Chapter 28: Revenge on Tian Heng, Shameless Pretty Boy
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When Shen Lang ran out, Mulan remained in a daze for two whole minutes as she stared at his disappearing figure. Then, she continued eating her breakfast.
Beside her, a maid, Xiao Ting, said, “Miss, Young Master Shen is too petty. It’d only ruin the reputation of the Palace of the Earl.”
She was tall and lanky.
The moment she said this, Mulan stopped her chopsticks as she glanced over at Xiao Ting.
She was usually kind to the servants and maids, so they were not too fearful of her.
This Xiao Ting had always been bold and vigorous in the way she did things, ensuring Mulan’s life was in good order. She was considered the leader amongst the maids.
All along, everyone in the Palace of the Earl always called her Sister Xiao Ting to curry favor.
Upon noticing Mulan’s gaze, Xiao Ting continued to speak, “I did not say anything wrong, ah. The Earl loves the people as if they’re his sons. Our reputation is great. It’s not a good thing for the Young Master to behave so impetuously. He better not bring any trouble for the Palace of the Earl.”
Mulan’s gaze turned cold as she commanded, “Men, come. Slap her ten times.”
Instantly, an elderly maid came in and slapped Xiao Ting across the face harshly.
“Pak, pak, pak, pak...”
First, Xiao Ting couldn’t believe her own ears. “The Miss would actually hit me?”
Her face hurt so much that she couldn’t help but cry out in pain.
After ten solid slaps, her face became swollen and red; blood even flowed out of her nostrils.
Everyone else remained quiet out of fear as they watched.
Miss had never done anything like this. She wasn’t bothered even when the maids made some jokes about her sometimes.
Mulan said, “All of you better remember this properly. Shen Lang would be your Master even if he married into the Jin household. If anyone dares to derogate your Master behind our backs, it wouldn’t be as simple as ten slaps on the face.”
That maid Xiao Ting was utterly shocked. The Lady of the Palace usually favored her so much, ah.
Mulan said, “Chase her out of my courtyard and send her to the embroidery room.”
Only then did this tall and lanky maid began to panic. She knelt and kowtowed, “Miss, I am wrong. I will not derogate the Young Master again. Please spare me... Please spare me...” she begged.
Being slapped ten times was no big deal if there was no disfiguration. However, it would really be bad if she was sent into the embroidery room.
The servants of the Palace of the Earl also had their own hierarchy. Those who served the Lady were the higher-ups, while those in the embroidery room were lowly and had endless work.
However, no matter how she begged for mercy, it was futile. A few elderly maids dragged her out.
...
“Master, Shen Lang seeks to serve tea,” Jin Zhong said.
The Earl was feeling good. Shen Lang had put up a brilliant performance yesterday, making him very pleased.
Of course, Wang Lian and Mo Ye were still much more exceptional compared to him, but Shen Lang was rumored to be a completely useless fool previously. However, with that performance yesterday, it didn’t make him feel that bad.
As if he had obtained a great advantage...
When Shen Lang entered, he served tea to his father and mother-in-law respectfully.
The Earl asked, “Shen Lang, what plans do you have today?”
Shen Lang replied, “My parents had painstakingly brought me up. I’m unfamiliar with them since I’m living with my wife’s family. That is why today, I wish to return home and spend time with them properly and perform my duties as their son.”
The Earl replied, “Of all virtues, filial piety is most important, this is what you should do. Go ahead. Bring two gifts on my behalf for your parents as well.”
“Yes,” Shen Lang replied, “thank you, father-in-law.”
Mother-in-law said gently, “As their daughter-in-law, Mulan should go and greet your parents together with you. However, she has military duties every day. I apologize on her behalf.”
Shen Lang replied, “Mother-in-law speaks too seriously.”
Both parties clearly avoided the discussion of the wedding night yesterday. They probably had their own guesses.
When Shen Lang bid farewell, the Madam said, “I think this Shen Lang isn’t too bad; he is rather earnest.”
After an hour, Shen Lang departed from the Palace of the Earl.
He had wanted to ride a horse, but it was too tight. Thus, he sat in a carriage with two soldiers from the Palace of the Earl as his escorts.
This could be counted as returning home in glory, right?
This luxurious carriage could compare to a Mercedes-Benz in the modern world, and he even had two calvaries escorting him.
This line up was already very flashy in Xuanwu City.
***
However, Shen Lang did not return home. Instead, he charged straight into Tian Heng’s Black Clothes Gang territory.
“Halt. This is the civilian army camp. Who dares to intrude?”
The Black Clothes Gang’s headquarters was a small castle with the flags of the civilian army hanging all over the place. Upon seeing Shen Lang’s carriage, they instantly drew their bows.
“Charge!” Shen Lang said.
Those two armored soldiers from the Palace of the Earl sped up and charged right in without any hesitation.
