Chapter 15 She asked for praise, but she didn't expect Xu Congjing to be so fierce to her.

Her heart was pounding, but she casually looked away and led the two of them to find Kong Kai.

Eight years ago, the Lin family army was victorious in every battle, and the people praised them. Later, when Commander Lin died in battle, the Lin family army was leaderless and gradually dispersed.

Kong Kai was Lin Shuai's deputy general. Back then, he led dozens of soldiers to escape. When he arrived in Suzhou, he was seriously injured and on the verge of death. He was saved by Lou Yanxu. Afterwards, he and his comrades went into hiding and opened a blacksmith shop there, saying that they would do anything to help their benefactor in the future.

Therefore, Lou Yanxu thought of him today. These are all seasoned soldiers. With their help, the outcome of this battle is at least 50/50.

While they were getting ready, she saw that there was nothing she could do to help, so she quietly returned to her residence.

As dinnertime approached, she sat anxiously in her room when Qingrui rushed in to report that her uncles were trying to forcibly seize the remaining grain.

Lou Yanxu frowned. She hadn't even had a chance to settle accounts with them yet, and these ungrateful people still dared to come knocking on her door!

The two brothers had always looked down on their father and had long wanted to separate the family. Later, when their father became powerful, who knew that the Lou family had two other brothers? Now that their father has passed away, they are taking advantage of the fact that the Lou family has no son to support them and are doing whatever they want. They are truly shameless!

She swept away like the wind, passing through the passageway. When she reached the hall, she saw her second uncles brazenly charging towards her in wet shoes. She secretly instructed Qingrui to keep it a secret from her grandmother and gather some more capable servants.

She stood in front of the two men, blocking their way, and said with a half-smile, "What do you mean by this, Uncle and Third Uncle?"

The two men, taking the young woman in charge without a second thought, said with utter disdain, "If you know what's good for you, hand over the grain. Otherwise, no matter how young you are, we'll beat you without hesitation."

Amidst the shifting light and shadow, Lou Yanxu glanced at the group of menacing servants before her gaze settled on her third uncle, Lou Jin. "What's wrong? Isn't the full granary of grain enough for you, Third Uncle?"

With so many people around, Lou Yanxu, concerned for the reputation and safety of the Lou family, refrained from revealing Lou Cheng's collusion with river bandits to steal grain. Otherwise, given the nature of her uncle Lou Kang, he would have certainly sacrificed his third brother for his own safety, making the scene even more interesting.

"A full granary? What does this mean?" Lou Kang frowned; he was indeed completely unaware.

Lou Yanxu saw that Lou Jin's eyes were trembling and he was obviously guilty. She ordered someone to bring over a rose chair and sat down quietly. She smirked and watched how the two of them would fight like dogs.

After reading it, she added fuel to the fire, "Third Uncle has always been on good terms with Eldest Uncle. Now that the granary is about to overflow, why won't he share a little with him?"

"What nonsense are you spouting! Where would my family get any food!" Lou Jin was furious and almost tore Lou Yanxu's mouth apart, but was stopped by two servants wielding sticks. It was Qingrui who had arrived.

"Whether it's true or not, Uncle can go and see for himself."

Lou Kang was clearly suspicious. His expression was sullen, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed to scatter the raindrops streaming down his forehead. He looked around and asked, "Third brother, give me a straight answer. Is what she said true?"

"Brother, she's trying to drive a wedge between us!"

Having anticipated Lou Jin's words, Lou Yanxu stepped onto the footrest, leaned against the headboard, and smiled sarcastically, "Look, he doesn't even dare to reply to you."

"Shut up!" Lou Jin's eyes widened, cold sweat pouring down his face, clearly unsure how to respond.

Seeing his appearance, Lou Kang immediately knew he was up to no good, so he said sternly, "Third brother, I have always taken good care of you. If you dare to deceive me in the slightest, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Of course I wouldn't dare." Lou Jin bent down slightly and wiped his sweat.

"Then let's go to your residence and take a look."

After speaking, Lou Kang had no more interest in the remaining grain in the Lou family mansion. He wanted to first determine whether Lou Jin had any disloyal intentions, so he called for his men to leave. However, Lou Yanxu raised her hand, and the servants with sticks surrounded the outsiders.

