Chapter 553: Standing Up for Her

Niu Youdao raised a hand and rubbed his forehead. This was the first time he had encountered anyone on Shang Chaozong's side who dared treat him like this.

He was only a servant, after all, and now the Prince's favored women had spoken. Several guards immediately came at him like wolves and tigers.

But the guard leading them sensed something was wrong. Niu Youdao looked vaguely familiar, and the man's heart suddenly jolted when he saw how calm he remained.

“Stop!”

One of the guards had already laid a hand on Niu Youdao.

The leader waved repeatedly. “Do not be rude!”

The two beauties frowned toward him.

Cultivators from Dachan Mountain appeared in the distance, alerted by the two women's shout for guards. But after seeing that the man was Niu Youdao, they did not come over. They merely watched from afar, somewhat curious why he was dressed like a young household servant.

The leading guard stepped forward and cautiously asked, “Are you Master Dao?”

Niu Youdao looked down at his clothes and asked in return, “You can still recognize me dressed like this?”

He had actually wanted the incident to grow a little larger. He had not expected to be recognized so quickly.

A fine sweat immediately broke out on the guard's forehead. He hurriedly cupped his hands in apology. “Master Dao, forgive us. We failed to recognize you.”

Master Dao.

How many men in this princely residence could possibly be called Master Dao?

Many had long heard of him without ever seeing him. They only knew he had arrived yesterday.

In truth, Niu Youdao had never spent much time living alongside Shang Chaozong. Most of the time they resided separately, and Niu Youdao seldom showed himself openly among Shang Chaozong's people.

Had these been the old men around Shang Chaozong, the personal guards who had followed him from the capital years ago, they certainly would have recognized Niu Youdao.

But so many years had passed. Those guards could hardly remain personal guards beside Shang Chaozong until old age.

Some of the original group had died.

And because Shang Chaozong was at the stage when he desperately needed men, most of the survivors had already risen in rank and been sent throughout Nanzhou to serve as officers, helping him control the forces below. They had become trusted military men throughout his command.

Only a small number still remained at the princely residence handling its security.

Even those men were now figures of some standing within the residence. Once they stepped outside, almost anyone across Nanzhou had to give them a measure of face. Naturally, men like that were unlikely to be standing guard beside the flower garden.

In any case, the veterans who had followed Shang Chaozong in those early years had not chosen the wrong man. The price they had paid had proven worthwhile. As Shang Chaozong rose, they had risen with him.

The farther he went and the higher he climbed, the better their own futures became.

If Shang Chaozong fell, they would be the first people purged.

Their interests were bound together, which was precisely why they were all utterly loyal to him.

The two beauties stared in shock.

Master Dao?

Could this truly be Niu Youdao?

Neither had ever seen him. Ordinarily they had no opportunity to do so either. They had not even been qualified to attend yesterday's banquet.

They might both be Shang Chaozong's women, but a principal wife was a principal wife and a concubine was a concubine. Status alone determined many things.

What did status mean?

Put simply, it meant a position that was proper in name and justified by right.

At formal occasions, whether the principal wife was beautiful or plain, the woman seated as an equal with honored guests would always be the principal wife, the mistress of the household.

Anyone of standing paid attention to such distinctions.

A concubine could only serve as accompaniment on less formal occasions.

And strictly speaking, these two were not even Shang Chaozong's concubines yet.

They were already treated much like concubines, but Shang Chaozong had never formally taken them into his household.

From Shang Chaozong's perspective, his ambitions were not limited to Nanzhou. This was not yet the time to indulge in pleasure and start formally taking concubines. The impression it created would be poor.

But becoming formal concubines was exactly what these two women were striving for.

Learning that the man before them might be the legendary figure standing behind the Prince, both women hurried over in alarm.

Yuniang asked uneasily, “Are you Niu Youdao—Master Dao?”

Niu Youdao said, “I would not dare claim the title of Master Dao. I am Niu Youdao. I have never seen either of you in the residence before. May I ask who you are?”

Both women felt like crying.

You are such an important person. Why dress yourself like a household servant?

They hurriedly bowed.

“Yuniang and Wanniang pay their respects to Master Dao.”

