Chapter 555: Can Only Pretend Not to Understand

Meng Shanming asked in return, “Marry whom?”

“...” Niu Youdao found himself at a loss for words. Marry whom really was a problem.

Shang Shuqing's appearance had gone beyond a question of whether she was ugly. She looked frightening. No normal man would marry her.

Of course, given the Shang family's present power and status, there was no fear that no one would take her. But Niu Youdao could hardly bring himself to suggest marrying her to some abnormal man or someone scheming after wealth and rank.

There were plenty of starving men outside who could not even fill their bellies. So long as they were given enough to eat, some would probably marry a sow, never mind when wealth and rank came with it. But she was a Commandery Princess, intelligent and accomplished in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, with no shortage of food or clothing. Given that inner cultivation alone, casually marrying her to some starving wretch would make no sense. Their refinement would be worlds apart. Living together would only be suffering. Once the man had eaten his fill, there was no reason to expect him to appreciate her cultivation enough to overlook her face.

Meng Shanming sighed. “The Commandery Princess has said she will never marry in this lifetime.”

“Never marry?” Niu Youdao gave a dry chuckle and rubbed his nose. “Marriage isn't necessarily good, and not marrying isn't necessarily bad. But never marrying for an entire lifetime may leave a great regret behind. At the very least, one ought to experience something before knowing whether it is truly the choice one wants. Talking about letting go when one has never even picked it up is rather forced.”

Meng Shanming nodded. “That is precisely what I came to discuss with Master Dao.”

Niu Youdao gave a questioning sound. “Has a suitable match been found for the Commandery Princess?”

Meng Shanming shook his head. “That is not what I mean. I mean her face. The Commandery Princess was not born ugly. That hideous, blotch-like birthmark on her face was placed there afterward.”

Niu Youdao was startled. “Who was wicked enough to do that?”

Meng Shanming froze for a moment, then waved a hand. “It had nothing to do with wickedness. The person who planted that birthmark on the Commandery Princess's face was none other than your master, Dong Guo Haoran.”

“Him?” Niu Youdao grew even more astonished. He had not expected the rotten bastard he had just cursed to turn out to be his so-called master. “Why would he harm the Commandery Princess?”

“It cannot really be called harming her. When the Commandery Princess was first born, she cried without cease. The late Prince searched everywhere for renowned physicians, yet none could do anything. Your master happened to visit at the time, so the Prince asked him to examine her...” Meng Shanming explained the causes and consequences of what had happened back then.

“Something like that actually happened?” Niu Youdao frowned and muttered after hearing the story. “Defy Heaven and alter fate, changing sweetness first and bitterness later into bitterness first and sweetness later? Is that real? You actually believed something like that?”

Meng Shanming sighed. “It does sound exceedingly mysterious, but the fact remains that after the birthmark was planted, the Commandery Princess truly stopped crying and even laughed aloud. What happened afterward also seems to have borne out your master's words. Think about it. If not for the problem with her appearance, she would probably have married at fifteen or sixteen. Then when disaster struck the princely residence, what consequences might have followed? The Commandery Princess truly did escape a calamity.”

Niu Youdao nodded slightly. There did seem to be some logic to it. When Prince Ning met with disaster, countless people had hurried to sever all connection with him. Shang Shuqing's fate needed little explanation. Even if she had not married, had she been a woman of ordinary beauty, who knew what humiliations she might have suffered? Calling it an escaped calamity was not excessive.

By this point, he seemed to understand something. He tested the waters. “Marshal Meng wants me to remove the hideous mark from the Commandery Princess's face?”

Meng Shanming said, “Master Dao inherited Mr. Dong Guo's lineage. Since Mr. Dong Guo planted this cause, Master Dao presumably has some way to bring its fruit to an end. Once the Commandery Princess regains a normal appearance, finding a suitable match should not be difficult.”

