On the same day, in the evening.
In Anlefang, located to the west near the canal, a magnificent seven-story building stood tall.
As dusk fell, hundreds of large red lanterns were lit up, illuminating the ancient brown building. Three golden characters "Zui Xian Ju" (Drunk Immortal Inn) on a signboard over one zhang long (1 zhang = 3.33 meters) were clearly visible from a distance.
Laughter and conversation filled the building, with the fragrance of wine and meat wafting several li (1 li ≈ 500 meters) away.
On the seventh floor of Zui Xian Ju, it was the most lively moment of Lu's Clan School's banquet to express gratitude to their teachers.
Accompanied by crisp cloud board sounds, Lu Junzheng, the top student of Lu's Clan School, was singing a soft and melodious tune with great charm, reminiscent of a first-class courtesan. It resembled the three years prior during the Jia You year.
Just as the end-of-year banquet at the Clan School was reaching its climax, Lu Xian made an excuse of being unable to handle the alcohol and left early.
With his long hair simply tied into a ponytail at the back of his head and wearing a loose, plain blue padded jacket, Lu Xian appeared a little shabby as he walked out of Zui Xian Ju. Standing on the steps in front of the entrance, he raised his head and looked at the sky filled with crimson clouds and fluffy goose feather-like snowflakes.
"Indeed, it was you! It was all for this nonsense!" Lu Xian sneered softly, "If that's the case, then this year, I'll break my legs! Breaking three legs is too cruel. Tsk, why am I so kind-hearted?"
Earlier, at the banquet, Lu Xian deliberately mentioned Bai Cong's name when toasting to Lu Junzheng.
In that instant, Lu Jun's eyes were filled with panic.
Lu Xian understood then that over the past few years, Lu Jun had deliberately made things difficult for him at the Clan School, suppressed him, intentionally tarnished his reputation within the Lu Clan, and spread rumors that he was "unlearned" and "unambitious." It was indeed related to Bai Cong, or rather, the Bai family.
Since they resorted to such insidious means, Lu Xian naturally would not show any mercy.
With his hands in his sleeves, Lu Xian hummed a lighthearted tune and walked down the steps amidst the warm greetings of the inn's staff. Stepping on the snow, he made his way towards the direction of Tian'en Marquis Mansion to the north.
Facing the strong wind and snow, Lu Xian moved along the main street, his upright figure as steady as a resilient bamboo, his demeanor calm like an old pine that had experienced frost. Not a single snowflake fell on Lu Xian, as if they spun away when they neared him. His large padded coat remained clean, without a trace of water or snow.
Across the street from Zui Xian Ju, there was another seven-story building. The building was entirely green, also adorned with hundreds of lanterns, but with an ambiguous pink color. The golden characters, "Qiong Hua Ge" (Jade Flower Pavilion), were emblazoned on the signboard.
Qiong Hua Ge ranked first among the establishments in Anlefang. In the city of Gaojing, it was among the top 36 famous buildings. On ordinary days, the nobles and dignitaries of Anlefang enjoyed drinking and admiring the flowers here, reveling in the night.
On the top floor of Qiong Hua Ge, in an exquisitely furnished elegant room, Bai Cong and a middle-aged man dressed in a light red robe with a rhinoceros horn belt, a winged crown, and one-inch thick, white-soled official boots, were toasting and exchanging pleasantries.
The bamboo blinds in the elegant room, made of Xiangfei bamboo, were raised, allowing a clear view of the bustling street outside through the sparkling crystal windows.
With a flushed face and a slightly intoxicated expression, Bai Cong held his wine cup and gazed outside through the window, his sharp gaze fixed on Lu Xian, walking leisurely along the street.
"It's indeed him! All of this, just for that matter!" Bai Cong laughed slyly with a fierce glint in his eyes. "Hah, brother Nian, I'll heavily rely on you for this matter."
The middle-aged man waved his hand casually and said, "It's just a small matter, nothing worth mentioning. Honestly, if he were a direct descendant of the Lu clan, it wouldn't be easy to deal with him. The Lu Clan of Jingyang, what a formidable force."
Bai Cong laughed, "He's nothing more than a nobody! Although he shares the same surname as the Lu Clan of Jingyang, there are tens of thousands of people from the Lu clan in Jingyang!"
The middle-aged man put down his wine cup and said indifferently, "But he is surnamed Lu after all. The Marquis of Tian'en is also an unreasonable person."
Bai Cong filled their cups with wine and chuckled, "So, Brother Nian, you can rest assured that your two nephews will surely be among the first-rate students admitted to the National Academy next year and secure a place in the Imperial Academy."
With a sigh, the middle-aged man lifted his cup, "In the end, what did we do as elders for the sake of our future generations? Isn't it for those younger ones? We can't let such a greedy, rampant, unskilled and unvirtuous brat harm the Yun family."
Bai Cong nodded vigorously, "Brother Nian, your words are absolutely right! Ah, where are the men you arranged?"
Lu Xian was walking leisurely along the main street when a figure suddenly rushed out from a side street at an intersection. Perhaps because the road was slippery, or perhaps due to the snowstorm obscuring his vision, this figure exclaimed and collided with Lu Xian's chest.
Lu Xian had noticed him the moment he rushed out from the street corner.
As the figure stumbled towards him, Lu Xian felt as light as a paper puppet with no weight at all. Driven by a gust of cold wind blowing directly at his face, he retreated seven or eight feet without touching the ground.
The figure failed to collide with Lu Xian and slipped, crashing heavily onto the ground.
A white linen package flew out of the figure's hand and fell with a loud thud at Lu Xian's feet.
The person on the ground struggled and suddenly raised his head, revealing a thin and somewhat handsome face. His eyes were rolling around, giving off a cunning look.
"Help! He's killing someone!"
"Oh no! My precious, my family heirloom, a Meizhou official kiln white porcelain plum vase with a dragon-shaped button, worth over a thousand guan!"
The voice of the person was extremely desperate and resembled the howls of a wolf with its tail cut off.
Lu Xian stared wide-eyed, staring intently at the person.
The passersby nearby all clamored. Many people turned their heads and pointed towards this direction.
As the Lunar New Year approached, lanterns were hung in large numbers in the restaurants, brothels, shops, and inns on both sides of the street.
Even the stalls of street vendors selling wontons, fried cakes, pickled noodles, and various small trinkets were adorned with torches and horse lanterns.
The whole street was brightly lit, with excellent visibility. Crowds of people, bustling with activity, filled the streets, resembling a lively scene of carriages and horses flowing like a river.
As the street grew restless, making it difficult to move, a group of ten or so burly men suddenly sprang out from the crowd.
These men were robust with broad faces and exposed chests covered in tattoos of fierce beasts and birds of prey. Despite the freezing winter, they had their coats unbuttoned, revealing their furry chests.
These men suddenly became alert and spirited, shouting in unison:
"Capture him, capture him! This guy is openly robbing on the street. I am a witness!"
"Seize him, seize him! The audacity of this person, daring to assault the victim!"
"Report to the authorities, report to the authorities! Where is the patrol commissioner? Where is the martial street marquis?"
The ten or so men approached Lu Xian from all directions, closing in on him within seven or eight feet.
The young man who had fallen to the ground, claiming his family heirloom had been shattered, flailed his hands and almost pounced on Lu Xian.