Yuwen Tong and Yuwen Zhi had not really been on intimate terms. Previously, Yuwen Tong, after returning to the capital city, without exception would leave and go back to the border areas within ten days. The whole capital city knew about the sour relationship between him and his uncle.
However, this was the first time that Yuwen Tong had made such explicit remarks in the presence of his uncle. Yuwen Zhi was so angry that he smashed several teacups in a row. He believed that he was a figure of considerable fame and prestige in the capital city, that even the emperor had to show him some respect, but Yuwen Tong had never regarded him as someone to be reckoned with, and this time he had even threatened him to his face!
‘What distinguished Yuwen Tong was merely some battle achievements. If the deceased stubborn old man had not intervened, it would have been me who went to the battlefield, and Yuwen Tong would never have dared to act so cockily in my presence!’ he thought bitterly.
Unlike her husband, Zheng shi was more worried about the undertone contained in Yuwen Tong’s words – he wanted to come back and take the position of the patriarch of Yuwen family!
“I told you that male courtesan’s a master of subterfuge. He hasn’t married into this family yet, but he already successfully fooled Yuwen Tong into coming back to compete for the position of the patriarch. Master, you must not let that male courtesan have his way!” The more Zheng shi thought about it, the more anxious she went.
The look in Yuwen Zhi’s eyes fell even colder as he heard Ling Zhang’s name. ‘This Ling Zhang guy is the cause of all this. If it weren’t for him, none of these things would have happened. He’s not a member of this family yet, but he egged Yuwen Tong on to stay elsewhere instead of coming back home. And now Yuwen Tong even threatened me on Ling Zhang’s account. This Ling Zhang guy is undoubtedly a scourge.’
“I told you under no circumstances would I let him marry into Yuwen family,” replied Yuwen Zhi, a fierce look in his eyes.
Zheng shi felt a sense of relief, tightened her grip on her handkerchief and observed, “This is going far enough. We’ve got to figure out a way to send that Ling Zhang guy back to Tanyang and let my niece take his place.”
Zheng shi’s plan was very simple. She wanted her niece to marry Yuwen Tong. After that, even if Yuwen Tong intended to take the position of the patriarch of Yuwen family, her niece would still be in charge of the inner compound. Given the bond between her and her niece, she would remain the mistress who could do whatever she wanted in Yuwen family, and Yuwen Tong wouldn’t dare to cross her.
Yuwen Feng, after being warned by Yuwen Tong, had just collected himself when he found that his parents had already made a decision and were now consulting with each other about how to force Ling Zhang into returning to Tanyang, which instantly gave him headaches.
“Father, mother, I know what concerns you, but the day will come when my cousin has to go back to the border areas. Even if he marries Ling Zhang, Ling Zhang will be single-handed and helpless after my cousin leaves, and he will definitely choose to stay on good terms with us unless he’s a fool. Moreover, who knows whether or not Ling Zhang will go to the border areas as well? If they leave, this family will remain in your charge. It’s utterly inadvisable for us to offend my cousin in these circumstances.
Father, mother, currently my cousin cares about Ling Zhang very much. As long as we make an overture to Ling Zhang and ease the tension between us, given the personality of my cousin and uncle’s exhortation to him, I’m sure he won’t make things difficult for us ever again.”
Yuwen Feng made an effort to persuade his parents. Yuwen Tong’s warning kept thrusting itself before his mind. This cousin of his had always been a man of his word. Since he had already given them a word of warning, he would definitely take action if they stepped on his bottom line again, but at the same time, it was also in Yuwen Feng’s knowledge that this cousin of his was not the kind of person who would seek revenge for the smallest grievance against their kin or make a promise he could not keep.
“Feng’er, it’s not that I take pleasure in lecturing you, but you are too naive. Anybody can tell a mile off that Ling Zhang is a troublemaker. You’ve seen it yourself – he’s not a member of our family yet, but he sweet-talked your cousin into being so disrespectful to his elders. You think he would leave us an inch of land to stand on if by any chance he really marries your cousin?” Zheng shi felt that her eldest son was having unrealistic expectations.
