hapter 101: The People with Different Interests in Guest-Prosper Dwell

The young masters in fancy clothes who walked into Guest-Prosper Dwell almost had the same expression; they all looked at the border soldiers with disdain.

Because of His Majesty’s decision, the border soldiers took half of the seats in the Martial Arts Academy from those from big families. The conflict between the two groups was unavoidable from the beginning.

Yangtze-South Wang Family was one of the few most famous families in the world. In the empire before Great Sui, the Wang Family had seven chancellors, four dukes of feudal states, and dozens of marquises. It was one of the most influential families around.

[TL Note: Chancellors were the highest-ranking officials in ancient China.]

Although the Wang Family gradually lost influence after Great Sui took over, this family that had hundreds of years of history couldn’t be overlooked.

The only family that could rival the Wang Family in the previous empire was Yangtze-South Xie Family. These two families’ fate was similar. Since Great Sui took over, the influence that these two families had in the central government continued to decline.

Under the current emperor, Heaven-Bless Emperor Yang Yi, none of the officials on and above rank 3 came from these two families. Not having influential officials in the central government was a sign of decay.

However, the Wang Family still had unparalleled influence in its local region.

Wang Ding was the most outstanding young man in the Wang Family. His father had been a deputy governor of a state, but he was hard stuck at that rank 4 position. In order to revitalize the Wang Family, Wang Ding’s father placed a ton of hope in Wang Ding. His father hired big scholars and martial arts masters to teach him, and Wang Ding didn’t let his father down.

Wang Ding was famous in Yangtze-South since he was young. Because of it, he was haughty and cold to others.

Wang Ding had two objectives during this trip to Chang’an. The first was ranking in the top-three during the entrance exam and getting into the Martial Arts Academy, and the second was to marry King of Xu State Yang Kai’s daughter, Yang Weixia. Although the King of Xu State hadn’t responded, Wang Ding knew that marrying the King of Xu State’s daughter would be a shortcut to having a better career.

The Wang Family also valued this potential connection. It got a reputable senior official to be the matchmaker, bringing the proposal to the King of Xu State. The family also wrote a memorial to the throne, asking the Emperor to approve this marriage as well.

With this background, Wang Ding was quite arrogant and didn’t like the border soldiers who gathered in Guest-Prosper Dwell today. In fact, he was here to see how poor these border soldiers were. In his view, it was shameless for these border soldiers who couldn’t afford to eat here to take advantage of the rules of the restaurant.

The receptionist of Guest-Prosper Dwell was clever, and he instantly saw the conflict and invited Wang Ding and others to go up to a private room on the second floor.

Wang Ding rolled his eyes at the border soldiers and said to the receptionist loudly, “If these honorable soldiers don’t have enough liquor to drink, just serve them. I will pay for everything.”

Although the words sounded kind, it was meant to embarrass others.

The receptionist nodded and thought to himself, “Gongzi Wang, why are you trying to cause trouble? These soldiers are drinking, but you just have to mock them. If something happens, our Guest-Prosper Dwell couldn’t handle it.”

Hearing Wang Ding’s comment, Mo Xidao’s expression changed, and he took a step forward with anger shooting out of his eyes.

Fang Jie pulled one of Mo Xidao’s sleeves and slightly shook his head. Then, Mo Xidao snorted and sat on a chair before opening the seal on a liquor jug and chugging it down.

At this moment, the last person in Wang Ding’s group walked into the restaurant and caught all the border soldiers’ attention.

This person was burly, and he had a thick beard, big eyes, and a square face. He wasn’t wearing fancy clothes but a lieutenant’s uniform.

“He is Wang Wei!” Zhang Kuang whispered into Fang Jie’s ear, “He is a lieutenant from White-Water City, and he is under Great General Luo Yao’s command. Although he is from a poor background, he has connections to big figures at least.”

“The Wang Wei who would wipe out several savage villages a year?” Fang Jie couldn’t help but ask.

“It is him!” Zhang Kuang snorted and said, “After he got to the Capital, he didn’t interact with other brothers from the borders. Instead, he stayed around these gongzi from big families. He is now like their henchman, and those gongzi use him like a dog, but he feels good about it. He brings shame to border soldiers! Yesterday, I asked a few brothers to invite him, but he said that he is busy today. Now, it is clear that he wants to get close to Yangtze-South Wang Family; no wonder he doesn’t want to drink with us.”

