Chapter 86
Chapter 86
*Crack.*
A strange thing happened. The Xu family's steward truly felt no more pain. He had lost all sensation below his waist, because his lumbar spine was broken.
"Ah... ah... Aaargh!"
He quickly realized what had happened and let out a bloodcurdling scream, the likes of which had never been heard before. Everyone present turned pale, their bodies trembling.
*Shen Lang, that bastard, is vicious as hell.*
But Shen Lang thought he had been merciful enough. Had he broken the steward's cervical spine, the man would have been paralyzed from the neck down. Shen Lang spoke with a sympathetic expression.
"There. The punishment is over. Lord Xu, quickly, quickly, take your steward away. Be sure to find the best physician to treat him. I only struck him for his own good. One must correct their mistakes to become a better person. Please, Lord Xu, find a good doctor and see that he's well treated. Otherwise, I won't be able to bear it."
Xu Guangyun's entire body trembled, his hands clenched into fists so tight they seemed on the verge of spasming.
*Treat him? How can this be treated? You've completely crippled the man!*
Zhang Jin frowned and said.
"Someone, take the Xu family's steward back to their estate and summon a good physician to treat him well."
A moment later, a few guards entered and dragged away the steward and the prostitute. With the bones in both their legs shattered into pieces, the man and woman were now a fitting pair.
"Someone, clean the floor."
At Zhang Jin's command, a few servants rushed in with buckets of water and thoroughly wiped away the blood and urine from the floor. The first confrontation was over. The contest sparked by the Xu Clan's petty scheme had ended in Shen Lang's complete victory.
At the Zhang family's estate, the reception for the engagement ceremony continued. As if everything was new again, the estate remained magnificent, and the crowd smiled as if nothing had just happened. The sharp and valiant Zhang Jin and the radiantly beautiful Xu Qianqian approached. Shen Lang and Jin Mulan were representing the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, so it was only proper for the engaged couple to greet them personally.
"Lady Jin, is the Count well?"
Xu Qianqian asked softly. At that moment, not a trace of hostility showed on her face, which was truly remarkable.
Of course, in the past, she wouldn't have even been qualified to speak to Mulan, which just goes to show how important it is to find a powerful husband.
"My father is well. Thank you."
Mulan replied. But as they exchanged pleasantries, Zhang Jin and Xu Qianqian ignored Shen Lang, treating him like the air next to Mulan. Shen Lang was displeased.
*Are you looking down on me because of my low status?*
Suddenly, Shen Lang turned to Mulan and asked.
"Wife, did you bring any money?"
Mulan was startled, wondering what mischief her dear husband was up to now. Xu Qianqian, too, had a very bad feeling.
"I didn't."
Shen Lang took a pouch of gold coins from his robes, placed it in Xu Qianqian's hand, and said with sincere gentleness.
"A man can borrow money for anything, but there's one thing he must never owe: payment for a woman's company. This is for the past three months you spent your nights with me. Count it!"
*See that? This is what you call giving them a taste of their own medicine!*
In that instant, everyone was stunned.
*Damn it, what a masterstroke!*
Just moments ago, hadn't the Xu Clan tried to sling mud at him by having a lowly prostitute accuse him of not paying for her services? Now, Shen Lang was throwing their own petty scheme right back at them.
Most people had thought the previous confrontation had already ended in Shen Lang's complete victory. The prostitute had been beaten miserably, and the steward had been brutalized. Yet, Shen Lang hadn't forgotten the grudge. The moment he felt slighted, he casually reached out and utterly crushed Xu Qianqian's dignity.
Moreover, he did it so naturally that no one would think Xu Qianqian's pride had been trampled into the dust. How awkward and petty had the Xu Clan's attempt to slander Shen Lang been in comparison?
Behold, I, Shen Lang, the king of bluff, can crush another's dignity with a casual flick of my hand!
"That prostitute earlier said she charges half a silver tael per session. Xu Qianqian, you're so beautiful, shouldn't you receive at least ten times her rate? They say even one night as husband and wife forges a deep bond, and we were married for a hundred days. We averaged twice a day, so that's two hundred times in total, which comes to a thousand silver taels. Here are fifty gold coins. Would you mind counting to see if it's correct?"
"Oh, right, shouldn't you get paid more on the days of your monthly visitor? How much extra should I give you? I can write you an IOU."
This petty man's revenge was endless. Everyone present watched in silence as Shen Lang relentlessly humiliated Xu Qianqian. Xu Qianqian felt like she was standing barefoot on burning coals, her whole body on fire, about to leap off.
Zhang Jin, too, could barely contain himself and was on the verge of exploding. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. Seeing Zhang Jin exude an aura that screamed he wanted to kill him with a single punch, Shen Lang quickly hid behind Mulan. He knew Zhang Jin couldn't hit him, but he was preparing for any eventuality.
*Heh heh, my wife's martial arts are my martial arts.*
Mulan's jade-like hand drifted down to her belt, where a flexible sword was coiled. If Zhang Jin so much as laid a hand on Shen Lang, she would draw her sword and cut him down.
But a moment later, her thoughts changed completely. She now wanted to cut down her own husband with a single slash. Her perverted husband had taken advantage of the situation, pretending it was an accident, to touch her bottom.
