Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Qu Shaogong's expression was grim, his sharp gaze fixed on the group of assassins, while his guards had already engaged the attackers.

In front of the tea house, the clash of swords and the continuous sound of weapons colliding filled the air.

Inside the tea house, Yang Qingwan watched the battle outside, analyzing the strength comparison between the two sides in her heart.

There were more than ten assassins, all with considerable cultivation, probably all having attained at least the Postnatal Fifth Layer, among which, two might be at the Postnatal Eighth Layer.

Yet the strength of Qu Shaogong's guards was not weak either, but there was only one Martial Artist at the Postnatal Eighth Layer.

"We can't win!"

In a breath, Yang Wanqing judged the disparity in strength, "Brother Dahu, quickly go and get the horses, let's run!"

Having grown up well-versed in "The Thirty-Six Stratagems," she naturally knew that the best stratagem was to flee.

Although these people were after Qu Shaogong, who knew if they would implicate the innocent?

This was not the Capital City, and it was unclear if anyone nearby would come to help.

"Ning Ke, Qiuyue!" Yang Wanqing also didn't forget to call her younger sisters.

Then, without paying attention to the others around them, they rushed towards the tea house's back yard. They had all come on horseback, their horses stabled in the back yard.

Here, dozens of horses and many horse-drawn carriages were parked, belongings of those who had come for a visit.

"Brother Dahu, Brother Quan, release all the horses, and lead them out!"

Yang Wanqing jumped onto her horse and didn't forget to let the other horses loose.

Mounting the horses should allow them to get away, but if they delayed in leading the horses out, they probably wouldn't have another chance.

"Sister Wanqing, what's going on?" Lv Ningke asked, still unclear about the situation.

"I'll explain later, you go first!" Yang Wanqing glanced at Liang Qiuyue.

Lv Ningke was only fifteen years old this year, not even a Martial Artist yet, while Liang Qiuyue was older and already a Martial Artist, her mind making more judicious decisions than Lv Ningke's.

The two of them also had maids and guards with them, but those guards were no match for Yang Qingwan's companions, Li Dahu and Zhang Quan— even Yang Qingwan's maids couldn't compare.

Postnatal Martial Artists were not common; especially those beyond the Postnatal Fifth Layer. Apart from the Yang family, there weren't many powerful figures in the Capital City who could afford to have Martial Artists above the Postnatal Fifth Layer as guards for their juniors.

Liang Qiuyue understood Yang Wanqing's intention and immediately said, "Sister Ning Ke, let's go first!"

After speaking, she led the maids and guards out of the yard directly.

Meanwhile, Yang Wanqing, with Li Dahu and Zhang Quan, led a few horses towards the front of the tea house.

The battle in front of the tea house continued, but Qu Shaogong and others had already retreated quite a bit towards the lakeside; they were being blocked by the assassins.

"Mount up!"

Yang Wanqing shouted, her whip curling precisely around Qu Shaoshang's waist, to which Qu Shaoshang yelped as she was pulled onto the horseback.

Seeing this, Qu Shaogong did not hesitate and quickly mounted a horse.

"Mount up, let's go!"

He called out to his friends.

At this point, there was no time to consider anything else; they had to run, saving whoever they could.

Several nimble individuals leaped onto horseback and then sprinted in the direction of the Capital City.

Yang Wanqing was at the forefront, glancing back at the battle behind her. Thankfully, Qu Shaogong's guards were formidable, successfully holding off the group of assassins.

"Sister, be gentle, I can't catch my breath!"

The petite face of Qu Shaoshang in front was flushed red; Yang Wanqing was startled and quickly loosened her grip around her chest.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"No!" Qu Shaoshang sat in front of Yang Wanqing, panting heavily.

Yang Wanqing held the reins in one hand and embraced Qu Shaoshang with the other. Although they were two on a single horse, their speed was even faster than the others by several measures, putting a distance of more than ten paces between them in no time.

Naturally, Yang Wanqing's horse was a descendant of Red Cloud, and although not the most formidable among the descendants, it was a truly prized steed.

After nearly two quarters of an hour, Yang Qingwan finally saw the gates of the Capital City.

"Hongbao, stop!" She tightened her grip on the reins and called to the horse below her.

Whinny~

Hongbao raised its head and neighed, coming to a stop.

The people behind also stopped one by one, the whole group now appearing exceedingly bedraggled.

