Chapter 28
Chapter 28
After Shen Lang rushed out, Jin Mulan finished her breakfast in silence. Just then, her handmaiden, Xiao Jing, spoke up.
"My lady, the young master insists on repaying even the smallest grudges. I fear he may tarnish the reputation of our estate."
At the words of the tall, slender maid, Jin Mulan stopped her chopsticks and looked at her. Jin Mulan usually treated her servants and attendants very well, so the maids were not afraid or intimidated by her.
Moreover, Xiao Jing was sharp and diligent, so Jin Mulan was quite fond of her. As a result, Xiao Jing acted as if she were the head of the maids, and others in the estate, eager to stay on her good side, all called her Sister Xiao Jing.
Seeing Jin Mulan’s gaze upon her, the maid Xiao Jing continued.
"The Count of Xuanwu's Estate has earned its fine reputation and prestige by cherishing the people as its own children. I am concerned that the young master’s rash actions may bring trouble to our estate."
Jin Mulan’s eyes turned cold as she barked out a chilly command.
"Someone, slap this wench ten times."
An older maidservant quickly entered and slapped the tall, slender maid, Xiao Jing, hard across the face.
*Smack, smack, smack, smack.*
It took Xiao Jing a moment to process what was happening. Her lady was having her struck? The pain that followed on her face drew an involuntary cry from her. After ten slaps, her pretty face was swollen bright red, and her nose was bleeding. The others standing by dared not say a word. Never before had their lady struck a maid. She was someone who wouldn't even mind if her maids shared a few jokes at her expense.
Jin Mulan said, "Listen carefully. My husband is your master. If I ever hear you dare to speak ill of your master behind his back again, it will not end with just ten slaps."
The maid Xiao Jing was completely stunned. Her lady had always doted on her. Then Jin Mulan spoke again.
"Remove her from my courtyard and send her to the embroidery room."
Only then did the tall, slender maid, at a complete loss, fall to her knees and kowtow.
"My lady, I was wrong! I will never dare to speak ill of the master behind his back again. Please forgive me, please forgive me."
Ten slaps were nothing more than a swollen face, but being sent to the embroidery room would be a miserably irreversible fate. Even among the servants of the estate, there was a hierarchy. Those who served by the lady’s side were of high status, while those who worked in the embroidery room were low. If she were sent there, an endless amount of work would surely await her. But no matter how much she begged for forgiveness, it was useless. Several older maidservants immediately dragged her away.
* * *
"My lord, Young Master Shen Lang has come to serve tea."
Jin Zhong announced.
In truth, the Count was not in a bad mood. Shen Lang's actions the previous night had saved him a great deal of face. Of course, compared to men like Wang Lian and Mo Ye, Shen Lang was not even in the same league. But contrary to the rumors, Shen Lang had put on a truly astonishing performance last night. For that alone, the Count felt he had gained a great deal.
After entering the room, Shen Lang respectfully served tea to the Count and his wife.
"Shen Lang, what are your plans for today?"
"Becoming the son-in-law of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate is a great honor for me personally. However, my parents endured all sorts of hardships to raise me with such care, so becoming a live-in son-in-law of another family could be seen as an act of filial impiety. Therefore, I plan to return home today to serve them and beg forgiveness for my transgression."
"Well said. Among the hundred virtues, filial piety comes first. It is something you must do. Go on. Take these two gifts I have prepared and give them to your parents."
"Yes, thank you, Father-in-law."
The Countess, who was dignified and graceful, spoke in a warm and clear voice.
"As a daughter-in-law, Mulan should accompany you to visit her parents-in-law, but she is occupied with military duties every day and has no time to go. I will apologize to you on her behalf."
"Mother-in-law, you are too kind. How could I not understand my wife's situation? Please, do not say such things."
Neither of them mentioned what had happened in the bridal chamber the previous night. They had already anticipated how Jin Mulan would act. After Shen Lang left, the Countess remarked.
"From what I see, this man, Shen Lang, seems quite composed and decent."
Half an hour later, Shen Lang left the Count's estate. He had intended to ride a horse, but as he was not yet skilled at riding, he took a carriage instead. In a way, this too was a triumphant return. Riding in such a luxurious carriage was comparable to speeding in a high-end car back on modern Earth. Moreover, two armed cavalrymen were escorting him, which was like having bodyguards.
* * *
Contrary to what he had told the Count and Countess, Shen Lang did not go home. He went straight to Tian Heng’s Black Clothes Gang.
"Halt! This is the headquarters of the Civilian Militia's Thousand-Commander. Who dares to trespass?"
The headquarters of the Black Clothes Gang was a small fortress, flying a banner that read "Headquarters of the Civilian Militia's Thousand-Commander." Even after seeing Shen Lang's luxurious carriage, they remained vigilant, bows in hand.