The guards from the Black Clothes Gang on the wall were about to fire their arrows when someone quickly stopped him.
“Are you mad? If you don’t wish to live, I still wish to! These are the troops from the Palace of the Earl!”
That bowman took a careful look. “Isn’t that the flag from the Palace of the Earl of Xuanwu?” He became instantly scared out of his wits.
They called themselves the civilian army, but they were actually a gang. If they dared to fire arrows at the soldiers of the Palace of the Earl, they were seeking their own death.
“Aren’t you going to report this to the Boss?!” The captain on the wall ordered.
Instantly, a bunch of men went dashing inside to report to Tian Heng.
***
“Hahaha...”
His voice could be heard before he was seen.
Tian Heng spread his arms wide open from a far distance and said with the utmost familiarity, “May I ask which honored guest from the Palace of the Earl have arrived? Excuse me for not going out to meet you! Forgive me!”
“Halt!”
Shen Lang ordered the driver to stop and stepped out of the carriage. He said lazily, “Boss Tian, how have you been, ah?”
Tian Heng felt exasperated. “It’s really you, huh, Shen Lang.”
“I really didn’t expect that you’d come and slap faces this soon when you just married into the Palace of the Earl last night.”
“You sure change faces quickly, ah, Shen Lang. A few days ago, you were so respectful, behaving like a rodent that saw a cat when you saw me, yet today, you’re behaving so haughtily.”
“You really don’t even try to conceal this parvenu nature of yours, ah.”
However, he forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and cupped his hands. He said passionately, “How have you been, Young Master Shen. If there’s any matter, you could have just sent someone over! Why go through the trouble of making the trip yourself?”
“Look at how Tian Heng is behaving. As if we never had any feud at all and we’re good friends.”
However, Shen Lang wasn’t pleased upon hearing this.
Tian Heng had addressed him with ‘you’ without any honorifics1.
“What do you mean? Am I of no importance in your eyes?”
Tian Heng continued, “Please, Young Master Shen, do come in for tea!”
***
In Tian Heng’s extravagant hall, Shen Lang sipped his tea leisurely.
Tian Heng was full of disdain. “You’re from a poor family and spent most of your days being poor. Do you even know how to taste tea?”
Of course, he wouldn’t show it on his face.
Tian Heng said, “What’s the reason for Young Master Shen’s arrival today?”
Shen Lang replied, “I came because of the debt of a thousand gold coins. As humans, we should always pay our debts. Only a jerk would not pay his own debt.”
Tian Heng laughed, retrieving a receipt from his chest pocket.
This was the receipt that Shen Lang wrote with his blood back then.
Tian Heng tugged on it gently, and this receipt was shredded completely, burnt in the candle flames.
“What debt of a thousand coins. I don’t know anything about it. I’ve long forgotten about it.” Tian Heng shook his hands. “There’s no such thing, ah!”
Tian Heng was rather self-aware.
The debt of a thousand gold coins was erased just like this.
Shen Lang sipped his tea gently as he frowned. “Boss Tian, you were the one who owed me a thousand gold coins, ah. How could you forget about it and even destroy the receipt? What do we do now? We don’t even have any evidence anymore. Other people would think that I came here to extort money from you.” 1
When this was said, Tian Heng became stunned. He almost spat the tea in his mouth.
“The f*ck! I’ve been in the streets for so many years, but I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you!”
“Your ability to twist facts is so much stronger than mine, ah!”
“What? Is Boss Tian not planning to return it anymore?” Shen Lang said indifferently.
“I’ll return you my foot!” Tian Heng cursed mentally, wishing he could just grab his knife and turn Shen Lang into mincemeat.
But... he couldn’t.
“How is that possible? Others can owe me money and not pay up, but if I owe anyone money, I definitely must return it!” Taking a deep breath, Tian Heng plastered a smile on his face and said, “Men, go fetch a thousand gold coins.”
After a while, someone came over carrying a small chest. There were a thousand gold coins inside, and it weighed about 25 kg.
“Young Master Shen, you should count,” Tian Heng said.
“You’re still saying ‘you’ instead of its courteous form?”
Shen Lang said, “Ah, we are all friends! We can forget about the interest.”
Tian Heng was about to explode. “You b*stard! Forget that you are extorting a thousand gold coins from me, you still dare to ask for its interest?”
However, Tian Heng quickly showed a smile and said, “Even among brothers, accounts should be settled without ambiguity. I ought to pay the interest.”
Then, he took out another hundred gold coins as the interest.
“Does Young Master Shen still have anything to instruct?” Tian Heng asked.
Shen Lang replied, “Where’s Tian Thirteen?”
Tian Heng asked, “Why would Young Master Shen look for him?”
Shen Lang replied, “He went to capture my parents yesterday and declared that he would kill my family! I want to break both his legs!” 2
Tian Heng’s eyes were really about to pop from anger.
“This is too much! He’s pushing it ah!!!”
...
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