Golden Branch

More than a dozen river workers were beaten all over their bodies.

The coarse linen clothes on his body, which were already worn out, had already become tattered.

His blood had congealed, his expression was numb, and his whole body exuded an aura of death and despair.

Their hands and feet were locked with heavy iron chains, but they were still whipped and forced to do heavy work such as digging soil and carrying sacks.

At night, they were not allowed to rest properly, but were shackled and displayed in the camp.

"You don't treat us as human beings!"

A complaint originally made by the river workers was concretized at this moment.

Those nobles really didn't treat them as human beings!

They are like oxen and horses that work hard and never complain!

They are pigs and dogs that can be beaten and scolded by anyone!

...but not humans!

But this time, the river workers did not talk or complain.

They worked silently, ate the hard-to-swallow pig food silently, and watched their companions being abused silently.

It was as if they were frightened and intimidated and dared not resist anymore.

However, beneath the calm mountain pass is boiling magma.

August 15th, Mid-Autumn Festival!

Last year, the river camp was the busiest.

The chief stewards at that time were Yang Rui and Lou Yu. They were kind and generous, so they issued an order that river workers who lived close to home could go home to celebrate the festival and reunite with their families.

Although the laborers who were far away from home could not go home, they could rest and have a hearty meal.

For many of these laborers, it was the first time in their lives that they ate sweet and crispy baked mooncakes, drank mellow rice wine, and had the leisure to sit by the river and "appreciate the moon".

Only one year later, the situation of the river workers had changed dramatically.

No rest, no going home, no good food, only hard work, and having to watch former companions being tortured and humiliated...

They no longer say "what was like in the past is like this now" or curse the corrupt officials and lackeys in their whispers.

silence!

The entire river camp was filled with a suffocating silence.

Anger is swirling and blood is boiling, just waiting for a spark to ignite a huge fire.

……

On the Yi River not far away, Lou Rang, Cui Zai and others seemed to deliberately show off their wealth and power.

It was a festival that should have been a family reunion, but they still invited local forces from Hedong and even Yihe to join the pleasure boat and enjoy the bright moon.

Lu Huaijin and the other family heads: ...Damn it, are these two sick?

Mid-Autumn Festival, the festival of reunion.

You don't want to watch the moon with your family, but we do.

The key point is that while this side is brightly lit with singing and dancing, it is dark and people are working hard on the shore.

It is a fact that the nobles enjoyed luxury.

But damn it, you can't deliberately create a comparison.

Two days ago, the river workers had already caused trouble by "rebelling against their superiors". Lou Rang and Cui Zai did not try to appease them, but they also -

Lu Huaijin cursed in his heart again: Idiot! What an idiot!

Fortunately——

Lu Huaijin held the wine cup, lowered his eyelids slightly, and concealed all his emotions.

Lou Yu sat opposite Lu Huaijin.

Although he was young, his status was extraordinary, almost on par with the governor Lu Huaijin.

He also held a wine cup, but did not join the guests in toasting each other or improvising poetry or painting.

"...The fat girl must be eating mooncakes with all kinds of fillings!"

"Is that bean sprout going to be stuffed with fresh meat or Yunnan ham this year?"

"It's a scone, but it looks like a biro!"

There was a warm smile on Lou Yu's delicate face, but he was thinking about the fat girl in his heart and complaining about Zheng Shisan's "innovative" food.

Alas, if tonight was not the most appropriate time and all preparations were not for "this moment", Lou Yu would not be willing to waste time with a group of unknown people on the river in the bleak autumn wind.

Wouldn’t it be nice to watch the moon with the fat girl in the dock?

If all else fails, you can still drink and paint with the gentleman, and "cheat" some works from him, which can also be used as heirlooms.

What a pity for this bright moon and this good time!

Lou Yu sighed silently, picked up the wine cup, looked up, offered sacrifices to the bright moon in the distance, and drank the wine in the cup in one gulp.

Lu Huaijin caught Lou Yu's action out of the corner of his eye, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. He then followed his example and toasted the bright moon and himself.

Let’s get started!

Lu Huaijin put down the wine cup and casually played with the jade pendant around his waist with his right hand.

His fingers gently stroked the lines on it, but his mind had already begun to wander.

The autumn night wind is gentle and cool.

The clouds in the sky are floating little by little.

A cloud slowly approached the bright full moon.

The "silver plate" began to have a shadow, and from a distance it looked like a mooncake with a bite taken out of it.

As the clouds moved, the gap grew larger and larger until it was completely "swallowed".

It's getting dark.

The lights on the pleasure boat were still bright.

Lou Rang, Cui Zai and other nobles did not pay any attention to the scene in the sky.

