Chapter 260 - Bagged into a Sack (1/2)
After entering his bedroom, Ling Zhang changed into a light, skintight outfit with the intention to return to the manor. He flicked a glance at the bed and found that the thin quilt was going.
Ling Zhang, “…”
Yuwen Tong was such a double-dealer. Yesterday he’d said that he wouldn’t take the quilt away, but now it seemed that he’d done it anyway.
At this moment, in the residential compound of the Yuwen family, on the bed of Yuwen Tong who was the eldest son of the former patriarch and also a marshal lay a thin, neatly folded quilt.
As Yuwen You and his family moved into the residential compound of the Yuwen family, the houses near the former patriarch’s abode, which had stood empty for many years, finally witnessed their original occupants’ return. It had been a long time since the last time this place had been so lively.
Yao Yi had changed into another outfit. Dressed like a butler, he was busy dealing with all kinds of matters.
Yuwen Tong summoned Yao Yi and instructed, “Go ask Zhao Fugui some questions tonight and find out what my uncle’s branch of the family have been up to recently.”
Yao Yi gave a nod, turned around and went to make arrangements.
Yuwen You, followed by Yuwen Chi and Yuwen Si, walked inside. Yuwen Tong rose to his feet to welcome them and then closed the doors. n.o.body knew what their talk was about, and there was no other trace of it apart from the suggestion of shock remaining on Yuwen You’s face when he walked out of the house with his two sons in his wake.
At this time, Ling Zhang, taking w.a.n.g Dashan and other security guards with him, had exited the city, heading for the manor.
He was pondering over something, which he previously hadn’t had time to think about owing to some more important matters.
Yuwen Zhi had agreed to Yuwen Tong’s separation from him because he’d come to understand why the emperor had given his consent, realizing that the emperor was going to try to dispose of Yuwen Tong, so he wanted to stay out of it. This kind of conduct struck Ling Zhang as very disgusting. He could bear himself being bullied, but he couldn’t tolerate anybody taking advantage of Yuwen Tong.
Ling Zhang suddenly reined in his horse and stopped halfway along the journey.
w.a.n.g Dashan hurriedly asked, “What’s the matter, Young Master?”
“Go make some inquiries about Yuwen Zhi’s branch of the Yuwen family. I want to know when they usually leave home, where they ordinarily go to and how long they typically stay.”
“Yes, Chief.”
w.a.n.g Dashan, without asking any further questions, put Liu Yi in charge of the escort and then returned to the city to perform the task Ling Zhang had just a.s.signed him.
…
Five days later, Yuwen Tong was still occupied and hadn’t come to the manor, but Ling Zhang received a message saying that Zheng s.h.i.+ and Yuwen Qi would leave home the next day.
“They are going to check a couple of large stores and a private bank.” w.a.n.g Dashan also told Ling Zhang exactly where Zheng s.h.i.+ and Yuwen Qi were going.
Ling Zhang face went cold. “Good. They’ll be my first two punching bags.”
Yuwen Zhi had been following a surprisingly fixed daily schedule, either at home or in the imperial court, which was why Ling Zhang had hitherto never got a chance to do anything to him.
The next morning. In a courtyard house of Yuwen Zhi’s branch of the Yuwen family in the capital city.
Zheng s.h.i.+ and Su Yaoyao, along with Yuwen Qi sitting in a wheelchair, were going out to get some fresh air, their faces tinged with contentment. They planned to drop into the couple of large stores and an unnaturally profitable private bank. Of all the businesses of the Yuwen family, this private bank was the most lucrative one, the branches of which could be found in almost every city in the north-east of the Great Yue. A couple of days ago, Yuwen Tong had suddenly demanded he and Yuwen Zhi divide up family property and live apart, and also showed them a handwritten imperial edict. Zheng s.h.i.+ had almost died with anger. Not long ago Yuwen Zhi had broken Yuwen Qi’s legs to prevent this from happening, but now Yuwen Tong had shown up again, trying to have the Yuwen family broken up with a handwritten imperial edict – wasn’t Yuwen Tong bullying them? But unexpectedly, Yuwen Tong had retorted, “Aunt, you know exactly who started those rumors about the Ling’s Drugstore a few days ago and also gave Su Zhi the orders that eventually led to his death, don’t you? You broke the agreement first, and even His Majesty was alarmed. Shouldn’t you feel happy that I’m granting your wish today?”
Zheng s.h.i.+ had been sent speechless.
“You want us to agree to break up the family? Okay! Give us half of the family property and you’ll get our consent!”
Zheng s.h.i.+ had demanded an exorbitant price. In the realization that breaking up the family was unavoidable, she had insisted on half of the family property, but to her surprise, Yuwen Tong had actually agreed. He’d even been okay with her taking away that private bank which was the most profitable business of the Yuwen family, and he had only one condition for that – they must not disclose anything about it before the wedding, or else he would take back the private bank. Naturally, for the sake of the private bank, Zheng s.h.i.+ had accepted that condition.
“First Yuwen Tong fell out with us for that male courtesan, and now he even agreed to give up the private bank. I think sooner or later the Yuwen family is going to meet its end because of him. We’ll be better off without him, and we’ll never again have to gauge his mood before speaking. Your father should have consented when Yuwen Tong suggested they break up the family that day–”
“Don’t mention him.” Yuwen Qi’s face instantly went icy at the mention of Yuwen Zhi.
Zheng s.h.i.+ hurriedly coaxed, “Okay, okay. I won’t mention him again.”
“Here we are. Let’s go inside and take a look. This private bank will soon be ours, and we’ll never have to worry about anything with all this money. Your brother is now the a.s.sistant Minister of Rites and attends court meetings. In a couple of years, when he gets promoted to Minister of Rites, everybody would be cottoning to us, even though we’ve separated from Yuwen Tong.”
However, Yuwen Qi still had a sullen look on his face, gripping the armrests of the wheelchair.
Their horse-drawn carriage came to a halt in front of the private bank. Yuwen Qi in a wheelchair was pushed off the carriage along a ramp. The bank manager, along with some staff members, had been waiting for them in the doorway.
“Mistress, Childe Qi, this way please.”
Zheng s.h.i.+ raised her chin and glanced around the private bank, both her heart and her face full of complacency.
Yuwen Qi’s face also slightly softened at the sight of the private bank.
Su Yaoyao was tightly grasping a bar fixed on the back of the wheelchair Yuwen Qi was sitting in. After her father’s death, her mother had told her that she must fawn on her aunt and cousin so that she wouldn’t have to worry about money in the future. This private bank would soon belong to her aunt and cousin. If she married her cousin, she would be an owner of it as well!
The three of them had their respective facial expressions, but it was manifest that they were all excited and self-satisfied.
The bank manager stole a glance at them and then lowered his eyes. When he lifted his eyes again, his face had taken on a sycophantic look, lifting Zheng s.h.i.+’s and Yuwen Qi’s spirits considerably.
Zheng s.h.i.+ and Yuwen Qi, who had already regarded themselves as owners of this private bank, directly asked the president to show them the account books.
The bank manager agreed and personally led them to a chamber to check the account books. Zheng s.h.i.+ appeared very smug. It seemed that Yuwen Tong had been telling the truth. Staff members of this bank had been informed of these matters. She added, “I want you to deliver the account book to me every five days.”
“Yes, Mistress,” answered the bank manager obediently.
Zheng s.h.i.+ became even more complacent. The look in Yuwen Qi’s eyes flickered. “Mother, tell them I’d like to have a look at the account books as well.”