Chapter 64 - Familiar
Emperor Jingyuan’s calligraphy was also famous in history, and his characters were filled with ferocious energy. With each brushstroke, it was as if everyone could see the imperial army’s battle at close quarters; the sun and moon, the mountains and rivers, and the myriad ravines, were all displayed on the paper.
When the character “竹” was finished, the room was silent. While these cousins of his who had grown up overseas didn’t know much about calligraphy, they still had a rough enough idea in order to be able to fawn over grandpa. Even entirely clueless laymen would be able to make out the exquisiteness of this character – Yu Tang’s posture alone as he wrote was enough to frighten everyone.
“Good, good, good!” Yu Taixian said the word ‘good’ three times consecutively, and even patted his grandson’s shoulder in gratification. As a child of Huaxia, Yu Taixian had always believed that the Yu family shouldn’t forget their roots. This was why he threw his eldest son to China, in the hopes that his grandchildren would continue to inherit Huaxia culture.
“This word truly looks good. Even though I don’t understand this, it just seems good,” Yu Zhu said with a smile, and the other cousins also chimed in and agreed.
Since the family head had said it was good, they naturally wouldn’t invite humiliation on themselves and say that it wasn’t. Those who were dissatisfied had nothing to say now. Even if they still wanted to pick a fight, it was obvious with a look at the family head’s expression that those who were unsatisfied could only hold it in.
“Ai, that Yu Qi also grew up in China; he probably knows calligraphy as well, right?” Seeing that they were unable to embarra.s.s Yu Tang, and he had instead seized the limelight, they thought of tonight’s other lead.
Yu Qi was currently speaking with fourth uncle in the hall.
“I’ve recently been researching an online app. If it succeeds, it’ll be an extremely profitable project.” Yu Qi was seriously introducing his project to fourth uncle. Fourth uncle was in charge of capital management, and he was the main person in charge of Dayu Capital. Telling him all this was advance notice; once the project was released, it would be easier to obtain an investment.
“Oh?” Fourth uncle swirled the red wine in the cup he was holding. “Once you’ve created it, let me take a look. This really is something good.”
Butler Cao glanced at the time. It was almost time for the banquet to begin, so he turned and went upstairs to remind the family head.
“Butler, bring my formal attire over for me ba.” A head with brown hair stuck out from the room at the end of the second floor.
“Yes, ninth young master.” Butler Cao smiled and gestured at the maid standing on the second floor. The maid immediately ran downstairs to get the formal attire as Butler Cao unhurriedly walked to the door of the study and knocked.
Ninth young master shrugged and closed the door.
Yu Tang came out supporting grandfather and just happened to run into the brown-haired person at the stairs.
“Daddy, your Tang suit today is extremely handsome.” The man smiled as he walked over to support Yu Taixian on the other side.
“Xiao Lang.” Yu Taixian glared at him. “I told you to come out earlier and meet Tangtang. Why are you only coming out now?”
“Oh, daddy, you have to understand, I didn’t sleep at all last night, and I just woke up.” His mixed-blood features were very handsome. He pulled a face and lifted his dark green eyes to look at Yu Tang. “h.e.l.lo, my nephew.”
Yu Tang looked at this person and nodded slightly. “Ninth uncle.” This person was the young son of his grandfather, Yu Taixian, but was the child of Yu Taixian’s second wife. Yu Tang’s grandmother died long ago, and his grandfather married a Caucasian woman who gave birth to this son who was about the same age as his grandchildren.
His son’s name was Yu Lang, and was ninth in seniority. He had an English name, but Yu laoyezi never used it, so everyone called him by his Chinese name.
“I heard that you’re part of Halun University’s Sunspot Club, so you should know Camellia.” Yu Lang seemed very lively as he spoke to Yu Tang with his father between them.
“I do,” Yu Tang glanced at him and replied neutrally. This ninth uncle looked naive and innocent, but Yu Tang didn’t believe that was the case.
Camellia was a member of the Sunspot Club, and was now in her second year. Her family was in the oil industry.
“That’s great. I invited Camellia over; you can invite her to dance later.” Yu Lang winked, giving the appearance that he was very close with Yu Tang.
When his other cousins saw this ninth uncle, whom the family head doted on, act so familiar with Yu Tang, the glares at Yu Tang became even more envious.
Looking in the direction that ninth uncle was pointing, Yu Tang really did see Camellia in one corner of the hall, dressed in a diamond-studded evening gown. She was holding a gla.s.s of champagne, and she raised it towards Yu Tang.