She gave a forced smile, "I didn't tell you to leave."

Lou Kang felt ashamed that a junior was so presumptuous in front of him, so he sternly shouted, "Disrespecting your elders, is this how your father taught you?"

"Elders? You two thieves have the nerve to call yourselves elders?" Lou Yanxu sneered, growing angrier the more she thought about it. Finally, she punched the armrest. "When you broke into the mansion to seize the grain, did you ever think of my grandmother being an elder? She fainted from a stroke, did you ever consider calling a doctor?"

Being called thieves, the two men were furious. Their lips tightened, and after a long pause, they both roared in anger, "How dare you!"

“Of course I am bold.” She stood up gracefully, her eyes sharp. “I am the wife of the heir of the Marquis of Chenghua. If you dare to lay a finger on me today, you are slapping the face of the Marquis’s mansion.”

Only now does Lou Yanxu truly understand the weight and importance of power, for her uncles dared not refute her words and their faces turned blue with embarrassment.

She closed her eyes and said, "Beat him!"

Grandmother, mindful of Grandfather, didn't openly confront him, but she was different. She had long remembered every instance of her uncles and aunts humiliating her father. Although she was generally friendly, she was by no means afraid of trouble; she would never allow anyone she cared about to be harmed!

The Lou family had a large and powerful force, and the outside servants were quickly defeated and forced to retreat from the fierce battle. Dozens of people surrounded and beat the two thieves, who would probably be bedridden for quite some time.

The rain fell like pearls onto a plate, striking the menacing faces of the two Lou brothers with a rather unpleasant sight. Lou Yanxu watched the rats scurrying about in the street and felt a surge of joy. She exchanged a smile with Qingrui, finally feeling relieved!

Finally, she said coldly, "Today is just a warning. If you ever harbor rebellious thoughts and disrespect your grandmother again in the future, you'd better think twice about your own capabilities."

The two were thrown out of the house. She rubbed her forehead wearily and went back inside to serve the meal.

After the meal, the rain gradually stopped, but the dark clouds lingered, completely obscuring the clear moon.

At this time, Xu Congjing should have already headed to Lingbo Island. Lou Yanxu, unable to bear the boredom and worry, went out for a while.

Back then, it was Granny Mu who delivered her mother's baby. They were overjoyed to have twins, a boy and a girl. The Lou family mansion was brightly lit and filled with happiness that night. But no one expected that her mother would pass away after only one incense stick's time. Even more unexpectedly, her younger brother would disappear five years later, and his fate remains unknown.

The past events were causing her great distress, and in a daze, she heard Granny Mu ask, "When did Wanwan return?"

“They came back this morning.” She walked over. “I’ll take you.”

“Things are different now.” Granny Mu did not deny it. She looked you over in the dim candlelight, her voice hoarse. “Has the Marquis’s mansion been treating you poorly? Look at you, you’re as thin as a kitten.”

Lou Yanxu smiled and said, "I've been missing you so much that I can't eat or drink!"

"That little mouth of hers, she's good at coaxing me." And it really works; Grandma Mu was so coaxed that she couldn't stop smiling.

"What kind of medicine is that?"

"Don't take it randomly, that's a sleeping potion, the dosage will keep you asleep for three days and three nights," Grandma Mu reminded her, and she took a licorice pill as usual.

Lou Yanxu nodded and was helping the old woman sit down when suddenly a burst of fire and a commotion erupted outside. Granny Mu peeked through the crack in the door and exclaimed, "It's that damned Feng Hong!"

Feng Hong was the leader of the bandits on Lingbo Island! Lou Yan's heart pounded with fear. The other party came with great force, and before she could hide, the person had already violently pushed the door open and entered.

"Oh, there's a young lady here too." The dark-skinned thief whistled.

"What are you doing?" She suppressed her discomfort and stood in front of Granny Yu, but Feng Hong remained silent, looking directly at what was behind her. "Are you a midwife?"

It seems someone has given birth.

"Take them all away!"

"Wait!" Granny Mu shouted, her hunched back trembling, her teeth chattering. "This is the wife of the heir apparent from Chang'an. She's in Suzhou today to visit her family. If something happens to her, it will attract the attention of officials from the capital."

