Chapter 47: Give Me Back My Money! |
He knew within himself that there were moments when one had to endure grievances. For instance, like now, when Feng Ru Nan lunged at him. It was perfectly normal for Yuan Gang to step out and protect him. And Yuan Gang had acted courteously; he merely defended and did not attack Feng Ru Nan. Yet, that old man had subtly harmed Yuan Gang.
However, he had exalted himself as an "old slave." Clearly, he did all this for his young mistress. This was understandable, but Niu You Dao was not someone who could be offended with impunity.
When Niu You Dao uttered those threats to the old man, he had good reason. At the very least, he could have used the hundred thousand Crows army to force that old man to immediately apologize to them. However, after a moment of thought, Niu You Dao decided he didn't want to increase his troubles right now. So, he chose to keep this debt for himself!
After this incident, Feng Ru Nan seemed to have cooled down a bit, but she still shrieked:
— Mother, I will not marry! If I marry, it will only be a man who props up the heavens with his head! Not this miserable wretch dragging out his life!
Niu You Dao, of course, understood she would be angry, yet he approached her and said with feigned surprise:
— What are you saying, General? In this world, is there any man who can prop up the heavens with his head more strongly than my Prince?
At these words, the other men in the hall were simply speechless. And they all understood that this was certainly not true.
Feng Lin Bo's mouth twitched. He whispered to himself, "You can certainly praise Shang Chao Zong. But why belittle others while praising him?"
— Nonsense! — Feng Ru Nan rudely began to argue. She screamed, causing Peng Yu Lan to feel awkward for her daughter. Though Feng Ru Nan was a general, she was also a young woman.
Niu You Dao didn't particularly care, as he wasn't the one marrying Feng Ru Nan. Instead, he loudly shouted:
— Has General ever seen the Prince? And how well does General know the Prince? If you haven't seen him, then why do you speak of him like that?
Feng Ru Nan:
— Tsk! As if I would ever see him! Let him stay far away from me. May my eyes never behold him. Otherwise, he'll find death from my spear! And you too, his running dog — she shrieked.
Seeing that she had lost her composure, Niu You Dao didn't bother to argue with her. He spoke loudly, suppressing Feng Ru Nan's cries:
— General knows nothing of the Prince! Does General know what it's like to endure years of hardship in prison? Especially when you are tortured every day? Years of torture...? Death would be better. What man could endure such a thing? I know only one such man. That is my Prince!
He raised his thumb and declared:
— He survived many adversities and did not yield to torture. And he revealed nothing. That is a true hero. Who can compare to him?!
He turned back to Feng Ru Nan:
— General, you probably know that the general of the capital guard insulted the Prince at the gates. The Prince had just come out of prison. He could barely stand on his feet. Yet, the Prince still dared to strike down the general of the capital guard with his sword! Let us ask ourselves. Who would dare to kill a general of the capital guard before the Son of Heaven, as if before the Emperor's very eyes? Does General dare? — He said, pointing particularly loudly at Feng Ru Nan.
Then, turning to everyone, he asked:
— Who among those present dares to do such a thing? Who dares, stand up. Let's see! — He stared intently at Feng Lin Bo:
— Governor, do you dare?
At these words, Feng Lin Bo rolled his eyes. He wanted to say that Shang Chao Zong dared to act that way because he knew he wouldn't be killed. However, Niu You Dao, without waiting for his reply, turned back to Feng Ru Nan and said:
— This is a fiery man, this is a true husband who props up the heavens with his head. Not some illusory man you invented. What use is an imagined man when a true husband stands before you? One you can simply take. Why reject the real for the illusory?
Feng Ru Nan simply didn't know how to respond.
Niu You Dao approached Peng Yu Lan again:
— My Prince is a man of noble lineage. His father, the great Ning Wang, who shook the world. Even the Emperor feared him. And now, although the Prince has been stripped of his title as a great Prince, he is still a majestic Prince and the son of Ning Wang. And for your daughter, it is the best opportunity to marry him. How many maidens in this world would dream of such glory? Of becoming a princess? Any maiden would agree purely for that title!
— A princess? — The thought flashed through Peng Yu Lan's mind. She immediately looked towards Feng Lin Bo. And then she waved at the old man:
— Take her away first!
That old man immediately headed outside, leading Feng Ru Nan away. And Feng Ru Nan could only turn her head and cry out:
— Mother, I won't go! I won't marry! He's a swindler. He's a liar. Don't listen to him! Mother... Niu You Dao still owes me. You beast, you owe me...
She was no longer visible, but her voice could still be heard. This caused Yuan Gang to slightly furrow his brows with a stony expression.
Peng Yu Lan looked at Niu You Dao in surprise and asked:
— What's this about money?
