Chapter 506 — Holding Out

He walked and cursed at the same time: "You pack of curs! Give you an inch and you take a mile, do you? Have you no eyes for where you are? You'd pile up firewood and light a blaze—" So saying, he planted himself arrogantly in the middle of the courtyard. "The Prince of Liao is my own cousin by blood. If you've the stomach for it, burn me along with the rest! Here I stand today—let's see whether you've the nerve!"

Gu Yu!

The newcomer was Gu Yu!

Was he not in Tianjin? How had he come to the capital?

Dou Yan's eyes went wide.

The other side could not help but sound exasperated. "Young Master Gu, why must you make such a fuss? We are only carrying out orders—"

"Hu Yandao!" Gu Yu stamped his feet. "How could my cousin do such a thing? You say you act on orders—then produce my cousin's handwritten warrant and let me see it! If it truly is my cousin's will, I'll say not another word and urge my sister-in-law to go with you at once!"

How could there be a handwritten warrant for such a business?

The other man said nothing.

Gu Yu grew smug. "I knew you were lying! You must have coveted the Dou family's vast fortune and used my cousin's name to plunder and rob! Disperse this instant, or when it's looked into, every last one of you will have more than you can swallow!"

Since the man had been entrusted with an important task by the Prince of Liao, he was no incompetent. His tone turned hard at once: "Young Master Gu, if you keep up this farce, do not blame me for being rude!"

"You blacken my cousin's name and still dare to be rude to me!" Gu Yu cried, striding toward the wing room. "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, are you in there?"

As he drew near, Dou Chi saw not only the dust of travel all over his face but his eyes, red and swollen.

The Prince of Liao had turned traitor and used her and Yuan Heng to threaten Song Yan; the one who must suffer most was surely Gu Yu.

Dou Yan's heart ached at the sight. She called out loudly, "Little Uncle, I'm here! Yuan Heng and I are both well!"

Yuan Heng heard Gu Yu's voice and piped up childishly, "Uncle Gu."

Gu Yu's eyes reddened further.

He did not enter the room but planted himself in the doorway and barked, "Let's see who dares loose a crossbow!"

The air in the courtyard congealed.

Song Han scrambled out from beneath the holly tree in the corner, a sorry sight. "Gu Yu, save me, quick!"

He ran toward them on hands and knees.

Dou Qu said, "Little Uncle, he's the one who led them in."

"Not me, not me!" Song Han shrieked. "I was forced into it too!"

Gu Yu hesitated for a moment.

Dou Yan was sickened beyond measure. Leng Heng said coldly to Gu Yu, "Pay him no mind! He's an ingrate."

But before she had finished speaking, Song Han lunged at Gu Yu, and in his hand, from somewhere, had appeared a dagger that breathed cold.

Dou Yan and the others could not help crying out.

Duan Bing and Chen Lanxu, without a word between them, both dashed for the door.

Gu Yu's expression turned stern, and with a single kick he sent Song Han flying. "You really are an ingrate, just as my sister-in-law said!"

He was so furious that he laughed.

Song Han tumbled down into the middle of the courtyard and did not stir for a long while.

Dou Yan said venomously, "Why didn't someone just kick him to death!"

Gu Yu burst out laughing at this. "Sister-in-law, you and I think alike!"

As he spoke he walked toward Song Han, looking for all the world as though he meant to finish him off.

"Loose arrows!" came the other man's icy voice from the courtyard.

Duan Bing yanked Gu Yu back inside with lightning speed, and Chen Lanxu, with perfect timing, shut the door.

Inside the room came the thud-thud-thud of arrows and bolts burying themselves in the door and windows.

They fell as thick as raindrops.

Gu Yu dropped his blade, clutched his head in agony, and crouched down on the floor. "Why didn't you just let him shoot me dead and be done with it!"

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Brothers and sisters, here is today's update.

o(n_n_o~

※ (To be continued)