Feng Qin peeked curiously at Lu Ming from outside the carriage. Lu Ming was young and handsome, and he had saved her.
If Lu Ming hadn't appeared, she probably would have been taken away by Wu Ban and forcibly violated!
Although her father was one of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden, he was now merely clinging to life, his power far diminished.
Otherwise, Wu Ban wouldn't have dared to bully her; he only did so because of her family's decline, intending to force himself on her.
Feng Fang was the son-in-law of the eunuch Cao Jie, and eunuchs were inherently disliked.
Being the son-in-law of a eunuch meant being part of the eunuch faction—an inescapable label, destined to be disliked.
Cao Jie was long dead, so Feng Fang had lost his support, which was why Emperor Ling used him.
Disliked and ostracized by scholars, he had no choice but to rely on the emperor, or resign and retire to his hometown—but was that even possible?
Yuan Shu, flattered by the flattery, relaxed considerably, his previously gloomy expression brightening considerably. He smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "You're too kind, Brother Anmin. Brother Anmin, did you kill someone in the South Market?"
"It was merely a rebellious act by some traitors who attacked His Majesty's personal guards, tantamount to treason. I will personally go to the palace tomorrow to report the matter to His Majesty and request His Majesty's judgment. Brother Gonglu, do not worry, I will not make things difficult for you." Lu Ming then leaned closer and said, "Wu Ban's actions are suspected of treason. Why don't you investigate further, Brother Gonglu? It might be a great achievement. If this succeeds, Brother Gonglu's reputation will not only spread in Luoyang, but throughout the Central Plains and Hebei!"
This was indeed a very good suggestion. Yuan Shu had great ambition, but lacked the talent for action.
Those who left their mark on the Three Kingdoms were not fools or idiots. He was indeed going to make things difficult for Lu Ming, but if cooperating with Lu Ming could bring him benefits, then why not? At this time, Yuan Shu's elder brother, Yuan Ji, was still alive and hadn't yet been beheaded by Dong Zhuo. He was still under pressure, and although he could rely on the Yuan family's reputation to attract talent, it was ultimately limited.
After a brief moment of thought, Yuan Shu let Lu Ming go, clasping his hands in a fist salute, "Brother Anmin, please feel free. I will go to the General's residence to investigate this matter."
After a pause, Yuan Shu asked in a low voice, "It is rumored that Brother Anmin is a reincarnation of a divine physician, capable of reviving the dead and restoring flesh to bones. Is this true?"
"Brother Gonglu, you flatter me. I do possess medical skills, but I cannot revive the dead. Brother Gonglu, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. We hit it off immediately, and it's time for us to work together." Lu Ming offered a slight show of humility, then emphasized that he would treat patients, but only if the benefits were substantial.
"Alright, this matter is not urgent. After this matter is settled, I will invite Brother Anmin to my residence for a drink." Yuan Shu said, cupping his hands and gesturing for his men to make way.
The world is a bustling place, driven by self-interest; there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
Lu Ming had offended Yuan Wei, Yuan Shu's uncle, but what did that have to do with Yuan Shu?
As long as it benefited him, he could use it.
Otherwise, if he did nothing, Yuan Shao would steal all the limelight, and with his brother Yuan Ji becoming his uncle, it would be even harder for him to rise. Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond; Yuan Shu was unwilling to be subservient.
Having passed through smoothly, Lu Ming breathed a sigh of relief. This was fortunate to have encountered Yuan Shu.
He could communicate with him using words; otherwise, if he had encountered someone else, it might have come to blows.
He wasn't afraid of these things, but indiscriminate killing would still have negative consequences and wouldn't benefit him.
This also gave him a deeper impression and understanding of these powerful figures. Historical figures?
They were all just human. Since they were human, they had interests, and the exchange of interests was always the most effective.
After Lu Ming left, Yuan Shu sent men to collect the corpses and weapons left in the market; they would surely be useful.
Dealing with Wu Kuang was dealing with the Grand General, and also with Yuan Shao. The Grand General favored the Yuan family, so this was essentially fighting among themselves.
But did it matter?
What did it matter to Yuan Shu if the Yuan family benefited?
Everyone looks out for themselves!
The journey was silent. Lu Ming escorted Feng Qin to Feng Fang's residence, cupping his hands in a fist salute. "Miss, if possible, tell Lord Feng about this. This might be aimed at him, and you are merely a trigger. Don't go out recently. If there are any problems, you can contact me."
"Thank you, sir. I will write a letter and send someone to inform my father." Feng Qin bowed gracefully, her heart filled with goodwill towards Lu Ming.
This young man—marrying him would be a wonderful thing!
Thinking of this, she blushed slightly. It's perfectly normal for a young girl to have feelings of first love, unlike students who see many boys of similar age, so their mindset is different.
Lu Ming didn't linger, but instead headed straight for Zhao Hou's residence.
Someone was bound to cause trouble today, so he needed to prepare early to avoid being caught off guard.
He wasn't very good at this kind of scheming. Knowing his personality, he would simply eliminate them all, ending it all. He didn't need any social niceties.
Social niceties were only necessary when one lacked strength. With enough strength, it was all about crushing the enemy; there was no need for favors!
Upon arriving at Zhao Hou's residence, Zhao Hou hadn't returned yet. Lu Ming decided to wait, intending to deal with it after Zhao Hou's return.
"Are you Lu Ming?" A slick-haired, well-groomed man entered. He was good-looking, but his steps were unsteady, his face pale, and his dark circles were very noticeable.
It was easy to see that this was a spoiled brat, living a life of extravagance and irregular habits, his body completely drained!
"My name is Liu Zan. I've heard your medical skills are excellent? Take a look at me, see what's wrong with me." Liu Zan's tone was very impolite, as if he were ordering a servant.
"This captain is here to discuss matters with Marquis Zhao. If you want treatment, you'll have to make an appointment." Lu Ming frowned, clearly disliking the other man's attitude.
Bang! Liu Zan slammed his hand on the table, pointing at Lu Ming's nose and cursing, "You're nothing but a dog of the Liu family, how dare you disobey me!"
"Heh, is this your own idea?" Lu Ming laughed angrily. This kind of person was really asking for death.
Was it because of his privileged upbringing?
Compared to the Yuan family, he was indeed far inferior. Even Yuan Shu, who was known for his strategic acumen but lack of talent, was many times better than him.
The decline of noble families and the rise of powerful clans are not without reason.