Chapter 69: It Wasn’t Proper
Translator: DragonRider
Ling Zhang didn’t expect that Yuwen Tong would invite him to go to the capital. After all, their relations.h.i.+p was not that good.
“It is not proper for me to go to the capital with you.” Ling Zhang said.
“Why isn’t it proper?” Yuwen Tong looked at him.
Why? Ling Zhang slightly frowned. He didn’t have any relations.h.i.+p with Yuwen Tong. How could he go to the capital with him?
In this life, Yuwen Tong came to Tanyang. He said that he remembered the favor and was willing to help Ling Family. Ling Zhang appreciated that. However, besides that, there was only an awkward marriage contract between them.
Ling Zhang turned his head and didn’t look at Yuwen Tong, “Let’s talk about it later.”
After he finished Zhang Chong, he could go everywhere he wanted. He didn’t need to go to the capital.
Yuwen Tong looked a little serious in his eyes. Ling Zhang’s pa.s.sive att.i.tude showed that he didn’t want to go to capital with him. Ling Zhang’s att.i.tude to him had softened obviously. But he still rejected. Why? At night, the delicious dinner was still put on the front hall. Ling Xingzhong was more and more satisfied with Yuwen Tong. And even Ling Zhaowen became kinder to Yuwen Tong.
Ling Maomao called Brother Yuwen frequently because of the stories about Marshal Yuwen. Ling Maomao even wanted to sit next to him but was stopped by his father.
Ling Zhang was the most silent person. Ling Zhaowen took a look at him, hinting Ling Zhang with his eyes to talk something more. But Ling Zhang pretended not to see it.
Ling Zhaowen was speechless.
Yuwen Tong glanced at Ling Zhang, his face unchanged but the look in his eyes getting profound.
“Zhang, what’s your opinion? Tell me.” After dinner, Ling Xingzhong called Ling Zhang and Ling Zhaowen to his yard. Then he asked Ling Zhang his view about the engagement with Yuwen Tong.
“Grandpa, I still want to break it.” Ling Zhang said.
“Why? I think you get on well with him these days.” Ling Xingzhong said.
“I treat him as my elder brother. But it doesn’t mean I will marry him. Grandpa, we have reached an agreement, right? Why do you want me to marry Yuwen Tong now?” Ling Zhang said and his tone became a little serious.
Seeing he got angry, Ling Xingzhong was somewhat shocked, “Zhang, you dislike him so much?”
Did he dislike Yuwen Tong? Ling Zhang was not sure about that. But he couldn’t forgive Yuwen Tong completely at present. How could he have time to think if he liked Yuwen Tong or not?
Ling Zhang turned silent and he didn’t look well. Seeing that, Ling Zhaowen said, “Zhang, something might not be true.”
Ling Zhang’s feeling was complicated. His uncle believed what he said was just a dream not something that had really happened in his last life.
“Grandpa, uncle, are you sure that Yuwen Tong wants to marry me?” Ling Zhang sneered slightly.
Ling Xingzhong looked at him in confusion, “Yuwen Tong never mentions that he wants to break off the engagement. He also gets on well with you. It has showed his att.i.tude.”
“That’s merely your wishful thinking.” Ling Zhang refuted.
“Zhang, watch your tongue,” Ling Zhaowen said.
Ling Zhang took a deep breath and looked at Ling Xingzhong and Ling Zhaowen seriously, “Anyway, I don’t want to maintain the engagement. Grandpa, uncle, please respect my thought.”
“Well.” Ling Xingzhong looked at him for a long time. He finally sighed, “Okay. I won’t force you if you reject it. In terms of marshal’s att.i.tude, he will live in Tanyang for a while. During this period, you can have more with him. If you still don’t want to marry him by the time he leaves, I will tell him.”
Ling Zhang was silent for a moment. Then he nodded, “All right. Thank you, grandpa.”
His grandpa didn’t want to give up. But he wouldn’t change his mind, either.
Yuwen Tong was kind to him and was willing to help him to defeat Zhang Chong. In addition, he took initiative to dredge his collateral channels and invited him to go to the capital together. He even said that he didn’t agree to break off the engagement.
Besides, he said that he helped Ling Family because he wanted to requite favors.
But in his last life, Yuwen Family broke the engagement directly and didn’t offer a hand when Ling Family was in danger.
So he still had many doubts in his mind and didn’t know what Yuwen Tong was thinking about.
Moreover, he didn’t care about his marriage because he just wanted to revenge.
“Go back. I heard that you slept late these days. You’d better go to bed early today.” Ling Xingzhong said.
“I know.” Ling Zhang said. Then he said good-bye to Ling Xingzhong and Ling Zhaowen.
Seeing Ling Zhang going away, Ling Zhaowen asked Ling Xingzhong, “Father, let’s give up if Zhang doesn’t want it.”
Ling Xingzhong sighed, “I agreed to break off the engagement because Yuwen Family has never mentioned it for all these years. So it took it that they didn’t take it seriously. But now Yuwen Tong comes to Tanyang and takes a fancy to Zhang. If they can get married, it will be a good thing for Zhang.”
“What do you mean?” Ling Zhaowen didn’t understand.
“Although you never told me anything, I am not blind or deaf. The situation of our Ling Family in Tanyang is not good. If Yuwen Family supports us, these problems will be solved easily. Yuwen Tong is powerful enough, and he has the ability to protect Zhang.” Ling Xingzhong said.
