Calling you "In-law" means I am addressing you, old man. Who else in Tianxiang City would be worthy of an alliance with me?" Old Master Jun looked puzzled, wearing an expression that clearly asked, Are you an idiot?

Pah! When in the blazes did I become your in-law, you old reprobate? You ought to take a good look at yourself! Your Jun family, from you, Jun Zhantian, down—one son left, one grandson left. Your son is crippled, your grandson is a profligate wastrel, and you still dare scheme for an alliance with me? You’re dreaming in broad daylight!" The muscles on Du Gu Zongheng’s face twitched violently, his eyes blazing with ferocious light, clearly on the verge of an explosion.

In ordinary circumstances, if Old Master Jun had heard Old Master Du’s words, especially the part about his "son being crippled," he would have instantly erupted in fury, perhaps even assaulting Old Master Du then and there!

But this time, the "—" Old Master Jun didn't show a shred of anger. Instead, he chuckled amiably, "My in-law speaks so formally. Perhaps we weren't before, but now, it’s impossible not to be. Come, come—listen as I explain the details carefully. Ah, this matter is actually quite simple, it can be summed up in one sentence: The raw rice has already been cooked into cooked rice! Do you understand what I mean? Now, for the detailed account: That day, it happened like this..." "Wudi, you must listen too, after all..." "Wudi is also an in-law, and you, boy, are the most direct in-law..."

As Old Master Du Gu Zongheng heard the words, "The raw rice has already been cooked into cooked rice," his face instantly turned green. Hearing further about "direct in-law," his aged face began trending towards blue.

"Uh... I suddenly remembered that the generals in the military camp are looking for me on urgent business. I must attend to it. Delaying military intelligence is a grave offense! Ding... this involves the lives of dozens of men. It’s a matter of life and death; I cannot delay! I absolutely must go!..."

The more Du Gu Wudi listened, the worse the situation sounded. He instantly considered employing the Thirty-Six Stratagems and beating a hasty retreat to weather the storm. And what a domineering excuse he concocted: something about lives hanging in the balance, and dozens of people!

"You stop right there, boy!" Du Gu Zongheng, whose complexion had turned completely blue, glared, letting out a heaven-shaking roar. "Before this matter is made clear, if you dare to leave, I will break your legs! And if you continue, I’ll snap them clean off!"

Du Gu Wudi had just turned to leave; he couldn't move, nor did he dare make a sound. Frozen in the posture of taking one step out, his face cycled rapidly between red and white, like someone suddenly blocked at the bathroom door when nature calls and is forbidden entry. Sweat poured from his brow.

"Jun Zhantian! Please proceed." Old Master Du Gu Zongheng squinted sideways at Old Master Jun, holding one hand out in a gesture of invitation. The message was clear: Say whatever you need to say, but do it inside with the door closed.

"You few young lads, wait here. No one is permitted to stray. Should anyone dare approach, attempting to eavesdrop on highly sensitive military secrets—execute without mercy!" Old Master Jun turned and issued the command.

Hearing Old Master Jun’s order, Old Master Du Gu also sensed that the situation was highly unusual. He followed suit, commanding his own guards to jointly secure the area. Both groups of guards responded crisply and quickly dispersed to several key vantage points.

Once the arrangements were settled, Old Master Jun took a step, following the brisk pace of Du Gu Zongheng’s stride.

General Du Gu Wudi shuffled along at the very back, the ominous feeling in his heart growing stronger and stronger... "Raw rice cooked into cooked rice"... Could it really be what he thought? Heavens! My own precious daughter, have you pushed your old father directly into a pit of fire...

"Old Jun scoundrel, spit it out! If you have something to say, say it! Stop circling around with those ambiguous, unclear nonsense!" Old Master Du Gu Zongheng, whose face was now tending towards black, appeared extremely impatient, and his gaze toward his son grew increasingly unfavorable.

Du Gu Wudi had none of his usual imposing demeanor as a Great General. He sat constrainedly to the side, looking precisely like a wronged little wife. His massive frame seemed ready to shrink into the ground beneath him! He wiped sweat ceaselessly. Tianxiang was already in the early winter, yet the Great General Du Gu seemed to be enduring midsummer.

"Well, your little girl, Xiao Yi, hehehe, that girl is truly a wonderful young lady."

"During the trip to Tiannan, she..." Jun Zhantian did not equivocate and began to speak directly. But he was interrupted by Du Gu Zongheng as soon as he uttered the opening.

"Stop!" Du Gu Zongheng waved his hand, turning to face Du Gu Wudi and demanding viciously, "Didn't you say that Xiao Yi was in seclusion with Princess Lingmeng in the Imperial Palace? How did she end up in Tiannan? Is this old man deceiving me?"

The decades of experience Old Master Du Gu possessed allowed him to instantly judge that what Old Master Jun was saying must be true, yet he clung to a sliver of hope, especially given the shocking nature of Old Master Jun’s earlier phrase, "The raw rice has already been cooked into cooked rice."

"This... that..." Sweat flowed even more profusely from Du Gu Wudi’s forehead, almost obscuring his eyes. He wiped frantically, his dark face flashing red and white, utterly disheveled. He couldn't manage a coherent sentence, sounding almost as inarticulate as Mr. Duanmu Chaofan.