Mo Xidao shook his head and said, “People have different goals in life. We don’t have to force him. Come on, let’s drink!”

After saying that, he raised the liquor jug and chugged down a ton of liquor again.

“Brother Fang, you were really… summoned by His Majesty?” Zhang Kuang asked Fang Jie to switch the topic.

Fang Jie nodded and said, “Yeah, but I was too afraid to look up, so I still don’t know what His Majesty looks like.”

Zhang Kuang laughed, “If it were me, I would also be too afraid to look up.”

Mo Xidao didn’t say anything and only coldly looked at Wang Ding and others who were walking up the stairs.

As if he sensed the stare, Wang Ding who was half-way up the stairs stopped and looked down at Mo Xidao before snorting and whispering something to his peers.

Fang Jie pulled Mo Xidao a little and said with a smile, “Brother Mo, where do you live now?”

“The official inn.” Mo Xidao responded after a moment of silence. “Where else can poor people like us live? After reporting to the Ministry of War, the people who don’t have money could apply and live in the official inn. This is one of the benefits border soldiers like us have. The inn provides all three meals a day, so we wouldn’t go hungry.”

Fang Jie nodded, and many thoughts flashed in his mind.

When he reported to the Ministry of War, no one told him that he could apply to live in the official inn. Some people in the Ministry of War were probably conspiring against him already. After all, if he lived in the official inn, it would be much harder to kill him.

Fang Jie suddenly wanted to laugh; his treatment sure was unique.

The Capital that seemed fair and prosperous had many traps for him. If he wasn’t careful enough, he might fall into one and not be able to get out.

…

Wang Ding and others chose a private room next to the street on the second floor and ordered the dishes and liquor. Then, Wang Ding waved his hand impatiently and said, “Close to the door; I feel annoyed when I hear those bums’ noises.”

Wang Wei who was standing on the side instantly closed the door.

“Wang Wei, you are different from them.” Wang Ding looked at him and said with a smile, “You are under Great General Luo Yao’s command, and your ancestors were technically distant members of our Wang Family. In the future, you shouldn’t interact with those people; it will only lower your level.”

“Gongzi Wang, you are right,” Wang Wei replied humbly while bending his back.

“Sit down.” Wang Ding casually waved his hand and said, “Since I brought you along, I’m not treating you as an outsider. There is a reason for today’s gathering. Later, Great General Luo Yao’s only son, General Luo Wen who ranks no.1 among the graduates of the Martial Arts Academy this year, is going to come here. Wang Wei, you are a veteran under Senior General Luo’s command, so you should get close with Junior General Luo. I’m hosting this gathering to say farewell to Junior General Luo. He is already promoted to rank 4 colonel by His Majesty, and he is going to leave the Capital and head to Right Valiant Guard soon.”

“Brother Wang, we admire you!” a gongzi in fancy clothes said while clapping, “If you didn’t state the purpose of this gathering, we wouldn’t be able to guess it! You are actually able to invite Gongzi Luo Wen! Others wouldn’t be able to do so!”

Wang Ding waved his hand and smiled while saying, “You are exaggerating it. My father is an old acquaintance of Senior General Luo, and I played with Junior General Luo when we were kids. When he caused trouble, I used to take the blame for him. Others might not be able to get him, but he will come after I invite him.”

While speaking, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” Wang Wei asked.

“Gongzi Wang, I’m here to pass on a message,” the receptionist of Guest-Prosper Dwell said in a low voice, “Junior General Luo just sent someone over to deliver a message. He said that he wouldn’t be able to make it today, and he apologizes for it.”

Although the words were polite, it was no different from slapping Wang Ding in the face. As a result, Wang Ding’s expression turned ugly.

Sensing the embarrassment, Wang Wei quickly commented, “Junior General Luo must be busy with his official work. He is going to the northwest soon, so the Ministry of War probably has many things to communicate with him…”

“Shut up!” Wang Ding glared at Wang Wei and felt his face burning. The sense of embarrassment intensified the annoyance that he got from the noises that the border soldiers made, and his mind turned cold upon recalling the man who had a scar on his face.