Camellia was actually Yu Lang’s younger cousin, and Yu Lang’s mother was Camellia’s aunt.
Yu Tang lowered his gaze and coldly curled his lip. This ninth uncle wanted his maternal family to become closer to the Yu family and was using Yu Tang as an excuse, acting as if he was doing this for his nephew.
Sure enough, Yu Taixian furrowed his brow when he saw the girl in the corner. “Why didn’t you tell me you invited Camellia?”
“Oh, daddy, I just wanted to find a playmate for Yu Tang, that’s all,” Yu Lang said, his expression innocent.
The banquet began, and Yu Taixian formally introduced Yu Tang and Yu Qi to the American side of the family. He publicly announced that he would arrange positions in the corporation for them, and would allow them to begin their internships while they were studying in university.
“Congratulations, the family head deems you worthy.” Camellia walked over and clinked gla.s.ses with Yu Tang.
“Thank you.” Yu Tang politely raised his gla.s.s.
“Tang, you never said anything about being the Yu family head’s grandson in the Sunspot Club.” Camellia looked at Yu Tang with burning eyes, and extended her hand, her fingernails red. “Won’t you ask me to dance?”
Not far away, his ninth uncle looked at them with a sinister smile. “Mom, look at how well-matched they are.”
Yu Lang’s mother wore an emerald green cheongsam and stood next to her son, with a smile that didn’t seem like a smile.
Yu Tang looked at that outstretched hand. According to courtesy, he should immediately hold it and gesture to invite her to dance. A servant carrying a tray walked past. Yu Tang easily grabbed a gla.s.s from it and pressed it into that hand. “No thanks, cousin.”
Song Xiao waited alone in the hotel until midnight. a.s.suming that Yu Tang wasn’t returning that night, he turned the TV off and squeezed under the covers, eyes open and unable to sleep.
Yu Tang had said that the Yu family was very complicated, and it was like the battle he had fought in the previous imperial household. Song Xiao wasn’t worried that Yu Tang would lose in the family struggle; after all, he had even been able to seize the imperial throne, so s.n.a.t.c.hing away family property would be a piece of cake. However, Song Xiao still felt a little distressed. After reincarnating a thousand years later, Yu Tang still couldn’t escape from all of this; his life was tiring.
A few young ladies from distantly related families would definitely have been invited to the family party. His emperor was so handsome that someone would definitely take a fancy to him. Who knew, some young masters might go over just for a hookup.
The more Song Xiao thought about it, the more he couldn’t sleep, and he raised a hand to call Yu Tang.
“Rest a.s.sured, empress.” Dugu An’s flat voice rang out.
Song Xiao’s lips quirked. “Where’s the emperor?”
“The emperor is currently speaking to fourth uncle.” Dugu An spoke as if it wasn’t of much importance. Right at that moment, Butler Cao walked over and patted Dugu An’s shoulder.
Dugu An tossed the phone upwards as he quickly spun around and twisted both of Butler Cao’s hands behind his back quicker than one could cover their ears before a thunderbolt. He then reached out to catch the falling phone and continued speaking. “This subordinate shall pa.s.s the phone to the emperor.”
“What was that sound over there?” Song Xiao had vaguely heard a miserable scream.
“Cao Gonggong mounted a sneak attack on this subordinate, who captured him.” As he spoke, Dugu An dragged the excited Butler Cao outside.
Given his professional training as a secret guard, Dugu An had originally been standing in a concealed place from where he could attack, retreat, or defend, so no one noticed when he directly dragged Butler Cao into the garden.
The garden was extremely quiet, with no one around.
Butler Cao struggled free of the secret guard’s grasp, and was utterly excited. “Who are you talking to? Is it the empress?”
Song Xiao blinked. What did the secret guard say just now? Cao Gonggong? Before he could come back to his senses, a magnetic voice rang out over the phone, and sounded like it belonged to a man in his thirties. “Empressah! Laonu has struggled bitterly to find you ah!”
Little Theater
Xiaoxiao: Wat? Cao Gonggong?
Cao Gonggong: Uh huh, it’s me!
Xiaoxiao: Gonggong, you also transmigrated?
Cao Gonggong: (Lanhua gesture) Dat’s right! Also, this old slave has a little bird in this life!
Xiao An: How can you say such foul words to the empress, kacha
Cao Gonggong: Yamete!