After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

"Sir, your sword!" Seeing Pei Qingqing was safe, Chen Changxiao took the sword from the guard. A sharp look flashed in his eyes, and the sword in his hand was instantly unsheathed, emitting an icy cold light. He swung the sword and struck the bandit in front of him. The sword energy was like a rainbow, carrying a powerful momentum.

"Those who surrender will not be killed! Those who resist will be killed without mercy! Don't you see who I am? You're unlucky to have robbed me!" Chen Changxiao's voice was like thunder, echoing throughout the forest. His face was filled with confidence and majesty, which shocked everyone.

The bandits were frightened by this sudden change and were at a loss as to what to do. Some even began to retreat. However, some were angry at Chen Changxiao's arrogant attitude.

"Brother, who is this guy? So arrogant!" A bandit couldn't help but ask. He didn't notice that Chen Changxiao had quickly killed two bandits.

"The eldest son of the Dingyuan Marquisate," the guard replied proudly. His tone revealed pride and respect for Chen Changxiao's status.

Hearing this, Pei Qingqing's face flushed slightly, and a strange emotion welled up in her heart. She had never imagined that Chen Changxiao, usually considered a dandy, could speak so domineeringly and display such superb martial arts. His bravery and fearlessness gave Pei Qingqing a whole new understanding of him.

"Sister Qingqing, are you really interested in him?" Tang Wenshu asked softly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. She looked at Pei Qingqing, trying to find the answer from her expression.

"How is it possible..." Pei Qingqing quickly shook her head, but her eyes were still fixed on Chen Changxiao, as if she couldn't move away.

"He's not a good match. Look at his behavior. He even brought two maids with him when he went out to study," Tang Wenshu kindly reminded her. She hoped Pei Qingqing wouldn't fall into an inappropriate relationship.

Pei Qingqing pursed her lips slightly and bit them gently, but no sound came out, remaining silent. After a moment, she seemed to have finally made up her mind and slowly spoke, "But... with my status, he's already one of the best people I can reach. And I must vindicate my father, so I must cling to him. Yes, I do have a crush on him, because only he has such ability and status."

Meanwhile, the battle outside the carriage became one-sided. Facing the fierce attacks of Chen Changxiao, Tang Zichan, and their numerous guards, the bandits were almost powerless to fight back and were steadily defeated. Suddenly, the bandit leader, as if remembering something important, shouted, "What is your relationship with Chen Annan of the Far West Army?"

Hearing this, Chen Changxiao stopped what he was doing, looked at the bandit leader coldly, and answered without hesitation: "It's my father!"

Upon hearing this, the bandit leader's face instantly turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He knew he had offended the wrong person, and he quickly pleaded for mercy, "Young Marquis, I admit my mistake. Please let us go! We are willing to surrender and accept the amnesty." With that, he immediately lowered his weapon and raised his hands in surrender. Seeing this, the other bandits followed their leader's lead, laying down their weapons and raising their hands in surrender.

"Is that old woman your hostage?" Chen Changxiao asked the bandit leader with a sharp gaze. He saw that when the dispute happened just now, the old woman hid behind a tree with her two children and did not come out until the dispute was over.

The bandit leader scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "Not really. She joined us voluntarily. I only hit her a few times because two of my brothers were killed."

Tang Zichan frowned and asked, "Then she said she had nothing to eat, so what about the scars on her and the children's bodies?" He always felt that this old woman didn't seem to be pretending, and must be really hungry.

The bandit leader sighed and explained helplessly, "Oh, she must have gone to help her bully son again. She has a son who is idle all day long, and she relies on her hard work to support him. Now that she is old and can no longer work, that unfilial son not only beats and scolds her, but also drives the three of them out of the house. What's worse is that he even beat his own wife to death. Later, the old woman came to us, but she was reluctant to eat the food she was given. She took it all back to her son, preferring to let herself and her two grandsons starve and freeze."

"Then..." Tang Zichan was about to speak when he was interrupted by the bandit leader: "She volunteered to be a pathfinder so that she could get more property. But unfortunately, she took all the property and gave it all to that bully's son. Every time she came back, her body was covered with scars, so pitiful."

Hearing this, Tang Wenshu couldn't help but sigh, "True, there must be something hateful about pitiful people!" Raising a child like this was the parents' fault in itself. Now, even in this state, they still refuse to repent, causing not only suffering for themselves but also for their grandson. And the money they earned, they actually gave it to their son, allowing him to bully them and their grandson. Wouldn't their grandson be able to provide for her in her old age? Tang Wenshu felt deeply upset and leaned out to see what was going to happen next.

"Sister Qingqing, are you truly sure you can successfully capture Young Master Chen?" Tang Wenshu asked, her face filled with worry. She hesitated, still harboring many concerns. After all, Young Master Chen's father was the dignified General of the Far West! As the commander-in-chief of an army, how could he easily allow his son to marry a woman? Even as a concubine?

Furthermore, if Sister Qingqing really married into the Marquis's residence, wouldn't she be left alone and vulnerable to bullying? Furthermore, I heard that Master Chen hadn't even married yet, and taking a concubine now seemed rather illogical. And according to the Marquis's family rules, the birth of a illegitimate son would definitely not be tolerated. When the legitimate wife marries into the family, Sister Qingqing's life would be incredibly difficult! These were all things Tang Wenshu had imagined from the novels he had read in his previous life. The true story of ancient palace intrigues was certainly more than that.

Outside the carriage, the atmosphere was tense and solemn as everyone discussed how to deal with these vicious bandits. This place was remote and far from the imperial city, but fortunately, the nearby Yingtian Prefecture was an ideal destination. Yingtian Prefecture was only a short two-day journey away, making it relatively convenient for escorting the bandits.

Chen Changxiao acted decisively, quickly selecting ten elite guards to escort the bandits to Yingtian Prefecture. He himself sat leisurely in the carriage, slowly moving forward. He secretly thought that along the way, he might encounter some reckless thieves who dared to rob him. This would be a good opportunity to stretch his muscles and show these minions how powerful he was.

You have to know that the guards of the Marquis' Mansion are no ordinary men. They all come from the venerable Far Western Army, having weathered countless life-or-death trials and are truly battle-hardened. Each one is a fearless warrior, highly skilled in martial arts. Taking on ten men alone is a piece of cake for them. Now, facing a mere few dozen bandits, they pose no threat at all, and there's no need to worry about any unexpected situations.

Furthermore, Chen Changxiao had deliberately left two bandits behind to lead the way, intending to follow the clues and raid their lair. This way, he could completely eradicate the root of the bandit problem while also fully releasing his excess energy. Thinking of this impending operation, Chen Changxiao couldn't help but rub his hands, eager to try.