Chapter 40: My Lady, I Beg You!

Watching this scene, everyone in the entourage felt a chill run down their spines, their scalps tingling with dread.

A burly, vicious-looking man with a prominent scar across his face stepped forward, cupping his hands in a mocking salute. "Second Mistress, shall we dig up that wretch's grave right now?"

This man was a battle-slave of the Cui family known as Flying Bear. A formidable martial artist, he was rumored to be a notorious bandit whom Cui Yuanhai, the Minister of War, had pulled from death row using his immense influence. For years, he had remained by the Minister’s side, handling the family's darkest affairs. With today’s events unfolding, he had been the first to receive orders, dispatched alongside a group of the Cui family’s elite guards to protect the Lady of the Cui clan.

The Lady of the Cui clan sneered, "What is the hurry? Wait until we have flayed that little beast to the bone, then dig her up, crush them both with a stone mill, and scatter the remains together—only then will it be satisfying!"

Flying Bear wore a cruel smile. "As expected of your brilliance, Mistress. Let us be off!"

"Wait, that little beast—"

Suddenly, Flying Bear caught sight of Li Wenxuan, who sat mounted on his horse not far away. A look of cruelty crossed his eyes, and he licked his lips—a gesture both perverse and repulsive.

The Lady of the Cui clan flashed a look of surprise. "That little beast has quite some nerve, daring to follow us out of the city!"

"Second Mistress, I shall go and seize him now. We will flay him alive before the grave of that wretch!" Flying Bear snarled, seemingly ignoring the blood-red cloak Li Wenxuan wore. It was as if the deterrent power of a centurion of the Eastern Depot held no weight in his eyes.

The Lady of the Cui clan spoke with disdain, "Why rush? Since he said he would wait for us at the Qingyun Pavilion, we shall go there. We will take him down in front of everyone so the whole world knows the power of the Cui clan!"

Flying Bear praised her, "The Mistress’s foresight is truly commendable. We can dispose of the brat and use this incident to build our reputation, letting the world witness the true might of the Cui clan." He added, a perverted glint in his eyes, "Besides... the boy is quite fair and handsome. Perhaps I could be rewarded with him for a little fun first..."

"Of course!" The Lady of the Cui clan grinned viciously. "Just remember, he must taste every extremity of humiliation. Only then can I feel the true pleasure of revenge."

"Rest assured, Mistress! That is my specialty!"

The Lady of the Cui clan boarded her palanquin, her voice cold and commanding: "Depart!"

The procession turned back, leaving spirit banners and mourning clothes scattered on the ground. Once they had moved away, Li Wenxuan slowly rode his horse to the grave. He had witnessed the Lady’s vile desecration of the deceased, but this was not the place for a final showdown. Moreover, he knew he could not kill her at this moment. However, if he were to die, he had a way to drag her down with him.

Li Wenxuan looked at the nameless grave. "If I survive, I will surely erect a tombstone for you."

Just then, rustling footsteps approached from behind. A thick, murderous aura surged forward. His chestnut horse neighed in agitation, pawing the soft soil with its front hooves and snorting threateningly.

Li Wenxuan narrowed his eyes, his hand gripping the hilt of his three-foot official blade. So soon? They couldn't hold their temper and wanted to finish him here? But when he turned his head, he was stunned.

Fatty Sun had arrived with fifty or sixty agents. His rotund, ball-like body was mounted on a magnificent black stallion, though even the powerful beast was panting under his weight.

Fatty Sun looked at Li Wenxuan with a smile. "Brother Li, you truly are something else. You have stirred up the entire capital!"

Li Wenxuan’s hand did not move from his hilt. He looked at Fatty Sun and asked without emotion, "I wonder, Brother Sun, have you come to arrest me, or do you have another purpose?"

"Look at you, saying such things." Fatty Sun waved his hand, signaling Li Wenxuan to relax. "Once you join the Eastern Depot, you are ours in life and ours in death. How could we let outsiders bully one of our own?" He squinted, his chubby eyes closing like a toad's, a sight both bizarre and comical. "Even if you are to die, it is the Eastern Depot that decides your fate."

