The Martial Lord of the Troubled World

Chapter 31 The Official's Daughter
Inside the woods, police officers, all wearing white leggings, were busy carrying bodies onto a cart outside the woods.

Fu Juemin stood under a small patch of shade, surrounded by Qian Fei and Ma Da Kui, calmly observing the chaotic scene before him.

His gaze lingered on a spot not far from him, where a man and a woman were standing and talking.

The woman was naturally the one Fu Juemin had saved before.

Now it seems even more amazing than when it was lying in the sack.

Even if her cheongsam is covered in dust and grass clippings, and her hair is slightly disheveled, just standing there, revealing a section of her figure and profile, she exudes a noble air that seeps into her very bones.

Fu Juemin recognized the man she was talking to—he wore a cloisonné hat with a gold-edged plum blossom badge on his shoulder. He was Zhou He, the deputy director of the police department, a well-known figure in Luanhe. But in front of the woman, he was bowing slightly, his expression respectful and polite to the point of being almost humble.

"Master."

Qian Fei quietly approached, his voice low and tinged with barely perceptible surprise, "I never expected you to save Grandma Su this time."

"Grandma Su."

Hearing this strange title, Fu Juemin found it hard to connect it with the woman in front of him and couldn't help but ask, "Which Su family in Luanhe?"

Qian Fei shook his head, "It's not the Su family, it's the Lin family."

"Lin?"

Just as Fu Juemin was about to ask further questions, the woman in his field of vision finished speaking with Zhou He and then walked straight toward him.

Qian Fei quickly and tactfully took a few steps back. Fu Juemin watched the woman approaching. In the afternoon sunlight, the woman's white skin was almost dazzling, like fine Xuan paper, so smooth that it was hard to look directly at her.

The woman stopped three steps away from Fu Juemin and reached out her hand to him.

Her hand was slender and jade-like, with neatly trimmed nails, but there were still a few faint red marks on her knuckles from being rubbed by the hemp rope.

"My name is Su Hui."

Fu Juemin was taken aback, then reached out his hand, "Fu Juemin."

"I know."

The woman gently grasped Fu Juemin's hand, then immediately withdrew it and smiled.

Despite her exceptionally gentle appearance, her smile exudes an inexplicable sense of composure and poise.

"I am deeply grateful to Young Master Fu for saving me today, and I will repay your kindness in the future."

After saying this, the woman didn't wait for Fu Juemin's response, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.

Fu Juemin chased after the woman's retreating figure. In the distance, he saw several old servants waiting outside the woods. As soon as they saw the woman, they rushed to greet her anxiously. But when the woman raised her hand, their panic immediately subsided.
"Which Lin family?"

Fu Juemin withdrew his gaze and turned to ask another question.

Qian Fei replied, "Young Master, have you forgotten? It's the Lin family, the second-place scholar."

Only when the words "second place" were mentioned did Fu Juemin remember.

At the end of the previous dynasty, Luanhe produced its last Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), named Lin Jinyao. He achieved the second-highest rank in the examination and married the daughter of a high-ranking official in the court.
"Is this Su Hui the daughter of an official who was married into the Lin family?"

"Correct."

Fu Juemin was surprised, "How can you be so young?"

Qian Fei laughed and said, "You're talking like that. The previous dynasty was only a few years ago."

Moreover, it is said that Grandma Su was only thirteen years old when she entered the family and was raised by the Lin family as half a daughter.

The Lin family was also unlucky; they had just married a daughter of an official when their own scholar-official died, and the previous dynasty also perished.
I heard that Grandma Su's family held a first-rank official position in the previous dynasty and were even related to the emperor.

"She hasn't gone back?"

"No, I've been staying at the Lin family's house."

After Old Madam Lin passed away, she became the most senior member of the Lin family, so everyone called her Grandma Su.

Fu Juemin couldn't help but marvel.

Such a legendary figure can probably only be seen in this era. I never expected to be saved by him by some twist of fate.

"Grandma Su is a low-key person, and not many people know her background."

Qian Fei remarked with emotion, "I heard it from Second Master once when we were drinking."

