Chapter 26: The Lü Family Comes to Annul the Engagement

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Lü Family Comes to Annul the Engagement

Logically, if Chu Fan were to attack Yan Ji from the shadows himself, his chances of success would not only be higher, but he also wouldn’t expose his identity.

The only reason he was taking this roundabout way to help Chen Qi’an was that he saw his former self in the young man.

The only difference was that Yun Xi had stood by him through life and death, while that Lü Yunxiu was utterly faithless.

For Chen Qi’an to become the Champion Scholar at just nineteen, his intelligence was a given. What was surprising was that his constitution was even better than Ye Xiaohan’s.

"You needn’t worry about the Chen Family’s safety. Once this is over, I’ll give you something. Take it to a certain place yourself, and the people there are guaranteed to shelter your family."

"And why should I believe you?" Chen Qi’an asked.

"If that’s the case, why don’t you wait and see what the Lü Family and Red Blood Mansion do first. You can decide for yourself whether to trust me then." With that, Chu Fan lay back on the bench and closed his eyes.

Their conversation was brief, but Chen Qi’an’s mind was already in turmoil, a raging storm of thoughts and emotions.

He was aware, of course, that Cultivation Sects existed. He’d just always believed those lofty figures were in a world far too removed from his own, utterly beyond his reach.

Who could have imagined he would come into contact with a Cultivation Sect like this?

Even a single misstep could lead to the entire Chen Family suffering a monstrous calamity.

Of course, he wouldn’t blindly believe Chu Fan’s side of the story either.

This was destined to be a sleepless night for Chen Qi’an. He had to think of a way to protect the Chen Family without being used by others.

But after an entire night of thinking, he had no solution.

It was simply because he knew too little about the Cultivation Realm.

The next morning, when a servant came to summon him, Chen Qi’an opened the door with dark circles under his eyes.

He was already exhausted from days of travel, and now, after a sleepless night weighed down by his troubles, he was utterly drained.

"Second Young Master, I wouldn’t normally disturb you, but the Lü Family sent someone over first thing this morning. The Patriarch sent me to fetch you, saying there’s something important to discuss."

Chen Qi’an froze. He glanced back at Chu Fan, who was still fast asleep on the bench, then answered the servant, "You may go. I’ll freshen up and be right there."

After the servant left, Chen Qi’an shut the door. When he turned around, Chu Fan was already on his feet, watching him with a smile.

"I’ll go with you. My name is Fan Chu. Tell them I’m a Guard assigned to you by the Monarch of the Celestial Qi Kingdom."

Chen Qi’an didn’t object. After quickly freshening up, he brought Chu Fan with him to the main hall in the front courtyard.

In the main hall, aside from the steward waiting nearby, Patriarch Chen Guanglin and Lü Family Patriarch Lü Yingliang were seated.

Nothing could be discerned from their laughter.

Chen Qi’an bowed to each in turn. "Father, I pay my respects. Greetings, Uncle Lü."

"An’er, and this is?"

"Father, this is Guard Fan," Chen Qi’an explained as Chu Fan had instructed. "He was personally dispatched by His Majesty to escort me back to Yunzhou. The entire journey was made safe thanks to his protection."

Upon hearing this, Chen Guanglin quickly rose and clasped his hands toward Chu Fan. "Oh? So you’re Guard Fan. You’ve had a trying journey."

Then, Chen Guanglin put on an air of mock anger and chided Chen Qi’an, "You foolish boy, how could you be so thoughtless? Guard Fan has come all the way to Yunzhou, why didn’t you introduce him yesterday?"

Chu Fan returned the salute and said, "Lord Chen, you can’t blame the Champion Scholar for this. Upon arriving in Yunzhou yesterday, I first went to visit an old acquaintance. I only just arrived at your esteemed residence this morning."

Upon hearing this, Chen Guanglin laughed heartily and invited Chu Fan to take a seat. The steward then poured Chu Fan a cup of tea.

