Upon hearing that it was someone from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Pei Shaoqing flew into a rage and kicked the servant who had delivered the report to the ground.
"My third brother has already been ruined by the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion! How dare they even show their faces here!"
As he spoke, Pei Shaoqing drew his sword from his waist and, in a fit of rage, prepared to rush outside.
"Get back here! Aren't you ashamed enough?"
Pei Liang's angry rebuke startled Pei Shaoqing, who froze on the spot.
He was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to advance or retreat, and his face flushed with embarrassment.
The servants and maids around them all lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at each other, for fear that they would become the targets of their anger.
Pei Liang slowly rose to his feet. As the head of the Pei family, his ability to cultivate his composure was naturally superb.
Even when facing the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, which had driven his son insane, he still pretended to be completely indifferent.
"Go and invite this Mr. Jia over."
The servant nodded and hurriedly fled, fearing that if he was even a second too slow, his young master would chop him up.
Pei Shaoqing threw the sword to the ground and turned to ask, puzzled.
"Father! The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has driven our third brother to this state, why should we still see them?"
Pei Liang glanced at Pei Shaoqing and snorted coldly.
"Forced? Who forced him? Everyone saw your brother jump into the lake and escape at the poetry gathering on the painted boat that day! If it weren't for the Duke of Zhenguo's magnanimity, your third brother's seven-day mourning period would have already passed."
"Mu Zian's move is a strategic retreat that puts my Pei family in the eye of the storm. His cunning and planning surpasses even that of his father."
Pei Liang's eyes were cold, and thoughts were flashing through his mind.
Could it be that the matter has been exposed?
But then Pei Liang shook his head. That matter was too complicated. Even if the current emperor wanted to investigate, he couldn't find any clues so quickly.
Just as Pei Liang was lost in thought, a crisp footstep came from outside the door.
Pei Liang looked in the direction of the sound and saw Jia Xu walking slowly towards him, dressed in a blue robe.
Behind Jia Xu followed Zhao Yun, whose face was cold and handsome; there was no other person besides them.
Pei Shaoqing sneered upon seeing this.
"I never expected that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would dare to set foot in my Pei family's gate!"
Despite sensing Pei Shaoqing's hostility, Jia Xu still wore a warm smile.
"The land beneath my feet is the Great Li. Could it be that the territory enclosed by the Pei family is not part of the Great Li's land?"
Jia Xu's words were like knives piercing straight at you.
Pei Shaoqing blushed immediately, realizing that if he admitted Jia Xu's words, his Pei family would become a state within a state. So he quickly denied it.
That's not what I meant.
Jia Xu laughed heartily.
"Then what does this company mean? My Zhenguo Duke's Mansion has neither violated the law nor committed murder or arson. Since we have a clear conscience, why can't we set foot in your Pei family's house?"
As he spoke, Jia Xu's voice turned cold, and his gaze, like two cold stars, shot straight at Pei Shaoqing, who was already somewhat flustered.
"Could it be that your Pei family looks down on the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? Are you showing contempt for my Duke?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Shaoji broke out in a cold sweat.
Disrespecting the Duke of Dali is a serious crime, even though Mu Zian's power has not yet reached its peak.
However, the title of nobility is a real thing. Pei Shaoqing has neither an official position nor any academic achievements, so he is just a commoner. Therefore, his contempt for the Duke is an even greater crime!
Pei Shaoqing never expected that this person, who had a warm smile on his face the moment he entered, would be so ruthless!
In just a few words, he pinned two charges on himself, which was clearly an attempt to destroy him!
Just as Pei Shaoqing was speechless, Pei Liang's voice came.
"The child is just joking and doesn't understand. Please don't take it seriously, Mr. Jia."
"Someone, pour tea for Mr. Jia and this young general."
A simple joke easily defused Jia Xu's offensive.
Jia Xu and Pei Liang's eyes met in mid-air, and both knew that the other was no ordinary person.
"You unfilial son, get out of here right now!"
Pei Liang's angry rebuke jolted Pei Shaoqing awake, and he quickly stepped aside.
As Jia Xu and Zhao Yun took their seats, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became somewhat strange.
Pei Liang smiled faintly and clasped his hands in greeting to Jia Xu.
“I already know what my unfilial son has done. He is ignorant of his own limitations and has offended the Duke of Zhenguo. I should have come to apologize, but I am busy with many matters at home and my unfilial son has had a high fever for several days. I have been delayed and I hope the Duke of Zhenguo will not blame me.”
Upon hearing this, Jia Xu stroked his beard and laughed.
“Patriarch Pei, you are overthinking it. My Duke is a magnanimous man and would never blame you for such a trivial matter. On the contrary, he was worried when he heard that Young Master Pei fell into the water that day, so he specially sent me to visit him.”
Pei Liang felt indignant upon hearing this.
You didn't come to see me when I first fell into the water, but you only came to visit me after I was rescued and then went insane.
All this high-sounding talk is just a pretext to see if his son is truly insane or just pretending.
Although that's what I think in my heart, I can't say it out loud.
"I'm so sorry to trouble you, Duke Zhenguo, but my unfilial son went mad after falling into the water."
"However, it is his own fault now that things have come to this. He has no one to blame but himself. I must thank the Duke of Zhenguo for his magnanimity in not pursuing the matter and for sparing my son's life."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xu waved his hand and laughed.
"No need for thanks, Patriarch Pei. The Duke specifically asked me to bring a gift for Young Master Pei, which I need to deliver to him in person."
Pei Liang's smile faltered.
"My unruly son is not in a good mood and may offend you, sir. Why don't you leave the gift here and I will give it to him when he calms down?"
Jia Xu remained unmoved upon hearing this, and instead repeated himself.
"We would appreciate it if Patriarch Pei could invite the Third Young Master Pei to come out for a meeting."
Pei Liang clenched his fists, and a layer of frost settled on his originally warm face.
Jia Xu's actions were tantamount to slapping him in the face.
"What you say is quite domineering, sir. What else can I do if I don't call out?"
Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone Pei Liang, who has long held a high position.
Despite the aura of authority emanating from Pei Liang, Jia Xu remained completely unaffected.
"The Duke said that this item must be delivered to Young Master Pei. If we cannot see Young Master Pei today, then we will have no choice but to force our way in."
Jia Xu's voice was very calm, but the domineering arrogance contained in his words was undisguised.
Upon hearing this, Pei Shaoqing instantly flew into a rage.
"What do you think my Pei family is! How dare you act so recklessly!"
As Pei Shaoqing finished speaking, a series of chaotic footsteps echoed from all around.
Countless guards wielding clubs surged out from all directions, glaring menacingly at Jia Xu.
Pei Shaoqing sneered.
"The laws of Dali state that anyone who trespasses on a private residence shall be killed without incurring guilt!"
Jia Xu picked up the teacup on the table, blew away the foam, took a sip, and then asked casually.
"Zilong, do you still remember what the Duke instructed you before he left?"
Zhao Yun slowly rose, raised his head and looked at the servants in the courtyard with disdain, and said coldly.
The Duke declared: Anyone who dares to obstruct me will be killed without mercy!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com