Because of what Pei Zhaoye said, Lizhu’s mind was restless throughout this midday meal.

Only after eating in a daze did she suddenly realize—

When had she ever said she would return to Luoyang immediately?

Lizhu stared at that calm and composed profile, and only then did she realize that he had once again used the same old trick—using such words to disturb her mind.

He actually wanted to drive her away again!

“Mountain Lord,” said a bandit named Qiu Er as he stepped forward and cupped his fists, “that man called Lu Yu says he has something to discuss with you.”

Pei Zhaoye lifted his eyelids.

“Did he say what it’s about?”

Qiu Er was just about to speak when he met that handsome face full of spring breeze, and froze for a moment.

…When he left the gate earlier, he’d looked like he wanted to kill someone. How had he turned so cheerful and in such good spirits in the blink of an eye?

“He didn’t say, but it should be something concerning the guards in the manor.”

Pei Zhaoye nodded and stood up, then turned back to Lizhu and said: “I’ll go take a look. You continue reading your book. If you get tired from copying, you can order Gu Bing’an around. He enjoys being treated like a beast of burden by the nobility.”

Gu Bing’an: “…”

What a venomous tongue.

Yet when he turned his head—

“Does the Princess need any help? I once served three years as a clerk. Organizing documents and records, local statutes and regulations—all are my area of expertise.”

Gu Bing’an smiled pleasantly as he ground the ink for Lizhu.

Taking the opportunity of sorting through the Pei family’s records, Lizhu and Gu Bing’an exchanged questions and answers, gradually gaining a basic understanding of the official scene in Yiling Commandery.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Pei Zhaoye followed Qiu Er toward the rear courtyard.

Qiu Er said, “…The imperial army really is something. From last night until now, not a single mistake has occurred in the western wing he’s responsible for. But on our side… Mountain Lord, what are you looking at?”

Pei Zhaoye, glancing up at the sky, asked, “What time is it now?”

“It’s the sixth ke of the Wei hour (around 2:30 PM).”

The sixth ke of the Wei hour… there were still nearly two hours before dark.

Pei Zhaoye clicked his tongue and withdrew his gaze.

“What happened on our side?”

“There’ve been two disturbances. The first was when Xiong You surrounded the courtyard—he saw the young lady’s maid was beautiful, reached out to touch her, and nearly got a chunk of his flesh bitten off.”

Pei Zhaoye let out a short laugh: “A dog can’t stop itself from eating shit. And the second time?”

“The second time…”

Before Qiu Er could finish, they turned the corridor, and the whole courtyard full of people, dark and dense, turned their gazes toward Pei Zhaoye.

The situation was clear at a glance, despite the crowd.

The stern-faced Commandant of the Guards and the female attendants stood on one side, while the bandits of Hongye Stronghold stood on the other.

Lu Yu sat with a wide, imposing stance on a bamboo stool. Behind him, a disheveled woman, wrapped in his outer robe, hid among a few dancers and songstresses, sobbing softly.

At the sight of this scene, Pei Zhaoye immediately understood what had happened.

The good mood he had moments ago vanished in an instant.

His cold gaze swept over the bandits on the opposite side. Among them, one man with a swollen, bruised face trembled guiltily.

Lu Yu stood up, face dark and composed.

“Lord Pei.”

“How did things become so tense? Lord Lu, did you strike him?”

Pei Zhaoye hooked an arm around the man’s neck and dragged the bruised bandit out from the crowd.

He pried open the man’s mouth — it was full of blood, and two teeth were missing.

Turning to Lu Yu, he smiled faintly:

“Last night, under my orders, my brothers traveled day and night from Yushan to Xiangcheng. They fought fiercely all night long — twenty-one men lightly wounded, two seriously injured. Hongye Stronghold lent its strength in righteousness, yet Lord Lu strikes our men the moment we arrive. Isn’t that rather improper?”

The aggressive air around Lu Yu faltered for a moment.

“…Exactly!”

The bandits, who had earlier felt guilty and subdued, immediately regained their spirits and began shouting: “We saved your lady, and you turn around and beat our men. What a heartless bastard!”

“And besides, it’s just a dancing girl. What’s it to you? Why are you so worked up?”

“Could it be that you fancy her yourself and wanted to steal a taste?”

The bandits burst into laughter.

Pei Zhaoye’s expression was calm as still water. He gave a small signal to Danzhu.

Receiving the order, Danzhu shouted to have all the women from the inner residence herded back into the rooms.

Pei Zhaoye pointed at the sobbing woman.

“You stay.”

The woman trembled all over.

Pei Zhaoye walked forward at an unhurried pace, his gaze steady.

Yet the oppressive force that came with absolute power was terrifying. Especially for Lu Yu, who had already experienced it firsthand — he could feel the weight of it clearly now.

Lu Yu shouted, “What are you trying to do, Pei Zhaoye! Our lady has spoken well for you again and again—”

Pei Zhaoye’s eyelashes quivered slightly.

Danzhu stepped forward and whispered: “Mountain Lord, he didn’t succeed—only tore her clothes. Fortunately, Lord Lu arrived in time.”

Pei Zhaoye gave a slight nod, his gaze passing over Lu Yu and landing on the woman.

She was likely one of the entertainers kept in the residence.

Pei Zhaoye drew his sword from its sheath.

The string in Lu Yu’s mind was already pulled taut; seeing Pei draw his sword, he reacted instantly.

