Chapter 252 - A Warning from Yuwen Tong (1/2)

Ling Zhang was still having a cla.s.s and unaware that his grandfather had acted so quick that the revamp of the manor had already started. There hadn’t been any rumors about the transaction in the capital city, because the family of the Marquess Ning’an were unwilling to disclose it to outsiders for fear of losing face. Former owners of those courtyard houses were merchants, and the merchant circle was very different from the dignitary circle, so it was impossible for news of this kind of things to reach their ears.

During the riding lesson in the afternoon, however, there was a blip.

As coincidental as it had been the last time, Ling Zhang and his friends were attending a riding lesson with Jiang Yu. Another group of people were also present.

Snowflake the horse, which was Ling Zhang’s steed, drew numerous people’s eyes as it made its appearance. Added to this was his reputation in the Imperial College. Almost everybody present knew who he was, and he naturally was the focus of attention in the field.

When Ling Zhang, Yuwen Jin and the others arrived, Jiang Yu and his cronies were already there. Their arrival was accompanied by a lot of noises, so naturally Jiang Yu and the others noticed.

“This Ling Zhang guy is getting c.o.c.kier by the day.”

As usual, it was Zuo Yuanping standing behind Jiang Yu who spoke. After saying this, he specially looked at Jiang Yu to see his reaction. On that day, at the front gates of the Imperial College, Jiang Yu rebuked him after he made a nasty remark about Ling Zhang, and he was astonished, wondering why Jiang Yu suddenly changed his att.i.tude. He had a history with Ling Zhang and didn’t want to see Jiang Yu and Ling Zhang bury the hatchet, but he didn’t dare offend Jiang Yu either, so after saying this, he flicked a tentative glance at Jiang Yu. Seeing no particular reaction from Jiang Yu, unaware of what Jiang Yu was thinking about, he added, “Marshal Yuwen is nursing injuries at home, but he, instead of staying with him and tending him, came to this place. Why does the Marshal has his eye on a man of this kind when he obviously deserves someone much better?”

“Would you knock it off?”

Jiang Yu turned around and looked at him coldly. “Like I said that day, if you say another word about this, you’ll have to leave this group.”

Zuo Yuanping went pale-faced and somewhat embarra.s.sed. “Jiang Yu, don’t you think Ling Zhang is being unbearable?”

“Beat it.”

Since Jiang Yu had given the word, all his cronies acted accordingly and soon forced Zuo Yuanping out of the group. Zuo Yuanping was no longer welcome in Jiang Yu’s clique.

Zuo Yuanping was indignant but didn’t dare say anything, his fist clenched. ‘Jiang Yu!’

“Who’s that?” someone beside him suddenly said.

Zuo Yuanping looked in that direction and saw that a student walked up to Ling Zhang, said something and with that everybody beside Ling Zhang had an odd expression on his face.

“So you’re Ling Zhang. Can you play qin (a seven-stringed plucked instrument in some ways similar to the zither)?”

Ling Zhang was thrown into perplexity by this person who had suddenly shown up and asked him whether he knew how to play qin.

“I want to have a qin compet.i.tion with you. Both of us play the tune ‘Commencement of War’.”

A muscle twitched at the corner of Ling Zhang’s mouth. Commencement of War? What was this guy talking about?

“I don’t know how to play the tune ‘Commencement of War’. Even if I did, I wouldn’t compete with you just because you asked. You haven’t identified yourself, and none of your words make any sense. How about you tell me why you want to compete with me on the proficiency in ‘Commencement of War’?”

Seeing the hint of inexplicable hostility in this person’s eyes, Ling Zhang couldn’t help but give a sneer.

Yuwen Jin’s and the others’ faces also fell, their eyes fixed on this student who had suddenly come to challenge Ling Zhang. “Who are you?”

“Who is he? Yesterday–”

A hiss was heard.

A person beside the student had just wanted to say something when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his knee, and with that his legs buckled and he slumped to his knees.

“Is such a high level of formality really necessary?” Ling Zhang looked down at the person kneeling on the ground, an flinty look on his face.

“What happened to you?” Seeing his companion suddenly kneel down with a miserable face, the student who had just challenged Ling Zhang to a qin compet.i.tion went somewhat flurried.

Because of the noises, all others moved their eyes in this direction, wondering what was going on.

With an apathetic expression, Ling Zhang glanced at Miao s.h.i.+ba out of the corner of his eye. Just now there’d seemed to be a gleam shooting into that person’s knee. If he had seen correctly, it was Miao s.h.i.+ba who’d done it.

With a thoughtful look, Ling Zhang ignored the two people, one kneeling and the other crouching, and said, “No matter who you are, I’m not interested in this kind of farce, and neither do I have the time for it. Be smart and stay away from me or there will be consequences.”

Seeing his companion yelling “My leg’s broken!” with an anguished, pallid face, the student who had challenged Ling Zhang to a compet.i.tion also paled visibly. He turned to look at Ling Zhang, a faint mixture of wariness and fear in his eyes. “You did this?”

“You’re such a weirdo. We have every reason to suspect that you’re trying to frame Brother Zhang. This guy had barely finished a sentence when he knelt to the ground and started whining as though we did something to him. Use your brain, will you? And tell us who sent you here to make trouble for us.”

Yuwen Jin frostily eyed the two people, arms crossed on his chest.

On hearing the rebuke, the student clenched his teeth. “Arrant nonsense! I just want to have a qin compet.i.tion with Ling Zhang.”

“Qin my a.s.s! Get lost!” Yuwen Jin glared at him, his fists clenched, making it obvious that he’d beat him up if he didn’t leave right away.

“My leg… My leg hurts so badly! Help me! Send for a physician!”

The man wailed in pain on the ground was reduced to tears. The student’s face was full of anger but there was nothing he could do to vent it. His companion was tightly holding on to him asking him for help, and he couldn’t ignore him…

Ling Zhang rolled his eyes upwards, couldn’t be bothered to say another word, turned around and left.

Yuwen Jin and the others naturally followed in Ling Zhang’s wake. Before leaving, Zhao Jiusi thoughtfully tossed an appraising look at that person’s figure and looks, a flicker of suspicion crossing his eyes.