Chapter 6: Inside and Outside the Door

The second quarter of the Chen hour (9:30 AM).

Steward Hou, Second Master Du, and Third Master Du led dozens of household servants, rushing aggressively into the West Courtyard.

The Dragon Guard Army Soldiers who were eating breakfast were caught off guard and instantly scattered.

Second Master Du led several household servants to search the houses in the front yard, while Steward Hou took the main group and swarmed into the back yard.

Presumably, the commotion in the front had alarmed the back yard, and Steward Hou witnessed a surprising scene when he rushed in with his men.

That young Dragon Guard Army Squad Leader sat alone on the stone steps in front of the door, his standard-issue Goose Feather Saber resting across his knees, his expression steady and calm, like a young, famous knight-errant, or a young general returning from war.

One man sat there like a crouching tiger, subtly exuding a formidable Aura that suggested no one could pass.

Characters like Steward Hou and Third Master Du, who had long idled away in the inner residence, immediately froze, their steps instinctively rooted to the spot.

The household servants behind them, unaware of the situation, continued to push forward, causing the people in front to stumble, making the scene chaotic.

“You cur! Are you blind?”

Third Master Du stumbled from the collision, turned around, and cursed the offending household servant.

The household servant shrank his neck in fright and hurriedly slapped himself in the face to apologize.

The servant’s cowardice instead reignited Third Master Du’s arrogance, and he yelled at Ding Suian, “Hey, you brat, move aside quickly!”

Ding Suian didn’t even glance at him, only smiling as he looked toward Steward Hou. “Old Hou, didn’t I tell you the day before yesterday? If you come again, I won’t comply.”

“All of you, go up and tie him up!”

Steward Hou didn’t want to waste words arguing with Ding Suian and shouted while waving his hand.

The household servants didn’t know what the Dragon Guard Army represented; they only knew that eating the master’s food meant doing the master’s bidding. Immediately, several eager to gain merit rushed forward, relying on their numerical superiority.

“The Dragon Guard Army is the Son of Heaven’s personal army! Are you trying to rebel?”

*Clang~*

With a ringing sound, Ding Suian drew his saber and stood in front of the door.

On the blade of the unremarkable, standard-issue Goose Feather Saber, a layer of chilling white light, condensed and substantial, was flowing!

The household servants who had just rushed close slammed on the brakes and stopped simultaneously.

A sudden gasp swept through the surroundings, accompanied by sounds of sharp intakes of breath.

The crime of rebellion was certainly intimidating, but the white light attached to the Goose Feather Saber was equally terrifying—this was a unique characteristic of a Manifesting Elemental State Martial Artist activating their weapon.

No wonder this brat became a Dragon Guard Army Squad Leader at such a young age!

It was fine for them to rely on the Prince’s Estate’s influence to bully the weak or capture a few female dependents in the inner residence. But when facing a fierce Imperial Guard Soldier who drew his saber without a word, they showed their fear.

Forty years of soft living had long since softened the bones of these descendants of martial merit.

Steward Hou panicked and subconsciously looked back for Li Fengrao’s support. But the Lord Prefect, who had been following behind just moments ago, was now nowhere to be seen.

Just then, Chest Hair, Hu Da, Wang Xigui, and other comrades-in-arms struggled to squeeze next to Ding Suian. Amidst their collective shouts of “Attacking the Dragon Guard Army is tantamount to rebellion,” some timid individuals began to quietly retreat.

Just as the Aura of The Du Family’s people was about to collapse, a deep female voice rang out from the back of the crowd, “Dragon Guard Army brothers, please do not misunderstand. The line of the Prince of Lanyang originated in the military. How could the Prince’s Estate turn weapons against comrades-in-arms?”

The crowd parted like a tide, automatically clearing a path. Madam Wu, wearing formal attire, walked slowly yet steadily to the front of the crowd, supported by old maids.

Her powerful presence instantly stabilized the situation.

Steward Hou and Third Master Du saw their backbone and regained their composure.

“Young Master, it’s not that the Prince’s Estate intends to trouble you. It is truly because a scandal has occurred in the family: a female dependent stole property and ran away, forcing us to take this action.”

Madam Wu’s face was benevolent, and her tone was earnest and kind.

The way she looked at Ding Suian and the others was gentle, as if she were looking at her own children and grandchildren.

This caused Chest Hair and the others to turn their heads toward Ding Suian, the meaning being: *Boss, this old madam speaks nicely and is kind; she looks like a good person. If worst comes to worst, why not just let her people take a peek inside?*

*We aren’t hiding her family’s female dependent anyway.*

Seeing this, Third Master Du’s courage revived, and he shouted loudly, “Brat, if you have nothing to hide, do you dare open the door and let us search?”

