Chapter 25: They Are Strong, But We Are Not Weak

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With a trembling voice, Liu Hai recounted everything that had transpired. By the end, Liu Xie could no longer contain his fury. From Liu Hai's words, it was clear that Jia Yu's former husband had possessed considerable wealth before his death. Yet now, every bit of it had been seized by that wretched man. Utterly despicable.

"Do you wish to live?" Liu Xie asked coldly.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Hai nodded frantically, not even pausing to think.

"Hmph. If you want to survive, you know what you must do. Return everything you took from her. If not, you will die!" Liu Xie reprimanded him once more.

"Alright, alright, I swear—I will return all her belongings," Liu Hai promised, desperate to agree to anything, for he feared death above all.

"Good. You have one night. Go back and prepare everything, and bring it here tomorrow. Tomorrow, I must see all that you took returned. Otherwise, you will still die!" Liu Xie declared, then ordered his men to open the gate and let Liu Hai go.

Seeing Liu Xie was ready to release him, Liu Hai didn't hesitate for a moment. Like a frightened animal, he bolted out of the gate and vanished from sight.

Moments after Liu Hai's departure, Jia Yu knelt before Liu Xie with a heavy thud.

"Benefactor, Master Liu, you are the savior of Zhang Jia Yu," she said. "The Liu family holds immense power in Wan City. Liu Hai will never return what he took. He must have gone back to gather reinforcements. When he returns, we will all be doomed. Benefactor, your kindness to my daughter and me will never be forgotten. But I cannot bear to implicate you. You should leave tonight. As for Liu Hai, I will go and explain to them myself. If they refuse to spare me, then... there is nothing more I can do."

Kneeling, Jia Yu pleaded earnestly, her words full of sorrow.

Liu Xie gently shook his head and helped her to her feet. He could see that Jia Yu was indeed a fine woman—willing to suffer herself, but never to drag others down with her. How lamentable that in these times, villains roam free while the truly good suffer endless hardships.

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To be honest, Liu Xie truly felt indignant on behalf of these people.

"Rest assured," he said, "I know he won't return the belongings. And tomorrow, they'll surely come with more formidable men. But you need not worry. They may be strong, but we are not weak. Do you see them? They will show the Liu family that not everyone in this world is theirs to trifle with."

At these words, Jia Yu glanced around at the twenty men nearby. Though she understood little of such matters, she could sense their formidable presence and skill. They had slain Liu Hai's dozen henchmen without the slightest hesitation, and had done so with remarkable ease.

"Master Liu, I... I have never asked about your origins, but you—" she began.

Indeed, since Liu Xie had moved in, she had never inquired about his background. She knew only his surname, nothing more. Though sensible and discreet, never prying, now her curiosity could no longer be contained. She found herself ever more intrigued by Liu Xie and his companions.

Liu Xie exchanged a glance with Fu Shou, who stood nearby.

"Jia Yu, you need not know who we are," he said. "It is enough to know that we are not bad people. And as for the Liu family, rest assured—we do not fear them, nor can they harm us. Whatever they intend, trust us: we will handle it."

Lin Xiao spoke with grave sincerity, assuring her.

At last, Jia Yu nodded gently. She could not say where her faith in Liu Xie sprang from, but after his words, her heart felt much lighter.

"You lot, deliver these bodies back to the Liu family," Liu Xie instructed.

After offering further reassurance to Jia Yu, Liu Xie and Fu Shou retired to their quarters for rest.

"Ah, living outside the palace, one truly knows nothing of the people's hardships," Fu Shou sighed repeatedly upon entering the room.

In recent days, she had witnessed too much of the joys and sorrows of ordinary folk. Life in the palace had its frustrations, but there was never any want for food or clothing, with countless attendants at her service. Life had been comfortable enough.

Now, here, she discovered that for many, even filling their bellies was a struggle. Some, like Jia Yu, had their fortunes seized and could do nothing about it.

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If one speaks of suffering, there are countless others in this world who bear far greater burdens than she ever did.

"Indeed," Liu Xie replied, "especially with this year's great drought—the people are destitute and desperate. And I, the Emperor, can do nothing. Truly—"

He let out a sigh. Though he hailed from the twenty-first century, the misery he saw here left him deeply troubled.

"Husband, you need not blame yourself," Fu Shou comforted him. "I believe we will restore the Han dynasty one day."

Though she spoke bravely, her confidence faltered at the end. After all, they could scarcely care for themselves now. To revive the Han seemed a distant, unattainable dream.

"Yet I find that life among the common people is far freer than in the deep palace halls," she mused. "No one oversees us; we are free and unrestrained. Especially, there are many joys among the people that the palace could never offer."

She was growing ever more enamored with life among the common folk—unbound, carefree, and truly happy.

Meanwhile, back at home, Liu Hai wasted no time in recounting all that had happened to the family patriarch.

Upon learning the details, Old Liu of the Liu family grew furious.

"What did you say? The men you took from our family were all slain?" he thundered.

Liu Xunchao, the current head of the Liu family in Wan City, was livid. In all these years, no one had dared challenge the Liu family in Wan City. Yet now, someone had boldly killed their men. Though it was only a handful of servants, as the saying goes, even when striking a dog, one must consider its master. Liu Xie's actions were a direct provocation.

"Yes, Father, they're formidable—about twenty men in all. Each armed and skilled; our servants were no match. Father, I think if we want to deal with them, we must involve the authorities," Liu Hai advised, discussing how to handle Liu Xie with his father.

As for Jia Yu's belongings, they had no intention of returning them. Of course, all this was within Liu Xie's expectations. Liu Hai could refuse to return the goods and could continue to act against them—but the consequences would depend entirely on whether the Liu family could bear them.