Chapter 281 Marquis Xuanping Makes His Move (First Update)
Tang Yueshan secretly assessed Xuanping Hou's strength. To be honest, he hadn't fought Xuanping Hou many times, and even if he had, it was twenty years ago.
Marquis Xuanping's martial arts skills are slightly better than his, but Marquis Xuanping suffered a back injury that he has not yet fully recovered from, and it aches slightly whenever it is rainy.
He was confident that if it came to a martial arts contest, Marquis Xuanping would be no match for him.
Is it a competition of literary skills?
Then Marquis Xuanping would be no match for him.
Although he was also a man of little learning, he was still better than Marquis Xuanping, who was just an ignorant and incompetent rogue!
Marquis Xuanping exclaimed in surprise, somewhat embarrassed: "Lord Tang, you should know that I was injured before. May I find someone to fight in my place?"
It seems they really intend to challenge him to a duel. Tang Yueshan glanced at the young man behind Marquis Xuanping. He recognized the young man; his name was Chang Jing, and he was a bodyguard. Tang Yueshan didn't know much about his background.
Tang Yueshan could not sense any fluctuations in the other party's aura. There were two possibilities: either the other party did not know martial arts, or the other party's martial arts were superior to his. Without a doubt, the other party was not the first type.
It's strange, yet not strange.
It's not surprising because Tang Yueshan was a military commander who learned how to fight on the battlefield. His martial arts skills were extremely high, but not as high as those of a secret guard or assassin.
What's strange is that this young man is so mysterious that no one in the capital has ever been able to find out about his background.
Tang Yueshan was concerned about his reputation, but he was by no means the kind of person who would suffer for the sake of saving face. The provocation might have worked on him, but what really made him agree to the bet was his own selfish motive—he wanted to strip Xiao Ji of his title of Marquis of Xuanping.
Therefore, he would not let Chang Jing replace Marquis Xuanping just to save face, even if Marquis Xuanping would later say that he had taken advantage of his back injury and that his victory was unfair.
"I disagree," Tang Yueshan said seriously.
Sure enough, they heard Marquis Xuanping click his tongue and say, "You're taking advantage of my back injury, aren't you afraid of being laughed at for winning unfairly?"
Tang Yueshan sneered, "If you can afford to gamble, then gamble; if you can't, then leave."
"Bet? Of course I'll gamble. Am I the kind of person who can't afford to gamble?" Marquis Xuanping's shamelessness is well-known in the industry. Even Tang Yueshan is afraid of losing a battle, but Marquis Xuanping is not afraid. In short, he has a thick skin. So he can indeed afford to gamble and he can certainly afford to lose.
In a sense, this was a unique kind of credibility belonging to Marquis Xuanping, and Tang Yueshan was not afraid that he would renege on his promise afterward.
"Alright, let's play then." Marquis Xuanping opened his palm, revealing two jade marbles. "You choose one."
Tang Yueshan was taken aback: "What are you doing?"
Marquis Xuanping said, "Let's play marbles!"
Tang Yueshan was speechless: "You...you mean to hit...this?"
"Ah, yes!" Marquis Xuanping said matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, what did you think we were fighting?"
Let's...fight!
Tang Yueshan clenched his fists, so angry that his mouth was twitching.
He was the one who said he'd gamble if he could afford it, and leave if he couldn't. Now he can't go back on his word. After all, this isn't a matter of shamelessness; it's about not breaking his promise.
Tang Yueshan gasped. He never imagined that at his age, he would have to compete with someone in this way.
Is Marquis Xuanping really out of his mind? How did he come up with this idea? Doesn't he feel ashamed?
Tang Yueshan had played with this before when he was young, and he was quite good at it. Besides, martial artists are naturally quick-witted, nimble-fingered, and accurate, so he wasn't afraid.
"Okay, okay, this is it!"
He reluctantly agreed and randomly picked a marble.
Chang Jing's marbles may look similar, but each one is actually different. For example, Tang Yueshan chose a blue and white jadeite, while Xuanping Hou held a jadeite with a flower pattern, both with very exquisite textures.
Marquis Xuanping had two small holes dug in the ground. He and Tang Yueshan each took one. There are many ways to play marbles. He let Tang Yueshan choose, and Tang Yueshan chose one that did not require a first or second player: after removing the marbles in their hands, the two of them each took ten marbles. Whoever shot all ten marbles into the hole first would win.
