Besieged on both sides

"Oh dear, my lady! The Marquis is talking with the young master in the main hall! You mustn't go in!"

"I'm his wife, why can't I go! Old Jia, get out of my way!"

Just as Zhou Wuhai and Tang Feng were talking, they heard a commotion outside. Suddenly, the door was opened with a loud bang. "Zhou Wuhai! What are you doing! Feng'er is already timid; you'll scare him even more!" Tang Feng turned around and saw a woman stride in imposingly. She wore a dark green jacket embroidered with golden peony flowers. Her skin was like snow, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. She had phoenix eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows; only a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes hinted at her age. Tang Feng had heard the old steward call her "Madam," so he assumed she was Zhou Ziliang's mother. Madam Zhou quickly walked a few steps to him, squatted down, and scolded, "Come on in! Why are you carrying this thorny branch? You'll prick him again!" Then she helped Tang Feng remove the thorny branch.

"I...I didn't say anything," Zhou Wuhai stammered, intimidated by Madam Zhou's imposing manner, unsure how to defend himself.

"Come on, let's put your clothes on properly, don't catch a cold." Turning to Zhou Wuhai, she said fiercely, "Zhou Wuhai, watch your skin! Feng'er, let's go."

Tang Feng got dressed and was inexplicably taken away by Madam Zhou. After leaving the house, Tang Feng followed her into the backyard. "Feng'er! Why haven't you come to see your auntie these past few days! Your auntie has missed you so much! Here, these are walnut shortbread and almond soup that I specially made for you. They are your favorite foods when you were little. Come and try them!" Tang Feng found a stool and sat down, took the walnut shortbread that Madam Zhou handed him, took a bite and it melted in his mouth. It was sweet and delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness and not too cloying. "Auntie, it's delicious!"

"Oh dear, slow down, no one's going to take it from you," Madam Zhou said, sitting opposite Tang Feng and fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan. "My old man didn't give you any trouble, did he? Don't take it to heart, he's just like that, so concerned with saving face that he suffers for it."

"Auntie, this time it was my fault. Uncle Zhou is right to be angry with me."

"Feng'er has really grown up," Madam Zhou said, holding Tang Feng's hand and looking him up and down. "He's become more sensible, taller, and has blossomed into his full potential."

Tang Feng smiled, finding Madam Zhou to be a generous and forthright woman, almost like a heroine. He reached for a walnut pastry, saying, "Auntie, don't just watch me eat! You should have some too."

"Oh dear, these are just for you children to eat, they're too sweet, I can't eat them." Madam Zhou smiled and then asked, "The arranged marriage a few days ago caused quite a stir. I didn't want to get involved, but I'm still curious, so I wanted to ask if Ziliang bullied you?" Madam Zhou had always known that Tang Feng was deeply in love with Zhou Ziliang and would marry no one else. Now that Tang Feng had suddenly refused the marriage, there must be something going on between them. Madam Zhou genuinely liked Tang Feng, but she was a bit timid. Now that the whole city was talking about Tang Feng wanting to break off the engagement, she was also feeling bad. Even if Tang Feng hadn't come today, she would have paid him a visit another day.

"Huh? No... I didn't bully you." Tang Feng initially wanted to wave it off, but then he thought, "I've been beaten, attempted suicide, and even had to put on an act all because of this engagement. I'm already so uncomfortable, do you think Zhou Ziliang will have it easy?" He then began to build up his emotions, sniffling twice. "Auntie! I like him so much, but he never pays any attention to me. All the letters I write to him are sent back unopened. I'm so tired! I don't want to continue anymore!"

Seeing that Tang Feng was about to cry, Madam Zhou quickly got up and hugged him, saying, "I knew that Zhou Ziliang bullied you again. When he gets back, I'll beat him to a pulp. Don't cry anymore. If he bullies you again in the future, you must tell your aunt. Don't keep it to yourself."

Tang Feng, held in Madam Zhou's arms, listened to her furious rant against Zhou Ziliang, nearly dying of laughter. It was the most exhilarating experience he hadn't had in months.

Emerging from the Marquis's mansion, Tang Feng gazed at the dazzling blue sky outside, stretched, and, clutching the walnut pastries that Madam Zhou had forced upon him, slapped Liu Yiwan, who was dozing in the carriage, and said, "Let's go."

Liu Yiwan jumped in surprise, and seeing Tang Feng come out, she quickly asked, "Young Master, how did it go? Did the Old Marquis give you any trouble?"

