Helan Zhen clasped his hands inside his sleeves and looked at Young Master Du, saying flatly, "How long does Young Master Du intend to stand here? This spot was taken by our Xuan Duke Mansion first. If Young Master Du doesn't move along, I'm afraid there won't be any room left to watch the race."
Young Master Du's expression was extremely sour. What race was there to watch! He had been hit in the head with an egg, his hair and clothes soiled. He didn't want to stay a moment longer!
As he was about to leave, Helan Zhen added, "Young Master Du is quick to come and go. Since you were just critiquing my younger brother's studies, I assume you yourself are well-read and knowledgeable. But you're leaving without even an apology?"
Young Master Du: "..."
Did he want him to stay or not! Humiliated in front of everyone, he was so angry his heart ached. But he had misspoken and implicated the Emperor. If he kept arguing with Helan Zhen, things would only get worse.
Young Master Du took a deep breath, suppressing his burning rage, and reluctantly cupped his hands to Lu Shuo. "Young Master Lu, my apologies. I had a bit to drink today and was muddled. I spoke recklessly. Please don't take it to heart."
All eyes immediately fixed on Lu Shuo. Lu Shuo had never been the focus of so many gazes at once. He felt as if he had forgotten how to breathe, his fingers trembling uncontrollably beneath his sleeves.
Helan Zhen reached out and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"My adopted brother is young and doesn't yet know how to deal with people. I hope Young Master Du won't mind. I'll accept the apology on his behalf. Young Master Du should drink less in the future," he said calmly.
Young Master Du exhaled a long breath. "Since the matter is settled, I won't disturb you all any further. Farewell."
"One moment," Helan Zhen said again. "Young Master Du didn't just speak recklessly to my adopted brother. My younger sister isn't here, yet she was also undeservedly dragged into it. Shouldn't you apologize to her as well?"
Young Master Du's foot, already half a step forward, froze. The veins on his forehead pulsed rapidly. Was Helan Zhen insane? Couldn't he say everything at once? Was he making a fool of him for everyone's entertainment?
He just wanted to finish this quickly and not waste any more words. So he forced a cold expression and cupped his hands directly at Helan Zhen. "My mistake. I offended Miss Helan with my words. I'll trouble Young Master Helan to convey my apologies to her."
With that, ignoring whether Helan Zhen had anything else to say, he turned and left quickly, as if ghosts were chasing him.
The remaining people from the Song Duke Mansion, embarrassed, soon disappeared into the bushes as well.
The excitement over, the onlookers dispersed with various expressions.
Helan Zhen removed his hand from Lu Shuo's shoulder. "Alright, it's over. Sit down."
He returned to his seat.
Lu Shuo sat down numbly, his eyes on the dragon boat starting line in the distance, but his heart was still racing.
Tianqing said from the side, "Thanks to Eldest Young Master arriving in time. Otherwise, who knows how Young Master Du would have tormented Young Master Lu and us."
Helan Zhen said, "Fortunately, I was chatting with a friend nearby. When I saw him talking to you, I knew there would be trouble."
He looked at Lu Shuo, softening his tone slightly. "Don't take his nonsense to heart. He wasn't really targeting you, but me and the Xuan Duke Mansion. There's been bad blood between our families for a long time, and I knocked out half his cousin's tooth before. That's why he came after you."
Lu Shuo pursed his lips. "I won't take it to heart. Thank you for getting me out of that, Eldest Young Master."
Helan Zhen said, "Enough. Have some snacks."
Lu Shuo lowered his eyes, took a piece of pastry, and took a bite. It smelled fragrant, but in his mouth, it was tasteless.
After a while, Helan Chang and Helan Rong snuck back.
"Is that Du guy gone?" Helan Chang asked quietly.
Helan Zhen: "Gone."
Helan Chang snorted. "I hope he breaks his leg going down the mountain!"
Helan Zhen: "Where did that egg come from? Who did it?"
Helan Rong grinned. "Heh, Helan Chang borrowed a slingshot for me, and I climbed a tree to get the egg. How was my aim, Big Brother?"
Helan Zhen: "You were far away. Did you hear what he said?"
"No, but I could guess it wasn't anything good," Helan Chang said, stuffing a pastry into his mouth. "We hit first, and if it was a misunderstanding, we'd apologize. Helan Rong and I often cause trouble at the Imperial Academy anyway. We're used to getting scolded. He's almost married—he wouldn't bother with kids like us, would he?"
Helan Zhen's lips twitched, then he put on a stern face. "Did you know he also mocked your poor grades?"
"What? He did?" Helan Chang was furious. "I should have told Helan Rong to throw more eggs!"
Helan Rong: "Can't. The slingshot only holds one egg at a time. If I threw them separately, he'd dodge—he's not stupid!"
Helan Zhen: "..."
Helan Zhen: "Enough! That Du guy may talk rough, but on that point he's right. I couldn't even argue! You two embarrassing things, you're dragging me down!"
Helan Chang and Helan Rong shrank their necks, not daring to provoke their elder brother anymore. Instead, they quietly whispered to Lu Shuo: "Lu Shuo, what exactly did that Du say? And what did Big Brother say to him? Tell us quickly—we didn't hear anything, we just saw him flee!"
Lu Shuo: "..."
He had to quietly recount what had happened.
The two listened indignantly, cursing and even considering whether to look for the Song Duke Mansion people again, but eventually gave up because of the crowd.
Helan Chang said to Lu Shuo, "If we had known this would happen, we wouldn't have gone off to play! Then you wouldn't have had to face that scoundrel alone!"
Helan Rong said, "Bullying a kid—what kind of skill is that! When Father comes back, we'll definitely let him know, and find a reason to impeach the Song Duke Mansion!"
Lu Shuo was alarmed and quickly said, "No, no need. Since he apologized, let's not pursue it further. Otherwise, it might never end."
"Whether we pursue it or not, it won't end," Helan Chang snorted. "He apologized under duress today. He's surely still unconvinced and might pick a fight again later."
Lu Shuo couldn't help asking, "Is there some old grudge between the Xuan Duke Mansion and the Song Duke Mansion?"
"Probably, but I'm not really sure," Helan Chang said. "There's no major feud, but all sorts of frictions have been constant. It seems to have started from our grandfathers' generation and just continued."
Helan Rong leaned close to Lu Shuo's ear and whispered, "I heard—just heard, mind you—that when the Founding Emperor was conquering the realm, both families did a lot for him. In terms of military merit, ours is definitely greater. But the Song Duke once took a sword for the Founding Emperor, so the Emperor, remembering that favor, treated the Song Duke a bit better. Their family thinks they're favored in the Emperor's eyes; ours thinks they got ahead by scheming. That's how the friction started. Cough, I'm just saying, just you listen, don't go spreading it around."
Lu Shuo swallowed and nodded.