Jun Wu Yi described the entire affair in excruciating detail within the letter, laying out every single event without omitting a thing. First, he explained that he had already dissolved the engagement between Guan Qing Han and the Jun family, and further, had taken her in as his adopted daughter. However, Dugu Xiao Yi, deeply devoted to Mo Xie and feeling threatened, became consumed by jealousy and decided to force the situation, administering a heavy dose of aphrodisiac...

Yet, due to her incomplete understanding, she couldn't cope with the suddenness of that particular act. At the very moment the deed was done and the outcome imminent, she fled. Jun Mo Xie was consumed by burning desire, his reason utterly lost. It was precisely then that Guan Qing Han arrived. To save Jun Mo Xie’s life, she offered herself without hesitation, leading to the great mistake being committed.

He then emphasized Jun Mo Xie’s attitude afterward, particularly noting the Jun family maxim and the responsibility of a true man, deciding not to hide or evade, but to face the torrent of worldwide condemnation together, standing tall against the world’s surging storms...

It was a lengthy dispatch.

"You still have the leisure to laugh?" Jun Zhan Tian looked at his old comrade strangely. "Is this amusing? Do you realize the magnitude of this matter? If this is mishandled, it spells utter ruin for our Jun family!"

"I am laughing... at this young Miss from the Dugu family, she is truly... Hahahaha..." Old Pang couldn't entirely suppress his mirth. "To try and force the issue, even administering medicine, only to retreat at the last second—truly remarkable. It’s no small feat for Dugu Zong Heng to have such a granddaughter..."

"Hm? The Dugu family?" Jun Zhan Tian’s eyes lit up. He clapped his hands together, stroking his beard. "You’ve just reminded me! Now for the second point: Isn't that right? Damn it all, with such a massive incident occurring, how could that old bastard Dugu Zong Heng possibly remain aloof? These are all the good deeds his granddaughter cooked up. If I don't drag that old turtle down with us, he’ll be living far too comfortably..."

"However, that little scoundrel Mo Xie cannot get away scot-free. When he returns, just watch how I deal with him!" Old Master Jun’s mood suddenly lifted immeasurably. He paced around a few times. "Hmph hmph hmph..." He hummed for a long time but couldn't articulate the rest.

"Sir, this matter... although the fault doesn't lie with the Young Master, nor with Miss Guan, it is nevertheless extraordinary. Those imperial censors and officials will absolutely not let this pass easily; they are bound to use this to attack us. And those scholars in the literati circles will surely join in the assault... These people won't consider cause and effect; they only focus on the result..." Old Pang said cautiously, "...After all, Miss Qing Han's current status... to them, it’s akin to marrying one’s uncle’s wife... this..."

"A bunch of stuffy pedants! What do they know! My grandson is far superior to them. Mo Xie’s sense of responsibility alone should shame them to death. Truly worthy of being my grandson, worthy of being a man of the Jun family, a man with guts!"

The Old Master waved his large hand as if shooing away a fly. "Those useless scribblers, beyond writing a few frivolous poems and talking nonsense about romance, they only serve to produce filth! What good are they? Your grandfather carved out a path through the world with a saber in hand, traversing mountains of blades and seas of corpses, achieving glory through blood and bone to reach high office! Why should I heed their nagging? If they annoy me enough, I'll cleanse them—and if necessary, I'll cleanse the entire Tian Xiang Capital again!"

When the Old Master spoke these words, he possessed not only the heroic spirit of one who looks down on storms but also the swagger of a street rogue... It seemed that despite his dismissive words, the Old Master was deeply concerned by this event, enough to stir up the rowdy temperament from decades past...

It was quite similar to his grandson, Jun Mo Xie. One wished to unify the world through book burning and burying scholars alive; the other wished to ride across the land with a sword to cleanse the court. Both grandfather and grandson were fierce figures...

"I'm going to find Dugu Zong Heng right now!" Old Master Jun hurried toward the door. "That old ghost's granddaughter caused me such an immense problem; how can I possibly let him off easily? To think he can remain uninvolved—he can dream on!"

"Indeed, Sir, wise words." Old Pang followed closely behind, taking the heavy cloak and draping it over him, as it was already early winter and the weather had turned cold. He diligently saw him to the door. Old Master Jun strode out with imposing grandeur. The attendant brought forward the sedan chair, but Old Master Jun waved his hand dismissively. "Today, this old man rides his horse!"

The warhorse was promptly led forward. The Old Master swung onto the saddle, ready to snap the reins and go, but he suddenly paused, pulling the reins thoughtfully. He looked down at Old Pang, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Old Pang, take a guess: will Mo Xie hit the bullseye this time? Will it result in a child, and will I get to hold a great-grandchild in less than a year?"

