In front of the Grand Tutors Residence.
A young figure, straight as a pine, stood there.
He was handsome, not short, a bit thin, holding a paper fan, and wearing a long green robe.
The youth exuded an elegant scholarly aura.
He was Xu Tan.
Xu Tan, thirty-seven years old, looked no different from a twenty-year-old.
After all, he was in the Grandmaster Realm, with a Lifespan of up to 180 years; thirty-seven was still young.
At this moment, his eyes were fixed on the entrance of the Grand Tutors Residence.
He was anticipating the appearance of that peerlessly beautiful female figure.
Guo Xiang's encounter with Yang Guo at Fengling Ferry led to a lifetime of devotion, and Xu Tan's encounter with Pei Muwan led to a lifetime of devotion.
Compared to Yuan Chengye's high-profile pursuit,
He was much more low-key and much more dedicated.
Knowing that she was obsessed with the Literary Dao, he immediately hired skilled teachers to teach him poetry, calligraphy, and painting.
That wasn't enough; he even specifically went to Wenhua Academy for further study.
He was clearly the Young Master of the Heir of the Duke of Dingguos Residence, clearly a military official, but from top to bottom... whether it was his attire or his temperament, he was a genuine scholar.
All just to please Pei Muwan!
He thought... with Pei Muwan's extremely cold personality, it wouldn't matter if he studied at Wenhua Academy for a few years.
After all, it was impossible for her to fancy any man.
Years later, when he returned, pursuing her with a completely new demeanor would give him a greater chance of success.
He never dreamed that Pei Muwan would announce her relationship with someone!
And it was with a Jinyiwei General Banner Commander with no background, a trash in the Innate Realm.
What was even more infuriating was that, supposedly, this Lu Zhenghai already... already had a wife.
Damn it!
Because of his obsession with Pei Muwan, he had always kept his confidants watching the Grand Tutors Residence, reporting any news about her via spirit pigeons.
Therefore, Xu Tan, even far away at Wenhua Academy, promptly received the news that Pei Muwan and Lu Zhenghai were holding hands at Luoshui Tower.
Then, without a word, he rushed back to the Imperial City like a madman at the fastest speed.
He hadn't slept a wink last night, traveling continuously.
His heart throbbed with pain.
He didn't believe it, he would die before believing it.
It was all false!
He wanted to see Mu Wan and hear her personally deny those absurd rumors.
Dozens of meters behind Xu Tan, more than a dozen Young Masters, as well as guards and servants, were waiting.
As the Duke of Dingguo's Young Master of the Heir, Xu Tan also possessed incredible Martial Dao talent. Although he was low-key, he had some loyal followers in the Imperial City over the years.
For example, Hu Jin, the Young Master of the Earl of Wei Wu; Lin Tianyou, the Young Master of General Shenyuan; Feng Ran, the Young Master of the Right Vice Minister of Rites, and so on... These people all gathered around Xu Tan, having grown up together and maintaining good relationships.
When Xu Tan rushed back to the Imperial City today, they received the news and immediately came to the Grand Tutors Residence.
Because they all understood that Xu Tan's return to the Imperial City this time was definitely for Pei Muwan.
Originally, they intended to stand by Xu Tan to show their support.
But Xu Tan knew that Pei Muwan disliked a chaotic atmosphere... so he told these loyal followers not to approach.
Suddenly.
A middle-aged woman's figure emerged from within the Grand Tutors Residence.
The middle-aged woman was dressed in purple, her face expressionless.
Xu Tan suddenly had a bad premonition.
The person who came was Aunt Yun, the Guardian Wet Nurse newly assigned to Pei Muwan by the Grand Tutor.
The 170-year-old Aunt Yun's Martial Dao Realm was Grandmaster Fifth Layer Realm, one minor Realm lower than Aunt Yan, but still strong enough.
"My Young Miss doesn't like anyone threatening her!" Aunt Yun said.
"I..."
"Whoosh!"
Without giving Xu Tan a chance to explain, Aunt Yun suddenly made her move.
She simply raised a hand and pointed.
A purplish-black light dot shot out.
It was a finger Martial Skill, and what shot out was a finger seal.
Xu Tan's calm face finally changed, turning to fear, shock, and bitterness... How could Xu Tan dare to confront it?
Even though he didn't know the other party's Martial Dao Realm, his intuition told him that this middle-aged woman was extremely powerful.
Xu Tan exerted all his strength to circulate the true essence within his body, directing it all to his feet.
The Di Rank Lower Grade movement Martial Skill, "Ghost Mortise Step," was pushed to its extreme.
He was clever, knowing to move in an S-shape.
Unfortunately.
Under absolute power, Xu Tan's petty cleverness was useless.
The finger seal, as if possessing a locking function, precisely landed on Xu Tan's left calf after one breath.
"Crack!"
Amidst a subtle sound, Xu Tan immediately half-knelt on the ground.
He was in such pain that his face twitched, and cold sweat streamed down.
Blood flowed down his calf; his left calf bone had been pierced through and fractured.
It was a bit tragic.
"Young Master of the Heir..." Xu Tan's sycophants shouted anxiously, wanting to rush over.
