re the Heroine Marquis personally appointed by His Majesty! The role model for all women in the empire! Yet you can’t even handle this small matter for your brother? How humiliating for our Lu family!”
Lu Yunxue was both angry and aggrieved but swallowed it down.
Lu Ming, limping over when he heard she was back, asked excitedly, “Sister, how did it go? Is Master Li willing to take me back?”
Only silence answered him. Even a fool could tell what had happened.
Lu Ming collapsed. “Sister, you used to get anything you set your mind to! How come now that you’re the Heroine Marquis, nobody respects you anymore?”
Lu Yunxue was equally confused. She had always had a decent relationship with Li Jiuxuan. Why wouldn’t he even meet her today? Where had things gone wrong?
…
Meanwhile, in the small courtyard.
Zhao Dahu looked at Mu Zian in shock. Mu Zian held a longbow and drew it with strength. With a crisp snap, the bow broke in two.
Mu Zian casually tossed the broken bow aside and asked, “How many is that?” This story is hosted at g.com.
Zhao Dahu gulped and held up three fingers. “Th-thirty bows! Young Master, you’re truly born with divine strength.”
Mu Zian sat down helplessly. Although he now had the Piercing a Willow at a Hundred Paces archery skill, no bow could withstand his strength.
At that moment, Zhao Dahu had a flash of inspiration and flattered, “Young Master, why seek far when what you need is right before you?”
Mu Zian looked puzzled. Zhao Dahu continued, “Have you forgotten? The old State-Stabilizing Duke had a treasured bow—the Thunder Quaking Bow. Few in the world could draw it. Back when the old Duke campaigned in the desert, he once shot three arrows into the Tianshan Mountains with it, shocking the world and keeping the barbarians away from the Great Li Empire’s borders for a decade.”
Hearing this, Mu Zian remembered. There was indeed such a bow. But when they moved out of the State-Stabilizing Duke’s residence, it was packed up along with other items and sent to the Lu residence.
Just then, the system’s voice rang out.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, choice triggered!]
[Choice 1: Retrieve the Thunder Quaking Bow from the Lu family. Reward: A set of Golden Silk Soft Armor.]
[Choice 2: Give up on retrieving the Thunder Quaking Bow and cut ties with the Lu family completely. Reward: 1,000 taels of gold.]
[Please make your choice.]
Since it was his father’s relic, Mu Zian would naturally retrieve it. He rose and headed toward the Lu residence. Zhao Dahu hurried to follow.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for making your choice. Reward issued.]
…
Inside the Lu residence, chaos reigned. The matriarch was scolding Lu Yunxue incessantly, while Lu Ming was desperately trying to convince her to beg Mu Zian.
Two voices intertwined, and Lu Yunxue felt as if her head was about to explode.
Just as Lu Yunxue was about to lose her mind, a servant hurried in. “Reporting to the Young Master and Young Lady, Mu Zian is here.”
The room instantly fell silent. The matriarch and Lu Ming immediately focused their attention on Lu Yunxue.
Though Lu Yunxue had been frustrated, hearing this news felt like seeing light after a storm. Her face turned cold as she said, “I knew it. He’s a spineless coward who couldn’t resist. This time, I definitely won’t forgive him so easily.”