22. Present And Past Matters
.
"Let me Marry Xu Weiyan!"
Luoyin's words made Xu Fengyan's ears ring, and he turned to face him.
"Young Man, within the past three days, you've given me ten years' worth of surprises! How can you arrive at such a solution?!"
'Ha! Imagine my own surprise!' 'Luoyin' thought, but he forced a small smile as he spoke.
"If Xu Weiyan marries Zhang Cheng, every one will refer to her as a 'Two-man woman', especially since I would be in the same household.
"Tongues would wag if we merely pass by each other, and the smallest gestures would birth false rumours. Neither of us would know peace, and the servants will give Xu Weiyan a hard time."
He didn't sound convincing, even to his own ears, and Xu Fengyan scowled.
"What you've said is true, but things won't be much better if she marries you. She will still be disrespected, and they will indeed say 'the pig ate the prized cabbage'!"
"Ehehe, Sect Leader Xu, they will say that, no matter what we do!" He rubbed his nose nervously. "I can't help being the 'Pig' who stole the cabbage away, and there will always be pointed fingers and wagging tongues." He thought quickly.
"Th- that's why, if you permit, I will give Xu Weiyan a good and safe life, away from the Zhang Manor!"
Xu Fengyan raised a brow. "A son moving out of his father's house? Explain." He said, feeling a bit exasperated.
It seemed there was no end to the surprises of Zhang Luoyin!
"Sect Leader Xu, I already planned to move out of the Zhang Household. There is a small property near the Yan River which was left to me by my mother, but it's still in father's possession. It would be a serene and peaceful place to begin our lives."
Xu Fengyan couldn't resist a smile. The Yan river was where he had found Weiyan.
Luoyin could sense him wavering. 'Time to deal the final blows!' He thought.
"Also," He began. "I mentioned I didn't trust anyone in this household. This is because my body stopped worsening only after I stopped eating and drinking the fine foods here, including the so-called 'Healing' potions I was given.
"It was already too late by then, but if I had continued, wouldn't I have joined my mother? Or do you also believe my illness was caused by a shortcut cultivation method?"
Xu Fengyan raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you and your Mother were poisoned? That is a bold accusation."
But Luoyin grinned.
"Oh? When tragedy falls, one must look at who benefits... The legal wife suddenly dies, and Zhang Furen becomes legal wife. The legal successor falls ill, and her child becomes legal successor...
"What deity did she pray to?"
Both Lord Xu's brows had risen, but Luoyin continued.
"It's also common knowledge that Zhang Furen has always liked Xu Linhua, and will likely bring her in as a concubine."
"I won't allow that!"
"But if you refuse, Zhang Furen will remind you that the Xu Clan owes a favour for agreeing to betroth Weiyan to me, all those years ago."
"H- How did you know that?!"
"I overhead the conversation... Also, Weiyan will continue to shine brightly and I'm confident that she will surpass Zhang Cheng.
"What do you think our dear Zhang Furen would do to prevent that?"
Luoyin's words had been soft, but they rang in Xu Fengyan's ears and he staggered back a step.
'How did I not think about this?!' He wondered, placing a hand to his forehead.
He had always been confident that Weiyan would be strong enough to hold her own in the Zhang household.
But what if Zhang Furen did bring in a concubine, even if not Linhua? And what if someone found a way to poison Weiyan?
There was no proof that anything had happened to Duan Xiu and Luoyin, but he wasn't willing to risk Weiyan's fate.
Especially since he had seen for himself how easy it had been to set up Luoyin and Weiyan that very morning!
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat. "Tell me what you need to live apart from the Zhang household!"
Luoyin began to smile in victory, but then remembered his 'victory' came with marrying Xu Weiyan!
'Tch! I won the battle, but don't like the prize!'
Still, he forced a smile on his face.
"Sect Leader Xu, the only thing I require is your help persuading my father to let us go. After that, I'll set everything in order...
"Winter is approaching and is inauspicious for a wedding, so I'll prepare for Spring! By then the Light Tiger cub would be born!"
There was a short silence, then,
"Hao! But, I must ask one question. Why did you refuse Weiyan three years ago? Is it because you considered her a 'rootless' orphan?"
