Chapter 390: Unyielding (1/2)
Chapter 390: Unyielding [V5C97 - A Distance Within Reach]
Volume 5 – A Distance Within Reach, Chapter 97: Unyielding
Zhao Yuying nodded and turned to instruct the Dark Flame warriors, “Wait for me here.” She then followed the guard into the courtyard on her own.
The area inside and outside of the courtyard were two different worlds. The decorations within were beautiful and refined. Count Yuyang was standing there with his hands behind his back and admiring an ink-splash mountain and river painting. If the owner of this courtyard were present, he wouldn’t even be able to recognize his own residence. The ability to completely change one’s surroundings without missing a single detail was indeed the style of a major clan.
Zhao Yuying entered the room and said, “Sixth Grand Uncle seems to be rather spirited.”
There was undisguisable anger in her voice. Count Yuyang didn’t turn around and only replied calmly, “You’re still unable to control yourself. Brother Xuanji might be disappointed to see you like this.”
Zhao Yuying no longer maintained her bearing and reverted to her usual style. “There was never an aspect of me that has satisfied him before. Where’s Zhao Fenglei that bastard? Tell him to get out here and meet me!”
Count Yuyang turned around and said with a sigh, “I’ve sent him away. He should’ve left the war-zone by now. Moreover, you shouldn't use those words just now on Fenglei. If it were made known, my two elder brothers won’t be happy.”
Zhao Yuying snorted heavily and said coldly, “Fine, then I won’t curse at that bastard anymore. But Sixth Uncle, is today’s matter your idea or did he do it of his own volition?”
Count Yuying frowned after seeing Zhao Yuying’s hands crossed in front of her chest in a tyrannical manner. “I’ve heard about what happened. Fenglei was indeed too impetuous. But what’s so serious about killing a few lowlifes? Your words back then, on the contrary, were out of place. Do you know what consequences will follow if it were to be spread?”
Zhao Yuying sneered. “Did Zhao Fenglei not tell you he wanted to kill Qianye?”
Count Yuying responded with a question of his own, “Was it Qianye who raided the Nangong family’s base of operations last night?”
Zhao Yuying nodded. “I had him do it. What about it?”
A wisp of fury flashed across Count Yuyang’s face. “How willful! Your moment of impetuousness has caused the big picture to deteriorate to such a state! Originally, we could’ve used your injury to make the Nangong family submit and stand with the Zhao clan. Now, it’s troublesome. What good does killing some insignificant private soldiers do apart from venting anger? Now, the Nangong family will lean toward our enemies. Think about the merits and demerits in this!”
“Zhao Fenglei even wanted to kill Qianye back then. What are the pros and cons of that?”
Count Yuyang’s expression eased slightly and said, “It’s not as if you don’t know Fenglei’s feelings. He’s already reached a state of madness. It’s unavoidable that he’ll be impulsive after witnessing such a scene. Moreover, although Qianye is talented, he’s still an ordinary civilian. His identity remains the same even if Jundu brings him into his residence. There’s no way he can compare to Fenglei. Even if Qianye really does enter our Zhao clan, he must follow the rules. Even Jundu can’t ignore this logic.”
“Qianye, he…” Zhao Yuying stopped her words at this point.
She was very clear that Zhao Fenglei held back in the end, not because of her threat, but because he feared Zhao Jundu. Zhao Jundu had caused quite a commotion in an attempt to bring this person into his residence and was reportedly going to recognize him as an adopted brother. If Zhao Fenglei had killed this person outside without any reason, the enmity would be serious. In the end, Qianye’s life wasn’t as important to Zhao Fenglei as Zhao Jundu’s face.
The difference in identity was a deep chasm. This was the same even if Qianye became a Zhao clan member in the future. The meaning in Count Yuyang’s words was clear. It wouldn’t be a big deal even if Zhao Fenglei killed Qianye in the future.
Zhao Yuying said coldly, “This means that Sixth Uncle is intent on siding with him to the end?”
Count Yuyang was enraged. “What kind of words are those?! This old man has always prioritized the Zhao clan. Fenglei made a small mistake, but you lot have destroyed the big picture. The results will be the same even if we bring this matter to the council of elders.”
Count Yuyang was observing Zhao Yuying’s expression while speaking. In the eyes of various elders of the Duke Yan lineage, Zhao Yuying’s temperament wasn’t at all suited to become the mistress of a major family. Duke You, however, had no other lineal granddaughters of a suitable age. This discussion had dragged on all this time simply because they needed to bridge the five-degree gap in bloodline between the two lineages, breed talents for the next generation, and because of Zhao Fenglei’s own determination.
Zhao Fenglei’s heart was in turmoil and likely failed to discover it, but after hearing that Qianye was the person Zhao Jundu wanted to bring into his residence, Count Yuyang immediately sensed that Zhao Fenglei might have been mistaken about certain matters. It was likely that Zhao Jundu wanted to interfere with Zhao Yuying’s wedding to weaken the alliance between the two branches, but that person probably wasn’t Qianye—the latter was, after all, unqualified even if he did enter the Zhao clan in the future.
What then was the reason for Zhao Yuying’s unusual concern about Qianye? Perhaps he should investigate the lord of this small frontier city in detail.
While Count Yuyang was pondering thus, Zhao Yuying suddenly sneered. “You take my life and exchange it for your branch’s merit. What a good plan! I didn’t bring any men from the Dark Flame independent division when I went out hunting this time, so how did Nangong Xiaofeng know my whereabouts so clearly? I must make this matter clear with my grandfather.”
Count Yuang was finally moved and said anxiously, “Our Yan and You branches are like one family. Yuying! You can’t speak wantonly like this!”
“How I wish to speak is my business. And tell Zhao Fenglei to give it up! It won’t be his turn to touch my finger even if I have a hundred or even a thousand men!”
“You!!!” The calm Count Yuyang was momentarily at a loss for words.
Zhao Yuying spoke no more and left the small courtyard. On her way out, she broke through the courtyard gates with a loud bang.