240 Can’t Get Through (1/2)
Ugh!
The steward almost retched.
I could wash it twice more and it'll be fine? F*ck you, I say!
Normally, if someone were to talk to him like this, he would have slapped him twice over, but now… he honestly did not dare do anything so rash.
Even if he had to retch his guts to death, he dared not jump off his feet.
The steward made his way through a total of three markets but did not manage to buy even a stalk of vegetable.
He returned with empty hands, but his trip home was not as relaxed as when he had first come out. He was stopped and checked every few steps, being searched everywhere and even in his most private of places. After being manhandled, he encountered another round just several steps away; it was the same, being patted down wholly without regard to his personal space.
It was to see if he brought back any messages… What if the search was not meticulous and there were to be a mistake?
Those private places were the highlights of the search.
When this steward finally returned to the Residence of Yang, it was already the fourth fragment of the night.
The searches and checks along his way home had taken about half of his life away; he was even checked in between his nail gaps, where else had they not touched?
It was rightful to say that he was bruised and battered!
…
In the internal yard of the Residence of Yang, Yang Botao looked calm and composed on the outside but he had long been feeling anxious and fidgety.
There were twenty people surrounding him right now, experts of the Four Seasons Tower who had slipped in using various identities. Although there were quite a number of people milling around, it was still quiet.
To these people, this matter was only a minor one; it was not worth mentioning whether it was a success or failure in the end.
In spite of this, the meaning such a case held was entirely different to Yang Botao!
Yang Botao, as a Yutang citizen, had grown up and built his career in Yutang. Having come a long way, it was not an easy feat as he remembered all the sweat and blood it took to get where he was.
It was only after a few days that Yang Botao experienced the sudden realization that what he had worked so hard to maintain, what he had fought so hard for his whole life, was about to be destroyed. The cause of it all had been a secret deed he had made, thinking that it was carefully hidden and unknown to anyone…
He could hardly describe what he was currently feeling.
He felt his anger rise when he watched the experts of the Four Seasons Tower being so indifferent. ”Of course you all don’t care. The worst that can happen to you is leaving this place and going back to the martial arts world. Anywhere in the world is your home, you’ve gotten used to such a life anyway.”
”But what about me?”
”Has anyone thought about me, for even the shortest moment?” Yang Botao muttered darkly under his breath.
A young pretty maid walked over timidly, and said, ”Marshal, the mistress asks for you.”
Yang Botao coughed and replied, ”Has the mistress mentioned what it is for? This marshal still has urgent matters to attend to. If it’s nothing important, we’ll speak of it later!”
For some reason, Yang Botao felt unnerved and apprehensive to face his wife of ten years. He had no task at hand anymore and was bored out of his mind but he dared not speak the truth – dared not face her.
”Mistress seems to have something important to discuss with the marshal. Do make your way over quickly,” the young maid said.
”Let the mistress know I’ll be there soon.”
Yang Botao began to pace and mused for a while. Finally sighing, he said, ”Do sit around for some time here, everyone. I’ll be back soon.”
The leader, an elder in green clothes, replied with a smile, ”Feel free to do as you please, marshal.”
Yang Botao nodded and left with large strides.
…
”Mistress is looking for me?” Yang Botao stepped into the bedroom. This was the most private space in the entire Residence of Yang; it was usually only the spouses and a close maid who was in charge of cleaning who could enter this room.
Right now though, the small private space had a small table added in front of the bed. There were four side dishes, a pot of wine, two goblets, and two pairs of chopsticks laid out.
”I somehow suddenly have the mood to have a drink with you tonight.”
Yang Botao’s mistress was a descendent of officials, a lady of a noble household. Despite being near her forties, she was still in good shape and beautiful like a blooming flower.
Married to such a wife, it was common knowledge that the people around Yang Botao were envious of him.
”I didn’t expect you to be in the mood. This marshal shall have a drink with the mistress!” Yang Botao chuckled easily, as if he was in the mood as well, and sat down, inhaling the aroma of the dishes and reveling in it. ”Your culinary skills are getting better…”