Chapter 879: Chapter 521: Not a Penny from the Commoners, All from the Gentry
"Someone, there’s a disturbance—"
He had just shouted halfway when his whole body flew backwards into the courtyard like a cannonball.
"It’s been so long since anyone dared to shout in my presence." Zhao Douan slowly retracted his hand, almost nostalgic.
He stepped over the threshold, casually saying, "Follow."
Behind him, Zhao Shande and the four soldiers were too shocked to speak, only now realizing that this gentleman was indeed a martial artist.
However, the old official felt no joy, only sheer terror, as if his soul had flown away, realizing something was amiss:
The Lord Prefect could never have sent someone just to fight alongside him.
He must have been deceived?
But it was too late to reconsider; he gritted his teeth and followed anyway.
As the city’s leading family, the Lu Mansion was extremely grand, with five courtyards, meticulously arranged. Zhao Douan strolled leisurely through the middle courtyard, causing a large group of Lu Mansion’s house servants, maidservants, and protectors to rush over.
"Who dares to cause trouble?!"
As Zhao Douan entered the middle courtyard, he saw three young masters in the distance, brandishing swords and rushing out, with their protectors wielding sticks, looking fierce and menacing.
"Those are the three young masters of the Lu Family," the old official whispered a reminder.
The three belonged to the third generation of the Lu Family, none of them very old, with the eldest over thirty and the youngest still a teenager.
Zhao Douan stood calmly, voice steady, saying, "Court’s grain supervision officer, here to collect military grain from the Lu Mansion. Call someone who can make decisions."
The second young master of the Lu Family laughed angrily, raising his saber and pointing it at Zhao Douan’s nose, cursing, "Are you blind? Don’t you know where this is?"
Beside him, the eldest young master frowned, vaguely feeling that this "grain supervision officer" looked familiar, but couldn’t recall why.
Zhao Douan’s tone was light: "Facing a court official, wielding sharp weapons, is the Lu Family planning a rebellion?"
The eldest young master of the Lu Family’s face fell, pressing down his second brother’s arm holding the blade, then saying:
"This ’grain supervision officer,’ you shouldn’t speak carelessly. Even Governor Sun is courteous when visiting our home. I don’t know what misunderstanding has occurred, but as the court requires grain, should it involve breaking in and seizing forcefully? How is that different from the rebel army? Aren’t you afraid of disrupting the law?"
Zhao Douan was too lazy to waste words on a group of "kids," blandly saying:
"You’re not qualified to argue with me. Call someone who can decide."
"Where did this grain supervision officer come from, not knowing his place? Seize him! Breaking into a private residence, we’ll have a case even at the government office!" the hot-tempered second young master angrily shouted.
A group of protectors advanced with sticks, intending to surround him.
Zhao Douan stood with hands behind his back, eyelids slightly drooping, as the smile on his lips gradually vanished.
Just as he was about to act, a sudden, elderly, and anxious shout came from the back of the crowd.
"All of you, stop!!"
The Lu Family’s people froze, turning their heads to see a white-haired elder, wearing loose silk clothing and commanding authority without anger, hustling over from the direction of the rear courtyard!
Due to urgency, even his shoes were lost, and he was barefoot!
"Grandfather?" The three young masters were stunned, hastily paying respects.
"Family Head!" Many protectors quickly bowed their heads, clearing the way.
"It’s Elder Lu from the Lu Family. He has rarely appeared in recent years; why has he come out..." Zhao Shande was momentarily stunned, then relieved, whispering to Zhao Douan:
"Fortunately, it seems Elder Lu still understands the significance, giving thought to the Lord Prefect, aware that we have the support of the prefecture and the court, so they dare not act recklessly..."
Everyone believed that Elder Lu was considering the bigger picture, respecting the face of the city’s influential figures, hence he intervened to halt the minor skirmish below.
However, Elder Lu’s dignified expression completely changed upon seeing Zhao Douan standing in the middle courtyard.
After a brief pause, the Elder Lu, even with the entire region of Linfeng Road’s influential families, whose power could rank among the top two, ran forward with a pale face, and under everyone’s gaze, fell to his knees before Zhao Douan, touching his head to the ground, trembling as he said:
"I was unaware of your presence, Great One. Our young descendants are ignorant; I humbly implore your forgiveness!"
Silence.
An utter silence.
The entire mansion, suddenly, was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The flying knives, which had quietly hovered in Zhao Douan’s sleeve, ready to strike, slowly settled down, and the slight turbulence in his Qi Sea calmed.
He looked down at the white-haired elder, a smile not reaching his eyes: "You remember me?"
Lu Family’s Elder said, "Last autumn, during the feast hosted by the magistrate, I was fortunate to be seated at the end and had the honor of seeing your esteemed self."
Zhao Douan nodded slightly, recalling the elder somewhat, although not clearly, he sighed:
"I only arrived in Taicang today and came by for a visit. Yet, the Lu Family’s descendants are quite imposing, not placing the government in their eyes. Even in the capital, I’ve never seen such a grand family."
Elder Lu sweated coldly on his forehead. The white-haired elder suddenly turned angrily towards the three young masters: "Kneel down!"
The three Lu Family youths were still bewildered by the unfoldings, and only upon this reprimand did they lay down their weapons and kneel in a row beside Elder Lu, like children who had done wrong.
Zhao Douan maintained a calm demeanor, suddenly grabbing with one hand, a suction force emanating from his palm. A stone stool not far in the courtyard spun through the air and landed with a thud. This was a hand technique he learned in the Mortal Realm from Xu.
Zhao Douan lifted his hem, sat on the stone stool, pointed to the second young master, and instructed the old official beside him: "Go ask him if he knows why we’ve come."
From the moment Elder Lu knelt, Zhao Shande was numb. Now called upon, he seemed to come alive again, yet his heart pounded like a drum, his mind dizzy, knowing clearly that he had encountered a formidable figure?