Even when the Yun family retired and returned to their hometown, they traveled light and simply. However, this is how great families are; even just the appearance of a carriage reveals their profound heritage.
The horses pulling the cart were also tall and strong, their hooves rhythmically striking the ground.
The caravan had been traveling smoothly since leaving the capital, but suddenly stopped for some unknown reason.
Lord Yun sat in the carriage and slowly lifted the curtain.
"Why have you stopped?"
Lord Yun's voice carried a hint of displeasure.
Before he could finish speaking, his gaze was stunned by the sight before him.
Suddenly, a group of people appeared in front and surrounded their convoy.
The enemy numbered over a hundred, all mounted on warhorses.
The warhorse was tall and strong, the dust kicked up by its hooves filled the air, its eyes revealed wildness and ferocity, and it breathed heavily, as if it would trample everything in front of it at any moment.
The soldiers on horseback were dressed in black armor, which gleamed coldly in the sunlight, like icy fish scales clinging tightly to their bodies.
They held weapons and looked like wolves and tigers, which was terrifying.
Upon seeing this, the driver instinctively wanted to turn around.
However, before he could make a move, he was horrified to find that he was also surrounded from behind.
They were trapped inside each other like dumplings!
With their escape route cut off, the faces of the Yun family members were immediately filled with terror and despair.
They also brought some of their own guards, but they were clearly no match for this group.
The family members were crying in a panic, but only Elder Yun remained calm.
"How dare you! I am the Grand Secretary of the Great Jing Dynasty, who dares to stop me!"
His words were spoken with absolute certainty, and his decades-long career as prime minister further enhanced his prestige.
As soon as he spoke, the Yun family fell silent.
Yes.
They are members of the Yun family; who would dare to touch them?
"Oh--"
Suddenly, a disdainful snort came from the people surrounding them.
"Who are you, you scoundrel? Come out now!" Lord Yun roared.
Accompanied by his shout, the other party slowly rode out from the shadows of the woods.
He was dressed in a black robe, his face hidden under the hood, with only his eyes showing.
Those eyes were devoid of any warmth, like two pieces of cold, black jade.
They were like two cold stars in endless darkness, coldly watching Lord Yun, as if trying to see through his soul.
As he drew closer, the air seemed to grow colder, an invisible pressure gradually spread, and the atmosphere became so tense that it was hard to breathe.
"You old fool, Shili Slope is the burial ground for your Yun family!"
The newcomer snorted coldly and, as he spoke, took off his hood.
A bewitchingly beautiful, stunningly gorgeous, and androgynous face was instantly exposed to the sunlight.
At this moment, his face was not the same as when he shamelessly pestered Jiang Shuwan; instead, he coldly curled the corners of his mouth.
His smile was full of calculation and cruelty, sending chills down one's spine.
"The Fourth Prince!"
Lord Yun was startled, not expecting it to be Li Chengyun.
But something quickly flashed through his mind.
Then everything became clear. He looked enlightened, clenched his sleeves, and stared at Li Chengyun.
"The Gu family of Pingzhou was killed by bandits several years ago. Did you do it?"
"It's me." Sitting on horseback, Li Chengyun grinned. The fact that he could still smile at this moment showed that he was indeed very happy.
He gasped, and Elder Yun said in a deep voice,
"Are you also going to frame me as a bandit who robbed and killed me? Between the two great families, our Yun family is located in Shilipo, a suburb of Beijing. Do you think no one will notice?"
"Don't worry, I'm all ready."
Li Chengyun grinned again, and as he spoke, a soldier beside him brought over a box.
Upon opening the box, one could see stacks of human skin masks inside.
Li Chengyun drew the jeweled dagger from his waist, playing with it as he laughed, "Everyone knows that you were tortured in the Ministry of Justice and your health has been deteriorating. It's understandable that you might die on the road, or that your body couldn't bear the strain and passed away not long after returning home, wouldn't you say?"
"..."
Upon hearing his sarcastic voice, Elder Yun fell silent, while the Yun family members wept loudly.
He glanced at his wife, children, and guards, then said in a deep voice, "This matter has nothing to do with them. Spare their lives..."
"Fifteen years ago, more than a thousand people died in the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. Why didn't the master show any mercy then?"
Another unfamiliar voice came from the other side. The person had a scholarly air about them, and when Elder Yun looked over, he didn't recognize them at first.
“He’s my cousin,” Li Chengyun said with a smile.
Song Huaizhang also smiled at Lord Yun, but it was a forced smile.
"So there were still some who slipped through the net... Well... Well..."
Seeing that Elder Yun seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, Li Chengyun lost his patience. He waved his right hand, and the soldier drew his sword and walked over.
"Why is Your Highness not staying in the capital? What are you doing here!"
A clear, crisp male voice suddenly came from behind me.
The other person's voice was like a clear mountain stream, or like jade stones striking each other—very pleasant to hear, and quite noticeable at this moment.
"Pei Yanzhi!"
Li Chengyun laughed in anger, his fingers gripping the dagger tightening suddenly.
"You're ruining my plans again!"
He glared at Pei Yanzhi, who emerged from the gap in the sunlight, his teeth clenched.
Pei Yanzhi was still wearing the same clothes he wore when he bid farewell to Lord Yun: a light blue robe and a jade crown on his head, and there was not a trace of murderous aura about him.
He rode his horse leisurely to the menacing Li Chengyun.
"Your Highness, why do you say that? I was just passing by."
"Bringing so many people along?"
Li Chengyun stared at the troops behind him; Pei Yan's troops outnumbered his by at least three times.
Pei Yanzhi gently spurred his horse, revealing General Fei Hong behind him, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, are you referring to General Fei Hong? I only met him by chance. He was training his troops here. It doesn't make sense for Your Highness to be here with these warhorses and soldiers."
Pei Yanzhi glanced at Li Chengyun's armor and chuckled softly, "Or perhaps, Your Highness is merely training your troops?"
"you--"
Li Chengyun's composure faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
He began to consider the outcome of the fight. Song Huaizhang was also unusually calm. He glanced at Pei Yanzhi, who was clearly prepared, and then approached Li Chengyun and said, "Your Highness, let it go."
Li Chengyun: "..."
Li Chengyun's hand tightened, and the veins bulged out.
"no!"
"Your Highness!" Song Huaizhang called out again.
"..."
Suppressing his anger, Li Chengyun finally released his grip, his right hand deftly twirling the dagger before it flashed and disappeared into its sheath. The man raised his voice,
"Very well, it's quite a coincidence to run into Prince Pei, shall we go back together?"
As he spoke, he turned his horse around and rode back. Seeing this, Song Huaizhang and the soldiers behind them all sheathed their swords and followed closely behind.
As he left, Song Huaizhang glanced at Pei Yanzhi.
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