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

But now the woman was going back on her words right as she went for the betrothal meeting? Just what did Han Yunxi discuss with Lady Tang last night?

“We can still change even after we settle on things,” Lady Tang said in a low voice. “Just don’t get involved in Tang Li’s wedding affairs. Hurry and find that traitor, or else I won’t be able to stop worrying.”

Lady Tang dropped the curtains then as the party set out. Aunt Ru looked after them in shock, her heart growing more and more uneasy. Although Lady Tang loved fighting with her over little things, the woman usually listened to her on important affairs. But Lady Tang hadn’t spoken to her a peep about the change in betrothal gifts. Ever since elder sister Tang Yiwan passed away, she had taken her place to search for clues to the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion. The rest of the Tang Clan’s affairs were beyond her reach, since it was elder brother’s wife who managed the household.

Later on, when Lady Tang had gotten lazy, she stopped managing things and accepted Aunt Ru’s help. As her aid increased, so did her power until she was managing all of the Tang Clan’s financial affairs. Aunt Ru’s heart was all for the Tang Clan and East Qin. However, she had her own selfish desires, too! Anyone who held power for a long time always feared losing it one day. She was already equivalent to the second-in-command at the Tang Clan after Tang Zijin. No one else should think of being the third or fourth!

She wanted to guard against Tang Li’s wife because she feared the woman would usurp her position in the clan one day and help Lady Tang manage her affairs. Once Tang Li and Ning Jing’s wedding was set, she actually exhaled in relief because there was no way Ning Jing would ever earn Lady Tang’s trust now.

And yet, Han Yunxi came to kick her plans awry! It looks like she’d have to get rid of her as soon as possible, whether by crook or by hook!

—

Three days after Han Yunxi and the party set out, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium sent people to meet them and lead the way. They headed north for a few more days before reaching a large canyon. The further north they went, the thicker the snow fell. Grass was growing in the south amongst the singing orioles, with flowers blanketing the warm ground with the feel of summer days, and yet the north–especially in the mountains–was still harboring a chill in the air and covered in ice and frost.

Before entering the canyon, their guides stopped to whistle a signal. A team of black-suited guards appeared at the sound.

“What’s this for?” Tang Li grew guarded.

“Young Clan Head Tang, don’t be alarmed. They’re here to guide the horses. Please put on these blindfolds. It’ll only take an hour before we reach Ten-Thousand Commerce Hall,” the guide said respectfully.

They didn’t want them to know the way down the canyon? But that was their main motive for the betrothal party today!

“And if this young clan head isn’t willing?” Tang Li asked coldly.

He was dressed in robes of ethereal white as he sat astride his tall horse, but his expression was the complete opposite, that of an ignorant, incompetent, silk clothes fop. The guide couldn’t help but wonder how President Jing could have been so blind to fall for such a man. Since this was to be their future son-in-law, the guide didn’t dare to slight him.

“Young Clan Master Tang, please quell your anger. This is a Cloud Realm Trade Consortium regulation, not just measures against your group specifically. Aside from members of the Ten-Thousand Commerce Hall, even members of our own consortium must enter the canyon blindfolded. Please forgive us.”

“How big is this canyon? We still need to travel for an hour?” Tang Li’s face showed nothing but impatience, but he was actually probing for answers.

The guide was quite smart and replied, “It’s because mountain roads are difficult to traverse. We need to walk slower with safety in mind first.”

“In other words, we wouldn’t need to travel for an hour if we moved quickly?” Tang Li asked next.

The guide simply changed the topic. “Young Clan Head Tang, let’s hurry on down. President Jing and the others have been waiting for quite a while.”

“She’s that impatient to see me?” Tang Li laughed out loud, his voice full of scorn.

The guide turned incensed. President Jing is such a good girl. Why did she stick herself with this pile of cow dung? And now she’s being humiliated, too! He almost lost it there and then, but suppressed his temper to reply, “Young Clan Head Tang, let’s go.”

“Then get a move on! Come, let’s go!”

Tang Li purposely ignored the matter of the blindfolds. Meanwhile, Long Feiye pondered over every word the guide had said while Han Yunxi and Lady Tang secretly giggled inside the carriage. Seriously, Tang Li was a great actor. Even they wanted to give him a kick or two.

Unable to bear any more of this, the guide had the black-suited guards spread out to bar passage to the engagement party.

“Young Clan Master Tang, I heard your mother had someone calculate the auspicious hour for the two families to meet. If we drag this on, we might miss it entirely. I ask that you all blindfold yourselves to follow me down the canyon,” the guide’s tone was severe.

“There’s still two hours left until my mother’s auspicious hour. Didn’t you just say travel only takes an hour? What’s the rush? As I see it, we can rest here for an hour before we continue down!” As Tang Li spoke, he waved a hand. “Someone come, prepare to rest here. Bring over this young clan head’s wine.”

Are they going or not? The guide couldn’t wait to chase off this pack of people–the sooner the better, so President Jing wouldn’t have to marry such a hedonistic son of rich parents. But he couldn’t be the judge. Moreover, if he didn’t bring the group to Ten-Thousand Commerce Hall and earned blame from his superiors, everything would be his fault.

He had someone report the situation to President Jing while he suppressed his rage to coax them again. But no matter what he did, Tang Li still refused to accept the blindfold and go down into the canyon.

Ning Jing was already in a bad mood, so news of the refusal only made her worse.

“No need to push them! They can come or leave as they like! This young lady would like to see just how long they’ll delay! In the end, we’ll see who’s begging whom!” she said coldly.