It's normal for clouds to cover the moon!

It won't be long before the clouds disperse and the bright moon reappears.

Then play music!

Dance on!

As their mood got better, Cui Zai and others even slammed the table and started making a commotion with the dancers and musicians.

Hu Xuan dance!

Zhezhi dance!

Sword dance!

We can’t say that they are a group of demons running wild, but they are all a bit “unruly”.

In the pleasure boat, the cheerful atmosphere almost reached its climax.

Even Lou Rang, who couldn't dance due to his disability, was infected by the atmosphere. He grabbed the drumstick and started beating the drum.

Lou Yu: ...It’s too shameful to watch!

However, thinking that this might be the last day of my good uncle, if he could be happier, even if he died, he would be able to "smile in the grave".

Lou Yu’s sharp tongue is indeed a bad habit that is hard to change.

He watched with a smile, and although he did not join in, he pretended to be aloof and kept himself away. He seemed to enjoy everyone's "improvisational performance".

Wow!

Wow!

The noise on the pleasure boat drowned out the subtle sound of water.

Boom!

dong dong!

Lou Rang's drumbeats seemed to have an "echo".

Bang!

It seemed to be the sound of a wine jar being smashed, but seeing the people staggering and moving around at the banquet, those who heard the noise would not be surprised.

It's normal to hold a jar of wine and dance, and accidentally drop the jar!

boom!

The lanterns and torches on the pleasure boats were burning particularly brightly.

A breeze blew through the air, and the crackling and popping sounds became more and more obvious.

You can still faintly smell the smell of fire.

Everyone was having so much fun that even the guards couldn't help but secretly join in.

Many anomalies are also hidden by the "noise".

until--

"Huh? What's that smell? Are we having roasted meat today?"

"I smelled it too! And it also looks a little burnt?"

"It's so hot! It's autumn, how can it still be so hot?"

"There's a huge fire ahead. Could this be a 'surprise' prepared by the steward?"

“…Oh no! Fire! It’s on fire!”

The drunken guests finally noticed something was wrong.

The pleasure boat is on fire!

The side of the ship and the deck were all burning.

"Damn it! There's a fire!"

"Quick! Put out the fire!"

Lou Rang dropped his drumstick, feeling disappointed.

He had a gloomy face and gave orders in a cold voice.

The guards, who were already a little tipsy, did not dare to slack off any longer and hurried to fetch water and put out the fire.

The guests began to stir.

Fire, this is fire!

Even though they were on the surface of the river, it was not uncommon for them to be burned to death in the water.

"Run! Run!"

"...Wait! Why do I feel like this ship is sinking?"

"Damn it! The bottom of the boat has been pierced! Water is coming in! The boat, the boat is going to sink!"

Someone else discovered this even more horrifying fact.

The crowd, who were already panicking because of the "fire", became even more terrified.

Some people even jumped into the river in a moment of desperation.

Chaos!

The whole houseboat was in chaos!

Lou Rang was anxious and angry. A good moon-viewing banquet had turned into...

and many more!

It’s not all bad!

It's so chaotic now, it's normal if "someone" is accidentally injured (assassinated) in the chaos!

Right! Nephew!

Lou Rang's gaze slowly, slowly swept towards Lou Yu.

There was now a flash of bloodthirsty cruelty in those already gloomy eyes.

"I just can't let you break your leg and become a cripple!"

Pity!

Lou Rang felt a little disappointed.

But he also knew that this should be his best chance to take revenge on Lou Yu.

Oh no, more than that!

Killing Lou Yu was only the first step in his revenge.

He also prepared a "surprise" for Lou Yu——

"I know you like the fat girl from the Wang family. As your uncle, I love you the most, so I naturally want to help you!"

"Da Lang, just go with peace of mind. I'll send that fat girl down with you."

"...Uncle is still good to you. He lets you die so that you can have a companion!"

Lou Rang thought happily, with the corners of his mouth raised high, full of pride and satisfaction.

"Do it!"

Lou Rang lowered his voice and gave orders to the personal guards following closely beside him.

"Yes!"

The personal guard responded and quickly walked towards Lou Yu.

He drew his knife and deliberately shouted, "How dare you, thief!"

It seemed as if a thief had sneaked into the pleasure boat and was about to assassinate Lou Yu.

The personal guards were not here to murder the nobleman Lou Yu, but to "save" him.

The sword came out, and the cold blade drew a cold light in the air.

Lou Yu raised his eyebrows: ...That's it?

Tsk, this is all Lou Rang has achieved!

Lou Yu leaped up like a nimble kite and directly avoided the brutal knife attack from his personal guard.

