The Glory After Rebirth [ɇÇ”Ÿä¹‹Å°Šè£] Chapter 148- 150

Chapter 148: The Arrival of An Imperial Edict

“An imperial edict is going to be delivered to your family tomorrow morning. Please get prepared to welcome the edict bearer.

Marshal, His Majesty also specially sent a message to you, so please get prepared as well.”

The one who had come to Ling family was responsible for informing them beforehand that an imperial edict was about to be delivered to them, so that they could make preparations for welcoming the edict bearer.

Ling Zhaowen, on behalf of the whole family, expressed gratitude to the messenger. The man then told Yuwen Tong about the message from the emperor.

“I see,” replied Yuwen Tong.

“Then I think it’s time for me to leave. I still have to go to the Prefecture Yamen and the Prefecture Encampment to inform them,” said the man.

Ling Zhang saw that man out of the residence. At the gateway, the man declined Ling Zhang’s kind offer to walk him further and then left.

The arrival time of this imperial edict would be neither too early nor too late. It would be the exact time that Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong had anticipated.

“Once the imperial edict arrives, we shall depart for the capital city,” observed Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang inclined his head. Though having been prepared for this for quite some time, the thought of leaving home still made his heart ache.

Because of the imperial edict that was going to be delivered to them, people of Ling family started bustling again.

The next morning, the team responsible for delivering imperial edicts arrived in Tanyang. They came to the residence of Ling family first, so people of Ling family had not waited long.

The day before, when the messenger told people of Ling family there was an imperial edict for them, they thought that the emperor just sent them a short message in passing, that the edict meant for Yuwen Tong was the more important one.

Unexpectedly, in the first imperial edict, the emperor complimented Ling family –Ling Xingzhong, to be precise. The general meaning was that the early resignation of Ling Xingzhong had been quite a pity, that if it weren’t for the old age of Ling Xingzhong, he would have recalled Ling Xingzhong to the capital city and reinstated him. After that, the emperor praised Ling Zhaowen and motivated him to work hard, saying that he would grant Ling Zhaowen a promotion as long as he passed the test two years later. After praising Ling Zhaowen, the paid Ling Zhang a compliment, saying that since Ling Zhang was intellectually talented and moral, he had decided to specially offer him a place at the Imperial College. The last part of the edict was about a handsome reward granted to Ling family.

At first they were confused, but afterwards they understood what was going on.

The emperor’s compliment was nothing but fancy words. The place at the Imperial College granted to Ling Zhang was the only thing with practical meaning, and there was nothing else.

But even if Ling Zhang had not been offered this place at the Imperial College, he could still go to the Oriental Proprieties Academy, which was just as good as the Imperial College. Since the academic atmosphere had raised some concerns during these years, Ling Zhang believed that by comparison, the Oriental Proprieties Academy was actually a much better choice.

Ling Zhang felt rather awkward but still had to respectfully express his gratitude and take the edict with both hands.

Yuwen Tong also had a slightly cold look in his eyes in the knowledge that there had been a lot of scandals concerning the Imperial College over the past few years, that the emperor’s offer to let Ling Zhang study in that college was by no means a kind one.

In the second imperial edict, which was meant for Yuwen Tong, the emperor praised him for his great victory in the battle in the north-west against the Wan Kingdom, asked him to returned to the capital city to accept his reward, and also ordered that Yuwen Tong was to depart within three days.

All of them were very reluctant to obey the orders of the emperor written in these two imperial edicts. It was just that they didn’t show their reluctance on their faces.

The eunuch who had delivered the imperial edicts seemed to be well acquainted with Yuwen Tong. In a joyous tone of voice, he congratulated Yuwen Tong on the great victory he had secured as well as his enviable engagement, his smile so big that the wrinkles on his face deepened considerably.

“Then I shall wait for Marshal’s further notice at the courier station after I deliver another two imperial edicts.”

Yuwen Tong blandly gave a bob of his head. “Thank you for your trouble.”

Ling Zhang saw that Yao Yi secretly stuffed a signed check into the hand of the eunuch when he was leaving, which Ling Zhang believed was definitely of a large denomination.

Ling Zhaowen also had a servant do the same thing.

The money that this eunuch had received during this visit to Ling family to deliver imperial edicts was more than the yearly overall expenses of a common squire.

Yuwen Tong, who noticed the puzzlement on Ling Zhang’s face, explained to him, “These eunuchs stay in the imperial palace serving the emperor almost all year around, which means that they can easily make trouble for you if they intend to. This money is just a small price to pay. There’s no need to offend them for such a petty matter.”

Ling Zhang replied, “Oh.” He felt that he had learned yet another piece of finesse.

