Chapter 322: Stirring Up Trouble for No Reason

Niu Youdao emerged from his room and stretched beneath the eaves. His sword rested tip-down against the ground in one hand.

He rolled his head from side to side, loosening his neck and shoulders, then descended the steps and walked toward Linghu Qiu's room.

"Second Brother!" Niu Youdao called from outside the door, tapping the lower part of the doorframe with the end of his sword.

There was no response from inside. Shen Qiu flashed over and showed himself.

"Master Dao, he's gone out."

Shen Qiu was the Wuliang Mountain disciple stationed in the capital whom Niu Youdao had summoned the previous night. Niu Youdao turned and looked at him.

"Gone out?"

"Yes. He left early this morning."

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know."

Niu Youdao turned toward him fully.

"Did everyone leave?"

"Hongxiu is still on duty watching the main gate."

"Making a great beauty guard the gate really is a waste." Niu Youdao laughed.

At first he had thought Linghu Qiu and the others might have fled. If Hongxiu was still here, then they obviously had not.

He then asked, "You were involved in compiling the reports sent to me from the capital, weren't you?"

"Yes. I helped organize them."

"I saw something in the intelligence saying there's a cultivator here called Hongniang who seems to be quite well connected in the Qi capital."

"Yes."

"How much do you know about her?"

"I've never dealt with her personally, but people here mention her often."

"If someone wants to buy or sell something, they can usually find the right people through her."

"Her reputation is fairly good."

Niu Youdao nodded and walked away. He wandered to the gatehouse beside the main entrance. Hongxiu, who had been sitting inside, immediately came out to greet him.

"Master Dao, are you going out?"

"Second Brother went out?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

Hongxiu pretended ignorance.

"He didn't tell me. I don't know."

"There's a cultivator in the capital called Hongniang. Do you know her?"

Hongxiu's heart gave a jolt. Did he already know where Sir had gone? How could his information be this fast?

She pretended to think, then answered hesitantly, "I've heard of her, but I'm not familiar with her."

"When will Second Brother return?"

"I'm not sure. He didn't tell me."

The words had barely fallen when hoofbeats sounded outside. Hongxiu quickly ducked back into the gatehouse and looked through the small window. Then she hurried out and opened the gate. Linghu Qiu happened to be climbing the steps. Seeing Niu Youdao standing inside with his sword planted against the ground, he froze for a moment. Niu Youdao glanced toward the carriage outside.

"Where did Second Brother go?"

Linghu Qiu immediately walked over and beckoned him into the gatehouse.

"Brother, come here. There's something I need to tell you."

The man inside the carriage, however, had no intention of cooperating. While no one at either end of the street was paying attention, Wei Chu shot directly out of the carriage and flashed through the gate.

Whoosh!

He landed beside the two men. Several others immediately hurried over as well, taking positions around the entrance as though sealing the area. Niu Youdao looked left and right. The hand resting on his sword hilt subtly shifted into a more convenient position.

"Second Brother, what is the meaning of this?"

Wei Chu lifted his chin toward the interior of the residence. Linghu Qiu immediately gave Niu Youdao a dry smile.

"Brother, this isn't the place to talk. Let's go inside."

The group had only started inward when Hongxiu called, "Sir."

Linghu Qiu immediately signaled Hongfu to lead the visitors ahead while he remained behind. Once the others had moved some distance away, Hongxiu lowered her voice.

"Just now, Niu Youdao suddenly came over and asked whether I knew anything about Hongniang."

Linghu Qiu was surprised.

"He knows I met Hongniang?"

Hongxiu said, "I don't know what's going on either. We had barely finished speaking when you returned."

By the time Niu Youdao and the others reached the main hall, Linghu Qiu had already hurried after them. The moment he entered, he quickly ordered someone to serve tea.

"No need for ceremony. Let's discuss the actual business."

