strictlysupreme Chapter 20 Good people don't live long, but evil people live long lives.
Chapter 20 Good people don't live long, but evil people live long lives.
She was extremely beautiful.
It wasn't the kind of alluring beauty, but rather a beauty as pure and serene as frost and snow, as noble and elegant as a secluded orchid. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters, her lips naturally red, and her brows naturally green.
Seemingly noticing Xu Ming's gaze, she turned her head.
There was no fear in those almond-shaped eyes, only icy anger and deep-seated hatred.
Hatred pierced Xu Ming like a knife.
Xu Ming was taken aback.
Then he laughed.
interesting.
He walked up to her and knelt down.
As he got closer, he could smell a faint fragrance, not the scent of cosmetics, but a natural body odor, like plum blossoms in the snow.
He reached out and pinched her smooth chin.
It felt smooth and wonderful to the touch. Her skin was very white and delicate, like a peeled egg. He gently stroked her jawline with his thumb, feeling the taut muscles beneath her skin.
"Not bad, she's got the makings of a beauty."
He scrutinized that stubborn face, a roguish smile spreading across his face.
"It's perfect for warming my bed at home."
Upon hearing this, a fierce fire instantly ignited in the woman's clear, cold eyes.
"Shameless!"
She squeezed out two words through gritted teeth.
Xu Ming wasn't angry at all; instead, he laughed even harder.
His fingers gently caressed her cheek, as if he were stroking a precious piece of porcelain.
"I love your stubborn little eyes."
"The more it's like this, the more interesting it is to conquer."
Lu Zhen, standing to the side, felt his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
He saw a signal in Xu Ming's eyes—this madman was serious. He wasn't acting, he wasn't putting on a show for anyone. He genuinely wanted to bring this woman back to his mansion.
After hesitating for a long time, Lu Zhen's forehead veins throbbed twice, but he finally took a step forward.
He leaned close to Xu Ming's ear, lowered his voice, and said in a volume only the two of them could hear, "Sir... this woman must not be touched."
"Oh?" Xu Ming raised an eyebrow, but his fingers still did not leave the woman's chin.
"She is Qi Quan's granddaughter, named Qi Mingyue." Lu Zhen's voice was even lower.
"and--"
He paused for a moment, as if considering his words.
"She is also the son of Duke Dingguo, Lu Yan, and Lu Jun's fiancée."
Duke Dingguo, Lu Yan.
These words carry immense weight.
Unlike the Xu family, the Duke of Zhenguo, Lu Yan, the Duke of Dingguo, was a meritorious official in the Jingnan Campaign. When the emperor launched the Jingnan Campaign, Lu Yan was one of the earliest generals to follow him, and he made outstanding contributions on the battlefield. After the Jingnan Campaign was successful, the emperor rewarded him for his merits and conferred upon him the title of Duke of Dingguo, a hereditary title.
Those were true loyal ministers who had followed the emperor into power, the emperor's confidants.
To mess with the Lu family's prospective daughter-in-law is not just madness, it's courting death.
Lu Zhen thought that by bringing up the powerful Duke of Dingguo, the lawless Xu Ming would surely restrain himself.
After all, the Xu family was already a tiger with its teeth pulled, while the Lu family was a rising sun enjoying the emperor's favor.
However, Xu Ming only glanced at him indifferently.
"So what?"
Four words.
Light and airy.
It was like a feather landing on Lu Zhen's heart.
so what?
He actually said, "So what?"
That's the Duke of Dingguo! He's a minister who rose to power under His Majesty's rule! He's one of the most sought-after nobles in the court!
Under the shocked gazes of Lu Zhen and all the Imperial Guards, Xu Ming picked up Qi Mingyue from the ground and carried her around the waist.
His movements were savage and brutal, like carrying a sack of rice. He put one arm around her waist, pressed down on her leg with the other, and shoved her onto his shoulder.
Qi Mingyue's body bounced against his shoulder like a fish.
"Let me go! You beast! You villain!"
Qi Mingyue struggled violently.
Her legs kicked wildly in the air, and her two small fists kept pounding on Xu Ming's back. The muffled "thump thump thump" sounds were like someone beating a drum.
Her fingernails tore through Xu Ming's collar, leaving several white scratches.
Xu Minghun didn't care.
That little bit of force was no different from tickling him.
His body had been tempered by the Undying Sword Body, making him impervious to ordinary swords and blades, let alone the delicate fist of a weak woman.
He carried the struggling Qi Mingyue and swaggered towards the gate of the mansion.
His steps were steady, as if he were taking a stroll.
As he walked, he kept turning back to shout to the two Imperial Guards carrying the nanmu wood chest, "Keep up close, don't lose my treasure!"
The word "baby" is unclear; it's unclear whether it refers to the box of gold and silver or the woman on his shoulder.
The people on the street were dumbfounded.
An old man selling steamed buns almost dropped the steamer basket he was carrying.
A woman holding a child quickly covered the child's eyes.
Several scholars stood by the roadside, their faces flushed red, wanting to curse but not daring to.
"My God! Isn't that... isn't that the talented young lady from the Qi family? I've heard she's proficient in all the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—and is a renowned talent throughout the city!"
"To forcibly abduct a woman in broad daylight! Xu Ming is utterly lawless!"
"You beast! The Duke of Zhenguo's family is known for its loyalty and integrity; how could such a scoundrel be born into this family! He is disgracing the Xu family ancestors!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! Didn't you see the Imperial Guards are all following him? This is clearly on His Majesty's orders! This is a mad dog, a mad dog raised by the Emperor!"
"The illustrious reputation of the Duke of Zhenguo's family has been ruined in an instant!"
"If the old Duke Zhenguo knew that his descendants were so dissolute, he would be so angry that he would crawl out of his grave."
"That damned Xu Ming deserves to go to hell after he dies."
Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years.
……
The person who said "mad dog" had his mouth covered by the person next to him before he could finish speaking.
Whispers, curses, and disdainful glances surged in from all directions, enveloping Xu Ming.
The sounds came in waves, like a tide.
Xu Ming acted as if he hadn't heard.
He carried the soft, fragrant body on his shoulder, a playful smile playing on his lips.
Go ahead and curse.
The louder the insults, the better.
The more you think I'm a shameless scoundrel, the safer I am.
The more you criticize me, the more the emperor trusts me.
You don't understand this.
Qi Mingyue continued to punch and kick him on the shoulder, struggling less and less, but she still wouldn't let up with her words.
"Put me down! You monster! You'll get your comeuppance!"
Xu Ming freed one hand and gave her a light pat on her pert buttocks.
"Smack."
Her body suddenly stiffened, as if someone had acupunctured her.
The crying stopped abruptly, leaving only suppressed sobs.
Her face was burning red, the redness spreading from her neck to her ears.
"If you move again, believe me, I'll execute you right here and now!"
Xu Ming's voice was languid, but carried a chilling seriousness.
Qi Mingyue dared not move again.
She lay motionless on Xu Ming's shoulder, like a cat being choked.
Only a single tear silently slid down the corner of his eye, landing on the back of Xu Mingqi's suit, leaving a small water stain.