Chapter 10: It Really Is Him?!  

Let’s set aside Lin Guiming’s situation for now.  

At this moment, our Young Master Li was striding home confidently, dragging behind him a man covered in bruises.  

“Hey, I’m warning you, you’d better treat me with respect, or else…”  

“Tch—”  

Young Master Li gave him a disdainful glance and kicked him lightly.  

“We’re at my house now, so stop pretending!  

See that? That’s the city lord’s mansion.  

I told you, my dad’s the city lord.  

You, a petty little bandit, dared to rob me?  

Just wait, I’ll have my dad lock you up in jail for life!”  

“Oh, really?”  

The young man shrugged nonchalantly.  

“Go ahead and try. Try it, and you’re done for.”  

“You little thief, still acting tough when you’re about to die…”  

“What’s going on? What’s with all this racket? Have you no decency?”  

Young Master Li’s words were cut off mid-sentence.  

He turned around, ready to snap, but upon seeing it was his father, he immediately backed down.  

“Father.”  

He called out and said, “Here’s what happened. On my way back, I ran into this thief who tried to rob me.  

If it weren’t for my diligent cultivation, I might’ve been in trouble today…  

I subdued this thief and brought him back, and I was just teaching him a lesson.”  

Young Master Li had initially wanted to tell the truth, but then he thought, this was a perfect chance to scam some pocket money from his dad!  

If he claimed he’d subdued the bandit himself, maybe his dad would be so pleased he’d toss him a few tales of silver.  

Then tonight, he could sneak off to the Spring Blossom Pavilion to see Little Peach Blossom…  

“You subdued a thief who tried to rob you? Hmm, not bad, not bad…”  

As expected, upon hearing his son’s “great achievement,” City Lord Li nodded with satisfaction, stroking his beard with a look of approval, as if his son was proving himself capable.  

“Come, let me see which bold thief dared to rob the city lord’s son.”  

He then looked behind Young Master Li at the young man with a bruised and swollen face.  

“Hm?”  

Upon looking, he felt something was off. 

To confirm, he stepped closer and examined the young man carefully.  

“Father, you don’t know how tough this thief was. It took me quite some effort to subdue him…”  

“You did this?”  

City Lord Li turned back to his son, who was still boasting proudly.  

“Of course!”  

Young Master Li said with a smug expression.  

Slap—!  

A resounding slap echoed through the air.  

Young Master Li clutched his face, looking at his father in disbelief.  

“Father, why’d you hit me?”  

“Why’d I hit you?”  

City Lord Li was so angry he almost laughed, and he slapped the other side of Young Master Li’s face.  

Slap—!  

Young Master Li felt even more aggrieved and was about to speak when City Lord Li kicked him in the knee, forcing him to the ground.  

“You rebellious son, do you know who this is?!”  

City Lord Li, still fuming, slapped him twice more, leaving poor Young Master Li’s face swollen.  

“He’s just a petty bandit…”  

Young Master Li mumbled, not daring to act defiant with his father anymore, his voice small and tinged with grievance.  

“Bandit? You insolent fool, this is the Third Prince of the dynasty!  

Are you trying to get your father killed?”  

“What? The Third Prince?”  

Young Master Li was dumbfounded.  

He looked at the shirtless “bandit” on the ground, covered in scrapes from being dragged, blinked a few times, and said, “Father, did you get it wrong?”  

“How could I get it wrong? A few years ago, when I went to the capital, I personally paid my respects to the Third Prince!”  

“This… this…”  

Young Master Li stammered, unable to get a word out.  

“I told you, I really am the emperor’s son…  

I warned you to treat me with respect…”  

The Third Prince gave him a smile, making Young Master Li tremble all over.  

Holy crap, it really was him?!  

“No, no… Father, listen, I didn’t beat him!”  

Slap—!  

Another slap landed on Young Master Li’s face.  

City Lord Li, his face dark, said, “You’re still denying it? I just heard you say with your own mouth that you beat up the Third Prince!”  

“No, it’s… it’s a misunderstanding! It really wasn’t me, Father, let me explain…”  

“Still talking back? I’ll beat you to death today, you wretched son!”  

Slap—!  

“Father…”  

Slap—!!  

“I…”  

Slap—!!!  

A moment later, Young Master Li collapsed on the ground, tears in his eyes, his face swollen beyond recognition, staring blankly at the ground in a daze…  

“What sin did I commit? It really wasn’t me…”