Qu Shaogong stepped forward, glanced at Yang Wanqing, then at Qu Shaoshang sitting in front of Yang Wanqing, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Miss, for saving our lives!" he said, clasping his fists in gratitude.

Yang Qingwan nodded, "It was just a helping hand, no need to give it another thought!"

"Given today's events, I fear many innocents have been implicated. It would be best for the Princely Heir to swiftly take people to check on those innocents!"

Although they had escaped, there were still many scholars and nobles enjoying themselves by Cangyuan Lake, and around the teahouse were some commoners, with many workers and guests within the teahouse itself.

"I understand; I will go to the Martial Arts Temple to ask for assistance. Please, Miss, could you help take care of my younger sister?" Qu Shaongong said.

Yang Wanqing looked at the little girl in her arms and smiled gently, "Don't worry, I will bring her home. After you've dealt with the matter, you can come to our house to fetch her."

"Then I must trouble you, Miss. As matters are urgent, I must take my leave first!"

With that, Qu Shaogong nodded to Qu Shaoshang and then galloped towards the city on his horse.

Yang Wanqing watched his retreating figure, then glanced back at the group of young nobles, and at that moment felt that Qu Shaogong's scholarly air had diminished somewhat.

Decisive in action, with not a moment's hesitation; despite seeming somewhat thin, he did not appear to be a fragile person.

"Sister, which family's young Miss are you?" Qu Shaoshang looked up at Yang Wanqing and asked.

Her stature was comparatively small, and at just fifteen years old, next to Yang Qingwan, who, despite having a baby face, was quite tall, it looked as if Yang Wanqing was holding a little girl.

"Marquis Jing'an Mansion! Come back home with me first."

Yang Wanqing said with a smile.

"Okay!" Qu Shaoshang was not reserved and even snuggled closer into Yang Wanqing's embrace.

...

Marquis Jing'an Mansion.

Yang Zhenshan and Wang Mingzhe were concocting elixirs in a pavilion beneath the back mountain.

In these three years, he had not fallen behind in the craft of alchemy; on the contrary, he had consistently been concocting various elixirs, and now he could make over thirty different kinds.

Meanwhile, Wang Mingzhe had always been learning alchemy and medical skills. In alchemy, he was much less skilled than Yang Zhenshan, but in medical skills, he had already surpassed him. After all, Yang Zhenshan had not systematically learned medical skills, whereas Wang Mingzhe had always studied under Sun Wanzhen.

Master and apprentice each manned a furnace, fanning the flames with hand fans.

"Your father-in-law didn't call for you today?" Yang Zhenshan asked while fanning.

If Wang Mingzhe wasn't going to the outer city's Guard Camp for training, he usually went to learn medical skills and alchemy from Sun Wanzhen, now being an apprentice at the Imperial Hospital.

"My father-in-law has gone to Anhuai since yesterday. Prince Anhuai is critically ill, and it seems my father-in-law will have to stay in Anhuai for a while." Wang Mingzhe leaned on the pavilion's railing in a relaxed manner and said.

Although this youngster was quite interested in alchemy and medical skills, his lazy nature hadn't changed at all.

Yang Zhenshan opened the clay pot to check on the medicinal paste inside, feeling it was about ready, and prepared to extinguish the fire and start rolling pills.

Just then, Ding Qiu came over with a grave expression, "Marquis, Miss Wanqing encountered an attack at Cangyuan Lake!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhenshan's eyes narrowed, and a cold murderous intent exploded instantly.

Wang Mingzhe also jolted, quickly looking up at Ding Qiu.

"Was she injured?" asked Yang Zhenshan, his voice cold.

"No, they all came back, and she brought back the Commandery Princess of Nanhua!"

"The target of the assassins was the Duke Xing's Princely Heir. The Princely Heir has already gone to the Martial Arts Temple to ask for help!"

Ding Qiu hastily explained.

The murderous aura on Yang Zhenshan dissipated instantly.

"What exactly happened?"

Ding Qiu said, "It is not very clear yet. Miss Wanqing only mentioned these things!"

Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment and said, "You take some people and go check Cangyuan Lake."

"Yes, sir!"

Ding Qiu responded and then hastened away.

"This pot of Nine Treasures Refining Strength Pills is left to you now; I'm going to check on that lass Wanqing!" Yang Zhenshan stood up and said.

"Okay." Wang Mingzhe quickly took over the pot's lid from his hands.