Chapter 84 - A Woman (1/2)

“This brat runs so fast,” sighed Fu Caiwei.

Ling Xingzhong, however, didn’t lose his temper. He was very glad to hear the news. Stroking his beard, he said, “It seems that there’s still hope.”

‘My eldest grandson has already begun to proactively court Yuwen Tong’s favor. Would it be long before he agrees to the marriage?’ he whispered to himself in delight.

“But we still have to remind Zhang’er that he must not be excessively solicitous. He must adopt a moderate finesse.”

Fu Caiwei pulled a wry face when she heard his words. It was this man who had wanted Ling Zhang to establish a close relations.h.i.+p with Yuwen Tong, but now he wanted Ling Zhang to keep a moderate distance from him.

‘Alas. This old man’s thoughts are so unpredictable.’

Meanwhile, Ling Maomao rapidly ran to the Green Bamboo Mansion. The moment he entered the courtyard, he was greeted by tempting aromas. Instantly, a wave of pique flooded him and he yelled, “Elder brother!”

On hearing Ling Maomao’s silvery voice, Ling Zhang, who had prepared some novel dishes to entertain Yuwen Tong, did a double take. “Maomao?”

‘He should be having lunch at this hour. Why did he come here?’ he wondered.

Yuwen Tong also put down his chopsticks, watching Ling Maomao running into the room. The first thing Ling Maomao did after entering was glance at those dishes on the dining table, and then he flicked a rather aggrieved glimpse at Yuwen Tong.

Yuwen Tong was confused at first. And then, as he saw Ling Maomao ran to Ling Zhang with a faintly sulky pout, he had a general idea of what was going on, but he kept his countenance in silence, waiting to hear what Ling Maomao was going to say to Ling Zhang.

“Elder brother, I haven’t seen you for days. Are you very busy?” Ling Maomao complained in an aggrieved tone of voice.

Yuwen Tong’s eyebrows lifted. ‘This kid’s not bad. He adopted a roundabout method in pursuit of his ends.’

But Ling Zhang didn’t have a clue what kind of grievance Ling Maomao had been nursing, so naturally his heart was softened as he heard his aggrieved voice. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have neglected you. I apologize to you. Please forgive me.”

“Then… Then can I sleep with you tonight?” Ling Maomao raised his head and pitifully looked at him.

Ling Zhang recalled that he didn’t have to take a medicated bath on this day, so he nodded. “By all means. You’re always welcome at elder brother’s house.”

On hearing this, Ling Maomao gave a smile. “And you’re also telling me stories about Marshal Yuwen.”

Ling Zhang was speechless with embarra.s.sment.

He gave a soft cough and glimpsed at Yuwen Tong who was watching him.

“Okay.”

He didn’t care whether he would lose face. His younger brother being happy was the most important to him.

Ling Maomao cheered and held his belly. “I hurried here to meet you and I haven’t had lunch yet.”

“Then have it here. Come on. Take a seat.” Without any suspicions, Ling Zhang drew Ling Maomao to the dining table and settled him on a chair.

Xia Feng, who had carried these dishes to the Green Bamboo Mansion with Ling Zhang previously, was an observant man. He gave the boy a spare bowl and a pair of spare chopsticks and said, “Enjoy your meal, Second Young Master.”

Ling Maomao happily took the bowl and chopsticks and cast a smile at his elder brother. “Let’s eat, elder brother.”

“Okay,” Ling Zhang replied and sat down on a chair beside him.

Yuwen Tong gazed at the two brothers, the responsive little one of whom was smugly watching him while his elder brother wasn’t paying attention, and the other one of whom seemed to be completely oblivious of what was going on, which Yuwen Tong found a pretty amusing sight.

“Err, let me continue offering you some information about these dishes. So this one…” Ling Zhang resumed providing Yuwen Tong with information on the next course.

And then the look in Ling Maomao’s eyes turned from smugness into envy. Beneath his gaze, Yuwen Tong picked the best and also most delicious part of that dish for himself.

Ling Maomao went speechless.

He abruptly took a mouthful of rice in a fit of anger.

Yuwen Tong deliberately picked the best part of every other dish, which Ling Maomao desired the most. The little boy could barely forbear to throw a tantrum.

Finally, Ling Zhang also sensed that something was not right. In perplexity, he looked at Yuwen Tong and then moved his eyes onto Ling Maomao. “What’s going on?”

As eager as Ling Maomao was to tell on Yuwen Tong, when he saw the look on Yuwen Tong’s face, an inexplicable unwillingness to admit defeat clutched at his heart. His cheeks bulging, he said, “Nothing.”

Of course Ling Zhang didn’t believe him. He looked at Yuwen Tong. Naturally, which parts of those dishes this marshal had just picked didn’t escape his notice. ‘Surely it was not by sheer coincidence that this guy took away the part Maomao liked the most every time he used his chopsticks?’ he wondered.

“This is the first time that I’ve heard of these dishes. After having a taste of each of them, I found that they’re pretty appetizing. Very good.”

After hearing Yuwen Tong’s words, Ling Zhang thought, ‘This is the first time that this guy has tasted these dishes, so he shouldn’t have known what Maomao liked the most. It must be a coincidence. But the resemblance between their preferences is so uncanny.”

“Then I’ll have them serve these dishes again in a couple of days.”

“Okay.”

Ling Maomao cast a glance at his elder brother, wondering, ‘These dishes will be served again in a couple of days? Will I be allowed to come here to freeload one more time?’

Though Ling Zhang believed that it was a mere coincidence that Yuwen Tong behaved this way, he was well aware of what Ling Maomao was thinking about as well as which dishes he liked the most, so he said, “You’ll get a serving of this menu as well. I promise all courses will be your favorite.”

Ling Maomao’s eyes lit up. It was not until this moment that he felt happy again. “Thank you, elder brother.”

Yuwen Tong had merely been teasing Ling Maomao on a whim. It was not that he really wanted to cross him, so during the rest of the lunch time, he no longer gave Ling Maomao t.i.t for tat, and Ling Maomao secretly sighed with relief.