Chapter 169 - Blandishments of Yuwen Feng (2/2)

Yuwen Qi gave an involuntary shudder as he saw the unmistakable warning in Yuwen Tong’s eyes.

For fear that Yuwen Qi might make some other offensive remarks, Yuwen Feng said, “Where’s Childe Ling? Can we see him?”

Yuwen Tong replied, “He’s still sleeping.”

‘Still sleeping? He’s treating us like some insignificant n.o.bodies?’ Yuwen Qi’s face changed and was about to make some sarcastic remarks.

Yuwen Feng, quick of eye and deft of hand, hurriedly kept him from speaking, rose to his feet and said, “If that’s the case, I think we should stop disturbing you and take our leave. When are you going back home, Cousin? My parents have been anxiously waiting for you. They haven’t seen you for quite a long time and miss you very much.”

Yuwen Tong responded, “Tomorrow I’ll visit my father’s uncle and then return home.”

‘Tomorrow?’ Yuwen Feng secretly frowned. ‘Judging from Yuwen Tong’s words, it’s impossible to get him back home today. No matter what, it’s good news that he’s not moving in with Ling Zhang. We can wait another day.’

“Then I’ll tell my parents after we get back, so that they could stop worrying. By the way, all of us are going to the welcome reception tonight. They’ll be able to see you,” said Yuwen Feng.

Yuwen Tong nodded. “Okay. Now if you have no other business here, you should be on your way back. Pardon me for not going to see you out myself.”

Yuwen Feng gave a smile. Before leaving, he suddenly put on a serious face and said, “Oh, I almost forgot this. Congratulations to you on your victory against the Wan Kingdom. After this crus.h.i.+ng defeat, the Wan Kingdom won’t be able to regain enough strength to make trouble for us during the next few years. This is such a great victory that my parents have already burnt joss sticks in front of the memorial tablet of our ancestors to inform them of this good news. You should do the same when you get back, Cousin. Grandfather, uncle and aunt will no doubt be very happy to see you back.”

The last remark brought a slight change to Yuwen Tong’s countenance. When he spoke again, his tone had softened considerably. “I see. I’ll go back early in the morning.”

Yuwen Feng felt a sense of relief and said with a smile, “Then I’ll take my leave, Cousin.”

Yuwen Qi had been kept from speaking by his elder brother all along. Eventually, he had no choice but to utter “See you later” and then followed his elder brother out of the room.

After they left, Yuwen Tong pondered for a while and then rose to his feet and walked inside.

‘Yuwen Feng is indeed quite different from others. At least he knows what will sway me,’ Yuwen Tong thought. If there was still anything in Yuwen family he held dear, it would be what Yuwen Feng had mentioned. Indeed, after returning to the capital city with a victory, he should go to the ancestral hall and light some joss sticks.

At this moment, Ling Zhang, who had got up and taken a bath, was drying his hair. Seeing Yuwen Tong return, he asked, “Was it Yuwen Feng and Yuwen Qi who came here? They were here to ask you to go home?”

Yuwen Tong inclined his head. “They were anxious because I didn’t go back.”

Ling Zhang said, “I also thought that you would go home first after leaving the imperial palace.”

Yuwen Tong replied, “They showed such a lack of respect for you. I feel obliged to help you get even with them.”

Ling Zhang gave a smile. “Thank you, Grand Marshal. You should go back tomorrow. No matter what, that’s your home. You have to return and take a look.”

Yuwen Tong nodded. “Tomorrow morning we’ll pay a visit to my father’s uncle first. Then we’ll go back to the residence of Yuwen family.”

Ling Zhang thought for a few moments but didn’t decline. “All right, but know this, if they mess with me again, my words might get quite offensive.”

Meeting people of Yuwen family was unavoidable, so he might as well go and take a look. As the saying goes, ‘Knowing oneself as well as their enemy is the only way to stay undefeated.’

Yuwen Tong replied, “They won’t dare in the presence of me.”

Hearing his words, Ling Zhang could barely keep from laughing. ‘It turns out that Yuwen Tong is the most arrogant guy.’

“There’s a welcome reception in the imperial palace tonight. Are you coming with me?” Yuwen Tong inquired of him.

“They invited me as well?” Ling Zhang looked at him.

“The emperor asked me to take you there. I said that you were tired,” Yuwen Tong responded.

Ling Zhang thought for a few moments and said, “Give me some time to think about it.”

If he went there, those people would definitely focus their attention on him like a money. Some of them might resort to covert tricks or even stab him in the back. However, this was also an opportunity to strike up acquaintance with all dignitaries in the whole capital city, and only by getting acquainted with them could he find out who’s who according to what Tao Feng had told him previously. Since he had already come to the capital city, he couldn’t just hide in his own house. Sooner or later he would have to face these people, and the difference between facing them sooner and facing them later was merely that he would have gained more acquaintance with those involved forces in the capital city and be in a less pa.s.sive position if the latter was the case.

“Okay. There’s still plenty of time left before the evening banquet starts. Take you time,” said Yuwen Tong, having no intention to try to rush Ling Zhang into making a decision.

When Ling Zhang said that he needed some time to consider, he had actually made a choice already. It was just that he had now developed a habit of weighing and balancing before taking action.

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