A favour from the Chilan Pavilion? It is no small matter!
Several pairs of eyes fixed on the token representing the Chilan Pavilion. For the Wen family, this was indeed something of considerable value.
However, Wen Mao’s mind was churning with other thoughts. He had spoken with Elder Wen of the library pavilion, so he naturally knew that Yu Qing was investigating an address. He had been puzzled before, unsure of why Yu Qing was looking for that location. Only after hearing Qin Jue’s words did he realise that the address Yu Qing was searching for was likely far from ordinary.
With almost no hesitation, Wen Mao placed his hand on the token and pushed the blood red plaque back. “Receiving a favour from the Chilan Pavilion would certainly be beneficial, but I truly cannot understand your words, Mr Qin. I would not dare to deceive you. I genuinely do not know what address the Tanhua Lang is looking for.”
Unwilling to give up, Qin Jue immediately pushed the token back. “It is fine. Given the Wen family’s deep roots in Ningzhou, if you truly keep your eyes open, the Wen family’s network will be everywhere in this city. Finding a person’s whereabouts should not be difficult. As long as the Wen family is willing to mobilise its resources to search, the Chilan Pavilion will still remember this favour.”
Wen Mao waved his hand. “Mr Qin, there is no point in pushing this back and forth. I do not even know what is going on between you, so the Wen family has no reason to blindly interfere. Besides, we are unclear about your background. You are not the Pavilion Master of the Chilan Pavilion after all, yet you repeatedly make promises to me under their banner. That is rather underestimating me. If we must be precise, I know a few acquaintances over at Qianliu Mountain. I cannot rashly involve myself in the Chilan Pavilion’s affairs, and I am afraid I cannot help you. Mr Qin, you are a guest here. Would you not rather just enjoy your tea in peace?”
Qin Jue understood the implied message. The Wen family was not so easily intimidated, and constantly brandishing the Chilan Pavilion’s name to threaten people was useless.
After a moment of staring into the other man’s eyes and seeing Wen Mao hold his gaze without flinching, Qin Jue quickly changed to a smiling expression. He lifted his tea cup and apologised. “I have been presumptuous.”
Although he had backed down, he had managed to test one thing out. The other party was genuinely unwilling to help him, which meant they might not actually be ignorant of Ashi Heng’s whereabouts.
Thus, smiles returned to the faces of host and guest.
Seeing that he could not get what he wanted, Qin Jue did not stay long. He sat for a short while before taking his leave.
Wen Mao had no intention of keeping him either. He politely asked Wen Kui to see the guest out.
Fan Wuchou tilted his head, signalling his disciple Zou Yunting to also accompany the guest out on his behalf.
Once everyone else had left, Fan Wuchou asked, “Brother Wen, what does he mean by that? Could that Tanhua Lang truly have another purpose for coming to the Wen residence?”
Wen Mao replied, “Since he said so, it is quite possible.”
Fan Wuchou probed, “Do you know where the Tanhua Lang has gone?”
Wen Mao knew, but he did not want the Wen family to become a battleground for outsiders, not even for Qinglian Mountain. He denied it. “If it were truly an important location, how could that Tanhua Lang let us know? This Qin fellow is far too self-righteous, thinking he can order us about just by waving the Chilan Pavilion’s banner. What a joke!
Brother Fan, it is better for us to remain ignorant of certain matters. You must have heard of the forces behind the Tanhua Lang. We cannot figure out what they are doing, and it would be unwise for the Wen family and Qinglian Mountain to get involved. It is best to keep our distance.”
Fan Wuchou nodded silently.
The carriage slowly departed from beneath the memorial arch outside the Wen family’s main gate. Inside, Qin Jue remained silent.
Cui You, who had leaned out of the window to look outside, pulled his head back in and asked quietly, “Master, are we just letting it go at this?”
Qin Jue replied, “If the Chilan Pavilion’s banner cannot intimidate them, what else can we do? Do you want to use force? The Wen family has stood for a millennium for a reason. With our current strength, a direct confrontation would be futile, especially on their own turf. Let us find a place to stay first, gather detailed information, and then figure out our next step.”
“Very well,” Cui You nodded.
Having seen the guest out on his master’s behalf, Zou Yunting watched the carriage leave from beneath the arch before turning back with Wen Kui.
Along the way, as they passed a cluster of pavilions and towers, Zou Yunting noticed a maid carrying a flower basket glancing at him from a distance. Realising something, he found an excuse not to return with Wen Kui.
After they parted, he walked towards a certain pavilion. As he passed beneath the eaves, he suddenly heard a woman’s voice from inside a window. “Here.”
Zou Yunting paused. Catching a glimpse of the person through the window crack, he recognised her as Madam Wen Guo. He slowly sat down on a bench along the corridor railing, observed his surroundings, pretended to rest, and asked quietly to minimise noise. “Why did you stop me on the road to meet? What do you want? Have you lost your mind?”
Through the window crack, Madam Wen Guo’s eyes were distant and her face haggard. Keeping her voice low, she said, “I have asked to see you many times to no avail. You refuse to meet me. If this continues, I will go mad soon enough.”
Zou Yunting replied, “I told you it is not suitable for us to meet now. Can you not understand plain language? Speak. What urgent matter requires us to meet right now?”
Madam Wen Guo said, “I heard a distinguished guest has arrived. Are the old master and Elder Fan meeting them together?”
Zou Yunting could not help but sigh. “It is just a guest. It has nothing to do with you.”
Her suppressed voice suddenly turned hysterical. “How do you know it has nothing to do with us? I am telling you, the old master is extremely cunning. By the time we realise something is wrong, it will be too late. Who is this visitor? Why are they here? Why meet them right in front of you?”
