"Clack."
The silk robe fell to the ground, and a crisp sound came from its sleeve. It was evident that the sleeve concealed a sharp weapon.
Lu Yu nodded as expected. He picked up the tea cup in front of him with renewed interest, surveyed the room, and asked with a smile, "Not just sharp weapons in the sleeves? This tea cup is poisoned too, isn't it?"
*Whoosh...*
Lu Lingqi let out a soft sigh. She bit her lip, appearing to want to resist but hesitating due to fear of repercussions.
At this moment, she had shed her outermost robe, and only her undergarments remained…
Unexpectedly, Lu Yu narrowed his eyes and continued with a smile, "It doesn't seem cold today. Continue... undress!"
"You!" Lu Lingqi exclaimed, but upon seeing the black box in Lu Yu's hand tremble slightly, the words she was about to shout were immediately swallowed back.
Lu Lingqi knew Lu Yu's capabilities.
Months ago, during the defense of Xuchang, the Dragon Hawk Battalion repelled Zhang Fei's vanguard with a single, minuscule crossbow bolt.
Lu Yu had said that the black box in his hand could take a life in an instant, and Lu Lingqi did not doubt him!
Just then…
Lu Yu's voice followed, "Miss Lu, with a flick of your finger, Hou Cheng, Wei Xu, Song Xian, and Cheng Lian all perished in the East Sea. I, this young master, admit that my skills are far inferior to theirs, so… facing the esteemed Miss Lu, I dare not be negligent. Miss Lu, you should undress, lest we both be embarrassed?"
"It will be embarrassing if I undress!" Lu Lingqi complained.
"No," Lu Yu smiled slightly. "If you undress, *you* will be embarrassed. This young master will not be…"
"You…" Lu Lingqi realized she couldn't out-argue Lu Yu; their levels were too different.
She bit her lip even harder.
After shedding her undergarments, Lu Lingqi was left with only a肚兜 (dudou, a traditional Chinese bodice) in front of her.
That's right, women in ancient times wore肚兜. In this era, a肚兜 was almost equivalent to the modern "tube top." Lu Lingqi's was rectangular, designed with diagonal cuts. The upper corners were trimmed into a concave, shallow semicircle, and the lower corners formed a sharp point, revealing her exquisite figure in its entirety.
Lu Yu sighed inwardly, thinking her figure… probably rivaled Xiao Qiao's waist! How could anyone resist this!
However, she was a rose with thorns, to be admired from afar, not to be profaned.
As Lu Yu was lost in his thoughts…
On the other side…
Since she had already undressed this far, Lu Lingqi resolved herself and said, "May I ask, Young Master Lu, do I have to take off my pants too?"
Her haughty tone carried an infinite disdain…
The reason for this question was partly to vent, but more importantly, Lu Lingqi was buying time.
To assassinate Lu Yu, she had made the most thorough preparations: poisoned wine, hidden poisoned weapons, and Zang Ba… calculating the time, Zang Ba and the hidden assassins should have emerged from the secret passage behind the study bookshelf by now.
As long as she could stall, no matter how powerful Lu Yu's black box was? It was still no match for dozens of opponents!
"I have no interest in your legs," Lu Yu's voice sounded again… "Turn around! Raise your hands, don't be shy, sit…"
The sleeve was the easiest place to conceal hidden weapons, and the most concealed.
In other areas, Lu Yu was confident he could subdue Lu Lingqi before she could make a move!
This…
Lu Lingqi's brows furrowed. Was she really going to sit in front of a man like this, wearing only a肚兜, with her shoulders and back exposed? And what's more… this man was her father's killer!
"What exactly do you want? To humiliate me?"
Lu Yu smiled, still holding the black box, his finger on the mechanism. Despite Lu Lingqi's near-complete undress, Lu Yu remained cautious facing such a potent and fiery loli.
"Didn't you have questions earlier? Wanting to ask me? Go ahead and ask…"
While Lu Lingqi was buying time, Lu Yu was also buying time. Of course, Lu Lingqi was waiting for Zang Ba's assassins, while Lu Yu was waiting for… her father!
The friend he met in the main hall earlier was Yang Xiu.
Lu Yu chatted with him briefly during his excuse to relieve himself and learned about the situation. Lu Lingqi was a disciple of Tong Yuan. She had come to exchange prisoners for her master and to redeem Yan Liang, but more importantly, for revenge!
It was an incredible stroke of luck that he, Lu Yu, was one of "Lu Bu's" seven enemies! It was truly more unjust than Dou E!
According to Yang Xiu, Lu Bu had already gone with Sun Li to find Zang Ba, and was likely on his way to the third floor.
With this thought, Lu Yu looked at Lu Lingqi with amusement. Perhaps, today, they were waiting for the same group of people!
