The torrential rain was about to cease, but the sky remained drearily overcast. The courtyard had flooded deeply, with the personal guards busy draining the water. This year's rainy season was especially long, causing severe flooding along the Bei River.
Fang Chuning and Xie Jue were playing a game of chess when a rowdy troop arrived outside the mansion. They barged in aggressively, bypassing Zhou Buyan's attempts to stop them. He followed them in a panic, pleading all the way.
General Chen Ming had already stormed inside. Fang Chuning squinted his eyes slightly, throwing off the cloak draped over him. The agitation triggered his chronic cough again. Xie Jue frowned and pressed him down, saying, "Let me handle this."
"Don't even think about it!" Fang Chuning grabbed his wrist, firmly pinning him back onto the warm couch with unrelenting authority. "You hide in the secret chamber; I'll deal with him."
