Marquis Qingfu was overcome with a surge of rage the moment he saw his son's shifty, lecherous expression. He raised a hand to slap him but couldn't bring himself to go through with it. This was his own son, after all. His mother and his wife doted on the boy as if he were their own heart.
"Keep those wicked ideas to yourself!" Marquis Qingfu glared at him. "I am already figuring out a way to vent your frustrations for you. Just you wait and see."
Zhu Minghao didn't quite believe him. "Dad, come on. You'd probably bow and scrape the moment you saw Prince Jin. How are you going to get back at him for me?"
"You look down on your old man, don't you? If I told you to wait, then wait!"
That person had told them that once the lanterns were hung for a few days, someone in that manor would definitely meet with misfortune. They just had to wait and see how those three families would suffer.
Just as Zhu Minghao was about to retort, a servant rushed in. "Lord Marquis, Heir, someone from Prince Jin's Manor is here!"
Hearing this, Marquis Qingfu jumped, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest. He had a guilty conscience, after all. He had been eagerly anticipating the manor's downfall, and now someone had arrived. Could something have actually happened? But even if it did, it shouldn't have been tracked back to him so quickly.
Could they have discovered the issue with the Thousand-work Lanterns?
Uncle Yun approached, flanked by four robust manor guards. Their imposing presence turned Marquis Qingfu's face pale. He almost felt the urge to pull his son in front of him as a shield.
"Greetings, Lord Marquis, Heir."
Uncle Yun stood before them, his gaze sweeping over the father and son. How did a useless glutton like Zhu Minghao dare to harbor designs on Second Miss Lu?
"W-what is the matter?" Marquis Qingfu's heart steadied slightly. Uncle Yun's attitude didn't seem like he was there to settle a score. However, these manor guards were truly different from those of other houses; they looked exceptionally handsome and upright.
"It is like this," Uncle Yun began with a kind and proper smile, bowing to Zhu Minghao before continuing. "On the day our Prince returned to the capital, did he not happen to encounter the Heir? Although the Heir's actions were less than noble, the whip that injured him belonged to our manor's driver. Consequently, our Prince feels quite uneasy about the matter."
Hearing this, Zhu Minghao perked up. Had the Empress Dowager reprimanded Prince Jin in the palace? So he finally realized how favored he was? Now he knew to come and apologize?
Too late! He had offended him too deeply!
Zhu Minghao waved his hand grandly in refusal. "Take it back. This Heir doesn't need any medicine he sends"
Before he could finish, Marquis Qingfu shoved his hand down and pushed him aside, forcing a smile. "I thank Prince Jin for his concern. My son was disrespectful and offended the Prince; it is enough that His Highness does not hold a grudge."
"Dad?" Zhu Minghao's eyes widened. He knew his father was a coward. Just a moment ago he was talking about revenge, and now he was acting like a total lackey in front of a mere steward!
"Shut up," the Marquis hissed at him. This child truly had no idea how ruthless Prince Jin used to be.
"My Prince said that regardless of any grudges, the ointment must be applied to the Heir," Uncle Yun said. With a wave of his hand, the four guards immediately stepped forward.
Uncle Yun produced a bottle of medicine.
"What are you doing? Stay back!" Zhu Minghao hugged himself, retreating step by step.
"Heir, we are simply applying medicine. Don't be a stranger; this is our duty."
"I don't need it! No! My wounds are almost healed!"
"Almost healed means they aren't healed yet. It is better to apply more medicine." Uncle Yun handed the bottle to a guard.
The other three guards pinned Zhu Minghao down and stripped his shirt.
"AHHH!!! Dad, save me!" Zhu Minghao shrieked like a stuck pig.
"Steward, this... how about letting Minghao do it himself?" Marquis Qingfu watched from the side, shrinking his neck back.
"We dare not disobey the Prince's orders. It is fine, it is only medicine. We will leave as soon as it's applied."
With a sharp rip, Zhu Minghao's robes were pulled open, revealing several scars across his back.
Uncle Yun was privately surprised; Second Miss Lu had truly been merciless. It had been days, and the whip marks were still so vivid. No wonder he had fainted back then.
"Don't take things too far! Let go of me! Huh?"
Zhu Minghao had been screaming at the top of his lungs, but as soon as the ointment was smeared onto his scars, he froze.
"What is it? What happened?" Marquis Qingfu's heart skipped a beat at his son's reaction.
"Dad, this medicine... it actually feels quite good? It's cool," Zhu Minghao said.
Marquis Qingfu was momentarily stunned.
Uncle Yun's heart stirred, and he immediately said, "If Heir Zhu truly does not wish to use the medicine, perhaps we should forget it? I shall return and report to the Prince..."
The ointment really did feel comfortable. His wounds had been scabbing over the last two days and were incredibly itchy; Zhu Minghao would often scratch them mindlessly, tearing the scabs and causing them to bleed. But this ointment was icy cool, stopping the itch instantly.
Hearing the steward speak, he stopped struggling immediately.
"Wait! Since Prince Jin specifically sent this to apologize, I would be embarrassed to refuse. Apply it, keep applying it to me."
He even helped strip his own clothes down further, spreading his arms to let the guards work.
Hey, Prince Jin's guards are personally tending to my wounds. Isn't this a huge boost to my reputation? Why would I refuse?
"Then we shall do as the Heir wishes?" Uncle Yun added. "To be honest, I told the Prince that since he hadn't seen the scars himself, he wouldn't know if the ointment was appropriate. If there was a reaction, his good intentions might have led to a bad result."
Zhu Minghao was currently feeling far too cozy. He replied without thinking, "Just put it on. It is just some whip wounds, what is there to worry about? This Heir isn't deathly ill or poisoned."
"Very well. Then we shall listen to the Heir. You lot, be gentle."
In the end, the entire bottle of ointment was used. Lu Zhaoling had been so ruthless that Zhu Minghao was covered in injuries; one bottle was barely enough.
After finishing, Uncle Yun tucked the empty bottle into his robe he had to take it back.
"We shall take our leave then."
"Wait, Steward Yun," Marquis Qingfu called out as he snapped back to his senses. "About those Thousand-work Lanterns I sent earlier..."
"Oh, the lanterns? They've been hung in the garden. They look quite nice. Our thanks to the Lord Marquis."
Uncle Yun said his piece and led his men out. They came and went like a whirlwind.
Marquis Qingfu let out a sigh of relief. As long as the lanterns were hung, it was fine.
"Dad, and you said Prince Jin was so formidable? Look, didn't he just show weakness to me? He even sent people to give me medicine."
"Hao'er, I think you should wipe that medicine off. It is better to be careful," Marquis Qingfu said, still feeling uneasy.
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