Zou Yunting was utterly speechless. If he had known it would come to this, he really should not have let this woman know that their affair had been exposed and that others were aware.
He had been forced into it previously. Besides his body not being fully recovered, Madam Wen Guo kept trying to find opportunities to sleep with him. When they met, he had no choice but to warn her that they had been exposed and to tell her to meet less frequently.
Who would have thought she would be terrified on the spot? It took considerable effort to calm her down.
He simply did not understand. If she was so afraid of death, why had she seduced him back then? Was it solely for the chance to become the family head?
In any case, ever since then, she had felt as if a sword hung over her head, ready to fall at any moment. The slightest sign of trouble made her see enemies everywhere. She lived in constant fear, which annoyed him endlessly. He deeply regretted not keeping his trousers tightly fastened back then.
“Sigh, the visitor truly has nothing to do with you or me. It is someone from the Chilan Pavilion…”
To placate her, Zou Yunting explained the general situation.
Madam Wen Guo was surprised. “They are coming for Ashi Heng? With good intentions or bad?”
Zou Yunting said, “Given the current situation, it is obvious they mean no good.”
Madam Wen Guo suddenly asked, “Which is stronger, Qinglian Mountain or the Chilan Pavilion?”
Zou Yunting replied cautiously, “That is hard to say. Qinglian Mountain is a millennium-old sect. It may not be inferior to the Chilan Pavilion… Wait, why does this concern you? Are you not overstepping…?” As he spoke, a sudden shock struck him. “Why are you asking this? What do you intend to do?”
Madam Wen Guo had already detected his apprehension towards the Chilan Pavilion in his tone. Qinglian Mountain might well not compare to them. She gritted her teeth and said, “How can you be sure Ashi Heng will not leak our secret to others?”
Zou Yunting said, “He is already far away. He has not leaked a single word. Do not stir up unnecessary trouble.”
Madam Wen Guo replied, “I do not want unnecessary trouble. I only know that relying on someone else’s kindness for our survival is the most unreliable thing. I cannot even sleep peacefully. Do you still not understand? Only when our second branch takes charge, only when we control the Wen family, will we not fear internal purges, and only then can we suppress the rumours!”
Zou Yunting said, “This matter is not as simple as you think. How can it be decided by your words alone?”
Madam Wen Guo suddenly spoke with a chilling tone, gritting her teeth. “What if the old master and the first branch all die? Once the old master’s direct lineage is left only with the second branch, who else could possibly lead the family but us? Go contact that man from the Chilan Pavilion. Negotiate with him. As long as he has a way to help us eliminate the old master and the other branches, once we take charge, we will help him find Ashi Heng’s whereabouts.”
Zou Yunting was startled, a chill running down his spine. He realised how terrifying this woman could be when ruthless. He immediately spoke sternly. “I will never agree to this, nor will I ever help you do it. I warn you, do not act recklessly. Cooperating with outsiders for this is like asking a tiger for its skin. It is exactly like drinking poison to quench your thirst. It absolutely cannot be done!”
“Look at how timid you are. You are no different from my husband. Giving myself to you people was a waste of my eyes. Fine, I was just saying it. You do not need to be afraid. I am leaving.” With those words, Madam Wen Guo inside the window turned and left immediately.
“Come back! Explain yourself clearly. Come back…”
Zou Yunting called out anxiously several times. He even stood up and walked to the window to shout. However, when he peeked inside, he only caught a fleeting glimpse of the woman’s figure as she had already gone out and left.
After turning around, a worried expression appeared on his face. He did not know whether the woman was telling the truth or lying, but he genuinely feared she would act recklessly…
Wen Kui, who had just left the Wen residence’s main gate not long ago, hurried back to the entrance to personally welcome another distinguished guest inside.
The guest was a thin old man with bright eyes and a goatee beard. It was You Lingluo, the steward of the Bihai Shipping Company.
He entered with several attendants, including his trusted confidant Meng Wei.
Host and guest met in the inner garden. Wen Mao, the head of the Wen family, personally greeted him at the garden entrance.
Ningzhou had many waterways and bordered the sea, so the Wen family maintained a deep cooperative relationship with the Bihai Shipping Company.
After the usual polite exchanges, they inevitably had to get to the point.
One does not visit without a purpose. You Lingluo stated his reason for coming. Upon learning that his purpose was the same as Qin Jue’s, Wen Mao was secretly alarmed. He wondered what exactly the situation with that Tanhua Lang was, and how even a major power from the Yin Kingdom had become involved.
After all, the Wen family was located in the Jin Kingdom. Without understanding the situation, they dared not step over the line. Otherwise, the Jin Kingdom would certainly not show leniency.
Failing to reach an agreement, You Lingluo finally flung his sleeves and departed.
Standing outside the garden gate to see the guest off, Wen Mao stood dazed and lost in thought.
Fan Wuchou, standing nearby, spoke in a heavy tone. “They all claim to be looking for Ashi Heng, yet none are willing to reveal the reason. How can anyone be expected to help?”
Wen Mao replied with a grave expression. “Brother Fan, I have a feeling that a storm is about to break.”
Outside the Wen family’s main gate, Wen Kui bowed deeply and personally saw the distinguished guest into his carriage.
Inside the carriage, You Lingluo sat upright but showed no gratitude. As the carriage started moving, he spoke slowly. “The Wen family has some nerve! Inform the shipping company to find reasons to halt all goods the Wen family sends outside the Jin Kingdom. Send word to our headquarters to give special attention to all of the Wen family’s spirit rice sales outlets outside the Jin Kingdom. If the Wen family still does not know its place, mobilise related forces to suppress Qinglian Mountain’s share in the spirit rice market. I want to see whether the Wen family can withstand the pressure, or if Qinglian Mountain has the capability to sit still!”