*Husband, you are vulgar from morning till night. During the day, you're a pervert in reality, and at night, you're a pervert in my dreams.*
In that fleeting exchange, as quick as a flash of lightning, Xu Qianqian's face turned crimson, her eyes filled with rage. Zhang Jin radiated killing intent, his fists bleeding. But today was their engagement ceremony, a day where no mishaps were allowed, so they quickly forced themselves to calm down. Shen Lang, that damn scoundrel, could afford to ruin the occasion without a care, but they could not.
"Please, come in."
Xu Qianqian guided them inside, acting as if nothing had happened, unable to even return the money Shen Lang had given her. She feared that if she tried, Shen Lang might say something even more outrageous, like paying extra because she sang, or because they did it on the roof or in the woodshed.
"I will come to offer you a toast later, Lady Jin."
After speaking to Mulan, Xu Qianqian quickly moved on to greet the next guest. She didn't want to stand in front of Shen Lang for even a second longer. Shen Lang took Mulan's hand and headed into the main hall.
* * *
Inside the main hall, Shen Lang and Jin Mulan found themselves in a lonely battle, surrounded by enemies on all sides. For a while, the other dignitaries launched no attacks, maintaining a quiet silence. But this peace was shattered by the arrival of one person: Lord Ning Boge, the third-ranking official from the Royal Weaving Bureau.
The royal surname of the State of Yue was Ning, so Lord Ning Boge, though a distant relative, was considered part of the royal family. Furthermore, he had been instrumental in the Xu Clan's rise, serving as their unofficial backer. Though his official rank was only the fifth grade, the Xu Clan revered him as if he were an ancestor.
When Lord Ning Boge, who arrived slightly after Shen Lang and Jin Mulan, appeared, everyone in the hall rose to greet him. But Shen Lang and Jin Mulan remained seated. Xu Guangyun and Xu Qianqian flanked Lord Ning Boge, respectfully guiding him to the fourth most honored seat.
So, where did that leave Shen Lang and Mulan's seats? Ninth! Although it was near the front, this position did not befit the status of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate.
*This is a blatant attempt to put us down.*
Shen Lang decided he couldn't stand for it.
"The heir of the Count of Jinhai's Estate has arrived! The envoy from the Governor's Office has arrived!"
The announcer outside shouted, his voice growing more excited and intense, as if he held these newcomers in the highest esteem.
Instantly, the hosts of the banquet—Zhang Jin, Xu Guangyun, and Xu Qianqian—rushed to the main entrance to welcome the two distinguished guests. As the two entered the hall, everyone present bowed in greeting.
The envoy sent from the Governor's Office this time was not Yan Wuji, but a young man. His name was Zhu Wenhua, the nephew of Lord Zhu Rong and the son of the General Who Pacifies the South, a promising military officer. As befitting a warrior, he was tall and imposing, with a commanding presence. However, Shen Lang's attention was not on Zhu Wenhua, but on the other man.
The person Shen Lang was looking at was the current arch-nemesis of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, the heir of the Count of Jinhai's Estate, Tang Yun. One look at him made Shen Lang feel an urge to punch Jin Mucong.
*Look at this guy. He's also the heir to a count's estate, but how brilliant does he look? Jin Mucong looks like a fool, but Tang Yun is on another level.*
The arrogance of the heir to the Count of Jinhai's Estate practically radiated from him. He was strikingly handsome, and his disdainful demeanor, as if he looked down on the entire world, was captivating. How to describe it? This would be fitting:
*"Sorry, but I'm not dealing with you. Everyone sitting here is beneath me!"*
That was what was written all over Tang Yun's face.
*I find everyone here trivial!*
For some reason, even the arrogant Zhang Jin appeared very respectful in front of Tang Yun. This was because Zhang Jin's status was slightly lower than Tang Yun's. Prefect Liu Wuyan, a Presented Scholar himself, gazed at Tang Yun with an expression of adoration.
"Wife, am I more handsome, or is he?"
"You are more handsome."
"Then what gives him the right to act so high and mighty?"
"Not only is he the heir to the Count of Jinhai's Estate, but he also passed the imperial examinations in both the civil and military tracks. He placed third in this year's metropolitan examination and fourth in the palace examination."
*Damn! That's actually incredible. No wonder he treats everyone here like trash.*
To someone like Tang Yun, a live-in son-in-law like Shen Lang was nothing more than a nameless extra. But that irked Shen Lang.
*Making a face like that, acting as if I don't exist?! No matter how great you are, no one in Xuanwu City is more impressive than me, Shen Lang.*
Prefect Liu Wuyan was a third-class Presented Scholar, so he couldn't even stand up straight in front of Tang Yun.
If even Prefect Liu Wuyan was like this, what could be expected of the others? A third of the people present continuously came forward to bow and greet Tang Yun. The other two-thirds, not even qualified to stand before him, could only stand in the corners with fawning smiles.
"Brother Yan, it has been several months since we parted in the capital. I have missed you dearly."
A young man in cotton robes stepped forward and bowed to Tang Yun. Only then did Tang Yun clasp his hands in greeting and speak.
"Is Brother Li also well?"
Another dignitary had appeared. He was a second-class Presented Scholar who had passed this year's examination and was a newly appointed Silver-Clad Imperial Censor. The Silver-Clad Censors were a type of imperial inspector, belonging to a special patrol agency under the king. Later, with the implementation of new policies, this organization was merged with the Censorate, and many young officials entered this prestigious body.
The man speaking familiarly with Tang Yun was someone even Shen Lang knew. At least, no one from Xuanwu City could be unaware of him. Li Wenzheng! The pride of Xuanwu City and the public enemy of all its young scholars.