Chapter 1212: TangNing Deep and subtle thinking (1/2)

Chapter 1212: [TangNing] Deep and subtle thinking

Although Tang Li had regained his sanity, he’d forgotten everything that had happened while he was still insane. His memories stopped at the moment Ning Jing fell into the abyss. He muttered her name now, not madly, but caught in the throes of pain.

Xiao Lan was now certain Tang Li had recovered, but she had no idea about his current mental state. She didn’t even know what to do as she stared at him. While the room remained silent, intermittent cries and arguing came from outdoors. Tang Li and Xiao Lan instantly recognized the voice as Lady Tang. As Xiao Lan hastily rose to her feet with the covers wrapped around her, Tang Li said coldly, “Don’t move!”

Xiao Lan ignored her. Now that Tang Li was sane, she had to tell the old clan head and Old Madame! But she’d hardly reached the door when a hidden dart whizzed past her ear to bury itself soundlessly in the door.

Behind her, Tang Li’s icy voice spoke. “Xiao Lan, do you want to see what’s faster, your voice or my dart piercing through your throat?”

Stunned, Xiao Lan turned to look at Tang Li. His expression was absolutely frigid. It was no impossible for her to accept him as anything other than sane in that moment!

“I, I was only…” She wanted to explain, but he shushed her with a shh. Xiao Lan immediately shut up. She could tell that Tang Li’s kindling rage was going to burst at any second. She couldn’t say much to the scheme today, but she would have to push all blame onto the old clan head. Otherwise, Tang Li would only disdain her.

Xiao Lan wrapped the covers tighter around herself as she sat down looking pitiful. Tang Li then went to lean against the door and listen to the sounds outside. Although he didn’t remember what happened in the interim, he was curious to know how he returned to the Tang Clan. Why had he been drugged and locked up with Xiao Lan?

Just what was his father planning?

--

Outside, Lady Tang and Tang Zijin drew closer to the door as their arguments increased in volume. Tang Li was expressionless as he listened on quietly.

“Tang Zijin, are you opening that door or not?” Lady Tang was crying.

“Wife, it’s already come to this. What’s the use even if I open up?” Tang Zijin asked helplessly.

“Don’t tell me anything. I said I want you to open the door, now are you doing it or not?” Lady Tang hollered.

The whole way here, Tang Zijin remained helpless and yielding to Lady Tang’s rants. She knew he was buying for time! Tang Zijin wanted Tang Li and Xiao Lan to cook the rice together! She shoved him aside and dashed to the door, preparing to break through the lock. But Tang Zijin grabbed her hand and pushed her away. Although it was too light to injure her, it did get her out of the way.

“Wife, it’s been so long. Even if they didn’t...do anything, Xiao Lan’s a virgin and long been seen naked by Tang Li. No matter what, he has to take responsibility for her sake! Otherwise, how am I supposed to explain myself to Fifth Elder?” Tang Zijin reasoned.

Lady Tang was quick to retort. “Tang Zijin, do you have any shame? All you do is use the Council of Elders as an excuse everyday! If they won’t listen to A’Li, can’t they at least listen to you?

“I’m telling you now, only Ning Jing can bear Tang Li a son! I know my son best of all. If you anger Ning Jing away, sobsob...what will happen to A’Li? He only recognizes Ning Jing. What do you want him to do?” Lady Tang began to sob.

“I didn’t force Ning Jing away, but she cannot be the mother of Tang Li’s son! Definitely not! Our Tang Clan heir cannot be her son, a nephew of the Ning Clan!” Tang Zijin rested one hand on the door as he grew solemn. “Wife, you should know the royal court’s curently divided between two factions. The western frontier generals, Jin Zi, and the Di Clan form the West Faction, while Baili Yuanlong allied with the southern generals for the East Faction. The Di CLan holds deep prejudice against the Tang Clan, while Baili Yuanlong keeps using Ning Jing’s status to speak of matters that alienate us from the East Faction. The Tang Clan is in charge of all military weapons, putting us in a hard place between both sides just to survive! Do you think the Council of Elders and I have been doing nothing but construction work in the capital all these months without paying attention to current affairs?!”

“When did it became a matter of survival?” Lady Tang grew ferocious as she disagreed. “Esteemed Empress gave the rights of weapons manufacture to the Tang Clan, but the emperor must have agreed to it first! The emperor and empress want the Tang Clan to stand between the East and West Faction without favoring either side. An invincible party can also restrain them both! Without any weapons, I don’t see Jin Zi or Baili Yuanlong capable of raising any rows!”

Although Lady Tang was a matron, she had pinpointed Han Yunxi’s key strategy with the weapons manufacturing rights. The Tang Clan were old cohorts of Log Feiye, while Ning Jing was part of Han Yunxi’s old faction. The marriage between the Tang and Ning Clans was a perfect union of East and West Faction members. Moreover, Han Yunxi believed that Ning Jing could use these weapons to make the Tang Clan invincible.

“Tang Zijin, you were smart for a lifetime, but why are you so stupid right now? The past isn’t the present and there’s no such thing as East and West Qin anymore. There is only one dynasty and the Great Qin imperial clan! That old thing Baili Yuanlong colluded with the southern generals to form an alliance, not for the sake of gaining profits for East Qin or the emperor, but to get benefits for his Baili Clan! Why are you so blindly mixing in with him? If he attacks you, can’t you deal with him youself? There’s no such thing as the Seven Noble Clans anymore. In terms of status and rank, we’re much nobler than their Baili Clan. At most he’s a Great General, but you’re the imperial uncle of the emperor. Why are you afraid of him? If you’re well and full, why bother running into the East Faction camp?”

All of Lady Tang’s words were full of sense.

“Tang Zijin, I’m telling you now, I want Ning JIng as my daughter-in-law! She also promised to birth us a son by Tang Li! If Baili Yuanlong tries to target you again, go join the West Faction. I’d like to see if he’d panic after that! Right now everyone’s tight on weapons. When we finish making ours, we’ll send a batch to the West Faction first. Then I’d like to see whether he comes personally knocking on our door to beg for his! Let’s back up and take a good look at the big picture. Even if you don’t like the West Faction members, you can make a faction of your own. You can use the Ning Clan’s name to take advantage of the West Faction, or bring out the majesty an imperial uncle should have to stand your ground. Why are you afraid of Baili Yuanlong?”