Yuwen Feng responded, “Mother, my cousin is not the kind of man who’d let affections cloud his judgement. If you humble yourselves and make an overture to Ling Zhang but Ling Zhang refuses to let it go, then my cousin would definitely come to see his true colors, take a dislike to him and leave him without us making any further moves. Wouldn’t we get what we want as well if that’s the case?”
“Elder Brother, have you taken leave of your senses? You want us to humble ourselves and fawn on him? Are you really my elder brother? As far as I can tell, you just want to curry favor with our cousin, which is why you are trying to have us pave the way for you!” Yuwen Qi yelled.
Yuwen Feng took a deep breath. “Shut your mouth!”
‘Yuwen Qi is such an idiot. Does he have brains or not? All I’ve been trying to do is ease the tension between us and Yuwen Tong. Why does Yuwen Qi have to be a moron who cannot understand that falling out with Yuwen Tong in these circumstances wouldn’t do us any good whatsoever?!’ Yuwen Feng thought.
But clearly, he was the only one who saw things this way. There was no circumstance in which his father or mother would humble themselves playing up to Ling Zhang. The very thought of ingratiating himself with that male wife-to-be of Yuwen Tong, to whom he was an elder, just to have Yuwen Tong stop cold-shouldering him made Yuwen Zhi trembling all over with rage. In a flinty tone of voice, he instructed Yuwen Feng, “Enough! There’s no need for you to utter another word about this. I know very well what’s the right thing to do.”
Yuwen Feng still wanted so say anything but eventually swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue in the knowledge that his father wouldn’t be swayed by his persuasion.
…
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong stayed in the residential compound for over two hours. It was almost time for dinner, but no servant had brought them any messages. Clearly the host had no intention of inviting the two of them to have dinner with him.
Seeing Yuwen Tong’s increasingly sullen face, Ling Zhang also flew into a rage. Before he came, he had considered whether he should dismiss some of his grudges, subdue the rest of them and try to get along with Yuwen Zhi and his family. After all, Yuwen Tong didn’t really have many relatives left, and he hated to see the day come when Yuwen Tong came back to the capital city but didn’t even have a relative whom he could dine with, but now he rather suspected that maybe he was too naive.
“Let’s go back to the Ling Mansion,” said Yuwen Tong.
This time Ling Zhang didn’t try to stop him, planning to leave the residential compound of Yuwen family with Yuwen Tong.
“Cousin, Childe Ling!” Yuwen Feng quickly walked up to them and informed them with an apologetic look, “There’s been an accident in the kitchen and the dinner has just been prepared. My father and the others have been waiting for you. Let’s go to the dinning room right now.”
Yuwen Tong flicked him a glance but didn’t move.
“Cousin.” Yuwen Feng let out a sigh and then said to Ling Zhang, “I’m really sorry for what happened earlier this afternoon, Childe Ling. Those remarks of my mother’s were beyond the pale, but it was because she knew little about you and Ling family that she sounded somewhat mean. I’ve already talked some sense into her and I hope you’d forgive her. My younger brother is also a little overbearing. And that’s because my mother spoiled her. You may rest assured that I’ll discipline him myself. I apologize to you for his impertinence.”
Ling Zhang stared at him and suddenly smiled, “You’re being too courteous. I’m not a narrow-minded man.”
On hearing this, Yuwen Feng felt a sense of relief. Then he looked at Yuwen Tong and said in a somewhat beseeching tone of voice, “Cousin, please stay for dinner. It’s been several years since the last time you were home. As a family, we haven’t had a reunion dinner yet.”
Yuwen Tong still stood still. Ling Zhang squeezed his hand, hinting that he should accept the invitation.
Finally, Yuwen Tong spoke, but his words were a refusal. “Tell uncle that I’ll wait for him to think things through.”
After that he took Ling Zhang’s hand and the two of them left.
Yuwen Feng stood for a few moments and then hastened to see them out.
