Chapter 550: Master Dao

The Feng family had killed so many of his brothers. Could Shang Chaozong pretend nothing had happened and still openly treat the Feng clan with favor?

What would the brothers beneath him think if they saw that?

If everyone wanted an easier life, it would be best if the two sides simply stopped seeing each other.

Peng Yulan coming here only put Shang Chaozong in an impossible position.

She was, after all, his mother-in-law. Treating her harshly would earn him infamy. Treating her generously as his mother-in-law would chill the hearts of his brothers.

“Your Highness!” Meng Shanming instead called out to stop him.

After hesitating, he said, “Since she came to see me, she presumably has something to say. There is no harm in my going to hear what she wants.”

Shang Chaozong said heavily, “Uncle Meng...”

“Brother!” Shang Shuqing spoke up. “There is nothing wrong with letting Uncle Meng see what she wants.”

Lan Ruoting followed by offering the same advice.

With several people persuading him, Shang Chaozong finally relented and called for men to escort Meng Shanming over.

Inside an elegant room in the Provincial Inspector's Residence, Peng Yulan sat alone in silence.

She had arrived with guards, but only she had been allowed inside.

The Provincial Inspector's Residence was now under Dachan Mountain's control. Tianyu Sect no longer had the final say here.

If they refused to let anyone else in, there was nothing she could do.

When Meng Shanming arrived, Peng Yulan stood.

She forced out a strained smile and saluted with visible restraint. “Marshal Meng.”

Times had changed.

In the past, she would hardly have regarded Meng Shanming so seriously.

Meng Shanming nodded slightly, then looked back. “Da'an, wait outside.”

Luo Da'an, who had been pushing the wheelchair behind him, looked at Peng Yulan with faint flames in his eyes.

In a sense, Peng Yulan could be called the enemy who had caused his father's death.

Remembering his mother washing her face with tears, grief and fury filled his chest.

“Master, this person cannot be left unguarded against.”

His whole posture said he intended to stay and protect Meng Shanming.

“Too much talk. Out!” Meng Shanming barked.

Luo Da'an lowered his head, turned with his twin spears in hand, and left.

Meng Shanming looked back at Peng Yulan and inwardly sighed.

With her cultivation crippled, Peng Yulan had aged greatly and become far more haggard. Most of what had once been a head of black hair was now white.

“He is still young. Madam need not lower yourself to arguing with him.”

Peng Yulan gave another strained smile. “It is nothing. I was the one who came presumptuously and disturbed Marshal Meng.”

She did not know Luo Da'an and therefore did not understand the true source of his anger.

She simply attributed everything to what had happened before.

Meng Shanming said, “Madam, please sit. Whatever you wish to say, we can discuss it slowly.”

His cultured and gentle manner eased some of the unease in Peng Yulan's heart, and she slowly sat down.

Seeing her hesitate, unsure how to begin, Meng Shanming took the initiative.

“Has Madam come because of the Princess Consort?”

He was not the only one who thought so.

Earlier, Shang Shuqing and Lan Ruoting had helped persuade Shang Chaozong for the same reason.

At the mention of her daughter, Peng Yulan's eyes reddened.

Her face crumpled as she shook her head. “Marshal Meng, I was wrong. Back then I was possessed by obsession. I harmed my own son and harmed my daughter as well.”

“But Marshal Meng, Ruonan truly knew nothing about that affair. From beginning to end she never took part in any of it. It truly had nothing to do with her...”

Some people remained trapped in obsession until the very end.

Before Tianyu Sect began withdrawing from Nanzhou, Peng Yulan had still been immersed in hatred over the death of her son.

Only when she learned Tianyu Sect had been driven out of Nanzhou by Shang Chaozong's side did the power revealed here finally jolt her awake.

Even Tianyu Sect could do nothing to Shang Chaozong.

What could she possibly do?

At least for now, she had no means at all.

Only after Tianyu Sect began relocating did she remember that she still had a daughter in Shang Chaozong's hands.

Once she finally came to her senses, she realized how badly she had wronged that daughter.

She found Bai Yao and asked how Feng Ruonan had been living.

Bai Yao did not explain much.

He only asked in return, “What do you think?”

Then he added one more sentence:

“She refuses to associate with Tianyu Sect's people. She is alone and without support, and she has grown so thin she hardly looks human!”

Peng Yulan's feelings at the time were difficult to describe.

She had broken down in tears.

Afterward, she wanted Tianyu Sect to take Feng Ruonan away with them.

But by then, thinking of such a thing was already too late.

Tianyu Sect's attention and energy had shifted toward Beizhou, where it was about to establish itself, while Shang Chaozong was no longer under the sect's control.

Back when Tianyu Sect still controlled him, if Feng Ruonan refused to leave, the sect could simply have taken her away by force.

But Yan's three great sects had intervened without warning and instantly separated Tianyu Sect from the people inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence.

By the time Tianyu Sect reacted, it was already too late to take anyone away.

Could Tianyu Sect now force its way into Shang Chaozong's residence and seize Feng Ruonan?

Without Tianyu Sect remaining here to look after her, Peng Yulan could not imagine how her daughter would live in the future.

With no other solution, she had swallowed her pride and come here.

She also knew speaking directly with Shang Chaozong would be difficult.

It would place him in an awkward position and make conflict even more likely.

That was why she thought of Meng Shanming.

She knew how much influence he possessed over Shang Chaozong.

Given Meng Shanming's seniority and experience, he was someone whose words carried weight.

Meng Shanming listened calmly until she finished, then nodded.

“Madam need not explain. I have known the Princess Consort for more than a day or two. I know what sort of person she is.”

“But I do not understand what Madam wishes to ask.”

Peng Yulan wiped away her tears and cautiously asked, “Could Marshal Meng speak to the Prince and have him let Ruonan leave?”

Meng Shanming considered her words. “Does Madam understand the Princess Consort's own attitude?”

“No one here is restricting her freedom.”

“Even while Tianyu Sect was still here, the matter was raised several times.”

“It is not that His Highness refuses to let the Princess Consort leave. The Princess Consort herself does not wish to go.”

“Tianyu Sect should know this. The sect should be well aware of her attitude.”

“I know. I know all of that,” Peng Yulan said. “That is why I hope Marshal Meng can think of some way.”

Meng Shanming sighed. “How am I supposed to devise a way for such a thing?”

“Would you have me think of some method to drive the Princess Consort out of her own home? Is that something a subject should do?”

“The Princess Consort has done nothing wrong. We can only persuade husband and wife toward reconciliation, not persuade them to separate.”

Before she could continue, he raised a hand to stop her.

“Madam, I understand your feelings. Forgive me for speaking bluntly.”

“The Princess Consort is fierce and unyielding at heart. Even if she leaves the Prince's residence, she will not go with you.”

“Letting her drift outside alone would only harm her.”

“If someone with ulterior motives made use of her, it would likewise implicate His Highness.”

“If Madam truly wishes to help her, you should find another way.”

Peng Yulan immediately asked, “How can I help her? Marshal Meng, please teach me.”

At that, Meng Shanming hesitated slightly.

“There is one person on our side who should be able to help the Princess Consort, if he is willing to act. I simply do not know whether he will be willing.”

Peng Yulan immediately asked, “Who?”

Meng Shanming slowly spoke the name.

“Niu Youdao.”

“He has a relationship with this side that is close yet separate. He possesses enormous influence here, yet keeps enough distance that he is not bound by the relationships between superior and subordinate on this side.”

“Everyone from top to bottom both respects and fears him, and they trust him.”

What he said was true.

Niu Youdao owed no one on Shang Chaozong's side anything.

If anything, the people here, from top to bottom, had repeatedly received great favors from Niu Youdao.

Over all these years, by giving without taking for himself, Niu Youdao had unknowingly accumulated tremendous influence throughout Nanzhou.

“...” Peng Yulan fell silent.

She believed Meng Shanming, but the problem was obvious.

With a bitter expression, she said, “My relationship with him is no good either. Marshal Meng, if you were to ask, he should give you some face. Could you perhaps...?”

Meng Shanming shook his head.

“Madam, there are some matters that place us in a difficult position as well. Otherwise, why would I need to ask Madam to seek him yourself?”

“Forget everyone else. You saw the attitude of that boy behind me just now.”

“His father was once a close retainer of Prince Ning and also served under me.”

“He died saving me, at the hands of your son—the Princess Consort's elder brother.”

“There are some matters where, if I step forward personally, how am I to answer to the living and the dead?”

The words had been put this plainly.

How could Peng Yulan fail to understand?

Once she understood, she did not continue disturbing him.

This was not a place she could remain for long either.

She took her leave and departed.

Meng Shanming watched her go and sighed softly.

He had no other choice but to give Peng Yulan that suggestion.

They could hardly kill Feng Ruonan merely because of their feud with the Feng family.

Driving her out was inappropriate as well.

Even if Shang Chaozong repudiated her, they had once been husband and wife in name, and she had once been his Princess Consort.

Just as Meng Shanming had told Peng Yulan, if someone with ulterior motives used her, it would still implicate this side.

...

Qingshan Commandery, Maolu Villa.

The villa had already been swept spotless, yet people were cleaning it again.

A group of monks had arrived to do the work.

The monks of Nanshan Temple had returned.

Yuan Fang had changed back into his monk's robes and was directing everyone about, pointing here and there, insisting every last place be cleaned thoroughly.

In truth, people from the three sects had always assigned someone to clean the villa every day.

Yuan Fang simply thought it was not clean enough.

Three figures descended outside the villa.

Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao walked inside, looked at the people cleaning, and found Yuan Fang.

“When will Niu Youdao return?” Fei Changliu asked.

When the three Sect Leaders suddenly discovered Yuan Fang and the others had returned, along with the Wuliang Mountain people who had disappeared before, they realized Niu Youdao was almost certainly coming back.

So for two days straight, the three of them had come several times each day and asked the same question repeatedly.

Yuan Fang merely chuckled and gave them the same answer as before. “How would I know? Eh...”

He happened to glance skyward and froze.

The three Sect Leaders followed his gaze.

Four flying mounts were sweeping toward them through the sky.

After circling above the villa several times, they spiraled down.

As the four mounts landed in the courtyard, a group of figures immediately flashed off their backs.

Who else could it be but Niu Youdao and the others?

“Master Dao!”

Yuan Fang broke into a delighted grin.

With his monk's robes flapping, he trotted over, his uncovered bald head gleaming brightly.

All the monks who had been cleaning stopped and stood neatly, palms pressed together in welcome.

“You still look better dressed like this.”

Niu Youdao looked Yuan Fang up and down, gave that verdict, then ignored him.

He surveyed the surroundings.

Seeing that the villa remained just as before, he nodded in satisfaction.

The three Sect Leaders came over.

Xia Hua smiled and spoke first. “Master Dao!”

That formal change in address made Fei Changliu and Zheng Jiuxiao exchange a look.

Then both of them greeted him in turn.

“Master Dao.”

Niu Youdao smiled as he studied the three for a moment.

At last he said, “You've worked hard lately.”

“It was only what we should do.” Xia Hua giggled.

Then she moved to one side, linked arms with Guan Fangyi, and began chatting and laughing with her.

After speaking briefly with the three Sect Leaders, Niu Youdao introduced Zhuang Hong and the others.

The three immediately treated them with solemn respect.

Once Guan Fangyi took Zhuang Hong and the others away to settle them in, Xia Hua leaned closer again with a smile.

“Master Dao, whose flying mounts are these?”

It was not only these few.

The three Sect Leaders had noticed earlier that when Gongsun Bu and the others returned, they had done so in extraordinary style—eight enormous flying mounts, three of them Scarlet Hunting Eagles.

The sight had nearly made the three Sect Leaders drool.

And now four more had appeared.

Was there any end to it?

At this rate, Maolu Villa was beginning to look like a branch of Myriad Beasts Sect.

Niu Youdao chuckled. “They're all Hongniang's.”

The three Sect Leaders looked at one another.

Niu Youdao casually added, “If the three sects ever have urgent business in the future, you may come borrow them.”

[End of Chapter 550]