Chapter Twenty-Three: A Belly Full of Schemes!

Li Zhao, greetings to the county magistrate.

In the main hall of the county office, Li Yun offered a graceful bow with his fists clasped. Though he observed the proper etiquette, his face bore a faint smile, lacking the humble expression typical of others serving in official posts.

Gu Cheng, the second young master of the Gu family, who had remained silent, was visibly startled when Li Yun entered, even retreating two steps in fright.

Gu Zhang frowned slightly and glanced back at him. “What are you doing?”

Gu Cheng shrank back, looked at Li Yun, rubbed his eyes, and scrutinized him carefully.

Li Yun’s gaze was calm and met his eyes. The moment their eyes met, Gu Cheng immediately looked away. Hearing his uncle’s question, he stammered, “It’s nothing… he looks…”

“Looks like someone.”

“Nonsense,” Gu Zhang frowned. “A perfectly normal person—if he doesn’t look like a person, what should he look like, a beast?”

His words were a jest, but it was the kind exchanged only between uncle and nephew.

Gu Cheng was amused, and his fear dissipated; he chuckled along. “Uncle, you’re as witty as ever.”

At this moment, his impression of Li Yun grew even more blurred. After all, he had seen Li Yun that day, but the chief bandit then had wild hair, wielded a steel blade, and charged down the slope in a terrifying manner—he was far away and never saw his face clearly.

When Li Yun approached, he had already slain a yamen runner, blood splattered across his face. Gu Cheng, terrified, had fled on horseback, never having a chance to remember Li Yun’s appearance.

Now, he merely felt that Li Yun bore some resemblance to that bandit leader—perhaps three or four parts similar.

While uncle and nephew joked, Captain Li stood nearby, frowning. These so-called noble families were truly boundlessly arrogant! This was their first meeting, and before even exchanging words, they dared to make jokes at his expense, even comparing him to animals.

Their humor was nothing but undisguised arrogance. They were certain that Li Yun, a mere servant in the Qingyang county office, could do nothing to them and thus dared to offend him so brazenly.

Li Yun remained impassive, lifting his gaze to study the pair, silently committing their features to memory.

Were he only a captain, he could indeed do nothing to these polished local tyrants; any insult would have to be endured. Fortunately…

He had a side business.

Or rather, being captain was his side business.

With that thought, Li Yun smiled at the Gu family’s uncle and nephew, revealing two rows of teeth in a radiant grin.

“This gentleman is truly witty,” he said, his tone relaxed.

Gu Zhang frowned and could not even be bothered to respond to Li Yun, instead turning to the county magistrate, Xue, and asking, “Brother Yueji, what is this about?”

Magistrate Xue, stern-faced, replied slowly, “On the day my daughter was married, mountain bandits waylaid the procession. Gu Cheng was beside her, and when the bandits appeared, he fled in panic, leaving my daughter alone to be abducted.”

“Fortunately, Li the brave happened upon them, captured the bandits, and rescued my daughter.”

Magistrate Xue slapped the table, his voice thunderous with anger. “I have invited Li here to make it clear to your Gu family: my daughter remains wholly innocent.”

Gu Zhang was momentarily stunned, then smiled. “I had only heard Miss Xue had returned, but not of this detail. Very well, Brother Yueji, I shall return to Shidai and explain to the old lady, sound her out…”

“If Miss Xue is indeed innocent, perhaps… there is hope yet.”

Magistrate Xue could no longer contain himself, and spat, “Gu Er! I am not telling you this so my daughter might marry into your family!”

“I am telling you, your nephew is a cowardly rat!”

“And now, your family dares come to me to withdraw the engagement. Shameless, worse than beasts!”

“I must have been blind to ever befriend such a scoundrel!”

After his tirade, Li Yun glanced at the Gu family pair, calmly clasped his fists, and said, “Gentlemen, I was fortunate enough to rescue Miss Xue that day, and she is indeed untouched.”

