The cavalry outside the gates of Ashi Liren’s residence were not sent by Suo Lun at all. Without doubt, they were sent by Ashi Luo.
In Ashi Luo’s view, Fu Yan’er’s value inside Ashi Liren’s residence had already been exhausted. He had successfully used her to indirectly poison Ashi Liren.
Moreover, given Fu Yan’er’s temperament she could expose the plot at any moment, so he needed to seize the mother and daughter quickly. Firstly, to silence them, and secondly, to have his way with Suo Lun’s woman.
As for Suo Lun’s daughter, a beautiful bitch needs to be trained from childhood.
Perfectly timed, while Ashi Liren was not in the residence, he would seize the opportunity to abduct Fu Yan’er and Fu Qin Qin.
…
This was the happiest day of Fu Yan’er’s life. She had finally gained her freedom.
Over the past few years, she had been confined in the Qiufeng Academy doing menial labour, not allowed to step outside for a single moment.
On the surface it was meditation and reflection, but in reality it was imprisonment.
Whether the female cultivators inside or the academy’s warriors, all had received orders from above that this woman called Fu Yuan had committed a grave error and was to be imprisoned indefinitely.
Only recently had this ban been lifted, because Count Fu E intended to have Suo Lun take the mother and daughter away.
But Fu Yuan did not know of this matter, and still dared not leave the Qiufeng Academy. It was only when Ashi Liren entered the Qiufeng Academy and mysterious warriors kept intruding that Fu Yuan used her little cunning to follow Ashi Liren and escape that prison-like Qiufeng Academy.
After following Ashi Liren to Rouran City, she found she still could not leave the residence for a single step, and was actually assigned to be a personal maidservant to a teacher, with not a single coin to her name.
She had had enough of this life. Now she could finally return to Tianshui City. Even if she could not be the City Lord’s wife, a secret mistress was certainly possible.
After all, she was the biological mother of Suo Lun’s daughter. In Tianshui City she would absolutely count as half a mistress of the house.
She was about to resume her life of commanding the wind and summoning the rain, wearing gold and silver.
At this moment, Qin Qin and Ashi Nan were holding hands on their way to school.
Fu Yan’er rushed over, picked up her daughter and kissed her fiercely. “Good daughter, precious daughter, your father is taking us home. We are going to live a good life. I thought Mr Yan was deceiving me, but I never expected he truly helped me send the letter.”
Then she carried her daughter and headed outside.
Daughter Qin Qin shook her head desperately, indicating she would not go. The reason she would not go was because she could not bear to leave.
Here she had her best friend A Nan, and the teacher who treated her the very best. She had always known a father existed, but had never known what a father looked like.
And Teacher Yan, at this moment, completely matched all her fantasies of a father.
So she did not want to leave at all. During her days at Ashi Liren’s residence, these had been her happiest, most joyful days.
“You won’t go?” Fu Yan’er said.
Qin Qin nodded forcefully, indicating she did not want to leave.
Fu Yan’er pinched her daughter’s arm and said, “Silly girl, so unpromising. You could be a noble young lady, yet you want to stay here as a servant girl. How did I give birth to such an unambitious daughter?”
Then she paid no heed and carried Qin Qin rushing outside.
A Nan said, “Where are you taking Qin Qin? You are not allowed to leave.”
Fu Yan’er said, “Hmph, I finally escaped that prison of the Qiufeng Academy. I did not come to your Ashi residence to be a slave. My status is far nobler than yours, you foundling wild girl. I am about to become a noble lady.”
Ashi Nan ignored the malice in her words and directly blocked Fu Yan’er’s path, saying, “You may leave if you want, but leave Qin Qin behind.”
“Leave her behind to be your servant girl?” Fu Yan’er said, “Our Qin Qin is a noble young lady, the legitimate eldest daughter of a noble lord. She is far nobler than you, this foundling bastard.”
“No, you cannot leave. You cannot take Qin Qin away.” A Nan stretched out both hands to block her.
Fu Yan’er paid no attention and simply charged forward, knocking the petite A Nan to the ground, then continued walking outside.
A Nan desperately hugged Fu Yan’er’s leg and shouted loudly, “Qin Qin, you cannot leave. Someone come quickly, someone come quickly…”
Fearing she would not be able to leave, Fu Yan’er ignored A Nan hugging her leg and simply dragged her across the ground as she walked outside.