"Therefore, the Chief sent me to bring you back. He said he would like to see who is so tired of living that they dare to commit murder against an official of the Eastern Depot!"

A warmth spread through Li Wenxuan’s heart. He released his grip on his blade and bowed to Fatty Sun with a smile. "Please, Brother Sun, deliver a message to the Chief for me."

Fatty Sun was shocked. "You brat, you aren't coming back with me? Do you have any idea how much power the Cui clan wields?" His tone turned grave. "If you don't return to the bureau with me now, no one will be able to save you!"

"Hahaha—" Li Wenxuan laughed toward the heavens. "What is there to fear in life or death? If I see tomorrow’s sun, I will return in person to beg the Chief’s pardon. But tonight..."

The youth leaped onto his horse. The chestnut stallion let out a long, thunderous neigh and bolted forward like the wind. In the breeze, the youth left behind a line of verse, filled with grand ambition:

"In life, be an outstanding hero; in death, be a legend among ghosts!"

"He’s mad! He’s completely mad!" Fatty Sun shrieked, but it was too late to stop him.

"Centurion, what do we do now?" one of the agents asked fearfully.

Fatty Sun spat on the ground and cursed crudely, "Damn it, that brat’s poem was actually quite good... but the Chief told me to bring him back alive!" He roared, "You! Go back and report to the Chief. The rest of you, follow me to the Qingyun Pavilion! I want to see which bastard dares to strike at our crimson official robes!"

"Attacking a court official is a capital crime!"

"Move!"

Fatty Sun bellowed, his chubby body bouncing on his horse, his layers of fat trembling wildly—much like his inner turmoil.

At the Residence of General Zhenxi, General Li Hu, preoccupied with complex thoughts, heard a report from his steward, Li Hui: Lou Wanxi had arrived!

"The Old Demon Lou?"

Li Hu was startled. This man was the chief prosecutor of the Three Princes’ Rebellion case! The memory of thousands of heads rolling on the ground felt as vivid as if it happened yesterday. "Why has he come?"

Before Li Hui could answer, a cold, sharp figure strode through the door. His eagle-like eyes fixed on Li Hu.

"The Emperor has bestowed upon me the rank of Thousand-Man Commander of the Eastern Depot. I have the authority to oversee all officials. General Li, what do you think I am here for? Or perhaps..." Lou Wanxi’s lips curled into a grim, chilling smile. "If I can enter the Imperial Palace, does that mean the people of the Eastern Depot are forbidden from entering your home?"

*If I can go to the Imperial Palace, I can't come to your house? Does that mean you consider yourself more noble than the palace? Are you more powerful than the Emperor? What are you trying to do? Get your entire clan executed?*

Li Hu felt his scalp go numb, his heart trembling. He forced a smile that looked worse than a sob. "How could that be? My residence is always open to friends from the Eastern Depot. Steward, quickly... fetch tea!"

"No need for tea. I heard that one of my men came to your residence to ask you to fulfill a wager, and in return, you decided he shouldn't live to see tomorrow’s sun? I wonder if there is any truth to this?" Lou Wanxi’s tone was pressing, his expression so dark it seemed to drip with malice.

"I never said such—"

"Husband, why are you afraid? And what if I did say it?" The Lady of the Cui clan walked in, head held high, casting a contemptuous look at Lou Wanxi. "Lou Wanxi? People call you the Old Demon, but the Cui clan does not fear you. If you want to run wild here, the answer is simple—not a chance!"

"Excellent!"

The dark, terrifying face of Lou Wanxi suddenly broke into an expression of extreme excitement and joy, to the point where he looked like a madman who had taken too much medicine. He widened his eyes, his face full of adoration, though his smile now carried a hint of grotesqueness.

"Mistress Cui, the three princes who were beheaded back then said the exact same thing. All these years have passed, and everyone avoids me like a tiger—only your haughty posture has given me a feeling of being insulted. I... I am truly so excited!"

"So... may I trouble you for one thing?" The Old Demon asked with sincere pleading, his eyes filled with longing as he bowed toward her. "Mistress, I beg you—please, humiliate me as harshly as you can, will you?"