“Yuniang? Wanniang?” Niu Youdao muttered the names in apparent puzzlement.

Then he turned to the leading guard.

“I haven't heard of them. Who are they?”

The guard looked awkward and found the matter difficult to explain.

Calling them the Prince's concubines would not be quite accurate.

After hesitating, he offered a tactful reminder.

“They belong to His Highness. The two young madams.”

“Oh!” Niu Youdao suddenly looked enlightened. “Then I really was the one who offended you.”

“No, no! It was these lowly concubines who failed to recognize Master Dao and offended you instead.” Both women hurriedly apologized.

Niu Youdao ignored them and turned to the leading guard.

“Please trouble yourself to invite the Princess Consort over.”

“Yes!”

The guard hurried away and quickly went to inform Feng Ruonan.

Before long, Feng Ruonan arrived.

Seeing Niu Youdao together with the two visibly anxious women, she still had no idea what had happened and stepped forward to greet him.

Niu Youdao explained the incident from beginning to end and apologized to Feng Ruonan, the formal mistress of the household.

Feng Ruonan found it awkward to comment on those two women. She said little and expressed no clear opinion.

Instead, the two beauties repeatedly apologized again and again.

Seeing this, and seeing Feng Ruonan's attitude leave him no opening to push further, Niu Youdao said no more.

He had also lost any interest in continuing his stroll through the garden.

He left.

...

In a small courtyard, Meng Shanming braced himself on the arms of his wheelchair and lifted his body, exercising the strength of his arms.

Luo Da'an came in carrying a bucket of hot water and hurried to the wheelchair.

“Master, something happened. I heard Master Dao clashed with the Prince's two concubines in the garden just now. The Prince and Mr. Lan have already heard and rushed over. Do you want to go take a look?”

Meng Shanming slowly relaxed his arms and settled back into the wheelchair.

After a brief silence, he shook his head.

“I won't go. You go find out exactly what happened.”

“All right!”

Luo Da'an nodded and ran off.

Young men enjoyed excitement and naturally found this sort of thing interesting.

...

By the time Niu Youdao slowly wandered back to the guest courtyard, Guan Fangyi was reminiscing with Shang Shuqing.

Seeing him return dressed like this, Shang Shuqing stared in surprise.

Guan Fangyi burst into delighted laughter.

“I say, Master Dao, what kind of performance are you putting on now?”

“Don't mention it.” Niu Youdao waved a hand.

The three had only just sat down inside the pavilion when Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting came hurrying over.

Seeing the people inside, Shang Chaozong quickly approached and asked in surprise, “Master Dao, why are you dressed like this?”

Niu Youdao smiled bitterly.

“This is my first time staying here. I discovered the Provincial Inspector's Residence is quite large, so I decided to look around. I grew tired of everyone bowing and greeting me every few steps, so I asked a servant for a set of clothes and changed into them.”

“Who would have thought I'd accidentally offend Your Highness's women in the garden? Truly embarrassing.”

Shang Shuqing looked astonished.

What had happened?

Guan Fangyi merely gave Niu Youdao a sidelong look, the trace of a smile playing around her mouth.

They had already heard about the incident. Otherwise Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting would not have hurried over.

Shang Chaozong immediately said, “Master Dao speaks too seriously. You did not offend anyone. The two of them failed to recognize you, spoke disrespectfully, and offended Master Dao instead. Please do not take it to heart. I will summon them immediately and have them apologize.”

They had been hoping for Niu Youdao to visit for a long time.

He had finally come, only to be lectured by two unreliable women on their side.

What kind of situation was this?

“I wouldn't dare!” Niu Youdao raised a hand to stop him.

“I saw it clearly enough just now. Even the Princess Consort did not dare say a word in front of those two women. What temper could I possibly show?”

“I simply find it strange. I know the Princess Consort's temperament. Back then, she even dared beat Your Highness. For those two to intimidate a woman with the Princess Consort's temper, they clearly aren't easy to provoke.”

“Nothing happened to me anyway. Better to let it go.”

Hearing that his sister-in-law had not dared speak in front of those two women, Shang Shuqing pursed her lips and cast a sidelong glance toward her elder brother.

