Chapter 127.2
Editor: Sahloknir
Steam seemed to be coming out of Shi Qing’s ears. Even his grip on Jiang Bieyu’s hand tightened.
The man didn’t look up. He just silently shifted towards the little master so that he could get a better grip.
At the same time, he could clearly hear Jiang Liye’s quiet mocking remarks.
“There’s nothing you can do to disprove what I just said. Even if you did call me that earlier, would any of those people who were flattering you inside just now step forward on your behalf? They’ll just tell you they weren’t paying attention if you ask.”
Jiang Liye snickered and spoke in a whisper that only Shi Qing and Jiang Bieyu could hear.
“Just like when you fell into the water before. Your father asked everyone what happened, but didn’t they all pretend to be deaf and dumb? Did you really think that you’re the moon surrounded by the stars? When you need them the most, no one will come help you.”
Jiang Bieyu could feel the soft fingers of the youth holding on to him slowly clenching.
“As expected.” He thought calmly.
Shi Qing was a little master spoiled rotten all his life, the only child of the Shi family. Even his parents doted on him, not to mention the servants who attended to his every need.
Jiang Liye, on the other hand, grew up in the Jiang family manor and had to compete with (including concubine-born) twenty odd younger brothers for the position of heir.
How could such a delicate little master be Jiang Liye’s match?
Shi Qing was able to get in a few blows inside, but he was helpless against Jiang Liye using false goodwill and his brother-in-law status to disgust him outside.
This was quite normal.
But for some reason, Jiang Bieyu didn’t want to let Shi Qing be defeated like this.
If someone as wanton and reckless like him truly suffered a loss, they would be like a vivid flower blossom that lost its dew.
Beautiful, but always missing something when you looked at them.
“Brother-in-law.”
Jiang Bieyu was inexplicably disappointed that his prediction was right. The youth did relent. His fair face seemed to be trying very hard to squeeze out a smile.
“It’s freezing cold nowadays, and many people in the city don’t have enough to get by. The hungry ones can only go to the moat and break the ice to catch fish to fill their stomachs. If I agreed to go with you to skate there, we would definitely have to send servants to drive those people away in order to really have fun.”
Jiang Liye narrowed his eyes at the Shi family’s little master making up excuses to save face. They seemed to be saying, ‘keep lying if you want’.
Shi Qing continued, “Today’s cold enough for a pail of water tossed in the air to freeze. I’ve read in books that the commoners need to spend a lot of effort to cut into the ice, and they need to watch it constantly so that it doesn’t freeze over again. If it does, they’ll have to spend a lot of effort to start all over again.”
“The commoners are only there because they are hungry. If we drive them away for the sake of our entertainment and the holes freeze over, who knows if they’ll have enough energy left to break the ice again?”
The little master sighed, looking like the perfect gentleman showing concern for his fellow countrymen.
“That’s why I don’t want to go, ah. Don’t try to persuade me, brother-in-law. I won’t change my mind.”
Jiang Liye scoffed coldy in his heart.
How convincing. This kid sure has a silver tongue.
If he didn’t know what Shi Qing was actually like, Jiang Liye might’ve believed he was sincerely thinking of the commoners.
Anyway, he only gave one sentence in response. “I am your brother-in-law. How can you refuse my invitation to go ice skating?”
Shi Qing had a difficult look on his face. “But, but what if we disturb the commonersk2026;”
“We’ll only play for a while. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
Jiang Liye was certain that none of them would cause a ruckus.
The commoners were all just illiterate fools. Not to mention skating, none of them would dare to speak up even if Jiang Liye and his group did something far more excessive.
Finally, the considerate little master ‘reluctantly’ accepted his brother-in-law’s ‘generous invitation’.
Jiang Bieyu was by his side throughout. He saw how Shi Qing’s whole body seemed to wilt after he was forced to agree. No longer did the little master seize every opportunity to touch his clothes or insist on grabbing his arm.
Shi Qing just listlessly entered the palanquin as Jiang Liye looked on smugly.
Although Jiang Bieyu has only been with Shi Qing for a little while, the little master pampered by all had always been in high spirits. Seeing him in this defeated state made the man feel kind of bad for him.
While getting on his own palanquin, Jiang Liye’s back suddenly felt cold. His whole body subconsciously swayed.
He looked back strangely in a cold sweat.
What was that?
There was no one behind him but his mute and ever-submissive concubine-born brother, standing respectfully at the entrance of Shi Qing’s palanquin.
The curtain of the palanquin was lifted, revealing a white and slender wrist that beckoned at Jiang Bieyu.
That concubine-born brother of his then obediently boarded the palanquin like a dog.
Hmph.
Jiang Liye scoffed again in his head.
How could a man demean himself so by using his looks to serve others?
