Chapter 59: Serious Business

Song Jiuming was secretly alarmed by those words. The matter of the Shangqing Sect assigning Shang Chaozong a retainer cultivator was one thing, but how had news of his own grandson intercepting them on the road leaked so quickly?

Tong Mo spoke. "Eunuch Shui, these are only peripheral details. Young men fighting over a woman is understandable, and he has already paid a grievous price for it. There is no point pursuing that now. Better to think about how to solve the real problem."

Those words made Song Jiuming's heart pound even harder. The Grand Minister of Works even knew his grandson had acted out of jealousy. How had he learned that?

He suddenly understood. The eyes and ears on this side extended far beyond anything he had imagined. Tong Mo appeared to be shielding him, but there was also a warning in it: by all means, try hiding a little more from us next time.

Ga Miaoshui had originally intended to ask a few more questions, such as whether the Song clan's actions had risked alerting the snake by striking the grass. Seeing that Tong Mo meant to protect Song Jiuming on the matter, he let it drop.

"Since Feng Lingbo already knows about that thing, there is no need to keep watching the Shangqing Sect. Otherwise, they may turn around and collude with Shang Chaozong and create more trouble later. One less problem is still one less problem. Dispose of them."

Tong Mo added the order indifferently.

"Yes!" Song Jiuming bowed and accepted.

Chen Guishuo's provocation at the Shangqing Sect had originally only been meant to teach Tang Susu a lesson. For the reasons just discussed, Song Jiuming had never intended to truly move against the sect, so some of the Shangqing Sect's fears had been unnecessary.

But after learning that Feng Lingbo and Shang Chaozong were forming a marriage alliance, Song Jiuming knew the Shangqing Sect was genuinely finished. It had lost all remaining value.

Now, sure enough...

The capital of Guangyi Commandery was steeped in celebration. After officials beat gongs through the streets to announce the date of Feng Ruonan's wedding, merchants throughout the city voluntarily hung red cloth outside their doors. Those with the means even put up lanterns and festive decorations, hoping the Commandery Governor's residence would notice their goodwill. Some families holding funerals temporarily avoided making a public display of mourning.

Feng Lingbo had also made a gesture of his own. To celebrate the marriage, taxes throughout Guangyi Commandery would be halved for the year, drawing cheers everywhere.

Strictly speaking, reducing taxes required imperial approval. But the court had no real ability to interfere. Feng Lingbo had already been quietly refusing to remit Guangyi Commandery's tax revenues anyway.

Each time the court demanded payment, Guangyi Commandery pleaded hardship. It never openly said it would refuse to pay; the court simply never saw the money. The two sides went back and forth endlessly, neither willing to tear away the last layer of pretense.

The garden estate where Shang Chaozong was temporarily staying now served as the groom's residence. The Commandery Governor's residence supplied both money and manpower to decorate it, and naturally it was hung everywhere with lanterns and festive ornaments.

Today was the wedding day.

Steward Shounian was the busiest man of all, directing people inside and out. Once matters at the Commandery Governor's residence were more or less arranged, he brought another group to inspect the garden estate, immediately ordering corrections wherever he found something unsatisfactory.

Feng Lingbo had only one daughter. He already felt he had wronged her by forcing this marriage upon her, so he refused to let her suffer any further indignity in the ceremony itself. His order was that the wedding must be magnificent.

After inspecting the estate, Shounian met Lan Ruoting, who had come to see him off. He explained that Feng Ruoyi and Feng Ruojie could not return to attend their younger sister's wedding and hoped Shang Chaozong's side would not take offense. Both elder brothers had, however, sent generous gifts.

Lan Ruoting expressed complete understanding.

Feng Ruoyi and Feng Ruojie commanded troops guarding strategic positions in eastern and western Guangyi Commandery. Now that Feng Lingbo and Shang Chaozong were forming a marriage alliance, no one knew whether the imperial court might take a desperate gamble. Guangyi Commandery could not afford carelessness. Its defenses had to be strengthened instead, and the commanders responsible for those positions could hardly leave their posts. After seeing Shounian off, Lan Ruoting returned to the inner garden and mentioned the matter to Shang Chaozong.