Du Gu Xiao Yi had secretly run off to Tiannan with Guan Qinghan. It was only several days after they left that the Great General Du Gu realized it. If he had known this earlier, wouldn't he have immediately been skinned alive? Thus, Du Gu Wudi had only arranged for the three nephews accompanying her to keep a very close watch on his daughter, praying day and night that this little miss wouldn't cause any trouble and would return quickly before anything happened. Then, he prayed day and night that this demanding young lady wouldn't stir up any trouble and would return swiftly so nothing would come of it...

However, judging by the scene before him, his wishes had clearly gone contrary to reality. His precious daughter must have caused immense trouble over there. Looking at Jun Zhantian’s expression made that perfectly clear.

Seeing that his son remained silent, only continuing to wipe his sweat, Old Master Du Gu Zongheng understood the situation clearly—there was no hope left. He snorted angrily, "Hmph. I truly am getting old. My entire family is now treating me like a blind fool..."

"Father... this... that..." Du Gu Wudi opened his mouth wide, struggling to explain, but after much stuttering, he still couldn't force out a single complete sentence.

"Shut your wretched mouth! If you utter another word, I’ll break your legs, just as I said! Don't you take my words as mere wind!" Du Gu Zongheng roared. He turned back to Jun Zhantian, "Old Jun, please continue. Do not omit a single detail!"

"Yes. You also know the ties between Qinghan, that girl, and our Jun family..." "Xiao Yi, that lass, upon realizing Qinghan was no longer Mo Ye’s sister-in-law, became instantly agitated. This girl was also desperately in love with Mo Ye. So she devised a plan: she asked the family’s accompanying guards for a small amount—well, not too much, just one pouch. She didn't waste a drop, dosing Mo Ye entirely with it. Could Mo Ye guard against her? Naturally, he drank every last drop without wasting a bit... But she couldn't handle it alone. At that most critical moment, that girl Guan Qinghan, being kind-hearted—fearing they would come to harm—sought them out. Hehehe. As a result..." "Alas, a great mistake was committed. Well. That is the whole story..."

"Old Du, tell me, aren't we in-laws now? This was initiated by your own daughter! Puh! Regardless of who initiated it, the fact remains: the raw rice is cooked. Mo Ye, that boy, will certainly take responsibility!" Jun Zhantian stroked his beard, deliberately making certain "less important" parts vague, while emphasizing that the young master Jun would take responsibility!

Moreover, Jun Zhantian adopted the guise of a "victim," constantly sighing mournfully.

In truth, what the old man said was all factual, though slightly misleading by intention. For instance, the phrase, "But she couldn't handle it alone. At that most critical moment..." Those who knew the details understood that Du Gu Xiao Yi was unharmed; although she indeed couldn't handle the young Master Jun at that moment, nothing untoward actually occurred. But those who didn't know might imagine much more, especially these two old men before him...

Du Gu Zongheng and Du Gu Wudi, father and son, naturally concluded: Since Mo Ye had been dosed with so much, and Du Gu Xiao Yi was just a young slip of a girl with no experience, she certainly couldn't have managed him. Therefore...

Once they reasoned this way, an unshakable line of thought formed in their minds: Jun Mo Ye and Du Gu Xiao Yi had already engaged in that sort of relationship. Yes, Du Gu Xiao Yi couldn't handle him... At the most critical moment, Guan Qinghan appeared and thus saved Du Gu Xiao Yi's life. She saved her, but the price was paying with herself...

This was the most normal and logically consistent deduction. Since Du Gu Xiao Yi had administered the drug, it implied she was already committed to a point of no return; how could she then flee?

As Jun Zhantian narrated, the eyes of Du Gu Zongheng and Du Gu Wudi grew wider, and their breathing grew louder, eventually evolving into audible gasps—huhu—from their throats.

Long after Jun Zhantian finished speaking, the father and son pair were still staring wide-eyed, gasping endlessly. Jun Zhantian sensed his goal was fully achieved. He ignored them further, picked up his teacup, and leisurely took a sip, savoring the tea.

"This truly infuriates me!"

Unexpectedly, the first to explode into a rage was Du Gu Wudi, the Great General who had previously been utterly deflated. He flailed his arms and legs, leaping three zhang high, his entire face contorted in fury: "Jun Mo Ye, you little beast! How dare he commit such a vile act! I... I... I will never let him go! I will... I will castrate him first, then tear him to pieces! Damn it! I... I..."

"You... you..." Before he could finish his string of curses, a heavy, powerful slap landed squarely on his head, sending him sprawling to the ground, lying like an upturned ingot, four paws in the air.

"You! You! You wretched thing, what are you calling me? Calling your mother your head? What did I just say? If you utter another word, I’ll break your legs! Did you think my words were just farting air!"

At this moment, Old Master Du Gu Zongheng finally erupted completely. His face flushed a deep shade of eggplant purple, his rage piercing the heavens! Slap after slap rained down, accompanied by a torrent of curses: "This whole mess is caused by the stupid actions of your precious daughter! Ruining herself is one thing, but she also dragged another girl into it to frame someone else... And you have the nerve to blame Jun Mo Ye? You! You are going to anger me to death! Today, I must break this boy's legs! Aaaargh!"