But Pei Zhaoye was faster. Before Lu Yu could even see his movement clearly, the hilt of Pei’s sword struck him on the head.

Lu Yu staggered back half a step, barely keeping his footing, eyes burning with fury.

“That strike was too heavy-handed. It chills the hearts of us in Hongye Stronghold who came to aid in righteousness.”

The bruised bandit was about to grin when their Mountain Lord continued: “This sword, you return it.”

The dancing girl stared blankly at the blade held out before her.

Even Lu Yu, who had been about to retaliate, froze in rage.

“M-Mountain Lord…”

Pei Zhaoye turned back with a mild smile. “Take you all out once, and this is how you embarrass me?”

The bandits who had been chirping like sparrows fell silent at once.

Lu Yu’s gaze deepened as he studied Pei Zhaoye.

“By old rules, those who rape women are put to death, those who molest women lose a finger. But you, damn it, nearly succeeded—cutting off a finger is too cheap for you. Today we’ll make a new rule.”

Seeing the dancing girl trembling and afraid to take the sword, Pei Zhaoye kept hold of it himself and pointed it toward the pale-faced Li Erhu.

“For attempted rape, take one stab. As for where it lands, she decides.”

Pei Zhaoye turned back, looking at her calmly.

“Where do you want to stab him? Point and show me.”

Li Erhu fell to his knees with a thud. “Mountain Lord! She’s just a dancing girl! That’s what she does!”

Pei Zhaoye only asked, “Have you decided?”

The dancer hesitated for a while before pointing at Li Erhu’s heart.

Puchi—

The sword pierced his heart, and the bandit collapsed heavily to the ground. The courtyard fell utterly silent.

For some reason, Lu Yu’s own heart gave a faint tremor.

Pei Zhaoye swept his eyes around. “And where’s Xiong You?”

“Mountain Lord—” from the crowd, a bearded man stepped forward awkwardly, “I’ll cut it off myself, I’ll cut it off myself…”

Pei Zhaoye nodded.

“All brothers have worked hard. When you return, each of you will receive ten gold coins and rest for half a month.”

At those words, everyone’s eyes lit up, and they chorused their thanks.

Once the bandits dispersed, Pei Zhaoye turned around and saw Lu Yu watching him with a complicated expression. He couldn’t help but smile.

“Not convinced? For your princess’s sake, I could let you return a punch.”

Lu Yu said nothing.

Though he was usually quiet, never one to compete or fight for favor, when it came to martial skill, it was impossible for him not to feel pride.

Even though he had previously lost to Pei Zhaoye, he had always regarded the man as nothing more than a rough mountain brigand, unworthy of true respect. He had been defeated, yes, but he had never truly submitted to him.

But after what had happened today, he finally saw that this man was no reckless brute who only relied on courage.

First, he preserved his men’s dignity, keeping their morale intact and his authority unshaken. Then, he enforced strict discipline, rewarding and punishing with terrifying decisiveness. Something even the army could seldom achieve.

Courage alone wasn’t frightening.

Cunning alone wasn’t frightening.

What was frightening was one who possessed both courage and cunning, and the ability to endure.

Such a man, even if now confined to a small mountain ravine, was a dragon hidden in the depths.

“…Mountain Lord Pei, your words are too much.”

After speaking, Lu Yu said there were still matters to attend to in the western wing and turned to leave.

Once the Commandant of the Guards had departed, Pei Zhaoye ordered Danzhu to guard the Pei family’s rear quarters.

Only then did his expression fully darken. He sat alone on the steps, his face shifting between gloom and thought.

Truly, comparison was a cruel thing.

He had once thought that among bandits, those of Hongye Stronghold were already refined—untainted mud among the mire.

But after only a short stay at the Pei residence, he had seen enough of the house’s trained entertainers, and of his own men’s disgraceful behavior—unable even to keep their belts tied properly.

They had made that Commandant from Luoyang look like some gallant, wise general straight out of a storybook…

And that little princess still wanted to recruit them into service.

If she heard what had happened today, with her hatred for evil and her eyes that tolerated no speck of dust, how disgusted would she be with Hongye Stronghold?

Sunlight filtered through the autumn leaves.

Pei Zhaoye looked up at the sky for a moment, recalling how she had smiled at him in the restaurant that day, saying he was different from others—that he was a great hero.

Light and shadow flickered across his face as he squinted slightly, thinking: A bandit, what kind of great hero could that be?

Hurried footsteps approached.

“Mountain Lord, a letter from Yanshan in Jiangzhou.”

Pei Zhaoye took the bamboo dispatch, glanced through it, and his expression changed slightly.

After confirming Lizhu’s whereabouts, he lifted his feet and strode quickly toward the study.

Before he even entered, the sound of wailing drifted from within.

“…What are you doing?”

Pei Zhaoye cast a glance at the young man who was being beaten with a board by Chang Jun.

Lizhu said sternly, “He was among those who bullied you too. Yesterday I only punished his father and uncle, but forgot to hit him.”

On the bench, Pei Shao’s face was covered in tears and snot. Seeing Pei Zhaoye, he quickly cried out:

“Brother! Save me, brother! The Pei family at least gave you food to eat and raised you, how can you just watch me die?”

Pei Zhaoye let out a cold laugh, thinking—Now you remember to call me brother. But when you had people shove my head into the swill bucket, you didn’t say that.

Yet, when the words reached his lips, he paused for some reason.

Pei Zhaoye spoke slowly: “What he said… it does make some sense.”

Lizhu looked at him in surprise.