Chapter 45: Despicable and Shameless

Feng Lingbo and Peng Yulan looked at each other. Could their daughter already know about the marriage, and was that why she had detained the principal envoy sent to receive the bride?

Peng Yulan could not help asking, "Who is the principal envoy? Don't tell me it's Lan Ruoting."

Yuan Gang replied, "His Highness's retainer cultivator, Niu Youdao."

Niu Youdao?

Husband and wife were momentarily speechless. After a pause, Feng Lingbo frowned. "Utter nonsense!"

It was hard to tell whether he meant Feng Ruonan or Niu Youdao.

Peng Yulan immediately looked behind her and called, "Bai Yao, take two men and go have a look. Bring him here. Don't let that girl do anything foolish."

A middle-aged man had been leaning against one of the hall's supporting pillars with his arms folded, a sword held against his chest. He did not look old, yet his hair was completely white, like silver frost.

He nodded calmly and strode out of the reception hall. Outside, he called two men over, then the three of them sprang into the air and landed atop the roof.

They left the Commandery Governor's residence by the rooftops, racing across roof ridges above the streets and alleys with feet barely touching down, light as swallows. Few pedestrians below even noticed them.

Before long, the three dropped from a rooftop into the open ground outside the military camp and strode straight toward the entrance.

Although none of the guards tried to stop him, Bai Yao still displayed a pass token before leading the other two inside. They headed directly for the central command tent.

Without waiting for the guards to announce them, Bai Yao forced his way in. He was worried Feng Ruonan might do something rash and actually kill the principal marriage envoy.

Inside, Feng Ruonan stood in armor with her hands clasped behind her back, studying a map hanging on the tent wall.

"General..."

The guard who had hurried in behind Bai Yao looked embarrassed at having failed to announce him in time. Feng Ruonan turned. Seeing who had entered, she froze briefly, then waved the guard away.

"Uncle Bai, what brings you here?"

Bai Yao asked, "You've detained Niu Youdao?"

Feng Ruonan paused again, then nodded. "Yes. Why?"

Bai Yao glanced around. "Where is he?"

"In the tent next door. He's being watched—"

Before she could finish, Bai Yao turned and walked out.

Outside the tent, he looked left and right. A guarded tent stood to the left. He strode straight toward it. The sentries did not dare stop him. Bai Yao lifted the flap and entered.

Niu Youdao was seated inside, leisurely drinking tea. Lan, dressed in black with a sword on her back, stood silently nearby keeping watch.

"Martial Uncle!"

Mei quickly cupped her hands in greeting.

Bai Yao ignored her. He looked Niu Youdao up and down, then asked, "You're Niu Youdao?"

Niu Youdao slowly rose with a faint smile and cupped his hands. "Indeed. May I ask what guidance you have for me?"

Feng Ruonan lifted the tent flap and came in as well, still wondering what was happening. Bai Yao extended a hand toward Niu Youdao.

"Come with me."

Niu Youdao did not care who the newcomer was. He was exceptionally agreeable, smiling as he nodded.

"All right."

"Wait!"

Feng Ruonan's eyes widened as she barked, "Uncle Bai, he can't leave. I'm keeping him here for a reason."

Bai Yao replied calmly, "Your mother wants to see him. Whatever business you have can wait until after he has met her."

At those words, Niu Youdao's smile deepened. He could now confirm that Yuan Gang had successfully reached the intended target. When Yuan Gang handled something, Niu Youdao was generally at ease.

Feng Ruonan's expression twitched, but she still stubbornly said, "No. He owes me money. He can't leave."

What did a debt matter compared with her mother's summons? Bai Yao frowned at her as though she were being remarkably childish.

"We can discuss the money later."

"Uncle Bai, we're in the middle of a wager. I can't release him now."

Niu Youdao sighed. "General, it's not as though I'm going to repudiate the debt. I can't run away."

With Niu Youdao himself saying that, Bai Yao no longer bothered arguing. He tilted his head toward him.

"Come."

Niu Youdao cupped his hands and followed. As he passed Feng Ruonan, the corner of his mouth curled into a wicked little smile aimed directly at her.

Feng Ruonan nearly exploded with anger at the sight, yet there was nothing she could do to stop Bai Yao from taking him away.

She followed them out of the tent and shouted, "Niu Youdao! If you're short even a single coin, I'll make you regret it!"

Niu Youdao turned and cupped his hands in farewell. Then he left laughing loudly, his laughter free, brazen, and thoroughly delighted.

"Keep laughing!" Feng Ruonan gritted out. "We'll see how you cry later!"

She was just about to order someone to go to the Commandery Governor's residence and find out what was happening when Ju hurried back.

Feng Ruonan temporarily suppressed that impulse and asked the approaching Ju, "Did you find out what they're doing?"

Ju's expression was peculiar, caught somewhere between laughter and tears.

"That Yuan Gang took a group of people to the Commandery Governor's residence to propose a marriage."

"Propose a marriage?"

Feng Ruonan stared blankly. "Whose marriage?"

Ju lightly slapped her own mouth, as though blaming herself for phrasing it badly.

"Not exactly a proposal. He went straight to the residence to receive a bride on Shang Chaozong's behalf."

"Receive a bride?" Feng Ruonan asked curiously. "Shang Chaozong wants to marry some girl from my family? Who? How could something this important happen without my hearing even a whisper?"

Ju looked helpless.

How had the general still not understood?

"General, he wants to marry you! Yuan Gang bought a mountain of wedding gifts and went to the residence to ask for your hand on Shang Chaozong's behalf!"

"..."

Feng Ruonan stared at her, stunned. Her mind seemed unable to turn for quite some time.

At last she said blankly, "Have you lost your senses? Shang Chaozong wants to marry me? How is that possible?"