After the incense burner table was removed, people of Ling family returned to the ante-room, sat down and had the servants leave.

“Exactly what did His Majesty mean by having Zhang’er go to the Imperial College to study?” asked Ling Xingzhong with a frown on his face.

“Tao Yi once told me that the atmosphere in the Imperial College had been rather questionable these years, that there had been intense wrangles between factions. If Zhang’er suddenly goes to the Imperial College just like this…” Ling Zhaowen also knitted his eyebrows.

“Then what should we do?” asked Fu Caiwei in a worried tone of voice.

“Grandfather, uncle, aunt, what’s done is done. No matter how bad the situation is in the Imperial College, sooner or later people will sort things out. It’s just that His Majesty’s wording in the edict was somewhat obscure, and I don’t know what his true intention is,” replied Ling Zhang.

“That’s true. Though the imperial edict…” Ling Zhaowen gave a little cough and then continued, “but almost every remark was suggesting another possibility.”

No matter what the true intention of the emperor was, he had not categorically stated his stand in the imperial edict, neither expressing his displeasure with this engagement between them nor offering to directly promote any members of Ling family to higher positions. He had just been ambiguously describing some possibilities, so people of Ling family were somewhat confused about what the emperor truly had in mind.

Ling Zhang looked at Yuwen Tong, and so did the others.

“Marshal, you should know His Majesty better than we do. What do you think His Majesty meant?” asked Ling Zhaowen.

After a few moments’ silence, Yuwen Tong responded, “His Majesty dislikes others conjecturing his intentions. No matter what the purpose of this imperial edict is, it’s not making life any more difficult for you. I’ll figure it out when we are in the capital city. Old Master Ling, Uncle Ling, rest assured, since I’ve decided to take Ling Zhang to the capital city, I promise I’ll keep him safe and no harm will come to him.”

Ling Zhang sitting beside him gave a slight frown. ‘Why is this guy being so conservative? He definitely has already come to understand what the emperor meant.’

When they returned to the Green Bamboo Mansion, Ling Zhang asked Yuwen Tong, “Why wasn’t you being honest just now?”

Yuwen Tong took his seat and replied, “I didn’t want your grandfather and others to be worried. What else could the emperor possibly mean? He likes speaking ambiguously the most, because he wants to hide his true intentions from other. Given that the engagement between us was disclosed quite suddenly, there were definitely many of his plans in the capital city that were upset. The emperor is taking a wait-and-see attitude. He is also uncertain about where he should stand with Ling family, so he wants us to go back to the capital city as soon as possible, since only after we go back to the capital city will he be able to make a final decision.”

After hearing this, Ling Zhang felt even more uneasy. “Plans? What else does he want to do?”

The expression on Yuwen Tong’s face was a little strange.

Ling Zhang fixed him with a stare of suspicion and slightly squinted his eyes. “What? You can’t tell me?”

Yuwen Qi gave a cough and replied, “Haven’t you already heard it from Yuwen Qi?”

Ling Zhang was reduced to speechlessness.

He stared at Yuwen Tong for quite a while and suddenly sneered.

“Were you referring to the emperor’s intention of marrying the princess to you?”

Yuwen Tong lapsed into silence in the realization that it was dangerous to speak at this moment.

“That’s good. Isn’t it amazing to marry a princess? It’s the kind of marriage most people only dream about.” Ling Zhang kept gazing at him.

Yuwen Tong immediately observed, “Those princess? They are either obstinate and wilful or terribly calculating. Even if –and that’s a big if –there is one of them who is an exception, she would definitely be someone…” Yuwen Tong gave a cough and continued, “Had I wanted to marry a princess, I would have done it years ago. You are the only one I want to marry, and I will say so to any other woman, no matter she’s a princess or a goddess.”

“Is that so?”

“No matter what, if I am to fall for anybody, that person will definitely be you. And if I am to marry anybody, that person will also definitely be you. If you forsake me, I’ll have to die a bachelor –no, that’s a little too sad –I’ll follow in your wake for the rest of my life.”

Ling Zhang was reduced to speechlessness.

‘Alas, this guy didn’t even pause for breath while saying these words. What a thick-skinned guy.’

“Since it has already come to your knowledge that the emperor wants you to marry the princess, what do you plan to do after returning to the capital city?”

Yuwen Tong gave a tap on the surface of the table and replied, “Isn’t you who are supposed to think about what to do? You should at least try figuring something out. I mean, I’m your future husband.”

The last remark brought an involuntary twitch to the corner of Ling Zhang’s mouth. “Husband? Ha. It’s hard to say who will be who’s husband.”