Shang Chaozong gave an absent-minded acknowledgment. There were roughly two hours left before he had to formally depart for the Commandery Governor's residence to receive the bride. This was the first time in his life he had faced such a thing, so calling him nervous would not be wrong. More importantly, he still had not even met Feng Ruonan.

He had heard she possessed a temperament like fire. And every rotten thing Niu Youdao had done had ultimately transferred all the pressure onto him.

The maddening part was that he could not even blame Niu Youdao. The man had done outrageously shameless things, yet Shang Chaozong still owed him thanks.

To be able to entrap someone so badly and still make the victim grateful was an achievement in itself. Shang Chaozong had to concede defeat before Niu Youdao. His old impression of what a disciple of the Shangqing Sect should be like had been completely overturned.

As the three stood beneath the eaves, Shang Chaozong inwardly restless, Niu Youdao came strolling slowly into view with his "walking stick" in hand and two men behind him.

One was Yuan Gang.

The other was Yuan Fang, his face bruised and swollen, trailing timidly at the very rear. Over the last few days, Shang Chaozong and the others had noticed that the bear demon seemed to acquire fresh injuries every day. One look at his eyes was enough to guess who had been beating him.

Yuan Fang was plainly watching Yuan Gang's face at every moment. The slightest glance from Yuan Gang could frighten him into retreating two steps.

The three found it strange. None knew how the bear demon had offended Niu Youdao badly enough to be beaten every day.

As for why they assumed Niu Youdao was the one offended, the reason was simple. After several days together, they knew Yuan Gang was not someone who went looking for trouble. Without Niu Youdao's instruction, why would he torment the bear demon like this?

They guessed Yuan Fang still did not understand Niu Youdao very well and had no idea who the true culprit behind his beatings was.

Niu Youdao carried himself with considerable grace and usually looked easygoing enough. The bear demon actually seemed more willing to approach him.

"Your Highness looks especially spirited today!"

Niu Youdao approached laughing.

How could the groom not look spirited, dressed in full wedding attire?

Shang Chaozong answered helplessly, "Master Dao, please stop teasing this prince."

After everything they had experienced together, and several days of living side by side without incident, both sides had become far more relaxed in their dealings.

"Your Highness didn't rest well last night, did you?"

Niu Youdao looked at the dark circles that had stubbornly remained beneath Shang Chaozong's eyes for the last several days. Today, a little powder had clearly been applied to conceal them. Shang Chaozong was beginning to find him unbearable. This wretched man had made a point of reminding him about it once every day.

Lan Ruoting smiled. "A major event in a man's life, and his first time experiencing it. His Highness's feelings are understandable."

Beneath her veil, Shang Shuqing pressed her lips together to hide a smile. No one could see it anyway.

Her gaze drifted again toward the sword Niu Youdao was using as a walking stick, and she felt a small pang of distress for the weapon.

Of course she recognized the sword. She had personally carried it to the Shangqing Sect. Back then, Mr. Dong Guo had solemnly presented this treasured sword to her father, yet now it had fallen to the point of being abused like this.

It really was a little...

Still, the sword already belonged to Niu Youdao. How he chose to use his own possession was his affair, and no one else had any grounds to object.

"Master Dao, come with us later," Shang Chaozong invited him.

Niu Youdao knew he meant the Commandery Governor's residence.

Having done such a "good deed," however, he felt it would be better to avoid the scene. He waved a hand.

"I won't go. Someone should stay here to watch the house."

Then he turned slightly and pointed at Yuan Fang.

"Old Bear doesn't have a proper identity. That could cause trouble later. Mr. Lan, when you have the chance, please mention it to Feng Lingbo's side and have them arrange an official identity for Old Bear. It will make traveling outside much easier in the future."

Yuan Fang's bruised and swollen face immediately squeezed itself into a smile. He thought to himself that this man really was a good person.

Old Bear?

Shang Chaozong and the others exchanged strange looks. First Monkey, then an Ox, and now a Bear.

What an odd collection.

Lan Ruoting nodded. "I'll speak with Steward Shounian later. It shouldn't be difficult."

They chatted for a while longer about matters both serious and trivial. As the auspicious hour for departure approached, Niu Youdao waved Yuan Fang away. Only then did his expression become serious.

"Your Highness, there are some words I don't know whether I should say."

