Chapter 78
Chapter 78
“Young Master Shen, I know you intend to destroy Zhu Wenhua and bring down the Zhu Clan with him. But… you won’t be able to.”
Shen Lang did not reply. The City Lord of Yibang instantly explained more clearly.
“It wasn’t long ago that Viscount Zhu Nanjeong of Nanshan was commended by the King as a model for the aristocracy for surrendering his fief and military authority. If you cause a commotion claiming Zhu Wenhua is plotting against the new policies, you will be embarrassing the King. Do you know what would happen if the King were to punish the Viscount of Nanshan’s household?”
‘What would happen? The old aristocrats would celebrate, of course. They would all say, “Look, Viscount Zhu Nanjeong of Nanshan surrendered his fief and military authority, yet he was still destroyed by the King. Therefore, we must all resist to the end and never surrender our power and lands.”’
“Even if Zhu Wenhua wasn't framed by you, Young Master Shen, and he truly was plotting against the new policies in secret, Viscount Nanshan would at most place him under house arrest. He would not be punished.”
Shen Lang was, of course, aware of this. The moment Zhu Nanjeong surrendered his fief and military authority, becoming a model for the old aristocracy, he had gained the backing of the royal family. Unless there was irrefutable proof that he was truly plotting treason, the King would never punish him. The new policies had not yet succeeded, and countless old aristocrats still held their military authority and fiefs. Zhu Nanjeong was, in essence, the King’s banner.
“So, Young Master Shen, you cannot pin the crime of treason on Zhu Wenhua. I cannot treat this as a case and arrest him. If I were to do so, I would fall out of the King’s favor and bear an immense political burden. Therefore, Young Master Shen, please withdraw your brilliant schemes! I truly cannot do anything to Zhu Wenhua.”
Shen Lang smiled.
“Of course, I am aware of that, so Your Lordship need only watch from the sidelines. If you do not wish to be overshadowed by Viscount Zhu Nanjeong in the future, you should play along with what I am about to do.”
“Were you demanding something excessive first, in order to get what you truly wanted?”
Shen Lang gave a flawless, handsome smile, and the City Lord of Yibang’s heart trembled.
‘If male fox spirits existed in this world, Shen Lang would surely be one! Why else would my heart be so swayed?’
While Shen Lang and the City Lord of Yibang were talking, Zhu Wenhua had gradually calmed down. He soon realized that even if Shen Lang tried to frame him for treason, it would fail. From the moment the Zhu Clan surrendered its fief and military authority, his family had been granted political immunity by the King. As long as the Zhu Clan did not bring ruin upon itself, it would not be punished.
Zhu Wenhua sneered.
“Shen Lang, you are certainly as cunning as a demon. But your lowly birth has left you ignorant of high-level politics. Trying to pin the crime of opposing the new policies on me is a childish act. Even if I weren’t being unjustly framed, even if I were truly plotting something, the City Lord of Yibang and the other officials would desperately deny it and cover up all my alleged crimes.”
“At best, you alone can do nothing to me, you can’t even touch a hair on my head. The Zhu Clan has sided completely with the King. How could the King possibly harm us? Shen Lang, a man of your lowly station is truly ignorant of politics!”
Shen Lang glanced coolly at Zhu Wenhua but didn’t deign to reply. The current situation was like a game of chess where he was thinking several moves ahead, while his opponent was smugly focused on the single move right in front of him.
‘You fool, you’re the one who knows nothing. You have no idea what’s about to happen to you.’
Shen Lang said nothing, simply looking at Zhu Wenhua as if he were an imbecile.
“I’m a bit tired. Let’s talk again when your father arrives. You there, bring me a chair I can lie down in.”
Two warriors from the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate brought a chair, and Shen Lang comfortably reclined on it.
“Hahaha. You told my father to come and meet you? Who do you think you are? You’re merely a live-in son-in-law of the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate, a station only slightly higher than a servant’s. Even if Jin Mucong himself were here, he would not be qualified to meet my father.”
Just then, the sound of horse hooves echoed down the street. A valiant middle-aged man, leading a dozen or so warriors, galloped toward them. It was none other than Viscount Zhu Nanjeong of Nanshan, the man who had become the public enemy of the old aristocrats. Zhu Wenhua was startled.
“Father, wh-why are you here?”
The City Lord of Yibang stepped forward, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting.
“Greetings, Your Lordship.”
Although Zhu Nanjeong returned the salute, his demeanor was extremely arrogant. His title was lower than the Count of Xuanwu’s, but having sided with the King and become his banner, he had nothing left to fear, hence his haughty attitude.
Viscount Zhu Nanjeong smiled warmly and asked, “Worthy Nephew Shen Lang? Your wedding was held so hastily, I couldn’t make it in time. It was rude of me, as a good neighbor for a hundred years.”
Viscount Zhu Nanjeong opened his arms, intending to perform the customary greeting between nobles—a gesture of grasping each other’s arms in a partial embrace. However, Shen Lang remained lazily reclined in his chair and spoke coolly over his shoulder.
“Viscount Zhu Nanjeong, since when are we close enough for you to be so familiar?”
Zhu Wenhua was dumbfounded by Shen Lang’s words.
‘Shen Lang, is this man truly insane? How dare he speak to my father like that?’
Even if the Count of Xuanwu himself were here, he wouldn’t dare act as Shen Lang did. Did this man, Shen Lang, have no regard for aristocratic decorum? Viscount Zhu Nanjeong was also taken aback. To encounter someone so unconventional? Did he not know that by failing to show respect, feelings would be hurt, and they would become mortal enemies?