Yuwen Tong subtly gave a brief pause and then responded stubbornly, “Even so, you should also try to figure out a way. Surely you are nervous about it, aren’t you? I mean, someone’s been coveting me!”

Ling Zhang cocked an eyebrow at him. “If you choose somebody else, I’ll forsake you. Why should I let this thing bother me?”

Yuwen Tong fell speechless.

He felt a little upset.

And he believed that he had to do something to console himself on an occasion like this.

So he reached out his hand, drew Ling Zhang into his arms and said, “I fear that it might be you who chooses somebody else.”

After saying this, he kissed Ling Zhang.

An astonished look flashed across Ling Zhang’s eyes and eventually, he stretched out his hands, held Yuwen Tong’s back and kissed him back of his own accord.

This reaction dissolved Yuwen Tong’s composure, leaving nothing but how to kiss in his mind which was smart enough to lead the whole Northwestern Army…

After quite a while, Ling Zhang, whose lips had swelled due to the long vigorous kiss, had no choice but to push him away and, panting for breath, reprimanded, “That’s enough!”

With a fervent expression in his eyes, Yuwen Tong adjusted some part of Ling Zhang’s body and said in a husky voice, “That’s far from enough.”

This remark made Ling Zhang’s blood freeze. His body felt as though it would explode.

Naturally, such a long kiss had brought a normal reaction to his normal body. When Yuwen Tong did that, his waist instantly fell limp.

Yuwen Tong immediately held him tight and whispered something into his ears.

A pink flush spread over Ling Zhang’s cheeks. “No!”

After quite a while, Yuwen Tong heaved a sigh. “You are being so cruel.”

Ling Zhang pushed him away and didn’t dare to hug him again for fear that something bad might happen.

It took the two of them quite some time to calm themselves down. Then Ling Zhang said, “Just now my uncle sent someone to tell me that he’d like to talk to me. I’ve got to go there.”

After saying this, he adjusted his clothes and then left.

Yuwen Tong watched him leaving and then sat down, a cold look in his eyes.

The eunuch, who had come to deliver the imperial edict this morning, had clearly been unenthusiastic to people of Ling family, which Yuwen Tong believed was definitely because the emperor had given the eunuch some kind of order.

‘He’s not dealing Ling family a head-down blow at the first encounter. He’s trying to face me down.

This is ridiculous. Has he any idea to whom he owes his throne?’ Yuwen Tong thought.

Originally, Yuwen Tong had had no intention of taking any action in the next few years, but after what happened on this day, he felt that he should carry out the plan ahead of schedule to spare himself some bad moods.

…

On the other side of the residence, Ling Zhang went to see Ling Zhaowen.

“Uncle, is there anything particular that you want to talk to me about?” asked Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhaowen inclined his head and produced a letter from behind his desk. There was no words on the envelope.

Ling Zhang cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at Ling Zhaowen and took the letter.

“You grandfather wants me to keep the matter of your mother secret from you, but after some thinking, I feel that you deserve to be informed of it. Don’t open the letter when you are still at home. You may read it after your departure,” Ling Zhaowen told him, a serious look on his face.

Startled, Ling Zhang held the letter tight. “Uncle…”

“Don’t blame you grandfather. He did it out of his own concerns,” said Ling Zhaowen. “You’ll come to understand after reading the letter.”

Ling Zhang put the letter into his inner pocket. “Thank you, Uncle.”

“Do take care of yourself during this journey to the capital city,” said Ling Zhaowen.

Ling Zhang inclined his head with a solemn face. “I will.”

Chapter 149: A Competition Between the New One and the Old One

After returning to his own courtyard with the letter in his inner front pocket, Ling Zhang reached into the pocket and held a corner of the envelope. He was eager to open it and read the letter right away, but his uncle’s previous words came to mind and he held the impulsion back.

‘All I want to know is in this letter.’ Thinking of this, he felt an urge to depart for the capital city immediately.

Yuwen Tong, who noticed that he was in a trance, asked, “What’s the matter? I can see that your mind is wandering.”

Ling Zhang shook his head, making no reply. It was not that he didn’t trust Yuwen Tong but that even he himself had no idea what was inside the letter, so he didn’t know how to explain.

For a few moments, Yuwen Tong seemed to be pondering over something, but he didn’t persist with his questioning. Instead, he offered, “Let’s go to the street tomorrow.”

This was the first time that Yuwen Tong had invited him to go to the street. Ling Zhang asked curiously, “What do you want to buy?”

Yuwen Tong answered, “We’ll have to pay a visit to my uncle after we return to the capital city. It’ll lift his spirits even more if you bring him some Tanyang specialties.”

