"It's all the Chen family's doing!" Lu Fan said coldly, "The Chen family patriarch was plotting diligently to kill me!"
"It really was that old scoundrel!" Ling'er smiled coldly, her aura exuding a palpable pressure. To Lu Fan, her demeanor clearly indicated that the Chen family patriarch's actions had thoroughly angered her.
"I'll go get payback for you right now, I'll make sure they regret it!"
Ling'er's voice was icy as she began to rally the mansion's guards, preparing to head to the Chen family. With solid evidence in hand, Ling'er wasn't afraid of them trying to deny their involvement.
"Miss, please do not be rash!" Steward Wu advised, "This matter is of great importance, and Emperor Xuan is not in the city. What if the Chen family patriarch harbors rebellious intentions?"
"I can't worry about all that! Besides, with my father's backing, how dare he do something like this!" Ling'er said coldly, her dissatisfaction evident.
The Chen family patriarch had nearly caused Lu Fan's death, a fact she found utterly unacceptable, as Lu Fan was exceptionally important in her eyes.
"I think we should let it go."
Lu Fan waved his hand, "It's not that easy to deal with him. More importantly, this matter is no small affair. Any misstep could stir up a storm!"
"Even so, I will make the Chen family pay!"
With a cold glint in her eyes, Ling'er spoke again. As the daughter of the esteemed Emperor Xuan, she felt extremely stifled, considering it a profound humiliation.
"Make the Chen family pay?"
Steward Wu frowned, "Miss, have you thought this through? This matter carries significant weight, and if we were to act, we would have no chance of winning!"
At these words, Ling'er froze. It was only then that she realized all the honor and status she possessed were bestowed by her father. Without him, she would have no standing in the entire Emperor Xuan City.
Her thoughts turned complex, a mix of emotions churning within her, accompanied by a deep sense of displeasure. Yet, with the situation having escalated to this point, she found herself unsure of how to proceed.
"Listen to me, let's endure this for now!" Lu Fan shrugged, "It won't be long before I make the Chen family pay!"
"You kid, don't do anything reckless. The Chen family is not to be trifled with easily!"
Steward Wu cautioned, his gaze earnest. He understood perfectly that if this matter were mishandled, Lu Fan's life could be in grave danger.
"I know Steward Wu is saying this for my own good, but I always handle things with discretion. So, you don't need to worry too much!" Lu Fan smiled slightly, his tone remarkably calm.
Steward Wu felt a sense of helplessness and decided not to press the issue further. Since Lu Fan had spoken so assuredly, he saw no need to inquire further.
Meanwhile, within the Chen family courtyard, the Chen family patriarch's face was ashen. He had just received news that Lu Fan had not only survived but had returned to the City Lord's Mansion. This was unequivocally bad news for him.
"Father, what do we do now?" Chen Jianbei asked, "That brat isn't dead and has returned to the City Lord's Mansion. Why don't we go there now, capture him, and execute him on the spot!"
"Are you out of your mind?" the Chen family patriarch said coldly, "That is Emperor Xuan's mansion. Although Emperor Xuan is not in the city, it's still not a place we can offend!"
Chen Jianbei's face turned pale at these words, clearly not expecting the situation to unfold like this, leaving them caught off guard.
"Eldest Brother, then what should we do?"
The second elder of the Chen family spoke, "If this matter is not handled properly, it could pose a significant crisis for our Chen family."
"I can't believe I personally took action and still failed to kill him. This is my responsibility!" the Chen family patriarch stated, "Let this brat live for a while longer. As soon as he dares to leave Emperor Xuan City, I will make him understand what true power is!"
"It seems that's the only way," the second elder of the Chen family said with a wry smile, a sense of helplessness creeping into his heart. At this juncture, this was all they could do.
For the next few days, Lu Fan remained within the City Lord's Mansion, not venturing out. He was well aware that the Chen family was watching him with predatory intent and could strike at any moment. While he wasn't afraid of a Half-Emperor, he would still be at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation, hence his cautious approach.
During these days, Ling'er remained displeased, eager to seek trouble with the Chen family but repeatedly dissuaded by Steward Wu, which further fueled her annoyance.
"There's an incident happening in Emperor Xuan City today that requires your assistance. Are you free to go out?" Jian Yu said to Lu Fan.
"Of course, I'm free. In all of Emperor Xuan City, no one dares to harm me!" Lu Fan smiled, stepping out directly, appearing completely unconcerned.
Concurrently, Ling'er hurried to follow, "You're going out, and you still need me? Otherwise, if someone tries to harm you, there'll be no one to protect you!"
"What do you mean by that? I don't need protection!" Lu Fan waved his hand, a smile playing on his lips. "Besides, this is Emperor Xuan City. Who has the guts to make a move here?"
"That's true. This is Emperor Xuan City, after all. If anyone dares to act here, my father won't let them off."
Ling'er nodded slightly, her confidence instantly bolstered. To her, the situation was indeed as she perceived it.
Upon reaching the center of Emperor Xuan City, Lu Fan began to handle the matter, with Jian Yu by his side. Just then, Zhao Feitian's figure suddenly appeared. Seeing Ling'er, he exclaimed joyfully, "Ling'er, I've been trying to meet you for so long, and you refused. What wind blew you out here today!"
"I don't want to talk to you. Can you stay away from me?" Ling'er said coldly, a hint of displeasure in her heart. To her, all of this was insignificant.
Zhao Feitian looked crestfallen. He had intended to get closer, but Ling'er's strong aversion caught him off guard.
"Yo, isn't this Guard Lu? I heard you went missing a few days ago, but now you're back. You're quite lucky!"
A mocking voice chimed in as Chen Jianbei approached, speaking without reservation, his gaze fixed on Lu Fan, a palpable aura emanating from him.
"Chen Jianbei, you have quite the audacity!" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, "You dare to come here and provoke me? Do you really think that a Half-Emperor from your Chen family can control everything forever?"
"What do you mean by that?" Chen Jianbei asked, displeased.
"What do I mean? Figure it out yourself!" Lu Fan said coldly, "Before long, the Chen family will be utterly destroyed!"