Chapter 52 The Black Hand Escapes
Three days later, the military law department's final investigation conclusion was reached.
Gao Jianjun read aloud the document stamped with a red seal, his voice dry and hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against rusty iron:
"It has been determined that all the crimes accused of crimes against Comrade Lu Wenbo were committed by his secretary, Zhao Qiang, alone. Zhao Qiang, blinded by greed, forged orders and framed his superior; the nature of his actions is extremely egregious..."
"Comrade Lu Wenbo bears leadership responsibility for 'negligence in personnel selection' and is given a serious warning within the Party, demoted by half a grade but retained in his post..."
Gao Jianjun couldn't continue reading.
He crumpled the paper into a ball and slammed it to the ground, his eyes red as if they were about to bleed.
"Bullying! He fucking bullied me!"
Lu Jingyan completed the discharge procedures ahead of schedule. His military uniform jacket was draped over his arm, and he was only wearing a white shirt, which made his face look even paler.
He stood at the bottom of the steps, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his gaze fixed on the distance, his expression blank.
......
Just then, the heavy iron door of the military law office slowly opened.
Lu Wenbo came out.
He changed into a clean Zhongshan suit, his hair was neatly combed, and his face showed no trace of the dishevelment he had endured in the detention center. He even nodded gently to the guard at the door, displaying a refined and scholarly demeanor.
A black Volga sedan silently pulled up in front of him, and the driver got out to open the car door for him.
Lu Wenbo did not get into the car immediately.
He turned his head and his gaze locked precisely on Lu Jingyan not far away.
Lu Wenbo's face, with a faint smile, was revealed.
She merely raised the corners of her mouth slightly.
That wasn't a triumphant, arrogant smile.
It was an elder looking at a younger person, with a hint of "tolerance" and a meaningful smile that said, "Look, the farce is over."
That smile, like a silent slap, was louder than any vicious curse, striking Lu Jingyan and Gao Jianjun hard across the face.
Gao Jianjun's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, veins bulging on his forehead, as if he were about to rush forward and tear that hypocritical face to shreds.
Lu Jingyan simply raised his hand and pressed down on his shoulder.
It wasn't very powerful, but it was as steady as a mountain.
The car drove smoothly away, blocking the view, and sped off in a flash.
"Commander!" Gao Jianjun was about to explode with frustration. "He just left like that? Just like that!"
"We can't leave."
Lu Jingyan uttered two words, turned around, and walked towards the jeep parked not far away.
His back was straight as a pine tree.
But the overwhelming sense of frustration and anger that almost crushed people was like an invisible dark cloud that enveloped the entire military compound.
Rumors spread faster than wind.
"Have you heard? The second master of the Lu family has been released, saying he was wrongly accused."
"That's right! I knew it! How could there be such a deep grudge between uncle and nephew? It must be that the younger one who's too eager to climb the ranks and is too impatient!"
"Tsk tsk, these young people nowadays, they'd even frame their own uncle for their future, what a disgrace!"
These whispers transformed Lu Jingyan from a victim into an ambitious schemer who framed his own uncle.
......
The main hall of the Lu family's old residence.
The clan elders, who had been silent just a few days ago, now stood up straight, speaking righteously and with deep sorrow.
"Big brother! Look at this mess! Jingyan has completely disgraced the Lu family!"
"Exactly! He acted without considering the consequences and almost ruined the Lu family's century-old reputation! What are people saying now? They're saying that our Lu family has produced an unfilial son who would turn his back on his family for power and position!"
"He's my second uncle after all. Even if there's some misunderstanding, couldn't we resolve it behind closed doors? Why did we have to take it all the way to the military court? Now look what's happened, we've lost all face and dignity!"
Grandpa Lu sat in his armchair, holding his favorite set of Xu Bian teapots, without saying a word.
His cloudy eyes revealed no emotion.
Until one of the clan elders became increasingly agitated, pointing his finger directly at Lu Jingyan's nose: "You! And your elder brother! You must both be held responsible for this! You must give the clan an explanation!"
"Smack—!"
A crisp sound.
The old man slammed the purple clay teapot in his hand to the ground, smashing it to pieces.
A small tea leaf splashed onto the face of the gesturing elder.
"When did it become your place to interfere in my family affairs, you bunch of good-for-nothings?"
The old man slowly stood up, and the iron-blooded aura that seemed to have crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood instantly made everyone in the room feel suffocated.
"Get out of here, all of you!"
The clan elders fled in terror.
Looking at the mess on the ground, Old Master Lu's chest heaved violently. He couldn't hold back any longer and started coughing violently.
...
Evening, Tangdi Pavilion.
Su Wantang got out of the car and stopped in her tracks.
On the vermilion gate, someone splashed a shocking patch of red with the filthiest dog blood.
In the center of the bloodstains, a piece of white paper was crookedly pasted on, with three large characters written on it in calligraphy:
A jinx!
The words were written in a manner that was extremely humiliating, filled with resentment and defiance.
"damn it!"
Qin Zheng's eyes turned red. He kicked the stone lion next to him and roared, "I'm going to go and tear those bastards to pieces right now!"
This isn't just a provocation; it's a blatant slap in the face! It's Lu Wenbo announcing his return!
"stop."
Su Wantang's voice was soft, yet it carried an irresistible force.
She didn't even glance at the filth, walked straight past it, and pushed open the door to enter.
“Qin Zheng,” she stopped and turned her head. The red light of the lantern shone on half of her face, making her eyes appear even more unfathomable.
"Find someone to clean this place up. I don't want to smell blood when the sun rises tomorrow."
But Qin Zheng could tell from her calm back that the young lady was truly intent on killing him.
This is not the end.
This is just the beginning of their counterattack.
The study light was still on late at night.
Su Wantang sat behind the rosewood desk, holding in her hand those "invalid" account books.
She turned the pages one by one, her expression focused, as if trying to extract some value from these scraps of paper.
The door was gently pushed open.
Lu Jingyan walked in, carrying the chill of the late night. For the first time, his handsome face revealed undisguised frustration and exhaustion.
He walked to Su Wantang's side, extended his uninjured hand, and placed it on her hand as she flipped through the account book.
"Stop looking." His voice was terribly hoarse. "It's no use."
This was the first time since his return that he had shown such vulnerability in front of her. Like a lion trapped in a cage, he possessed immense strength but had nowhere to unleash it.
Su Wantang looked up at his bloodshot eyes, and a soft spot in her heart was gently pricked.
She closed the ledger with a soft "snap".
It was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
“Beijing is his home turf. We can’t compete with the network of relationships he’s cultivated over decades here.”
Her voice was calm and clear, like a scalpel, precisely dissecting the bloody reality.
She looked into Lu Jingyan's eyes and spoke each word clearly.
"There's only one way to kill him—"
"Find that missing batch of military supplies. Find that... crime that even his most loyal secretary couldn't bear to die for."
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