"No, the matter is resolved. Here, these are walnut pastries from Madam Zhou." After saying that, he tossed the walnut pastries to Liu Yiwan and got into the carriage. In the carriage, Tang Feng lifted the curtain and looked out. This matter was considered to be settled for now. In any case, he had bought himself five years. After five years, that would be the time to deal with it. Let nature take its course.

Ever since Tang Feng went to the Marquis's mansion to apologize, the old Marquis came to see Old Master Tang once, saying that the matter of the marriage had been informed to His Majesty and postponed for five years, so that Old Master Tang would no longer be troubled. This matter had been going on for more than three months, from the warmth of spring to the sweltering heat of summer. When the imperial decree was issued again, it was still Eunuch Feng who came to read it. When Tang Feng received the decree, Eunuch Feng said, "Young Master, it seems that we won't be able to enjoy the wedding banquet anytime soon!"

"Hehe! There's always tomorrow," Tang Feng chuckled as he took the imperial edict from Eunuch Feng's hands.

Tang Feng felt relieved. Thinking that this matter was resolved, he decided to go have a drink with Zhang Mobai. He then sent Liu Yiwan away and went to the Zhang residence.

"Oh, young man, it's truly a joyous occasion to postpone the wedding by five years!" Zhang Mobai seemed to have known Tang Feng was coming all along, and had been sitting in the courtyard waiting for him.

I'm here today to invite you for drinks and dinner.

"Oh! You're willing to spend money now. I'll book the tavern. There's a place called Xiaoyao Lou on Yanque Street. Their crispy octopus and premium dried duck are absolutely delicious. They say His Majesty used to eat there often when he was still a prince."

Tang Feng nodded repeatedly after listening. This sounded good, especially since the emperor had eaten it, so it was definitely authentic. "Then let's hurry while it's still early!" he said, pulling Zhang Mobai towards the door.

"Oh, don't worry, I already had Uncle Fu reserve a private room. His house is right next to the Wei River, so we can enjoy the view while we dine."

"It was decided a long time ago?"

"That's right!" Seeing Tang Feng's somewhat bewildered expression, Zhang Mobai smiled and said, "I was originally planning to celebrate this with you, but you beat me to it. Alright, I've booked this table, but you'll have to pay for the meal yourself, little brother!" After saying that, Zhang Mobai put his hand on Tang Feng's shoulder, stopping him from walking out.

"Sure, sure."

As night deepened, Zhang Mobai's sedan chair slowly came to a stop in front of Xiaoyao Pavilion. Tang Feng lifted a corner of the curtain to look up. More than a dozen red lanterns hung high, and ivy climbed up the blue brick wall to the signboard. Judging from the appearance, the restaurant had been open for quite some time. Zhang Mobai pulled Tang Feng's hand that was lifting the curtain and said, "It's too hot in the carriage. Let's get out and look around."

Tang Feng nodded and followed Zhang Mobai out of the car and into Xiaoyao Tower. The tower had three floors, each connected by a corridor. The first floor wasn't used for entertaining guests; instead, it housed a stage several tens of meters wide. In the center stood a bell drum, dozens of silver bells hanging from its waist. Dancers stood on the drum, barefoot, gracefully dancing. With each step, they struck the drum, causing the bells to jingle. A meter-wide stream of water flowed outside the stage. Standing inside Xiaoyao Tower, Tang Feng looked up and saw landscape paintings on the ceiling.

"Stop looking, hurry up and go, number 26, Class A, Heavenly Rank," Zhang Mobai said a few words to the waiter, then took a wooden plaque from him.

"Isn't he coming along?" Tang Feng asked, somewhat puzzled, after the waiter bowed to Zhang Mobai and left.

"Oh! I told him to leave. I come here often and I know the way to the private rooms. They have a lot of rules here, and I don't want them to serve me. It's too much trouble! Besides, it's just the two of us today. Aren't you scared with a row of waiters standing around serving tea and water?"

Tang Feng thought about the scene and realized it was indeed a bit frightening. He quickly shook his head and followed Zhang Mobai. The two went up the connecting corridor to the second floor, passed several private rooms, and finally found room number 26, the "Heavenly Class A". When Tang Feng went in, all the dishes had already been served.