Yuwen Tong didn’t utter a word in the horse-drawn carriage on their trip from the residential compound of Yuwen family to the Ling Mansion. Ling Zhang was aware that he was unhappy, but he didn’t know how to cheer him up. If he were in Yuwen Tong’s shoes, he wouldn’t be happy either.
…
“They left before dark? It seems that the relationship between Yuwen Tong and Yuwen Zhi is just as sour as always, and this time Ling Zhang, a third party, is also involved. Yuwen Zhi cold-shouldered Ling Zhang even at the welcome reception, which was a self-evident inclination that he’s unwilling to welcome Ling Zhang into Yuwen family.”
The King Duan rejoiced after hearing the information obtained by a servant. “From the vantage point of the present, Yuwen Zhi will eliminate Ling Zhang, who’s also our obstacle, for us, which will save us a lot of trouble.”
“If that’s the case, Your Highness, wouldn’t you…” His henchman looked at him, a somewhat weird expression on his face. “Should we prepare a dwelling?”
“Dwelling? For whom?” The King Duan cast a perplexed glance at his henchman.
“Don’t you want to invite Ling Zhang to live here?” asked his henchman.
The King Duan fell speechless.
“What the hell are you talking about? Why would I do that?!”
His henchman was astounded. “You don’t have your eye on him?”
The King Duan gave his henchman a hard kick. “Bullshit! In what universe do I have my eye on him?! I like girls!”
Though having just been kicked, the henchman seemed to feel greatly relieved. “Previously, you instructed me to make some inquiries about Ling Zhang’s personality, likes and dislikes, which was why I mistakenly believed that…”
The King Duan looked at him like an idiot. “You fancy you have a monopoly on wisdom, don’t you? Of course I asked you to inquire about these things for a reason!”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.” His henchman knelt down.
“Did you find anything?” queried the King Duan.
His henchman answered with a guilty conscience, “Things with that servant working in the Ling Mansion haven’t been going smoothly. He’s very discreet. I could hardly worm anything out of him. It’s said that people of the Ling Mansion are planning on recruiting new servants. I’ve been making preparations to plant some men in there to make further inquiries.”
The King Duan’s brow corrugated in a frown. After a few moments’ thinking, he commented, “That’s too slow… Whatever. Do it your way.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” his henchman hurriedly answered.
…
The recruitment of new servants of the Ling Mansion was in Li Sicai’s sole charge. They had not brought many men here from Tanyang, which made it inevitable for them to recruit or buy some new servants.
After some consideration, between recruiting servants and purchasing servants, he had chosen the latter, for a master had the right to kill his servants indentured to lifelong servitude, which made them easier to control and less prone to commit betrayal.
“You want to buy servants? The Ya Market in the west of the city is just the place to go to.” Yue Qi made a recommendation. “There are servants for sale in that place, who have been transferred here from other cities. I’ll go there with you when you have the time.”
Naturally Li Sicai was glad to hear this. “Thank you, Guard Yue.”
“It’s my pleasure. We both want the best for our young master,” Yue Qi responded with a wave of his hand, sounding very generous.
“Butler, young master and the Marshal returned.”
Li Sicai raised his head and looked at the color of the sky to gauge the time. ‘At this hour?’
Yue Qi also slightly furrowed his brow and then went with him.
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong had just returned, both their faces sullen.
Li Sicai walked up to them. “Young Master, Marshal, did everything go smoothly?”
Ling Zhang flicked Yuwen Tong a glance and then said to Li Sicai, “Start preparing dinner.”
Li Sicai’s heart lurched and with that he answered “Yes” and then took his leave.
‘They didn’t even stay there for dinner. Was it because people of Yuwen family did not invite them or something else happened?’ Li Sicai, mind working really fast, had a shrewd idea of what had happened on this day as he made arrangements for servants to prepare dinner.
Meanwhile, Yue Qi went to see Yao Yi and the others, who were watching Xie Shi test Wang Dashan and other security guards one by one to see if anyone of them had medical talent. The testing method was somewhat frightening. Wang Dashan and the others, all of whom were tough hombres, were reduced to cold sweat, watching Xie Shi in horror.
“Guard Xie, wi–will we still be alive after the test?”