"How dare you, a lowly slave, as a servant of the Lou family, kill me?"

While Lou Yu was flying himself into the air, he did not forget to angrily denounce the personal guards for their "betrayal" behavior.

Isn’t it just about seizing public opinion? Even a fat girl can do it, let alone Lou Yu?

Lu Huaijin was just opposite and happened to see this scene.

He blurted out, "Thief? Where is there any thief? I think you are the thief who wants to assassinate the master!"

Got it!

God assists!

It turns out to be a “teammate”!

Lou Yu knew that Lu Huaijin was doing him a favor.

Lou Yu rolled over, not only avoiding the assassination, but also jumping to the other side.

The personal guard, realizing that his attack missed and his whereabouts were exposed, did not give up but continued to chase and kill.

"Lou Yu, you disrespected your elders and plotted to murder your uncle. Even if you forbid me to do so, I will avenge you!"

The guards are not stupid.

He defined the assassination as a personal act, not one ordered by Lou Rang.

He quickly caught up with Lou Yu and swung his sword again.

The cold light flashed and the blade was pressing.

Lou Yu continued to dodge.

Seeing Lou Yu hiding here and there in such a miserable state, Lou Rang felt even happier.

Haha!

Lou Yu, you bastard, now you have come to this day!

Perhaps he was too excited, and Lou Rang didn't notice that many river workers in linen clothes had already climbed onto the burning deck.

One or two of them "picked up" the sword somewhere and accurately found Lou Rang among the fleeing crowd.

"Dog officer!!"

"Go to hell!"

Two river workers rushed to Lou Rang from the left and right.

One in front and one in the back.

With a loud shout, he swung his sword with incredible speed.

puff!

Pfft!

The sound of two blades piercing flesh.

Wow!

The carotid artery was severed and blood spurted out.

Bang!

Lou Rang fell to the ground with a smug smile still on his face.

There was an extremely sharp sword stuck in his chest.

"...The damn official is dead! Haha, brothers, I've avenged you!"

After making sure that Lou Rang was dead, the two "river workers" laughed loudly and turned around and jumped into the river.

Lu Huaijin's eyes flickered.

Good job, Lou Yu, this is how to kill decisively and cleanly.

Kill your enemy without leaving any evidence.

Anyone who investigates can only come to one conclusion:

Lou Rang was greedy and cruel, forcing the river workers to rebel.

In the chaos, Lou Rang took the opportunity to murder his own nephew.

He was only concerned with harming others, which resulted in a lack of guards around him, and he was subsequently killed by the rioters!

This is a classic case of "trying to harm others but getting harmed instead".

It is also a very satisfying "evil will be punished"!

Lou Yu not only wants to kill people, but also wants to destroy their hearts, so that even if Lou Yu dies, people will curse him and say "you deserve it".

Even if someone like Lu Huaijin guessed the truth, he would only think that Lou Yu was powerful and Lou Rang was extremely stupid!

Idiot, it wouldn't be a pity if he died.

Lou Rang died, but Cui Zai, who was hiding under the table, "luckily" escaped.

Lu Huaijin raised his eyebrows: Lucky? No!

Someone needs to take responsibility for this disaster.

As Lou Rang's lackey, Cui Zai is the best candidate.

Although Lou Yu is young, he acts thoughtfully.

As expected of someone trained by Prince Yang, Lu Huaijin deserves the title—

Haha, it’s unspeakable! It’s unspeakable!

……

On the Yi River, the chaos soon ended.

However, in the thick darkness of the night, a group of "water bandits" sneaked into Hedong.

At the Lou family fort, Wang Heng and Concubine Jiang and others admired the moon and drank wine together.

"Nine Mother! It's bad! Something happened to my husband!"

Zhao Jinniang came in hurriedly from outside, her face full of anxiety and worry.

Wang Heng stood up suddenly, his eyes wide open: "Brother, what happened?"

"Nine Lady, there's been a civil uprising at the Hedao Camp. My dear husband has been trapped by the rioters and his life or death is unknown!"

When Zhao Jinniang mentioned the Yi River, she thought of the changes in the Yi River a few years ago.

It was also a night like this, and it was also the pleasure boat of a nobleman.

But at that time, she was a lamb to be slaughtered.

But today, she is the one holding the knife, and she has the qualifications and ability to "fight back" those high and mighty nobles!

Noble person?

snort!

Who is born noble?

Who is born lowly?

Today, I, a lowly servant, will tell the nobles that I, Zhao Jinniang, cannot be bullied.

Concubine Jiang: ...Where did this idiot come from?

Wang Heng also sighed in her heart: Alas, you have finally come to this point!