Chapter 101 - Yuwen Qi
Chapter 101: Yuwen Qi
Ling Zhang picked a tea house at random and paid for a quiet private room.
The young man sized up the tea house. Though he didn’t say anything, there was thinly concealed disgust in his eyes.
The reason why Ling Zhang had agreed to have a talk with this man was because he feared that this man might make trouble for Yuwen Tong if he refused, so he ignored the man’s dislike of the tea house, asking, “Who are you exactly? And what is it that you want to talk about with me?”
The young man reluctantly took a seat and, in a very unseemly tone of voice, replied, “You don’t really deserve to know who I am, Ling Zhang. I’ve been observing you for days and as far as I can tell, you’re merely a nondescript childe. It puzzles me exactly what it is that that person sees in you. Your look is just average, and you never stops making trouble. I’ve been in Tanyang for only a couple of days, but I hear people talking about you all around. Is it because one of your family members holds a petty post in Yamen or because that person living in your home that you are so unruly?
“Never mind. I don’t really care what you think. I just want to tell you that there’s no way that you will marry into Yuwen family. That inappreciable favor your family did to Yuwen family back then is utterly unworthy of being repaid with the marriage of a member of Yuwen family. That person is the Supreme Commander of the Great Yue’s armed forces – what kind of family you’re from? I can’t believe you have the nerve to even think about this.
If you insist that that petty favor be returned, Yuwen family is willing to give you a large sum of money and promote your uncle, but that’s all, no more. If you dare to make any further requests, there will be consequences. Needless for me to remind you that Yuwen family is capable of having your family destroyed at a hand’s turn.
This is all I have to say. I’ll give you a moment to think it through.”
With an arrogant face, the young man spoke unceasingly from start to finish, giving Ling Zhang no chance to make any response. He looked at Ling Zhang as if he were looking at a bug, scorn and disgust glinting in his eyes.
Originally, Ling Zhang had worried that this man meant to make trouble for Yuwen Tong, but as he listened, he came to realize what this man’s intention was, his face darkening.
This man had come to Tangyang to warn him not to try to form any bonds with Yuwen family. There was a striking similarity between his attitude and that of those haughty servants of Yuwen family that he met in his last life!
“You’re a member of Yuwen family.”
Hearing this, the young man replied impatiently, “I told you that you don’t deserve to know. Be quick and make a choice, so that I can decide sooner whether I’ll kill you or let you live.”
His threat and disdain were so naked that he sounded as if he were a deity of the utmost superiority who had the right to decide the fate of Ling family.
Angered, Ling Zhang gave a smile. “Who do you think you are to threaten me? You’re cocky, flippant, impertinent, and you fear to state your identity. Even countrymen couldn’t be more ignorant of courtesy than you are. Me spending all this time talking with you has been a waste of time as well as an honor above your station for you.”
After saying this, Ling Zhang rose from his seat and, without casting a single extra glance at that young man, said to Wang Dashan who had been in shock from start to finish, “Let’s go.”
“Stop!” The young man was infuriated by Ling Zhang’s remarks. “Did I give you the permission to leave? How dare you talk to me like that! You’re just a bug. Have you any idea who I am?!”
“No matter who you are, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re vulgar and shallow, so I’m no longer interested in knowing your identity. If you really think you’re capable of putting an end to the engagement between Ling family and Yuwen family, go to Yuwen Tong and have a try. I’ll wait and see.”
Ling Zhang flicked a cold, sideways glance at him and walked towards the doorway with Wang Dashan.
The young man thundered, “How dare you be so unruly!”
He heavily smacked his palm onto the table bouncing a teacup upwards, then gave the teacup a push shooting it squarely towards the back side of Ling Zhang’s head.
“Watch out!” Wang Dashan rapidly landed a punch on the teacup sending it flying to the wall. The cup hit the wall with a smash and shattered into pieces which then dropped to the ground.
Seeing this, that man reprimanded, “You cheap slave dared to block my teacup. I’ll take your worthless life!”
With that he suddenly fished something out of the waist of his clothes and shot it at Wang Dashan.
Ling Zhang, who had gained considerable enhancement of senses recently, promptly detected danger and quickly dragged Wang Dashan aside.
With that the faint sound of something penetrating into the wall behind Wang Dashan was heard. Ling Zhang fixed his eyes on it and found that it was a thin needle half of which had gone into the wall. If this thing had hit any of the vital acupoints of Wang Dashan, he would have died an instantaneous death.
“Stop!”
Ling Zhang howled. ‘This guy’s so callous. He meant to kill because of a mere squabble!’
“To my knowledge, Yuwen Tong had long ago informed His Majesty of his coming to Tanyang to look for his betrothed, so His Majesty is fully aware of this engagement between Yuwen family and Ling family. You have no business judging whether this engagement will continue to exist or not. It’s a right above your station. Now get lost!
If you dare to cause me any harm, I’ll go to the capital city and report it to His Majesty telling him that you people of Yuwen family are ungrateful and intend to go back on your word. As the Supreme Commander of the armed forces of our country, if he’s really so cruel and unscrupulous, he will surely be regarded as a bastard and relieved of his command!”
“What did you just say? How dare you threaten me!” Consumed with rage, the young man heedlessly tried to deal another blow to Ling Zhang.
However, before he could pull out another silver needle from the waist of his clothes, a small stone suddenly shot through the door of the private room and directly hit him on the waist with a snap. It seemed as if one of his bones broke.
“Ouch!” The young man let out a pained cry. “Who dared to hurt me?”
“Hurt you? Nobody would dare to judge me even if I kill you.”