Wei Chu raised a hand to stop the tea from being served. Then he waved. The men who had come with him immediately went outside to stand guard. Niu Youdao had been quietly observing the man's words, expressions, and manner from the beginning. Linghu Qiu made the introductions.

"Brother, this is Mr. Wei Chu from Prince Jin's residence. He has a few questions for you."

"I've long heard of you." Niu Youdao cupped his hands in greeting.

In truth, he had never heard the name at all and had no idea why the man had come. First Bu Xun. Then a princess. Now someone from Prince Jin's residence. One thing after another kept appearing. Niu Youdao had no idea whether Bu Xun had sent this one too.

Wei Chu said, "No need for polite nonsense. Ask him."

He tilted his head toward Linghu Qiu. Linghu Qiu raised one fist to his mouth and coughed dryly. Then he gave Niu Youdao an awkward smile.

"Brother, it's like this. Mr. Wei wants to know what Chief Steward Bu and Princess Consort Yu discussed with you yesterday."

Niu Youdao instantly became alert. Two judgments formed in his mind at once. Either Wei Chu was an impostor Linghu Qiu had found somewhere to deceive him and probe for information. Or he was genuine. Niu Youdao would have preferred the first possibility. If Wei Chu was genuine, things were more troublesome. Ordinary people would never ask this kind of question. Who the man represented was already obvious. Niu Youdao's mind turned. Then surprise spread across his face.

"Second Brother, don't you already know what we discussed?"

"Why ask me?"

"Just tell Mr. Wei yourself and be done with it."

Hongfu, listening from the side, went completely blank. She stared at Niu Youdao in disbelief. He was lying through his teeth! Wei Chu's face turned black immediately. His eyes locked onto Linghu Qiu. Linghu Qiu himself was shocked. He stared at Niu Youdao with his mouth open, seized by the urge to strangle him to death. Then he sprang to his feet in fury.

"Third Brother, when did I ever know?"

"I asked you, and you refused to say!"

"How did that suddenly become me knowing everything?"

Niu Youdao had been watching Wei Chu's reaction carefully. The man's response did not look feigned. Niu Youdao sighed inwardly. It was probably the second possibility, the one he had not wanted to see. He looked back at Linghu Qiu. The two stared at each other. Then Niu Youdao suddenly raised a hand and slapped his own forehead.

"Oh! I remember now. I remember."

"I was mistaken."

"Second Brother really doesn't know."

"I didn't tell you at the time."

"My memory failed me."

Linghu Qiu's expression convulsed. He badly wanted to ask: since you admit I don't know, why are you acting as though you've suddenly remembered some shared secret? Now it looks as though the two of us rehearsed this together! Aren't you deliberately trying to make him misunderstand? Sure enough, Wei Chu was already laughing darkly.

"Heh, heh. What a fine performance from you two!"

"Linghu Qiu, I don't care what game you're playing."

"Tell me about yesterday."

His expression plainly said he had no time to waste watching them act. Niu Youdao lifted his chin toward Linghu Qiu.

"He's asking you."

Linghu Qiu exploded.

"I don't know anything! What do you want me to say?"

Niu Youdao turned to Wei Chu.

"Since Mr. Wei is from Prince Jin's residence, why not ask Chief Steward Bu Xun directly?"

"Why make things difficult for us?"

Wei Chu said, "When it is time to ask the Chief Steward, naturally we will ask him."

"Right now, I'm asking you."

Niu Youdao nodded. He had no desire to offend this man, so he answered readily.

"The Chief Steward and Princess Consort Yu came to see me about the same matter."

"They hoped to bring about a reconciliation between Commandery Prince Yongping and the court of the State of Yan."

Naturally he did not mention the token Bu Xun had given him. He had finally managed to get the previous batch of permits off his hands. Why would he invite trouble back onto himself?

Wei Chu asked, "That's all?"

Niu Youdao looked surprised.

"Isn't that enough?"

Wei Chu said, "There are envoys whose job is to mediate such matters."

"Why would the Chief Steward and Princess Consort Yu need to visit you one after another?"