Fu Juemin nodded. Saving the widow of a former Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and the daughter of an official was just a novelty to him, and he didn't feel much emotional turmoil.

It was the other person he rescued along with Su Hui who truly surprised Fu Juemin.

Thinking of this, Fu Juemin subconsciously looked in one direction.

Beside a mound of earth at the edge of the woods, a woman was squatting on the ground, her arms wrapped around her knees. A handsome young man stood beside her, leaning down and speaking to her, seemingly comforting her. (Xu Leyi)

Fu Juemin never expected that the other person kidnapped by the bandits would be his annoying fiancée, Xu Leyi.

Fu Juemin glanced at Xu Leyi briefly, then turned to the young man beside her and asked Qian Fei, "How did you two meet?"

"Upon receiving the message from the young master, Da Kui and I immediately brought our men over."

On the way, we ran into this kid leading a patrol team heading this way, straight into the woods...

How did he know the bandits were hiding here?

"They said they got a lead from someone and followed the trail."

Qian Fei replied in a low voice.

Fu Juemin's eyes flickered as he watched the young man named Zhao Xinhua, who was circling around Xu Leyi, while he quietly pondered something.

Just then, someone called out to him.

He turned around and saw Zhou He, the deputy commissioner of police who was leading the operation, walking towards him with a protruding belly.

"Young Master Fu, your belongings are returned to their rightful owner."

Zhou He walked up to Fu Juemin and immediately beckoned the patrolmen behind him to respectfully present him with a gold pocket watch and a silver revolver.

Logically speaking, both of these items should be considered evidence, but now even the bloodstains on them have been wiped clean.

"Thank you for your help, Deputy Director Zhou."

Fu Juemin accepted the gun and watch, and politely expressed his gratitude.

In fact, Zhou He was Fu Guoping's direct superior.

However, the Fu family was powerful, and Fu Juemin had made meritorious contributions in suppressing the bandits, so he was unusually polite to Fu Juemin.

"It should be Mr. Zhou who is thanking us."

Zhou He said with a serious expression, "This time, Young Master Fu and your bodyguard wiped out a gang of mountain bandits for our Luanhe County. They acted bravely and righteously, eliminating a scourge for the people. They are truly great heroes of Luanhe County."

Once the case is closed, the county will definitely publish a commendation for you two in the newspaper.”

"No need to publish it in the newspaper."

Fu Juemin waved his hand dismissively and then asked, "I would like the police department to help me find someone as soon as possible. I wonder if Deputy Director Zhou knows about this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou He immediately nodded, "I've heard about it. The thief who stole Young Master Fu's watch, I'll have someone investigate this matter as soon as I get back."

"Then I'll leave it to Deputy Director Zhou."

Fu Juemin exchanged a few simple pleasantries with Zhou He, and when there was nothing else to discuss, he said he would leave.

The latter naturally agreed, and even personally led people to escort Fu Juemin all the way to the edge of the woods before stopping.

As soon as he emerged from the woods, Fu Juemin saw his car parked by the roadside.

He led Qian Fei and the others toward the car. When they got there, Qian Fei looked at the car and winked at him.

Fu Juemin glanced into the car subconsciously and saw Li Tong, dressed in a black short jacket, sitting inside looking at him with a half-smile.

"Uncle Tong?"

Fu Juemin was somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected it to be Li Tong; he had thought it would be the butler, Uncle Chen, or someone like that.

But then I thought about it again. Given that such a big incident as encountering bandits had happened, it was quite reasonable for my father, Fu Guosheng, to send Li Tong.

"I bet my dad will put me under house arrest again when I go back this time."

Fu Juemin got into the car, loosening his collar as he let out a soft sigh.

Li Tong smiled but didn't respond to him. Just as Fu Juemin closed the car door, he said something lightly.

"Young Master, how does it feel to kill someone for the first time today?"

Fu Juemin's body trembled slightly, and he suddenly turned to look at Li Tong beside him.

Soon, the strange light in his eyes subsided, and he calmed down again.

Fu Juemin placed his hands on his knees, slowly leaned back against the car seat, and softly replied, "Very good."

(End of this chapter)