The Glory After Rebirth [ɇÇ”Ÿä¹‹Å°Šè£] Chapter 259- 261

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Chapter 259: I’m Getting Greedier

A chuckle issued from above his head. Yuwen Tong, holding him, watched him sleeping soundly in his embrace, a smile in his eyes. Feeling Ling Zhang’s subconscious trust in and dependence on him, Yuwen Tong inwardly breathed a sentimental sigh of both satisfaction and dissatisfaction. He was contented because Ling Zhang was right in his arms and belonged to him, and his heart was brimming over with affection for him; he was discontented because even though he was so happy now, he still wanted more. Hugging was not enough, and making out wasn’t enough either; maybe only by merging into his lover and becoming one with him would he feel contentment.

“I’m getting greedier,” sighed Yuwen Tong softly. His voice was tinged with amusement, but his eyes were filled with intense possessiveness.

The next morning, Ling Zhang woke up and found himself in the embrace of Yuwen Tong who was still asleep. He just slightly moved. And then Yuwen Tong awoke as well, and spontaneously started kissing Ling Zhang. It was quite a while before their lips parted.

“When did you return?” Though having been awake for a brief instant the night before, Ling Zhang couldn’t remember anything.

“Last night, when you were asleep.” Yuwen Tong fingered Ling Zhang’s hairs, revealing his forehead, his eyes gleaming gently. “Originally I’d thought that I’d have a sleepless night lying in bed alone. Fortunately I made it back.”

The night before, as Ling Zhang had been in a familiar bed in a familiar house which was full of Yuwen Tong’s smell, he’d had no difficulty sleeping. He said, “I hereby grant you permission to take my quilt with you when you go elsewhere.”

“Why would I bring a quilt when I could bring you?”

‘Humph, there will be occasions when you have to travel alone,’ thought Ling Zhang.

“When will you meet the captain of that Fangcun trading fleet?”

“This morning. I need to get up now.”

Together, Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang got out of bed, washed their faces, rinsed their mouths and changed clothes. Then the former said, “I had someone find me an interpreter of the State Ceremonials Department. He should be here in a while. Bring him with you. I’m sure he’s more reliable than anyone you could hire.”

Ling Zhang nodded. Wang Qing probably had already hired someone, and it’d be inappropriate to dismiss that person without giving him a proper explanation, so he needed to set off ahead of schedule.

“How’s your negotiation with them?”

“They agreed. They and I will divide up family property and live apart after our wedding.”

Yuwen Tong sounded very casual, but Ling Zhang knew the process must be quite tiring. Given that Yuwen Zhi had broken Yuwen Qi’s legs to avoid being disowned, convincing him had definitely taken a lot of doing.

“What are his conditions?”

“Half of the family property.”

“You agreed?”

“Money is just a worldly possession. Besides, the most valuable asset of the Yuwen family is the book chamber my grandfather left me. Everything else is secondary.”

“He’s also getting half of what’s in the book chamber?”

“He wanted to, but of course I disagreed.”

Ling Zhang felt a slight sense of relief. This was good news.

“There’s no need for you to worry about this issue. Actually the Yuwen family doesn’t really have many assets. Many estates and businesses are under my name and don’t count as family property. He doesn’t know about the existence of any of these and would never be able to get any of them.”

This meant that in Yuwen Tong’s eyes, what Yuwen Zhi was bargaining for was nothing. But in order to prevent Yuwen Zhi from becoming suspicious, Yuwen Tong hadn’t accepted this condition right away, planning to have Yuwen Zhi wait in torment for some time and go there again on this day to close the deal.

But Ling Zhang was still fairly worried. “Previously he’d broken his son’s legs to avoid this. How is it possible to have him consent to it by giving him merely half of the family property?”

“For him, half of the family property is a large sum of money. Most importantly, before negotiating with him, I’d visited the imperial palace and talked to the emperor about the issue, and he gave his consent.”

Ling Zhang started, his eyes instantly going cold. The emperor’s giving his consent was the worst-case scenario in his mind. It meant that the emperor would never let Yuwen Tong go back to the north-west. Ling Zhang could even foretell that the emperor’s next move was to relieve Yuwen Tong of his command.

“What should we do? You can’t go to the north-west now and have to stay in this dangerous city, all because you want to marry me.” Ling Zhang felt a sudden twinge of sorrow. He actually began to regret. Compared with a marriage with Yuwen Tong, he cared more about Yuwen Tong’s life.

