Chapter 50: I Dare, You Dare Not

The maidservants and maids in the room had a slight change in expression.

But it was not because of the word "disturbance," but because the maid mentioned "outside."

"What are you talking about 'outside' for when you're at home?" a maidservant chastised loudly.

The last time a maid lost her mind and mentioned the affairs of the external residence to the princess, she lost her life. And yet, there were still people who hadn't learned their lesson and talked about matters outside, wanting to die without dragging everyone down with her.

The scolded maid appeared chastened, but she did not stop.

"It's not that 'outside'," she hurriedly explained, stretching her hand to point outside, "It's right outside our household's door, someone is throwing things."

Everyone in the room was taken aback for a moment, even Princess Jiuli stopped her chopsticks, looking over with slight surprise.

Throwing things outside the Lu Mansion? Such a thing had never happened before.

Who had lost their mind?

"What kind of things are they throwing?" Princess Jiuli asked.

The maid's expression was strange.

"They said it's the engagement gifts," she said, and then bowed her head.

Engagement gifts?

Engagement gifts...

The room was deadly silent.

But the noise at the entrance of the Lu Mansion continued unceasingly. As the last box was thrown down from the cart, crashing loudly, the ruckus finally came to an end.

However, the front of the mansion did not quiet down. Seventh Chen stood beside the cart and clapped his hands with a crisp sound, then took out a silver banknote from his sleeve.

"Oh right, there's also this," he said, waving it to Lu Yunqi, who was looking down from the mansion's entrance, "the money from last time."

With that, he flicked the silver banknote, and it fluttered down, landing on the scattered boxes and cases.

The Jinyiwei, in their flying fish uniform and holding embroidered spring swords, stood solemnly on both sides, their dark gazes turning the twilight into as if it were the dead of night.

But Lu Yunqi did not make a move, his gaze fixed on the fluttering silver banknote.

"Now, I dare to," he said calmly.

This statement seemed to come out of nowhere, making no sense.

But Seventh Chen knew exactly what he meant, and he even mentally added an exclamatory tone to Lu Yunqi's words, complete with an accompanying expression.

The expression was one of disdain and mockery.

Now, you dare, huh.

Just before the end of the year, Lu Yunqi had flung ten thousand silver taels to this girl and told her to change her name. The girl did not want to change it but hadn't thrown the money back at him like she did just now.

"At that time, I didn't dare to refuse, and later, I didn't dare to return it," she declared confidently.

In just half a year, her behavior and attitude had changed. Facing what Lu Yunqi gave her, she now had the audacity to refuse, even so boldly as to drag it to the Lu Mansion and throw it down.

What is this called?

This is called "the wheel of fortune turns."

But half a month ago, Seventh Chen wouldn't have dared to think like this.

He looked at Lu Yunqi, at the solemn Jinyiwei standing on both sides like fierce dogs, looked at the scattered boxes and cases on the ground, and couldn't help swallowing.

It felt like a dream.

He had actually done this in front of the Jinyiwei, in front of Yama Lu Yunqi.

Looking at the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, he must be the first, right?

Incorrect. The Duke of Chengguo's heir had done it before.

Seventh Chen's mind was filled with wild thoughts.

He had done such a thing, and Lu Yunqi merely stood at the entrance watching, neither enraged nor raising his hand.

It was said that once a court official spat on Lu Yunqi when his home was being searched by the Jinyiwei. Lu Yunqi cut off the official's tongue right there and then.

That court official couldn't speak even before being imprisoned for questioning, and many other court officials filed numerous charges, but in the end, Lu Yunqi still stood here, just watching him throw the boxes.

Seventh Chen swallowed again and subconsciously pressed his chest.

Lu Yunqi still stood at the doorway, expressionless and unmoving.

"Lord Lu, please don't make such jokes next time," Seventh Chen lifted his hand and said, "I take my leave now."

Lu Yunqi remained silent and did not stop him.

Seventh Chen waved his hand, and several attendants hurried into the carriage. The coachman cracked his whip, and with a sharp sound, the two carriages sped away along the street.

With the departure of the carriages and horses, the street returned to quietness, or more precisely, dead silence.

"My lord."

A Jinyiwei could no longer hold back and called out.

Their faces were ashen, eyes cold and furious, ready to tear everything before them to shreds at a single command from Lu Yunqi.

Yet, the expression of Lu Yunqi remained unchanged as he gazed at the scattered boxes, cases, and red cloth on the ground.

"Let's clean this up," he said, then turned to go inside.

He went inside.

The Jinyiwei couldn't help but exchange glances.

Is this really it?

"Of course, it cannot end like this," a Jinyiwei coldly remarked.

"Do we need to wait ten years to exact revenge on such a mongrel?" another Jinyiwei said just as coldly, "We have the imperial decree from Jiuling Hall, so we can't touch them, but what difference would it make if we kill this mongrel on the spot?"

"And what if the imperial decree is in the mongrel's hands?" a Jinyiwei said indifferently.

There was a moment of silence among the Jinyiwei present.

Has the Fang Family's imperial decree become as common as cabbage that anyone can play with it?

The eyes of the Jinyiwei scanned the surroundings.

Although no one dared approach this street because of Prince Huai's mansion and Lu Yunqi, seeing Seventh Chen from Jiuling Hall, and knowing that he was coming this way, it shook off some of the idle people's concerns in the capital, and quite a few had quietly followed.

The onlookers ducked and dodged, witnessing the scene and standing dumbfounded. Struck by the gaze of the Jinyiwei, they didn't possess Seventh Chen's aura and immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

And Seventh Chen, who had walked out of the street, immediately lost his momentum, his clothes soaked through inside and out with cold sweat.

Indeed, when he decided to do this, he thought he might die on the spot.

He was not Duke of Chengguo's heir, who could roar at injustices, nor was he Miss Jun who had the adoration of the people. If Lu Yunqi really drew his sword to slash at him, he truly wouldn't know who might come to his aid.

But before Miss Jun left, she handed him a scroll.

"This is an imperial decree," she said.

Seventh Chen touched his chest again.

Imperial decree.

This was the first emperor's imperial decree, as if His Majesty himself were present.

This was the lifeline of the Fang Family; they handed it to Miss Jun so casually, and Miss Jun passed it to him just as easily.

They were truly… quite nonchalant about using the imperial decree.

"The imperial decree given by the first emperor is meant to be used," said Miss Jun, "And it should be used in just this way."

All right, using it like this was indeed shamelessly brazen.

Seventh Chen touched his chest.

What could be done at this point? Facing the shameless Lu Yunqi, one could only be more shameless.

When Seventh Chen returned to Jiuling Hall, dusk had thickened, and the street lamps were lit.

From afar, he saw a girl standing at the gate and couldn't help but grin.

"What are you doing standing here?" he called out as he jumped from the carriage.

Fang Jinxiu glanced at him and went inside; Seventh Chen followed, laughing cheerfully.

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Thank you to the flying fish in the sky for rewarding the Spirit Beast Egg, thank you to DouDou.

Thanks to Miss Jun, Jing Sanshao, Ye Sanmo Ricardo, _momo_lina, Doudou Jianjian, Ice from the South, ? The Last Shot ? for rewarding He's Bi. Deeply honored and grateful.

Thank you, thank you.