"Slap…"
Lu Lingqi sat down in front of Lu Yu. "Lu Yu, I know you are powerful, but you are going too far! You killed my father, why must you humiliate him?"
"Humiliate him?" Lu Yu was quite bewildered.
Lu Lingqi's emotions were somewhat agitated, giving the impression of "I've revealed everything, no more pretending. I'm not a courtesan, I'm a volatile loli."
"—Only the swift Red Hare horse remains, and a single Fangtian halberd! Loving his wife, he ignored Chen Gong's counsel, yet falsely cursed Liu Bei as ungrateful! Is this not humiliation?" Lu Lingqi retorted.
Alas…
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu sighed helplessly. This girl was just like her father's personality back then. Truly, like father, like daughter!
"It seems you are convinced that I, Lu Yu, am your father's killer!" Lu Yu said.
"Otherwise?" Lu Lingqi's tone was icy. "If you hadn't schemed and planted spies in Xiapi, and flooded Xiapi, how could father have been captured, how could he have died? How could he have died in vain at Bai Men Tower?"
"What you see is not necessarily the truth; it could be what others want you to see,"
Lu Yu shook his head. "Besides, even if your father died at Bai Men Tower, what does that have to do with me? You can inquire. At Bai Men Tower, let alone me, even Commander Cao Cao wanted to spare your father. However, someone's words, 'Don't you see the matter of Ding Jianyang and Dong Zhuo?' directly sent your father to his doom."
Lu Yu did not elaborate too much. If he said that her father was still alive, this girl would not believe it!
It was better to wait for the appearance of Lu Bu of Jiuyuan. Facts speak louder than words!
However…
Before that, Lu Yu intended to give this girl a good lesson, to clear her eyes from being so clouded and stained!
This…
Lu Lingqi had inquired about the situation at Bai Men Tower many times. It was that big-eared thief, Liu Bei, who uttered, "Don't you see the matter of Ding Jianyang and Dong Zhuo?"
Lu Yu was right. At that time, Cao Cao already had intentions to spare her father, but because of that remark from the big-eared thief, it led to… led to…
Her fists clenched abruptly.
Lu Lingqi looked at the second to last name on her sleeve—Liu Bei!
The vengeance for her father's death, how could this big-eared thief escape responsibility!
"Alas…" Just then, Lu Yu continued, "Esteemed Miss Lu, perhaps I can analyze this from Liu Bei's perspective for you…"
Lu Lingqi looked up, saying nothing, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Lu Yu's voice spread out. "Your father, Lu Bu, was an unparalleled God of War, invincible when leading cavalry. Commander Cao Cao was wise and trusted his subordinates, his Qingzhou soldiers were rampant in the Central Plains. If the skilled cavalry commander and martial arts expert Lu Bu cooperated with the resourceful and infantry-leading Cao Cao, who in the world could oppose them?"
"Liu Bei was skilled in concealing his intentions. He keenly sensed this, hence… abandoning the past camaraderie from the archery at the轅門 (yuan men, outer gate), he uttered those soul-piercing words, 'Don't you see the matter of Ding Jianyang and Dong Zhuo?' Miss Lu, ponder it, think it over carefully! In this, who is the true culprit? I need not elaborate further, right?"
This…
Lu Lingqi's heart trembled slightly, but she quickly shook her head fiercely. She did not want to hear, nor could she listen to, Lu Yu's "nonsense."
Who didn't know this fellow was glib-tongued and adept at sophistry.
"Hmph…"
With a cold snort, Lu Lingqi said, "I don't need you to analyze for me. I know very well who I should seek revenge from!"
Just then…
The sound of footsteps, "thud thud thud," suddenly echoed, seemingly coming from behind the boudoir.
Upon hearing this sound, Lu Lingqi's lips curled slightly.
She knew that Uncle Zang Ba was bringing the assassins. Lu Yu had not conducted the trials of Qin and Qi, so the timing was a little off, but it didn't matter…
"Lu Yu, you are doomed," Lu Lingqi said with a smile. "Even if this black box of yours can take my life, I have already laid countless ambushes around here. You cannot escape. Today, even if I die, I will drag you down to hell with me, to see my father together!" *Da Feng Novel*
Heh…
Hehehe…
Lu Lingqi's words made Lu Yu chuckle. Lu Yu let out a "hehe," and shook his head slightly. "This young master does not wish to be a pair of ghostly lovers with you."
"Who wants to be with you…" Before Lu Lingqi could finish her words.
With a "bang," the desk in the boudoir was violently overturned, and from the secret passage behind it, more than ten men in black robes emerged. The one at the forefront was none other than Zang Ba!
"Uncle Nu Kou, kill this fellow… avenge my father."