It sounds simple.
He had to squat down and hit this in front of so many subordinates; it made him seem like an idiot.
At least Marquis Xuanping was a handsome idiot, and everything he did was pleasing to the eye. But when Tang Yueshan squatted there, it was a bit unbearable to look at.
Tang Yueshan suddenly felt a pang of regret. Why had he made the bet with this madman? Had he forgotten that this madman had hardly ever done anything normal?
Marquis Xuanping squatted on the ground, turned his head and glanced at Tang Yueshan: "Lord Tang, are you ready?"
Many people had heard the news of the two giants' duel outside the torture chamber and rushed to watch, and the result was—
This is what we're showing them?!
Tang Yueshan was extremely embarrassed, but he still shouted in a show of bravado, "What are you all looking at? Don't we need to practice?"
Everyone fled in a panic!
Only two lunatics remained on the scene... uh, no, the two big shots, their trusted servants, and Gu Changqing.
Gu Changqing had no interest in this. He sat on the straw mat in the torture chamber, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes to rest.
Tang Yueshan cursed Marquis Xuanping a thousand times in his heart, and then, accompanied by the sound of a gong struck by Chang Jing, the match of marbles began.
Tang Yueshan was originally full of confidence, because since Marquis Xuanping had suffered a back injury, he had not practiced martial arts for a long time. He practiced day and night, so his control ability was definitely stronger than that of Marquis Xuanping.
But Marquis Xuanping pressed Tang Yueshan's face to the ground and rubbed it against the ground with one hand.
Before Tang Yueshan could even put one bead in, Xuanping Hou had already put all ten beads into the hole at once. That's right, he put ten beads in one go, quick and decisive, his technique was truly divine!
Tang Yueshan was completely dumbfounded.
You don't train, you just play marbles, don't you?
Marquis Xuanping let out a cry of pain, as if struggling, and slowly stood up, looking down at the dumbfounded Tang Yueshan: "You've lost, Lord Tang."
Back then, in order to trick Chang Jing into becoming his bodyguard, he practiced behind closed doors for a long time, okay?
If Tang Yueshan still doesn't realize he's been tricked by Marquis Xuanping, that would be absurd. But even if he does realize it, it's useless. He's already made his ugly point clear; can he go back on his word?
Just then, a servant from the Marshal's Mansion rushed over and whispered a few words in his ear.
His eyes flickered, he stood up, coldly glanced at Marquis Xuanping, then at Gu Changqing in the torture chamber, and said disdainfully, "Hmph, I'll let you off today, but if you hurt Ming'er, I won't let it go!"
After saying that, he threw down the beads in his hand and left with a resolute look in his eyes.
Marquis Xuanping had someone pick up the bead, personally wiped it for Chang Jing, and returned it to him.
Chang Jing was somewhat depressed.
He doesn't like others touching his beads.
Marquis Xuanping straightened his clothes and coaxed, "I'll buy you a new one next time, the round and pretty kind, okay?"
Chang Jing's face darkened, and his eyes were filled with resentment: "You've said it thirty-seven times already."
Marquis Xuanping stammered, "Oh, really? I'll definitely buy it this time, I'll definitely buy it!"
Chang Jing lowered his head and carefully wiped his marbles.
Marquis Xuanping arrived at the door of the torture chamber, looked at Gu Changqing who had his eyes slightly closed and seemed to have already disregarded life and death, and said, "You're so young, what's bothering you?"
Gu Changqing slowly opened his eyes, looking at the dark, gloomy wall opposite him, still damp with watermarks: "I'm not thinking of doing anything rash."
Marquis Xuanping stopped there, not arguing with him, and said, "If you have your reasons, you can go and tell His Majesty."
Gu Changqing said calmly, "I have no hidden difficulties."
The greatest hardship is having no reason to suffer, because it's something you simply can't bring yourself to say.
Marquis Xuanping saw through it but didn't say anything, and smiled faintly: "Alright, the matter is settled, I should go back to my residence to catch up on my sleep, goodbye."
Gu Changqing bowed slightly as a gesture of respect.
Marquis Xuanping yawned as he boarded the carriage.
Chang Jing sat on the outer seat of the carriage, driving. Even with his eyes closed, Marquis Xuanping knew which direction the carriage was going. He said lazily, "To Ruanxiang Pavilion."
