Nie Zhao felt a bit helpless. She pursed her lips and stopped trying to persuade Lu Fan.
Lu Fan's good-tempered attitude meant that someone was going to be unlucky.
However, she became vigilant since the incident with Han Lianxiao. Nie Zhao adjusted her mindset. Unless she died, she wouldn't let anyone harm a single hair on Lu Fan's head.
Although she couldn't see how strong Lu Fan really was, as his guardian maid, his life was her responsibility.
By the shore of Bei Luo Lake, there was a dock where three or four fishing boats were moored. These boats were used for catching the large and fat speckled bass that Bei Luo Lake was known for. If they were of good quality, they could be sold for a high price of two taels of silver each, making them the favorite delicacy for noble families.
At nightfall, brightly lit flower boats would sail from Zhuichen Pavilion on the lake's heart island, turning the lakeside into a lively place, with lights and lanterns illuminating the snowy moonlit night.
During the day, the flower boats docked at the shore of the heart island.
Nie Zhao found a fishing boat with an old man wearing a straw hat and a gap in his front teeth. The old man was always smiling foolishly.
Lu Fan sat in his wheelchair and was lifted onto the small fishing boat by Nie Zhao and Nie Changqing.
Once everyone was on board, the old boatman grabbed the long oar, plunged it into the lake with a "thud," and skillfully rowed the boat, creating ripples as it sailed away.
The sound of horse hooves echoed.
When the small boat carrying Lu Fan drifted far away from the lakeside, Chen Beixin, Liu Ye, and Zhu Yishan arrived on horseback. They pulled on the reins and stopped their horses, gazing at the lake from the shore.
"He really has the guts to go?" Liu Ye looked at the drifting boat in surprise.
"A maid with the cultivation of a First Stage Master and a coachman with the cultivation of a Sixth Stage Master. That's confidence," Chen Beixin said, his beard fluttering in the wind, giving Liu Ye a glance.
He turned his head and looked at the gradually hazy fishing boat on the lake, gently stroking his beard.
"However, scholars may be romantic, but those Confucian scholars who have achieved nothing can only spread their fame by creating some romantic affairs at Zhuichen Pavilion. If they provoke Zhuichen Pavilion, they will suffer consequences, even if it's Lu Changkong, he would have to reconsider."
"Lu Fan is also a learned scholar. If he becomes the target of ridicule from Bei Luo's Confucian scholars, he will probably become disheartened, lose his mental resilience, and even be depressed to death, even if Lu Changkong returns...it won't help."
Chen Beixin held the horse whip and smiled slyly behind his beard.
Liu Ye and Zhu Yishan's eyes brightened.
As scions of prestigious families, they were naturally not just empty talkers.
"Brother Beixin, this plan is ruthless enough."
"This morning, Lu Changkong left the city and went to the capital. If Lu Fan becomes the target of ridicule from Bei Luo's Confucian scholars, he will probably become disheartened. But his two Master-level attendants are not easy to deal with."
"However, we scholars are righteous, possessing the righteousness of Confucianism. Even if it's a Master-level expert, we are not afraid."
"Moreover, the present Confucian scholars all have achievements. Many of them respect the State Preceptor. If Lu Ping'an allows his Master-level attendants to kill indiscriminately, it would be equivalent to offending the State Preceptor of Da Zhou and it would be difficult to end well."
Zhu Yishan chuckled.
"The mouth of a scholar can be the most venomous." Liu Ye also chimed in.
Chen Beixin smoothed his beard and dismounted.
Gazing at the misty lake, he said lightly, "Lu Ping'an's Master-level attendants are not a problem. My Sword Sect...also has a Master-level card up our sleeve. Lu Changkong thinks that my Sword Sect wouldn't dare to make a big move, but he's wrong. Times have changed. Today, I will trample on the corpse of Lu Ping'an and let Lu Changkong know..."
"My Sword Sect will officially make its debut."
With that, the three of them found a small boat and caused ripples as they chased after Lu Fan's fishing boat.
They naturally didn't want to miss the excitement on Bei Luo Lake.
...
The old boatman pushed the oar into the water, startling the fish underneath, causing them to swim chaotically. As the fishing boat glided along, a cool breeze, carrying the scent of water, brushed against them.
It gently blew Lu Fan's temples, elegantly lifting them.
Ni Yu carried the chessboard on her back, leaning over the edge of the boat, covering her chest as she wiped her nose and tears. She was so seasick that she wanted to vomit everything she had eaten last night.
She...had motion sickness.
Nie Changqing and Nie Zhao had their palms on the handles of their weapons, standing on either side of Lu Fan. Their gazes were stern as they scanned the hazy lake surface.
With their Master-level perception, they faintly sensed the danger in the seemingly calm lake. It looked peaceful, but it was not.
The old boatman also seemed to sense that something was wrong and slowed down his rowing.
"Old man, keep rowing..."
"I'll double your payment."
Sitting in his wheelchair, Lu Fan supported his chin with one hand while gently playing with the black chess piece in the other, casually saying.
A struggle appeared on the old boatman's face, covered in wrinkles.
In the end, he revealed a smile, revealing the gap where his front tooth was missing.
"Kid, you're something."