At this moment, Lu Lingqi was completely fearless. Even at the risk of being pierced by the "Rain of Pear Blossoms Needles," she wanted to drag Lu Yu down with her.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh…"
More than ten men in black robes drew their sabers…
Lu Lingqi had prepared herself for death, but… she was surprised to see Lu Yu put away the black box in his hand, open his eyes, and look at her with a smile!
Was he… was he crazy? Giving up resistance? Not planning to die together?
Before Lu Lingqi could understand…
Lu Yu lightly chanted, "Finally, I've waited! This act was so tiring!"
As he spoke, the smile on his lips deepened.
Lu Lingqi, however, knit her brows tightly. "What nonsense are you talking about? You don't realize you're facing death!"
Hehe…
Lu Yu let out a "hehe." He crouched down and said with a smile, "Neither of us will die, but… whether your backside will bloom is not certain!"
As he said this, Lu Yu stood up with a smile.
Lu Lingqi was furious. As a young girl, being spoken of in such terms as "backside" by a man… and an enemy at that, she wanted to hit Lu Yu! She had already clenched her fists. Lu Yu had put away the black box, so Lu Lingqi had no more reservations…
She was confident that with one punch, Lu Yu would be severely injured and fall!
Unexpectedly, before her ideal punch could be thrown.
A vigorous and powerful voice suddenly echoed from the secret passage.
—"You unfilial daughter! Stop immediately!"
—"If you injure your benefactor! Injure your husband! Your father will beat you to death!"
This…
This voice.
As this powerful voice emanated, Lu Lingqi's clenched fist suddenly loosened. At this moment, she abruptly realized that the assassins emerging from the secret room were aiming their blades at her!
Of course, that was not important…
What was important was that the voice from the secret room was too familiar to her. Father… this was Father's voice!
But…
But wasn't Father killed at Bai Men Tower!
Lu Lingqi turned her head in astonishment, and emerging from the secret room was none other than her father—Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian!
Who else could it be?
At this moment, Lu Bu was unarmed, without Red Hare, nor Fangtian halberd, nor the hundred-flower robe of Xichuan red brocade, nor the beast-faced helmet and intertwined armor, nor the exquisite lion-band armor.
But even in the plainest attire, his face, his angry demeanor, his brow… was it not the father Lu Lingqi yearned for!
"Dad, Dad…"
Lu Lingqi instinctively ran towards Lu Bu. She was about to embrace her father. How many nights had the scene of her father's death replayed in her mind, but… but at this very moment, with her living father appearing before her eyes, the suppressed emotions could no longer be contained. She wanted to vent like a madwoman…
"Dad…"
Another choked voice.
But… Lu Bu's face was pale, furious, and indescribably…
"Clack…"
Not tears of father-daughter reunion, but… a slap!
—A heavy slap!
Lu Bu slapped Lu Lingqi heavily on the face.
This powerful blow sent Lu Lingqi to the ground.
Accompanying this crisp sound was Lu Bu's cold voice—"You… un… filial… DAUGHTER!"
This…
Lu Lingqi was completely stunned. She didn't even know what was happening!
Why… why did her father slap her and call her an unfilial daughter!
Of course, and… why did her father, who died at Bai Men Tower, appear before her now!
Of course…
Lu Lingqi naturally did not know that Tong Yuan, without asking any questions, had ended the lives of more than ten border soldiers in Yanmen with one action!
Such behavior, in the eyes of the current Lu Bu of Jiuyuan, was akin to touching his reverse scale!
Coincidentally, his daughter was a female disciple of that old dog Tong Yuan, which was a great act of unfilial conduct!
And the second point, previously… Lu Bu had made an agreement with Lu Yu, that Lu Yu would marry Lu Lingqi. According to parental decree and matchmaker's words, Lu Lingqi's current behavior was tantamount to murdering her own husband, for which, in the Han Dynasty, one would be drowned in a pig cage.
And the most crucial point, the third point…
Lu Lingqi apprenticed herself to Tong Yuan and attempted to murder her husband. Under such circumstances, not only could she not be Lu Yu's wife… she wouldn't even qualify to be a concubine!
Not that she couldn't, but that she was not worthy, nor did she have the qualification!
Yet, whether Lu Lingqi could marry Lu Yu concerned not just his, Lu Bu's, fate!
Diao Chan, Ling Ju… and even the wife he felt most sorry for.
It was with this realization that Lu Bu slapped Lu Lingqi across the face, with a sense of "hating that iron cannot be forged into steel."
"Dad… Dad…"
Lu Lingqi choked out, her voice trembling.
"I don't have a daughter like you!" Lu Bu's reply was incredibly harsh. After speaking, he ignored Lu Lingqi and turned to look at Lu Yu. His usually noble head was now lowered.