At this question, Niu You Dao felt awkward:
— Your daughter and I are old acquaintances. Even before I joined the Supreme Purity Sect. We met when I was floating on a raft down the river. Your daughter almost killed me with an arrow. And then she threw a token and told me to find her in the county. In short, afterwards, how to say it... In short, it's shameful... I was in need of funds. So I borrowed money from her. However, I will definitely return it later, absolutely! — He spoke deliberately vaguely.
Peng Yu Lan had heard about the incident on the river, but nothing about money. But how could this young man have borrowed money?
Feng Lin Bo interrupted:
— Alright, no need to talk about useless things. Indeed, why should I give my daughter away without a gift?
Having said this, it was clear that he already believed in the hundred thousand strong army.
Niu You Dao pointed his finger outside and said:
— It's in Qingshan County, in Cang Wu County. That's why the Prince is returning there!
Feng Lin Bo narrowed his eyes:
— If the imperial house knows it's there, then why are they waiting for me to take the army?
Niu You Dao:
— If it could be easily found, then I fear the Prince would have already perished in prison. How could he have survived to this day? This is no small matter. Ning Wang reorganized the army and hid it in a secret, secluded place. Even the Prince himself would find it difficult to locate them.
Feng Lin Bo:
— Even he would find it hard to find. Then I'll go look for it myself.... He hadn't finished speaking when Niu You Dao looked at him with a forced smile. And he was speechless. This very man had said he wouldn't dare search like that and reveal to everyone that he had such an army.
Therefore, Feng Lin Bo immediately understood his blunder mid-sentence and changed his words:
— If I agree to become kin with him, and the cavalry sets off for Cang Wu, then the imperial house must suspect that I know about the secret!
Niu You Dao waved his hand:
— So what? In a kingdom as vast as Yan, can they easily extend their power everywhere? Does the imperial house dare to openly oppose the governor? If they dared, they would have long since uprooted the county governor. They only fear that external enemies will learn of the turmoil and attack the country. That's why they don't dare to act openly. If the surrounding kingdoms learn that the internal strife has spread so widely, they will most likely unleash their predatory paws upon us. The Yan Kingdom will perish! And if the imperial house learns that the governor knows about the secret, they will fear you even more. On the contrary, this will only be an advantage for Kuangai. However, the governor must not delay in this matter. You must be decisive!
Feng Lin Bo stroked his beard and fell into deep thought.
And then Peng Yu Lan's voice rang out, as if dousing everyone with cold water:
— You spoke wonderfully about Ning Wang's son. About him being Ning Wang's son and all that. However, you don't mention that his father somehow held a view that displeased the entire cultivation world. And now, how can our Heavenly Jade Sect become kin with his son?
Niu You Dao turned around like a ruffled rooster and began to explain:
— Madam is a woman who wears a majestic headdress, and she is far from simple. You don't think Ning Wang was a fool, do you? He was tempered in countless battles for so long. And such a battle-hardened general would simply put himself in a disadvantageous position? Even if he did think that way, in a simple situation, Ning Wang would certainly not have announced his views to everyone. Others don't know, but our Prince knows everything perfectly. Madam also clearly knew that the former emperor treated Ning Wang well. And everyone in those years said that Ning Wang was 90% likely to become the future emperor. Only suddenly did an affair concerning Ning Wang leak out, which turned the entire cultivation world against him. And the former emperor was greatly influenced from all sides. I fear that the Heavenly Jade Sect was among them. And then the former emperor suddenly dies, and in his will, he names not Ning Wang, but the current emperor as his successor. Everything is absolutely very strange. And only a fool would not guess what really happened.
He turned again and looked at several cultivators. Niu You Dao guessed that these were people from the Heavenly Jade Sect, and he also began to explain everything to them:
— What the father thought, it's not a given that the son will think the same. You can even not worry about this for now. You only need to accept the simple Prince, and then everyone outside will think that the simple Prince does not hold the same view as his father. Even if it doesn't matter whether others believe it or not, the Heavenly Jade Sect is here, and with your strength, who would dare to put pressure on you? Therefore, these are empty concerns. If the imperial palace dares, along with other sects, to start putting pressure on the Heavenly Jade Sect, then you will have the handle of a hundred thousand Crows. Does the imperial court dare to cause harmful consequences by provoking you? Madam's fears are unfounded! — Niu You Dao waved his sleeve, as if that settled everything.
He turned again and approached Feng Lin Bo:
— Moreover, in such a situation, you have another advantage. If the governor is worried about the existence of the hundred thousand strong army, then you can just find out. If the emperor dares to send troops to Kuangai County, and direct all cultivation sects to put pressure on the Heavenly Jade Sect. And if it turns out that the hundred thousand strong army is a fiction, then the governor can simply reject the Prince. You can even kill us. We won't say a word! However, if the emperor doesn't dare, then I don't need to speak further about the benefits.... Having said this, Niu You Dao cupped his hands:
— My Prince sincerely wishes to take your daughter as his wife. I hope the governor and madam will facilitate this!