Chapter 75

Zhao Jingwen was drinking tea alone in the hall.Originally, Pei Ze had invited Zhao Jingwen to speak in the study, and it was Pei Dingxi who was accompanying him here.

Later, a maid came looking for him, saying the "Eldest Lady" was asking for him.

Pei Dingxi's childlike face took on a helpless look, which Zhao Jingwen found very amusing.

He guessed it was that dainty and arrogant Pei young mistress, Pei Dingxi's elder sister and Pei Ze's beloved daughter. He said, "Young Master Pei, go take care of your business."

Pei Dingxi apologized and hurried off.

No one knew what Zhao Jingwen and Pei Ze were talking about in the study, but it took quite a long time.

The maids served tea snacks and all kinds of fruits, things Zhao Jingwen had never seen before. He tasted them one by one, and they were all incredibly delicious.

At this time, Zhao Jingwen's mind flashed the faces of Xiang Da and Ye Mancang.

And the hundred Ye family troops at the river mouth.

After integrating all the information and carefully considering and calculating, though it all happened in an instant, only in Zhao Jingwen's mind.

He controlled himself not to take a deep breath.

Deep breathing was the most obvious sign of nervousness.

He tried to calmly seize the second opportunity of his life—

"I have never married before. Why does Lord Pei ask this?"

Sure enough, Pei Ze sighed lightly and a smile appeared on his face.

...

After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Zhao Jingwen stepped out of Pei Ze's study.

Pei Ze grasped his hands together with Zhao Jingwen: "Go settle down first, I'll see you off later."

Zhao Jingwen said, "Alright."

The attendant led him to the side hall where his companion was waiting for this Zhao gentleman.

At first, the Zhao gentleman's steps were a bit slow.

But for some reason, he walked faster and faster.

The attendant led the way, needing to walk diagonally in front, leading the guest forward.

But the Zhao gentleman walked faster and faster, forcing the attendant to desperately shuffle his steps to avoid tripping himself.

Fortunately, the Zhao gentleman pulled him to stabilize him, and the attendant repeatedly apologized.

Zhao Jingwen said, "It's fine."

Only then did he take a deep, deep breath, and said, "I was walking too fast."

The attendant thought, this gentleman is so kind and loves people, like a spring breeze.

Zhao Jingwen finally resumed a normal pace. By the time he reached the side hall, he had calmed down.

Seeing him arrive, Xiang Da called out, "Come have a snack, I've never seen this method of making them before, they're delicious."

Zhao Jingwen went over, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. It really was delicious.

After swallowing it, he said, "Brother Xiang, let's go back and pack up."

Xiang Da stood up, brushing off crumbs from his hands, "Alright."

But when they returned to the guest residence, Zhao Jingwen called him into the main room, then immediately closed the door.

Turning around, his first sentence was: "I have agreed to marry Lord Pei's daughter and become his son-in-law."

Xiang Da was still thinking about how delicious the snacks were and wondering about the preparation method. Hearing this, he blinked several times, not understanding at all what Zhao Jingwen was saying: "Huh?"

Zhao Jingwen swiftly looked towards the east and west rooms, then bent down to look through the door gap.

Confirming no one was in the room, the attending little waiter was sitting under the porch outside the courtyard, far away across the yard.

Xiang Da finally reacted.

He jumped up: "You..."

Zhao Jingwen went over to cover his mouth.

Xiang Da made muffled sounds.

His eyes were wide open, unable to believe Zhao Jingwen had done something so bold.

Even if he went to visit brothels, he could have helped him conceal it.

But he, he...he was taking another wife!

His wife was the castle lord of the Ye family castle, the military governor of Dengzhou!

"Brother Xiang, hear me out!" Zhao Jingwen covered his mouth and spoke low and fast, "The Pei family has at least two thousand elite troops. He only has one son who is just nine years old! If I become his son-in-law, I can certainly gain control of the two thousand elite troops."

In fact, he couldn't be sure how loyal Xiang Da was to Ye Cuijin.

After all, with Ye Cuijin in charge of Dengzhou, she was also admirable.

To be cautious, he said, "Brother Xiang, think about it. With two or three thousand elite soldiers under me, the power of a whole prefecture, combined with my wife. In the future, which Ye family member would still be able to contend with us as husband and wife?"

Xiang Da's struggles ceased.

Grabbing his wrist, eyes wide open.

Zhao Jingwen slowly removed his hand from his mouth.

Xiang Da took a couple deep breaths and said, "But, but...would the Lady be willing?"

If the two sides cooperated, just thinking about it seemed wonderful.

But...

Zhao Jingwen said, "The women may make a fuss."

Of course there would be a fuss. With one so capable and the other so spoiled, how could they not make a fuss? Xiang Da thought, Zhao Jingwen's grape trellises in the inner courtyard would surely collapse every day from now on.

