Chapter 155 - 114: Lu Huaisan, Death Penalty

Chapter 155: Chapter 114: Lu Huaisan, Death Penalty

Lu Jing’an received the detailed intelligence in the afternoon.

In addition to the battle report from the River, seven or eight merchant houses had sent formal notices.

The letters, polite yet cold, stated that due to "the inconvenience of the current situation" and "adjustments to their supply sources," they would be severing all business dealings with the Lu Family, effective immediately.

These merchant houses had either spent the last decade-plus relying entirely on the Lu Family’s shipping for their livelihood,

or their own industries were dependent on the Lu Family to exist.

Among them, the Zhou Family from the city’s east side left the deepest impression on Lu Jing’an.

Three years ago, the Zhou Family’s cargo ship had capsized, resulting in a total loss.

It was the Lu Family who had lent them a large sum of cash and guaranteed a loan for them from the bank, allowing them to narrowly survive the crisis.

Now, the Zhou Family’s notice had arrived the earliest, and its wording was the most ruthless.

After listening to the butler’s hushed report, Lu Jing’an simply nodded and waved him away.

Orchid, who had been standing in attendance, could no longer hold back.

The moment the man left, she stomped her foot, her little face filled with indignation.

"How could they... How could they be so ungrateful!

The Zhou Family, especially the Zhou Family! If the Master hadn’t been kind enough to help them back then, their whole family would have thrown themselves into the River by now!

And now look at them, the first ones to kick us while we’re down!

A bunch of thankless wolves!"

Lu Jing’an placed the Ancient Texts on the low table beside him, picked up his cup of warm tea, and took a gentle sip.

It was a top-grade Cloud Mist tea, slightly bitter at first, with a long, sweet aftertaste.

"It’s just human nature." Lu Jing’an’s voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

"The Lu Family is in decline, while the Bai Family’s power is on the rise.

If they want to continue making a living in Yin Mountain County, they have to make a choice.

In this situation, they haven’t joined the Bai Family in trying to tear us to pieces.

The fact that they’ve only severed ties means they’re already showing some respect for our past relationship."

Despite his words, Orchid was still so angry her chest heaved. "Young Master, are we just going to stand by and let them bully us?"

She was only a young maid who had grown up by Lu Jing’an’s side, and her worldly knowledge was limited.

She didn’t truly grasp what a behemoth the Bai Family, entrenched in the Provincial City, really was, nor did she fully comprehend that the Lu Family was facing suppression that bordered on a hopeless situation.

Lu Jing’an set down his teacup, his gaze drifting to the gradually darkening sky outside the window.

"There’s no rush," Lu Jing’an said lightly. "There are people more anxious than we are."

Orchid blinked, not quite understanding.

Suddenly, she remembered something and said quickly,

"Oh, right, Young Master! I heard from Sister Jieyi that someone approached her a couple of days ago.

They offered her double the salary to go work at their clinic!

But Sister Jieyi turned them down flat!"

Hearing this, Lu Jing’an actually chuckled.

"Double? That’s not enough.

With Doctor Cui’s abilities as a Medical Cultivator, an offer of five times the price would just barely be considered sincere."

Lu Jing’an turned his head and looked at Orchid with great interest.

"If someone offered you five times your monthly wages to go work for another family, would you go?"

Orchid shook her head like a rattle-drum, her two braids flying about.

"No way, no way!

I wouldn’t go for five times the pay, not even for ten or twenty times!

I’m staying with the Young Master!

Wherever the Young Master goes, I’ll go!"

Lu Jing’an looked at her small face, flushed with excitement, and her wide, round eyes that screamed ’unwavering loyalty’.

His smile deepened. "I didn’t realize our Orchid was so staunchly loyal."

Orchid puffed out her small chest, her face full of pride.

"Of course! You’ve been so kind to me, Young Master. You hired a doctor for my mother and even sent my little brother to school.

I’ll remember your kindness for the rest of my life. How could I ever do something so ungrateful!"

Lu Jing’an nodded, his tone gentle. "Good. Once this is all over, I’ll double your monthly wages."

Orchid immediately beamed with joy, her eyes curving into crescents. "Thank you, Young Master!"

As the master and servant were talking, the crisp sound of CLACK, CLACK came from the corridor outside the door.

It was the sound of high heels striking the bluestone path.

Neither hurried nor slow, it carried a unique rhythm.

In the ancient Lu Family’s Old Mansion, the only person who wore high heels all year round was Cui Jieyi.

Sure enough, a moment later, the cotton curtain of the Warm Pavilion was pushed aside by a pale, slender hand.

Cui Jieyi walked in.

She was wearing an indigo brocade qipao today, its tailoring exquisite.

It perfectly accentuated her curvaceous and graceful figure.

The high slit of the hem swayed gently with her steps, offering a glimpse of the curve of her calves, clad in sheer stockings.

Even though it was the dead of winter, she didn’t seem to feel the cold.

She wore only a thin woolen coat over the qipao, and with the coat open, her figure appeared all the more stunning.

Her jet-black hair was gathered into a loose hair bun at the back of her head.

A few stray strands fell by her cheeks, making her complexion seem all the more fair and delicate.

However, the lazy, leisurely air she usually wore was gone.

In its place was a faint layer of solemnity.

Lu Jing’an looked up. "Doctor Cui? What’s happened?"

Cui Jieyi walked over to the charcoal brazier and held out her hands to warm them. Her fingertips were slightly red.

She took a light breath before speaking. "Young Master Lu, the supply of medicinal herbs for our medicated baths has been cut off."

"The three businesses that were supplying our herbs: Renji Hall, Hundred Herbs Pavilion, and Huichun Pavilion.

Today, they all sent word, almost in unison, claiming that the River has been unsafe lately. With the Water Demons running rampant, herbs can’t be transported from upriver. They say their stock of several key herbs is depleted, so they’re temporarily unable to supply us."

Before Lu Jing’an could say a word, Orchid jumped to her feet.

"Nonsense!

The Water Demons only started causing trouble yesterday. And those three apothecaries...

Which one of them doesn’t keep a three-to-five-month reserve of common stock?

How could their supply just be cut off like that?

They’re clearly taking advantage of the Lu Family’s misfortune to kick us while we’re down!

Such opportunists!"

Lu Jing’an’s eyes narrowed.