The Prodigal Son

Diecui Mountain originates from the middle reaches of Yishui River and runs through Tongzhou, Juzhou, Shangzhou and other places. It is one of the most important barriers of the imperial city of Daning.

They were heading to Diecui Mountain, near its main peak located northwest of the imperial city.

Inside the carriage, Lü Si had a dark expression and remained silent.

He didn't want to spoil the Empress Dowager's enjoyment of the snow, otherwise he would have beaten the father and daughter up right there in the carriage.

Shi Lian'er also remained silent, only glaring at Lü Si with gritted teeth.

Shi Yi gently tugged at his daughter, signaling her not to do that.

But Shi Lian'er didn't react at all; all she could think about was how to teach that beast Lü Si a lesson.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere in the carriage, Shi Yi finally couldn't help but speak, "Lü Si..."

"You dare call Lü Si that?"

Lu Si glared at Shi Yi, displeased. "You're supposed to be the Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang, don't you even know the proper etiquette? Call me Young Marquis!"

Shi Yi's face stiffened, a flash of anger crossing his eyes. He said sternly, "Lü Si, don't be so presumptuous!"

That damn thing!

Didn't you go to Sifangguan yesterday to apologize to your daughter?

Today, he actually bared his teeth at me to my face?

"So what if I'm unruly?"

Lu Si, his face full of arrogance, looked at Shi Yi defiantly, "The Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang is nothing but a fart in my eyes!"

Seeing Lü Si's rudeness towards her father, Shi Lian'er, who already disliked Lü Si, was instantly enraged: "You good-for-nothing, how dare you spout such nonsense? Without the Empress Dowager's backing, what are you and the Lü family?"

Lu Si's expression changed, and he was about to lash out when his gaze fell on Shi Lian'er's cheek.

As he looked at her, the anger on Lü Si's face suddenly vanished, replaced by a wide smile as he stared at Shi Lian'er's cheeks. "You were just beaten two days ago, and you've recovered so well today? This is practically a face born to be beaten!"

"you……"

Shi Lian'er trembled with rage, glaring at Lü Si through gritted teeth, "You worthless piece of trash, spewing filth!"

"Yeah, that's exactly who I am!"

Lu Si, unusually, wasn't angry. A sinister smile appeared on his face. "Besides spewing filth, I can also hit people! From now on, whenever I'm in a bad mood, I'll slap this face hard, in all sorts of different ways..."

Lu Si became more and more excited as he spoke, and almost started gesturing wildly.

"You dare!"

Shi Lian'er glared at Lü Si with eyes blazing with fury, her teeth grinding together.

"He really is a brainless piece of shit."

Lu Si sneered disdainfully, "Once you've entered the Lu family, you're one of us. I can beat you however I want! By the way, my father is the Minister of Justice. I've learned quite a bit about the Ministry of Justice's methods for interrogating wanted criminals. I'll have some fun with you later!"

"brute……"

Shi Lian'er was furious and cursed, then suddenly turned to look at her father.

It's as if she's saying: This is the husband you found for me!

Shi Yi was also quite angry at Lü Si's words, but he still suppressed his anger: "Lü Si, since you don't want to marry Lian'er so much, go and talk to the Empress Dowager! My Shi family doesn't care to marry our daughter into the Lü family!"

"Go and say it yourself!"

Lu Si scoffed, "If the Empress Dowager doesn't let me marry this piece of shit, then my feud with her is over! But if she marries into my Lu family, and I don't settle accounts with her properly, then I'm not Lu Si!"

Shi Yi's face darkened, and he was about to speak again when Lü Si continued, "By the way, I'm also an Imperial Censor! I love doing things that uphold justice even at the cost of family ties. If this piece of shit from your family were to marry into my Lü family, I'd investigate you thoroughly!"

Upon hearing Lü Si's words, Shi Yi's eyelids twitched suddenly, and he cursed Lü's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart.

How did such a thing even come into being?!

No!

This marriage proposal needs to be reconsidered!

If this bastard really does something as noble as betraying one's own family, the Shi family will be finished!

Given Lü Si's appalling attitude, if I tell the Empress Dowager the truth, she should reconsider, right?

After taking a few deep breaths, Shi Yi said with a dark face, "Fine! I will speak to the Empress Dowager!"

"Go now!"

Lu Si waved his hand impatiently, closed his eyes, and refused to look at Shi Lian'er even once.

Well, if this can get rid of this marriage, that would be great!

After all, if Shi Lian'er were to be beaten up, he would certainly suffer a beating in return.

They didn't arrive at their destination until noon.

Despite its name, Diecui Mountain is not a place with towering peaks and overlapping ridges, even in the height of summer.

Especially in the area near the imperial city, many of the larger trees have been cut down, and the newly planted trees have not yet grown up.

As the mountain was covered in a blanket of white snow, it looked like a bald man from a distance.

When they arrived, the Golden Armored Imperial Guards had already set up a temporary camp.

The temporary camp was surrounded by an open area, with a small river that was not completely frozen nearby. There was also an open-air kitchen next to the camp, from which wisps of smoke were rising.

Upon seeing the temporary camp, Qin Yu suddenly realized what was going on.

No wonder it was such a big event!

It turns out we're going to spend the night at this temporary camp.

Ugh!

Instead of staying in the warm palace, they came to this freezing cold to stay in a temporary camp. That must have been quite an ordeal.

Zhao Luan helped the Empress Dowager down from the imperial carriage and instructed, "I have ordered people to prepare a good meal in advance. You have all had a long journey, so please make yourselves at home. Tonight, the Empress Dowager and I will host a banquet for you all!"

"yes!"

Everyone readily accepted the order.

Soon, rows of bright yellow windproof curtains were drawn up.

As everyone sat down on the benches, palace maids and eunuchs immediately brought them food.

It wasn't anything fancy, just some palace pastries.

Shi Yi had no appetite, but his eyes kept glancing at the Empress Dowager.

He originally wanted to go and talk to the Empress Dowager about the marriage with the Lü family right now, but seeing the Empress Dowager's enthusiastic appearance, he hesitated.

never mind!

Let's talk about it later!

Thinking this, Shi Yi whispered to his daughter, "The Empress Dowager came here specifically to enjoy the snow today. Don't let this spoil her mood. I'll go to the palace later to inform the Empress Dowager about this!"

Shi Lian'er opened her mouth slightly, but finally nodded reluctantly.

Lu Si had been secretly observing the father and daughter, and seeing that neither of them intended to go to the Empress Dowager, he couldn't help but feel secretly disappointed.

Shameless!

You worthless bastard!

They've already said that, yet they still haven't gone to tell the Empress Dowager?

He had to force himself to give Shi Lian'er a good beating before he was satisfied.

Seeing that Lü Si kept staring at the Shi family father and daughter, Qin Yu couldn't help but tease, "Looks like you had a good chat with them in the carriage! You're practically bewitched by Shi Lian'er!"

"Just eat your food! Stop talking nonsense!"

Lu Si turned around, gave Qin Yu a disgruntled look, and then picked up a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.

Qin Yu wasn't about to let Lü Si off the hook, and continued to tease, "I reckon the Empress Dowager will have people compose poems to liven things up today. How about I sell you a couple of poems to help you win Shi Lian'er's heart? Not expensive, just a thousand taels each!"

Lu Si's face twitched, he silently cursed Qin Yu a couple of times, and then turned his body to the side.

That bastard!

That's absolutely disgusting!

That piece of shit should be married off to him!

He and that piece of shit are a match made in heaven!