Yuwen Tong, taken aback by the sudden plunge of Ling Zhang’s spirits, hurriedly stepped up and gave him a hug, a warm feeling flooding over him in waves. “Don’t be afraid. Who said we couldn’t go to the north-west?”

“How are you supposed to go there? The emperor won’t agree, and neither will any of the courtiers. And defiance of the emperor is a capital offence.” Ling Zhang gripped Yuwen Tong’s sleeves.

“Don’t worry. I have a plan. All you have to do is focus on preparing for our wedding. I guarantee you we’ll go to the north-west. All troops there are waiting to give their Marshal’s wife a welcome.”

Yuwen Tong sounded confident and unhurried and didn’t seem to be telling a lie. Besides, Yuwen Tong was never the kind of person who’d make a promise he couldn’t keep.

Ling Zhang couldn’t help asking him, “What kind of plan do you have?”

“I mean it to be a surprise for you, and I don’t want to spoil it,” said Yuwen Tong with a smiling face, giving Ling Zhang’s nose a playful scratch.

Ling Zhang looked at him in confusion. Even a matter like this was meant to be a surprise for him? Was it because something confidential, complex and hard to explain was involved in this issue that Yuwen Tong was unwilling to tell him on this occasion?

“Then I wait for this pleasant surprise to come. Don’t you be dishonest with me on this. Otherwise I’ll have to die with you.”

Yuwen Tong’s smile faded. He didn’t want to hear the word “die” from Ling Zhang’s mouth. The prospect of losing Ling Zhang some day brought fury of murderousness surging inside him. “I’ll never let that happen.”

Ling Zhang believed Yuwen Tong would keep his promise, though he was deeply concerned. If worst came to worst, he would figure out a way to keep the two of them alive, whatever the cost might be. It was true that the capital city was like a prisoner’s cage for them, but it wasn’t necessarily impossible for them to escape.

With this in mind, Ling Zhang said, “I’ll go and have a meeting with the captain of that Fangcun fleet right now. And I’ll do my best to have him agree to sell us all his shipments of that kind of herbs as soon as possible.”

“Okay.”

Ling Zhang had just finished his breakfast when the interpreter of the State Ceremonials Department arrived. He planned to take this person to the trading center in the west of the city to rendezvous with Wang Qing first and then go to the Four Seas Inn.

Yuwen Tong, after seeing Ling Zhang leave in a horse-drawn carriage, returned to the residence, a different expression on his face, gazing icily in the direction of the imperial palace.

The emperor was not the only one who disliked people posing a threat to his life. He, Yuwen Tong, shared in the emperor’s dislike.

His sounding out the emperor’s attitude the day before would be the last time he’d considered showing mercy on the emperor. By having no gratitude whatsoever for his service, the emperor was inviting his own doom.

At noon, Ling Zhang walked out of the Four Seas Inn with his men. He and Luo Sang had agreed on the details of the deal and decided to build a partnership. The next time Luo Sang’s fleet came to the Great Yue, they would sell Ling Zhang half of their shipment of that kind of herbs. They’d have to reserve the other half because they’d promised to sell it to another customer before their first voyage to the Great Yue this year. Ling Zhang would have to wait until the next year to get a whole shipment of that kind of precious herbs brought by Luo Sang’s trading fleet.

The last part of the negotiation had been between Ling Zhang and Luo Sang, and nobody else knew what it’d been about.

To Ling Zhang’s surprise, Luo Sang was a bold and forthright man who tended to do business in a brisk and neat fashion. The two of them had hit it off straight away, which neither of them had expected. Luo Sang had also offered him a five percent discount of his own accord, which had saved Ling Zhang a lot of effort.

Ling Zhang liked Luo Sang very much and had had a very long talk with him, most of which had been about the Fangcun Kingdom and other rare herbs peculiar to it. Luo Sang had also asked about the herb farms in Tanyang and said that he wanted to trade directly with Ling Zhang the next time he came to the Great Yue, for medicinal herbs were quite plentiful in Tanyang.

According to one of the tentative terms of Ling Zhang’s agreement with him, the next time Luo Sang came, he and his men would split into two groups. One group would go to the capital city, and the other, which would be headed by Luo Sang himself, to Tanyang.

After the negotiations with Luo Sang, Ling Zhang treated the interpreter to lunch, gave him a signed check and then saw him off. The interpreter, feeling overwhelmingly flattered, left in a good mood.

