Chapter 25
Chapter 25: Dragon-Martial Grand General Li Ao Tian
Clop-clop-clop!
The thunder of hooves tore through the tense standoff.
“The Dragon-Martial Grand General is back!”
The Grand General’s Residence erupted in jubilant cheers.
Gu Nan Xi turned toward the sound. A towering man in leather armor rode a fine horse straight through the crowd, guiding it with effortless control as it surged left and right, slipping through gaps as if the people weren’t there.
He cut a striking figure—like a jade tree standing alone, a crane among common birds.
When Gu Nan Xi met his eyes—dark, deep, and unreadable—it felt like falling into cold water, breath stolen from her chest.
He reined in between the two sides and sat there like a carved statue, blocking the path and drawing every gaze.
From where Gu Nan Xi stood, she caught only his hard profile—and the long scar that ran from his brow bone, winding down to his cheekbone. It made him look sharp-edged and merciless.
A faint scent of wine hung around him, subtle but persistent. He looked at Gu Nan Xi and asked, “Madam, what is it you seek?”
Madam Li jerked her head up, staring at that mountain of a man. He called Gu Nan Xi… Madam?
Madam?
Gu Nan Xi felt the Dragon-Martial Grand General’s gaze rake over her like a blade, measuring her from head to toe.
Annoyance tightened between her brows. “What are you staring at?!”
Dragon-Martial Grand General Li Ao Tian paused, then smiled as if he’d found something interesting. “Everyone says I can’t get what I want from Madam. So I thought I’d take a look—see what about you is worth chasing.”
[What was that supposed to mean?]
Gu Nan Xi’s face stiffened. Did the original Gu Nan Xi have a history with this man too?
She snapped back, “I’m better than you in plenty of ways. For example—if my son did something wrong, I wouldn’t cover for him. Bullying classmates, forcing people into little gangs… is that the General’s idea of family discipline?”
Li Ao Tian straightened in the saddle and turned his head toward Li Shao Yan. His voice went flat. “Is what Madam said true?”
Under that cold stare, Li Shao Yan trembled so hard his teeth clicked. “I-I…”
Li Ming De gathered his courage and stepped forward. “I can testify! Last year, just to make me obey him, he made me fall and break my leg!”
Chen Yi Xuan glanced around, then ducked his head and muttered, “He… he made me write his homework every day. If I didn’t, if I didn’t…” His voice died. He hurried behind Gu Nan Xi like a frightened sparrow.
Jiang Guang Hai’s lips had gone pale. He swayed, then forced the words out. “He… he took me to a brothel… and then threatened me. If I didn’t listen, he’d tell my father.”
The moment he finished, Jiang Guang Hai didn’t dare look at Censor Jiang. He sprinted to Gu Nan Xi’s side as if safety existed only there.
Jiang Guang Hai’s family rules were strict. A man under twenty wasn’t even allowed to take a concubine.
Urged on by Li Shao Yan, he had gone to that place once—and Li Shao Yan had seized it as leverage.
Li Ao Tian’s eyes stayed on Li Shao Yan. The riding crop in his hand gleamed coldly in torchlight and moonlight. “Is what they said true?”
Li Shao Yan shook like a leaf. He couldn’t speak. Tears spilled down his face.
Old Madam Li clutched him to her chest, heartbroken, and lashed out, “Have you lost your mind? You believe whatever they say? What kind of decent person is Gu Nan Xi? Look at how vicious she was to that merchant girl!”
Li Ao Tian flicked the whip; it snapped through the air with a sharp crack. “What does that have to do with me? I’m asking you, Li Shao Yan—did you do those things or not?”
Li Shao Yan hunched his shoulders and gave the smallest nod.
“Come here,” Li Ao Tian said. “Stand up straight.”
He motioned Li Shao Yan closer.
Li Shao Yan looked like he wanted to run, but it was as if something had seized him by the spine. Even shaking like a sieve, he still walked forward, step after reluctant step.
Li Ao Tian swept his gaze across the gathered faces, rolled up his sleeves, and bared solid muscle. “There are ten people here. Two lashes per person. Is that acceptable?”
Li Shao Yan’s eyes went wide, terror filling them, but he didn’t dare produce a single word.
Gu Nan Xi frowned. Twenty lashes… wasn’t that too much?
Li Ao Tian’s mouth curved. “Oh? Madam is frowning. Then three lashes per person. Thirty in total.”
The words had barely left his mouth when the whip whistled through the air and cracked down on Li Shao Yan’s back.
Cloth tore. Blood splashed and ran down his spine, dripping onto the ground.
That single lash had torn flesh.
The whole crowd sucked in a breath.
Old Madam Li fainted on the spot. The General’s wife leaned against the doorway, silently crying.
One lash. Two.
Even when Li Shao Yan rolled on the ground, screaming and twisting, Li Ao Tian’s force never changed—never heavier, never lighter, like it had been calculated down to the breath. Just enough to hurt. Not enough to kill.
“Enough,” Gu Nan Xi said sharply. She strode to the horse and caught that callused hand. “Ten lashes is enough. We won’t pursue it.”
Li Ming De swallowed and quickly added, “I won’t pursue it either.”
“Not pursuing it!”
“Stop hitting him!”
The boys were shaken senseless. They’d all been hit before, sure—but those were raised hands that came down lightly.
They had never seen lashes that drew blood every time.
Li Ao Tian lifted his chin, swung down from the horse, and said, “Take Li Shao Yan back.”
The servants of the General’s Residence moved like they’d seen King Yama. They hoisted Li Shao Yan and sprinted back into the residence in a blur.
Li Ao Tian hooked the whip at his waist and stepped toward Gu Nan Xi.
His shadow fell over her, swallowing her almost entirely.
The scent of wine grew stronger, spicy enough to sting the throat.
“Madam,” Li Ao Tian said, voice low, “you’d better not fall into my hands.”
His breath brushed her earlobe, hot and irritatingly close.
Gu Nan Xi lifted her head and met his eyes—cold as winter stone, without a trace of warmth.
She raised a finger, pressed it to his chest, and pushed him back, inch by inch. “Look. Do I seem afraid? And call me Marchioness.”
She let out a soft, mocking snort. In a few years, Marquis Yong Chang Manor would be wiped out—executed to the last. What was there to fear?
Besides, she planned to stay in Marquis Yong Chang Manor until she died. Once this was over, the next time they met might be on the execution grounds.
After delivering her threat, she turned away without hesitation. “To Song Shan Academy!”
Seeing Gu Nan Xi refuse to yield, the crowd’s spirits surged again.
Li Ming De, suddenly shamelessly eager, snatched the money pouch from his father, Assistant Minister Li. “Marchioness, you must be hungry. The night market is still open—I’ll have someone buy you something to eat.”
Chen Yi Xuan shoved his way between Li Ming De and Gu Nan Xi, beaming. “I know the night market best! I know who makes the best food!”
Jiang Guang Hai couldn’t squeeze in, so he shoved Su Xuan Ming aside instead. “Marchioness, give me the fan—I’ll fan you.”
Gu Nan Xi stared at him. There was really no need. She carried that fan to look cool, and it was late autumn. Fanning would be freezing.
Su Xuan Ming, pushed out of place, muttered, “Who are we even taking revenge for? Why are they so excited?”
Su Yun Ting, still lying on the door plank, rolled over and snapped, “You’re useless. You even let them steal your spot.”
Su Yun Yan hesitated, then whispered, “Do you think… they want to be Mother’s son too?”