Chapter 275 - Departure for the Millennium Pavilion (1/2)
The return of the team sent to Tanyang seemed to disperse some of the repressive dark clouds that had been lingering in the sky above the capital city for quite some time. Yuwen Chi brought messages from Tanyang and a cartful of Tanyang specialities that the Ling family had prepared for Ling Zhang.
“Second Master Ling had originally planned to come to the capital city in a few days. Fortunately, my cousin’s letter arrived in time and Second Master Ling changed his mind,” said Yuwen Jin.
Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong were going to leave the capital city in a couple of days, went to the Millennium Pavilion first and then Tanyang. Ling Zhaowen would miss them had he been unaware of it and come to the capital city.
“It never crossed my mind that so many things would happen during our absence. Will we be able to finish the preparatory work for the wedding on time?” Yuwen Chi asked with a serious look on his face. He’d always had a perceptive understanding of the whole picture and antic.i.p.ated some time ago that Yuwen Tong would hand over part of his military power, but he hadn’t expected that it’d happen so soon, and the occurrence of such an absurd incident had also come as a surprise to him. Although he was asking about the wedding, what he worried about was something of a higher plane – the fate of the Yuwen family.
“We will,” answered Yuwen Tong. Of course he knew what his uncles and cousins were concerned about. “I’m afraid I’ll have to put you to the trouble of dealing with all family matters for some time. I’ll sort things out after I return with Brother Zhang.”
Yuwen Chi felt that there was some kind of undertone in his words, but Yuwen Tong didn’t explain anything and just signaled him to look at Yuwen You. Having come to understand, Yuwen Chi nodded and said, “Rest a.s.sured, we’ll be cautious and have everything properly handled in the capital city.”
While Yuwen Tong was consulting with Yuwen Chi and the others about something, Yuwen Jin and Ling Zhang found a quiet spot to talk. First Yuwen Jin told Ling Zhang about their stay in Tanyang and also handed him what Ling Maomao had asked him to deliver to Ling Zhang. Ling Zhang watched the little wooden figurine in his hand which had been carved with childish technique. The features of it were rather rough, and he could tell at a glance that this was Ling Maomao’s work.
“Maomao wanted you to have this and keep him in mind at all times,” said Yuwen Jin.
Ling Zhang gave a smile, solemnly thanked Yuwen Jin for his trouble and started fingering the wooden figurine, inevitably homesick.
“He also wanted to come with me to the capital city to see you. Originally my uncle was very happy about it and intended to convince Second Master Ling to allow Maomao to come with us, but afterwards news of what happened here spread to Tanyang, and we realized that the situation here instantly became dangerous, so all of us didn’t dare bring him here any longer,” added Yuwen Jin.
After Yuwen Jin finished his remarks, both of them fell silent.
“Brother Zhang, do you regret having agreed to marry my cousin?” Yuwen Jin suddenly asked.
Ling Zhang’s face wore a quizzical look. “Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
Yuwen Jin sighed, “A little short-tempered as I am, I have a shrewd idea of what might be coming for our family. On our way back, my uncle was saying that he had no idea whether it was fortunate or unfortunate of you and my cousin to have decided to get married in these circ.u.mstances. If you two haven’t proclaimed that you are getting married, and something does happen, you could still–”
“Stop that nonsense!” Ling Zhang interrupted him, frowning. “You guys think I’m a coward who’d prefer life to dishonor?”
“That’s not what I mean,” Yuwen Jin hastened to explain. “I know you are not that kind of person. It’s just that Second Master Ling has been quite worried ever since what’d happened here came to his knowledge. My uncle and I and the others are all very guilty. We feel that this is not the right time, that we’re going to incriminate the Ling family.”
Ling Zhang shook his head. “Enough. Don’t sound so defeatist. This is just the beginning. Why are you getting so dejected as though you’re admitting defeat? Aren’t you the one who trusts your cousin the most? Since he told you to hang in there and wait for us to come back, he definitely has a plan. Have faith in him.”
The time had not come for Ling Zhang to confide Yuwen Tong’s plans and resolution to Yuwen Jin, so he could only drop a hint to him in a roundabout way. He added, “And for the record, I’ve never regretted it from the moment I decided to come to this city with Yuwen Tong, so don’t ask me this kind of questions ever again.”
Yuwen Jin raised his hand to scratch his head, feeling a sense of relief, awkwardly making an apology.
“By the way, where are you going with my cousin, Brother Zhang? Is it really so important that you have to leave at this juncture?”
Ling Zhang slightly nodded. “It’s very important.”
Yuwen Jin threw his chest out. “Then just go with my cousin. I’ll keep an eye on the Ling Mansion and make sure n.o.body in here is subjected to bullying.”
Ling Zhang smiled, “Thanks.”
…
Two days later, Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong secretly left the capital city and moved into the new manor.
Ji Yin was still absent, but he seemed to have come back once, for there was a message for them, in which he told them to go directly to Cangzhou to meet him.
Ling Zhang was worried about what might happen in the capital city, so he planned to go there and come back as quick as possible. After reading the message, he immediately instructed servants to get his baggage ready, preparing to depart. Almost all important parts of the revamp of the manor had been finished, and the rest of it didn’t require his occasional supervision. Yuwen Tong designated Yue Qi and some others to stay in the capital city. Apart from guarding this manor, their job also includes keeping a weather eye on the forces in the city and promptly reporting to him if anything happened.
Ling Zhang was bringing all his twenty-four security guards. Yao Yi and other personal bodyguards of Yuwen Tong’s naturally were going with them as well.
On that very night, they left the manor, heading south.
…