Ever since Yuwen Tong had told him in the morning that the emperor’s consent to him and his uncle breaking up the Yuwen family, Ling Zhang had been highly wary of everybody, especially officials in the capital city.

But it hadn’t occurred to him that Yuwen Tong would never assign him anybody not utterly trustworthy, so the interpreter, after returning home, secretly had someone deliver a message to Yuwen Tong, filling him in on the negotiation in the Four Seas Inn and also telling him that Ling Zhang had had him stay out of the last part of it.

Yuwen Tong, in the knowledge that Ling Zhang had done that because he didn’t have absolute trust in the interpreter, gave a smile, feeling very happy.

“The Marshal has returned to the residential compound of Yuwen family, Young Master. He wanted me to tell you that he’d be staying there for a couple of days. The Marshal’s granduncle and his family have temporarily moved into the Yuwen family as well. They’ve started making preparations for the wedding. The Marshal said that it’d take several days to make arrangements for dowries to be delivered to Tanyang, so he wouldn’t be able to go back to the manor with you,” said Xia Feng.

Ling Zhang felt both rather embarrassed and somewhat regretful after hearing this.

Given that Yuwen Tong had to handle the inventory of the Yuwen family’s assets to get ready for his separation from Yuwen Zhi, and prepare the dowries at the same time, he would probably be fully occupied for half a month or so.

And about the dowries… If truth be told, he was really quite curious as to what kind of dowries the Yuwen family would send the Ling family. Pity it was inconvenient for him to ask about it.

“Have someone send a reply to him. Tell him that I got the message, and I’ll be staying in the new manor with my grandfather, waiting for him to get everything handled.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Wait. Are there any rumors about the breaking up of the Yuwen family or something like that going around in the city today?”

Xia Feng shook his head. “No, but it’s come to the knowledge of many that the Marshal’s granduncle, along with his sons and daughter-in-laws, have moved into the residential compound of Yuwen family. Also, a limited number of people have got wind of the Yuwen family’s preparing dowries. News of it would probably spread through the whole city very soon.”

Ling Zhang inclined his head. It seemed that before the wedding, there wouldn’t be any news about Yuwen Tong’s separation from his uncle.

“After I leave, send word out that I’m no longer in the Ling Mansion. Inform Brother Tao, the Ji family, the Zhao family, the Xun family and the Xie family of it as well lest they have trouble finding me when they need to talk to me about something.”

“Yes, Young Master. This morning I’ve personally delivered the gifts for the Ji family to Childe Ji. He wanted me to tell you that his grandfather is indeed ill with anger. Although it’s not serious, he still has to stay at home, tending him and keeping him company, so he has also asked the college for leave of absence and been granted, and he wouldn’t be able to have another party with you and your common friends.”

“I see. Keep watch on the development of the situation in the residential compound of the Zhongxin Marquess. Report to me immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Ling Zhang exhaled deeply, feeling that the capital city was in a lull before the storm. Although currently there was a semblance of peace, it wouldn’t be long before it was torn by fierce disturbances, which would then escalate into upheavals, and nobody in this city would be able to remain unaffected by them.

Chapter 260: Bagged into a Sack

Ling Zhang, “…”

Yuwen Tong was such a double-dealer. Yesterday he’d said that he wouldn’t take the quilt away, but now it seemed that he’d done it anyway.

At this moment, in the residential compound of the Yuwen family, on the bed of Yuwen Tong who was the eldest son of the former patriarch and also a marshal lay a thin, neatly folded quilt.

As Yuwen You and his family moved into the residential compound of the Yuwen family, the houses near the former patriarch’s abode, which had stood empty for many years, finally witnessed their original occupants’ return. It had been a long time since the last time this place had been so lively.

Yao Yi had changed into another outfit. Dressed like a butler, he was busy dealing with all kinds of matters.

Yuwen Tong summoned Yao Yi and instructed, “Go ask Zhao Fugui some questions tonight and find out what my uncle’s branch of the family have been up to recently.”

Yao Yi gave a nod, turned around and went to make arrangements.

Yuwen You, followed by Yuwen Chi and Yuwen Si, walked inside. Yuwen Tong rose to his feet to welcome them and then closed the doors. Nobody knew what their talk was about, and there was no other trace of it apart from the suggestion of shock remaining on Yuwen You’s face when he walked out of the house with his two sons in his wake.

At this time, Ling Zhang, taking Wang Dashan and other security guards with him, had exited the city, heading for the manor.

He was pondering over something, which he previously hadn’t had time to think about owing to some more important matters.

