His entire family perished in battle; he rose from the ashes to conquer the world.

"Let's settle this case for Young Master Lan and give you justice!"

As Mu Yuan spoke, he walked toward the grand master's chair reserved for the county magistrate directly in front of him.

Upon seeing this, Lan Que panicked.

"I refuse to accept your judgment!" Lan Que shouted.

Mu Yuan turned to look at him and said meaningfully, "Then who does Young Master Lan want to judge the case? Just tell me, and I'll immediately send someone to invite him."

"Do you take me for a fool? In the entire Southwest, who dares to defy your Mu family? What difference does it make whether someone else comes or you come yourself?"

Lan Que was so angry he almost cursed on the spot.

Mu Yuan's face darkened. He said, "Young Master Lan, you were the one who suggested reporting the case to the authorities, but now you won't let us handle it. What? Do you really think the government is your home? You can come and go as you please?"

Lan Que finally understood that Mu Yuan was determined to play a trick on him.

At the same time, he quickly racked his brains, trying to figure out how to escape safely and leave this place.

Soon, Lan Que came up with a solution.

"Since you want to solve the case, I'll play along."

At this point, Lan Que changed the subject: "However, I don't trust you. Let the Southwest Governor, Ma Chengwu, handle the case. Whatever the outcome, it's entirely up to you!"

Lan Que's move was a strategic retreat to advance.

While in the capital, he had heard that the imperial court had sent Ma Chengwu to the southwest as governor in order to suppress the Mu family. He believed that if Ma Chengwu were to handle the case, given his own status, Ma Chengwu would surely side with him.

Conversely, if Ma Chengwu cannot come, he can also leave on the grounds that Mu Yuan could not invite him.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Lan Que's request, Mu Yuan almost immediately ordered the soldiers of the Western Army beside him to hurry and fetch Ma Chengwu.

"Are you really capable of inviting the governor here?" A hint of doubt flashed in Lan Que's eyes.

Mu Yuan turned and walked to the armchair, slowly sat down, and said, "Since Young Master Lan has spoken, how could I not grant your wish?"

Looking at Mu Yuan's composed demeanor, Lan Que felt that something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Moreover, Mu Yuan had already agreed to his request.

If you change your mind now, wouldn't you be seen as fickle?

Most importantly, Zhu Zhu was right beside him. If he went back on his word on the spot, wouldn't Zhu Zhu think he was a weak person?

Lan Que didn't want to be looked down upon by Zhu Zhu.

Even though he sensed something was wrong, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep going.

One hour later.

Ma Chengwu rushed over upon hearing the news.

When he saw Lan Que and Zhu Zhu there, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

Having served as an official in the capital for several years, Ma Chengwu had met many powerful and influential people, including their sons. Lan Que and Zhu Zhu happened to be the most prominent among the sons of powerful and influential people in the capital, so he naturally recognized their identities at a glance.

"Young Master Lan, Princess Zhu Zhu, what brings you here?" Ma Chengwu exclaimed in surprise.

"Lord Ma, how have you been?" Lan Que hurriedly went to greet him. He knew that if he wanted Ma Chengwu to help him, he had to establish a relationship first, so he said with a smile, "My father often talks about you."

The father Lan Que mentioned was naturally Duke Lan Shi of Liang.

Although he didn't know if Lan Que's words were true, out of politeness, Ma Chengwu still replied:

"Thank you for your concern, Duke Liang."

He then asked, "Young Master Lan, what has happened to you? Why did you send the Western Army to inform me? How can you command the Western Army?"

Ma Chengwu was very confused throughout the journey.

After all, when the Western Army came to his residence to inform him, they only said that Lan Que was at the county office and was anxious to see him.

At this moment, Mu Yuan, who was sitting in the armchair, spoke:

"It wasn't him who ordered the Western Army to fetch you; it was me who sent them!"

Following the sound, Ma Chengwu's expression changed. Looking back at Lan Que, who was filled with anger, he was secretly alarmed.

Clearly, something unpleasant must have happened between Lan Que and Mu Yuan.

They were summoned here by the Western Army.

This is clearly not reconciliation, but taking sides!

"Young Master Lan, what exactly is going on?" Ma Chengwu had already experienced Mu Yuan's methods. Due to Lan Que's status, he couldn't leave directly. He could only try to understand the ins and outs of the matter from Lan Que's perspective.

Lan Que recounted the events in a whimsical and exaggerated manner.

Of course, in this process, he, who was well-versed in the principle of seeking advantage and avoiding harm, directly cut off the beginning and end and portrayed himself as the party who was hit.

"Lord Ma, you must uphold justice for us. Princess Zhu Zhu and I will never forget your kindness."

Lan Que tried to win over Ma Chengwu through their relationship.

However, Ma Chengwu showed no sign of being interested in it.

If it were anyone else, he would definitely stand firmly on Lan Que's side, but the problem is, the person Lan Que wants to deal with is Mu Yuan.

Because of what happened last time, Ma Chengwu had developed a deep sense of apprehension towards Mu Yuan.

If we oppose Mu Yuan again this time...

He will likely face many difficulties in the southwest from now on.

"Young Master Lan, in my opinion, let's just let this matter go. Or, if you humble yourself, I think the Commander-in-Chief would certainly not hold it against you," Ma Chengwu strongly advised.

Upon hearing this, Lan Que's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Immediately, his face darkened:

"Lord Ma, what do you mean by this?"

Ma Chengwu was also in a difficult position, and could only say tactfully, "I'm doing this for your own good."

"Ma Chengwu!" Lan Que angrily called Ma Chengwu by name: "You, a dignified governor and a high-ranking official in charge of a region, are so cowardly!"

Seeing that Lan Que dared to address him by his given name, Ma Chengwu said coldly, "Young Master Lan, I have said what I needed to say. If you will not listen to my advice, then please find someone else. I have official duties to attend to, so I will not keep you company any longer!"

After saying this, Ma Chengwu bowed to Mu Yuan and left without looking back.

Lan Que stood there, stunned.

He had thought that inviting the governor would be able to keep Mu Yuan in check.

But unexpectedly.

When Ma Chengwu arrived, instead of saying a word in his defense, he tried to persuade him to back down.

"How about we just back down?"

Zhu Zhu also felt that things didn't need to escalate like this. Besides, she bumped into Mu Yuan because she was looking down and not watching where she was going. If we really had to talk about right and wrong, she was the one in the wrong.

"Princess, are you also siding with outsiders?"

Ma Chengwu's lack of assistance had already infuriated Lan Que, and now Zhu Zhu's advice to back down only fueled his anger. He glared at Mu Yuan:

"I won't let this go so easily. We'll see!"

As he spoke, he started to walk out.

However, the Western Army soldiers at the gate stopped him directly.

"Young Master Lan, you were the one who invited Ma Chengwu over. Now that he's gone, you're acting like a bully, trying to just walk away. Don't you think you're taking me too lightly?" Mu Yuan questioned in a deep voice.

"So what if I am!" Lan Que said without any pretense, "My father, Lan Shi, dare to lay a finger on me?"