“Protect? Zhang is also a man. I don’t believe he needs others’ protection.” Ling Zhaowen said.
“How stupid you are. Do you forget the background of Zhang’s mother? Zhang needs a powerful backing, in case it is exposed one day.” Ling Xingzhong said.
Ling Zhaowen’s face changed instantly and he said after quite a while of silence, “Father, I finally understand your intentions.”
Ling Xingzhong snorted, “You think I don’t know that it was you who told Zhang about his engagement with Yuwen Family? At that time, as your father, I didn’t want to reveal it. But you even dared to tell Zhang something about his mother. If I didn’t stop you in time, the situation now will be terrible.”
Ling Zhaowen looked embarra.s.sed, “Father!”
Oh G.o.d, he didn’t tell Ling Zhang about the engagement. But he couldn’t tell his father that Ling Zhang learned it from a dream.
However…
“Father, I can’t understand. Why did you stop me? He will know it sooner or later. He can prepare for it early if we tell him. Otherwise he might be taken by surprise.” Ling Zhaowen said.
“Alas, let’s talk about it later.” Ling Xingzhong sighed.
Ling Zhaowen was speechless but didn’t dare to disobey his father. So he had to give up.
Ling Zhang didn’t realize what his grandpa and uncle were talking about after he left. Tao Yi invited him to see Marshal Yuwen in the capital first. Then Yuwen Tong wanted him to go to the capital together. Now his grandpa and uncle also wanted him to marry Yuwen Tong. Why did everyone believe that he liked Yuwen Tong?
Where on earth did they find he liked Yuwen Tong?
Ling Zhang’s face changed many times. He kept silent in the yard. Then he raised his head to see the moon overhead.
“Marshal, Childe Ling has stood in the yard for a long time.” Someone instantly reported to Yuwen Tong in the Green Bamboo Mansion.
Yuwen Tong remained silent for a while. Ling Xingzhong and Ling Zhaowen called Ling Zhang to have a talk after dinner. Although Yuwen Tong didn’t hear their words, he could guess it according to Ling Xingzhong’s pa.s.sionate att.i.tude toward him at the dinner.
“Yao Yi, he feels it is inappropriate to go to the capital with me. Why would he think so?” Yuwen Tong suddenly asked Yao Yi.
Yao Yi was dazed for a moment. He didn’t know how to answer this question, either. Long time later, he faltered, “Maybe Childe Ling thinks he is not familiar with you.”
Yuwen Tong took a look at him and said, “I appear in front of him every day. Is it not enough?”
Yao Yi felt the pressure and explained, “I… It’s just a guess.”
Yuwen Tong’s face turned dark quickly. He complained, “Then you can just keep mute.”
Yao Yi closed his mouth soon and didn’t dare to say a word. He was bitter in his heart. Marshal asked it! How could marshal blame him when he couldn’t give a proper answer? He didn’t have any engagement with Childe Ling!
Well, hold on, did marshal mean that he wanted to take Childe Ling to get married in the capital?
Did marshal really want to marry Childe Ling?
Yao Yi became excited instantly. He asked, “Marshal, will Childe Ling become our Mrs. Marshal?”
Yuwen Tong paused for a while. Mrs. Marshal?
That sounded great.
“Got a problem with that?” Yuwen Tong asked him coldly.
“Of course not. I couldn’t agree more if you like him. And Childe Ling is good-looking and has a good temper. He is also kind to others, which is different from other arrogant n.o.ble ladies. Lord Ling once helped our old marshal. You also have an engagement. It’s a good thing that you get married with him!” Yao Yi said soon without any hesitation.
Yuwen Tong snorted coldly and was finally satisfied.
“Marshal, Childe Ling is still standing there. It is colder than last night.” The person came in to report again.
Yuwen Tong frowned and finally went out.
Ling Zhang was thinking about his engagement with Yuwen Tong. Seeing the moon, he gradually started to think of other things and forgot where he was.
He didn’t come back to himself until his body felt warm.
A cloak was put on him.
He turned his head and saw Yuwen Tong standing behind him.
“What are you thinking about? You almost become a stone.” Yuwen Tong said.
Ling Zhang wanted to give the cloak back to him. But Yuwen Tong stopped him and said, “You should either go back to your house or wear it.”
Ling Zhang pursed his lips and turned to walk to his house. His feet were a little rigid because of the long standing. So he walked slowly.
Ling Zhang took off his cloak and handed it to Yuwen Tong after arriving at the door of his house.
Yuwen Tong took a look at the cloak in his hand and held it. He asked, “Did your grandpa say anything?”
“Nothing. I was just lost in thought suddenly. How do you know I was standing in the yard?” Ling Zhang asked.
Yuwen Tong didn’t answer. But Ling Zhang had guessed it. He looked at the house next to him and said, “I almost forgot you have a group of great guards.”
“If it is related to me, I hope you tell me directly.” Yuwen Tong stared at him.
“Will you break off the engagement if I tell you?” Ling Zhang also looked at him.
It was truly about the engagement. Yuwen Tong thought. Then he answered quickly, “No.”
Ling Zhang looked at him for a long time quietly and said, “Then you’d better not ask me about it.”