Yuwen Zhi had agreed to Yuwen Tong’s separation from him because he’d come to understand why the emperor had given his consent, realizing that the emperor was going to try to dispose of Yuwen Tong, so he wanted to stay out of it. This kind of conduct struck Ling Zhang as very disgusting. He could bear himself being bullied, but he couldn’t tolerate anybody taking advantage of Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang suddenly reined in his horse and stopped halfway along the journey.

Wang Dashan hurriedly asked, “What’s the matter, Young Master?”

“Go make some inquiries about Yuwen Zhi’s branch of the Yuwen family. I want to know when they usually leave home, where they ordinarily go to and how long they typically stay.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Wang Dashan, without asking any further questions, put Liu Yi in charge of the escort and then returned to the city to perform the task Ling Zhang had just assigned him.

Five days later, Yuwen Tong was still occupied and hadn’t come to the manor, but Ling Zhang received a message saying that Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi would leave home the next day.

“They are going to check a couple of large stores and a private bank.” Wang Dashan also told Ling Zhang exactly where Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi were going.

Ling Zhang face went cold. “Good. They’ll be my first two punching bags.”

Yuwen Zhi had been following a surprisingly fixed daily schedule, either at home or in the imperial court, which was why Ling Zhang had hitherto never got a chance to do anything to him.

The next morning. In a courtyard house of Yuwen Zhi’s branch of the Yuwen family in the capital city.

Zheng shi and Su Yaoyao, along with Yuwen Qi sitting in a wheelchair, were going out to get some fresh air, their faces tinged with contentment. They planned to drop into the couple of large stores and an unnaturally profitable private bank. Of all the businesses of the Yuwen family, this private bank was the most lucrative one, the branches of which could be found in almost every city in the north-east of the Great Yue. A couple of days ago, Yuwen Tong had suddenly demanded he and Yuwen Zhi divide up family property and live apart, and also showed them a handwritten imperial edict. Zheng shi had almost died with anger. Not long ago Yuwen Zhi had broken Yuwen Qi’s legs to prevent this from happening, but now Yuwen Tong had shown up again, trying to have the Yuwen family broken up with a handwritten imperial edict – wasn’t Yuwen Tong bullying them? But unexpectedly, Yuwen Tong had retorted, “Aunt, you know exactly who started those rumors about the Ling’s Drugstore a few days ago and also gave Su Zhi the orders that eventually led to his death, don’t you? You broke the agreement first, and even His Majesty was alarmed. Shouldn’t you feel happy that I’m granting your wish today?”

Zheng shi had been sent speechless.

“You want us to agree to break up the family? Okay! Give us half of the family property and you’ll get our consent!”

Zheng shi had demanded an exorbitant price. In the realization that breaking up the family was unavoidable, she had insisted on half of the family property, but to her surprise, Yuwen Tong had actually agreed. He’d even been okay with her taking away that private bank which was the most profitable business of the Yuwen family, and he had only one condition for that – they must not disclose anything about it before the wedding, or else he would take back the private bank. Naturally, for the sake of the private bank, Zheng shi had accepted that condition.

“First Yuwen Tong fell out with us for that male courtesan, and now he even agreed to give up the private bank. I think sooner or later the Yuwen family is going to meet its end because of him. We’ll be better off without him, and we’ll never again have to gauge his mood before speaking. Your father should have consented when Yuwen Tong suggested they break up the family that day–”

“Don’t mention him.” Yuwen Qi’s face instantly went icy at the mention of Yuwen Zhi.

Zheng shi hurriedly coaxed, “Okay, okay. I won’t mention him again.”

“Here we are. Let’s go inside and take a look. This private bank will soon be ours, and we’ll never have to worry about anything with all this money. Your brother is now the Assistant Minister of Rites and attends court meetings. In a couple of years, when he gets promoted to Minister of Rites, everybody would be cottoning to us, even though we’ve separated from Yuwen Tong.”

However, Yuwen Qi still had a sullen look on his face, gripping the armrests of the wheelchair.

Their horse-drawn carriage came to a halt in front of the private bank. Yuwen Qi in a wheelchair was pushed off the carriage along a ramp. The bank manager, along with some staff members, had been waiting for them in the doorway.

“Mistress, Childe Qi, this way please.”

Zheng shi raised her chin and glanced around the private bank, both her heart and her face full of complacency.

Yuwen Qi’s face also slightly softened at the sight of the private bank.