It had long been the custom among nobles that no matter how deep their blood feud, they would first greet each other with a smile upon meeting. Whether they stabbed each other in the back or betrayed one another later, maintaining a facade of mutual respect was considered basic etiquette. Thus, Viscount Zhu Nanjeong’s expression was anything but pleasant after seeing Shen Lang’s behavior. Shen Lang remained reclined in his chair.
“Viscount Zhu Nanjeong, I am a straightforward person and utterly incapable of exchanging roundabout pleasantries. Of course, I’m sure you excel at it.”
After muttering this, Shen Lang continued with a jeer.
“Besides, I have never stabbed anyone in the back in my life. Because I prefer to stab them right to their face.”
Viscount Zhu Nanjeong’s face twitched. Zhu Wenhua, enraged, said in a cold voice, “Shen Lang, do you know who you’re talking to? Stand up at once. Don’t disgrace the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate.”
Shen Lang treated Zhu Wenhua like thin air and looked at Zhu Nanjeong.
“So, let’s not beat around the bush. I’ll state my terms directly.”
“Speak.”
“First, your son provoked me. As his father, you are at fault for not teaching him properly. Therefore, in front of everyone, you will slap his face twice, hard enough to draw blood.”
Hearing this, Zhu Wenhua nearly drew his sword in a fit of rage.
“Second, this *Dream of the Mandarin Ducks* written by your son, Zhu Wenhua, what kind of trash should I call it? It’s a terribly childish book that deceives ignorant young girls out of their allowance. Your Lordship will find all the unsold copies, pile them up here, and burn them yourself in front of everyone. Oh, on second thought, Zhu Wenhua seems to enjoy burning books. Why not let him have the pleasure of burning them himself? I am a generous man; these are the only two things I desire.”
Having finished, Shen Lang lay back down in his chair. At this, Zhu Wenhua said to him, “Hahaha. Shen Lang, are you mad? To make such absurd demands, who in their right mind would listen to you?”
Viscount Zhu Nanjeong asked Shen Lang calmly, “And why should I do that?”
Indeed. There was no reason for him to do so. Everyone knew that no matter what brilliant schemes Shen Lang employed, he could not successfully frame the Viscount of Nanshan’s household for treason against the new policies.
“First, Your Lordship has surrendered your fief and military authority, so you must be scheming to have your family members appointed to official positions. Your eldest son as a military official, and your second son, Zhu Wenhua, as a civil official after passing the examinations. You also intend to form a marital alliance with Zhang Chong, am I correct?”
Viscount Zhu Nanjeong did not answer Shen Lang’s question, maintaining his silence, which was as good as an affirmation. Having lost his fief and military authority, he couldn’t simply live in idleness and allow his century-old noble house to decline. Thus, Viscount Zhu Nanjeong was using the King’s favor as an opportunity to push for his two sons to secure positions with all his might. The matter of the marriage alliance with the Zhang Clan was, in reality, already decided in the minds of the two family heads.
“Shen Lang, I have read the book you wrote. You insulted my son and portrayed him in an extremely vile manner. But if you think you can break the marriage alliance between our Zhu Clan and Prefect Zhang Chong over something so trivial, you are dreaming.”
Shen Lang laughed at his words.
“Of course, I know what kind of man Prefect Zhang Chong is. He is a very practical and profit-oriented man who doesn’t care for false reputations. But didn’t your son, Zhu Wentai, wish to form a marital alliance with the Estate of the General Who Pacifies the West? I hear that General Zheng Tuo is a man who values his reputation. What if, in the next volume, I don’t portray Zhu Wenhua so vilely, but instead portray your eldest son, Zhu Wentai, in that manner?”
Hearing this, the color drained from Viscount Zhu Nanjeong’s face.
“And what if, in the third volume of *Boundless Wind and Moon*, I include Your Lordship as well, in a scene where you commit adultery with your daughter-in-law? By then, everyone in the State of Yue will be madly spreading rumors about your family’s affair, regardless of the truth.”
“Would the General Who Pacifies the West, upon hearing such rumors, still wish to marry his precious daughter to your eldest son? The mouths of the masses can melt metal, as they say; rumors are truly a terrifying thing. At that point, everyone will think that when Prefect Zhang Chong’s daughter marries into the Zhu Clan, she won’t just be marrying Zhu Wenhua, but the three men of the family. Who in this world doesn’t love a sensational story?”
Zhu Nanjeong’s body trembled uncontrollably. This damn scoundrel was openly blackmailing him. The City Lord of Yibang, standing nearby, was also stunned. He had a high opinion of Shen Lang’s combativeness, but he never imagined this young fox spirit could be so utterly shameless.
“Your Lordship, you may not know how popular my *Boundless Wind and Moon* is. In a single day, over three thousand copies were sold in Nanshan City alone. How popular will it become in the future? I can’t even begin to imagine. How many copies will this book sell? It will surely take the State of Yue by storm. And what about beyond the State of Yue? It might become so popular that it one day represents the literature of our state.”
“If I write about all three men of your family in my book, your household will gain great fame, and the Viscount of Nanshan’s estate might leave behind an infamous legacy for generations to come, no? Haha!”
Zhu Wenhua could no longer contain himself and said in a hoarse voice, “Shen Lang, you think you can do that? I can portray your family, the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate, just as hideously in my book.”
Shen Lang spread his hands.
“Be my guest. No, please, write as you wish! I don’t care how you write about me. I’m not going to take the imperial examinations, nor will I become an official. I’m just an idle good-for-nothing, so what reputation do I have to ruin, what honor do I have to lose? I get by on my looks, not my reputation. I hope you understand the difference. But I have one question for you: is your book more popular than mine?”
Hearing this, everyone present gritted their teeth in fury.