Zhao Jingwen said, "So Brother Xiang, without you, I can't accomplish this."

Xiang Da opened his mouth.

"As long as you help me, I'll cook this raw rice into cooked rice here. I have my own methods for dealing with the women's side." Zhao Jingwen pressed his shoulder, "If this succeeds, Ziteng, your contributions will be the greatest. By my side, you are my right arm."

"Ziteng, you know my circumstances in the Ye family. With so many Ye gentlemen, without me they will never promote me."

"Ziteng, with so many Ye family members, you started from a lowly military officer, when will you ever stand out?"

"What kind of great man doesn't strive to stand between heaven and earth? Are you willing?"

Xiang Da closed his mouth.

After a long while, he whispered, "What about Mancang's side?"

He was just a guest of the household, in a guest-host relationship with Ye Cuijin. Now it was a superior-subordinate relationship. He would have his own choices based on self-interest.

But Ye Mancang was a family servant.

Servants must be loyal. How could they get Ye Mancang to not report to Ye Cuijin? Concealing such a big matter without reporting was tantamount to betraying one's master.

"And there's still a hundred people, all Ye family members." He asked, "What to do?"

Zhao Jingwen's eyes smiled.

"Don't worry," he said. "Mancang will surely be of one heart with us."

"The Ye family members... placate them for now."

Zhao Jingwen and Xiang Da packed up and went to bid farewell to Pei Ze.

Pei Ze grasped Zhao Jingwen's shoulder and said, "Worthy son-in-law, I'll be waiting for you."

He also said to Pei Dingxi, "From now on, he is your brother-in-law."

Pei Dingxi thought of Helian Shu and felt sad.

But that day when he had brought Helian back, and relayed Helian's explanation to Pei Ze, Pei Ze nodded and said, "It's just as A Yun said. No matter who your sister marries in the future, this person will harbor resentment towards A Yun for stealing his wife. He cannot remain in our family."

"Luckily A Yun is open-minded. It's best we part amicably, leaving some leeway so we can meet again in the future without enmity."

Pei Dingxi adjusted his emotions and greeted Zhao Jingwen very maturely, "Brother-in-law."

Zhao Jingwen stroked his head, "Dingxi."

He looked around, with a slightly embarrassed expression, coughed and said, "Can I meet Eldest Lady?"

Pei Ze smiled. Pei Dingxi said, "She already knows and is hiding shyly."

Zhao Jingwen pressed his lips in a smile.

Xiang Da felt uncomfortable, looking left and right.

Not until they left the Pei estate and could no longer see the Pei family members did Xiang Da finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Returning to River Mouth not long after, Ye Mancang was very happy to see them return, even asking, "How was Fangling? Is it prosperous? Is Dengzhou better? Or Fangzhou? How many troops does the Pei family have? Exactly how many troops do they have? Did you see the young Pei mistress?"

Xiang Da's expression was subtle.

Zhao Jingwen said, "Mancang, come with me."

Ye Mancang followed him into the room, confused: "What's the matter? Were you not treated well there?"

Unexpectedly, once inside, Zhao Jingwen turned around and said, "Mancang, Lord Pei wants me to marry into their family as his son-in-law. I've already agreed. I'll soon be marrying the Pei family's young lady."

Ye Mancang was so shocked he couldn't speak for a time.

After a pause, he jumped up: "You! You!"

"I have to report to the master!"

"This won't do, I have to go back!"

Zhao Jingwen didn't stop him, only stared at him intently and asked, "Go back to the Ye family castle and continue to be a slave and servant?"

Ye Mancang stopped.

Zhao Jingwen stepped forward: "Are you willing to be a slave your whole life, with your sons and daughters also slaves for generations?"

"At best, if you're lucky, the master will give you a job where your son drives carriages and your daughter sweeps the yard."

"If you're even luckier, your son can marry a senior maid and have children who will also be slaves. Your daughter can become a concubine to a gentleman and be half a mistress."

"Mancang, does this satisfy you?"

Ye Mancang stared blankly.

Zhao Jingwen leaned down slightly and whispered in his ear, "Pei Ze has two to three thousand elite troops. He only has one son who is just nine years old. Mancang...think about it."

Compared to Xiang Da's crudeness, Ye Mancang was much more astute and keen on seeking personal gain.

No need to spell things out explicitly.

Zhao Jingwen saw Ye Mancang's Adam's apple bob up and down with a gulp.

Ye Mancang was a smart person.

"Mancang, come with me," Zhao Jingwen kept whispering to him, bewitching. "I can let you...change your wife and take my surname."

Ye Mancang stumbled and fell into the chair...

Er Bao noticed something was wrong.