After a bit of small talk, Chen Guanglin spoke up, addressing Lü Yingliang first. "I heard that an Elder from the Cultivation Sect, Red Blood Mansion, has taken a liking to First Grade and intends to take him as a disciple. I’ve been so busy with official duties lately that I haven’t had a chance to offer my congratulations. I never thought Brother Lü would be the one to visit me today."

These words from Chen Guanglin were, in fact, laced with hidden barbs.

Chen Qi’an was taken aback. He naturally caught the underlying meaning in his father’s words. Recalling what Fan Chu had told him the previous night, the purpose of Lü Yingliang’s visit became perfectly clear.

Lü Yingliang replied, "Ah, Brother Chen, given the bond between us, there’s no need to be so formal."

Then, feigning hesitation, he said, "Brother Chen, to be honest, I came over so early because I have a difficult favor to ask."

"A difficult favor? Brother Lü, please speak your mind."

"Since Qi’an is also here, I won’t beat around the bush. Red Blood Mansion not only favors First Grade, but they’ve also taken notice of Yunxiu’s talent and want to take her as well. Therefore, the matter of Yunxiu and Qi’an’s marriage..."

"What do you mean? Brother Lü, did you come here this morning to break the engagement?" Although Chen Guanglin had already figured it out, he was still simmering with anger, his sharp gaze fixed on Lü Yingliang.

"It’s not necessarily about breaking the engagement. I was originally planning to postpone their marriage for three to five years. But now that Qi’an is the imperial Champion Scholar, if he is unwilling to wait, then breaking the engagement... is also an option."

Such hypocrisy. He was clearly in the wrong, yet he framed it in such a high-minded way, completely shirking all responsibility.

When it came to shamelessness, the people of this mortal world were every bit as thick-skinned as those in the Cultivation Sects.

Chen Qi’an’s fists were clenched so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh.

Back in the Capital City, he had been willing to offend powerful figures, even rejecting an olive branch from the acting Prime Minister, all because he had a childhood sweetheart back in Yunzhou.

’It seems I was the real joke all along.’

"I want to see Yunxiu. I want to ask her to her face what she’s really thinking," Chen Qi’an said in a cold voice.

Lü Yingliang stood up. "Qi’an, you are the Champion Scholar. Your future is boundless. It’s a great fortune for Yunxiu to be able to enter Red Blood Mansion, so there’s no need for a meeting. If you can wait three or five years, she will give you an answer when she returns with her newfound skills. If you cannot wait, then we can consider the engagement null and void as of today!"

Without waiting for a reply from Chen Qi’an or his father, he gave a perfunctory salute, turned, and strode away.

Once Lü Yingliang’s figure had vanished behind the screen wall, Chen Guanglin slammed the teacup in his hand onto the floor, his chest rising and falling heavily.

Noticing Chu Fan still seated there, Chen Guanglin said apologetically, "Guard Fan, I apologize for the unsightly scene."

Chu Fan waved his hand. "Lord Chen, there’s no need. Seeing this man’s true colors early is a blessing in disguise for both you and the Champion Scholar."

Chen Guanglin quickly suppressed his anger, turning to Chu Fan with a smile. "Guard Fan, you haven’t eaten breakfast, have you? I’ll have it arranged immediately."

Before Chu Fan could respond, Chen Qi’an spoke up. "Father, Guard Fan is new to Yunzhou. I’ll take him for a walk around the city and let him try our local morning tea."

Chen Guanglin nodded. He was the Commander of Yunzhou, a dignified Third Grade Military General. Proper etiquette had been observed, and there was no need for him to personally dine with a mere Guard.

Chen Qi’an left the Chen residence with Chu Fan. After turning down an alley, he finally asked, "Will that... Red Blood Mansion... really come after me?"

Chu Fan didn’t answer, just tilted his chin towards a point not far away. "Look. They’re here already, aren’t they?"

Chen Qi’an followed Chu Fan’s gaze. Not far off, a group of people was walking toward them, and among them was Lü Yunxiu.

What enraged him the most was that Lü Yunxiu was on the arm of another young man, their posture incredibly intimate.