Chapter 57: The Governor of Yunzhou (2/2)
”Certainly!”
The maidservant replied carefully, and had noticed through her intuition that Ma Tianchang seemed like he was suddenly very unhappy to hear about Ji Zhongtang.
After the maidservant had left, Ma Tianchang put the book he had in his hand onto the stone table under the pavilion, straightened out his clothes a little, and stepped towards the study room.
In the study room of the Governor Mansion, a middle-aged man in grey was slowly pacing back and forth, carrying a faint smile on his face as he inspected each row of books on the bookcase. On the table was a cup of half-drunk tea. Suddenly, his footsteps came to a halt, and his faint smile lit up into a wide grin.
”Master Ji, we're honored by your presence! Please forgive me for not coming out to meet you, I apologize deeply for my lack of manners!”
From a distance, he could hear the distinctive magnetism of Ma Tianchang's voice approaching.
”Well, well, well, I, Ji Zhongtang, boldly invite myself in, and hope Your Excellency will not mind.” Ji Zhongtang turned round, smiling with the familiarity of a relative to welcome Ma Tianchang. The two people greeted each other with the demeanor of old friends, and a child standing to the side promptly topped up their tea.
They made chit-chat together for an hour or so, before finally reaching the main topic.
”And may I ask what brings Master Ji to my residency today?”
”Oh, forgive my inviting myself… I've come about something concerning my nephew's marriage!”
”Phh… !” Ma Tianchang jolted with a start and snorted half of his tea out from his nostrils, spilling the other half over the chair. The footboy standing by the doorway also stared blankly, and then hurriedly came forward to clean up the mess. Now and then he glanced up at Ji Zhongtang, with a strange expression.
So, it looks like I'm very bold!
Looking at this situation, Ji Zhongtang sat to one side smiling wordlessly.
”Apologies, apologies, I'm lacking in manners!” Ma Tianchang said a little awkwardly, wiping a wet spot from his clothes. ”It's just that what you've just said, I don't quite understand… what has your nephew's marriage got to do with myself?” From his appearance it seemed like he wanted to say, ”But I'm a man, are you sure you meant to say nephew and not niece?!”
”Your Excellency, you're so amusing!” Ji Zhongtang said, cupping his fists together in a show of respect. ”I've heard for a long time that your Excellency's daughter is of an elegant appearance, and now that she's of marriageable age, I think she'll be a good match for my nephew. Therefore… !”
”You mean Linglong?!” Ma Tianchang raised his eyebrows, and stared right at Ji Zhongtang, and spoke in a stern, measured tone. ”Forgive me for speaking frankly. My daughter is indeed of marriageable age, but to betroth her to your nephew… I'm afraid the age gap is too wide.”
”Age is not a problem, and besides, their age gap is no more than 16 years… Shaoyou is just a little over 30, a good match for your precious daughter!” While speaking, he produced a letter from his coat, and with both hands presented it before Ma Tianchang.
The envelope was completely blank, without a single character. Ma Tianchang looked at Ji Zhongtang in confusion, and opened it, and when he saw the writing on the letter his complexion whitened. He read the letter carefully, and as he read his expression stiffened, and after a while, he let out a long sigh, and carefully folded the letter before placing it back inside the envelope and concealing it in his coat pocket. He raised his head and said, ”If this was an ordinary affair, this would be the end of it, but as it is of such great significance…. Please allow me some time to think it over!”
”Of course!” Ji Zhongtang said, ”This is a big deal, naturally you must consider it at length. I won't disturb your Excellency any further — I'm staying now at Tongfu Inn, courtyard number one. If you've come to a decision, please dispatch someone to notify me. I bid thee farewell!”
”You can see yourself out!” Ma Tianchang sat upright and motionless, and a faint smile had already re-appeared on his face. He picked up the tea by his side and sipped it gently, not looking at Ji Zhongtang.
A trace of anger flashed for a moment in Ji Zhongtang's eyes, and then he cupped his hands towards Ma Tianchang before turning to leave.
Ma Tianchang quietly sipped his tea, and an oppressively tense atmosphere filled the study room. The footboy standing by the doorway arched his back where he was standing, and a look of terror was upon his face. He dared not even exhale.
After he had drunk his tea, Ma Tianchang slowly raised his head, gazing toward the stone footpath outside the entrance to the study room. His gaze slowly became colder, and he waved his left hand over the table, tapping it gently.
”What's his game? Testing me out, pressuring me, trying to make me stand in line… or does he have some other intention? Mingyi School, and the White Blademaster Lu Shaoyou, are they very great… hmm… ?”
Finally, with a cold chuckle, he finished his thinking, stood up, and left the room. His figure seemed to bring a cold wind behind it, causing the footboy by the doorway to shiver.
His Excellency, the Governor, was angry, so it seemed.