Er Bao was chosen by Ye Sujin to carry out a special mission, so of course he was no fool. On the contrary, he was as clever and steady as Qiu Sheng, a young man.

He did lean a bit towards Zhao Jingwen, but that was under the premise that "Master Zhao is the son-in-law".

In fact, Er Bao had always remembered his mission. After all, like Qiu Sheng, he yearned to make something of himself. Who didn't want that? Everyone did.

At first, he found it odd that after Master Zhao returned from Fang Prefecture, he was busy preparing all kinds of things. Seeing they were all auspicious items, someone asked and only then did he know that the Pei family was marrying off a daughter and Master Zhao was preparing betrothal gifts.

Well, the gifts he prepared were really thick. It looked like he valued the Pei family in Fang Prefecture quite a bit.

What really alerted Er Bao was when someone said, "I also want to go to Fang Prefecture to take a look. The farthest I've gone in my life is Hekou".

Another person said, "You can't go. None of our men were chosen to go this time."

The two speaking were people who followed from the Ye family base in Deng Prefecture. "Our men" referred to the Ye family army.

In contrast were those other people Master Zhao recruited later.

It was these two lines of dialogue that suddenly alerted Er Bao that something was wrong.

Well-trained soldiers had a different spirit and vigor from ordinary people.

Although these later recruits were stronger than before, their spirit and vigor could not be compared with the Ye family army.

Even just for show, lining up the Ye family army would look more mighty and impressive.

Master Zhao was going to someone else's happy event in Fangling, yet didn't bring a single Ye family soldier.

This was not right.

So Er Bao went to find Ye Mancang, "I also want to go and broaden my horizons."

Ye Mancang said, "The people have already been picked, all chosen by the young master himself. You can go next time."

Er Bao said, "How strange, why didn't the young master choose any of our men? Our men have high spirits, especially us few who are the young master's personal guards. Wouldn't bringing us give more face than those other men?"

He spoke with a smile but didn't take his eyes off Ye Mancang.

And Ye Mancang was visibly nervous.

Something was up. And Ye Mancang knew about it, or was involved.

Ye Mancang racked his brains, making up all kinds of excuses.

Er Bao pretended to believe him, even shamelessly gave him a piece of cake, then left.

Ye Mancang laughed at him, relieved.

He was lying, Er Bao was certain.

He had said too much nonsense just now. Clearly he felt guilty.

Er Bao thought a lot and guessed a lot, feeling these three people might want to start anew, abandoning Deng Prefecture to seek refuge in Fang Prefecture.

Reasonable enough - in the Ye family base, Zhao Jingwen likely had little prospects left since he had to avoid suspicions.

Xiang Da was just a lowly officer, he could follow anyone. Following Master Zhao, he was his right hand man.

If even he was like this, Ye Mancang, who was a household servant, would be even more willing to be this right hand man.

Er Bao gnawed on the cake. Since he couldn't go, he had to think of something.

Money makes the world go around.

Before coming, his master had given him money for the mission.

Zhao Jingwen took Xiang Da and Ye Mancang to Fangling, leaving a few squad leaders to guard Hekou.

Er Bao waited three days in Hekou until finally, one of the later recruits who went to Fangling secretly returned to Hekou.

And told him the truth.

Although not exactly the same as Er Bao's guess that "Master Zhao wants to start anew", Master Zhao really was going to start anew. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"It's true the Pei family is marrying off a daughter. But guess who the groom is - your Master Zhao, Zhao Jingwen. I just don't get it, such great news, why hide it from everyone?"

Because being a son-in-law was not an honorable thing. Everyone following Zhao Jingwen outside wouldn't be so lacking in discretion to babble everywhere. Especially not to the newcomers, since the two sides didn't get along that well. Saying the young master was a son-in-law would ruin his prestige.

So these people didn't know.

Er Bao asked, "When's the wedding day? Have they finished the engagement rituals?"

"Not yet. The auspicious day is the 22nd of the 3rd month." The man said. "Where's the money you promised?"

Er Bao took out a bulging purse. The man weighed it and said, "I've got to hurry back, someone's helping cover for me. I should give them something for their trouble. Give me some more."

Er Bao grabbed some more money to give him. "Be careful. Don't let anything slip."

Satisfied, the man left.

Er Bao looked for the few comrades he had.

They were all Ye Sujin's personal guards, arranged to follow Zhao Jingwen this time.

Er Bao showed them Ye Sujin's order: "I have a mission, my master ordered me to act as needed. I'm returning to Deng Prefecture now. Help me keep this from others."

The comrades were surprised but the order was real. They said, "What's this about? Can you tell us?"

Er Bao said, "I can't, don't ask."

"Alright," his comrades said. "Go, we'll help cover for you."

Er Bao found a horse and left Hekou, rushing at full speed straight to Deng Prefecture.

He was on his way to make merit!