Chapter 76 Part 1: The Xu Family Lad Startles the Liu Manor

The carriage turned a corner, paused for a moment, then the coachman snapped his whip.

With the horse’s neighs, hooves striking the ground, and the chime of the bells, several carriages gradually disappeared into the rain.

Liu Yingying’s sobbing could still be faintly heard.

Li Yuer, watching the carriages fade away, had a face that darkened ominously.

“What a Liu Family, what a Liu Chengdong. It seems the news that I am a woman has made them a bit more daring.”

Xiao Jing’er whispered,

“Miss, what should we do?”

“Tell Old Li that there’s no need to continue the Liu Family’s cloth business. Also, if I recall, a branch member of the Liu Family works in the residence, correct?”

“Yes, Miss. Liu Chengqi works as the bookkeeper in the residence.”

“Send him back to wherever he came from. While you’re at it, inform the Chief of Liu Family that some matters… aren’t over yet.”

“Yes.”

For now, Li Yuer was temporarily living in this small fenced courtyard, but that didn’t mean anyone could trifle with her authority.

Liu Chengdong had miscalculated this time.

How could he have predicted that the only son of the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence would actually fall for a humble rural doctor?

What Liu Chengdong did today didn’t just disgrace the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence; he had trampled Xu Ping’an’s dignity into the dirt.

As a woman, to watch the one she cared for suffer such humiliation—if she could still endure it, then there would be no need for the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence to exist at all!

It would have been one thing if they had merely come to negotiate, but now, taking advantage of Xu Ping’an’s absence, they forcibly took Liu Yingying away.

Even if Liu Yingying was the Liu Family’s daughter, she was still a guest of the Xu Family.

This matter was not finished!

Of course, the powerful Liu Family could not be toppled in a day or two, but today’s events had left a deep impression in her heart.

The Liu Family… was no longer necessary.

It was also a promise to Xu Ping’an.

Anyone who dares to run wild in the Xu Family simply does not deserve to exist!

“Inform Father of this matter. I believe he’ll understand what I mean. I’d like to hear Father’s thoughts.”

For now, she did not have absolute authority over the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence. For matters like wiping out the Liu Family, she still had to consult the Zhennan King.

“Yes, Miss.”

Xiao Jing’er nodded, then after returning inside, Li Yuer went to soothe Pei Qingxuan’s emotions, lest she do anything rash.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jing’er immediately picked up her brush, wrote a letter, and handed it to Zhao Pingzhi.

A pigeon flew into the rain; the message would reach the Zhennan King within two hours.

Today, the east wing room was especially quiet.

There was no more of Liu Yingying’s noisy commotion, nor Ning’er’s repeated cries of “Master.”

When Xu Ping’an returned, the first thing he saw was Pei Qingxuan squatting by the door, her eyes red with tears.

“Qingxuan, what’s wrong?”

Seeing his wife’s eyes swollen from crying, Xu Ping’an hurriedly put down his oiled paper umbrella and ran over to help her up.

“Husband… Yingying, she was taken away!!”

As soon as the pillar of the household returned, his wife burst into tears and poured out her grievance.

“What!? Taken away? By whom?”

Someone dared to snatch a person from his courtyard?

Wait… If someone was abducted, why hadn’t the formation been triggered?

Xu Ping’an was stunned and was about to ask when Li Yuer, who had been waiting in the main hall, spoke up.

“Liu Yingying was taken away by the Chief of Liu Family.”

So that’s what happened.

Xu Ping’an’s brows tightened. He immediately embraced Pei Qingxuan to comfort her, then looked toward Li Yuer.

“I suppose it wasn’t just being taken away?”

“Correct. He also asked me to pass on a message to you, sir.”

“What message?”

“He said his daughter is not worthy of marrying up, and it would be best not to meet again.”

Xu Ping’an took a deep breath.

To be honest, he had never truly considered marrying Liu Yingying.

Though she liked him, he didn’t want to get too entangled—especially with a family like the Liu Family, who thrived both in the official world and the cultivation world.

A family like that would bring endless trouble once involved.

But it was one thing if he didn’t want it. For the Chief of Liu Family to come and abduct someone—this was unacceptable.

Qingxuan, still clinging to his embrace, sobbed as she recounted the events.

Hearing how Liu Yingying cried and struggled as she was dragged away by several people, Xu Ping’an’s frown deepened.

No matter what, Liu Yingying was a girl he’d watched grow up.

And she had always been strong-willed, rarely crying openly.

Even when bullied by outsiders, she’d only find a hidden spot to cry in private.

But this time, she wept and struggled in front of everyone.

It was easy to imagine how helpless she must have felt.

“At that time, I wanted to save Yingying, but Sister Yuer stopped me…”

Pei Qingxuan also lodged a complaint against Li Yuer, though not intentionally.

Li Yuer quickly explained,

“Sir was not here then. If Sister Qingxuan had acted rashly, she might have suffered, and besides…”

“No, Yuer, you needn’t explain. You did the right thing. In my absence, you were right not to let Qingxuan act.”

If his wife had acted, and someone was killed, it would have been terrible. Even if no one died, her current health couldn’t withstand the strain.

“All right, Qingxuan, don’t cry anymore. Your husband understands.”

“Mm…”

Pei Qingxuan choked back her tears and nodded, while Xu Ping’an asked about some details, sighing inwardly.

By the time he returned, the sun had already set.

Most likely, by now, Liu Yingying had been taken away by people from Blazing Fire Peak of the Floating Cloud Sect.

Even if he went after her, he wouldn’t be able to bring her back now.

Even if he could, bringing her back by force would be tantamount to abducting another’s daughter.

But this matter couldn’t just be left alone. Swallowing this humiliation was not in his nature.

Still, tonight was not the right time. He would visit the Liu Family tomorrow morning.

At the very least, he had to make a stand.

At the very least, for Liu Yingying’s sake, he would leave her some dignity.

Let the Liu Family know that the man Liu Yingying set her eyes on was no ordinary commoner.

Liu Yingying was already on her way to the Floating Cloud Sect now, and there was likely no chance of meeting again.

Even if she wished to, it would be years before they saw each other—by then, perhaps, she would have forgotten much.

Time… would eventually wash everything away.