Free Web NovelChapter 115: Chapter 114: The 8th Prince’s Painting
Seeing that Wen Qingye hadn’t delivered a killing blow, Wen Shibei breathed a sigh of relief. Shattered bones could be healed with pills; with the Jia Family’s influence, that shouldn’t be a problem for them.
Wen Shibei quickly had the Wen Family servants carry Jia Lu to the rear courtyard. Jia Lu glared at Wen Qingye and burst into a wild laugh. "HAHAHA! Wen Qingye, I knew you wouldn’t dare kill me! Just you wait. I will *not* let you off!"
On the surface, it looked like Wen Qingye had spared him, but Jia Lu was still determined to see him dead.
In Jia Lu’s mind, he was born a cut above Wen Qingye. How could he ever accept being on the receiving end of retribution from him?
Wen Qingye watched as Jia Lu was carried away by the crowd and said calmly, "Soon, you won’t be thinking that anymore. I just hope I don’t hear news of your suicide."
Jia Lu retorted sinisterly, "Me? Commit suicide? Wen Qingye, just wait until my injuries are healed. Then you can wait for the masters of my Jia Family to come for you!"
As the crowd watched Jia Lu disappear from sight, they couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for Wen Qingye. Some even cast him a sympathetic glance.
Without a glance at anyone else in the room, Wen Qingye calmly walked over to Lady Liu.
Lady Liu looked at Wen Qingye, her hands running over his arms nonstop. "Qingye, are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Wen Qingye shook his head. "I’m fine, Mother."
Liu Tianli said worriedly, "Qingye, you’ve offended the Jia Family from the Imperial City this time. I’m afraid they’ll..."
"It’s nothing," Wen Qingye said with a faint smile. "What can the Jia Family possibly do to me?"
Seeing Wen Qingye’s confidence, Liu Tianli fell silent, though he was still worried.
Zhang Hua sighed. ’I’d originally planned on building a better relationship with Wen Qingye and Zhang Xiaoyun,’ he thought, ’but now that he’s offended the Jia Family, I’ll have to reconsider.’
Wen Shibei walked up to Wen Qingye and said, "Qingye, I’ve already had someone send Jia Lu on his way. I’ll have a good talk with him later to smooth things over."
"There’s no need," Wen Qingye said calmly. "I’m afraid you won’t be seeing him again."
"Qingye, what do you mean by that?" Wen Shibei asked, his brow furrowed.
Wen Qingye just smiled faintly, offering no explanation. "You’ll find out soon enough."
Wen Shibei sighed. Looking at the young man before him, who seemed both familiar and yet a complete stranger, he said softly, "Qingye, I... I heard you struck the Second Madam. She’s Tongyu’s mother, you know."
Wen Qingye raised an eyebrow. "So what? She insults my wife and my mother, and I’m just supposed to take it?"
Wen Shibei quickly waved his hands. "No, that’s not it. I just hope you can be a bit more tolerant. Tongyu is extraordinary, and his personality has changed drastically lately. I’m afraid that you two... Besides, you don’t know how formidable Tongyu is. He has many friends in the Capital City; even the current Third Prince and the Crown Prince are trying their hardest to recruit him."
Wen Qingye laughed. "Shibei, thank you for the kind thought, but I honestly don’t pay Wen Tongyu any mind."
Wen Shibei opened his mouth, then closed it. He knew that nothing he said would get through to Wen Qingye right now, so he didn’t press the matter.
Just then, a lively commotion erupted at the entrance.
Then, surrounded by an entourage, a woman entered. She wore a floor-length, misty white pleated skirt embroidered with plum blossoms. Her skin was fair, her eyes sparkled, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. Among all the women present, only Gao Yuerou’s beauty could rival hers.
However, the woman exuded a sharp, fierce aura that Gao Yuerou couldn’t hope to match.
"Father!" the woman said softly as she walked up to Zhang Hua. Then she turned to Wen Xu, a blush coloring her lovely cheeks, and said, "Father."
"Excellent, excellent," Wen Xu said, overjoyed.