Not to mention someone as ugly as that.
How impudent.
Jiang Liye also got on, thinking about how he would make fun of Shi Qing real good later. If he’s lucky, maybe that guy will make a fool of himself.
In the palanquin in front of his…
Shi Qing untied his money bag and handed it to Jiang Bieyu, incomprehensibly mumbling a bunch of things.
Then he raised his little chin in a condescending manner. However, because of his innately soft voice, even the haughty tone of his words became very cute.
“Did you get that?”
The man with the money bag in his hand silently regarded the youth with somewhat complicated emotions.
Seeing that he wasn’t answering, the little master slapped the man’s bouncy pecs and smoothly copped a feel in the process.
“Why are you such a dummy? This young master asked you if you heard me or not. Pay attention so you don’t mess up later.”
Jiang Bieyu completely ignored the soft little hand that was sliding all over his body and nodded.
After all, Shi Qing was doing it with such a justified air, like this behaviour that would be considered hara.s.sment if done to a woman was normal. His eyes were also very clear, untainted by any trace of l.u.s.t or evil desires.
Such eyes were enough to convince anyone that he was simply admiring Jiang Bieyu.
Admiring his body and looks, that is.
When Shi Qing’s palanquin came to a stop, Jiang Bieyu got off and left without saying a word.
Jiang Liye didn’t give it much thought when his servant reported it.
What was one concubine-born b.a.s.t.a.r.d to him? If it wasn’t for Shi Qing, he wouldn’t even bother to look at Jiang Bieyu.
Anyways, he had to have a laugh at Shi Qing’s expense today.
Jiang Liye was not fated to have a laugh at Shi Qing’s expense today.
As expected, there was a thick layer of ice across the moat and scattered commoners trying to fish on it.
As usual, Jiang Liye sent his men to chase them away. The first few left quietly, but a small group of ‘commoners’ who shouldn’t have had the guts to offend the n.o.blemen suddenly caused a ruckus.
Some were combative.
“What gives you the right to chase us away?! It’s so cold and my child has been starving for days! I have no strength at all…I finally managed to break the ice to catch some fish for my child, but you’re trying to make me leave before I even caught one?! I’m not leaving!! No matter who comes, I’m not leaving!”
Others wept and pleaded.
“Oh lords, I’m begging you. I have five little ones at home who are all famished. This hole needs to be watched over as it was just made. Please have mercy.”
There were only three people, but they made enough noise for thirteen.
The other commoners who had numbly begun to leave after the n.o.blemen’s arrival also had their fighting spirit roused.
One by one, although they did not dare to make too much noise, they all cried and begged.
Many pa.s.sersby immediately looked over to see what this was all about.
Jiang Liye’s brow furrowed tightly. He didn’t expect these wretches would actually dare to kick up a fuss.
Because more and more people were coming to watch, he didn’t want to escalate and decided to settle things with money for reputation’s sake. He spoke with an expression of disgust.
Jiang Liye sneered, “Forget it…”
Shi Qing cut him off and stole his thunder.
The young master was full of sympathy. “Forget it, they’re all so pitiful. Servants! Give them these silver taels. We won’t skate here today.”
Then he sighed with great compa.s.sion and gave Jiang Liye the side eye. “Look brother-in-law, I told you not to come.”
Jiang Liye: “…”
This kid really digs his nails into every crack he finds.
He came to watch a good show but ended up being the main attraction.
Like that wasn’t enough of a damper on their day, the group of young masters were informed that the –Provincial Military Commander had summoned them when they got back.
None of them had any official status, so this was quite nerve racking.
As expected, they were questioned about chasing the commoners away from the moat. Father Shi and Father Jiang had already been informed and were sitting in on either side.
Neither of them looked too happy. “Who came up with the idea to go skate at the moat?”
Jiang Liye was delighted by this turn of events. He opened his mouth, but Shi Qing cut him off again.
“It was brother-in-law’s idea!”
Jiang Liye: “???”
He could only stare blankly as the little master blurted out, “I already told him it was a bad idea, that we would be disturbing the commoners…but brother-in-law insisted! Sigh, this is really…”
Jiang Liye snapped, “…It was clearly you who brought it up!”
Shi Qing turned to him with a shocked expression. “Me? When did I ever mention it? Wasn’t it always brother-in-law’s idea?”
Jiang Liye wanted to slap him to death. He gritted his teeth and said, “If you don’t believe me, ask them.”
Shi Qing looked at the young masters behind them.
Jiang Liye turned to them, “You guys, was Shi Qing the first to bring up the idea of going skating?”
Young Master One: “I don’t know.”
Young Master Two: “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Young Master Three: “I didn’t hear anything clearly.”
Jiang Liye: …f.u.c.k!