Su Yaoyao was tightly grasping a bar fixed on the back of the wheelchair Yuwen Qi was sitting in. After her father’s death, her mother had told her that she must fawn on her aunt and cousin so that she wouldn’t have to worry about money in the future. This private bank would soon belong to her aunt and cousin. If she married her cousin, she would be an owner of it as well!

The three of them had their respective facial expressions, but it was manifest that they were all excited and self-satisfied.

The bank manager stole a glance at them and then lowered his eyes. When he lifted his eyes again, his face had taken on a sycophantic look, lifting Zheng shi’s and Yuwen Qi’s spirits considerably.

Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi, who had already regarded themselves as owners of this private bank, directly asked the president to show them the account books.

The bank manager agreed and personally led them to a chamber to check the account books. Zheng shi appeared very smug. It seemed that Yuwen Tong had been telling the truth. Staff members of this bank had been informed of these matters. She added, “I want you to deliver the account book to me every five days.”

“Yes, Mistress,” answered the bank manager obediently.

Zheng shi became even more complacent. The look in Yuwen Qi’s eyes flickered. “Mother, tell them I’d like to have a look at the account books as well.”

Zheng shi smiled, “No problem. You’ll see all of them.”

Yuwen Qi gave a sneer after hearing this.

Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi stayed in the private bank for half a day. The bank manager and some staff members reverently saw them off.

Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi were bloated with pride owing to staff members’ flattery. After their carriage drove far away, the bank manager straightened himself and took the couple of trusted subordinates of his back into the bank.

“Chief, it seems that Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi didn’t find any flaws in the account books.”

“If those two clods could find a flaw, the sun will rise in the west. It’s not them but Yuwen Zhi and Yuwen Feng that we should be wary of. These two are the smart ones.”

“Then–”

“Don’t worry. Even Yuwen Zhi and Yuwen Feng wouldn’t be able to find any flaws in the account books forged by Master Six himself. All you have to do is make sure none of them see through it during the next half a year and finish the task assigned by the Marshal without loose ends.”

“You may rest assured that we will, Chief.”

After saying this, the bank manager sighed, “It’s been so many years, and things have still come to this, but it’s definitely a good thing that the Marshal is getting married.”

“Chief, do we have your permission to send the Marshal a great present?”

“Sure. Why not? But… you’ll have to wait until the Marshal and Childe Ling get married to do that lest anybody of Yuwen Zhi’s branch of the family becomes suspicious.”

“Yes, Chief.”

When the carriage of Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi drove to a quiet spot, a group of men in black suddenly stopped it.

“Who are you? And what do you want? Do you know that this carriage belongs to the Yuwen family? You’re flirting with death!” raged the carriage-driver. Eight guards escorting the carriage immediately clustered around it, eyeing vigilantly the bunch of men in black that had suddenly come out of nowhere.

“People of the Yuwen family are exactly the targets we’ve been looking for. We kick their asses every time we lay eyes on them. Do it, boys!”

“This is outrageous!”

“Bah!”

It was very noisy outside and after a while they seemed to start fighting. Zheng shi was startled. Yuwen Qi had a sulky look on his face. Su Yaoyao kept flinching in horror.

“Identify yourselves! What do you think you’re doing? How dare you stop a carriage of the Yuwen family! All of you will be beheaded for this!” yelled Zheng shi’s handmaid harshly, raising the carriage curtain after summoning up her courage.

“Not if I have you beheaded first!”

Those men in black were quite good at kung fu, and the guards were no match for them at all. Yuwen Qi wanted to help but couldn’t move, his face livid with rage.

Zheng shi’s handmaid kept cursing and threatening them but it was no good. All guards had been downed, lying on the ground this way and that. The carriage-driver had been knocked out some time ago.

“Drag them out of the carriage.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t you dare! Let go of me! Let go of me! Help, Mistress!”

The handmaid shouted in vain for help and was dragged out off the carriage. Those men in black, who seemed to have no tenderness whatsoever toward women, heavily threw her to the ground, leaving her wailing in pain.

Zheng shi didn’t dare go out of the carriage. Yuwen Qi was unable to stand up. Su Yaoyao was terribly frightened.

“Who on earth are you people? How dare you do this to the Yuwen family! Even if you manage to escape from here, I will have you tracked down, and I’ll torture every one of you so hard you’ll beg me to kill you. You’d better flee right now!”

Unable to stand up, Yuwen Qi had no choice but to make threats.