The old man paddled the boat again and even started singing a popular folk song from the Noluo region to boost his courage. The song echoed over the lake, with a touch of elegance.
Lu Fan glanced at the old man singing loudly, lightly tapping the chess piece held between his thumb and index finger.
In fact, Beiluo Lake Heart Island was not very big. The entire island was circular, with a diameter of about ten miles. The island was adorned with blooming peach trees, a sight to behold during the peak season when the pink flowers were in full bloom. Apart from the "Drunk Dust Pavilion," there were no other buildings on the island.
As the fishing boat swayed, Lu Fan and his companions could clearly see the mist-shrouded Heart Island.
Vaguely, there was a six-story tower on the island, with vermilion walls, flying eaves, and glazed tiles... Large red lanterns hung on each floor, and red gauze fluttered in the wind, exuding an enchanting atmosphere.
It truly was an extravagantly built structure.
Lu Fan squinted his eyes.
With his physical strength increased to one point, his vision had improved significantly. He could faintly make out that every floor of the Drunk Dust Pavilion was filled with beautiful and alluring courtesans. Some held delicate handkerchiefs with their orchid fingers, some wore exquisite makeup, and others partially covered their faces with round paper fans, all looking at Lu Fan and his swaying fishing boat, giggling and jostling each other.
Nie Changqing remained indifferent.
Ning Zhao frowned and scolded softly, "This is improper!"
Ni Yu said, "Ugh..."
They continued feeling seasick...
Lu Fan placed the black chess piece back in the chess box and crossed his index fingers on the sheepskin blanket.
His expression gradually became solemn.
He raised his head and looked ahead.
In the misty haze, swaying...
One after another, flower boats emerged from the fog.
Countless flower boats, nearly all of the Drunk Dust Pavilion's flower boats, were put into use.
Lu Fan raised an eyebrow.
The old boatman, in a panic, planted the boat paddle and stopped the small boat's advance.
From the mist, one after another, flower boats larger, more magnificent, and more extravagant than the worn-out fishing boats emerged.
On the boats stood elegant scholars wearing long robes, jade crowns, and hairpins. Some were indignant, some coldly stared, and some had expressionless faces as they looked at Lu Fan and his companions on the fishing boat.
"Young Master Lu... Did Liu Xiong and Zhu Xiong say that you, for your own selfish desires, want to claim ownership of the Drunk Dust Pavilion, disbanding the young ladies? Is this true?"
"Lu Ping'an, we scholars value fairness and justice. What crime has the Drunk Dust Pavilion committed? Just because you have a disability and can't engage in amorous affairs, you want to destroy it?"
"In this world, there is righteousness, and fairness lies in the hearts of people. Even courtesans are human beings. They represent a profession widely accepted by the general public... Since it is a profession, it deserves dignity. Your actions, Lu Ping'an, would make these young ladies homeless and ruin their lives. It is wicked!"
"We will never agree!"
On the flower boats, the scholars stood proudly at the bow, facing the gentle lake breeze, their resolute figures expressing their words emphatically.
Like thunder on a clear day, it startled a flock of egrets.
Twenty or thirty flower boats, over a hundred scholars.
They stared coldly.
...
Behind Lu Fan's fishing boat, at a distance of several miles, another fishing boat swayed, hanging back.
Chen Beixun, Liu Ye, and Zhu Yishan stood on the boat board, eagerly looking ahead.
A hundred scholars confront Lu Fan.
They had planned and envisioned this scene countless times throughout the night, but seeing it firsthand still made their blood boil.
It felt like they were reclaiming the dignity they lost when they were insulted at Lu Manor earlier that morning.
Chen Beixun stroked his beard, squinting his eyes, as if he possessed all the winning moves.
"These scholars, although some have achievements, many of them are frustrated individuals who haven't achieved their aspirations. They need a platform to make their names known to the world. For scholars, reputation is the most important thing."
"Even if they know that everything is orchestrated by our prominent families behind the scenes, they would willingly immerse themselves in it."
Chen Beixun chuckled.
He was very satisfied with everything.
He enjoyed the feeling of defeating his opponents without shedding blood.
Liu Ye and Zhu Yishan also laughed.
Perhaps the overall situation in Beiluo City had already slipped out of their prominent families' control.
But... Lu Fan dared to extend his hand into their family's business. It was no wonder they wanted to teach him a lesson!
They were curious about how the weakened Young Master Lu would respond.
...
On the fishing boat, Lu Fan smiled.
Nie Changqing's calloused hand rested on the pig-slaughtering knife.
His pig-slaughtering knife could slaughter pigs and **, especially those who were unreasonable.
Ning Zhao's face turned pale with anger.
Scholars could be irrational, and they could also be arrogant...
The young master had instructed her yesterday to take care of every young lady after disbanding the Drunk Dust Pavilion.
She wanted to refute their words.
But faced with the countless scholars fiercely arguing, Ning Zhao felt as if her words were stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.
Lu Fan patted Ning Zhao's waist softly.
He gently caressed her, his smile as radiant as flowers, and said, "Don't get angry, don't get angry."
"You know the young master has a good temper."
Then, he turned to look at the scholars on the flower boats, his smile gradually fading.
"But... regarding **, that's not necessarily true."