A faint, unreadable smile remained at the corner of Guan Fangyi's mouth.

Lan Ruoting, who had come intending to smooth matters over, fell silent as well.

Outsiders had no easy place interfering in another man's household affairs.

Shang Chaozong looked thoroughly embarrassed.

“Master Dao, it isn't that serious. I'll have them come over right now.”

Niu Youdao waved his hand again.

“Your Highness, don't go looking for trouble where there is none.”

“Women have narrow hearts. The way those two looked at me already seemed wrong. There was hidden killing intent!”

“If you drag them here again and make them lose face, we'll truly become enemies.”

“If they gain power in the future, who knows what trouble may follow?”

“I can't afford to provoke them. If matters can stay quiet, let them stay quiet. Forget it.”

He had even used the words “hidden killing intent.”

Shang Chaozong and the others were all startled.

“Huang Lie should be arriving soon. I'll change clothes so I can receive him.”

Niu Youdao turned and left the pavilion, heading toward his room.

Guan Fangyi rose slightly, gave the others an apologetic smile, and followed him.

Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting left in silence.

After such an incident, Shang Shuqing had no reason to remain either.

She intended to find out exactly what had happened.

...

In another courtyard, Meng Shanming poured hot water and washed his face.

Luo Da'an had not yet returned with news.

Instead, Lan Ruoting came after parting from Shang Chaozong, sighing heavily as he arrived.

“What happened? You sound like you're about to breathe your last.” Meng Shanming asked from behind the hot towel covering his face.

“Something happened...”

Lan Ruoting explained the situation.

Meng Shanming kneaded the towel into a ball in his hand and asked, “What does His Highness think?”

Lan Ruoting smiled bitterly.

“What else could he think?”

“Yesterday, Master Dao deliberately mentioned his old connection with the Princess Consort in front of Huang Tong. Then this happens first thing this morning.”

“He claims he grew tired of everyone in the residence bowing to him, changed into a servant's clothes, and accidentally ran into the Prince's women in the garden.”

“Marshal Meng, do you believe that?”

“His Highness isn't a fool either. Master Dao plainly came to stand up for the Princess Consort and give her backing.”

“He simply does not wish to say it outright because this is His Highness's household affair.”

“This is the sort of thing we cannot easily comment on.” Meng Shanming sighed.

“Let His Highness decide for himself.”

...

Shang Chaozong entered a hall and sat down.

The two beauties were there.

Yuniang served tea, while Wanniang cautiously asked from the side, “Your Highness, did that Master Dao say anything?”

Shang Chaozong remained expressionless and said nothing.

Yuniang said aggrievedly, “Your Highness, we truly didn't say anything much. At first, we genuinely didn't recognize him. Neither of us had ever seen him before, and he was dressed like a servant. How could we not misunderstand?”

“We apologized already. What more does he want?”

Wanniang added from beside her, “Whatever else may be true, we are still Your Highness's women. Nothing actually happened. If he refuses to let it go, then he's showing far too little regard for Your Highness.”

Shang Chaozong turned his head and looked at her coldly.

Then he rose and walked away.

...

Feng Ruonan still did not truly understand what had happened.

Only when Shang Shuqing came to question her did she realize Niu Youdao had deliberately created the incident.

He had come specifically to stand up for her and give her backing.

She truly had not imagined that the Niu Youdao of today would still spend this sort of thought on her behalf.

Tears flowed silently down her face.

She was genuinely moved.

Shang Shuqing embraced her and cried with her.

“Sister-in-law, why are you so foolish? Why didn't you tell me when something was wrong?”

Only after hearing Niu Youdao speak that morning did she realize that Feng Ruonan, the formal Princess Consort, did not even dare speak in front of those two women.

Even Niu Youdao, an outsider, had learned of it and come to stand up for her.

Yet Shang Shuqing, who spent so much time beside her sister-in-law, had remained as ignorant as a fool.

Before this, she had assumed Feng Ruonan simply could not move past the feud between this side and the Feng family.

Only now did she realize how much silent grievance Feng Ruonan had endured.

Regret and pain overwhelmed her.

She cried uncontrollably.

[End of Chapter 553]