Chapter 326: Chapter 325: Hitting a Nerve

The “he” that Lu Yan was talking about was, of course, Lu Zhang, who stood at the front.

As soon as he spoke these unmasked words of disdain without giving any face, everyone’s expression became a bit subtle, except for Lu Qing, who remained calm.

Zhu Yu had heard in the past that Lu Yan was a rather fiery person in speech and action, but he did not expect him to be so blunt, openly showing his dislike for Lu Zhang and giving him no face even in front of him.

Yan Shu pursed her lips, almost unable to hold back her smile, evidently finding it incredibly satisfying that someone was treating Lu Zhang with such an attitude.

Only Lu Zhang himself, his face turned even darker than the bottom of a pot, yet it seemed this wasn’t the first time he had experienced Lu Yan’s ruthless tongue, so even though his fury had reached his throat, he forced it back down.

He sat up straight on horseback, trying his best to appear imposing, slightly raising his chin and arrogantly looking down at Lu Yan.

But Lu Yan didn’t even spare him a glance, keeping his eyes on Lu Qing, waiting for Lu Qing to answer him.

Seeing this, Lu Zhang simply took the initiative to speak, arrogantly addressing Lu Yan, “I am here on the Emperor’s orders, patrolling the borders of Jin Jiesuo, where we’ve discovered bandits causing trouble, so we’ve chased them all the way here.

Why are you here?!”

Lu Yan still ignored him, his eyes on Lu Qing, seemingly wanting to hear Lu Qing’s take on the situation.

Lu Qing didn’t want to explain much, so he simply followed Lu Zhang’s response, asking Lu Yan, “Third Prince, why are you not in Qu State but in Lan Country?”

“Brother, you may not know,” Lu Yan was not particularly close with Lu Qing, but judging by his demeanor, he seemed relatively respectful, courteous, “Previously, a decree from the court came down, saying they wanted to reduce the farming tax on farmers, replacing it with taxes on flowers and plants.

According to the decree, even if a Jin person discarded their good land and ran to the vassal state’s borders to plant flowers and plants, they still needed to pay the flower and plant tax.

My Liangzhou is adjacent to this place, and previously many Jin people ran to the Lan Country border to plant flowers and plants, so I sent people to collect the flower and plant tax from them.

Everywhere else was normal without any issues.

But in this particular area, there’s a place called Immortal Castle, and for some reason, none of my people who went there returned safely, almost like stones sinking into the sea, they vanished without a trace.

I didn’t know what was happening, so I sent more people, but the same result occurred.

Again and again, I sent several people, and not one returned, how could this be reasonable? I had to come personally to investigate and resolve this matter!”

Lu Zhang snorted, still not over Lu Yan’s earlier offense, and asked with a touch of sarcasm, “How do you intend to ’resolve’ it?

By taking soldiers and rushing over, indiscriminately chopping people down like vegetables, and then bringing back a string of heads to account to the Emperor?!”

His words clearly poked at Lu Yan’s sore spot, and Lu Yan’s face changed, his hand gripping the whip, with his knuckles whitening.

But although he was a bit reckless by nature, he wasn’t reckless to that extent, relaxing his grip while letting out a rather sarcastic laugh, “Or what? Perhaps more like Prince Yi, running to consult with your grandfather?!”

“You!”

Lu Zhang’s face darkened further, as Duke Yan indeed interfered a lot in his affairs, which was a fact, and deep down he felt a bit bitter about it, yet he had to pretend as if it wasn’t happening.

No one brought up this matter before, so he just pretended it didn’t exist, carrying on with a calm and dignified front.

Today, encountering someone as quick-mouthed as Lu Yan was like having his most sensitive issue smashed right in his face.

“Third Brother naturally wouldn’t consult anyone; not the mere Duke Yan, nor even the current Holy Emperor. Father’s wishes, you didn’t bother to ask either!” Lu Zhang, irritated, spoke without careful thought, “Last time, you didn’t waste a word before beheading all those crucial captured bandit soldiers. In the end, Father wanted to leave a witness to ask about what happened, but couldn’t.

Rumors spread afterward, and not a single witness was left, making it unverifiable. Was it because Third Brother was afraid of something being verified, so those rumors couldn’t spread?”

He thought these words would prick Lu Yan’s sore spot, making him jump with anger, but Lu Yan, over the years being hot-tempered, knew this about himself very well, as others did.

He has already faced the consequences of executing the captives back then, and as for whether Emperor Jin suspected any ulterior motives, Lu Yan was clear in his heart, so he didn’t care at all. Instead, he pulled a cold smile and retorted to Lu Zhang, “Prince Yi, you really have a way with jokes; you should secretly be pleased by my momentary impulse!

At least now there are no witnesses; whatever rumor it is, it’s all unfounded.

Aren’t you afraid that, had I not been impulsive and left a witness, some matters might have been confirmed by now?!”

“Don’t spew nonsense, slander with blood!” Lu Zhang’s face changed color upon hearing this, fearing that the quick-tempered Yan Shu beside him might impulsively blurt something incriminating due to Lu Yan’s reckless smearing of Jie Country. If she inadvertently exposed her identity and let others find out about Princess Yi’s elopement, he hurried to rebuke, “This matter has nothing to do with Jie Country; it’s a deliberate smear and frame-up from beginning to end!”

“When did I say it was Jie Country?” Lu Yan let out a cold snort, “Does someone with malicious intent have to be from Jie Country?

However, speaking of which, the Jie King is quite unfortunate, marrying his precious jewel to you.

If you ask me, that Jie Country Commandery Princess was tossed into a crowd, hitting whoever she marries, she might have chosen a better husband than this imperial marriage!”

Yan Shu almost laughed hearing this, but fortunately, she restrained herself in time, keeping her expression from loosening up, though her face muscles became ever more rigid, making her expression exceedingly strange.

Although Lu Zhang and Lu Yan were of similar age, they hadn’t had much contact in the past. After all, Lu Yan was relatively low-born, his mother a rather obscure and unloved concubine, and thus was beneath Duke Yan’s notice as neither an ally nor a rival.

Because of this, previously, Lu Zhang only knew Lu Yan as fiery-tempered and impulsive, not realizing he could be so sharp-tongued, hitting where it hurts with precision, leaving him so frustrated he couldn’t respond, only angrily urging his horse forward with a kick and a whip before storming off in a huff alone.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep