Chapter 552: Picking Flowers

If Niu Youdao had not brought it up, Shounian truly would have forgotten.

Now that it was mentioned, he naturally remembered.

He had met Niu Youdao only a handful of times, and that first meeting remained especially vivid.

It had happened when Niu Youdao first arrived at the Feng family in Guangyi Commandery to propose a marriage on Shang Chaozong's behalf.

Feng Ruonan had become angry and attacked, only to be stopped by Yuan Gang.

Unable to overcome Yuan Gang in their contest of strength, Feng Ruonan had been joined by Shounian.

Shounian struck Yuan Gang with a palm.

He had not intended to kill Yuan Gang at the time, but he had secretly used vicious force.

Even if the blow did not kill him, it was meant to leave him seriously injured and teach the other side a lesson.

The result had been somewhat unexpected.

Shounian had used hidden force to injure him, yet Yuan Gang endured it.

At the time, Shounian had been rather surprised by Yuan Gang's body's ability to withstand punishment, which was why the matter remained so clear in his memory.

He also remembered perfectly well the murderous gleam that had appeared in Niu Youdao's eyes.

Niu Youdao had asked him, “Old fellow, are you tired of living?”

Later, he had warned him, “Old sir, I'll remember this palm. If I ever get the chance, I'll make sure you taste one from me too.”

Shounian had replied, “This old servant will be waiting!”

Back then, he truly had not taken the words seriously.

Neither Shang Chaozong nor Niu Youdao as they were at the time had been worthy of his attention.

He had assumed Niu Youdao was merely making a defiant remark to save face and give himself a way down from the situation.

Years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Comparing what both sides had been then to what they were now, Shounian could only sigh inwardly.

He knew Niu Youdao had brought up the matter because the time had come to settle that old account.

Shounian nodded. “I remember.”

Peng Yulan remembered the affair too.

Back then, she had been the one who signaled Shounian to intervene.

She said uneasily, “Niu Youdao, that matter had nothing to do with the steward. I was the one who instructed him...”

Niu Youdao shook his head. “There's no need to explain so much. Decide for yourselves. I won't force anyone.”

Guan Fangyi, listening nearby, was curious.

What was this business about owing a palm?

What old history was hidden here?

Shounian said, “If you can help with the Young Lady's matter, this old servant is willing to return that palm to you.”

Peng Yulan said nervously, “Shounian!”

Shounian smiled. “Madam, it's all right.”

Niu Youdao did not waste words.

He rose and walked over to Shounian.

Thump!

He lifted one hand and struck Shounian squarely in the chest with his palm.

Then he turned away, leaving only one sentence behind as he departed.

“See the guests out!”

The strike had not made much noise.

Shounian remained standing exactly where he was, without even shifting his feet.

Peng Yulan relaxed.

She assumed Niu Youdao had merely made a token gesture.

With Shounian's cultivation, such a casual palm should have been easy to endure.

And by delivering the strike, Niu Youdao had effectively accepted Shounian's condition and agreed to help.

That gave Peng Yulan something to hope for.

Yet after the three of them left the villa, Shounian's legs suddenly weakened and he stumbled.

The other man accompanying them hurriedly reached out to support him.

Feeling Shounian's body faintly trembling, he asked in alarm, “What's wrong?”

Peng Yulan turned back as well.

Seeing the strange color of Shounian's face, flushed on one side and pale on the other, she immediately supported him from the opposite side.

“What happened?”

Shounian had forced himself to remain upright until they were out of the villa.

Now he felt as though one half of his body had fallen into an ice cavern while the other half was roasting over a fire.

Two different forces churned inside him, throwing the balance of his spiritual power into chaos.

His voice trembled.

“What domineering palm force! Take me down the mountain. Find somewhere quiet where I can regulate my breathing.”

Peng Yulan and the other man understood immediately.

Niu Youdao's palm had looked ordinary, but there had been something else hidden within it.

The other man immediately seized Peng Yulan with one hand and Shounian with the other, then rapidly swept down the mountain.

Lei Zongkang, who had escorted the guests out, witnessed the scene.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

He could sympathize rather deeply with what Shounian was experiencing and more or less knew what had happened.

Inside the villa, Guan Fangyi followed beside Niu Youdao and kept pressing him curiously.

“What was that about the steward owing you a palm?”

“It was nothing. He struck Monkey once years ago. I said I'd return the favor.”

“Heh. You've remembered it all this time and you call that nothing? You really know how to hold a grudge.”

Niu Youdao did not bother explaining.

That affair had passed long ago. It could hardly be called holding a grudge anymore, and there was no point in continuing to hate Shounian.

But there was still a principle involved.

If that palm had struck Niu Youdao himself back then, he would not have bothered settling the account this way after so many years.

But the man had struck Yuan Gang.

Niu Youdao owed his brother an accounting.

He had controlled his strength.

The palm would not take Shounian's life, though some suffering was unavoidable.

...

Several days later, word arrived from Dachan Mountain.

After calculating roughly when Huang Lie would reach the provincial capital of Nanzhou, Niu Youdao's side set out as well.

Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao each brought people along.

Tianyu Sect had been driven out, and Nanzhou's interests would now have to be divided again.

Whether or not the three sects had the authority to decide anything, they certainly needed to be present to witness the new arrangement.

Maolu Villa dispatched four giant flying mounts at once.

The mounts soared high through the sky.

Standing against the wind and looking down over the vast land, the three Sect Leaders chatted and laughed along the way, filled with emotion.

It was the first time any of them had enjoyed travel like this.

After the long flight, the appearance of four enormous flying mounts above the Provincial Inspector's Residence in Nanzhou startled the cultivators inside, who immediately leapt onto the rooftops and prepared themselves.

Once friend and foe had been identified, the mounts descended into the garden.

Huang Tong, the Dachan Mountain Elder temporarily holding the place, came over and exchanged greetings with Niu Youdao.

Whatever grudges had existed between them at Myriad Beasts Sect were now in the past.

At least for the moment, Dachan Mountain had not yet established firm footing in Nanzhou and needed harmony with Niu Youdao.

Huang Lie had not arrived yet.

He was expected sometime the following morning.

Niu Youdao had deliberately come early to receive him, giving Huang Lie ample face.

Niu Youdao then introduced Fei Changliu and the others to Huang Tong.

The commotion here quickly alerted Shang Chaozong, Shang Shuqing, Lan Ruoting, Meng Shanming in his wheelchair, and the others, who all came out to welcome them.

“Master Dao!”

A whole group greeted him with delight.

Shang Shuqing's voice carried an especially bright note of joy, and brilliant light danced in her clear eyes.

Unfortunately, Niu Youdao merely smiled, nodded courteously, and addressed her as “Commandery Princess.”

Most of his attention went to exchanging a few words with Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming.

A faint disappointment touched Shang Shuqing.

She had many polite words of concern she wanted to ask him, but she had to respect her own status.

With so many people present, it was not her place to dominate the conversation with Niu Youdao.

Afterward, Niu Youdao seemed to notice something unexpected.

He looked around and asked, “Why don't I see the Princess Consort?”

Meng Shanming's heart stirred where he sat in his wheelchair, and his eyes lowered slightly.

Now that Niu Youdao had spoken and asked to see Feng Ruonan, Shang Chaozong could only send someone to invite her.

Before long, Feng Ruonan arrived.

The sight of how thin she had become startled even Niu Youdao.

She was nearly skin and bones.

The bearing of the female general who had once worn armor, displayed her might on horseback, and loosed arrows the moment she drew her bow had vanished completely.

Niu Youdao said nothing about it.

Instead, he properly cupped his hands and bowed.

“Niu Youdao greets the Princess Consort!”

Guan Fangyi blinked.

She knew exactly what Peng Yulan had come to ask.

Now she wanted to see how Niu Youdao intended to interfere in Shang Chaozong's household affairs.

Truth be told, even an upright magistrate found family matters difficult to judge.

Outsiders had no easy way to intervene in such affairs.

Even Guan Fangyi understood that if Niu Youdao forcefully interfered in the Prince's domestic affairs and tried to dictate even matters inside his household, Shang Chaozong could easily develop misgivings.

Huang Tong, standing nearby, was somewhat surprised.

Why did Niu Youdao seem more respectful toward this Princess Consort than toward anyone else in the princely residence?

Huang Tong had already been here for several days and knew roughly what had happened.

He could also tell that this Princess Consort was not particularly welcome in the residence.

The reason was hardly difficult to discover.

The Feng family had nearly taken Shang Chaozong's life.

The consequences were obvious.

Feng Ruonan forced a smile and dipped into a half-curtsy.

“Greetings, Master Dao.”

“Princess Consort, you're too courteous.” Niu Youdao smiled and waved a hand.

Then he turned to Huang Tong.

“Elder Huang may not know this, but of everyone here, the Princess Consort is actually the person I met earliest.”

“Back before I had even entered Shangqing Sect, the Princess Consort saw me wandering without a place to settle and shot me a nameplate engraved with proof of her identity.”

“She called out that the troubled world outside was difficult to survive in. If I ever found myself unable to make my way, I could take the nameplate to her and she would give me a future.”

“That is something I, Niu Youdao, have never forgotten.”

Huang Tong gave a meaningful “Oh?”

Niu Youdao had deliberately told him this.

There seemed to be an implication that Dachan Mountain should look after Feng Ruonan to some extent.

At the same time, Huang Tong swept a somewhat puzzled gaze across Shang Chaozong and the others.

Shang Chaozong and the rest fell slightly silent.

They were not deaf.

They had all heard Niu Youdao describe his connection with Feng Ruonan.

Feng Ruonan, who had been living like a piece of decaying wood, felt warmth rise in her heart.

She was no fool.

She knew how much influence Niu Youdao possessed here.

She had never imagined he would say such things publicly on her behalf.

Her eyes reddened faintly.

Niu Youdao merely let the matter pass as though it were casual conversation.

He soon turned back to reminisce with Shang Chaozong and the others.

Naturally, the residence prepared wine and food to welcome them, and a long round of conversation over the banquet was unavoidable.

By the time the feast ended, night had already fallen.

Carrying the smell of wine on him, Niu Youdao returned to the guest courtyard arranged for him.

When a steward from the residence came over to ask whether he needed anything else, Niu Youdao kept the man behind and questioned him carefully about the situation inside the residence.

Moonlight was intoxicating.

After hesitating for a long time, Shang Shuqing finally came to the wall outside Niu Youdao's courtyard.

Once there, however, she began hesitating again.

She paced back and forth for a while, wanting to go inside and find him.

Then she thought about how inappropriate it might be for a woman to visit a man late at night.

In the end, she turned around and went back.

Early the next morning, Niu Youdao left the courtyard unusually early.

He wandered here and there through the residence.

Whenever someone came over to ask what he needed, he merely said he was looking around.

No one in the residence dared stop him.

Not long after he left, Shang Shuqing arrived.

She stood inside the courtyard in hesitation.

Guan Fangyi came swaying out of the room.

When she saw Shang Shuqing, she could not help smiling.

“Commandery Princess, you're here. Have you come to comb Master Dao's hair?”

Shang Shuqing blushed slightly but did not deny it.

“Hongniang, is Master Dao awake?”

Guan Fangyi walked over, smiling broadly.

“Him? He got up first thing this morning. I have no idea where he's gone wandering.”

Shang Shuqing froze.

She had deliberately come early.

She had not expected to still arrive too late.

...

Elsewhere in the garden, two beautiful women had also risen early.

One wore white as pure as snow and was known as Yuniang.

The other wore alluring pink and was known as Wanniang.

They were the two beautiful concubines the Feng family had presented to Shang Chaozong.

The care they lavished on Shang Chaozong was truly meticulous.

Whenever the season was right, they rose early and personally gathered fresh flower petals rather than leaving the work to servants, using them to prepare soups and other delicacies for Shang Chaozong.

That morning, each carried a basket and picked petals by hand, their beauty outshining the flowers around them.

What they did not expect was to encounter someone spoiling their morning.

A servant was picking flowers in the garden.

He would casually pluck one, raise it to his nose for a sniff, then toss it away.

Throwing away one would have been bad enough.

He moved along the flowerbeds, picked another, smelled it, tossed that one away as well.

He was simply ruining them for no reason.

Both women grew angry.

Yuniang demanded, “Which courtyard do you serve?”

The servant turned around.

It was Niu Youdao.

But he was dressed in a servant's clothes and even wore a young servant's cap.

He pointed at himself.

“Me? I only just got here. What's wrong?”

He tore apart the flower in his hand and casually tossed that one away too.

Only just arrived?

The two women understood.

No wonder he did not know the rules.

Wanniang shouted, “Someone!”

Several guards heard the call and came running from outside the garden.

Wanniang pointed at the flowers scattered and ruined on the ground.

“Drag this ignorant thing away and teach him the rules properly!”

[End of Chapter 552]