At the same time, in Liantang Town.
“……Didn’t Lord Ling tell you what this letter says?”
“Marshal, this servant just follows our lord’s order to send the letter to the people in your home. As for what this letter says, this servant knows nothing.”
The butler worried Yuwen Tong would suspect that he had read the letter, so he hurried to explain.
Yuwen Tong put the letter away and pressed it under his hands. Then he asked the butler a puzzling question, “Does your young master have a beloved one?”
The butler’s mind went blank for a moment, “Ah?…No.”
“Any family suitable for marriage?” Yuwen Tong asked again.
The butler was still very confused, “No, the marriage of young master has not yet been settled. Our old master and second master have not yet gotten young master betrothed, and young master doesn’t take a fancy to anyone.”
‘No beloved one? No family for marriage? So why does Ling family suddenly choose to break off the engagement at this time?’ Yuwen Tong glanced at the letter under his hand, losing in thought.
Before this day, Yuwen Tong just knew that his grandfather had been rescued by Ling Xingzhong, but he did not know his grandfather had even made an engagement with the Ling family. However, his grandfather passed away on the battlefield because of the sneak attack. ‘Maybe grandfather passed away before he could tell me the engagement.’
Anyway, Yuwen Tong was so shocked when suddenly learning that he had already been engaged.
Ling Zhang…
Yuwen Tong couldn’t help but mutter the name, unexpectedly, with some curiosity in his mind.
“What kind of person is your young master?”
The butler wondered why Marshal Yuwen had been asking him about the young master.
Was young master mentioned in the letter? The butler quickly thought over and over again. Since he was the butler of Ling family, he must put in a good word for young master!
‘Moreover, it is true that our young master is outstanding.’
Thinking that he had touched upon the truth, the butler replied, “Our young master is a clever person with profound education; he is a man of elegant conducts and treats others modestly and politely. Besides, he is always strict and fair in meting out rewards and punishments towards we servants.”
“Just before this servant went to the capital, our young master had done a very heartening thing which made the whole Tanyang people lavish praise on him.”
“Oh, tell me about it.” A hint of light flashed through Yuwen Tong’s eyes.
“This thing was, the Jia family in Tanyang…” The butler immediately gave Yuwen Tong a vivid description of every detail about what had happened that day in Jia House and what had happened in the court after it.
After hearing the description carefully, Yuwen Tong could tell the butler didn’t lie. If so, he was more and more curious about this young master of Ling family.
Although some details showed that Ling Zhang was still not skillful enough, Yuwen Tong had to praise Ling Zhang’s courage and his way of conduct after knowing that Ling Zhang had decisively taken Jia Yuanling to court and successfully used the public opinion to convict him of a crime against Zhang Chong’s power.
‘With such an eldest grandson, Ling Xingzhong must be quite proud.’
Yuwen Tong crooked his finger and tapped on the table, with his eyes fixing on the envelope.
There must be countless troubles waiting for him when he arrived in the capital. The emperor would certainly try all means to bestow an engagement that would bind him, and those family members who were anxious to stir up trouble would be even more annoying to deal with. Better to find some getaway than go back to the capital to deal with them. Although this letter came unexpectedly, it was the right in time for him, providing an excellent excuse to stay away from all the trouble.
Moreover, Ling family in Tanyang was going through difficult times right now. In any case, his grandfather owed Ling family a favor, so he should also go to Tanyang to visit Ling family even without the engagement.
Thinking of this, Yuwen Tong picked up the letter and stuffed it into his sleeve, then, he said to the butler, “Take a day off, and tomorrow I will go to Tanyang with you.”
The butler felt very unexpected and quite surprised. ‘Marshal Yuwen will go to Tanyang?!’
‘This is such good news! Old master must be very happy, and young master, young master will also be overjoyed!’
Since the letter said something about young master, Marshal’s visit to Tanyang this time must be related to young master!
……
“Ah… atishoo!” Ling Zhang suddenly sneezed violently. Overtaken by a sudden chill, Ling Zhang stood in the street of Tanyang with a blank look.
‘What’s wrong? Why do I get the feeling that a disaster is looming?’
The author has something to say:
The butler: Young Master, I’ve got a big surprise for you!!!
Ling Zhang: …Hell! No!