অধ্যায় ১৩৯: জীবনের জয়ী ব্যক্তি

রাজ্যরক্ষা বাহিনীর ড from the imperial city guards and a patrol squad from the garrison camp, using brute force in broad daylight, snatched numerous food boxes in front of the Xu family residence and quickly retreated out of Xishui Lane.

"My lord, my lord..." Luo Tong followed closely behind Zhu Lie, calling out in a low voice.

Although he himself was a captain of the garrison camp, his status was inferior to that of Zhu Lie, the commander of the imperial city guards, so he served him with utmost care along the way.

Zhu Lie acted as if he hadn't heard, holding his head high and striding forward.

After calling for a while without getting a response, Luo Tong grew anxious. Clenching his teeth, he stepped forward to block Zhu Lie's path, cupped his fists, and said, "My lord, we agreed just now that the goods would be split evenly with our garrison camp."

Zhu Lie looked up at the sky, picked his nose with his pinky finger, and frowned. "When was this agreed upon? Captain Luo shouldn't try to get something for nothing in broad daylight. How dare you try to cheat my imperial city guards?"

Hearing this, Luo Tong drew a sharp breath. Amidst his shock, there was an even greater surge of curses directed at the arrogant bunch from the imperial city guards for going back on their word.

Just before reaching the Xu family's gates, the two groups had collided. Not knowing the background of the black-clad men blocking the way, Luo Tong had briefly engaged with them and learned that the other party belonged to the imperial city guards, led by none other than Zhu Lie.

Luo Tong immediately lowered his stance, acting as the vanguard to negotiate with the Xu family first, which led to their bountiful harvest.

It had been agreed beforehand: once the goods were secured, each side would get half.

Why, at the last moment, was Zhu Lie reneging on the deal?

"My lord, how can you be like this?"

Zhu Lie waved his arms, telling his subordinates to protect the food boxes tightly. If anyone dared to step forward to snatch them, they were to fight back.

"How am I being? Spell it out clearly for me." Zhu Lie widened his eyes.

Playing the ruffian was his specialty, and he rarely tasted defeat. The goods were already so scarce that they weren't even enough for himself; to give half away to someone else was a losing proposition that Zhu Lie would never accept.

Luo Tong was boiling with rage, just a hair's breadth away from resorting to physical violence.

"My lord, we were sent by the prince today." Having no other choice, Luo Tong pulled out his backer, hoping to intimidate Zhu Lie and force him to hand over the goods obediently.

Who would have thought Zhu Lie was completely impervious to threats? He shamelessly replied, "The prince? Which prince? Prince Chu, Prince Yan, or Prince Wu?"

Emperor Changming was approaching sixty years of age, and his sons had long since reached adulthood and been enfeoffed as princes. Several princes still remained in the capital. Figures like Prince Chu, Prince Yan, and Prince Wu were strong contenders for the future throne. However, to ascend to the top, these princes needed to win over the imperial city guards and maintain good relations with them.

Therefore, Zhu Lie had met these princes and even dared to joke around with them on ordinary days.

Since Luo Tong was dispatched by one of these princes, Zhu Lie figured that even if he snatched some things, the princes wouldn't bicker over trivialities. Emboldened by this thought, Zhu Lie became even more rampant. "Move, move! What kind of nonsense are you, trying to snatch things from my imperial city guards?"

Zhu Lie pushed Luo Tong, trying to drive him away. Good things should be enjoyed alone, after all.

Luo Tong stamped his feet in anger. Watching Zhu Lie's retreating figure, he roared at the top of his lungs, "This captain serves under the command of the Prince of Zhenbei!"

Zhu Lie's footsteps stopped instantly. He walked backward.

After thinking for a moment, his expression suddenly shifted. "You should have said so earlier... Men, give half of the goods to Captain Luo."

...

Meanwhile.

Linhe Lane, Qili Street.

Today, there was a joyous occasion on Qili Street. Early in the morning, lanterns and colorful banners were hung up. Several neighborhood children gathered to ask a family whose door was draped in red silk for wedding candies and monetary rewards. The family, surnamed He, was quite generous and turned no one away.

Getting married was a major event in this era. He Bao's wedding preparations had begun days ago, and today was the day the bride was to be welcomed into the home. The bride's family lived not far from the He family, right across the street—a walk of less than ten steps. Now neighbors and in-laws, they were truly becoming closer than ever.

Xu Zhou had arrived early in the morning, getting there even before He Bao's uncles and senior relatives. He first presented his gift, then casually picked a table to sit at, cracking melon seeds and drinking tea in complete ease.

"Yo, you brat actually came this early?"

An hour later, Xu Zhou felt a heavy pat on his shoulder.

Looking back, he saw Chen Wude and Constable Guan.

The two arrived together and took their seats in sequence beside Xu Zhou.

"Uncle Chen, Uncle Guan." Xu Zhou half-rose and greeted them.

Chen Wude was still the same old slippery fox. Having come to attend the wedding banquet today before the feast had even started, he had somehow managed to procure a pot of wine, disguising it as tea.

Constable Guan was also his usual self: sitting upright, aloof, and wearing his authoritative constable's demeanor.

"I've heard about your affairs. Don't worry, she will be brought back," Chen Wude said, taking a sip of the small cup of wine and patting Xu Zhou's shoulder in a consoling manner.

Xu Zhou didn't understand what he meant. After a brief exchange, he learned that He Bao had previously asked his colleagues at the arresting bureau to search for a woman named Lu Yun in Luzhuang village if anyone had free time.

Later on, the rumor somehow morphed into claims that Lu Yun had gone missing.

When this news reached Chen Wude's ears, he assumed that Xu Zhou's woman had run away and refused to live with him anymore.

"Women are the hardest to keep... Sigh... The ones at home just need a little discipline, a few beatings and they'll straighten up... Not as obedient as the ones outside. How about it, accompany your uncle to the pleasure houses in a few days to taste some real meat? Experience the women there." Chen Wude held up his wine cup, clinked it with Xu Zhou's, and smiled wickedly.

Xu Zhou quickly declined, "Uncle, did you misunderstand? Niang Yun didn't run away secretly; she's tied up with matters in the countryside."

Chen Wude touched the prickly stubble on his chin, gazed at the sky, and muttered to himself, "Is that so? Then which bastard told me your wife secretly ran off?"

With that, Chen Wude downed his cup by himself.

Xu Zhou quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. Today was a joyous occasion; why dwell on such vexing matters?

"Uncle Guan, care for a drink?" Seeing that half a pot of wine was already gone and Constable Guan hadn't touched a drop, Xu Zhou offered a toast.

Constable Guan waved his hand, signaling that he wouldn't drink.

This wine's origin was unknown; it was definitely stolen from the back kitchen by that scoundrel Chen Wude. As a constable, he held himself in high regard and would never touch such liquor. It was already a mercy that he hadn't arrested Chen Wude on the spot.

Time flew by.

First, a string of firecrackers popped loudly, followed by several young children rushing into the He family courtyard with excited little faces, shouting at the top of their lungs, "The bride is coming out! The bride is coming out!"

The doorway was a sea of shifting heads, with everyone craning their necks to look outside.

"Congratulations! Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Brother Bao!"

He Bao wore a grand red wedding robe as he welcomed the bride back from across the street, a broad smile plastered across his face.

The banquet trio didn't crowd forward, merely standing up to watch from afar. Even the usually stern Constable Guan broke into a smile at that moment.

"He Bao can be considered a winner in life!" Xu Zhou sighed.

"How so?"

"A promising future outside, and welcoming a new bride inside. If he's not a winner in life, what is?"

"...... That makes sense."