The female warrior ran to report in Ashi Liren’s courtyard, but the mistress was nowhere to be found.
Fu Yan’er kicked forcefully, sending A Nan tumbling to the ground, then ran desperately towards the main gate.
Qin Qin struggled desperately in her arms to no avail. Because Fu Yan’er held her too tightly, she could not breathe, her little face turning red then white.
Seeing Fu Yan’er carrying Qin Qin rushing over, the leader of the fake Tianshui City warriors outside revealed a smile and stretched out his hand, saying, “Quickly, Madam. We have prepared the finest carriage, very comfortable. At most six or seven days to Tianshui City.”
“Good, good.” Fu Yan’er said happily.
At this moment, Ashi Yuanba suddenly rushed out.
“Put down Qin Qin.” he shouted loudly.
How could Fu Yan’er listen to him? She ran even faster outside.
Ashi Yuanba was burning with anxiety. He directly drew his handheld fire gun and aimed at the warrior who had come to receive Fu Yan’er, pulling the trigger fiercely.
“Boom!”
That warrior had no idea what this handheld fire gun was. He did not take it seriously, only dodging rapidly when the steel shot reached his eyes.
His martial arts were very high, his dodging speed very fast. He avoided the fatal strike to his face, but his shoulder was directly hit.
First came a burst of intense pain, then complete numbness, with no sensation whatsoever.
“Close the gates!” Ashi Yuanba ordered.
Instantly, the gatekeepers of the residence hurriedly shut the gates.
At this time, several female warriors also rushed over.
Ashi Yuanba pointed at Fu Yan’er and said, “Snatch Qin Qin back, and lock this woman up.”
With Ashi Liren absent, Yuanba was the sole master of the residence.
Instantly, several female warriors stepped forward, snatching Qin Qin back. Then they grabbed Fu Yan’er’s arms, pressed them down, and subdued her.
Fu Yan’er immediately shouted, “Warriors of the Suo family outside, the Ashi family people have robbed your mistress and young lady. Quickly come in and save us.”
Instantly, the fake Tianshui City warriors sent by Ashi Luo drew their swords and blades fiercely, roaring, “Charge in, snatch the people out.”
Then these impostor Tianshui City warriors began attacking the gates of Ashi Liren’s residence.
And the female warriors of the residence rushed up one after another to resist and fight.
After a full quarter hour, the female warriors could no longer hold, and it seemed the gates were about to be breached. These fake Tianshui City warriors were about to charge in.
But at this moment, a cavalry force of several hundred men charged over from the street outside. It was the patrol army of Rouran City.
The patrol cavalry leader said sternly, “Who are you people, daring to assault Miss Liren’s residence? Charge up and kill without mercy!”
The leader of the fake Tianshui City warriors sent by Ashi Luo was startled. For convenience in carrying out the operation, had not his superiors diverted all the patrol cavalry far away? How could they appear so quickly?
“Retreat!” At the fake Tianshui City warrior leader’s command, this force immediately dispersed and scattered, fleeing rapidly into the streets and alleys.
And the patrol cavalry pursued them, hunting them down desperately.
…
After returning to the residence, Suo Lun broke out in a cold sweat.
A little more, just a little more, and Qin Qin would have fallen into Ashi Luo’s hands.
Fu Yan’er, this foolish woman, had nearly delivered herself and her daughter into Ashi Luo’s wolfish maw.
Of course, whatever happened to her she deserved, but if anything happened to this little angel Qin Qin, not even slicing her into a thousand pieces could make up for it.
At this moment, Qin Qin was in Suo Lun’s embrace, still trembling slightly from fear. Suo Lun held her gently with slight pressure, lightly patting her back to comfort her.
Ashi Yuanba directly knelt before Suo Lun and said, “I am sorry, Teacher. I should not have secretly taken your fire gun, and even less should I have fired it in front of so many people.”
This morning, when Ashi Yuanba heard that an armed contingent had come to receive Qin Qin, he immediately rushed over. Passing by Suo Lun’s courtyard, he remembered he had no weapon, while the teacher still had a fire gun hidden in a chest. He immediately went in and took it out.
And he had acted decisively, firing at the warrior leader who had come to snatch Qin Qin.
Afterwards, he remembered the teacher’s instructions not to speak of the fire gun matter in front of anyone. So he knew he had caused trouble. But at that time, hearing that someone had come to snatch Qin Qin, his mind had heated up and he simply had not had time to think so much.
