After Breaking the Marriage Contract, I Became the Strongest State-Stabilizing Duke! - Chapter 9:

Chapter 9: Bestowed the Title of State-Stabilizing Duke, the Spineless Lu Family

After reading the Imperial Decree, Grand Steward Cao smiled at Mu Zian and said, “From now on, we can’t call you Young Master Mu anymore; you should be addressed as Duke Mu. Congratulations, congratulations.”

Mu Zian accepted the decree with a smile and replied, “Grand Steward Cao, you’re too kind.”

Then, Grand Steward Cao turned arrogantly toward the Lu family, still kneeling on the ground, and sneered coldly, “Some people really have hearts higher than the heavens but eyes as shallow as puddles. Little Duke, you must be more careful in the future—don’t let any stray cats or dogs cling to you.”

His words rubbed the Lu family’s faces hard against the dirt.

Lu Yunxue felt her chest tighten painfully.

“If there’s nothing else, Duke Mu, we will return to the palace to report back.”

With that, Grand Steward Cao waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards withdrew in an orderly fashion.

Commander Shen Congwu stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Mu Zian, and said softly, “I underestimated Duke Mu that day. I will personally come to apologize in the future and hope to have more opportunities to spar with Duke Mu. Farewell!”

With his head held high, Shen Congwu walked past Lu Yunxue without even glancing at her or the rest of the Lu family.

When Grand Steward Cao and his party left, the Lu residence fell into a dead silence.

Zhao Dahu sneered at the Lu family’s Matron and said, “Old hag! Why aren’t you shouting now? You love bullying others, don’t you? Love being shameless, huh? Go on, try it now in front of our Little Duke!”

The Matron’s face turned purple with anger but she dared not speak a word. Mu Zian had now been restored to the title of State-Stabilizing Duke—one man below ten thousand others, second only to the Emperor. The Lu family was not qualified to provoke such a man.

Mu Zian’s expression was calm as he said indifferently, “Where is it?”

The Matron hurriedly got up, her face full of flattery. “Duke Mu, I admit my tone was a bit loud earlier. Please don’t mind it. It’s just a bow, right? I’ll have it brought to you right away.”

Mu Zian crossed his arms, a playful smile on his face as he swept his gaze over them.

“Do I still need to pay 300,000 taels? Do I still need to plead on your behalf? Do I still have to fund the construction of your Heroine Marquis’ residence?”

Three questions in a row, and the Matron broke out in a cold sweat.

“No, no, no! How could we dare trouble Duke Mu! Just consider what I said earlier as… wind.”

Their arrogance from moments ago had completely evaporated.

For people this shameless, kindness only emboldened them.

Back then, Mu Zian had done everything he could to support the Lu family, giving them countless silver and resources, only to receive cold stares and disdain. Now that he was wielding power again, he didn’t mind trampling them down.

In mere moments, the Lu family delivered the Heaven-Quaking Bow to Mu Zian.

Their efficiency had increased tenfold.

As soon as Mu Zian received the Heaven-Quaking Bow, he immediately sensed its extraordinary nature. The bow was black as ink, exuding a faint, chilling aura. How much blood had this bow seen on the battlefield?

Lu Yunxue sneered internally. Yes, it was a top-tier bow, but it was also impossible to draw. She had once summoned five elite military archers and only barely managed to pull it half-drawn after a full month’s effort.

To someone like Mu Zian, who was once a weak scholar, this bow was little more than a decoration—he could never hope to use it on the battlefield.

But just as she was about to mock him, Mu Zian casually held the bow in one hand and pulled the string with the other.

In the next instant, he effortlessly drew the Heaven-Quaking Bow into a full moon!

Lu Yunxue stood there, dumbfounded, feeling like she was in a dream.

With a twang, Mu Zian released the bowstring. The sheer force of the sonic boom pushed Lu Yunxue back three steps.

Even an empty draw unleashed overwhelming force.

Mu Zian nodded in satisfaction, then turned and walked toward the door with Zhao Dahu.

When he passed by Lu Yunxue, he paused.

“Over the past three years, your Lu family used five million taels of silver from the State-Stabilizing Duke’s estate. I’ll give you three days. Gather the money and deliver it, every coin, to the Duke’s residence. If I don’t see the silver in three days, the Lu family will have no reason to exist.”

With that, Mu Zian’s figure disappeared from Lu Yunxue’s view.

Only now did Lu Yunxue feel like she had woken from a dream.

Mu Zian’s cold, emotionless voice echoed in her ears. She understood he wasn’t joking.

“Mu Zian is pushing us too far! Five million taels! Even if we sell the entire Lu family, we couldn’t come up with that!”

The Lu family’s Matron collapsed to the ground, wailing and pounding her chest.

Lu Ming, dragging his broken leg, hurried over.

“My dear sister! You know Mu Zian still has feelings for you. Please go and coax him, beg him. There’s no way we can gather five million taels!”

The Matron pointed at Lu Yunxue and cursed, “You must have been kicked in the head by a donkey! You abandoned a good marriage with the State-Stabilizing Duke’s heir to chase after some stinking soldier! Now look what you’ve done—ruined the future of our Lu family! How can I face our ancestors when I die?”

“I don’t care! This mess is your doing! Our Lu family won’t pay a single tael of that five million—you must handle it!”

“And your brother’s apprenticeship—don’t forget the martial examination is approaching fast. If you can’t fix this, don’t ever call yourself a member of the Lu family again!”

But Lu Yunxue couldn’t hear them anymore.

Mu Zian’s cold attitude just now had almost driven her mad!

Why? She was the chosen one, the pride of heaven!

Why could Mu Zian treat her with such disdain?

Lu Yunxue was fuming with rage.

…

Outside the gate of the State-Stabilizing Duke’s residence, Mu Zian stood still, feeling like a lifetime had passed.

Memories flashed through his mind.

With a creak, Zhao Dahu stepped forward and pushed open the gate that had been sealed for three years.

Inside, there was not a single weed in sight. The carved beams, painted rafters, and flying eaves were all as splendid as ever, as if the past three years of abandonment had never happened.

Just then, a horn sounded from the far end of the street.

Soon after, a neat, synchronized marching sound grew closer.

The metallic clatter of armor rubbing together followed.

Mu Zian looked toward the sound. In the setting sun, a troop of soldiers clad in heavy armor, carrying weapons, marched toward him with overwhelming momentum like a military parade.

At the very front, several armored soldiers carried a massive gilded plaque.

On it were four glittering golden characters:

“State-Stabilizing Duke’s Residence”

At the bottom corner, there was a bold, red seal with eight characters:

“Mandated by Heaven, Blessed with Eternal Prosperity”

A plaque carried by soldiers, sealed with the Imperial Jade Seal!

In the entire Great Li Empire, only one person could receive such an honor.

The State-Stabilizing Duke—Mu Zian!