Niu Youdao smiled bitterly. “You all know what happened. When I met him, he died after saying only a few words. He never passed much of anything down to me. I was kept under house arrest at Shangqing Sect and learned almost nothing there either. I genuinely do not know how to undo it. How about this? There is no need to rush. When I find a suitable opportunity, I will ask the people of Shangqing Sect and see whether they have a method. If it can be done, I will certainly have Shangqing Sect restore the Commandery Princess's flower-like beauty and moon-bright countenance.”

“That may be the only way...” Meng Shanming nodded. Some words reached his lips, but in the end he swallowed them.

He realized that the thoughts he and the Prince and the others had entertained were somewhat one-sided. Given the Commandery Princess's present appearance, and Niu Youdao's current identity and standing, asking him to accept such a thing would be rather forcing the issue.

Now that the moment had actually come, Meng Shanming still felt it would be inappropriate to say those words outright. If he laid everything bare and Niu Youdao refused, everyone would be embarrassed.

After thinking it over, he decided it was better to follow Niu Youdao's suggestion and first see whether Shangqing Sect could cure the hideous mark on the Commandery Princess's face.

The matter was set aside for the time being. Meng Shanming smiled. “Master Dao also knows that although the Commandery Princess has long grown accustomed to her appearance, she has never been someone fond of excitement. To her, there is little difference between Qingshan Commandery and the provincial capital. And if she stays on Master Dao's side, she can also serve as our eyes and ears, can she not? If anything comes up, the Commandery Princess can serve as liaison between both sides.”

Niu Youdao looked somewhat hesitant. There were things he understood perfectly well but did not dare puncture. He could only pretend not to understand. In the end, he nodded.

Seeing him agree, Meng Shanming said no more about it and raised another matter. “We just received news from Jinzhou. Hai Ruyue has given birth to another son. I wonder whether that will affect the alliance between our two sides.”

Niu Youdao looked surprised. “Hasn't she only been married to Li Wuhua for around half a year? She gave birth this quickly? Premature?”

“They say it was premature, but according to certain rumors over there, it probably was not. She and Li Wuhua were likely involved long before the marriage.”

Niu Youdao shook his head with a chuckle. “That woman really is something. She actually managed to preserve herself this way. It should not affect the alliance. So long as Jinzhou remains independent, they will not lightly abandon Nanzhou's support. I will make a trip to Jinzhou personally later, offer my congratulations, and take a look at the situation while I am there.”

Meng Shanming seemed to remember something and sighed softly. “That woman has not had an easy life either. Back then she was such a simple young girl. Who would have thought she would end up where she is today?”

The two talked for a while longer before Meng Shanming took his leave.

Niu Youdao personally escorted him to the courtyard gate. Before departing, Meng Shanming offered one more reminder. “Not long ago, the Prince arranged for those two beauties to be sent to Beizhou. He said they were being returned to the Feng family.”

With that, he waved a hand, and Luo Da'an pushed his rumbling wheelchair away.

Niu Youdao stood outside the courtyard gate in thought. Shang Chaozong's handling of the matter was fairly appropriate. If he had simply killed the women outright, it would have seemed too heartless and ruthless. Returning them to the Feng family and letting the Feng family deal with them itself was undoubtedly the best choice.

Putting the thought aside, Niu Youdao turned back and went straight to Guan Fangyi's quarters.

Her door was tightly shut. Niu Youdao knocked once, and Guan Fangyi shouted from inside, “Bathing!”

She seemed to have guessed who was knocking.

Niu Youdao ignored her. He used spiritual power to lift the bar behind the door and walked in, only to discover she had not been brushing him off. She truly was bathing.

Fortunately, a hanging gauze screen stretched across the front of the bathing tub, leaving the scene beyond only dimly visible. Niu Youdao paced outside the gauze and gave a dry laugh. “Misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding, my ass!” Guan Fangyi immediately began cursing. “Good thing this old lady came prepared against a bastard like you!”

Niu Youdao had no interest in arguing. “Serious business. Later, take out one million and have Wuliang Mountain's people send it to Myriad Beasts Sect. Hand it to Chao Shenghuai.”

“No!” Guan Fangyi refused flatly.

