Yang Mutao could only bow his head to his brothers and say sorry. The second and third Yang brothers left angrily.
At first it was only this. Old Master Wu said to just consider it losing money to avert disaster.
The Wang family feared Old Master Wu, so they dared not truly go too far. And there was no solid evidence — they could not say for certain it was the Wang family. The Yang family had done business for years and had offended many people.
But last month, Old Master Wu returned to his hometown. On the road, the horse was startled, and Old Master Wu was thrown from the carriage. He was said to be badly injured and likely could not return for some time.
When Yang Mutao heard this, he knew disaster was coming.
Sure enough, with Old Master Wu absent, the Wang family directly sent betrothal gifts, saying they would welcome Yang Mingyi through the door at the end of the month.
Yang Mingyi was mature in temperament and tall, but was only a little over thirteen! These days, girls and gers mostly began looking for husbands at fourteen or fifteen and married at fifteen or sixteen, but marrying at thirteen or fourteen was not unheard of.
Yang Mutao had no choice. He went to Yuanzhou, wanting to ask his brother-in-law for help. But the Wu family shut their doors and would not see him.
He wanted to take Yang Mingyi and leave, but Yang Mingyi could not even get past the gates of Lianzhou.
Wang Wenjie sent a servant with a message: if the Yang family in Fu'an Town disappeared, then the Yang family in Yuanzhou would not be spared either.
Yang Mutao already felt guilty for implicating his younger brothers. Now he could only give up the idea of fleeing with Yang Mingyi.
Yang Mutao ran around for this matter, hitting walls everywhere, yet there was nothing he could do.
No one could help him.
No one understood him either. They only thought he didn't know what was good for him — he looked down on even the Wang family? What, did he think his ger was a celestial being?
Wang Wenjie came all the way from Yuanzhou every time, and was he ever empty-handed? Big bags and small packages. Even when Yang Mingyi gave him the cold shoulder, Wang Wenjie stayed constant year after year, often coming to visit, never overstepping, always keeping to propriety and good manners. That was sincerity enough. Yet the Yang family still put on airs — no one knew what they were thinking.
Magistrate Jiang, well-informed, said Fang Zichen had come to Shangyang and told him to go find him — perhaps there was still room for reversal. But Yang Mutao rushed as fast as he could and was still a step too late.
Later, having no other choice, having begged everyone he could, he thought of how Guaizai's letters had mentioned the Qin family — saying the Qin family had sent him many fabrics, that they felt very comfortable to wear, and he had even sent several bolts over. Yang Mutao had seen the world, and at a glance recognized them as goods from Jiangzhong. Yang Mingyi saw they were valuable and dared not accept. Guaizai wrote back saying they were not valuable, that Pretty Uncle sent him some every time, that he had so many he could not use them all, and Yang Mingyi should not be polite!
It seemed the Qin family thought very highly of him.
Yang Mutao thought of begging the Qin family.
He wasn't sure he could even meet the Qin family, let alone whether they would help him. But he had no other choice. He could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
[死馬當活馬醫 (sǐ mǎ dāng huó mǎ yī): lit. treat a dead horse as if it were alive; fig. to make a desperate attempt even when the situation seems hopeless.]
After Qin Hengxuan finished listening, his expression did not change much.
Though one should be upright and benevolent from reading and understanding principles, yet righteousness is often found among butchers and dog-slaughterers, while betrayers are often scholars.
Children raised by officials and noble clans were not all good either — otherwise where did prodigal sons come from? Beasts in human clothing? What else is sanctimoniousness, or scholar scum?
On the contrary, prominent families were even more dark and filthy.
Because they had power and influence, they acted even more without restraint. Earlier, the Sima family's son in the capital had, together with several classmates, abducted a girl and then played her to death. The case was still under trial, but it seemed nothing would come of it.
They say the Son of Heaven breaks the law the same as commoners — but is that really true?
There are always some who look like people but are worse than dogs.
Qin Hengxuan had heard of Wang Linchang. Wang Wenjie's little habits, Qin Hengxuan naturally understood them too. These things could be hidden from others, but not from him. To be fair, there was nothing greatly wrong — just pleasures of the bedchamber.
If it got out, plenty of people would still be willing to marry their daughters or gers into the Wang family. But Yang Mutao...
Though not a good husband, he could be considered a good father. His backbone had been straight for decades, yet later he bent and begged everywhere for his child. Few had such courage.
Qin Hengxuan found him somewhat more pleasing to the eye.
---
Yang Mutao's trip took a month. Yang Mingyi, seeing he had not returned, sent people to search but could not find him. He was restless with worry.
"Young Master." A servant ran in from outside. Yang Mingyi's face was anxious as he went to the door: "Is my father back?"
"No, it's Young Master Wang who's come."
Yang Mingyi's face immediately darkened.
"What, not welcoming me, Young Master?" Wang Wenjie fanned himself and strolled into the courtyard.
Yang Mingyi wore no makeup, in plain clothes, yet his beauty was still hard to conceal.
Wang Wenjie had to admit Yang Mingyi was the one he had found most desirable among all he had seen. Even after so many meetings, each time he could not help but marvel.
Yang Mingyi said nothing, turned and started to go inside. Wang Wenjie took the steps two at a time and grabbed him.
"Yi Ger, still so cold to me? In a few days you'll be married into my family. I truly like you — can't you not be so cold to me? Hmm? I came all the way from Yuanzhou specially to see you!" He smiled, his thumb rubbing ambiguously and obscenely across the back of Yang Mingyi's hand.
Yang Mingyi's stomach churned. He tried to pull his hand back, but the other held tighter. After several tugs he could not free himself. He frowned: "Young Master Wang, please let go."
Wang Wenjie grinned: "What if I don't?"
When Yang Mingyi heard this, he said nothing and simply flung his hand out to shake him off.
Wang Wenjie hadn't expected this. He was thrown off balance and, in a moment of carelessness, tumbled down the steps.
"Young Master!" Two servants were waiting three steps away. They were both startled at the sight, frozen in place. When they came to their senses, they reached out to catch him—but caught nothing but air.
Wang Wenjie fell so hard he saw stars.
Yang Mingyi was also startled for a moment, then ran down in a panic to help him up.
If something happened to Wang Wenjie at the Yang residence, the Yang family would not be able to escape blame. He couldn't bring more trouble to his father.
But Wang Wenjie slapped his hand away. He was thoroughly enraged now and swung a slap at his face.
Yang Mingyi couldn't dodge in time. The slap landed squarely on his face. His head immediately rang with a buzzing sound, and the taste of blood filled his mouth. The Yang family servant tried to plead for Yang Mingyi, but Wang Wenjie kicked him away, then grabbed Yang Mingyi by the hair and yanked him forward.
Yang Mingyi's strength was no match for Wang Wenjie's after all. He still couldn't break free. His eyes reddened, and he couldn't help but think of a few years ago, when he had also been beaten like this, unable to fight back at all. That feeling of helplessness surged up again, chilling him to the bone once more.
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