Flames roared fiercely, lighting up Lantian Villa so brightly that it was only slightly darker than broad daylight.
The maids and young attendants, all running around naked, had already been taken to the front courtyard by the guards.
The crowd gathered around had lost their chance to feast their eyes any further.
Yet beside Lu Qian, a few of the Bai family’s “Ruyu Talents” still lay sprawled on the ground.
These fellows were about the same age as Lu Qian, some even two years younger.
Though their family backgrounds guaranteed they had some education, no one really knew how well they did in their studies.
However, when it came to fighting with demonic cultivation, they were already quite skilled.
Lu Qian’s fire was a bit heartless.
Startled awake by the fire, these Ruyu Talents didn’t even bother to put on clothes before jumping out of their rooms.
They were tied up by Lu Qian’s men and lying on the cold ground—some of them were so frozen their skin had turned blue.
If no one treated them soon, they would definitely develop serious illnesses from the cold.
Around them, some onlookers shifted their attention here.
Someone let out a sneering laugh and deliberately whispered comments about the poor guys’ physiques and appearances.
Lu Qian even heard someone in the crowd deliberately making a strange voice, shouting: “Brother Lu, quite delicate and petite, huh!”
Bai Lang and Bai Xi looked at Lu Qian expressionlessly.
Among the Bai family’s guards nearby, a few with murderous auras silently stepped forward closer.
“They are... elder brothers?” Lu Qian chuckled ‘hehehe’ and pointed in surprise at the naked bodies, shouting loudly, “Why on earth are they running around naked in the middle of the night?”
Lu Qian spoke seriously: “The Bai family patriarch is very strict about ‘rites,’ practicing ‘ancient rites’ that are said to date back to the times of the Saint Kings, three generations before the Great Yin.”
“I myself have read some of the ancient rites.”
“Those rites are strict; every little thing—from sitting and lying down to daily habits—is laid down by strict rules... it seems like...”
Lu Qian trailed off, pretending to hold back something.
Bai Changkong himself was a steward of these ancient rites.
By his interpretations and vigorous promotion of all these rites, he had become a ‘moral exemplary’ in Gaojing, a shining standard of literati education and culture at the imperial court.
The ancient rites were strict, penetrating deeply into every aspect of life.
For example, the rites specified in great detail the proper ceremony of marital relations, such as how often spouses should perform these rites yearly, on which days of the month, how many times the primary wife, secondary wives, and concubines should each participate—they all had strict demands.
Also, even during one’s nightly rest, a person respectful of the rites must follow them regarding clothing.
When performing the rites of marital relations, it was permissible to be without clothes, but after completion, one must bathe, change clothes, correct one’s thoughts, posture, and bearing, and go to sleep in a proper, ritualistic manner.
Only those who respected the rites were considered gentlemen who observed decorum.
These “Ruyu young gentlemen” of the Bai family, even with their house on fire, running naked around in the dead of night, were without doubt breaking the rites.
Bai Changkong built his life and reputation upon “rites,” governed his family strictly by these rules, and rigorously demanded his friends, students, and subordinates to observe them as well.
Yet his grandsons had shattered the very rites he advocated!
Lu Qian’s fire was like a heavy hammer striking Bai Changkong right on the sore spot.
Bai Xi and others’ faces darkened.
They stared daggers at Lu Qian, looking as if they wanted to leap on him and tear him to shreds.
Only scattered laughter sounded from the crowd around.
Many who understood the gravity of the situation fixed their expressions and stared solemnly at the Bai family.
If Bai Lang and the others couldn’t give a reasonable explanation for this, the Bai family’s reputation would collapse completely—decades of Bai Changkong’s hard-earned good name would be utterly destroyed.
If the events of this night spread, who could guarantee that General Le Wu wouldn’t order all the Forbidden Army soldiers to flood the streets, banging gongs and drums to defend Bai Changkong’s honor?
Bai Lang clasped his hands behind his back.
He looked up at the sky, then around at the sharp-eyed crowd—many faces already flushed with pent-up anger.
He realized that Lu Qian, whom they once thought easy to handle, had in just two days caused them two massive crises.
“This kid... has he been pretending to be crazy and foolish for sixteen years? Or is there some master guiding him behind the scenes? Or maybe... just dumb luck?” Bai Lang’s gaze turned cold as he stared at Lu Qian.
He hoped it was just luck.
If there was a powerful mentor behind him, that would be frightening—a formidable enemy would have set their sights on the Bai family.
If Lu Qian had been playing stupid all along, with every move calculated—including joining the eunuch faction, leading the firefighting—then that would be even scarier.
Suddenly, Bai Lang shouted loudly: “We learn literary and martial arts to serve the imperial family! We disciples of literati education devote our lives for the Great Yin’s realm and its common people!”
Raising both hands, he bowed toward the imperial city and loudly declared, “We disciples of literati education bear loyalty in our hearts, only for the stability of the realm and the peace of the people. For this, we would gladly risk our heads, shed our blood, and dedicate our lives without regret.”
“Our Bai family sons practice martial arts and strengthen their bodies, all to better serve the nation—isn’t that right?”
Bai Lang’s chest swelled with pride as he raised his head and looked around.
Lu Qian chuckled hurriedly.
With a gold-inlaid tiger-head spear planted by his feet, he clapped his hands hard.