She could refuse all she wanted. Niu Youdao did not bother arguing. He ran one finger lightly across the hanging gauze, turned, and left, letting her curse at empty air.

Once there was no one left to curse, Guan Fangyi could hardly continue. She released the arms covering her chest, sat in the bathing tub, scooped up water, and poured it over herself, frowning as she muttered.

She could not understand it. They still owed Chao Shenghuai four million. If Niu Youdao was going to pay him, why not pay all of it? What was the meaning of giving only one million?

Who knew what wicked scheme Niu Youdao was plotting now...

Early the next morning, Shang Chaozong and the others came to see them off. Guan Fangyi gestured for someone to take the bundle from Shang Shuqing's hands.

Amid the exchange of courtesies, Niu Youdao walked over to Feng Ruonan, who had also come to see them off.

“The Princess Consort bears the important responsibility of continuing the Prince's family line. You're too thin. People might think the Prince has been abusing you.” Niu Youdao teased with a smile.

Shang Chaozong looked uncomfortable all over.

Feng Ruonan lowered her head slightly and said softly, “Master Dao, have a safe journey.”

When Niu Youdao turned back to exchange a few words with Meng Shanming, he noticed that Luo Da'an carried two spears everywhere he went. He could not help asking, “Da'an, why do you carry two spears around wherever you go?”

He and Luo Da'an had known each other for years. They had first met when Niu Youdao hid in that secluded little mountain village to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Luo Da'an glanced at Meng Shanming and scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. “Master said that for five years the spears are not to leave my hands. I must merge with them until they answer me as naturally as my own arms.”

Niu Youdao gave a sound of understanding. He understood and smiled.

Beside him, Guan Fangyi unconsciously glanced at the sword in Niu Youdao's hand.

“Da'an, remember this. What happened to your father had nothing to do with the Princess Consort. I can guarantee that. The Feng family is the Feng family, and the Princess Consort is the Princess Consort. She was a victim as well, and she has always stood on the Prince's side. If you're a man, you cannot fail to distinguish right from wrong. If you cannot even understand that much, what future can you talk about? Da'an, if I ever learn that you've shown the Princess Consort disrespect, watch how I deal with you!”

Niu Youdao patted Luo Da'an on the shoulder. “Did you hear me clearly?”

That was the true reason he had deliberately spoken to Luo Da'an.

Luo Da'an lowered his head and gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment.

Guan Fangyi smiled pleasantly and swept a glance over everyone's reactions. The words had sounded like nothing more than a scolding delivered to a boy, yet the expressions of those present varied. Meng Shanming lowered his eyes and said nothing.

The two sides bade farewell.

The group mounted their flying beasts and rose into the sky.

Standing in the courtyard and watching them depart, Feng Ruonan's eyes reddened. She bit her lip hard, refusing to let herself cry...

After they left the provincial capital, the flying mounts climbed higher and higher, wind and cloud rushing past.

Shang Shuqing was in a cheerful mood. She vaguely remembered experiencing flight like this several times when she was a child.

Then she suddenly noticed the nearby flying mount carrying Niu Youdao and the others turning away in another direction, growing farther and farther distant. She could not help asking Xia Hua, “Sect Leader Xia, where is Master Dao going?”

“I don't know,” Xia Hua replied. “He said he had something to handle and told us to return to Qingshan Commandery first.”

“When will he return?”

Xia Hua smiled bitterly. “His way of doing things has always been like a divine dragon—you glimpse the head but never the tail. He never tells people plainly. You ask me, but I don't know either.”

Shang Shuqing turned her head and watched the distant figures, an aching sense of loss rising in her heart.

Yesterday morning she had wanted to go comb Niu Youdao's hair, only for him to disguise himself as a servant and leave. This morning she had wanted to go again, but because everyone was departing so early, she had decided against it.

Who could have known they would separate again the moment they left the provincial capital?

It had been so difficult to see him once, yet she had not even managed to exchange more than a few proper words with him.

[End of Chapter 555]