CH 57

C57 – You Will Die Without A Woman?

When the State Protector’s son decided to reprimand a servant, nobody dared to intervene. Tang Yue sighed, shook his head, and helped the servant to his feet, gently rubbing his stomach. However, the servant’s wails only grew louder.

“Why do you do this? Even a dog relies on its master. If you roam dark paths at night, you’ll encounter ghosts,” Tang Yue scolded with a smile, imparting a lesson. He then tossed a tube of ointment to the servant. “Take care of yourself and stay away from the young master!”

The commotion at the door didn’t go unnoticed. Soon, a manager arrived with a group of people to apologize. This seemed like a recurring issue, and the manager handled it adeptly.

With a group of arrogant young masters now welcomed inside, the matter came to a close.

The State Duke Heng’s Mansion was hosting a banquet, and nearly all the invited guests had arrived. The household exemplified the phrase “tiger father and dog son.” While the exterior appeared grand, the internal affairs were often chaotic, resulting in rare banquets to entertain guests.

Tang Yue could sense the disarray in the household from the servants’ manners at the door. Clearly, they lacked a proper housekeeper to manage things.

Yueyang Marquis had mentioned that once Tang Ya married into the family, she would become the matriarch. State Duke Heng even suggested a speedy marriage between Tang Ya and his son, probably aiming to resolve the mess.

“If there’s no matriarch, who will oversee State Duke Heng’s Mansion? Who will manage the backyard?” Tang Yue asked Zhao Sanlang.

This kid seemed to be well-informed about the family’s affairs, so it was fitting to inquire with him.

“State Duke Heng was deeply in love with his late wife. Despite her passing many years ago, he never remarried. However, the mansion has several concubines. The steward handles the front yard, while a concubine manages the backyard. The chaos in State Duke Heng’s Mansion is mainly due to the poor relationship between the steward and that particular concubine. Moreover, aside from her beauty, that concubine doesn’t seem to possess much intelligence.”

Tang Yue nodded, understanding why Noble Heir of State Duke Heng had been raised in such a family atmosphere.

He could infer that State Duke Heng was highly esteemed, and he must have been preoccupied with his official duties, leaving him with little time to care for his son. The concubine was deemed unfit to raise him, so his future brother-in-law grew like a weed, unrestrained and untamed.

Unfortunately, this weed grew crookedly in the wind, evolving from a small sprout into a rotund Fatty Big Sea.

As they journeyed, Tang Yue saw elegant mansions and lavish decorations. Compared to Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion and even Prince Zhao’s Mansion, these surroundings appeared more opulent.

Yet, amidst this wealth, there was a sense of disorder.

They were received by State Duke Heng’s concubine, a woman of delicate beauty. However, it was apparent that she was getting on in years, and her movements seemed somewhat reserved. No wonder she couldn’t suppress the demons and devils in her residence.

As the sole heir of State Duke Heng’s Mansion, the Noble Heir of State Duke Heng was there to welcome the guests. However, the portly figure moved rather slowly, and two beauties supported him on either side. To outsiders, he might be mistaken for an elderly man in his twilight years.

Tang Yue couldn’t help but shake his head in secret. Unless State Duke Heng was blind to such an image, he wondered if the idea of a son had ever crossed his mind. It seemed like he didn’t care much about it.

Could it be that State Duke Heng intended to hand over the State Duke’s Mansion to this chubby fellow a hundred years from now?

“Noble Heir, this is Tang, the young master of Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion. According to proper address, you should call him ‘brother’.”

The Noble Heir of State Duke Heng narrowed his keen eyes and glanced at Tang Yue. His gaze held a hint of brightness. “Are you the doctor who cured Wang Zizhao’s legs?”

“Noble Heir…” The concubine called out, halting her speech.

Tang Yue waved his hand, unperturbed by the direct question. He bowed respectfully and replied, “Yes, I am Tang Yue. May I know the name of the Noble Heir of State Duke Heng?”

“You don’t know?” The man widened his mouth in surprise, revealing slightly yellowed teeth.

“I’m new here. I haven’t had the opportunity to ask for the Noble Heir’s name.” Of course, these words were insincere. Both families were future in-laws, and they knew almost everything about each other.

The Noble Heir of State Duke Heng was named Ping Shun, a name that seemingly reflected his parents’ desire for a smooth life for him. Yet, it remained uncertain if their wishes would come true.

