Steward Lu retreated a few steps with a grimace of disgust, standing behind the guards. "This woman has gone mad, spouting all sorts of nonsense. Slandering the Marquis's mansion like this is a grave offense."
Steward Lu glanced at the onlookers. "Are you all willing to share the same罪 with this woman?"
As soon as Steward Lu spoke, the crowd, which had already thinned considerably, scattered even further.
Only a few with insatiable curiosity hid in the corners to watch. The remaining dozen or so neighbors began to hesitate.
Although Madam Zhou was certain that Hongyun had entered the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion, the people there adamantly denied it. What could ordinary folk like them do against the powerful nobility of a marquis's mansion?
With the significant crowd gone, leaving only a dozen insignificant ants who could stir up no further trouble, Steward Lu couldn't be bothered to look at them again.
"When the patrol arrives, you say what you need to say. I've already tried to advise them, but they don't appreciate good intentions, so we don't need to concern ourselves with them anymore."
Steward Lu instructed the burly guards as he walked back into the mansion.
This was how the meritorious and powerful acted with impunity and arrogance towards ordinary people.
Madam Zhou was still crying out.
The neighbors were at a loss, wanting to leave quickly before the patrol arrived, but unwilling to abandon Madam Zhou.
So, they all looked towards Xie Jiang on horseback.
Xie Jiang showed no sign of indignation, having expected this outcome. "You all take Madam Zhou back."
Madam Zhou immediately looked at Xie Jiang and shook her head violently. "I'm not leaving. My Hongyun is still inside. I can't leave..."
How could she leave Hongyun alone here! Her Hongyun was so young and would be scared! What if her Hongyun cried and couldn't find her mother?
At this thought, Madam Zhou was on the verge of collapse.
"You've seen the attitude of the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion. Regardless of whether Hongyun is alive or dead, they will never hand her over."
Xie Jiang looked at the plaque of the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion. Her face seemed to be permeated by the cool evening breeze, and her voice carried a hint of chill.
"Everyone in this marquis's mansion has two legs and a head, appearing human but long having lost their humanity. Even if you kowtow until you die here today, they won't bat an eye."
The neighbor aunt nodded vigorously.
That's right, the people here were demons in human skin!
Even though that steward seemed amiable and like a good person, after they pleaded for so long, did he say anything useful?
Xie Jiang said, "There's no need for us to stay here. Let's go back, write a formal complaint, and beat the drum to appeal at Shuntian Prefecture..."
Madam Zhou didn't want to leave. She didn't want to go anywhere. Her Hongyun was here. Her Hongyun would hurt, would be scared. She wouldn't go anywhere. She wanted to stay here, with her Hongyun...
But when she met Xie Jiang's eyes, a fire ignited in Madam Zhou's heart. Her treasure, her daughter, could not disappear without a trace like this, could not be so defiled...
"I want to go to Shuntian Prefecture. I want to beat the drum to appeal..." She wanted those beasts to pay with their lives!
On the way back to Wujia Alley, a rider suddenly caught up and bowed to Xie Jiang.
"Young Master Xie, my old master requests your presence."
The neighbors stopped, looking at the familiar guards of the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion, and then looked at Xie Jiang with surprise and uncertainty.
"Your old master?"
Xie Jiang thought for a moment. The father of the Nanxiong Marquis was still alive, meaning he was Lu Baofang's grandfather.
"Yes."
"Why does your old master want to see me?"
Xie Jiang asked casually, guessing the reason for Old Master Lu's invitation.
It was likely because he heard she was preparing to take Madam Zhou to Shuntian Prefecture to beat the drum and appeal, and he wanted to tell her not to overestimate her abilities and to quickly abandon her unrealistic thoughts.
Then she would tell Old Master Lu to abandon his unrealistic fantasies. She would not compromise due to a few threats.
So, don't be polite, don't hesitate, just use whatever tricks you have.
"The old master did not say," the guard replied honestly. "Please accompany me, Young Master Xie."
Xie Jiang said to the neighbors, "You all take her back first. I will go to Wujia Alley tomorrow morning."
The neighbor aunt leaned close to Xie Jiang's tall horse and glanced warily at the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion guard. She lowered her voice and said to Xie Jiang, "Young Master Xie, absolutely do not go with him. If there was something they needed to say, why didn't they say it when we were all here, but waited until everyone dispersed to invite you back? Be careful they don't lure you back to do you harm. Once the gates of their noble mansion are closed, who knows what they might do."
"Auntie, have you forgotten I am a poison doctor? Poisoning the entire Nanxiong Marquis's mansion is as easy as lifting a finger. I fear they lack the courage."
Xie Jiang smiled and leaned down, whispering a few words to the neighbor aunt before turning away.
The neighbor aunt thought about it and felt it made sense. Young Master Xie was so capable; he could poison all those with wicked hearts!
A den of beasts!
Before leaving, she cast a disdainful glance at the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion guard.
The Nanxiong Marquis's mansion guard silently followed.
Young Master Xie's whispered words were spoken a bit too loudly; he heard them clearly.
Since they hadn't gone far, they arrived quickly.
Under the watchful eyes of the gatekeepers and guards, Xie Jiang swaggered into the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion, showing no apprehension whatsoever.
Upon entering the reception hall, she glanced at the old master seated in the main seat and then chose a spot she found pleasing.
"Old Master, you didn't invite me here just for tea, did you? Speak directly. Don't play coy with me or try to test me."
Xie Jiang ignored the fragrant mist rising from the teacup. No matter how fragrant it was, it couldn't mask the stench of the mansion.
The old steward's brows twitched. He had never seen such an arrogant person. Not only did she not bow to the old master, but she also assumed a condescending posture.
Old Master Lu raised his hand, stopping the old steward who was about to react, and looked at Xie Jiang with his cloudy old eyes, which held a sharp scrutiny.
The young person's demeanor was natural and unforced, clearly a habit cultivated through daily life, not a pose of arrogance adopted to oppose the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion.
It seemed the rumors about this person's identity were mostly true.
A royal noble of a nation would naturally dare not show deference to an old man like him.
"I heard Young Master Xie is a distinguished guest of the Duke of Wei's mansion, which is why I specifically invited Young Master Xie back for a good talk."
If they didn't consider the Duke of Wei's mansion, what else could they do to her? Xie Jiang couldn't even be bothered to give them a glance.
Old Master Lu slowly picked up his teacup. "The mother and daughter of the Wu family are merely patients Xie Jiang encountered by chance. If it weren't for the pleading of that young man from the Xu family's second branch, Xie Jiang probably wouldn't have spared them a second glance. Today, Xie Jiang brought people here to cause trouble, not just to demand the return of Wu Hongyun, right?"
They were just two ordinary women with nothing out of the ordinary, not worth Xie Jiang making such a fuss.
Therefore, Xie Jiang's target was clearly their Nanxiong Marquis's mansion.
However, their Nanxiong Marquis's mansion had no connection whatsoever with Lan Yong, let alone any past grievances.
Xie Jiang had also only recently arrived in the capital, yet she was willing to antagonize the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion over a trivial matter.
Old Master Lu pondered for a long time but couldn't find any clues.