Ling Zhang immediately understood but also went nervous. “Ur… Are there any preferences of your uncle?”

Yuwen Tong replied, “He likes liquor.”

Ling Zhang’s eyes lit up. Tanyang was famous for a variety of medicinal wine, each of which had its own curative effects against certain medical conditions, and many of which were suitable for people of advanced years.

Ling family had their own herb farms, so of course they also made medicinal wine.

Actually his grandfather had treasured up quite a lot.

Ling Zhang told Yuwen Tong about this. “What do you think? I can go and get a jar or two from my grandfather.”

Yuwen Tong inclined his head. “That’ll do.”

Ling Zhang observed in an animated tone of voice, “His medicinal wine is milder than the Pear Blossom Wine that you brought here that day. It’s of less pungency, but after you drink it, its taste lingers. It helps with sleep and reduce ostalgia caused by rheumatism as well. It’s just that I don’t know whether your uncle prefers liquor or something milder. If he is used to drinking liquor, I’m afraid this medicinal wine might not be strong enough.”

“It’s okay. My uncle will love it as long as it’s good. If it’s really beneficial to health, that’ll be even better. My uncle is at his advanced age, and his shoulders ache every time it gets windy or rainy.”

On hearing this, Ling Zhang came to realize what kind of medicinal wine the old man needed.

Ling Zhang went to Ling Xingzhong’s place, stated his business and eventually asked, “Grandfather, can I have a jar or two of medicinal wine?”

Ling Xingzhong chuckled, “By all means. Did Marshal mention whether or not there are any chronic medical conditions that his uncle has been suffering from for years? If there are any, you should take the kind that has the needed efficacy. If there are not, take the kind that is good for health.”

“He did mention this.” Ling Zhang related to his grandfather what Yuwen Tong had told him earlier.

Ling Xingzhong gave a bob of his head and bade some servants to get four jars of wine from the wine cellar. Two of them had the curative effect against ostalgia caused by rheumatism, and the other two helped improve people’s constitution. The amount of time that medicinal materials had been soaking in them was perfect.

“Grandfather, two jars will suffice,” Ling Zhang hurriedly said.

His grandfather had preserved the wine for himself. And the jar was pretty big, so two jars would be more than enough.

“The more the better. Nobody gets blamed for bringing too many gifts.” Ling Xingzhong, who didn’t begrudge the wine, insisted and had the servants get four jars out of the cellar.

Since his grandfather insisted, Ling Zhang had no choice but to agree.

“But with these jars of wine on the horse-drawn carriage, you should be more careful on your journey to the capital city. It would be a great pity if any of them broke,” Ling Xingzhong exhorted him.

“I’ll take care,” replied Ling Zhang.

These jars of wine happened to give them reason to take their time on the journey, and they wouldn’t have to make haste.

Apart from getting these four jars of wine, Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong also went to the street to buy some more gifts.

His family had prepared a couple of bags of precious medicinal herbs of high quality, which had been growing for many years before being harvested and preserved, so Ling Zhang didn’t have to buy any gifts of this kind.

But there were also some other local specialties in Tanyang, so when the shopping was over, they found that they had bought a lot of things.

On their way back, Ling Zhang specially paid a visit to Tao Feng on his own, asking Tao Feng whether or not there was anything particular he would like him to deliver to Tao Yi.

Tao Feng had indeed prepared a lot of things that he wanted Ling Zhang to deliver to Tao Yi in the capital city, but none of them were for Tao Yi. They had been meant for the teacher of Tao Yi as well as Tao Feng’s own teacher.

Heedless of whom these things Tao Feng had meant for, Ling Zhang agreed to help him deliver them to his son. Because there were too many of them, Ling Zhang didn’t take them home but told Tao Feng to have them loaded onto a horse-drawn cart, saying that he would sent someone here to drive the horse-drawn cart away three days later when he departed for the capital city.

But Tao Feng said, “I’ve already arranged for someone to drive the cart, so there’s no need for you to send another cart-driver here. I myself will go to the city gate to see Marshal off. Let’s meet there.”

Ling Zhang felt that this was even better. “So it’s settled.”

There had also been an imperial edict meant for Tao Feng, in which the emperor praised him for his meritorious service in this incident in Tanyang. There was also a vague indication in it that Tao Feng might be transferred to the capital city when his tenure as a governor was over.

During Ling Zhang’s stay in Tao Feng’s place, there had never been a single instant when smile was absent from Tao Feng’s face.

After taking his leave of Tao Feng, Ling Zhang went back home.

In the afternoon, he took Maomao to the street and specially brought him to the Fengtai Pavilion to enjoy snacks. The two brothers had a good time and didn’t return home until night.

