Just as Lu Chao's voice had nearly recovered, several towering, burly men arrived at the Lu Family's doorstep that day.
Leading their horses, the dust-covered men knocked on the Lu Family's gate. The gatekeeper, seeing these bearded, door-sized brutes, immediately sensed trouble and nearly slammed the door shut in fright.
Good heavens, had these barbarians just waltzed right into the city?!
"Hey, young man, we're not bad people!"
Bang!
Bad people never admit they're bad! Better shut the door first!
"Who are you?"
"Sir, sir! We're here to fetch a child. Our young one has been under your family's care. We rushed here to Yingchuan City as soon as we got the letter. Please inform Lord Lu for us."
Only then did the gatekeeper realize it was a misunderstanding and hurriedly opened the door.
"You're Yingge's family?? Ah, my deepest apologies! Seeing the horses and sabers, I thought something terrible had happened. Please forgive the rudeness—I'll go report at once."
The leader of the group chuckled sheepishly, waving off the apology. He knew his unkempt appearance was abrupt, but he couldn't delay—this was his late sister's only child. When the old master received the letter, he nearly fainted from shock. How could they afford to wait?
The gatekeeper muttered to himself, Who would've thought Yingge's relatives would be so rough around the edges! Then he scurried off to relay the message inside.
"Gentlemen, please wait a moment. Someone will come to escort you shortly."
"How is Yingge?" The men paced anxiously at the gate.
"Yingge is doing just fine! I saw him just yesterday."
"We heard he was kidnapped by traffickers. The elders at home haven't slept a wink from worry. Was he hurt?"
The gatekeeper theatrically wagged a finger, and the burly men hunched over eagerly—blame the height difference between northerners and southerners.
"Hurt? Yingge? Not a chance! Those boys are fierce as tigers! The story's long, so let me skip to the best part: On the final day, when they fought the bandits, one of the scoundrels disguised himself as an inn waiter. Our Third Young Master saw right through him! Enraged, the bandit tried to take the Second Young Master hostage at knifepoint, but Third Young Master shielded him and took the slash instead. Then, the eight-foot-tall brute took advantage and choked Third Young Master! At that very moment, Yingge grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the table and pounced like a tiger, stabbing the bandit's foot! The villain howled in pain, and before you could blink, Young Master Zhou delivered a crippling kick that had him screaming for his mother! And Young Master Yang? Even fiercer—he grabbed a candlestick and stabbed the bastard right in the—"
"Honored guests, please come in!!"
Just as the gatekeeper was getting into the thrilling tale, someone arrived from the inner courtyard.
The burly men were on edge, horrified by the danger Yingge had faced, when the messenger finally appeared.
"Distinguished guests, the master is still at the government office, and the mistress is unable to receive you. However, Third Young Master and Yingge are waiting in the main hall. We hope you'll forgive the informality."
"Of course, of course! It's we who arrived unannounced."
Yingge was both overjoyed and heartbroken to hear his grandfather had sent someone to take him home. Happy, because he could finally return; sad, because he didn’t want to leave the Lu Family. His time here had been the happiest since arriving in Yingchuan City.
"Yingge, heh, so you're going home in a few days?"
Lu Yuanyi was downright thrilled at the news. This Yingge stuck to Lu Chao like glue—sleeping on the daybed in his room at night, too scared to sleep alone! What a coward! A clingy little pest!
"Yeah." Yingge replied gloomily.
"Heh heh, well, we’ll be short one for card games, but I can always drag Yang Zongze over!"
Lately, Lu Chao had been driven mad by the kids' so-called "care," so he had someone make a deck of playing cards. They spent their days gambling in his room, losers getting mustaches drawn on their faces. His quarters were practically a communal dormitory now.
"Yingge!!" A booming voice called out. Yingge looked up.
"Second Uncle! Third Uncle! It’s you?!"
"Let me see—are you hurt? Your letter nearly scared us to death!"
The burly men inspected their beloved nephew with tender concern, relieved to see him rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed.
"Yuanyi, these are my Second and Third Uncles! Uncles, this is the Lu Family's Third Young Master. He’s taken great care of me while I’ve been here." Yingge introduced them eagerly.
"Yuanyi pays his respects to both elders." Lu Yuanyi knew how to put on a proper front when needed.
"Young Master Lu is truly a fine gentleman. Thank you for looking after Yingge. We came empty-handed today, but we’ll make it up to you later."
"No need for formalities, uncles! Yingge and I are like brothers. My parents adore him—they’d love to keep him here forever."
At the word "brothers," the uncles' lips twitched.
"Yingge, you must have much to catch up on with your family. I’ll have tea prepared for you. My parents have arranged a banquet tonight—we hope you’ll honor us with your presence."
"You’re too kind, too kind."
As Lu Yuanyi gracefully excused himself, Third Uncle Xiao Yan finally exhaled in relief.
"Whew! Little Yingge, these noble families and their manners—I was terrified of embarrassing you."
"Enough chatter. Yingge, tell Second Uncle everything. How did you get kidnapped? What happened to the Liu Family?" Xiao Yi shot his brother a warning glare before turning back to his niece.
Yes, Yingge was a delicate young girl—so why was she dressed as a boy?
All the fear and sorrow Yingge had bottled up finally burst forth. Tears streamed down like broken pearls as she sobbed quietly.
"Wuwu... The Lius ignored me, said I had no manners. Aunt took Mother’s dowry, claiming she’d 'safeguard' it. Grandmother agreed. I tried writing to you, but they wouldn’t send it. A cousin said he’d sneak me out through a dog hole to mail it, so I dressed as a servant... but he tricked me! Took me to see a magic show, made me pay, and then—next thing I knew, I’d been kidnapped! Lu Chao helped us escape, but... the Lius never even reported me missing! Wuwu... I’m scared! If I go back, Grandmother will lock me in the family temple! I don’t dare return, so... I wrote to Grandfather instead..."
"Outrageous!! The Lius have no fear of heaven!!"
Xiao Yan was ready to storm their gates and teach them a lesson!
Originally, they’d thought Yingge—orphaned young—would fare better with the scholarly Lius. The Xiao men were military officers, stationed in the harsh northwest. Raising her among rough soldiers might harm her marriage prospects. At eight, she’d finally been sent back to the Lius, who had produced scholars. But who knew they’d be such monsters?!
"Second Brother!! Let’s smash their heads in!!" Xiao Yan’s teeth ground audibly.
"Stop yelling about violence!! This isn’t the barracks!!"
Xiao Yi had a headache, caught between a rock and a hard place. Retrieving the dowry would be easy, but what if Yingge’s reputation was ruined in the process?
"Don’t worry, now that your uncle is here, the Liu family won’t get their way. Tell me again—how did you manage to escape?"
