House Arrest

Zhennan Marquis Estate, Great Peng Courtyard.

Qiushui entered Su Yingluo's scripture-recitation room on light feet and said respectfully in a soft voice, "Young lady, this Servant Girl has important news about that bastard to report."

Su Yingluo's lips stopped moving as she paused her recitation, but she did not raise her eyes.

Qiushui reported, "The day before yesterday, that bastard and his Mother secretly left White Emperor City, but they seemed to have encountered an eminent monk from Pudu Mountain on the way. The bastard's Mother suffered internal injuries and returned to Jiang Manor that very night. Then, despite her injuries, she kept waiting anxiously at the main gate for that bastard to return. That bastard returned to Jiang Manor yesterday evening."

Su Yingluo raised her eyes slightly and asked sternly, "Are you certain they encountered one of Pudu Mountain's senior brothers?"

"The informant cannot be completely certain," Qiushui answered truthfully. "The Jiang Family has sealed everyone's lips over this matter, so no further information can be gathered."

Qiushui immediately added, "This Servant Girl fears Pudu Mountain intends to take that bastard to Pudu Mountain and keep him under their control, using him as a bargaining chip to restrain Young lady and the young master in the future..."

"Impudent!" Su Yingluo suddenly barked sharply. Her lowered brows shot upward, and a fierce gleam flashed from her beautiful eyes. "You dare speak ill of Pudu Mountain!"

"This Servant Girl deserves death!" Qiushui immediately dropped to her knees with a thud and kowtowed. "Please punish me, Young lady."

Su Yingluo said, "Since this is your first offense, slap yourself three times."

"Thank you, Young lady." Qiushui lifted her head and promptly slapped herself across the mouth three times.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

When she was done, she continued her advice. "Young lady, that bastard will always be a scourge if he is left alive. Why not send him on his way these next few days?"

Su Yingluo pondered briefly before saying, "The Young Lord is in high spirits right now. If he learns that someone has killed his offspring, I fear it will be hard to settle peacefully. You are not to send anyone to kill him. I have my own plans."

"...Yes, Young lady," Qiushui answered somewhat unwillingly.

That afternoon, Su Yingluo carried Millennium Lotus Seed Soup she had personally simmered to Zhao Yingpeng's secluded cultivation residence.

After Zhao Yingpeng drank the Millennium Lotus Seed Soup, the restless fire within him gradually faded, leaving his body and mind at ease.

"Yingluo, what did you come to see me about?" he asked.

Ordinarily, Su Yingluo would never disturb his cultivation in the afternoon unless something had happened.

Su Yingluo smiled. "My husband sees every detail as clearly as a hair and perceives everything as plainly as fire."

After flattering Zhao Yingpeng, she continued, "Ever since Father submitted a memorial asking Emperor Qian to establish you as Young Lord, I have constantly considered whether there is anything inadequate about Great Peng Courtyard, lest someone speak behind our backs after you formally become Young Lord and cause you to lose face."

"Mm." Zhao Yingpeng nodded in satisfaction. "You have worked hard."

Su Yingluo continued, "I discovered something in Great Peng Courtyard that could easily invite criticism, but I feared my husband would be unhappy, so I have not dared mention it."

"What is it?" Zhao Yingpeng immediately asked. "Tell me. I promise I will not be angry."

Su Yingluo said, "Zhenming's elder brother, Ping'an."

At the mention of Zhao Ping'an's name, Zhao Yingpeng's face immediately darkened.

Su Yingluo continued, "Ping'an carries your bloodline. If he remains outside, I fear people will gossip behind our backs. I boldly suggest bringing him back to the estate for training. I am willing to treat him as my own and treat him no differently from Zhenming."

Disgust appeared on Zhao Yingpeng's face as he said unhappily, "He is merely a useless wretch, not worth training."

Su Yingluo seemed afraid to speak.

Only after two or three breaths did Zhao Yingpeng continue, "Since you brought it up, send someone to bring him back to the Marquis Estate. But there is no need to waste even the slightest bit on him. Give him a courtyard and let him fend for himself within the Marquis Estate for the rest of his life, so he does not disgrace us!"

"Great Peng Courtyard will not give him a single coin for food, clothes, or anything else. Let that cheap whore who insisted on giving birth to him even at the cost of death support him for the rest of her life!"

Su Yingluo did not seem to dare persuade him and could only say, "Yes, my husband."

After parting from Zhao Yingpeng, Su Yingluo acted with thunderous speed and immediately sent people to Jiang Manor to seize Zhao Ping'an and bring him back to Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Moreover, to ensure nothing went wrong, she sent two Divine Treasury Realm experts to back them up.