The door of the private room was pushed open and Yuwen Tong walked inside, coldly staring at the young man with his piercing eyes, a flinty look on his face. “Yuwen Qi, I never expected you to be so bold as to hurt my people.”
“Cousin?” Holding his wrist, face ghastly pale, the young man watched Yuwen Tong in amazement. He seemed to be somewhat afraid of Yuwen Tong.
‘Cousin?’ Ling Zhang knitted his eyebrows. ‘This young man is none other than Yuwen Tong’s cousin?’ He remembered that Yuwen Tong had an uncle. This person was the son of his uncle?
He was not a fool. A moment ago, when Yuwen Qi was making those threatening remarks, he had already come to a vague understanding of a lot of matters puzzling him. Now, after some detailed thinking, he had a general idea what was going on. There were indeed someone in Yuwen family objecting to the engagement between him and Yuwen Tong, but that person was not Yuwen Tong but Yuwen Zhi, who was Yuwen Tong’s uncle. And this Yuwen Qi, his cousin, also shared his uncle’s opinion. However, there were still some issues he didn’t quite understand, and he couldn’t drew an immediate conclusion that Yuwen Tong had nothing to do with the attitude that Yuwen family held towards him in his last life. He needed to ask some further questions before he could confirm it.
“Who sent you to Tanyang?” asked Yuwen Tong flintily.
Holding his wrist, Yuwen Qi was fairly afraid to look Yuwen Tong in the face. “I–I came here on my own account.”
Yuwen Tong sneered, “I think it was your father who sent you here, didn’t he? You’ve got some balls interfering in my engagement.”
“Cousin, it’s not that I’m being a busybody trying to interfere in your engagement. This Ling Zhang guy is utterly unworthy of you,” Yuwen Qi observed aloud.
“It’s not your place to lay comment on whether he’s worthy or not. Get your ass back to the capital city right now or else I’ll make you to.”
“Cousin, come back to your senses. Do you know that His Majesty means to marry Her Highness to you? If you don’t stop this madness, how could His Majesty betroth Her Highness to you? You’ll end up becoming the laughing stock of the whole capital city!” Watching Yuwen Tong, Yuwen Qi couldn’t believe what he had just heard. He wondered why his cousin was so insistent on staying in Tanyang with this childe from some obscure family.
“How dare you! Who are you to judge me? Guards! Throw Yuwen Qi out of Tanyang!”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Two guards in black walked inside, grabbed Yuwen Qi’s arms and dragged him towards the doorway.
“Cousin!” Yuwen Qi yelled in alarm. “My hand is injured. You are really going to force me leave Tanyang alone? You promised uncle that you would take care of us. Now you’re going to break your word just because of some impoverished family?”
Yuwen Tong frowned.
“I know you’ve been dealing with Zhang Chong recently. Do you want me to be found by him?!” Yuwen Qi continued yelling.
“Wait,” said Ling Zhang.
Two guards in black stopped and looked back at him.
Ling Zhang observed, “He knows about the issue of Zhang Chong. If by any chance he discloses anything, our plan might be compromised. Let him stay for the moment.”
The two guards immediately loosened their grip on Yuwen Qi.
Yuwen Qi couldn’t believe what he had just seen. His cousin had always been the only person that these guards in black answered to, but surprisingly, on this day, they followed Ling Zhang’s order!
“Then locked him away. Heal him of the injury in his hand. Just don’t let him starve.” Yuwen Tong finally made a decision.
“Yes!” The two guards replied, struck Yuwen Qi’s Dumbness Acupoint, grabbed his arms and forced him out of the room.
Yuwen Qi widened his eyes and tried to speak to Yuwen Tong but couldn’t, struggling all the way.
After Yuwen Qi was taken away, Ling Zhang, who also had a sullen look on his face, turned around with an intention to leave.
Yuwen Tong gripped his arm. “Wait a moment.”
Seeing this, Wang Dashan took the hint, walked outside and closed the door. He still couldn’t believe that Lord Yuwen was actually Yuwen Tong, the Supreme Commander of armed forces, a legendary, undefeated war hero. He felt as if he was dreaming.
In the private room, Ling Zhang darted a dark glance at Yuwen Tong. “Let go of me.”
Yuwen Tong drew Ling Zhang to the front of him and then released his grip. “It was my fault. It has never crossed my mind that they would do this kind of thing. Forget what he just said. Don’t let it bother you.”
“He’s also a member of Yuwen family. Your uncle is against this. You still want to marry me?” Ling Zhang looked at him.
“He has no business to interfere,” replied Yuwen Tong blandly. “He was never the one who calls the shots in Yuwen family.”
“You… Have I not already told you I want to break off our engagement?”
“I never agreed.”
Ling Zhang could feel his heart fluttering. He asked, “If, instead of coming to Tanyang, you had returned to the capital city, how long would you have intended to stay there?”
“Why do you want to know this?” Yuwen Tong was confused.
“Just answer the question.”
“It wouldn’t have been longer than ten days.”
“Didn’t you say that His Majesty was not going to let you leave the capital city easily this time?”
“I also said that he wouldn’t be able to stop me. If anything happens in the northwest, he will be scared to death. You think he dares to have me stay?”
Ling Zhang’s heart was hammering in his chest, but he was in a very sober state of mind.
He remembered Yuwen Tong had once told him that he had been completely unaware of the engagement between them all along. If Yuwen Tong had never met the butler in his last life, would he have stayed unaware of it? Yuwen Tong had left the capital city immediately after reporting on his work, which meant that he wasn’t in the capital city when news spread there from Tanyang. It was Yuwen Zhi, Yuwen Tong’s uncle, who had gone back on his word.