Suo Lun stroked his head and said, “This morning, fortunately you acted promptly and decisively. Otherwise Qin Qin would truly have been snatched by bad people. You have merit, but taking the teacher’s fire gun without permission and firing it is a mistake. Go to your mother to receive reward, and also punishment.”
“Yes, Teacher.” Ashi Yuanba said, then went out to find his mother Ashi Liren.
Suo Lun looked at this child’s departing figure, feeling waves of emotion in his heart.
He truly had not expected that at the critical moment, he would be so brave and decisive. With careful nurturing, when grown he would absolutely be an outstanding lord.
…
“Lock her up, not allowed to leave her room for half a step!” Ashi Liren said coldly, staring at Fu Yan’er.
Fu Yan’er said angrily, “Ashi Liren, you just cannot stand to see me well. You want me to become your slave? Dream on! Suo Lun will send people again to receive our mother and daughter.”
“Idiot.” Ashi Liren said coldly, “No one is to speak to her. Send two meals daily, that is all.”
“Yes.” the female warrior said, then escorted her to the meditation room within the residence.
The so-called meditation room was a cramped room with no windows, only a small hole for delivering food. Being locked there was exactly the same as being in prison.
…
Ashi Liren entered Suo Lun’s study, followed by Ashi Yuanba baring his teeth and grimacing.
Whatever reward he received from his mother he did not know, but punishment he certainly received, three lashes on his bottom.
“Go out and play with your elder brother, alright?” Suo Lun said to Qin Qin.
Qin Qin nodded obediently, then walked outside.
Ashi Yuanba stretched out his hand, wanting to hold Qin Qin’s hand, but Qin Qin dodged. The little rascal looked embarrassed.
Suo Lun watched the two children’s departing figures and said, “Your son is remarkable. In the future he will certainly be an outstanding City Lord of Rouran.”
Ashi Liren said, “I do not wish to be the City Lord of Rouran.”
Suo Lun said, “For the sake of this child Yuanba, you must be. Such an outstanding child, it would be too regrettable not to inherit the foundation of the Ashi family.”
Ashi Liren did not directly answer Suo Lun, but said, “He likes Qin Qin very much.”
Suo Lun said, “If when grown there is still fate between them, I will give Qin Qin to him in marriage. Then our two families will truly be allied by marriage.”
“It is settled.” Ashi Liren said, “I like Qin Qin very much. She is completely unlike her mother.”
Suo Lun said, “Are you certain you wish to turn the tables on the plot, lure Ashi Luo to violate you, let your father witness everything, then abolish Ashi Luo?”
“Yes!” Ashi Liren said.
Suo Lun said, “But can you guarantee your scheme will not be exposed? How do you know that Zuo Qiu by your father’s side is not sent by Ashi Luo?”
Ashi Liren shook her head and said, “Unlikely. This Zuo Qiu appeared many years ago. And when we discussed dealing with Ashi Luo, Zuo Qiu was not present at all.”
Suo Lun said, “Today Ashi Luo sent people to deceptively seize Fu Yan’er’s mother and daughter, clearly knowing you were not in the residence. How did he know? Obviously, there are his eyes and ears within the residence.”
“Even better.” Ashi Liren said, “My continuous feigning of weakness can just let Ashi Luo know. I have both inhaled your Hell Demon Incense and indirectly taken the poison Fu Yan’er gave to A Nan. Ashi Luo will not abandon this opportunity, and I, having finally persuaded my father, will not abandon this opportunity either.”
…
At night, Suo Lun was sleeping soundly.
Suddenly, his spirit trembled violently and he awoke with a start.
Because someone had intruded into his courtyard, and it was not Ashi Liren.
But since he was playing the role of Yan Ziyu, he still pretended to be sleeping soundly.
Then a pair of hands covered his mouth, and only then did he pretend to open his eyes with a start.
“Do not make a sound, Mr Yan Ziyu.” the voice said, “My master asked me to ask you, how was the taste of Tao Su?”
The person before his eyes was the eyes and ears Ashi Luo had planted within the residence.
“The things you asked me to do, I have already done. What more do you want?” Suo Lun pretended to tremble.
The voice said, “My master has one more thing for you to do.”
“What thing?” Suo Lun asked.
“Kill Fu Yan’er, that is, Fu Yuan!” the voice said.