Behind her, Mei and Lan looked equally bewildered. They plainly found the idea impossible too.

Ju stamped a foot.

"General, it's true! Yuan Gang announced it loudly in front of everyone in the city. This will probably spread throughout the whole commandery capital before long. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. There is no mistake!"

A chill suddenly ran through Feng Ruonan. She shifted uneasily and tried to reassure herself.

"Even if it's true, Father and Mother won't agree. They would never marry me to Shang Chaozong, a man with one foot in the grave. They won't!"

Ju shook her head. "I don't know about that. I don't know what exactly Yuan Gang discussed with the Commandery Governor and Madam, but from the looks of it... there seems to be room for negotiation."

"Impossible!"

Feng Ruonan rejected the notion flatly.

Then something suddenly clicked.

She finally understood part of what had happened. She understood why Niu Youdao had proposed that strange wager before, betting that within two hours she would release him and let him leave. He had known her family would send someone to take him away. He had known she would be unable to stop it. He had set a trap and waited for her to climb into it. He was clearly planning to repudiate the debt!

Thinking of the ten thousand gold coins, she hurriedly asked, "Where's the money I lent him? Take people and find a way to seize it back quietly!"

Ju froze.

The marriage business had confused her so badly that only this reminder brought her thoughts back to the money.

She almost jumped in alarm.

"I'm afraid we can't get it back. Yuan Gang spent the money he borrowed on all those wedding gifts. They've already been delivered to the Commandery Governor's residence!"

Feng Ruonan cried out, "What? He used the money he borrowed from me to buy wedding gifts..."

The words "to marry me" simply refused to leave her mouth.

Her eyes bulged.

Ju nodded miserably.

Mei exclaimed as well, "Despicable and shameless!"

Lan gritted her teeth. "I've seen shameless people before, but never anyone this shameless!"

The women plainly regarded such behavior with profound loathing.

"Ah!"

Coming fully back to herself, Feng Ruonan gave a strange cry and covered her face with both hands. She was so mortified she hardly knew where to put herself. She had planned to cheat them. She had wanted both the money and the man. Yet these two were the ones who had truly taken both the money and the person.

The humiliation was unbearable.

It was hardly the first time she had ever lost face, but never like this. She looked like a complete idiot. And she had even imagined everything was under her control! She was so furious she nearly fainted.

After stamping her feet repeatedly to vent her endless frustration, she suddenly raised her head, looking as though her helmet might explode from anger.

"Assemble the troops! Follow me to kill those thieves!"

More than a hundred cavalrymen were soon gathered.

They thundered away.

Feng Ruonan was genuinely enraged this time. She charged recklessly through the city streets, leaving chaos everywhere she passed.

Zhu, who had been waiting beside the road with men ready to set obstacles so Niu Youdao could not return in time to repay the debt, personally watched Feng Ruonan and her riders storm past in furious haste. She stared after them in surprise, completely unable to understand what had happened... Niu Youdao followed Bai Yao to the Commandery Governor's residence. With Bai Yao leading the way, no one stopped them. They went directly to the main reception hall.

The instant Niu Youdao entered, every gaze in the hall settled on him. Everyone had the same first impression.

Young.

News from Nanshan Temple had already arrived. It was difficult to reconcile the image of the man who had so easily defeated Song Yanqing and his two companions with the young man standing before them.

Bai Yao returned to Peng Yulan's side, folding his arms around his sword and leaning once more against the supporting pillar. Niu Youdao swept his gaze across those present. His eyes lingered briefly on Peng Yulan. No wonder Feng Ruonan was so tall and strongly built. So it ran in the family. At last his gaze settled on Yuan Gang, still bound from head to toe.

His brow furrowed slightly.

Ignoring everyone else, he asked Yuan Gang first, "You all right?"

Yuan Gang shook his head faintly. Seeing Niu Youdao arrive, he relaxed. Niu Youdao reached out, tugged loose the knot, and began undoing the ropes. Under everyone's eyes, he calmly freed Yuan Gang before acknowledging anyone else.

Only afterward did he turn toward Feng Lingbo and Peng Yulan in the seats of honor and cup his hands.

"Niu Youdao greets the Commandery Governor and Madam."

Feng Lingbo asked coldly, "You're the principal envoy Shang Chaozong sent to propose this marriage?"

"Correct."

Niu Youdao accepted the description, then corrected him.

"Though this isn't a proposal. We've come to receive the bride. This matter shouldn't be delayed. His Highness is impatient. The sooner she marries into his household, the better."

Did I ever agree to marry my daughter to Shang Chaozong? Feng Lingbo nearly wanted to spit in his face.

But there were more important matters at hand. Otherwise, he would never have summoned Niu Youdao here so urgently.

He raised the second gift list and asked heavily, "Do you know about the so-called heavy gift written on this list?"

Niu Youdao looked around.

Besides husband and wife, several other people were present, apparently all cultivators.

He hesitated.

"Is this an appropriate place to discuss it?"

Peng Yulan said, "Rest assured. Everyone here is trustworthy. Speak freely."

These cultivators were all fellow disciples from the Tianyu Sect. The matter they were about to discuss was far too important. Certain things would require the Tianyu Sect's support; husband and wife could not decide everything alone. Only then did Niu Youdao nod.

"His Highness discussed it with me beforehand. Naturally I know."

Feng Lingbo shook the gift list at him again.

"How do I know whether what's written here is real or false?"

Niu Youdao smiled.

"Whether it's true or not, I imagine the Commandery Governor has already formed his own judgment. Why ask a question when you already know the answer?"

Feng Lingbo snapped, "Nonsense! What am I supposed to base that judgment on?"

[End of Chapter 45]