Sensing an opportunity for a fight, Yue Qingtian's spirits immediately lifted. "Monk, I'll go fetch the weapons right away and lead the charge!"
Yue Hongxiu was startled and quickly stopped the two of them. "You are an envoy from Da Qian. How can you barge into Zhenbeihou's mansion late at night? You should wait until tomorrow, ask His Majesty, and then go see him. After all, even if you go now, you won't be able to retrieve the child..."
Liang Xiao quickly calmed down and personally applied medicine to Yue Hongxiu. He had initially intended to inform Mu Cheng first and then go to the Yue mansion. At the very least, he couldn't let the outside world discover that he had completely fallen out with Zuo Wuji, lest it endanger his two sons and the Yue family members. However, considering Mu Cheng's health, Liang Xiao abandoned this plan.
An hour later, Qin Feng arrived in a hurry to visit Liang Xiao. "I received news from the Northern King's guards that General Anbei is injured?"
Seeing Qin Feng's concerned expression, Liang Xiao truthfully recounted the situation. "Alas, what a predicament..." Qin Feng was dejected. He now realized that Liang Xiao and the eldest daughter of the Yue family actually had two sons. This implied that the eldest daughter of the Yue family had stayed in Da Qian before, and their conflict had existed for one to two years... However, Mu Cheng was exceptionally lenient towards Liang Xiao, so Qin Feng didn't pry further and could only mediate.
At the Yue mansion, Zuo Wuji was smashing things everywhere, his face contorted with rage. "I specifically incorporated the Zhenbeihou's mansion into the Yue mansion, and yet there are traitors within! Get out! All of you, get out of the Yue family!" The surrounding collateral branches of the Yue family looked bewildered and at a loss. After regaining their senses, they all declared their allegiance. "Patriarch, we swear to defend the Yue family to the death!"
Zuo Wuji's expression finally improved slightly. He scanned everyone and finally burst into laughter, which then turned into a roar towards the heavens. In the end, it was only the collateral branches of the Yue family, who had once been hostile to him as a son-in-law, who supported him!
In the northern region of Da Qian, deep within the desert, north of Yinshan, at the Dragon's Landing site. A group of shadow guards, braving the wind and frost, were digging everywhere in the areas previously marked with flags, eager to confirm the treasure's location as soon as possible. "Winter is approaching again. If we don't find the treasure soon, even if we find it next year, we'll have to wait until the spring of the year after to begin excavation." The shadow guard captains whispered amongst themselves, their faces filled with worry. They were accustomed to the harsh weather; their only regret was not being able to find the treasure for their lord. "If Marquis Anguo were here, perhaps he would have found it last year?" "Go away! Marquis Anguo is now the apple of the lord's eye, the darling of the people. Nothing must happen to him. We'll handle this rough work ourselves!" The shadow guards, speaking more and more obsequiously, found solace and laughter in mutual accusations, alleviating their hardship. Just then, a cry of surprise echoed from afar: "We found it!!" The shadow guard captains galloped their horses to the northeast and discovered a sand cave underground. As dawn approached, the shadow guards, having overcome all obstacles, finally found the last treasure of the ancient Xiongnu king in the depths of the desert! "Report to the lord immediately!!"
The next day, Liang Xiao sought an audience with Mu Cheng to state his purpose. Mu Cheng smiled calmly. "I have already promised to help you to the best of my ability. Son-in-law, take two thousand Xuan Guards and clear the area around the Zhenbeihou's mansion. Liang Xiao will take five hundred Xuan Guards to negotiate with the Zhenbeihou. There's no need for an imperial edict. If I give you one, it might have the opposite effect. You should demonstrate your own abilities and show me what you've got." "If you can even subdue the Zhenbeihou, who is at odds with you, then I can confidently reveal to you the secret I most wish to reveal in this lifetime." With Mu Cheng's support, Liang Xiao no longer had any reservations and immediately led the Xuan Guards to the Yue mansion. Liang Xiao's wives, along with Zhuo Zifang, Zuo Wushang, Yue Hongxiu, Yue Wenxin, and others, accompanied him.