“Oh, you think the words ‘Yuwen family’ are so intimidating, don’t you? Let me tell you something – even Yuwen Tong himself doesn’t scare us. Today we specially came here to settle a score with the Yuwen family. Don’t just stand there, boys. Drag all of them out of the carriage. You may do whatever you want to them as long as none of them die.”

“Yes!”

Soon the carriage curtain was raised and Yuwen Qi was dragged out to Zheng shi’ and Su Yaoyao’s shriek. And before long the latter two were also drawn out off the carriage. All these men in black were wearing masks concealing their faces. Yuwen Qi was put into a sack immediately after being dragged off the carriage.

“Get your hands off my son, you ruffians! I’m the Mistress of the Yuwen family. I’ll have all your family members executed if you dare hurt us!”

“Bah! Since you’re so cocky, I’ll start with you.”

“Ah!”

Zheng shi was slapped hard across the face and let out a pained screech, her cheek swelling up immediately.

Yuwen Qi had received several kicks and punches. Su Yaoyao, screaming hysterically, was probably the only one who had come to no harm so far.

It was her very squeal that caught some residents’ attention.

“Enough. Someone’s coming. Let’s get out of here.”

In the blink of an eye, all men in black disappeared without any trace, leaving Zheng shi, Yuwen Qi and the others bruised and furious.

Chapter 261: I Hunger for Your Compliment, Young Master

At this time. In a house of Yuwen Zhi’s branch of the family.

“I don’t know who those damn thugs are. When I find out, I swear I’ll have them hacked to pieces!” spat Zheng shi tearfully to Yuwen Zhi, groaning, massaging her swollen cheek. “Master, you must help us get justice.”

Yuwen Zhi had a scowl on his face. “Did they say why they wanted to beat you?”

“No. They attacked us on sight, blustering that they’d beat every member of our family that they lay eyes on. They’re absolutely lawless!” wailed Zheng shi in tears, and then something seemed to occur to her. “We’ve never offended anybody. It must be Yuwen Tong, that ungrateful bastard, who caused offence to someone and subjected us to this attack. Master, you must get justice for us. Yuwen Tong has got to give us an extra share of the family property as compensation. Look how badly bruised Qi’er is!”

Yuwen Zhi rose to his feet making towards the door. Yuwen Feng, remaining in his seat, asked Zheng shi, “Mother, did those men in black say anything else?”

“No. Those goddamn scoundrels were utterly unruly!” replied Zheng shi resentfully.

Although Yuwen Feng disliked the way his mother usually did things, it didn’t change the fact that she was his mother, so he walked up and consoled her.

He was not optimistic about this matter. His mother believed that his cousin had been the cause of this attack, but he felt that didn’t seem to be the case, that it was likelier those people had been directly targeting them, members of his father’s branch of the Yuwen family. And it was almost certain that his father wouldn’t be able to get any justice had he gone to talk to Yuwen Tong right now.

Who was working against the second branch of the Yuwen family exactly?

This issue gave Yuwen Feng severe headaches. A few days ago, his cousin had suddenly demanded he and his father divide up the family property and live apart. He had raised an objection to it. If they and his cousin went their separate ways, the Yuwen family would never be whole again. Given that his cousin never took action without a high degree of confidence that he would succeed, the reason why he, fully aware of what the emperor’s consent to their breaking up the Yuwen family meant, had made that decision anyway was undoubtedly because he was fully prepared for every eventuality. It was a pity that his mother had stopped asking questions after hearing that she was going to get half of the family property. And then there was his father… What on earth was Father thinking about? These days he kept feeling that his father’s behavior was rather abnormal. First he’d been laying low all along after being pressured into breaking his youngest son’s legs, as if really afraid that Yuwen Tong would disown them, and now, after hearing Yuwen Tong say that the emperor had consented to their breaking up the family, he had seemed to be bursting to separate from Yuwen Tong, as if fearing very much that he might be incriminated. He knew his father too well to believe that his father had chosen to swallow such humiliations. What had he failed to notice exactly?

BANG!

“Get out! Get out of my sight!”

A smash came from inside Yuwen Qi’s room, closely followed by Yuwen Qi’s angry voice telling the handmaids to leave.

Yuwen Feng knitted his eyebrows, but Zheng shi had already hurried to the doorway. “Qi’er, it’s Mother. What’s the matter?”

“Leave me alone!” thundered Yuwen Qi’s voice, not even allowing Zheng shi to enter.

“Qi’er, be careful not to hurt yourself. You’re scaring me,” called Zheng shi in the doorway.

After a long silence, Yuwen Qi replied, “I’m fine. Don’t come in.”