Old Pang was standing beside him, brow tightly furrowed, worried sick. This matter was truly no small thing. He prayed that the Old Master’s trip would be successful, that the combined formidable forces of the Jun and Dugu families could suppress the issue. As he was praying to the gods, the Old Master’s words pierced his ears. He jerked his head up, utterly speechless, stunned that even at this juncture, the Old Master was still preoccupied with this... This was truly over the top...

"Uh... no... not that coincidentally, right?" After a long silence, under the Old Master’s intensely hopeful gaze, Old Pang, who usually knew the Old Master’s mind best, uttered something completely contrary to the Old Master’s hopes—a stark divergence from expectation!

"You old fool, daring to dampen my spirits! Our grandson has never been ordinary; how can you assume his aim is poor!" Old Master Jun blew his beard out, giving Old Pang a resentful look, as if Old Pang’s single sentence had erased his future great-grandchild... He squeezed his legs, the warhorse let out a long neigh, and bolted forward!

The Dugu family guards, upon seeing Old Master Jun Zhan Tian approaching on horseback with such aggressive momentum, looking as if he meant to tear the Dugu estate down, immediately panicked. One man turned tail and ran, flying off to sound the alarm. The remaining seven hardened themselves and stepped forward to receive him.

Old Master Jun pointed his riding crop, not dismounting, and asked carelessly, "Is that old scoundrel Dugu Zong Heng in the residence?"

The guard bowed respectfully. "The Old Master just returned to the residence..." Facing Jun Zhan Tian, who dared lie? But he didn't finish his sentence before Old Master Jun pulled the reins, charging his horse straight through the Dugu family gate, snapping his whip against the horse’s flank as he roared, "Dugu Zong Heng! I’m here to settle accounts with you, you old bastard! Get out here!"

The warhorse thundered directly inside.

The few Jun family guards following behind quickly dismounted and ran to keep up. While Jun Zhan Tian could ride in brazenly, they dared not enter on horseback... The Dugu family held such prestige, such a notorious reputation as a den of brigands, that even the Empress had to alight from her sedan chair and walk in step-by-step. Who dared provoke them?

Throughout the entire nation, only Old Master Jun Zhan Tian of the Jun family possessed the audacity to act this way. Besides him, even Murong Feng Yun, the master of the Murong family—currently the foremost power in Tian Xiang—would have to tread carefully here!

In an instant, the Dugu household was thrown into chaos, chickens squawking and dogs fleeing.

General Dugu Wu Di rushed out in alarm. The great General happened to be home resting; he had been comfortably reclined on a concubine’s lap when he was jolted awake by a thunderous shout. He rushed out in two quick steps and saw Marshal Jun Zhan Tian galloping wildly through the Dugu courtyard, wielding his horse with the air of leading a full-scale assault.

The numerous rare flowers and evergreens painstakingly transplanted by the Dugu family were utterly ruined. General Dugu watched, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably...

"Uncle-in-law... Uncle-in-law... please calm your rage, you must calm your rage... What on earth is the matter?" Dugu Wu Di sprinted to the horse’s side, his rough face tight with tension, his hands spread wide as he backed away with every step the horse took forward.

"Get out of my sight, you brat!" Jun Zhan Tian roared, the sound like shattering thunder. "Be careful, or I’ll strip you of your rank! And charge you with dereliction of military duty!"

What? Stripping rank? Dereliction of military duty? How could this be related to dereliction of duty?!

"What great authority! Old man Jun, you are impressive! You grow more outrageous by the day, daring to ride back and forth trampling my home, showing off your power, and threatening to remove my son from office... Tsk tsk, I truly can’t see where you, Jun Zhan Tian, got such official bearing! I only owe you some money! Must you be so tyrannical and overbearing? And dereliction of military duty? Explain clearly how my son has neglected his military duties, or that money you think I owe you is completely forfeit!"

A voice suppressing deep anger, like muffled thunder, boomed out. Old Master Dugu Zong Heng, his square head held high, his beard still spreading horizontally like a leopard's, walked out slowly, hands crossed over his chest, sneering at Jun Zhan Tian.

It should be noted that lately, Old Master Jun had often made excuses to visit the Dugu residence. This was because General Dugu Wu Di owed the Jun family a massive debt of astronomical proportions in wine money. Therefore, Old Master Dugu had been very reluctant to meet Old Master Jun recently. But today, Old Master Jun’s unguarded outburst seemed to have given Old Master Dugu the perfect leverage to wipe out that debt!

"Hahahaha... In-law, you’ve finally come out! That small bit of money is nothing! We’re family now! Mine is yours, and yours is mine..." Jun Zhan Tian burst into laughter, suddenly changing his tune. He leaped off his horse and moved forward with extraordinary warmth toward Dugu Zong Heng.

"What? In-law?" Dugu Zong Heng and Dugu Wu Di stared at each other, both stunned speechless.

"Hold on! Jun Zhan Tian, you’re my in-law?" Old Master Dugu was completely bewildered. He immediately held out one hand in a gesture of repulsion, even taking a step back, as the Dugu patriarch realized an utterly terrifying possibility...