He spoke no more, occasionally casting a glance at the Gu uncle and nephew.

Gu Zhang, proud by nature, was thoroughly insulted by Magistrate Xue’s lashing, his face darkening as he stood and glared at Xue Song.

“My nephew is a scholar. Faced with bandits, of course he fled—should he have risked his life with them?”

“The withdrawal was the old lady’s decision, and our family has made all due compensation. Blame those damned bandits for this disaster, not the Gu family!”

Gu Zhang slapped the table fiercely. “I came to speak with you in good faith, and you insult my family thus. Very well, Xue Eleven! Our friendship of over a decade ends here!”

With that, he stormed out, dragging his nephew with him, not sparing Magistrate Xue another glance.

Master Xue was furious, sitting in his seat with a gloomy face.

Li Yun thought for a moment, smiled, and said, “Master Xue, do not be angry. I will step outside for a bit.”

Xue Song looked up at him, took a deep breath, and frowned. “Don’t stir up trouble.”

“Rest assured,” Li Yun patted his chest with a friendly smile. “I never cause trouble.”

…

In Qingyang County, at a roadside tea stall.

The Gu family’s uncle and nephew sat at a table.

Gu Zhang’s face was still grim. After sipping his tea, he said angrily, “That Xue Eleven, to insult my family so! I thought even if the marriage failed, we could remain friends, but he acts as if he has lost his mind!”

Gu Cheng sat opposite, pouring his uncle another cup of tea, and said with a smile, “Uncle, don’t be upset. The Xue family is of lesser standing, unable to marry into ours, so they harbor resentment.”

“His behavior is not surprising.”

After pouring tea, Gu Cheng lowered his voice. “Uncle, there is something I wish to say.”

Gu Zhang sipped his tea, glanced at him, and grunted, “What is it?”

“Since Miss Xue was not violated by the bandits, I…”

Gu Cheng lowered his head and spoke softly, “I still like her…”

Xue Yun’er was a renowned beauty, and Gu Cheng had long admired her. Otherwise, the lofty Gu family would never have considered marrying into the Xue family.

“It’s impossible,” Gu Zhang looked at his nephew and said gloomily, “Your grandmother will never agree, and after what happened today, we nearly came to blows with the Xue family. How could it ever work?”

“A wife is out of the question,” Gu Cheng whispered. “But I…”

“A concubine.”

Gu Zhang suddenly raised his head, frowning deeply. “Are you mad? How could that be possible?”

“It is possible,” Gu Cheng lowered his head, pondering for a while before speaking, “Uncle, that Captain Li somewhat resembles the bandit who waylaid the wedding procession—at least…”

“At least forty percent similar.”

“I suspect the Xue family regretted the match and arranged for so-called bandits to abduct the bride…”

“Then, after a month, claimed a hero had rescued her. That Li may well have been the bandit—hired by old Xue to deceive our Gu family!”

“We should investigate. If we find proof…”

Gu Cheng lowered his head and sneered coldly, “Colluding with bandits is a capital crime—at least exile. Old Xue would be terrified!”

“With that leverage, it would be easy for me to take her as a concubine. Old Xue would bow to you, Uncle, and your anger would be appeased.”

Gu Zhang frowned, deep in thought.

“This matter…”

He lowered his head, sipped his tea, and squinted. “Let’s send someone to investigate first…”

As the uncle and nephew conversed, at a nearby table in the same tea stall, Captain Li, in changed attire, sat with his back to them.

Li Yun also squinted slightly.

He hadn’t caught every word, but had heard enough and guessed the gist.

Li Yun lowered his head, sipped his tea, and turned the cup in his hand.

This Gu Cheng was full of scheming.

If it came to proper methods, Li Yun might not be able to outmaneuver them.

He left tea money on the table along with his cup, slowly stood, and quietly departed.

Fortunately, Li Yun…

Could not be considered a man of the proper path.