Niu Youdao had no way to explain it. Hao Yuntu had sent Bu Xun with a token on one hand, then sent the princess consort to mediate on the other. Even Niu Youdao himself was confused by the emperor's behavior. How was he supposed to explain what he could not understand? He gave a bitter smile.

"Mr. Wei, that's all I know."

"If you keep asking, I still won't be able to conjure some new answer out of thin air."

Wei Chu stood. Slowly, he walked over to Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao rose as well. The two faced one another.

Wei Chu said, "Niu Youdao, there are consequences for speaking carelessly."

"I've already told you everything I should."

"If Mr. Wei doesn't believe me, there's nothing more I can do."

"If you doubt me, you can verify it with the Chief Steward or Princess Consort Yu."

Wei Chu's eyes narrowed.

"Are you trying to use the Chief Steward to pressure me?"

"Absolutely not. I only don't want some misunderstanding to arise."

Wei Chu slowly raised one hand. One finger pressed against Niu Youdao's chest. He jabbed him several times.

"You want to make an enemy of His Highness?"

"Don't forget where you are."

"This is the State of Qi, not your State of Yan."

"This is not a place where anyone can run wild."

"I advise you to think clearly before you speak."

The gesture was, to say the least, profoundly disrespectful. Niu Youdao looked down at the finger pressing into his chest. His voice remained calm.

"Mr. Wei, I would never dare make an enemy of His Highness."

"I've already honestly explained everything I should and shouldn't say."

Wei Chu's finger moved to Niu Youdao's shoulder. Then his palm patted it.

"So you're not planning to say anything else?"

"I can't simply make up lies to deceive Mr. Wei."

"Heh!" Wei Chu laughed.

He slapped Niu Youdao's shoulder several times with some force.

"Don't blame me for failing to warn you."

"I don't want anyone else learning about today's conversation."

"If word gets out, bear the consequences yourself."

Niu Youdao said, "I will remember Mr. Wei's warning."

Wei Chu lowered his hand, face cold, then turned and walked away. Linghu Qiu hurried after him to see him off. Niu Youdao stepped outside and stood beneath the eaves. His sword rested upright before him as he watched the guests leave. His brows were slightly furrowed.

Outside the gate, the carriage pulled away. Linghu Qiu likewise cupped his hands and watched it go, with Hongxiu and Hongfu standing at either side. Only after the carriage disappeared at the end of the alley did Linghu Qiu slowly lower his hands. He turned his head toward Hongfu.

"That fellow is unbelievably arrogant."

"Send word upward and ask them to investigate Wei Chu's background."

Then he turned and went back inside. When he returned to the main hall and found Niu Youdao still beneath the eaves, Linghu Qiu hurried over angrily.

"What did you mean just now?"

He was referring to Niu Youdao's deliberate attempt to mislead Wei Chu. What could Niu Youdao possibly have meant? Naturally, if trouble came, he wanted to drag Linghu Qiu into the water with him. But his mouth gave a different answer.

"You're asking me?"

"I should be asking what Second Brother means."

"You knew perfectly well what kind of background that man has, yet you still brought him here."

"Were you deliberately trying to create trouble for me?"

That shut Linghu Qiu up for a moment. When all was said and done, he really had failed his sworn brother first. Then he sighed repeatedly.

"Do you think I wanted to stir up trouble for no reason?"

"You know his background now."

"He suddenly found me this morning and insisted on asking about yesterday."

"What was I supposed to do?"

Niu Youdao said, "You could've told him you didn't know and left it at that."

"Why bring him to see me?"

Linghu Qiu lied without blinking.

"I wasn't the one who wanted to bring him."

"He insisted that I take him here."

"Could I refuse?"

"You could've said I wasn't here."

Linghu Qiu rolled his eyes.

"Are you talking nonsense?"

"They even know who came to see you."

"Do you think they wouldn't know whether you're here?"

[End of Chapter 322]