"Sect Leader Xu, if that was my reason, I would have ended things when I was still the Zhang Successor. Earlier I mentioned that I overheard your conversation the day you brought Xu Weiyan to my father.
"I heard you asking for 'roots' to protect her, since the Clan elders wouldn't accept her."
"You were really there?!" Xu Fengyan asked, wondering how a four-year-old even remembered such a thing!
"Yes. I didn't understand what was said at the time, but after Xu Weiyan emerged as the White Swallow, I recalled everything clearly.
"I was what she needed when I was the Zhang Genius, but as the Zhang Trash, my name would only soil her own name."
"Then why change your mind now?"
"Because she no longer holds the upper hand marrying my brother. At least, I can take her away and provide an honourable wedding."
"Hmph!" Xu Fengyan was touched, but didn't want to show it, so he swivelled, turning his back to Luoyin.
"You youngsters think too much!!" He said. "Yan yan will have the final say! If she agrees, I'll permit it!"
.
Meanwhile, Xu Linhua had gone to find Ye Chongmin.
"Maid Ye!" She said when she found her. "Maid Ye! Were you able to remove the evidence?!"
"Calm down, 2nd Miss Xu." Ye Chongmin said with a respectful bow. "Lord Zhang sent us away from there, but no one will think to check!"
"Haaaa!" Linhua sighed in relief. "I was worried when that trash refused to eat or drink anything, and then he was awake for so long! Fortunately you had such a clever idea!"
"You can leave these trifles to me, Young Miss." Ye Chongmin said with a bow. "I and the other Zhang servants recognize only you as the Young Master's wife!"
"Hmph! Right you are!" Linhua tossed an expensive looking string of beads, and Ye Chongmin caught it. "You've helped me this time. I won't forget it!"
"Thank you, 'My Lady'!" Ye Chongmin said, greedily tucking the beads away.
.
.
By afternoon, Yue City was showered with rumours of how the 'White Swallow' had been found in a compromising situation with the Zhang Trash.
And by evening, the entire City knew that Xu Weiyan had actually agreed to wed Zhang Luoyin!!!!
"I know the best lotuses grow in mud, but this is just...!"
"I hear she didn't even hesitate!" A few traders gossiped.
"What choice does she have? She was already caught with him in such a state!"
"But he's not worthy of our White Swallow!"
"Such a waste!"
At Green Sea Tavern, a few friends met for drinks.
"Hmph! Everyone underestimated that lad! Went in a complete circle and took back what was originally his!" A farmer was saying, pouring himself a healthy helping of wine.
"Don't make it sound so grand! That trash took his brother's woman!" One of his companions said scathingly. "He's soiled the name of our White Swallow!"
"A Pig dug up the prized Cabbage!" Another added.
"But isn't there something fishy there? If he's trash, how did he conquer Xu Weiyan?" Someone else asked. "I say she always fancied him!"
"Exactly!" The farmer said. "She used to follow him around the Zhang manor before... well..." He sighed. "Well, before he became trash."
"This might be, ehehehe!" One of them brought his two forefingers together. "'Two lovebirds come together as one'!"
They all laughed, cheering and drinking.
But in a corner of the tavern, one angry soul slammed his Liquor cup down.
"Xu Weiyan is mine!" Zhang Cheng seethed in pure anger. "How dare that trash?!"
His friend, Du Hao shook his head. "Hmph. 'A man can loathe a woman, but dare tell him he can't have her'... Didn't you say you preferred Xu Linhua's submissive character the other day?"
"Shut up!" Zhang Cheng yelled. "They're both mine! I already discussed with Linhua and said she would be my concubine!"
"Hmph! Lucky you! Some of us keep getting compared to you, so we can't even find a decent wife, let alone two!" Du Hao was the son of Lord and Lady Du, members of the Xu Clan.
But he wasn't as skilled as Zhang Cheng.
Zhang Cheng stood up suddenly. I can't accept this!" He said. "No one takes what is mine!"
"Heh! What can you do when 'the apple has already been bitten'?" Du Hao jeered.
"The remaining bites are mine to do with as I please! I can choose to chew it, or spit it out, but I won't even let that Trash get the core of the apple!"
.