“Hahaha~” Ding Suian laughed heartily toward the sky, then his smile vanished. “I dare not!”

“…”

Isn’t this just being a rogue!

Madam Wu’s expression involuntarily darkened. “In that case, the runaway dependent from my estate is in this room?”

“That’s right, the Princess Consort is right here.”

*Buzz~*

The West Courtyard erupted in an uproar. Only now did the household servants realize that the runaway servant they were supposed to capture was none other than the Princess Consort of Lanyang!

But even more astonished than them were Wang Xigui and the others. They all stared open-mouthed at Ding Suian, and Chest Hair, despite his shock, involuntarily glanced toward the latrine.

Madam Wu seemed to have anticipated this. “Young Master, this is a family matter for my Prince’s Estate and has nothing to do with you. If you insist on getting involved, aren’t you afraid of implicating your subordinates and brothers?”

How is this unrelated to us? If I hand over Lin Hansu, my silver will be gone; if the silver is gone, I won’t have money to marry a wife; if I don’t have money to marry a wife, I can’t have children; and if I can’t have children, the Ding Family line will end!

It is hugely related!

But this old madam was indeed formidable. That single phrase, ‘implicating your subordinates and brothers,’ sowed discord and aimed directly at his weakness.

Ding Suian lowered his gaze slightly and quickly scanned his brothers’ faces. “If you are afraid, you may leave.”

Their eyes met, and Chest Hair suddenly chuckled, drawing his saber. “Boss, ever since you helped raise the money for my old mother’s medicine last autumn, my life has belonged to you!”

*Clang~ Clang~ Clang~*

Following his action, the Dragon Guard Army Soldiers all raised their sabers from their sheaths.

The small back yard was instantly filled with the cold glint of weapons.

They had thought only Ding Suian was troublesome, but they didn’t realize they were facing a group of idiots!

Seeing this, Madam Wu finally grew angry. “Do you truly intend to become enemies with my Prince Lanyangs Estate?”

“Prince Lanyangs Estate? Who is the Prince Lanyangs Estate? The military order received by my Dragon Guard Army A-Camp C-Brigade An Squad was to protect the Prince of Lanyang. Now that the Prince of Lanyang is deceased, the Princess Consort of Lanyang is the mistress here! What I am protecting is the Prince Lanyangs Estate!”

Ding Suian looked down upon his surroundings, grinning to reveal a mouthful of white teeth. “If anyone disagrees, step forward and try!”

‘In that case, the runaway dependent from my estate is in this room?’

Lin Hansu was startled awake by the noise outside, and the first thing she heard was Madam Wu’s cold interrogation.

The conditioned reflex formed by years of accumulated intimidation made her sit up abruptly in bed.

The wet cloth placed on her forehead quietly slipped off.

Lin Hansu stared blankly at the cloth, sluggishly registering the soreness throughout her body and the grogginess in her head.

Looking again, she realized she was lying on Ding Suian’s bed.

Last night, it seemed she had developed a fever.

‘If you are afraid, you may leave.’

Separated only by a door, Ding Suian’s voice was as clear as if he were whispering in her ear.

Lin Hansu could no longer spare the time to ponder minor details like whether Ding Suian had looked after her last night or if he had carried her onto the bed.

She was only confused. Judging by Ding Suian’s words, was he intending to clash directly with the Prince’s Estate?

She vaguely remembered telling him last night to hand her over if he couldn’t hold out.

You protect me for one day, and I will repay you with wealth and status.

It was just a transaction.

Since the situation was impossible to overcome, why sacrifice his future and even his life? The Imperial Decree she spoke of should have arrived yesterday evening, yet the Young Master had already helped her hold out for one more night.

He had done his utmost duty.

Lin Hansu struggled to get out of bed, her steps weak and unsteady.

But she still wanted to walk out herself, lest she be dragged out like a dead dog, losing face and allowing Madam Wu to look down on her.

After finally managing to move to the door, she found that the room door was locked from the outside.

Lin Hansu slumped against the door, able to see the situation outside through the crack.

“…What I am protecting is the Prince Lanyangs Estate!”

The warm winter sun was gentle and lingering.

Ding Suian held his saber horizontally in front of him, his entire body bathed in a layer of golden light from the morning sun.

He shone brilliantly.

Like a Heavenly God descending to the mortal world, or a true man protecting his wife and children against bandits.

Lin Hansu, who had held back every tear since falling into desperation, watched the figure standing between her and The Du Family. Her vision instantly blurred, and the round, full tear troughs under her eyes finally failed to contain the rapidly filling tears, which poured down like a bursting river dam.

Lin Hansu covered her mouth with one hand, stopping herself from crying out loud.

With her other hand, she desperately wiped away the tears obscuring her vision, wanting to see more clearly.

But those annoying tears seemed endless, no matter how much she wiped.