“If you don’t know, you don’t know. Even if you do know, can you at least address me by my name?” The Noble Heir of State Duke Heng rarely spoke with such seriousness, and he sounded a bit breathless after finishing his sentence.

Tang Yue cursed inwardly. This plump fellow might not have a strong physique, but he wasn’t foolish.

“The Noble Heir makes a valid point. The invitation mentioned an exhibition of chrysanthemums today. I wonder where the chrysanthemums are?”

Tang Yue scanned their surroundings. They currently stood in a garden with dense and luxuriant vegetation, but they hadn’t yet come across the showcased chrysanthemums.

“Chrysanthemums?” The Noble Heir of State Duke Heng was taken aback. He couldn’t recall if he had forgotten or simply didn’t know why his family had put up the display.

“Noble Heir, there was heavy rain last night, so I had someone move the chrysanthemums indoors. Please wait for a moment. I’ll have them moved back now,” State Duke Heng’s concubine hurriedly said before leaving with the others.

Tang Yue glanced at the clear blue sky. He remembered that the rain had stopped early in the morning. He couldn’t help but sigh at the efficiency of State Duke Heng’s Mansion, which explained the criticism they were receiving.

However, Tang Yue hadn’t come to admire the flowers. It was Zhao Sanlang’s idea to play with the archery pot. He deliberately handed Tang Yue an arrow to show off.

Tang Yue had played this game before, so he still had a sense of it. He missed the first shot slightly, but he hit the other nine arrows accurately, earning applause from the onlookers.

“So it’s him…”

“He looks really young. Did he truly heal Wang Zizhao’s leg?”

“How could this be fake? The news came from both the royal palace and Prince Zhao’s Mansion. I heard the king and queen even rewarded him.”

“Does this mean the young master is a miraculous doctor?”

“Does it really matter whether he’s a miraculous doctor or not? As long as he can treat illnesses, befriending him won’t do any harm. No one can guarantee they’ll never fall ill or get hurt in their lifetime. Having a friend with excellent medical skills is a valuable asset, no matter how you look at it.”

“That’s true. Despite his unassuming appearance, he’s quite skilled with the bow, and his social status isn’t low either. That should be sufficient.”

Tang Yue paid no heed to the onlookers’ whispers. It was better to just ignore them, whether their comments were favorable or not.

As he released the last arrow, he stole a glance at the Noble Heir of State Duke Heng. When he saw the heir embracing the beauty intimately by the side, anger immediately surged within him.

Damn it, if it weren’t for Tang Ya, he would have wanted to confront and ruthlessly deal with this person.

Tang Yue thought, If it weren’t for Tang Ya, he might have been tempted to directly and brutally end him.

“Ahem… Noble Heir, aren’t you going to play with the pot?” Tang Yue stepped in front of him, undeterred by the unpleasant sight, and asked.

The other person was already gasping for breath, but that didn’t stop him from talking. He didn’t expect someone to address him, so he looked up in surprise, lips still pouting.

“Noble Heir, aren’t you going to play with the pot?” Tang Yue asked again, attempting to maintain a gentle tone.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Of course. Why would Noble Heir be so surprised?” He was simply addressing Noble Heir. Why was he being looked at as if he had seen a ghost?

“No… I’m not really fond of throwing pots,” the girl’s eyelashes trembled. She lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers.

Only then did Tang Yue notice that the Noble Heir of State Duke Heng had small eyes, but his eyelashes were surprisingly long. Considering the good looks of State Duke Heng and his wife, their son couldn’t be unattractive no matter what.

“Actually, I’m not much into pot-throwing either,” Tang Yue replied with a chuckle.

“Then what does this brother like to play with? I’ll have it arranged for you,” the other party offered.

Tang Yue gave him a quick glance and smiled. “I know a two-player game that’s really fun. Want to play it together?”

“Is it enjoyable to play with women?” the other party showed some interest.

Tang Yue fell silent for a moment, then nodded. “Sure, women are around all the time. What’s so special about them?”

The Noble Heir of State Duke Heng found her reasoning quite sensible. He was indeed a bit bored as nobody wanted to play or even talk to him. He could only find pleasure in the company of women.

No wonder Father asked him to spend more time with the young master in Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion. It seemed he was a decent person!

Unaware that he had been given a “good person” label, Tang Yue asked the Noble Heir of State Duke Heng to send the two beauties away and find a secluded spot.

“How about the temple hall at the back? It’s usually empty.”

Tang Yue seemed hesitant. A place like the temple hall didn’t seem suitable for mischief.