"What's going on? The Xuan Guards are here? This is too much!" Zuo Wuji, hiding in the Zhenbeihou's mansion, was enraged. At this moment, he even doubted whether he had chosen the wrong side by pledging allegiance to Mu Cheng. The deployment of twenty-five hundred Xuan Guards had already alerted all factions in the imperial court. "Does the foolish emperor know I visited Marquis Anguo and is preparing to cripple his own support?" Yan Liu received the news, a mixture of shock and delight. If this Zhenbeihou cannot be won over, imprisoning him might not be a bad idea? "Father, this is a great opportunity to show goodwill to Marquis Anguo!" Yan Liu's sons vehemently advised. Yan Liu understood and immediately set off: "Go see the foolish emperor and plead for Marquis Anguo!"
Two thousand Xuan Guards cleared the area around the Yue mansion, while five hundred Xuan Guards entered the mansion with Liang Xiao and his entourage. The Yue mansion was thrown into chaos. "What is happening? Are they going to seal our Yue family? Spare our Patriarch, he is loyal to His Majesty, it's as clear as day!!" The Yue family disciples were terrified and knelt down begging for mercy. Zuo Wuji, who was waiting in a secluded courtyard, felt a mix of emotions upon hearing the situation. These collateral branches of the Yue family thought the Xuan Guards were here to raid the mansion and were actually pleading for him? "Marquis Anguo merely wishes to catch up with the Zhenbeihou and has no intention of offending anyone in your esteemed residence. There is no need to worry!" Ye Chengxiu also felt it was somewhat awkward to intrude upon the Yue mansion and had to step forward to appease the Yue family members. The Yue family members looked bewildered and, seeing Liang Xiao nod at them, finally breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to offer smiles. "Our Patriarch has always admired Marquis Anguo. If you have something to say, let's talk it over amicably..." Liang Xiao merely smiled and nodded, but in his heart, he was seething with anger. He could find ways to compensate for any grievances Zuo Wuji had. However, snatching his son and beating his third wife had finally pushed him beyond his limits. Yue Hongxiu finally spoke: "Butler!" The Yue family butler, standing by, bowed respectfully: "Second Mistress!" Yue Hongxiu handed the butler a silver note worth one hundred taels and instructed: "Take everyone out for a good meal to calm their nerves. It's nothing serious, so don't worry." The butler, still in disbelief, took the silver note and led the Yue family disciples out to eat and drink. "A bunch of incompetents, bought off with a single silver note?!" The Yun Tian Guard promptly relayed the message to Zuo Wuji, who immediately exploded with rage. He had initially hoped that these Yue family disciples would show up and create a scene, drawing attention and perhaps preventing Liang Xiao from acting too recklessly. He had forgotten that Yue Hongxiu also held considerable influence in the Yue mansion. As Zuo Wuji raged ineffectually, a roar came from outside: "Zuo Wuji!!" Zuo Wuji immediately sprang up from his stone chair, as if facing a formidable enemy, and looked towards the courtyard entrance. Liang Xiao, his face grim, led the group in. Ye Chengxiu, sensing Liang Xiao's anger, wisely took the Xuan Guards to secure the perimeter, forbidding anyone from the Yue mansion from approaching this courtyard. "Trying to overwhelm me with numbers?" Zuo Wuji sneered and looked at Zuo Wushang, "Zuo Wushang!" Just as Zuo Wushang was about to respond, Liang Xiao's furious shout interrupted him. "Zuo Wuji! Return my child first!" Hearing this, Zuo Wuji's face broke into a smile, and he calmly sat down. "You kidnapped my two daughters, and I adopted two orphaned grandchildren. Is there a problem with that?" Hearing this, Yue Wenxin, standing nearby, blushed crimson, filled with both shame and annoyance: "How was it kidnapping? They came willingly..." Zuo Wuji's eyebrows twitched, and he almost jumped up from his seat again. Zuo Jing pleaded, "Father, at this point, wouldn't it be better for us to live in harmony?" "The children can be returned to you," Zuo Wuji ignored Zuo Jing and beckoned to Zuo Wushang, "You've wronged me. Come here first." Zuo Wushang looked dejected and walked out of the crowd, approaching Zuo Wuji. He was immediately struck down by Zuo Wuji and then subjected to a barrage of punches and slaps, his nose and face instantly becoming bruised. "You, you're not fighting honorably!" Zhuo Xun said anxiously.