—Benefactor, son-in-law…
Lu Yu had bestowed too many favors upon him. But… but all these favors, after what Lu Lingqi had done, had completely changed their meaning!
Lu Bu felt a sense of "ingratitude." It was no wonder people said he, Lu Bu, was ungrateful. With such a daughter, he truly deserved it!
"Young Master Lu…"
If it were in the past, Lu Bu might have dared to call Lu Yu his worthy son-in-law. But now… Lu Bu felt too ashamed to say it. Lu Lingqi's actions made his face burn, and he felt too embarrassed to face him.
Uh…
"Cough cough!"
Lu Yu coughed lightly, inexplicably feeling the atmosphere here was a bit… intoxicating.
"General Ying, say nothing. You and your daughter have been reunited and must have much to talk about. Why not… go and chat first. Many misunderstandings… are resolved once they are cleared up!"
Lu Yu smiled slightly, glancing at Lu Lingqi with his peripheral vision.
At this moment, Lu Lingqi looked like a little girl who had made a mistake, her flushed cheeks supported by a hand. It seemed her father's slap was quite heavy!
She lowered her head, not understanding, but… in her eyes, there was… there was still some inexplicable joy.
Lu Yu could understand…
This little pain was nothing. As long as her father was still here… no matter how great the injustice or how many more beatings she endured, it would be worth it!
It seemed that people surnamed Lu in this era had strong family values!
Just then…
Lu Bu spoke.
"Young Master Lu is magnanimous and does not bother with my unfilial daughter, but I understand the rules…"
Lu Bu's tone was extremely serious, incredibly meticulous.
"With this unfilial daughter committing such an act, let alone marrying into the Marquis's residence as a wife, even becoming a concubine in the Marquis's residence would be against all heavenly principles! Young Master Lu, you and I, our agreement is canceled. This daughter…"
Upon uttering the words "this daughter," Lu Bu's gaze turned back to Lu Lingqi, his expression so cold that Lu Lingqi felt a bone-chilling coldness.
Lu Bu's voice followed.
"A son's failure is a father's fault. I will take this unfilial daughter back and discipline her well. In the future, when I hand her over to Young Master Lu, as a slave or a maid, I will never say 'no'!"
Ho…
Lu Bu had made a grand declaration.
Lu Yu, however, waved his hands repeatedly. "General Ying, it's not necessary… it was all a misunderstanding. Canceling the agreement is one thing, but as for becoming a slave or a maid, forget it. Your daughter is very feisty. Honestly, if you really made her a slave or a maid in the Marquis's residence… it would cause an uproar, and I fear my fragile heart couldn't bear it."
Speaking of this, Lu Yu blinked his eyes, giving Lu Bu a big smile, and then turned to leave the boudoir!
Zang Ba and the rest of the Taishan Army quickly cupped their fists. "We wish Young Master Lu a safe journey…"
"You're welcome," Lu Yu waved his hand… and did not linger. Next, this place should be left for Lu Bu and his daughter!
Of course…
Lu Yu was very curious whether Lu Lingqi's backside would be blooming!
… But it was better not to look, to avoid it being too bloody, too violent!
As he walked to the corridor…
Dian Wei quickly stepped forward. "There was movement in the pavilion just now. I was about to barge in. Is Young Master Lu unharmed?"
"Perfectly fine," Lu Yu smiled and beckoned Dian Wei and Cao Zhi to go downstairs together.
The Wanhua Pavilion had been visited, the courtesan had been met, there was nothing left to regret… it was time to go back.
Unexpectedly…
Cao Zhi immediately whispered, "Chief General Lu, Uncle Miaocai has arrived… he's waiting at the Yamen and says he has an imperial edict from the Son of Heaven to bestow a marriage upon Chief General Lu!"
Bestow a marriage?
Lu Yu's eyes darted. What was this all about? Why the bestowal of marriage out of the blue?
"What bestowal of marriage?"
Lu Yu instinctively asked.
Who knew that what Cao Zhi said next was earth-shattering.
—"Two wives for one Marquis's residence, Heaven-bestowed marriage. Following the example of the King of Qi in the Spring and Autumn period taking an Empress, His Majesty will bestow Xiahou Yuan's adopted daughter, Xiahou Juan, along with Princess Wannian, to Chief General Lu as wives!"
Ah… ah…
What… what kind of situation was this?
Lu Yu felt his forehead buzzing!
He had just left the brothel? And was marrying two at once!
Lu Yu suddenly felt that his small frame couldn't handle it!
In the future, he should carry a thermos cup with him…
And then… prematurely step into that decadent life of middle-aged men carrying a thermos cup with wolfberries in it!
…
…