Shang Chaozong immediately adopted a look of earnest attention. "Please speak freely."

Niu Youdao said, "Tonight is the bridal chamber. Your Highness needs to treat it as serious business. You must take Feng Ruonan down in one stroke."

Everyone present was an adult. How could they fail to understand what he meant? For a moment, all three were speechless. They had thought he was about to discuss some genuinely serious matter. Instead, he had brought up this.

Shang Shuqing was still an unmarried young woman. Hearing such a subject without warning made her blush uneasily beneath the veil, and she had no idea where she ought to stand.

Shang Chaozong was embarrassed as well. He badly wanted to ask whether Niu Youdao truly had to talk about this in public.

Lan Ruoting sighed. "Master Dao, discussing such private matters openly is somewhat inappropriate."

The implication was that Niu Youdao ought to show a little restraint.

Niu Youdao waved his hand. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm being serious. Whether a woman has truly become husband and wife with a man makes an enormous difference. If Your Highness wants to turn the troops borrowed from Feng Lingbo into your own troops, you won't manage it without Feng Ruonan's wholehearted cooperation. Better to draw the relationship close as quickly as possible."

The others fell silent.

At this stage they were gambling for survival amid danger. Embarrassing though the subject was, the reasoning was not wrong.

Feng Lingbo's decision to send his daughter with Shang Chaozong to Canglu County might well include an intention to monitor him. Command of the troops would certainly remain in Feng Ruonan's hands; they were not going to obey Shang Chaozong instead. And Shang Chaozong's side could not actually produce the hundred thousand Crow Generals. If Feng Ruonan followed them and kept pressing the matter relentlessly, she could become a major problem. Winning over Feng Ruonan truly was an important matter.

Just then, someone came from outside to urge Shang Chaozong to depart. The interruption happened to dissolve the awkwardness for both brother and sister. Lan Ruoting signaled for the two of them to go ahead. Once Shang Chaozong and Shang Shuqing had left, Lan Ruoting moved closer to Niu Youdao.

"What Master Dao said has given me a certain concern. From what I've learned over the past two days, Feng Ruonan has a fiery temperament and feels no goodwill toward His Highness. I'm afraid this matter may be troublesome."

Niu Youdao lowered his voice. "That's exactly what worries me. The bridal chamber is the opportunity. Once tonight passes, I fear Feng Ruonan may refuse even to stay in the same room with His Highness. If the two remain separated and she refuses to live with him, then matters become troublesome. If even her person doesn't belong to His Highness, how could her heart belong to him? Especially when she's going there with a mission of her own. So tonight, His Highness absolutely must take Feng Ruonan down."

Lan Ruoting could not help smiling bitterly. He had never imagined that one day he would seriously discuss something like this as a matter of state.

He shook his head. "What do you expect His Highness to do, use force?"

Niu Youdao coughed lightly. "It's their wedding night, perfectly proper and legitimate. If His Highness shows a little of the manly spirit he ought to possess, what can anyone say? Wherever you take the matter, His Highness is in the right. It would be the other side refusing to understand proper conduct. This isn't a small issue. Mr. Lan, you'll need to urge His Highness along."

"Ah..."

Lan Ruoting sighed and nodded.

After he left, only Yuan Gang and Niu Youdao remained.

Yuan Gang suddenly said, "At the military drill ground, Feng Ruonan stabbed at Master Dao with a spear."

Niu Youdao knew he would not bring that up without reason. He looked back.

"What are you getting at?"

"Feng Ruonan really is a fierce general. Her attacks carry considerable strength. From what I observed, His Highness may not be her match."

Niu Youdao understood at once.

If Shang Chaozong tried to use force in the bridal chamber, he might be the one who got beaten, and he might still fail.

Niu Youdao frowned.

Then he lowered his voice.

"Find a way to get something that makes the hands and feet go weak."

Yuan Gang understood immediately.

He rolled his eyes. "Don't ask me to do something that low."

Niu Youdao glared at him. "I don't do things despised by people of the jianghu either. You know perfectly well that whenever I caught someone doing that sort of thing in the past, I crippled him. Why would I ask you to do it? That fellow at Nanshan Temple used to specialize in similar business. He's experienced. He definitely has something like that on hand."

[End of Chapter 59]