"Charge."
Without hesitation, the Count's knights obeyed his command and charged fiercely toward the Black Clothes Gang's headquarters. Just as a soldier of the gang on the stone wall was about to shoot his arrow, another soldier beside him quickly stopped him.
"Are you crazy? Look at that armor and those warhorses. Those are the Count's cavalry!"
The archer’s eyes finally caught sight of the banner of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. For a moment, he was so startled he nearly lost his wits. They were a civilian militia in name only; in reality, they were members of an underworld organization. Firing an arrow at the Count's cavalry would be tantamount to walking down a path of self-destruction. The squad leader on the stone wall observed the situation and quickly ordered his subordinate.
"Quick, go and report to the Gang Leader."
One of his men quickly ran inside to report to Tian Heng.
* * *
"Hahaha."
The voice arrived before the man. From a distance, Tian Heng approached with his arms wide open, speaking with cheerful intimacy.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the esteemed Count's Estate to my humble abode? This Tian Heng apologizes for not coming out to greet you personally."
"Stop."
Shen Lang ordered the driver to halt, then stepped out of the carriage and spoke in a languid voice.
"There's no need for you to come out and greet me, Gang Leader Tian. Have you been well?"
The familiar voice made Tian Heng's expression stiffen as he looked at Shen Lang.
*So it really is you, Shen Lang. Becoming the Count's son-in-law last night must still feel like a dream, yet you couldn't wait to rush over here. You must truly think I, Tian Heng, am an easy target.*
However, Tian Heng quickly suppressed his inner rage, clasped his hands together, and spoke kindly.
"Have you been well, Young Master Shen? If you needed something, you could have just sent a servant. Why trouble yourself to come in person?"
Tian Heng’s smiling face as he addressed Shen Lang made it seem as if the two were close friends with no enmity between them. But Shen Lang was displeased by his words. *Tian Heng, you dare address me so familiarly? What is the meaning of this?*
"Here, Young Master Shen, please have some tea!"
In Tian Heng's lavishly decorated reception hall, Shen Lang slowly savored the tea. Seeing this, Tian Heng thought with a scornful look.
*A pauper like you, Shen Lang, who struck it rich by marrying in, would you even know how to appreciate tea?*
Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to let such thoughts show on his face.
"Young Master Shen, what brings you here today?"
"I've come about the debt of one thousand gold coins. A debt must be paid. As the saying goes, if you don't repay your debts quickly, you'll become the debtor's grandson."
Tian Heng laughed loudly and pulled a promissory note from his sleeve. It was the note for one thousand gold coins that Shen Lang had previously signed with a bloody fingerprint. With a light tug, Tian Heng tore the note to shreds, then burned it in a candle flame until it was completely gone.
"A debt of one thousand gold coins? What are you talking about? I know nothing of it. There has never been such a thing between us!"
Tian Heng was quite perceptive. The debt of one thousand gold coins was thus erased. But Shen Lang took a light sip of his tea, furrowed his brow, and said.
"What are you talking about, Gang Leader Tian? You're the one who owes one thousand gold coins. How could you forget and even destroy the promissory note? What am I to do now that the note is gone? What if people think I came here to borrow money?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tian Heng stared at him with a blank expression, then nearly spat out the tea in his mouth.
*This crazy bastard, does he dare to toy with me, Tian Heng?*
Shen Lang asked calmly.
"What's wrong? Gang Leader Tian, are you not planning to pay?"
Tian Heng cursed inwardly, *Shen Lang, I curse my inability to chop you into mincemeat with a single stroke.*
"Fine, I will return it."
Tian Heng took a deep breath, then forced a smile.
"If someone else borrowed money from me, they wouldn't have to pay it back. But if I borrow from someone else, I must repay it. Men, bring one thousand gold coins."
A moment later, someone came in carrying a small chest, which appeared to weigh at least fifty catties, containing a thousand gold coins.
"Young Master Shen, please count it."
"Considering our relationship, Gang Leader Tian, I won't charge you interest."
Tian Heng was on the verge of exploding.
*You bastard, you extorted a thousand gold coins from me, and now you want interest on top of it?*
Nevertheless, Tian Heng quickly put on a smile and said.
"What are you talking about? Even between sworn brothers, accounts must be settled clearly. I must pay the interest, yes, I must."
After saying this, he produced another hundred gold coins as interest.
"Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Where is Tian Thirteen?"
"Why do you ask for him, Young Master Shen?"
"Yesterday, he came to my home personally, threatening to take my parents away. And before that, he was always threatening to kill my entire family. At the very least, I ought to break one of his legs, don't you think?"
Tian Heng truly felt like he was about to burst from frustration.
*This is too much!*