Zheng shi, for fear of antagonizing Yuwen Qi further, didn’t dare get inside, summoned the handmaids and queried, “What happened? Why aren’t you doing your job properly? Do you still value your pathetic lives? You want me to have you chopped into pieces and fed to the dogs?”

“Please have mercy on us, Mistress. We just wanted to change Second Young Master’s dressing. Second Young Master… Second Young Master wouldn’t let us touch him…”

“It must be because you pariahs felt him up. Guards, drag them away. They’re to be sold to the brothel!”

“Please don’t, Mistress! Have mercy on us. We really didn’t grope Second Young Master. He’s unwilling to let us help.”

Half a dozen handmaids were reduced to kowtowing repeatedly to Zheng shi by her words, looking panic-stricken, begging Zheng shi to change her mind, but Zheng shi was determined to vent her anger on them and refused to listen. Yuwen Feng interceded with her on behalf of them, but his words had exactly the opposite effect, angering Zheng shi further. Soon the six handmaids were dragged away.

Yuwen Feng felt a sense of resignation but knew better than to make another attempt. His mother, believing that he should have talked his father out of breaking his brother’s legs that day, had been holding a grudge against him all along, giving him the cold shoulder on various occasions. Eventually, Yuwen Feng clenched his teeth, turned around and walked away. Comparing with his brother’s throwing a tantrum, the matter of his cousin was of much greater importance. He hoped to dissuade his cousin from separating the two branches of the Yuwen family.

A group of people furtively exited the city.

“How did it go? Any of you get exposed?”

“Don’t worry, Brother Wang. We were all very careful. Nobody saw us.”

“That’s good. Let’s go back to the manor straight away. Young Master must’ve got anxious for waiting.”

Halfway along the journey, someone said, “Back there in the alley, who said ‘Even Yuwen Tong himself doesn’t scare us’?”

The twelve men all lapsed into silence, waiting for the one who’d made that remark to admit.

“Let it go. Whoever it was, he just said that to fool Zheng shi. What’s the point of dwelling on it?” observed Wang Dashan.

The other eleven men immediately dissolved into chuckle. “Brother Wang, we were just joking. Why did you look so serious just now? You scared us.”

“The second branch of the Yuwen family have always been eyesores. I would’ve kicked their asses some time ago were the Marshal not their relative. The way they treat Young Master is just disgusting.”

“Tell me about it. What we did back there felt so good.”

“Guard your tongues. We’re not in the manor yet. Somebody might hear you.”

“Got it.”

The twelve men returned to the manor and went to see Ling Zhang. Wang Dashan said, “We’ve completed the task, Young Master.”

“Tell me the details.” Ling Zhang’s eyes swept across all of them. After confirming that they were all unscathed, he felt fairly satisfied.

Qiu Bing gave Ling Zhang a vivid account of how they’d intercepted Zheng shi and the others, highlighting the part where Zheng shi had screeched in panic and Yuwen Qi had shouted in pain.

“Well done. You finished the job with flying colors and produced the desired effect.” Ling Zhang complimented them unstintingly and then asked, “Did any of you get exposed?”

“No. We specially picked a quiet alley and laid concealment formations beforehand to stop pedestrians from entering. After the job was done, we left in different directions and disguised ourselves before exiting the city.”

Ling Zhang inclined his head, pleased. Ji Yin had been instructing them for merely a couple of days, but they had already learned how to lay formations. Though they were just some simple barricades, their utilizing what they’d just learned had proved that they’d mastered the skills pretty well.

“I also applied something to Yuwen Qi’s knee. He won’t be able to find it during the next few days. It’ll take effect in ten days, and he won’t even know who did it to him. I’ll avenge you by having him know how it feels to be tortured by poison,” said Qiu Bing in a self-satisfied tone of voice.

Ling Zhang was astonished. “Oh? What did you leave on his knee?”

Qiu Bing uttered the name of a poison. “My master shifu taught me how to concoct it, and I was trying to find someone I could test it on. I specially adjusted the dose to make sure it shows effect in ten days, so that nobody would link it with this attack.”

Ling Zhang smiled, feeling that Qiu Bing was indeed very smart. “That was brilliant. I’ll see to it that you’re handsomely rewarded.”

Qiu Bing was pleasantly surprised. “Thank you, Young Master!”

“Make sure you’re as cautious as you were this time in future operations. Under no circumstances should you reveal your identity.”

“I promise I’ll be careful!”