This woman was Zhang Hui, the daughter of Zhang Hua’s primary wife. She was not only beautiful, but her innate talent was one in a million in all of Phoenix City. freewebnøvel.com
"Wen Tongyu sure is lucky. A woman like that is the dream girl for countless men here in Phoenix City."
"Wen Tongyu’s talent is simply heaven-defying. Even his concubine is this stunning."
"That’s right. I heard the princess Wen Tongyu is marrying is the Emperor’s current favorite, and she’s supposed to be an unrivaled beauty."
...
Lady Yao came over as well, a smile playing on her lips. "How wonderful. Xiaohui is so pretty—far prettier than the Zhang Mansion’s second miss."
As she spoke, Lady Yao shot a pointed, yet seemingly casual, glance at Wen Qingye.
Unable to contain herself, Lady Liu frowned. "Yao Jing, I suggest you watch your tongue. Try to remember your station."
Lady Yao lifted her chin, turning to Zhang Hui. "Ah, Xiaohui, why don’t you go rest over there. We mustn’t let your precious self get tired."
Lady Yao’s reaction only served to further infuriate Wen Qingye’s mother, Lady Liu.
Wen Qingye held back his mother, who looked ready to lunge forward. "Mother, there’s no need to stoop to her level."
Lady Liu frowned. "I just can’t stand it! Did you see the look on her face?"
Wen Qingye shook his head and glanced at Lady Yao. Then his gaze fell upon Yao Luojun and Yao Qi, and with a slight furrow of his brow, he was suddenly lost in thought.
Wen Xu walked into the center of the hall, laughing heartily. "Today, my son takes a concubine! Thank you all for traveling so far to celebrate. I won’t waste your time with a long speech. I only hope you will all be able to join us again for the official ceremony, and for Tongyu’s grand wedding to the princess! When that day comes, we will drink our fill, but for now, I ask you all to join me in this cup!"
A line of serving girls came forward, filled everyone’s cups with wine, and then promptly withdrew.
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
After everyone had downed their cups, a clearly delighted Wen Xu addressed the crowd again. "Today, the Wen Family is graced by the presence of several important guests. Allow me to introduce them."
Wen Xu first gestured toward Yao Luojun. "This is Yao Luojun, the current Patriarch of the Yao Family of Kaiyang County."
Wen Xu then pointed to Yao Qi. "And this is a prodigy from the Inner Courtyard of Celestial Academy, as well as the Young Master of the Yao Family, Yao Qi."
Everyone in attendance immediately tried to curry favor with the pair. After all, who among them didn’t know of the Yao Family, the number one family in Kaiyang County? As for Yao Qi, his remarkable talent had already earned him a considerable reputation at Celestial Academy. In a century’s time, he was destined to lead the Yao Family to even greater heights.
Finally, Wen Xu gestured to the woman beside Yao Qi. "And this is Ling Jiao, daughter of the Eighth Prince."
The Eighth Prince’s daughter!
At this, everyone’s heads snapped in her direction, their eyes filled with disbelief. freewēbnoveℓ.com
The Eighth Prince, Ling Xiao! He was one of the greatest masters in the Celestial Martial Country, a pillar of support for the Royal Family. Who didn’t know his name? Who hadn’t heard of his deeds? And as Ling Xiao’s only daughter, she was the apple of his eye, doted upon and cherished beyond measure.
With a charming smile, Ling Jiao took a step forward. "I am here today on behalf of my father to attend Wen Tongyu’s engagement banquet. With his exceptional talent, Wen Tongyu is sure to become one of the most promising figures in our Celestial Martial Country—he is a truly rare prodigy. To celebrate this occasion, I have not only come myself but have also brought a treasure from my father for all of you to see."
As Ling Jiao finished speaking, a guard behind her produced a box. It appeared to hold a scroll painting.
Wen Qingye felt a flicker of doubt. ’What is this Thousand Rivers Secret Land?’ he wondered. But Ling Jiao had only mentioned it in passing before bringing up the treasure, and it wasn’t a good time for Wen Qingye to ask the person next to him for an explanation.
"I imagine some of you have heard the name of this treasure before. It is the Eight Kings Map!"
