Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Jiang Yunsui looked at him. “There, all done.”
Ji Yan’an fell silent, feeling that something was incredibly strange about this. But… he might as well try. He closed his eyes.
He couldn’t help but feel that this was unreliable no matter how he thought about it. Yet as he lay there thinking, his consciousness began to blur.
Jiang Yunsui noticed his breathing had steadied. She leaned in a bit closer, her large eyes staring at him for a moment before she let out a yawn.
Well, sleepiness was contagious. She decided to close her eyes for a bit too…
Ji Yan’an fell into a deep sleep. Jiang Yunsui woke up at some point during the interval and simply sat there dazing off.
Meanwhile, the manor was far from peaceful.
Wang Hu had arrived.
Having already waited for two hours, Wang Hu’s face was dark with rage. “Are you people intentionally trying to give me a show of authority!”
After the events of yesterday, Wang Hu had originally wanted to cause trouble for Ji Yan’an. However, he had been warned by several others who still supported the Ji Family.
Among them, that old fossil from the Celestial Jade battalion had even stormed into his manor and cursed him to his face.
This was, after all, once the Ji Family’s territory. Even if Ji Yan’an was currently just a green boy, countless soldiers in the Ji Family Army had received favors from the Ji Family in the past.
If Wang Hu wanted to move against Ji Yan’an here, he would have to be suicidal.
After being persuaded by his advisors, he decided to stick to the original plan: ruin Ji Yan’an’s reputation first. Once the rest of the Ji Family Army felt that Ji Yan’an was useless, they would have succeeded.
That was why Wang Hu had come in person today. Nominally, it was to apologize, but his main goal was to get Ji Yan’an to attend a banquet he was preparing.
This time, it was under the pretext of his birthday.
Previously, he had used the excuse of taking a concubine specifically to humiliate Ji Yan’an. He hadn’t expected to shoot himself in the foot instead.
Now, even the traveling merchants from out of town were gossiping about his lack of class, saying he was shameless and lacked decorum for sending an invitation to a Young Master for a mere concubine ceremony.
Just thinking about it made Wang Hu’s blood boil with suppressed rage. Yet, he couldn’t let it out.
After sitting here for an hour, Wang Hu finally exploded.
The ones receiving him were, naturally, Uncle Li and Nanshu.
Seeing him smash his teacup into pieces on the floor, Uncle Li kept a smile on his face, though his eyes were cold as ice.
“Commander Wang must be joking. Our Young Master has no interest in giving you a ‘show of authority.’ I made it clear when you arrived-the Young Master is seriously ill and resting. You were the one who insisted on waiting.”
Wang Hu’s fleshy face twisted into a fierce expression.
“Seriously ill and resting? Can’t you just wake him up?”
Could the boy even get any rest?
Uncle Li’s voice turned frigid. “Commander Wang is truly making a mockery of our Young Master. What kind of guest visits a house and insists on dragging a bedridden host out? Even in Mobei, there is no such custom.”
He was practically telling him to his face that he had no manners.
Wang Hu snarled, “I might not be able to do anything to Ji Yan’an, but do you think I can’t handle a mere servant like you!”
As he spoke, he drew the saber from his waist and swung it toward Uncle Li.
Ji Yi appeared in an instant. His weapon parried the blade before he leaped up and delivered a sharp kick to Wang Hu’s chest.
Wang Hu stumbled back several steps before finding his footing. He glared at Uncle Li and the others with bloodshot eyes, looking as if he wanted to devour them whole.
Ji Yi wore a mask that revealed only a pair of indifferent eyes.
Having lost face so thoroughly, Wang Hu was not about to let the matter drop. He immediately began fighting Ji Yi right there in the courtyard.
As the leader of Ji Yan’an’s hidden guards, Ji Yi’s martial arts were naturally formidable.
After about thirty exchanges, Wang Hu was sent flying once more by a kick, the saber slipping from his grasp.
Nanshu pointed at Wang Hu and began to scold him.
“Drawing a blade in someone else’s home? Commander Wang, do you think this General’s Mansion is your own back garden? It’s only been a few years since the old generals passed away, yet you’re already bullying the only remaining male heir of the Ji Family. Aren’t you afraid they’ll crawl out of their coffins to settle the score with you?
“We considered yesterday’s matter settled once we sent your people back. Our Young Master is broad-minded and doesn’t like to hold grudges, but here you are today, coming to our door to provoke us.
“I already told you the Young Master is gravely ill and resting. Don’t tell me you aren’t aware of our Young Master’s condition? You’re clearly feigning ignorance.
“You’re doing this on purpose because you don’t want our Young Master to have a moment of peace! Old generals, please open your eyes and look! This man is going to bully our Young Master to death…”
Nanshu put on quite a performance, his voice anything but quiet.
Uncle Li silently stepped back, yielding the floor to him.
Tsk, tsk… When it came to scolding people, everyone in the mansion admired Nanshu.
Most of the staff were clumsy with words and preferred silence; they were a serious, tight-lipped bunch. Even the other attendant, Nanmo, was of a quiet temperament.
Nanshu had been given to the Young Master by the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was clearly a dignified and elegant man, so no one knew how Nanshu had developed such a personality.
However, it had to be said that hearing him rail against someone was quite satisfying-provided he wasn’t railing against them.
For instance, at this moment, Wang Hu’s face was turning various shades of blue and white from the verbal lashing.
Just as he was about to protest, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind.
A man in his fifties walked in. Despite his age, the man exuded a murderous aura born of countless battles. He walked with the gait of a fierce tiger.
“Old General Tang.”
Uncle Li and Nanshu were far more respectful toward this newcomer, their attitude a complete reversal from how they treated Wang Hu.
The old man nodded, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Wang Hu.
“Commander Wang.”
Wang Hu stood up. “Old General Tang, it was them…”
Tang Qingsong cut him off directly. “Did I not tell you to show him some respect?”
Wang Hu’s expression soured instantly. “I came here today to apologize, but who knew Young Master Ji wouldn’t show his face even now? Instead, his people started hitting a guest who came to their door.”
Nanshu’s tongue was quick. “Commander Wang, you’re twisting the truth. When you arrived, Uncle Li made it clear that the Young Master is gravely ill and resting. He told you that if you had any business, you could leave a message.
“But you insisted on waiting. Fine, we let you wait and served you the best food and drink. Yet, in less than an hour, you flew into a rage and even drew your sword to strike Uncle Li.”
Tang Qingsong’s fingers toyed with the hilt of the saber at his waist. “Is that so?”
He was addressing Wang Hu.
Wang Hu wanted to argue, but he was pinned in place by the Old General’s gaze.
“Get out. I don’t care what the people behind you are planning, but for now, as long as Ji Yan’an draws breath, these five hundred thousand troops of Mobei belong to the Ji Family Army.”
No matter how resentful or indignant Wang Hu felt, he could only slink away in disgrace.
He dared to act out in front of Ji Yan’an, but he didn’t dare cross Tang Qingsong.
“Take me to see him.”
Uncle Li hesitated. “This… the Young Master is currently sleeping.”
Tang Qingsong was surprised. “What? Have you found a divine physician?”
Clearly, he was also aware of Ji Yan’an’s condition.
Uncle Li smiled. “It actually has nothing to do with a divine physician.”
This made Tang Qingsong even more curious to see what was going on.
Understanding the concerns of those in the Ji Mansion, he unfastened his saber and handed it to Nanshu.
“Hold this for me.”