After returning home, Ling Maomao first took a bath and then came to Ling Zhang’s bedroom, his pillow in his arms, followed by Ada wagging its tail.

Ling Zhang came to know what his younger brother wanted the moment he saw him. He gave the boy a gentle slap on the hip, told him to put the pillow on the bed and instructed a servant to wash Ada clean.

The Hai Hour (21:00-22:59) was almost over when they got everything done and went to bed. Ling Maomao went sleepy almost immediately after lying down. Leaning against Ling Zhang, he said, “Elder Brother…”

“Sleep. I can see that you could barely keep your eyes open,” said Ling Zhang affectionately.

Ling Maomao replied “Um” and forced his eyes open to glance at him. After confirming that his elder brother was indeed on the bed with him, the boy, unable to resist the overwhelming sleepiness, closed his eyes and fell asleep almost in an instant.

Ling Zhang craned beyond the edge of the bed, blew off the candle and laid back down, his heart weighed down by the unwillingness to leave as he watched Ling Maomao sleeping soundly.

This was going to be the first time that he journeyed to a distant city in both this incarnation and the last one, and he would be away from home for quite a long time. Even he himself had no idea what the future held for him.

He was just following his heart. He had already collected the huge debt of blood, and now, because there were some people in the capital city with whom he had a score to settle, and also because of… Yuwen Tong, he must go to the capital city. And he also had a premonition that only by leaving Tanyang could he be able to find more information on his mother and that person. No matter what, he must find more about the truth, so that this second incarnation of his wouldn’t fall meaningless, and it was also the only way for him to find peace of mind.

As a result, no matter how much he begrudged leaving, he must do it.

…

The departure for the capital city was only two days away. Wang Dashan and other security guards, who had just mastered a new array of the Trap-and-kill Formation, were racing time practicing the sixth array of it.

Yang Liuzi and some others were still learning the first array.

The first array was fundamental to future progress. Once they laid a solid foundation by mastering the first array, it would be easier and easier for them to learn the subsequent ones.

The training of Wang Dashan and his men had been a concrete proof of this. Originally, Ling Zhang had only meant them to learn three arrays, but unexpectedly, after laying a solid foundation by mastering the first and the second arrays, they had been developing proficiency in the following arrays at an increasingly fast pace, and the amount of time they needed to master an array had been getting shorter and shorter, which had been quite a pleasant surprise for Ling Zhang.

What was different was that, on this day, apart from them, who numbered twenty-four, there were also twenty-four newly recruited security guards present in the guards’ yard.

Knowing that these men were here to substitute for them as security guards of Ling family, Wang Dashan and his men were both happy and subtly hostile towards them.

They were happy because they could now follow their young master to the capital city secure in the knowledge that some other men would be performing their duties after they left.

But they were also subtly hostile towards them because these men were going to replace them becoming family security guards of Ling family. During the past over a month, Wang Dashan and his men had been having an increasingly strong sense of group identity while serving Ling family, and they had almost subconsciously begun to regard this place as their home. As a result, they couldn’t help but show faint hostility when these newcomers showed up trying to “snatch” their positions.

They found this even more unacceptable after hearing that their second master had long ago selected these men as substitutes for them, that all of them had some skills.

Therefore, Wang Dashan and his men had already covertly made some trouble for these newcomers by, without Ling Zhang’s knowledge of it, challenging them to a secret competition.

Twenty-four men versus twenty-four men. Single combat. There were twelve rounds in total. And they took turns to fight.

At first, Qiu Bing and some others took the opponents lightly, believing that these newcomers were by no means their match, but when Zhou Xiang was defeated by his opponent, they dismissed their underestimation of those men from their minds immediately.

After over a month’s training, all of them had changed considerably and become much more discreet.

“Given the current circumstances, none of you are to preserve any strength. Do your level best. This is about the reputation of all the twenty-four of us. Don’t give these new guys the chance to look down upon us!” instructed Wang Dashan from behind them.

After they adopted a more serious attitude towards this competition, situation took a favorable turn. Though they suffered another couple of defeats, Wang Dashan and his men secured more victories than the other side.

Seeing this, Wang Dashan secretly felt a sense of relief. If their young master found out that they challenged newly recruited security guards to a competition and lost it, they would definitely have some serious trouble justifying themselves.

The other side, after suffering the seventh defeat, began to take Wang Dashan and his men seriously. “We lost, and we will run in the guards’ yard for two hours with rocks on our heads as agreed.”

Qiu Bing and others exchanged glances and gave a chuckle of complacency.