“All right. Dismissed. You’re to go to the hill behind this manor to meet Mr. Ji in two hours.”

All security guards left except for Wang Dashan and Liu Yi.

Ling Zhang inquired, “What’s the name of that private bank Zheng shi and Yuwen Qi visited?”

“Dousheng Bank.”

Dousheng Bank?

“Young Master, this private bank is very famous in the north, but the owner never tried to have it expand into the south, so most southerners don’t know about it,” said Liu Yi.

Ling Zhang had Liu Yi provide more detailed information about the situation of the Dousheng Bank. Liu Yi did as he was told and finally said, “The owner of the Dousheng Bank has always been rumored to be a northern merchant. No outsiders know it belongs to the Yuwen family. I’m afraid this time around it’ll be exposed.”

In addition, nobody could have foreseen that Yuwen Tong would actually give such profitable private bank to his uncle’s branch of the family.

Ling Zhang thought for a while. “Tell Xia Feng to keep watch on Dousheng Bank and keep me informed of any change of situation.”

“Yes, Young Master,” Wang Dashan answered and went to have someone deliver a message back to the city.

Ling Zhang kept this matter in mind, intending to clear it up with Yuwen Tong after he returned. It was not that he coveted this private bank, but that this bank must be of great significance to the Yuwen family. By handing it over to the second branch of the Yuwen family just like this, Yuwen Tong, as the eldest grandson of Old General Yuwen and a member of the first branch, was putting himself in a very awkward position. Besides, people of the second branch were definitely unworthy of it!

After giving this matter some thought, Ling Zhang decided to ask Xie Shi about it first, and there was also another matter that he’d like to make some inquiries about in passing.

When Ling Zhang found Xie Shi, the latter was following in Ji Yin’s wake, mesmerized, watching him instructing Yang Liuzi and the other eleven in formations. The look in his eyes was as worshipful as though he was looking at his idol. Xie Shi had never shown such deep admiration even when facing Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang gave a shudder from head to foot, feeling that this bearing of Xie Shi’s was somewhat spooky.

“Guard Xie.”

Xie Shi heard Ling Zhang call him. Though rather unwilling to leave Ji Yin’s side, he still quickly walked over. “How can I be of service to you, Childe Ling?”

“There’s something I’d like to ask you about.”

Xie Shi bobbed his head and followed Ling Zhang to a quieter spot that was more suitable for a private talk.

Ling Zhang asked him about Dousheng Bank. Xie Shi did a double take and then replied, “It’s been decades since the establishment of that private bank. Old General Yuwen was one of the founders. Back then, he sold some of the other businesses of the Yuwen family to set it up with a rich southern merchant, with whom he had a friendship of life and death. The original reason for his founding that bank was to create an extra source of income for his family members living in the capital city, and to provide some financial assistance to the army if the occasion arose. But the Marshal, after inheriting it, stopped using it to offer the army pecuniary aid, saying that it was too dangerous. Instead, he utilized it to help wounded soldiers to start new lives after the war. These years, most of the profit of Dousheng Bank is used on the resettlement of soldiers, which is a fact known to almost all senior officers of the North-western Army.”

“But now it’s been given to Yuwen Zhi, which means the money is no longer accessible to Yuwen Tong, isn’t it?” Ling Zhang said apprehensively.

Xie Shi hurriedly explained, “Don’t worry, Childe Ling. The Marshal did this for a reason. The existence of Dousheng Bank has been exposed and come to the emperor’s knowledge. It’s now a hot potato. The Marshal took advantage of this opportunity and got rid of it. But the money has been secretly transferred elsewhere through some other methods.”

After hearing this, Ling Zhang, who had been wondering why Yuwen Tong had given such an important business to Yuwen Zhi, came to understand.

Having been informed of what was really going on, Ling Zhang was much more relaxed, planning to have a talk with Yuwen Tong and ask for more details after he came back.

“By the way, previously, after you discovered Yuwen Qi’s venomous snake in Tanyang, you probably looked into how he got it, I suppose? This time Qiu Bing…” Ling Zhang told Xie Shi about Qiu Bing’s helping him get his revenge, and then said, “Will Yuwen Qi find out and trace it back to you?”

Xie Shi smiled, “There’s no need to worry about that, Young Master. Although that poison is fairly rare, people with enough money don’t have much difficulty getting it. I’m not the only one having the poison in hand, and nobody will be able to trace it back to me. As regards Yuwen Qi’s venomous snake…”

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Chapter 87