I was woken up from my nap, and I won't be able to sleep well even when I get home. It would be nice to lie down in a soft, fragrant embrace.
Chang Jing disliked that kind of place; there were too many women, and they always made strange noises.
However, Xiang'er from Ruanxiang Pavilion can cook many delicious dishes.
Meanwhile, Tang Yueshan rushed back to the Marshal's Mansion.
"Where is the young master? Is he really awake?" He asked the steward waiting at the door as soon as he got off the carriage.
The butler hurriedly replied, "Yes, he did wake up just now. I remember your instructions to inform you immediately as soon as the young master woke up."
Ever since what happened last night, Tang Yueshan was worried about leaving Tang Ming alone in the courtyard any longer, so he ordered someone to move Tang Ming to his own courtyard.
Right now, Tang Ming is lying in his room, sleeping on his bed.
The room was filled with a strong medicinal fragrance, which suppressed the bloody smell on Tang Ming's body.
Tang Yueshan could still smell it. He frowned and went to the bedside.
Both Physician Jiang and Physician Wu were present.
The two men bowed to him and said, "Lord Tang."
Tang Yueshan waved his hand, indicating that the two should dispense with formalities. He sat down by the bed, looking worriedly at Tang Ming, whose brows were furrowed, eyes were closed, and face was bloodless, and asked, "Didn't you say he was awake?"
Physician Wu said, "He woke up for a short while, drank a couple of sips of medicine, and then fell asleep again."
In fact, he only took one sip, and spilled half of it.
Tang Ming's face was even paler than when Tang Yueshan left that morning, and his breathing was particularly weak. Tang Yueshan felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He took a towel from the maid and wiped the cold sweat that had seeped from Tang Ming's forehead even in his unconscious state due to the pain.
He then asked the two physicians, "Is there... any hope for him?"
The two physicians exchanged glances, seemingly trying to communicate with each other, before finally Physician Jiang cleared his throat and spoke up: "We will do our best!"
"What I want is not just your best efforts! I want you to heal him! He's my only son..." Tang Yueshan clenched his fists, suppressing his pain, and said, "Nephew, I have no sons of my own, he is my heir, and I will not allow anything to happen to him! Not even his life, not even his..."
At this point, Tang Yueshan glanced at a certain part of Tang Ming's body: "Can he... still get it up again?"
He was not a scholar and could not speak in elegant, refined, and subtle terms. "Zaiju" was the most elegant word he could utter in front of the physician.
The two physicians were at a loss for words.
After all... it's really hard to say. He's missing a scrotum, so he shouldn't have completely become a eunuch, but he's so badly injured that he can't be compared to a normal man.
The physicians didn't give a definite answer, which made Tang Yueshan very angry. Just as the physicians were so frightened by him that they were almost trembling, a servant reported that Madam Tang had arrived.
Tang Yueshan's expression changed from one of fury to one of suppressed murderous intent: "You all step back!"
"yes!"
The physicians breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to themselves that Madam Tang's arrival was perfectly timed.
Madam Tang entered the room with red and swollen eyes. The series of bad news had made her cry so much that morning that she almost fainted.
Tang Yueshan's gaze fell on her red, tear-filled eyes. His eyes flickered, and he stood up to make room for her by the bed, giving her a slight bow.
Madam Tang greeted him without looking at him directly.
The distance between the two was clearly visible.
"Pour a cup of tea for the First Madam," Tang Yueshan instructed a servant.
Servant: "Yes."
"No need," Madam Tang choked out, refusing. She touched Tang Ming's face, tears welling up in her eyes again. "My poor child..."
Tang Yueshan stared intently at Madam Tang's profile and solemnly said, "Sister-in-law, please rest assured, I will definitely cure Ming'er!"
Madam Tang covered her mouth and nodded with tears in her eyes.
Madam Tang sat for a while, but the physician still needed to feed Tang Ming his medicine. Not wanting to delay her son's treatment, she got up and left.
Perhaps because she had been crying for too long, she felt dizzy and her head shook as she stood up, and she staggered a few steps.
Tang Yueshan's expression changed, and he stepped forward to support her, his eyes filled with anxiety: "Sister-in-law!"
Madam Tang was supported, and the dizziness quickly subsided. She looked at the hand that was holding her arm, her expression changed, and she quickly pulled her arm away.
(End of this chapter)
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