Lou Yanxu understood that this was to protect her, but when she glanced at the sleeping potion beside her, an idea suddenly came to her. With clear eyes, she refuted Granny Mu's words, "Grandmother, what are you saying? How could I be the wife of a prince?"

Grandma Mu was puzzled, but then she heard her speak, "Please don't hurt her. I'll go with you. Her eyesight is poor, and she often needs me to stay by her side and help her."

Feng Hong, looking impatient, ordered his men to bring the boat along without a word. The boat meandered left and right, reaching the shore in less than half an hour, presumably by taking a shortcut.

There wasn't a single woman on the island, and the men all had lustful eyes. Lou Yanxu glanced around furtively, and as she passed the kitchen, she pretended to trip and fall, her hand landing on the edge of the water vat. The sleeping potion in her palm fell into the water. Granny Mu saw this and pulled her away with trembling hands.

The two were then led into a boudoir, where a woman was crying out in pain. Granny Mu rushed forward to examine her and said, "Madam is having a difficult labor."

Feng Hong, holding his sword and leaning against the door, drew his sword and pointed it at Granny Mu's throat upon hearing this, saying, "If you can't save them, then die with them."

Lou Yan pulled Granny Mu behind her, saying she would do her best.

“The yang energy on this island is too strong, which has long affected the mother’s pregnancy. Right now, we can only try to reduce the yang energy and then observe the effects.” After a while, Granny Mu took out a packet of medicine. “This is my family’s ancestral secret recipe. If you believe me, I will boil it and make it into a drink.”

Feng Hong was suspicious, so she added, "Just boil this medicine and let me try it first."

Lou Yanxu was worried and was about to step forward when she was gestured to step back. She suddenly remembered that her mother-in-law had taken licorice pills earlier, which could counteract the effects of the sleeping potion.

The situation was critical, and Feng Hong did as instructed.

Lou Yanxu secretly calculated the time; the drug would take effect when Xu Congjing landed on the island, and then they could win effortlessly.

A moment later, Granny Mu brought out the child, but cried out, "Madam is alright, but the child... the child couldn't be saved..."

Lou Yan felt a sharp pain in her heart, but when she turned around, she saw the woman who had narrowly escaped death laughing heartily, which was quite eerie.

When she came to her senses, Granny Mu had already been kicked aside. She rushed over to protect her, shouting, "Don't hurt her!"

Feng Hong's eyes reddened, and he nearly went mad, shouting, "Ah Quan, she gave it to you!"

Immediately, everyone shouted, and dozens of people crowded at the door, spying on her with ill intentions.

Lou Yanxu instinctively hugged herself, secretly urging the medicine to take effect quickly, otherwise how could she, who was powerless, escape from her enemy?

Fortunately, someone reported at that moment, "Government troops are attacking the island!"

Feng Hong slammed his sword into the bed frame. "Go and fight!"

But after taking only two steps, he felt dizzy and noticed someone outside the door with dazed eyes. He immediately realized, "You drugged me!"

He walked towards Lou Yanxu, the tip of his sword leaving a mark on the ground. She swallowed hard, retreated to a spot with nowhere to escape, and had no choice but to pick up a vase and smash it.

Ke Fenghong dodged with a sideways movement. The killing god descended, and Lou Yanxu froze, speechless, and almost vomited, her eyes fixed on the person in front of her.

In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared. The knife that was meant to pierce her abdomen fell to the ground, blood splattered from Feng Hong's chest, and he turned and collapsed. Lou Yanxu looked over and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Wan Qing'an.

She composed herself slightly, and before she could ask why, Xu Congjing appeared in front of the door. He was clearly taken aback, and with a frown, he walked towards Lou Yanxu, asking, "What are you doing here?"

"They entered the city looking for a midwife, so I went with them and took the opportunity to drug a group of bandits!"

She spoke with a hint of excitement, thinking to herself that she had done a great job. The corners of her mouth almost stretched to her temples, and her eyes shone as if seeking praise.

Unexpectedly, Xu Congjing frowned and angrily retorted, "Nonsense! Is this a place you can just come and do as you please?"

Lou Yanxu's smile froze on her lips.