An hour later, Qiushui led her party to the gates of Jiang Manor.

Without any announcement, they charged straight into Jiang Manor.

The guards at Jiang Manor's gates hurried forward and said politely, "This is Jiang Manor. May I ask who our honored guests—"

Before the guard could finish, Qiushui remained mounted high above them and imperiously ordered, "Those who block us die!"

The two guards hastily moved to make way, yet two estate soldiers of Zhennan Marquis Estate still thrust a spear through each of their bodies.

Qiushui led her men onward into Jiang Manor and headed directly for Osmanthus Moon Courtyard, where Zhao Ping'an lived.

The guards, servants, and maids of Jiang Manor did not dare stop them rashly. They only dared surround them from a distance while urgently reporting to their masters.

Jiang Manor was thrown into utter chaos.

Before long, Zhennan Marquis Estate's party stormed into Osmanthus Moon Courtyard, kicked the courtyard gate flying, and entered the yard.

Jiang Wen and a group of Jiang Manor experts finally arrived in time and blocked their path.

"You people from Zhennan Marquis Estate barge into a private residence like this. That is far too rude and overbearing!" Jiang Wen said in a deep voice.

"That old fool dares accuse Zhennan Marquis Estate? Kill him too!" Qiushui ordered contemptuously.

Two Primordial Sea Realm experts immediately rushed to strike at Jiang Wen. Jiang Wen snorted furiously, releasing the immense aura of the Divine Treasury Realm.

The two Primordial Sea Realm experts were so frightened that they hurriedly withdrew their attacks and retreated.

However, the two accompanying Divine Treasury Realm experts from Zhennan Marquis Estate then released their powerful auras. Not only did they block Jiang Wen's aura, they forced it back, making those behind Jiang Wen feel as though a mountain were pressing upon them. Even breathing became difficult.

"Zhennan Marquis Estate has forcibly entered my Jiang Manor. You must give us an explanation!" Jiang Wen said coldly.

At that moment, Zhao Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue had already emerged from the house and stood behind Jiang Wen.

Qiushui's gaze fell upon Zhao Ping'an. Still seated on her horse without dismounting, she declared arrogantly, "By the Young Lord's order, Zhao Ping'an is to return to Zhennan Marquis Estate!"

"I will not go to Zhennan Marquis Estate!" Zhao Ping'an immediately refused loudly.

If he went to Zhennan Marquis Estate, setting aside whether he might be murdered, he would lose even his personal freedom.

Jiang Shuyue immediately shielded Zhao Ping'an behind her and shouted, "My son will not enter Zhennan Marquis Estate!"

"Hmph, how can you possibly defy the Young Lord's command?" Qiushui snorted coldly and ordered, "Su Quanzhong, Su Quanyi, escort Zhao Ping'an to the carriage!"

"Yes!" Two Primordial Sea Realm experts stepped forward and walked toward Zhao Ping'an.

They were Family Born Servants of the Qingzhou Su Clan who had come with Su Yingluo as part of her dowry, and they obeyed Su Yingluo completely.

Jiang Wen moved sideways to block the two Primordial Sea Realm experts and roared, "Who dares touch my grandson!"

Faced with the fury of a Divine Treasury Realm expert, the two Primordial Sea Realm experts, though relying on the might of Zhennan Marquis Estate, did not dare take another step forward.

"Jiang Wen, he is only your grandson," one of Zhennan Marquis Estate's Divine Treasury Realm experts said lazily. "Have you considered the safety of all the old and young people in Jiang Manor if you obstruct the Young Lord's order?"

The expression on Jiang Wen's aged face shifted uncontrollably. His eyes revealed grief and indignation, yet he still refused to move aside.

The Divine Treasury Realm expert of Zhennan Marquis Estate added, "Zhao Ping'an is returning to the Marquis Estate to enjoy blessings, not to meet his death. Why make things so difficult?"

Jiang Wen dejectedly stepped aside, seeming to age more than ten years in an instant.

The two Primordial Sea Realm experts walked past Jiang Wen and continued toward Zhao Ping'an.

Clang—

Jiang Shuyue suddenly drew her sword. Her face and eyes were filled with desperate savagery as she shrieked, "If you want to take Ping'an away, step over my corpse!"

The day before yesterday, she had already been powerless to protect her son once. This time, even if it meant death, she would protect him!

The two Primordial Sea Realm experts could not help stopping. They knew Jiang Shuyue's identity and did not dare lay hands on her lightly.

