CH 81

Chapter 81 All For Your Sake

Wen Yantong stepped steadily and ruthlessly and directly shoveled Cheng Xiao's work to pieces without any chance of saving it.

When she was lifted up from the ground by Zhang Jieran, everyone was still in a daze. She pretended to be flustered. "Oh no! What should I do? I was careless and knocked down His Seventh Highness's work!"

To be precise, it was kicked.

She slapped her leg twice. "This leg! I've been wrestling with it all day! How useless!"

Cheng Xiaotian was really as innocent as a little sheep. Seeing Wen Yantong feeling so guilty, he immediately waved his hands and said, "It's nothing but just a pile of snow. If it is knocked down, then it’s knocked down. Are you alright? Didn’t your leg just recover?"

Wen Yantong burst into tears of gratitude. "Thank you, His Seventh Royal Highness, for your concern. My leg is much better but just a little awkward when walking."

Cheng Xiao nodded. "As long as you are fine."

Chi Jingxi remained silent as he watched the whole process. Knowing that Wen Yantong's kick was completely intentional, he couldn't help silently laughing.

It was now Cheng Xin's turn. While Wen Yantong was thinking about how to deal with his statue, Cheng Xin smiled and said, "Forget it. You don't need to judge my work. I worked so hard to make it, so I rather not see its future fate as a pile of mess on the ground."

Wen Yantong scratched her head with a smile. "That's fine. Let the Little Marquis judge His Fifth Highness’s work."

Chi Jingxi said, "How can I judge? The previous works you picked at, kicked at, and depreciated. If I make a review that you find unsatisfactory, wouldn’t you shovel me like you did with that ‘fall’ just now?" 

Wen Yantong rubbed her hands together and replied with a smile, "How could that be possible! Little Marquis is fair and just. I'm naturally convinced by your evaluations! The previous matters were all misunderstandings! Really– misunderstandings!"

Chi Jingxi's eyes fell on Cheng Xin's snow statue. "I choose Qianyuan’s."

"Okay!" Wen Yantong raised her hands high and said, "Since the two of us disagree..."

"Then you guys duke it out, and the winner can decide whose is the best!" Mu Yang jumped out and interrupted her, "Anyway, I voted for Brother Qianyuan’s, too. Otherwise, you and Brother Xi can compare whose fist is harder. Only those who win have the right to speak!"

Wen Yantong's eyes widened. My guy! You really want me to ascend to Heaven, don’t you?! Just because I lightly picked at your statue?

"No! No! No!" Wen Yantong shook her head and said, "Since my opinion differs from that of the Little Marquis, then the winner will be changed from one to two. Those of you who did not win can just choose whose wish to satisfy."

Mu Yang was the first to voice his displeasure. "How could you change the rules just like that? How can the two win at once?"

Wen Yantong snorted. "I have the final say on the rules I set."

Mu Yang glanced at Fu Zixian as if asking with his eyes. Fu Zixian nodded quickly. "The rules were indeed proposed by Wen Yantong."

Mu Yang was not happy to find out about this blunder. He was so angry that his liver hurt, but he had no choice but to accept defeat.

Seeing him full of fury, Wen Yantong really felt guilty for ruining his work. She walked towards him, pulled Mu Yang a few steps away, and said in a low voice, "There's nothing to be angry about. I'm doing this for your own good."

Mu Yang replied unhappily, "How is it for my own good?"

"Haven’t you always wanted Fu Zixian to teach you archery?" Wen Yantong shamelessly brought up her ever-working-triumph-card-against-Mu-Yang, Fu Zixian.

Ever since Mu Yang saw Fu Zixian's archery skills, he stuck to Fu Zixian like a leech. Mu Yang eyed the bow and arrow in Fu Zixian’s hand all the time. However, Fu Zixian's temperament was too introverted. Fu Shi's warning might have also played a role, so Fu Zixian has always been respectful and kept his distance from this noble Young Master Mu.

This troubled Mu Yang a little.

As soon as he heard Wen Yantong mention it, he immediately changed his expression. Half-believing and half-doubting, Mu Yang replied, "...Yeah, what about it?"

"Then do you know why Fu Zixian has not been accustomed to you?" Wen Yantong asked again.

"How am I supposed to know? Tell me quickly!" Mu Yang was impatient.

"That's because he is young and is without a position. He always feels that there is a big difference in status between himself and the young master of the Mu Residence, so he does not dare easily seek a relationship," Wen Yantong explained.

These were all the truth. Wen Yantong would definitely not be willing to say it normally. But now, in order to coax Mu Yang, she decided to be upfront about it.

Mu Yang questioned with wide eyes, "What does identity have to do with anything when I just want to be friends?"

"Do you really need me to elaborate on the gap between legitimate and illegitimate children? Fu Zixian is a concubine-born son from the Prime Minister's Household. Didn't you clearly see how he was treated last time? That Prime Minister Fu didn't even pay attention to him in front of outsiders, let alone at home." Wen Yantong said earnestly, "But you are different. You are the young master of the Mu Residence. You were born with a golden spoon, spoiled and pampered at birth, so naturally, you don't care about these small details. If Fu Zixian was really on good terms with you, how many people would secretly criticize him out of jealousy? How could he have the guts?"

After hearing this, Mu Yang was stunned for a while. As if he had figured it out all at once.

He had considered the meaning of Wen Yantong's words before. However, he always felt that no matter how useless Fu Zixian was, he was still the prime minister's son, so no one would dare to do anything to him. Now, he suddenly realized that even if Fu Zixian was the prime minister's son, he was only just an illegitimate son.

Above Fu Zixian were the legitimate sons and daughters of the Prime Minister's Household, the head madam, several concubines, and the young masters of officials, big or small, in Chaoge. Those who had the ability to step on him were endless.

Mu Yang asked nervously, "Then what did you mean when you said it was for my own good?"

"Fu Tanghuan is Fu Zixian's biological older sister. You can find out after asking around: She has the best relationship with Fu Zixian in the Fu Residence." Wen Yantong continued, "If you win over her in this small competition now, it will inevitably make her feel uncomfortable. It’ll make her feel that you are an overly competitive man that doesn't know how to behave. And once she hears that Fu Zixian is on good terms with you, can she, as an older sister, let her younger brother associate with a person with bad conduct?" 

Mu Yang's eyes widened, and he said repeatedly, "No wonder! No wonder! So you deliberately wanted Fu Tanghuan to win?"

"That's natural. If you have a good relationship with Fu Tanghuan, it's equivalent to smashing Fu Zixian's shell from the side. Isn't it better than smashing head onto his hard shell from the front?" Wen Yantong saw that Mu Yang had bitten the hook to death, so she immediately drew the net. "I have worked so hard for you, but you are still angry with me. It really makes me truly sad!"

Mu Yang immediately apologized. "My Brother, it’s my bad. I was too careless. I didn't think of this. I sincerely apologize."

Wen Yantong sighed. "Who told you to be my Brother? Of course, I chose to forgive you."

"That's great." Mu Yang laughed happily and then asked in a low voice, "Then how can I make Fu Zixian let down his guard? Brother, teach me your secret."

"This matter needs to be discussed in the long run. There is no rush." Wen Yantong patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "We have long days ahead of us. I will tell you in detail later."

Mu Yang nodded quickly, agreeing to whatever she said.

Seeing this, Wen Yantong couldn't help but say, "You are so smart. With just a small hint, you’ve already seen it through. I still can't help but want to praise you."

"You are such a dumb musclebrain!"