Wang Dashan stepped forward and said, “We were just joking when we said that losers were to run with rocks on their heads. We challenged you to this competition mainly because we intended to get to know our new brothers. We are also family security guards of Ling family just like you. Though we are going to the capital city with young master very soon, our identities will never change, so we are brothers. ‘No discord, no concord.’ Please don’t take that joke seriously.”

‘Don’t be ridiculous. How am I supposed to explain if I have you guys run and young master sees?’ he thought.

The twenty-four men on the other side exchanged glances and one of them replied, “All right.”

In fact, these twenty-four men had had little acquaintance with each other, and remarkably, after having this competition with Wang Dashan’s men as a group, they became much more acquainted with each other and also more united, and the teamwork between them also improved somewhat.

After generously stated that this competition had merely been meant as a method of getting acquainted with new brothers, Wang Dashan and his men, who believed that they had successfully dealt newcomers a head-on blow at their first encounter, hurriedly resumed their training in the formation.

These newly recruited security guards had actually some time ago noticed what they had been doing, but they couldn’t understand their moves, so all of them were very curious.

They had felt too embarrassed to ask, but after the competition, an inquiry about it seemed to have become a less difficult task. As a result, someone asked, “Captain Wang, may I ask what you are doing?”

It was after a few moments’ trance that Wang Dashan realized that the man was asking him a question, but he made no immediate response. Instead, he asked a question, “Well, this is good stuff. Did any of you get a grasp of it?”

Those twenty-four men exchanged glances with one another in private and then one of them stepped forward. “Are you training in some kind of martial formation?”

‘Oh, there is indeed someone with discernment among them,’ Wang Dashan thought.

Not only Wang Dashan and his men but also Xie Shi, who had been covertly observing them, flicked an appraising glance at the speaker after hearing the question.

Chapter 150: Before Departure

The speaker was a young man around twenty years old, who seemed full of youthful vigor and dash. The most obtrusive characteristic of him was his upright hair bun, which differentiated him from all others. As he saw that Wang Dashan and his men seemed to have been surprised by his question, a somewhat smug expression appeared on his face.

“I once went to a border city in the north-west and had the good fortune to see the Marshal’s soldiers drill a formation similar to this one.”

This reply made the others even more surprised. ‘This guy saw the North-western Army drilling a formation?’

Even Xie Shi couldn’t help but start pondering. Of course the drill ground of the North-western Army was not open to the public. Only those who entered the station would have a chance to see soldiers practicing a formation. ‘Did this young man by any chance enter the station?’

Wang Dashan inquired of the man, “What is your name, bro?”

“Wu Feng,” the young man replied.

“Were you serious when you said that you once saw the North-western Army practicing a formation? To my knowledge, the station of the North-western Army is heavily guarded, and no common people can get inside without permission,” observed Wang Dashan in a fairly serious tone of voice.

Wu Feng responded, “Of course we’d been granted entry before going in. Two years ago, when some of my elder sect-brothers and I traveled to Shengzhou, we happened to discover some people from the Wan Kingdom sneaking across the border into our country. We stalked them and foun–found that they intended to…” Wu Feng gave a cough and then continued, “Anyway, they harbored evil intentions. We went to the station of the North-western Army, had an audience with the Marshal and reported it to him. That was the only occasion when I had the good fortune to enter the station of the North-western Army.”

Wang Dashan flicked a glance at Qiu Bing, who took the hint, gave a bob of his head and left.

Seeing Wang Dashan suddenly have one of his man leave, Wu Feng was confused at first and then queried anxiously, “Hey, surely you don’t suspect that I’m lying, do you?”

Wang Dashan gave a smile. “Don’t worry, bro. We just want to verify your story. After all, the relationship between our young master and the Marshal is rather special, which is why we are obliged to pay some extra attention to those who approach Ling family and the Marshal. Rest assured, he’s just going out to verify your version of events. We mean nothing else.”

Wu Feng slightly flushed. He didn’t contradict Wang Dashan but still gave him a dirty look.

“Wu Feng, did you really get in there?” someone beside him also asked in a low voice.

“Of course I entered that place. Why would I lie to you about it?” answered Wu Feng, but in fact he was somewhat worried. He was telling the truth. What concerned him was that the Marshal would be disturbed by such a petty matter of his. ‘What should I do if the Marshal happens to have forgotten this thing?

The Marshal is such a busy man. Besides, it wasn’t the Marshal himself that we reported to on that day…’

Wu Feng’s worry partially showed on his face, which brought suspicion to the eyes of others.

Wang Dashan and his men all stopped training and looked in this direction.

