Jian Huaifeng could hardly believe his ears upon hearing Prefect Yu’s words!

The person he regarded as a close friend had been secretly harboring resentment against him for a long time, and had tried to harm him several times!

Poor him, treating someone as a confidant, benefactor, and family! Truly he was blind, truly blind!

In that moment, Jian Huaifeng really felt the impulse to gouge out his own eyes! He prided himself on being wise, understanding worldly subtleties, and being able to discern people, yet he treated hidden predators as family!

He blamed no one!

Now that everything had been revealed, Jian Huaifeng’s body, already weakened by mourning, began to fail. The only reason he had lasted this long was sheer willpower.

Now that he was disheartened, that resolve dissipated, and he coughed up blood, his entire body collapsing.

Since then, he fell into a stupor and couldn’t get out of bed.

If it weren’t for Lame Li happening to return, Jian Huaifeng’s life might not have been preserved.

Besides a young child named Simple, all his servants had been taken by Prefect Yu, who cared not for his life or death. No one called for a doctor, leaving him to lie in bed, dazed, awaiting death.

He managed to survive until Lame Li’s return thanks to Simple, who secretly stole food from the kitchen each day, providing Jian Huaifeng with some warm water to drink.

When Lame Li returned, it was just in time for Lady Bai and Brother Guan’s funeral, all organized by the Yu Residence. Outsiders were told that Jian Huaifeng was already in poor health, and due to the incidents with Lady Bai and Brother Guan, he had fallen gravely ill, and it seemed he didn’t have much time left.

Upon hearing this, outsiders lamented, wondering how a decent family could face such misfortune, fearing that one bad event might mean losing them all.

They praised the Yu Residence for kindly stepping forward to manage the Jian Family’s funeral affairs, wondering what could have been done otherwise.

The Yu Family garnered itself quite the reputation.

Lame Li’s first reaction upon hearing this was the fear that something had happened to his master. Sneaking into the backyard, he found it exactly as suspected, with all the servants vanished, leaving only Simple, a half-grown child, to care for Jian Huaifeng.

It was both infuriating and heartbreaking! Luckily, Lame Li had skills; he secretly called a doctor, who prescribed medicine, and at least saved Jian Huaifeng’s life.

Upon hearing this, Prefect Yu quickly sent people to threaten Lame Li, advising him to best know his place.

But who was Lame Li? A man used to licking blood off a knife’s edge! If he truly fought back, Prefect Yu was a bit apprehensive.

Furthermore, Lame Li made it clear that he wasn’t without backup; if truly pushed to desperation, and trying to threaten the lives of their master-servant trio, then they’d rather none of them survive!

Prefect Yu initially planned to act tough, but upon Lame Li mentioning a few names, he changed his expression. After pondering for a moment, albeit unwillingly, he quietly took his people and left.

When Jian Huaifeng regained consciousness, his spirit revived somewhat, with the first reaction being to inquire about Lady Bai and Brother Guan’s funeral.

Upon asking, he learned that, due to Jian Huaifeng not appearing, Madam Yu had arranged it. She deeply hated Lady Bai and Brother Guan, yet outwardly acted appropriately.

Lady Bai and Brother Guan’s coffins still lay in the temple, with plans to wait until Jian Huaifeng passed, to send them all back to Feng County for burial in the Jian Family’s ancestral tomb.

No matter how gentlemanly Jian Huaifeng was, he wouldn’t let Lady Bai and Brother Guan into the family tomb, dirtying its grounds.

Lame Li cursed the Yu Family, urging Jian Huaifeng to recover quickly and leave this foul place.

Before Jian Huaifeng fully recovered, Prefect Yu arrived. The relationship between the two had soured, and their meeting naturally didn’t end pleasantly.

Prefect Yu’s intentions were clear: if Jian Huaifeng was sensible, accepting compensation in silver coin, taking it home, but never acting as a Master for anyone again, then their grievances could end right there.

If not, being a Magistrate, if truly provoked, he could still succeed in silencing the three of them.

Jian Huaifeng naturally was unsatisfied but knew, if truly not agreeing, the master-servant trio wouldn’t make it out of Luzhou.

He might not fear death, but he couldn’t drag Lame Li and Simple down with him.

Moreover, a man’s revenge is never too late for ten years! Though unable to rival others now, that didn’t mean he couldn’t overturn the situation later.

Once they negotiated, a pact was made, with Jian Huaifeng leaving for his home in Feng County with Lame Li and Simple, no longer acting as a Master for anyone, settling the grievances right there.

Prefect Yu agreed not to trouble the trio anymore, allowing them to leave.

Moreover, Lady Bai and Brother Guan’s funeral affairs were unrelated to the Jian Family, with no concern for where they were buried, suggesting he had already written a notice, burning it for Lady Bai; thus, Lady Bai and Brother Guan were entirely unrelated to the Jian Family, even in burial no mention of the Jian Family was allowed on the tombstone.

Though Prefect Yu’s face was displeased, he dared not say more.

Once Prefect Yu left, Jian Huaifeng ordered Lame Li to plan their departure from Luzhou.

Though Prefect Yu had reached an agreement with him, given Prefect Yu’s personality, he had no reliability, and naturally thorough preparations were necessary.

Lame Li, with extensive connections, soon found Luzhou’s largest Escort Agency, paid a deposit, and arranged for protection to escort Jian Huaifeng back to Feng County.

The backing behind this prominent Escort Agency was much stronger than Prefect Yu, who dared not provoke them, merely watching helplessly as Jian Huaifeng, Lame Li, and Simple left Luzhou.

On the road, not resigned, attempts were made to hire thugs several times, but all were repelled by the Escort Agency and Lame Li, ensuring a safe return to Feng County.

Upon returning to Feng County, Jian Huaifeng removed Lady Bai and Brother Guan from the family genealogy, paying respects to his ancestors, erasing their traces from the Jian Family entirely.

Feng County being his old home, coupled with Lame Li’s protection, though Prefect Yu sent people to monitor, they could only prevent Jian Huaifeng from acting as Master for anyone, unable to harm him.

In this way, years passed, with Prefect Yu’s official path facing obstacles, and Jian Huaifeng appearing disheartened, seemingly unconcerned with anything, gradually causing Prefect Yu to relax his vigilance.

Before Song Chongjin’s arrival in the past year or two, the spies watching him had mostly withdrawn.

Of course, though Prefect Yu learned of Song Chongjin hiring Jian Huaifeng as a Master, he dared not act recklessly.

Yet, connecting quickly to the Second Prince’s faction was likely due to early intelligence gathering, taking a side soon, fearing Jian Huaifeng’s revenge.

Upon hearing Jian Huaifeng’s recount, even with Song Chongjin’s disposition, he couldn’t help but sympathize and feel pity for Jian Huaifeng.

Having investigated Jian Huaifeng’s situation in Luzhou earlier raised suspicions, but he hadn’t expected the truth to be this grim.

What a waste of Jian Huaifeng’s talents and abilities, ruined by a petty villain’s jealousy, costing him a lifetime.

Seeing Jian Huaifeng’s state, he couldn’t utter a word of comfort, instead raising his glass in acknowledgment, accompanying him in drinking a large cup.

This drinking continued late into the night, until Jian Huaifeng was thoroughly intoxicated, prompting Song Chongjin to call Lame Li inside to take care of Jian Huaifeng well.

Song Chongjin returned to the backyard himself, where a warm light waited alongside Yongzhu, instantly dispelling his depressive air.

He immediately embraced Wang Yongzhu, whispering softly: "Yongzhu, having you here is wonderful!"