The Eldest Young Master had been in a fight? When? Was he really that kind of person?
Wait, it did ring a bell...
On his very first day in the Duke Mansion, Helan Chang had mentioned that Eldest Brother had broken half a tooth of Vice Minister Wu's son...
"Your cousin knew he was in the wrong and holed up at home, too ashamed to show his face. And you blame me?" A cold snort came from the side. Helan Zhen pushed through the onlookers and walked over.
A smirk curling his lips, he was nearly as tall as Young Master Du and looked him up and down with the same scornful gaze. "As the saying goes, 'Birds of a feather flock together.' You and your cousin are cut from the same cloth, both with dog's mouths that can't spit out ivory."
Young Master Du's face turned crimson with fury. He snapped his fan shut and pointed at Helan Zhen. "You, you..." Then, as if remembering something, he gave a sinister smile. "If it's about eloquence, I dare not compete with Young Master Helan. After all, your silver tongue must have borrowed luck from your sister. What a devoted pair of siblings. My cousin and I are truly no match."
Everyone from the Xuan Duke Mansion changed color. Lu Shuo was a beat slower in reacting, but when he understood the implication, he clenched his fists, staring at Young Master Du with heaving breath.
What venomous words! The Fourth Miss wasn't even here, yet she was openly mocked by this man!
No wonder when the Duchess first told him about the Fourth Miss, Second Young Master had interrupted to mention the Wu family incident. So that was it!
It must have been because that Young Master Wu had insulted the Fourth Miss that Eldest Young Master had knocked out half his tooth!
"Why is the Eldest Young Master silent?" Young Master Du took a step forward. "You were so talkative just now. Don't tell me you want to land a punch on me? Last time, no one saw you hit my cousin, so he had nowhere to complain. But now, in broad daylight, with so many people watching, do you think you can repeat that trick?"
Before he finished, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air. Young Master Du whipped his head around just in time to catch an egg square in the face.
With a crack, broken shell mixed with yolk and white dribbled down from his forehead.
Young Master Du was stunned. The others from the Song Duke Mansion were also shocked.
Helan Zhen glanced at a distant, rustling tree crown, dusted off his sleeve, and said slowly, "Young Master Du is right. Now, in broad daylight, with so many people watching, you finally have a place to seek justice."
Suppressed laughter rippled through the crowd.
Young Master Du's face turned green with rage.
This place was filled with the families of high officials, all acquainted with one another. By tomorrow, the story of him getting hit in the face with an egg would spread through the entire circle.
He had thought his cousin was weak and useless, but now he understood why the guy had swallowed the loss!
"There must be someone up there! Search for them!" He grabbed a handkerchief from his servant, wiped his face, and barked, "It's either Helan Chang or Helan Rong! Catch them!"
"Young Master Du, you throw your weight around quite impressively. Why not just ask the authorities to grant you the right to search the whole mountain?" Helan Zhen said coldly. "I haven't even asked you yet: what right did you have to bully my adopted brother? His father was a soldier who died for the country, a righteous man personally praised by His Majesty. You say our father's choice of an adopted son shows poor judgment—do you think you have better judgment than His Majesty?"
Young Master Du's face suddenly turned ashen.
"I... I didn't mean that!" he stammered. "Don't twist my words! I have no disrespect for His Majesty!"
Helan Zhen: "Is that so?"
He turned and cupped his hands to the crowd. "Everyone heard it. I, Helan Zhen, was being petty. Young Master Du has no disrespect for His Majesty."
Young Master Du: "You—"
He knew that a quarrel between them would just be a joke to the onlookers, nothing serious. Both families were powerful; a rift between the younger generation was no big deal.
He had wanted to avenge his cousin and take Helan Zhen down a peg. He had merely spoken a few words about that mute girl—it wasn't slander, just facts!
But he never expected the Xuan Duke Mansion to have a new adopted son, and that Helan Zhen would twist the matter to involve the Emperor!
With so many witnesses, including some who were hostile to the Song Duke Mansion, if someone maliciously embellished the story and reported it to the Emperor, it would be disastrous!
Now, Young Master Du truly regretted opening his mouth to provoke the Xuan Duke Mansion. Every single one of them was a handful!
Author's Note:
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