Originally, Qiu Bing, after leaving the guards’ yard, had meant to go to the Green Bamboo Mansion, but unexpectedly, he chanced upon Xie Shi midway between the two places. He hurriedly greeted him. “Guard Xie!”

Xie Shi had been specially waiting for him at this place, because after hearing Wu Feng’s story, he had recalled that there had indeed been such an occurrence.

“You are going to your young master’s place?” queried Xie Shi in a seemingly casual tone of voice.

Qiu Bing explained, “Actually it’s an audience with the Marshal that I seek. Ah, maybe Guard Xie knows about it.”

“Oh? What is it?” Xie Shi looked at him.

Qiu Bing told him what it was about.

Xie Shi nodded, “There does seem to be such a thing in my memory. Take me there. I’ll talk to him.”

Qiu Bing led Xie Shi to the guards’ yard. None of those newly recruited security guards had seen Yuwen Tong. When they saw Qiu Bing bringing a strong man, who had a dignified look on his face and was of commanding presence, to the guards’ yard, all of them fell anxious and doubtful, wondering, ‘Is this man by any chance Marshal Yuwen?’

Thinking of this possibility, they got excited and intended to walk up to the man to pay their respect.

Fortunately, their expression brought Xie Shi to an instant realization that they had mistaken him for somebody else. He informed them, “I’m a bodyguard of the Marshal. You are Wu Feng, I suppose? Is Wu Daolin your elder sect-brother?”

All those men went somewhat disappointed in the knowledge that the man was not the Marshal but the Marshal’s bodyguard, but when they heard the man ask Wu Feng a question, they quieted down again.

Pleasantly surprised, Wu Feng stepped forward. “You know my elder sect-brother?”

Xie Shi gave a bland smile. “Back then when you and your elder sect-brothers came to the station, I was in a tent right beside the one you were in.”

This reply instantly dissolved Wu Feng’s worry. He nodded repeated. “Yeah, yeah. That’s us!”

Xie Shi’s eyes briefly appraised Wu Feng. All of a sudden, his figure seemed have instantly disappeared into thin air, and the next moment, he materialized before Wu Feng and launched an attack on him.

Wu Feng was startled, but surprisingly, he quickly reacted and exchanged a few moves with Xie Shi.

When the moods of others were still alternating between anxiety and doubt, Xie Shi had already separated from Wu Feng and returned to his original position in the blink of an eye.

“People of the Wu Stockaded Village excel at fist techniques. Your fist technique is pretty good.”

After hearing Xie Shi’s compliment, Wu Feng, who had been in shock, replied in delight and embarrassment, “Mine is just average. My elder sect-brother is the one who is a real master.”

“But the Wu Stockaded Village is in Cangzhou. How did you come to be in Tanyang and enter Ling family to be a security guard?” Xie Shi inquired in puzzlement.

A faint flush spread over the cheeks of Wu Feng. “It was after hearing about the Marshal’s presence in Tanyang that I specially came to this city. Since the Marshal is engaged to Childe Ling, I decided to work as a security guard in Ling family.”

Other security guards remained silent.

Xie Shi gave a soft cough and observed, “But if you work as a security guard, you’re not going to the capital city with the Marshal but staying in Ling family. Ling family needs the kind of security guards who sign up because they are ready for long-term service, not the kind who do it out of momentary curiosity.”

Wu Feng hastily replied, “I know. Please don’t misunderstand me. I had been informed of this before I was recruited, so I’m not doing this out of momentary curiosity. Besides, I had already promised Ling family that I’d stay here for a full year.”

Xie Shi gave a bob of his head, feeling relieved in the knowledge that the man knew what he was doing.

“My elder sect-brother had me come out to travel for experience and toughen myself, and he didn’t say anything about what I should or should not do. I made the decision to become a security guard of Ling family and protect Ling family for a year of my own accord. Childe Ling is engaged to the Marshal, so I’ll do whatever I can to keep Ling family safe!” added Wu Feng.

Other security guards remained silent.

They were not very happy to hear this. ‘This guy sounded as if he were capable of keeping Ling family safe all by himself.’

What Xie Shi was worried about was that this man might be erratic, but from the vantage point of the present, Wu Feng seemed to have made up his mind, so Xie Shi made no further remarks about this matter.

“In a few days, I’ll start training you in martial arts and formations, including the formation that Wang Dashan and his men were practicing just now. Though today is not the day for the training to officially begin, let’s just take this as an opportunity to get to know each other ahead of schedule. My surname is Xie.”

‘It’ll be none other than a bodyguard of the Marshal’s who’s going to train us?’ all the twenty-four newcomers were secretly surprised and delighted to hear this.

Wu Feng, in particular, was overjoyed. ‘This alone will make it all worthwhile!’

