"Don't! It's too wasteful to burn it. Let it serve its purpose before burning," Fu Wenwen said with a smile at Lu Chengsen.
"You're the cheeky one!" Lu Chengsen playfully hooked Fu Wenwen's nose.
Lu Chengsen and Fu Wenwen, along with the items prepared by the Wei family, quietly arrived at the Wei residence while everyone was in the front hall attending the banquet.
Fu Wenwen, returning the favor, hid all the evidence of treason within the Wei family's premises.
After completing their task, Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen waited in silence.
Grandpa Lu, invited by Grandpa Wei to the Wei family's banquet, felt uneasy throughout the event. He had a nagging feeling that something significant might happen today.
Grandpa Lu initially dismissed it as a mere illusion, as everything appeared so peaceful.
"What's wrong, Old Lu? Is something amiss? Or is there any lack of hospitality? You must forgive us then," Grandpa Wei said, looking at Grandpa Lu with great warmth.
One might have mistaken them for allies, given such enthusiastic hospitality and the treatment of Grandpa Lu as an honored guest. Even the Ling family, closely allied with the Wei family, had not received such treatment.
Grandpa Lu took the main seat, while the Ling and Ma families had to sit on the side. The more the Wei family acted this way, the stronger Grandpa Lu's unease grew.
Having dealt with them for half a lifetime, their sudden change of heart to invite him to a banquet and treat him with such high regard could only mean trouble. Grandpa Lu maintained a gentle smile; despite his hunger, he didn't touch any of the food on the table, nor did he drink more than one cup of wine.
Lu Jingyao and Luo Siqi sensed it even more acutely. People who had previously never paid them any attention were now personally coming over to toast them.
Lu Chengyu, accompanied by Lu Qian'an, circulated through the banquet. When no one was paying attention, he pulled Lu Qian'an aside.
He whispered to Lu Qian'an, "Something is very wrong tonight. Their attitudes are too strange! Qian'an, do not touch anything they give you, understand?"
"Brother, is there danger?" Lu Qian'an asked Lu Chengyu, her voice filled with worry.
"Not necessarily, but Grandpa has looked at me four or five times, and Dad has looked at me six times," Lu Chengyu, whose sensitivity to danger had been honed by training, replied.
Grandpa Lu and his father repeatedly confirming his location likely meant they had discovered something and were trying to signal him. Every time he tried to approach his father or grandfather, someone would interrupt him or try to engage him in conversation. As this happened repeatedly, Lu Chengyu felt the danger escalating.
The people at the banquet were intentionally keeping them apart. Although he didn't know their intentions, Lu Chengyu had to prioritize Lu Qian'an's safety.
"Brother, don't worry. I'll protect myself," Lu Qian'an said cautiously.
Indeed, the Lu family's intuition proved correct. Midway through the banquet, a group of people stormed in.
"Lu Wenbin, Lu Jingyao, someone has reported you for treason. You must come with us."
In front of everyone, they forcibly apprehended Grandpa Lu and Lu Jingyao.
"This... the Lu family selling out the country? Impossible!"
"What is going on?"
"Heavens, this is terrifying."
The bewildered guests were shocked, unable to comprehend why Grandpa Lu and Lu Jingyao were being taken away.
The Wei and Ma families exchanged glances. Grandpa Wei stepped forward to placate the guests, "There must be some misunderstanding. Today is Xiao Lan and Wen Chao's engagement party, please continue..."
After calming the guests, Grandpa Wei approached Lu Chengyu. Lu Chengyu had immediately rushed to support Luo Siqi. Seeing Grandpa Wei, he asked with a stern face, "Grandpa Wei, what exactly happened?"
"Nothing, it's definitely a misunderstanding. They said they found documents of treason at your house and are taking them in for investigation. It'll surely be fine," Grandpa Wei said with feigned concern.
Lu Chengyu, uninterested in his act, turned and left the Wei residence with Luo Siqi and Lu Qian'an.
"Is it alright to let Lu Chengyu go outside? Won't there be any trouble?" Patriarch Ma approached Grandpa Wei and asked.
"He's just a young calf, he can't make waves!" Grandpa Wei sneered. "This time, he won't escape."
"We absolutely cannot let him have a chance to rise again. We must crush him completely," Patriarch Ma's eyes flashed with ferocity as he signaled towards a corner. Several men, receiving Patriarch Ma's command, followed Lu Chengyu and his group.
Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen exchanged a look. They calmly followed these men, curious to see what they intended to do to Lu Chengyu and his party.
Lu Chengyu, his face pale and his mother enduring the pain, urged her to get into the car quickly. He gestured for his sister to get in from the other side as he had already heard footsteps behind them. His expression darkened. After Luo Siqi and Lu Qian'an were in the car, Lu Chengyu turned around and saw three men approaching leisurely.
"What do you want?" Lu Chengyu's gaze was cold, his mind prepared.
"Someone's path was blocked. Be good and don't cause us any trouble, and we'll give you a quick end," the man said with a cold smile at Lu Chengyu. He walked up to Lu Chengyu, while the other two headed towards the car.
"If you dare to touch them, I will never forgive you." Lu Chengyu tried to stop the two men, but the first man blocked his path. Lu Chengyu threw a punch at the man, who was caught off guard and struck.
"Kid, you've got some strength, but it's a shame," the man sneered and engaged Lu Chengyu in a fight. Lu Chengyu had some skill, but he couldn't withstand the man's intention to simply stall him while the other two captured Luo Siqi and Lu Qian'an.
Inside the car, Luo Siqi, her face pale, shielded Lu Qian'an behind her. As the two men reached the other car door, intending to open it, they suddenly stiffened and collapsed to the ground. Neither Lu Chengyu nor the man fighting him noticed this. Lu Qian'an, seeing the two men fall outside the car, said to Luo Siqi, "Aunt, they seem to have been knocked down?"
Luo Siqi's eyes widened in surprise. She looked outside the car and saw that the two men had indeed fallen. Two heads popped out from the nearby bushes, waving at Luo Siqi and Lu Qian'an.
"It's Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law," Lu Qian'an, who had a clear view, immediately told Luo Siqi.
"Are you mistaken? How could Chengsen and Wenwen be here..." Luo Siqi followed Lu Qian'an's gaze and was astonished to see Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen.
"Mom," Lu Chengsen said softly to Luo Siqi. "Don't worry, Wenwen and I will protect you."
"There are only these three," Fu Wenwen said to Lu Chengsen. Upon hearing Fu Wenwen say there were only three, Lu Chengsen stood up decisively and ran towards the man fighting Lu Chengyu. He leaped, using the car roof as a springboard, and kicked the man heavily in the back.