Chapter 664: Proposing marriage, another disturbance appears (1/2)

Who colluded with Duanmu Yao?

Everyone was stunned by his words. Tang Zijin, who’d kept silent the entire time, actually stood up. “Someone from the Tang Clan?”

“It wouldn’t have been one of your lordship’s men, would it?” Long Feiye retorted.

“Just what happened?” Tang Zijin had once wanted Long Feiye to marry Duanmu Yao, if only to claim control over Celestial Mountain and borrow Western Zhou’s strength. But despite all his hopes, this was the outcome now. He was very clear that they and Duanmu Yao were enemies now.

Chu Xifeng explained the entire process from beginning to end, leaving both Tang Zijin and Lady Tang astonished. Compared to their own men, they too agreed that Long Feiye’s subordinates at the Yaoshui estate were less likely to collude with Duanmu Yao and leak any details. After all, Long Feiye treated his subordinates exceptionally harsh. But the Tang Clan was filled with all sorts of members. However…

“Not many people know the location of the Yaoshui estate in the first place!” Lady Tang remarked.

“Then lock up all the people who do. Interrogate them one by one. I refuse to believe that we won’t find the truth!” Tang Li said sharply as he narrowed his eyes. A dangerous aura surrounded him. “Who had the gall to collude with Duanmu Yao? Are they sick of living already?”

“That’s right. Interrogate them one by one using that…that, what’s it called again…” Lady Tang was still thinking when Han Yunxi helpfully reminded her.

“Rat…”

“Right! Rat torture! That’s the one,” Lady Tang rejoiced and glanced at Han Yunxi with a ‘you understand what I mean’ look. “Rat torture for the interrogation will definitely get us results!”

Aunt Ru only stood on the side with lips tightly pursed in a rare moment of silence.

“This is a massive oversight! Even if we kill the wrong person, it’s better than missing them outright! My Tang Clan will accept no traitors amongst its ranks!” Tang Zijin’s expression was stern. “Aunt Ru, you shouldn’t go with them. I’ll leave this task to you. You and Chu Xifeng should investigate thoroughly. Don’t forgive the offender, whoever it may be!”

Aunt Ru dearly wanted to join Lady Tang’s betrothal party, but the disturbance of this matter made it impossible for her to refuse the request.

“Any problems with that, Aunt Ru?” Long Feiye asked.

“Nothing! How could I have any problems?” Aunt Ru replied hastily. “Tang Li’s wedding is an important affair, but this even more so. You can all leave without worries, just leave this to me!”

“Chu Xifeng, cooperate with her! If there’s any progress, report it as son as you can,” Long Feiye instructed coldly.

“This subordinate understands!” Chu Xifeng obeyed respectfully.

Long Feiye’s tone and attitude were both unkind. But Tang Zijin didn’t dare to object, even as his senior, because any greater consequences from the betrayal would have earned his entire clan a punishment. That night, Long Feiye remained in Tang Li’s courtyard. Supposedly, Tang Li was too anxious on the night before the betrothal party and needed to speak heart to heart with his older brother. Han Yunxi remained in Lady Tang’s quarters. According to Lady Tang, she was too moved and needed to plan some details with her. Meanwhile, Aunt Ru had no chance to rest when Chu Xifeng whisked her away to help with the investigations.

The next morning, Han Yunxi and Long Feiye used the Tang Clan’s specially formulated face masks to disguise themselves as Lady Tang’s handmaiden and a carriage guard. The two of them made a perfect pair flanking Lady Tang on both sides. Although it was just a betrothal party, the assembled group looked quite smart. Lining up in front of the Tang Clan doors, they reminded Han Yunxi of her former honor guard for her wedding day. Four guards led the road in front while Tang Li rode on a high horse behind them. Behind him was Lady Tang’s carriage with her and Han Yunxi inside. Long Feiye rode on horseback outside them as protection. Behind them was the carriage with the wedding nanny and the fortune-teller in tow, with the betrothal gifts bringing up the rear. Aside from the ten individual Tang Clan assassination weapons, there were also ten entire carts’ worth of gold, silver, and other valuable treasures.

Lady Tang had only prepared two carts at most for appearances’ sakes, but Han Yunxi had said, “Cloud Realm Trade Consortium doesn’t lack for money, but neither does our Tang Clan.”

Though others might not understand, Lady Tang immediately knew what she meant. As the wife of the clan head, she had bypassed all the complicated procedures and ordered men to fill up eight more carts with stores from the warehouse. The party was about to set out when Aunt Ru suddenly burst out and chased them down the mountain. “Wait!”

Lady Tang lifted the curtains and looked back unhappily. “The auspicious hour is already here, what’s there to wait? We can talk after we return.”

“Didn’t we agree on two carts’ worth of gifts? Why is it ten now?” Aunt Ru asked.

Lady Tang was no good with finances, so she didn’t even know how much silver she had in her moneybags. It was Aunt Ru who managed the money affairs.

“We’ll talk when I get back. It’s not good to miss the auspicious hour!” Lady Tang insisted.

“It’s only a betrothal procession, what’s there to worry about with auspicious hours? Bringing so many gifts will only make it seem like we value that girl. Two carts for appearances’ sakes will be enough!” Aunt Ru was a stingy type.

Han Yunxi simply sat in the carriage with her eyes closed, too lazy to argue with Aunt Ru.

“I only have one son, and the Tang Clan only has one young clan master. No matter what, his marriage affairs can’t be shameful! These betrothal gifts are the face of the Tang Clan, which we can’t afford to lose! It’s set! Someone come, we’re setting off!” Lady Tang got straight to the point.

“Sister-in-law, didn’t we agree on the numbers beforehand?” Aunt Ru grew desperate.

She and Lady Tang had spent an entire day discussing this before Long Feiye and Han Yunxi arrived. From the betrothal party to after the wedding, even how they should make things difficult for Ning Jing after she birthed children–they’d planned out every single step. She had given Lady Tang no end of schemes, all of which she’d accepted.