“Wang Wei, do you know who that single-eyed lieutenant is?”

“I know!” Wang Wei quickly replied, “He is Mo Xidao, and he is from Phoenix Terrace. He was only a scout corporal, but he got promoted before he came to the Capital. His cultivation strength is high, and his reputation in the military is good. He is the person who made this gathering of border soldiers at Guest-Prosper Dwell possible. Among the border soldiers who are going to participate in the entrance exam of the Martial Arts Academy, he has the most hope of making it into the top three. Also, this man is calculative and cunning.”

“Phoenix Terrace?” Wang Ding frowned as if he thought of something. “That guy who snuck into Eastern Chu and wiped out a general’s family? I know about this incident, but I didn’t remember the name. One of his eyes is blind, so he must have got injured back then. We need to pay attention to him.”

“He is only a wastrel! How can he be compared to you, Brother Wang?”

A young man sitting next to Wang Ding filled his cup with liquor and said with a smile, “Brother Wang, you are the one who will make it into the top three. All those border soldiers added together can’t defeat you.”

“We have to be aware.” Wang Ding thought for a moment before turning to Wang Wei and asking, “Do you know this person well?”

Wang Wei shook his head and replied, “Not much. I only heard that his cultivation strength should have reached level 6. Among the border soldiers who are here for the entrance exam, he should be the strongest.”

“If this person… can’t participate in the entrance exam, what can he do with his strength?” Wang Ding said while squinting.

“Brother Wang, did you think of a way to teach this guy a lesson?”

“Teach him a lesson?” Wang Ding sneered and said, “That would be too easy for him. Wang Wei, go and invite Mo Xidao to come up later. Tell him that I’m going to apologize to him for being so rude earlier.”

“Huh?” Everyone in the room was surprised.

“Brother Wang, why are you going to lower yourself that much?” Someone instantly tried to talk him out of it.

Wang Ding laughed and whispered something to Wang Wei. Wang Wei’s expression changed, and he took several steps back before waving his hand and saying, “Gongzi Wang, this will get us locked up! If anything goes wrong, I will be imprisoned! This isn’t a good idea!”

“Why are you worried? I will handle everything.” Wang Ding waved his hand and said, “Just go. If you do this, I will show my appreciation appropriately. Besides, if Mo Xidao couldn’t participate in the entrance exam, you will lose the biggest competitor, right? Without him, who else could be the no.1 participant from the military?”

Wang Wei hesitated for a moment before saying, “Gongzi Wang, since you trust me this much, I won’t let you down. However, since we are going to do this, we shouldn’t hold back at all. There are a few people with good talents down there. Both Zhang Kuang and Fang Jie are threats. They should be taken care of as well.”

“I sure didn’t misjudge you!” Wang Ding laughed proudly.

…

While Wang Ding was instructing Wang Wei, a person in the private room next to them heard it and frowned. Although Wang Ding told Wang Wei the trap in a low voice, this person’s cultivation strength was high enough to detect everything happening close to him.

Seeing the frown, the young man sitting across from this person got nervous.

“Sir, about what you told me to do; I don’t dare to make the decision on my own. Can I talk to my father and then decide?”

The person with the gloomy expression was Hou Wenji, the Head of the Intelligence Department. The young man sitting across from him was Luo Wen who was extremely nervous and shaking a little.

Hou Wenji ignored Luo Wen’s begging tone and ordered while pointing outside, “Ask Chiliarch Liu to bring a team of royal guards over. Let them wait outside; something messy might happen soon.”

“As you wish!” his henchman in a flying-fish robe took the order and left the room.

“Junior General Luo, what did you say? Sorry, I was distracted. Can you say it again?”

“I said… I don’t dare to make the decision on my own,” Luo Wen replied nervously.

“There is no hurry.” Hou Wenji waved his hand and said with a gentle smile, “I can wait for three to five years. You know that the rice paper of Pine Ink House is great; it wouldn’t rot away in even 100 years. You are young, and I’m not old. Therefore, there is no hurry.”

Hou Wenji’s smile was bright as he looked at the confession document on the table.