Qiushui suddenly burst into mocking laughter. "Hehehe, who did I think it was? So it is Concubine Jiang. No, no, you are not Concubine Jiang. You are an abandoned wife! The status you imagine you have is utterly worthless before Zhennan Marquis Estate!"

"Attack! Kill whoever stands in your way!" she suddenly shouted sharply.

The two Primordial Sea Realm experts obeyed and immediately drew their weapons. Jiang Shuyue did not retreat; instead, she stepped forward, prepared to protect her son with her life.

"Mother, I will go to Zhennan Marquis Estate," Zhao Ping'an sighed at that moment.

He had remained silent just now because he had been negotiating with Old Black through Secret Sound Transmission.

"Senior Old Black, can you accompany me into Zhennan Marquis Estate?" he asked Old Black.

Though Old Black's true strength was unknown, the fact that they had been able to join forces and kill Kong Nian the day before yesterday showed that Old Black's strength could not be underestimated.

With Old Black protecting him, anyone within Zhennan Marquis Estate who wanted his life might have to send a top Dragon Transformation Realm expert. Such an expert would probably disdain to personally kill a child.

Old Black immediately refused. "Not going! Not going!"

Zhao Ping'an promised, "You only need to accompany me into Zhennan Marquis Estate for three years. Name any condition you want."

"Well..." Old Black hesitated for two or three breaths, his dog eyes rolling wildly, before reluctantly agreeing, "Fine. This Old Dog has been wanting to see the grandeur of Zhennan Marquis Estate anyway."

Zhao Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief and said gratefully, "Thank you, Senior Old Black."

Without turning around, Jiang Shuyue continued to face Zhennan Marquis Estate's party with her sword raised, poised to fight to the death. She said resolutely, "You cannot go to Zhennan Marquis Estate. That man does not care about you at all. He only wants to imprison you for the rest of your life!"

Zhao Ping'an turned his gaze to Jiang Wen. "Grandfather, please persuade my Mother."

At the same time, he used Secret Sound Transmission to tell Jiang Wen, "If I go to Zhennan Marquis Estate, I can shift the great disaster of my killing Kong Nian in self-defense onto Zhennan Marquis Estate."

Jiang Wen sighed and walked over to Jiang Shuyue. "An arm cannot twist against a thigh, and besides, the Young Lord is Ping'an's father after all..."

As he spoke, he struck as swiftly as lightning, snatching the sword from Jiang Shuyue's hand in one move. Then he seized her arm and pulled her aside to clear the way.

Jiang Shuyue struggled desperately, trying to protect Zhao Ping'an as she cried, "Dad, let me go! I want to protect Ping'an! Sob... I cannot let him be imprisoned for the rest of his life..."

Jiang Wen held Jiang Shuyue tightly and urged her through tears, "Yue'er, Ping'an is only going home. He will be all right."

The two Primordial Sea Realm experts continued toward Zhao Ping'an, preparing to seize him. Zhao Ping'an said coldly, "I will walk myself. There is no need for you to lay hands on me!"

The two Primordial Sea Realm experts gave up.

As he passed before Jiang Shuyue, Zhao Ping'an stopped and turned to face his Mother. "Mother, do not worry. After entering Zhennan Marquis Estate, I will take good care of myself. One day, we will surely be reunited as mother and son."

"Ping'an... sob... Ping'an, my child..." Jiang Shuyue sobbed uncontrollably, struggling desperately to break free of Jiang Wen's grasp, but she could not.

After saying that, Zhao Ping'an knelt before Jiang Shuyue and kowtowed three times.

Once he rose, he said to Jiang Wen, "Grandfather, after I leave, please take good care of my Mother for me."

"Grandfather will certainly take good care of your Mother!" Jiang Wen said through tears. At the end, he turned his face away, unable to bear looking at Zhao Ping'an.

"Ping'an..." Suddenly, a figure rushed out and pulled Zhao Ping'an tightly into her embrace, then broke into loud sobs. "You are so clever and sensible, so why is your fate so bitter? Sob, sob, sob..."

It was Second Maternal Aunt.

She had nursed Zhao Ping'an for seven months. Their bond ran deep, and she had practically treated him as her own son.

Everyone throughout Jiang Manor wept.

"Second Maternal Aunt, take care of yourself. I will return and repay your kindness," Zhao Ping'an said, then stepped out of Second Maternal Aunt's embrace.

He turned and walked toward the carriage. Old Black silently followed him, and they climbed into the carriage together.

Old Black was inconspicuous, so the people of Zhennan Marquis Estate did not stop him.