Xiao Che's seemingly innocent question was like a boulder crashing into Young Master Gao's already chaotic mind, splashing up a torrent of embarrassment and indignation.
He looked at the "Master Xiao" in front of him, his teeth itching with hatred!
Is this person genuinely clueless or just pretending? Why bring up something so sensitive? Can't they see I'm already in a terrible predicament? And they still want to ask? What a load of rubbish!
However, even though a thousand curses were running through his mind, Young Master Gao still had to force a smile that was more like a grimace. After all, the other party was a "distinguished guest from the capital," and he couldn't afford to publicly sever ties.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, and put on a heartbroken expression, as if he had suffered a "misfortune for the family." He sighed deeply at Xiao Che and explained:
"Alas! Master Xiao, I'm so sorry you had to see this! This is... this is a family disgrace!"
He paused, as if he couldn't bring himself to speak, and glanced at Granny Liu, who was still clinging tightly to the stone block and crying her heart out. A hint of undisguised disgust and ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.
"This old woman's daughter, named Liu Yu, was originally a maid in my household. Who knew she... alas, so young, yet so depraved, secretly having an affair with one of the servants, committing such... shameless acts that disgrace the family! The evidence is conclusive, and she has been caught red-handed!"
“According to the clan rules of my Gao family,” Young Master Gao’s voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of authority, “such a scandalous act shall be punished by drowning! Tomorrow at noon, he will be put into a pig cage and sunk into the river as a warning to others! It can also be considered… cleaning up the family!”
His words were spoken with righteous indignation and awe-inspiring righteousness, as if he were not disregarding human life, but acting on behalf of Heaven.
"Submerged in a pond?"
Lin Wanwan's heart sank when she heard those two words. Although she grew up in modern society, she had learned about the cruelty and bloodshed of this kind of feudal vigilante justice from various movies, TV dramas, and novels.
To lock a person in a tiny pig cage and then sink them to the bottom of an icy river...
Xiao Che's pupils contracted sharply the moment he heard those two words!
His face remained calm, but his hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, had clenched tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
He raised his eyes, his gaze like two sharp swords piercing the young master's eyes, and asked in a tone that revealed neither joy nor anger, "Clan rules? According to me... cough, as far as I know, all cases involving human lives should be tried by the government. Does the Jiangnan Prefectural Government... not take responsibility for them?"
Upon hearing Xiao Che's somewhat "naive" question, the "heartbroken" expression on Young Master Gao's face instantly crumbled.
He burst out laughing as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
The laughter was filled with undisguised arrogance and disdain, as if mocking Xiao Che's "uncommon sense".
He leaned forward and, in a tone that carried a hint of boastfulness and "instruction," lowered his voice and said to Xiao Che:
"Hehe, Master Xiao, you're from the capital, so you might not know this."
“In the Jiangnan region, the clan rules of my Gao family are sometimes… much more effective than the laws of the government!”
boom!
These words struck Xiao Che's heart like a heavy hammer!
Is it even more effective than the laws of the government?
What arrogance! What utter lawlessness!
This is an open declaration that the Gao family is the law of this Jiangnan region! They are the kings of this land!
The air around Xiao Che seemed to freeze into ice in that instant! A powerful and suppressed rage surged and burned wildly in his chest, almost breaking through his disguise as a "wealthy businessman" and burning the ignorant fool in front of him to ashes!
Lin Wanwan sensed the sudden, terrifying aura emanating from the man beside her and was startled. She quickly reached out and, concealed by her sleeve, gently squeezed Xiao Che's hand, signaling him to calm down.
Now is not the time to expose ourselves!
Xiao Che took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the overwhelming rage that was about to erupt.
He slowly loosened his clenched fist, and his face returned to its calm and composed state.
He nodded slightly to Young Master Gao and said in a distant tone, "I see. I was indeed ignorant."
"It's the Madam's birthday celebration today, so my husband and I won't disturb you any longer. We'll come to visit another day. Farewell!"
After saying that, he stopped looking at the surprised expression on Young Master Gao's face, took Lin Wanwan's hand, turned around and left without any hesitation.
"Huh? Master Xiao! Why...why did he leave so suddenly?" Young Master Gao was stunned. He had wanted to boast a few more times and give this "country bumpkin from the capital" a good talking-to, but the other party just left without a word, leaving him feeling utterly frustrated.
Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan did not turn back. They walked straight through the still-talking crowd, hired a carriage, and quickly left this place of trouble.
The carriage slowly made its way back to the inn.
Outside the carriage, one can hear the unique soft Wu dialect and bustling street scenes of the Jiangnan water towns.
Inside the carriage, however, there was an eerie silence.
Xiao Che leaned against the car wall, his eyes closed, not uttering a word. His handsome face appeared particularly cold and hard in the flickering light and shadow.
Lin Wanwan knew that his heart was filled with boundless rage at that moment.
As the carriage passed a street corner, the voices of several people talking could be clearly heard through the carriage window.
"Oh, what a tragedy! That Liu girl, I watched her grow up, what a good girl she was, so filial and capable, how could she do such a thing?"
"Who says otherwise! It must be that troublemaker from the Gao family, the second young master Gao, bullying someone again! I've seen it with my own eyes; that second young master Gao has harassed the Liu family girl more than once, and he's always been scolded away!"
"Shh! Are you out of your mind?! How dare you say such a thing! Be careful the Gao family hears you and they'll cut your tongue out!"
"I...I'm just so angry! Is there no law anymore?!"
"The law? In this city of Suzhou, the Gao family is the law!"
The intermittent chatter gradually faded away, but it was like poisoned needles piercing Xiao Che's ears.
By the time the carriage returned to the inn, it was completely dark.
From the moment Xiao Che got out of the car until he entered the room, he remained silent, emanating a terrifyingly low pressure that kept strangers at bay, so much so that the inn's waiter didn't dare to breathe.
Lin Wanwan silently followed behind him, closed the door, and poured him a cup of hot tea.
She raised her head and looked up at the top of Xiao Che's head.
There, the cold, imposing atmosphere of the daytime is gone. [I'd like to see your show.gif]
Instead, a huge emoji with four large, blood-red characters written on it against a background of raging fire is flashing and burning wildly!
【This is utterly absurd!】
"Bang!"
With a loud bang, Xiao Che slammed his fist hard onto the octagonal table in front of him!
The table, made of the finest rosewood, was smashed open by his punch, leaving a clear crack!
"In my realm, under the clear blue sky, how dare you commit murder through private torture?!"
Xiao Che suddenly stood up, his deep eyes burning with a raging fury that could consume everything! He was no longer the gentle and refined "Master Xiao," but the emperor who ruled the world and held the power of life and death!
"Excellent! Excellent Gao family! Excellent clan rules that are even more effective than government laws!"
He laughed in a fit of rage, his laughter filled with chilling murderous intent.
Looking at his furious expression, Lin Wanwan felt not fear, but rather a strange sense of relief. She knew that this sleeping lion was finally about to reveal its sharp claws.
She stepped forward and asked softly, "Your Majesty, how do you intend to govern?"
Xiao Che slowly turned his head, his eyes burning with anger as he looked at Lin Wanwan. His voice was as cold as iron, yet it carried a resolute determination.
"Courtesy first, then force!"
"I want to see for myself whether the officials in Jiangnan are truly serving my people, or... are they just a bunch of bastards with the surname Gao!"
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