Duke of Zhenguan

More than ten boats loaded with grain were robbed on the canal about 100 miles west of Luoyang.

The ship had nearly a hundred people in total, including the steward, accountant, boatmen, and guards. Only one guard, who was a good swimmer, jumped into the water and escaped with his life; the rest were all slaughtered.

The ships and boatmen belonged to the Changsun family, but the steward and accountant were eunuchs sent by Empress Changsun.

After hearing the detailed account from Cheng Yaojin, Lin Chuan didn't know whether to say that the robbers were lucky or unlucky.

They were lucky; they really picked the fattest sheep.

They were just unlucky; this fat sheep was raised by the emperor.

"Uncle Cheng, this matter isn't going to just end like this, is it?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Of course we won't let it go like this. Just now in the hall, not only a military man like myself, but also a group of civil officials were clamoring to lead troops to suppress the bandits!" Cheng Yaojin said with a smile.

"Uncle Cheng, it's just a bandit suppression, why would we need you to get involved?" Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

"There haven't been any bandit problems in the Luoyang area for five or six years. Who knows if these bandits who suddenly appeared are soldiers or thieves? Some of them are too bold. Sending someone who doesn't dare to kill will probably not be enough to control them!" Cheng Yaojin said with a sneer.

"I'm just afraid Uncle Cheng won't be able to compete with Uncle Yuchi and Uncle Niu!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"I can't compete with them?" Cheng Yaojin said with a disdainful look.

While chatting and laughing, the two arrived at Tonghuafang.

Today is March 26th, an auspicious day for moving and breaking ground. The new house has been renovated for more than half a month and looks brand new. Li keeps an eye on it every day, and as soon as the house is finished, she thinks about moving in immediately.

After discussing it, Li and Lin decided to move today.

A housewarming party is a must.

The Lin family didn't have many relatives and friends, and Lin Chuan didn't plan to invite too many people. Apart from the neighbors in Tiechi Lane, he only invited Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong's family, and Yan Xiangshi's family. He didn't invite any of the people he knew from the court!

The meal was prepared by Ninth Aunt, Twelfth Aunt, and a group of women from Iron Ruler Lane.

When the two arrived at their new home, the Yan family had not yet arrived, but Qin Qiong, along with his wife Jia and Qin Huaidao, had arrived much earlier.

Jia was welcomed into the central courtyard by Li, while Lin Jiu and Lin Twelve awkwardly entertained Qin Qiong and his son in the front yard.

Seeing Lin Chuan and Cheng Yaojin enter the house, Lin Jiu and Lin Twelve breathed a sigh of relief, said goodbye to Lin Chuan, and ran off.

After exchanging greetings with Qin Qiong, Lin Chuan looked at the wine bowl in front of Qin Qiong and said speechlessly:

"Uncle Qin, your back wound has just healed, why are you drinking again?"

"I only had a little bit. It's been almost half a month since I last drank alcohol, and my throat was itchy!" Qin Qiong said with a smile.

Although Qin Qiong, who was no longer tormented by illness, was still somewhat weak, after a period of recuperation, especially after Lin Chuan and Physician Liu prepared some blood-nourishing medicinal diets for him to eat every day, his body was obviously slowly recovering.

"Just one cup! You really can't drink too much in your health. If you really want to drink, I'll discuss it with Physician Liu and get some medicinal herbs to make some medicinal wine for you!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Haha, that works too!" Qin Qiong said with a smile.

While the group was talking, Cheng Yaojin's wife, Cui, arrived with her entourage.

Lin Chuan hurriedly went to the door to greet them, bowing respectfully to Cui Shi and the others outside.

"Auntie, Brother Cheng! Second Brother Cheng! Madam! Uncle Quan, please come in!"

The Lin family didn't even have a single servant anymore, so Cheng Quan led a few servants to move the things they brought into the Lin family's house and then set up the carriage and other things.

Lin Chuan led Cui Shi and Cheng Chumo and his sister into the house, where they exchanged greetings with Qin Qiong and his son.

Hearing the commotion, Li came out from the courtyard to greet them, and Lin Chuan gave her a brief introduction.

When Cui was introduced, Li was about to bow when Cui, with a beaming smile, took Li's hand and said:

"I've heard Xiaochuan mention my sister before, but today I finally get to meet her!"

After speaking, he waved to Cheng Churou, who was standing to the side:

"Chu Rou, come over here and pay your respects!"

Cheng Churou quickly straightened her clothes and obediently curtsied to Madam Li:

"Greetings, Auntie!"

Cheng Churou was dressed to the nines today, wearing a light yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). Because of the strong wind, she also wore a cloak of the same color over her clothes. Her hair was styled into a beautiful updo, revealing her pretty face. She had a flower wreath on her forehead and rouge on her lips. In addition, she was lively and charming, and every smile and frown made her look radiant.

Li was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said:

"So this is Chu Rou, she's so beautiful!"

After praising them, he welcomed the two into the courtyard.

Lin Chuan had just returned to the main hall in the front courtyard when he heard Qin Qiong say to Cheng Yaojin with a smile:

"It's amazing how much Chu Rou has grown up! If I had known that Chu Rou not only didn't look like you, but also changed her personality, I should have let you marry Chu Rou to Huai Dao back then!"

"Give it to Huaidao? Second Brother Qin, ask Huaidao if I give it to him, would he dare to marry it?" Cheng Yaojin glanced at Qin Huaidao and asked with amusement.

"Father, Uncle Cheng! Please don't mention it!" Qin Huaidao said awkwardly.

"Brother Qin, what makes you say that?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.

"Haha, you don't know, when Chu Rou was young, she was strong-willed and had a high talent for martial arts. Not only were her two older brothers often chased and beaten, but Huai Dao and your Uncle Yu Chi's Bao Lin were also often chased and beaten by Chu Rou!"

"It's only in the last two years, as he's grown a bit older, that his temperament has improved a little!" Qin Qiong said with a smile.

Lin Chuan glanced at Qin Huaidao, then at Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang, and asked with a suspicious look:

"You can't beat them all?"

"We're just letting her have her way. If we don't, her father will hang us from the tree and beat us if she cries. It's better to let her hit us a couple of times!" Cheng Churou explained speechlessly.

Cheng Yaojin raised an eyebrow and asked in an annoyed tone:

"Chu Rou is your younger sister. You older brothers didn't give way to her. Did you hit her because you were wrong?"

"No mistake! No mistake!" Cheng Chumo quickly admitted his mistake.

After admitting his mistake, he smiled and said:

"However, when Huai Dao was young, he was truly unbeatable in a fight, and he was also very strong-willed. Every time, he would get beaten black and blue by Chu Rou!"

"Brother! You said it yourself, that was when we were kids!" Qin Huaidao said, speechless.

"Ha ha!"

The others laughed, but Lin Chuan subconsciously shuddered. If he couldn't beat these three, he would only be the one getting beaten.

The little thoughts I had been harboring in my heart vanished instantly.

Can't afford it!

Just as the group was laughing heartily, Yan Shigu's voice suddenly came from the doorway:

"Duke Su, Duke Yi, what are you two saying, laughing so heartily!"

Although Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi held lower ranks, their prestige among scholars and in the imperial court far surpassed that of Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong.

Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong immediately stood up and went out to greet them, bowing respectfully to Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi.

"Grand Historian Yan, Master Yan!"

"Duke Su!"

"Duke of Yi!"

Following behind Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi, Yan Quting, Yan Yangting, Yan Wencheng, Yan Zhaofu, and others also bowed to Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Chuan led everyone into the house.

The housewarming party officially began then.