Yun Kang sensed something was wrong and turned to slip away, but then he heard an angry shout from behind, "Get in here!"
Shivering, Yun Kang reluctantly dragged his feet inside.
"Father, the fault really isn't mine." He lowered his eyes, adopting a humble posture, and tried to defend himself.
Looking at his son, who had grown up without him realizing it and was full of cunning, Yun Zhentian felt a mix of emotions. He had to admit that after being away for half a year, these two sons were more outstanding than the other children in the manor.
"Don't play games with me. I know why you came to Nanzhou Prefecture. Tell me, were the things that happened in Chi'an and Xihe done by your cousin and his gang?"
Yun Kang's face scrunched up, but he stubbornly refused to say anything. "Father, don't ask, I don't know anything."
Yun Zhentian scrutinized him, then suddenly laughed in anger. His son was actually keeping his actions from his father.
"Are you working for Yun Si and Yun Liu? Bring them here, I have questions for them."
A sly glint flashed in Yun Kang's eyes as he gave him a bright smile.
"Okay, I'll go right away."
After saying that, he quickly ran towards the door. Yun Zhentian only felt a flash of a figure, and Yun Kang was no longer in the room.
When did his kung fu become so good?
Before an incense stick had burned, Yun Kang brought Yun Si over.
He stopped outside the door. "Fourth Brother Yun, my father has something to say to you, so I won't go in. You two can talk slowly."
Yun Si tapped his head with his fan and said with a grin, "You must practice the techniques I taught you diligently and don't be lazy."
Yun Kang nodded obediently, showing no trace of his mischievousness.
The servants led Yun Si to the study, where Yun Zhentian had been waiting for a long time. His personal guards stood watch outside the study.
"Second Master!" Yun Si bowed respectfully.
Yun Zhentian nodded slightly. It was the first time he had met Yun Si, and his gaze swept over him.
The man in front of him, Yun Si, looked to be about the same age as Yun Kang, with a youthful face and a folding fan in his hand, resembling a refined scholar.
Yun Si stood still without moving or saying a word, letting him scrutinize her without changing her expression.
After a long pause, Yun Zhentian finally spoke, “Today Yu Shida came to see me. The bandits of Chi’an were wiped out, and even the iron mine in Xihe County was seized. Before the New Year, they even killed a branch of the Yu family’s Jingwei who were transporting goods. Did you do all this?”
"Yes." Yun Si nodded.
Yun Zhentian was stunned. He had thought the man would deny it, but he didn't expect him to admit it so quickly.
"What exactly do you want to do? Why don't you just stay there and farm the land? Why do you have to provoke the Yu family? Do you know that the Yu family has an army of more than 10,000 men?"
A mocking smile appeared on Yun Si's fair and delicate face.
"Second Master, it's not that we're being dishonest, it's that someone is deliberately trying to make our lives difficult. The bandits were brought here by the Zhong family of Huaizhou City, and the Japanese pirates from Xihe County have come to provoke and harass us time and time again."
Finally, he added, "I will not offend others unless they offend me; if they offend me, I will surely punish them. Second Master should understand this principle."
"The Yu family has soldiers; do you think you can defeat them?"
"It's still uncertain who will win or lose." Yun Si's eyes were firm and sharp, revealing a fearless courage.
Given the Yu family's vengeful nature, they are determined to reclaim Xihe and avenge their previous humiliation.
The Yun brothers have just arrived in the South and have nothing. Although Yun Zhentian looks down on his nephew who comes from a martial arts background, the Yu family now holds a grudge against the Yun family, so it is probably impossible to turn hostility into friendship.
Thinking this, Yun Zhentian took out a jade token from his pocket and handed it to Yun Si.
“I still have over a thousand books, though not as many as yours, but better than nothing. Try to secretly take them to Longtan.”
Yun Si did not reach out to take it; he used his folding fan to deflect the jade pendant back.
"Second Master, there's no need to worry. Second Master and Third Master will handle it well," Yun Si said with a smile.
Yun Zhentian was a little angry when he heard this. How could this kid be so ungrateful?
"With only your small force, how can they possibly stand against the Yu family?"
His gaze lingered on his face for a moment. When it came to matters of principle, Master Yun the Second was still clear-headed. He could see that Master Yun was sincere, so Master Yun the Fourth no longer hid anything from him.
"Last year, when refugees came to seek refuge, Second Master and Third Master recruited four or five thousand soldiers. After half a year of training, they believed that with their abilities, they could still contend with the Yu family."
Seeing that Yun Si insisted on not accepting the money, Yu Zhentian could no longer persuade him. He was thinking about writing a letter later to ask Yun Yu to bring his wife and children back to avoid suffering any undeserved disaster.
The Yu family.
After discussing with Yu Shida, Yu Xunmei prepared to visit her sick and bedridden father.
As she walked through a corridor and was about to turn into the hanging flower gate, a figure suddenly darted out from the side room, startling Yu Xunmei.
She patted her chest, about to fly into a rage, when she realized that the person who had come was none other than the Japanese man she had placed in her home—Nobuaki.
Yu Xunmei frowned, her lips slightly raised, and a disdainful smile bloomed on her beautiful face.
"Is Young Master Xinming heading out?"
Xinming took a step forward, leaned down, and stared intently at her. "No, I came here specifically to wait for you, Miss."
Yu Xunmei took a step back and glanced at Xinming with disdain.
"If you have any matters to report, please inform the steward."
She turned to leave, but Xinming grabbed her arm.
"I have long admired you, Miss. May I spend this night with you?"
Seeing the undisguised desire in Xinming's eyes, Yu Xunmei felt a surge of disgust.
I'm not interested in you.
After saying that, she shook off Xinming's hand and turned to leave.
Xinming tried to persist, but the maid stepped forward to block him, saying sternly, "Young master, please have some self-respect. As a guest, you must behave properly. This is the Yu family home!"
Stepping into the inner courtyard, the maid turned back to look at Xinming, who was still standing outside the hanging flower gate, and hurried a few steps to catch up with Yu Xunmei.
"Miss, how dare this man be so rude to you! He's utterly ungrateful!"
Yu Xunmei scoffed, "Japan is just a barbaric little island; how well-mannered could it be?"
"Miss, should we tell General Yu and have him teach this rude fellow a lesson?" the maid said angrily.
As the young lady's head maid, she would certainly consider everything for the young lady's benefit.
"No need."
She has her own way of dealing with it, but now is not the time; she has to wait.
Since his last episode of vomiting blood and falling into a coma, the Yu family head's health has gradually deteriorated, and he spends more time in a coma than awake each day.
Mrs. Yu stood by, looking exhausted. The matter concerning her eldest son, Yu Shicheng, had made her look much older and more haggard.
Looking at Yu Xunmei walking in with high spirits, Madam Yu slightly turned her face away. She was not stupid. She had gleaned some clues from the little things in life.
But so what? Her son and husband are in such a state, what hope does she have left?
"Mother, has Father woken up today?"
Seeing her husband's pale face and restless sleep, Madam Yu was filled with anger.
"Can't you see if I'm awake or not?"
Yu Xunmei looked up at her, her eyes filled with surprise and doubt, "Mother, are you blaming me?"
"Don't you know what you've done?" Madam Yu was a little agitated, and her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.
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