“Nice to meet you, Guard Xie!” All others paid their respect to Xie Shi.

Xie Shi inclined his head, talked with them for a short while and then left.

After Xie Shi walked out of the yard, Wang Dashan and his men looked in the direction of Wu Feng and others and then withdrew their gaze.

‘All that fuss over Guard Xie! Wouldn’t you be scared shitless if we tell you that we once fought the Marshal?’

Qiu Bing and some others despised Wu Feng and other newcomers when they saw their pleasantly surprised faces.

‘You got so excited at the prospect of Guard Xie training you. Wouldn’t you be scared to death in the knowledge that Marshal Yuwen himself once taught us fundamentals of formations?’ thought Yang Liuzi and some others.

Most importantly, Wang Dashan and some others could faintly see themselves in these newcomers…

Thinking of their running with rocks on their heads in this yard on that day, all others looked at Wang Dashan and Liu Yi.

Liu Yi was rather composed. “There’s no hurry.”

‘Let them have their moment of joy and excitement,’ he thought.

…

On the other side of the residence, Xie Shi had just left the guards’ yard when he saw Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong.

“Marshal, Childe Ling.” Xie Shi was not surprised to see them. Clearly, he had sensed their arrival beforehand.

“About that incident Wu Feng mentioned, how did it end?” Ling Zhang asked Yuwen Tong curiously.

“Those people were spies of the Wan Kingdom. My men stalked them, found the locations where other spies were hiding and eventually eliminated all spies planted in Shengzhou and Cangzhou by the Wan Kingdom,” responded Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang relaxed safe in the knowledge that no loose ends had been left behind.

As regards Wu Feng’s reason for becoming a security guard of Ling family, Ling Zhang was rather undisturbed by it. Since he was going to depart for the capital city from Ling family, he didn’t have the time to handle this matter, but he believed that his uncle will deal with it. Otherwise he wouldn’t have hired this man to be a new security guard.

“Let’s go.” Ling Zhang turned around and left first.

Yuwen Tong caught up with him.

Xie Shi followed in their wake.

Only two days away from the scheduled departure, Ling Zhang decided to spend these two days with his family at home.

In the afternoon, he played chess with his grandfather. At night, he had a couple of games of chess with his uncle, going over the situation in Tanyang once again in passing.

Ling Zhang had already informed Ling Zhaowen of He Xiao, and Ling Zhaowen had made adequate preparations.

Had the emperor approved it, Tao Feng would also have to wait for a couple of years to get the transfer he wanted, and nobody knew what might happen before that.

With luck, Ling Zhaowen might get a promotion. If not, the new governor would be someone from another city. Either way, it was something that wouldn’t happen until a couple of years later, and by that time, Ling family would definitely have gained a strong and firm position in Tanyang.

“I’ve consulted with your grandfather about whether we could promote a couple of talents in the collateral branches of our family,” said Ling Zhaowen.

Ling Zhang thought for a while and nodded. “It sounds like a good idea. We are not a large family after all, and we will indeed be in need of more manpower as our family flourishes.”

Ling Zhaowen gave a smile. Clearly he shared his opinion.

But thinking of this, he also felt somewhat regretful. The only disadvantage of the future marriage between his nephew and Yuwen Tong would be that they couldn’t have children.

He actually wanted to say something to his nephew, but then it occurred to him that his nephew had not married Yuwen Tong yet, and it was too early to talk about this issue, so instead of making any further remarks, he just mulled over these things in his mind for a while.

Ling Zhang was unaware that his uncle had already considered the issue of children for him. His attention was still concentrated on the game of chess.

At night, Ling Maomao once again went to Ling Zhang’s bedroom to sleep with his elder brother. This time the boy was not as naughty as the night before. Ling Zhang just checked Ling Maomao’s homework and then the two brothers lay down on the bed talking aimlessly. Ling Maomao was asking questions most of the time, to which Ling Zhang gave the answers.

Slowly, while chatting, both of them drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, Fu Caiwei prepared Ling Zhang’s favorite foods, a tableful of them.

In normal times, Ling family were never so extravagant with food, but since Ling Zhang was about to depart from home, nobody laid any criticism on it. Instead, they kept asking Ling Zhang to eat more.

Ling Zhang repeatedly responded “Okay” to his family while eating. This was the last day that he would be at home before departure.

For the rest of this day, Fu Caiwei had been bustling around all along, frequently asking Ling Zhang whether he had packed this thing or that thing. There had not been a single moment when she sat down to rest. She just kept checking his baggage again and again.

Ling Zhang patiently walked around with her without showing any signs of impatience.