"Don't come over!" Xu Tan roared.
Because of the intense pain, his handsome face began to twitch.
Xu Tan gritted his teeth, looking up at Aunt Yun: "Did... did Mu Wan tell you to break my leg?"
"It was Young Miss's order."
"Why... why?"
"Because you used 'I'm going to send a challenge letter to Young Master Lu' to threaten Young Miss."
"Hahaha... Hahahahaha... So Mu Wan can also feel emotions, and when she feels emotions, she is so partial, so protective, so considerate of the other person."
Xu Tan laughed loudly.
As he laughed, tears came out.
Xu Tan's pain at this moment was not from his calf at all, but from his heart, as if a knife was digging into it.
The goddess in his heart, the Fairy in the painting in his heart, would rather be a concubine to a mere Jinyiwei Squad Leader than even look at him?!
The next moment, due to the extreme emotional fluctuation, Xu Tan actually fainted directly.
Aunt Yun turned and left.
Only then did the Young Master of the Earl of Wei Wu and the more than a dozen loyal followers of Xu Tan rush forward, frantically carrying Xu Tan back to the Duke of Dingguos Residence... Aunt Yun returned to Yunyi Tower and reported everything that happened at the entrance of the Grand Tutors Residence.
Pei Muwan, surprisingly, muttered a rare curse: "He just had to come to the entrance of my Grand Tutors Residence to act crazy. I've never even spoken to him, and I don't know why he's inexplicably fond of me. It's so annoying. If Changqing misunderstands, I will definitely make Xu Tan pay an immense price."
Princess Mingzhu was a bit speechless.
Is her good friend really so love-struck?
Is it true that the colder a girl is, the more serious she becomes once she falls in love?
Pei Muwan suddenly looked at Princess Mingzhu: "Mingzhu, you should return to the Princess Residence. I have something to go out for."
"Where are you going?" Princess Mingzhu couldn't understand; Mu Wan was usually very much a homebody.
"I'm going to the Jinyiwei Garrison." Pei Muwan bit her red lips and said firmly, "Wasn't that Xu Tan's leg broken? What if he or even the Duke of Dingguos Residence seeks revenge? Will they target Changqing?"
Even with Aunt Yan protecting Changqing, she was still a little worried.
She even thought... Changqing, with such peerless literary talent that could write three poems like "immortal by the river," "butterfly loves flowers," and "Clear and Peaceful Music."
What if he was disturbed by the likes of Xu Tan, as if coming into contact with turbid Qi, affecting his talent?
"Mu Wan, you're beyond help."
Princess Mingzhu originally wanted to tell Mu Wan about Lu Zhenghai saving her today.
Now she didn't dare to say anything.
Seeing Mu Wan's state, if she dared to say it, Mu Wan would likely immediately become very wary and nervous, perhaps even ending their friendship.
Princess Mingzhu felt a moment of resentment, thinking: Isn't he just a stinky man? What's so great about him?
If she had to say, a hundred Lu Zhenghai s couldn't compare to her Snowball.
Princess Mingzhu took a deep breath and advised: "Mu Wan, what is your reputation? What is your status? Don't you know? If you run to the Jinyiwei Garrison to find Lu Zhenghai, it will cause a huge sensation and impact!"
"I don't care. I'm worried about his safety; his safety comes first." Pei Muwan was very firm. She looked at her Maidservant: "Zi Ling, prepare the carriage immediately, and also, help me prepare a veil to cover my face."
"This princess is truly defeated!"
Princess Mingzhu was defeated.
She suddenly felt a little scared, wondering if she would also be so love-struck if she ever fell in love with a man.
Being love-struck was truly too... too terrifying.
— — —
Imperial City, West Side.
Inside an old-looking residence, Lu Zhenghai and Centurion Song had just been led in by an old butler.
After entering the old house, they discovered it was quite spacious inside.
After several turns, they arrived in front of an ancient-looking room.
"Come in."
A rather weathered voice came from inside the room.
Centurion Song and Lu Zhenghai walked in.
Upon entering the room, Lu Zhenghai's first impression was emptiness.
The entire room contained nothing but a couch and a simple tea table.
An old man in a black robe was sitting cross-legged in front of the tea table, brewing tea.
"Qianfan greets Elder Hong." Centurion Song said respectfully, and Lu Zhenghai bowed along with him.
"Sit." The old man was naturally Hong Qingtian. He glanced at Lu Zhenghai.
Facing Hong Qingtian.
Lu Zhenghai's heart trembled; the other party's eyes were a bit frightening.
Hong Qingtian had very little black in his eyes, a lot of white, and his eyeballs were deeply sunken.
Even more terrifying, Lu Zhenghai could clearly smell the aura emanating from Hong Qingtian.
It was an extremely murderous scent, making one's scalp tingle and even causing suffocation.
He estimated that Hong Qingtian had killed at least seventy or eighty thousand people, if not a hundred thousand, in his lifetime.
"Young man, your talent for solving cases is quite good."
Hong Qingtian spoke, clearly indicating that he had some understanding of Lu Zhenghai.