"Young man, I've already ordered the dishes. This is their signature Crispy Eight-Fold Fish and Nine-Grade Old Duck, as well as Braised Golden Wings, and this is Lotus Seed Paste Corn Soup." Zhang Mobai pointed to the dishes and introduced them to Tang Feng one by one. "I wanted to bring you here to try it before, but you were too timid to go out. Now, hurry up and try it! This is their wine, White Milk Wax Apple," Zhang Mobai said, then picked up the wine pot and poured Tang Feng a cup.

After a few rounds of drinks, Tang Feng sat on the windowsill, leaning against the window, and said, "Drink today, for tomorrow we may die. This cup! I toast to myself!" Before Tang Feng could even take a sip, he felt something knock his cup over. Tang Feng's arm ached from the impact. Zhang Mobai, who was sitting next to him, looked out the window upon hearing the sound. Just then, he heard two whooshing sounds. Tang Feng instinctively tried to dodge, but instead, he rolled over and fell to the ground. Zhang Mobai quickly got up to check on him, "Are you alright, little brother?"

"It's nothing! What's that?" Tang Feng asked, pointing to the arrow next to the wine glass. After all, this arrow was two or three times shorter than the ones he had seen before.

Zhang Mobai looked in the direction Tang Feng pointed. "That's a hidden arrow, concealed in the sleeve and launched using internal energy. This person's internal energy must be very high." After saying that, Zhang Mobai bent down and slowly walked to the window, closing it with lightning speed. "Is this the same group that tried to assassinate you last time?"

Tang Feng shook his head. "How would I know? But last time we used a bow and arrow."

Zhang Mobai picked up the hidden dart that had fallen to the ground and examined it closely. "This weapon doesn't look special at all! Usually, martial arts masters use their own weapons for assassinations, with some kind of engraving or inscription. This... is too ordinary."

Just as Zhang Mobai was watching, another hidden arrow pierced through the window, grazing Tang Feng's head.

"Little madman, let's go!" Tang Feng squatted on the ground, covering his head with his hands. "If we stay here any longer, I'm going to die!"

Zhang Mobai tucked the hidden dart into his robes, pulled Tang Feng up, and said, "Since they're assassinating, they naturally wouldn't dare to do it openly. Let's go through a more crowded area." Before Tang Feng could even nod, he grabbed Tang Feng's arm and ran out the door. The two hurriedly paid the bill and left.

"Little madman, let's split up and run!"

"No! The assassin's target is clear: you. Even if they split up, they'll still chase you. You'll be safer if I stay with you. Let's go this way."

The two walked through Yanque Street towards the Tang residence, but the further they walked, the more deserted the streets became. "Oh dear, how could I forget the time! It's so late, there's no one left to see!" Zhang Mobai slapped his forehead.

“It’s too far to go back from here. Let’s find a place to hide first.” Tang Feng looked around and found a somewhat messy mill in the yard. “This will do.” After saying that, Tang Feng pulled Zhang Mobai to sit down by the haystack. “Come on, sit down.” After helping Zhang Mobai sit down, he moved some more hay and finally covered it with a straw mat.

The two had just taken cover when they heard the sound of horses' hooves getting closer and closer, then suddenly there was silence. "Have they left?"

"Shh, don't speak," Zhang Mobai covered Tang Feng's mouth. The two men, hearing the approaching footsteps, were too frightened to breathe. The man stood in the courtyard for a while, then left.

Tang Feng listened to the footsteps gradually fade away and breathed a sigh of relief. "That scared me to death!"

The words had barely left his lips when the straw mat covering Tang Feng and Zhang Mobai was flung away. Before Tang Feng could even react, the dry grass he had laid out was also lifted into the air, fluttering wildly in the wind. Looking down, Tang Feng saw the horse's hooves, then slowly looked up. The man who was about to kill him wore a mask and a black cloak, a sword in his hand, and was riding a horse, looking down at him. The oppressive aura terrified Tang Feng, making him afraid to move. The man slowly raised his sword and thrust it at Tang Feng. Seeing this, Zhang Mobai forcefully pulled Tang Feng into his arms, narrowly avoiding the incoming thrust.

"Hey little brother, what are you thinking about! Let's go!" After saying that, Zhang Mobai pulled Tang Feng, who had collapsed on the ground, to his feet. They hadn't gone more than a few steps when Zhang Mobai stopped. Tang Feng grabbed Zhang Mobai's sleeve and asked anxiously, "Why did you stop? Let's go!"

"We might not be able to leave," Zhang Mobai whispered to Tang Feng. Tang Feng listened and slowly peeked out, seeing three or four people on horseback blocking their way at the courtyard gate.

"What should we do?!"

"Let fate decide."