“Well said! Well said! Truly... well said! Ah, yes, well said!”
Lu Qian shouted in an exaggerated voice as if applauding Bai Lang at a theater, provoking laughter all around once more.
Many eyes flickered back and forth between Bai Lang and Lu Qian.
Those who understood knew it was now a deadly feud between the Bai family and Lu Qian.
But that seemed fine.
Since the moment Lu Qian joined the Shougong Bureau, the Bai family was already his mortal enemy.
What was a little added hatred?
Bai Lang regarded Lu Qian, then slowly spoke, “Our sons are at the prime age for learning literature and martial arts, striving for excellence.”
Lu Qian sneered, “Learning literature and martial arts naked?”
Bai Lang coldly mocked, “Foolish boy, do you know that some advanced martial arts techniques require refinement of the body with medicated baths and strengthening inner organs with pills during the Zi hour (11 PM–1 AM) and Wu hour (11 AM–1 PM), combined with profound methods, to cultivate properly?”
He pointed at the sky. “It’s precisely at these times that our Bai family sons practice their nighttime exercises... Do you think they wear full sets of robes inside the bath while refining their bodies?”
A voice from a distance voice chimed in to support, “I see. I am Li Zheng, deputy magistrate of the Dali Temple, and I have indeed heard of such advanced secret techniques. Young Lu of the Lu family, your ignorance makes you a laughingstock here.”
Gradually, more supporting voices grew louder, becoming the predominant opinion among the surrounding crowd.
Countless people praised the Bai gentlemen as truly patriotic and diligent, training late into the night soundly proving themselves as the model literati disciples and scholars of the realm.
Some even applauded, “It’s no surprise the Bai family sons will one day rise in brilliant success and soaring fame. With such diligence and effort, what else can we do but envy them?”
Several older voices loudly scolded their own sons, “You wretched beasts, look at these Bai young gentlemen, born into such esteemed families, yet still so ambitious and diligent! You...”
Lu Qian widened his eyes, staring blankly at the righteous Bai Lang, suddenly at a loss for words.
Those possible civilian witnesses—the maids and young attendants—had long been taken to the front courtyard and were now probably bundled under layer upon layer of clothing.
If they could catch even one of these maids or attendants red-handed... haha, no way would the Bai family claim their maids and bookboys were practicing secret martial arts late at night too, right?
However, no eyewitnesses had been caught.
Lu Qian laughed heartily and personally helped a Bai young talent so frozen his entire body had turned green, practically stiff with cold.
With a tug, he easily snapped the rope braided from alloy wire and ox tendon binding him, then respectfully supported the man forward to Bai Lang.
“Pardon my rudeness, sir. ’Twas only out of good intentions. I hope uncle understands.”
Lu Qian dropped the naked talented gentleman into Bai Lang’s arms and quickly turned the subject.
“The fire’s dying down, the assassins have been slain. Looks like I’m no longer involved here.”
“Uncle Bai, let’s be neighborly from now on... living across just one street.”
Lu Qian smiled cheerfully.
He glanced at the dead and wounded subordinates on the ground, then cupped his hands to Bai Lang: “It’s a shame I couldn’t marry Sister Weishuang. Alas, my fate was lacking.”
Bai Lang and the others said nothing.
Their faces were blank, staring at Lu Qian as if looking at a corpse.
Lu Qian smiled and cast his gaze at the fake mountain nearby.
Pulling out his spear, he said solemnly, “Let’s go. Time to have the brothers hide their tracks.”
The prison officials were silent.
They tended to the wounded and dead comrades, following Lu Qian as he withdrew from Lantian Villa.
Like Lu Qian said, the nearby pavilions and buildings had mostly burned down.
Everything flammable had been consumed.
The flames gradually weakened until no firefighting team was needed.
Bai Lang, Bai Xi, and others looked at the nearly flattened Lantian Villa, at the women who had poisoned themselves, then at the fainted and frozen nieces and nephews.
Suppressing the urge to vomit blood, they began organizing the arriving soldiers, clerks, military officials, and neighbors who had come to help put out the fire.
After all, the Bai family was influential.
With the fire extinguished here, no one cared much how the blaze had started.
Many respected people exchanged a few polite words with Bai Lang and company, then left with their groups.
Lu Qian took his people back to their station.
In the dead of night, they went door to door searching for coffins to bury six prison officials who had died in battle.
They also knocked on all doors, bringing over masters and renowned doctors from Yushun Ward to tend the wounded prison officials.
In short, Lu Qian and his team never rested a moment all night.
The Bai family, too, didn’t rest.
In the front courtyard, Bai Lang and Bai Xi interrogated their guards, especially those who had been on duty at Lantian Villa last night, asking if anyone had seen people deliberately setting fire.
But these guards swore with oaths and curses they had seen no arsonist.
They swore that no one could have ignited the entire Lantian Villa beneath their watch so quickly.
The Bai family busied themselves tracking the cause of the fire but found no useful clues.
Early the next morning, Bai Changkong—who had been away last night and was urgently summoned back by Bai Lang—galloped into his mansion on a swift horse.
Not long after he arrived, a purple-robed eunuch came, accompanied by more than a dozen red-robed eunuchs, all smiling cheerfully at his doorstep.
(End of Chapter)