Chapter 5: The East Wind Prevails Over the West Wind
Chapter 5: The East Wind Prevails Over the West Wind
Inside an inn in Zhenhai City.
“This old servant pays respects to Third Young Master.” An old man bowed down, his gaze towards Wuque filled with intense emotion.
Wuque had initially intended to stop him from bowing, but being three or four feet apart, rushing over would be undignified, so he simply let the old man complete his gesture.
He washed the tea bowl before him piece by piece until it was spotless.
This old man was one of the stewards of the Marquis of Zhenhai Mansion, Chu Liang. He was a dowry steward brought by Wuque’s mother, Chu Mingzhu, and was considered one of Wuque’s own people.
“Uncle Liang,” Wuque raised his teacup and asked, “Would you like some tea?”
Chu Liang knelt and said, “This old servant dares not. Young Master, you have finally returned, finally returned. Madam, knowing this from the afterlife, can rest in peace.”
After speaking, he actually choked up with sobs.
Although he currently served as one of the stewards of the Marquis’s Manor, in his heart, Shen Gong’ao, the Marquis of Zhenhai, was not his true master.
His previous master was Chu Mingzhu, and after her death, his master became Shen Wuque.
During the eight years of Wuque’s disappearance, Chu Liang and his faction of servants had lacked a master. He felt rootless.
Wuque had a cold and aloof personality and was not one to speak heartfelt words. Since the other declined tea, he simply poured and drank for himself.
“Third Young Master,” Chu Liang said, “Over these years, although the Marquis never spoke of it, he deeply missed you in his heart. He sent out not just one group of people to search for traces of you. Now that you have returned, please go back to the manor and show some deference to the Marquis. Let the past unpleasantness be water under the bridge. From now on, you will still be the Third Young Master of the Marquis’s Manor.”
“Your mother was also the Marquis’s most beloved wife. She died in difficult childbirth, and the Marquis was heartbroken. So, in the Marquis’s heart, your weight is very heavy. It’s just that his personality is strong-willed, and you are stubborn, which made the father-son relationship like fire and water. But what feud can there truly be between father and son?”
Wuque said coolly, “Back then, I toiled for eight years and wrote a book. He saw it as neglecting my proper duties, scorned it in front of everyone, and burned it to ashes. When I studied music with actors, he seized my teacher, had him beaten half to death in the manor, and publicly called me the shame of the Shen Gong Clan. And at Tianshui Academy, he had me tied up and whipped in public, utterly humiliating me.”
Chu Liang said, “But Young Master, you also took revenge. Eight years ago, at your wedding ceremony, with guests like clouds and countless noble families present, you publicly fled the wedding. You replaced the groom with a wooden puppet that bore the words ‘shame of the Shen Gong Clan.’ The Marquis nearly fainted from rage at that time.”
Truly, Shen Gong’ao and Shen Wuque, this father and son, loved and fought each other.
Shen Gong’ao was immensely strong-willed and brooked no dissent.
Shen Wuque was stubborn by nature, aloof and solitary.
Neither yielded to the other. Ever since Wuque grew up, this father and son had been like fire and water, eventually developing a relationship almost akin to enemies.
But after accessing Wuque’s memories, he discovered that deep down, Wuque actually admired his father and desperately craved his approval. Yet, precisely in the areas Wuque excelled, Shen Gong’ao looked down upon them all, considering them neglect of proper duties and a disgrace.
“Uncle Liang,” Wuque said calmly, “If you want me to return to the manor, let him come and invite me back in person.”
Chu Liang started in surprise. “This… how could that be possible? The Marquis is so proud, so strong-willed, how could he lower his head? Even if the sun rose from the west, it would be impossible.”
Wuque said, “Then I will simply never return to the Marquis’s Manor.”
In a sense, interactions between people are a kind of battle. Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind.
If Wuque were to slink back to the Marquis’s Manor now, although Shen Gong’ao would be pleased, he would also look down on Wuque.
Back on Earth, as a medical doctor, he had witnessed too much life and death, too much warmth and coldness.
Young as he was, he became the head of a department in a top national hospital, evading countless overt and covert attacks. Behind that cold, aloof face, how many competitors had he crushed?
So Wuque understood human nature all too well. Thus, he not only intended to return but to return with strength.
…
Chu Liang returned to the Marquis’s Manor full of worry. Lying in bed, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
His wife said, “Does the young master refuse to come back?”
Chu Liang sighed. “Ah…”
His wife said, “Should we send our two sons to attend to him? The young master is delicate like a golden branch and jade leaf; how can he manage without anyone by his side?”
Chu Liang said, “What do you understand? The key is to reconcile father and son. Continuing like this is disadvantageous for the young master. While the Marquis is still here, the young master can still strive for some things. In the future, if the Marquis’s Manor changes hands, the young master’s life will truly become difficult.”
Just then, a voice sounded from outside.
“Chu Liang, the Marquis calls for you.”
Chu Liang quickly got up, changed his clothes, and headed to Shen Gong’ao’s courtyard.
…
In the courtyard, Shen Gong’ao, draped in plain cloth, stood coldly. “Chu Liang, you went to see that unfilial son?”
“Yes,” Chu Liang knelt and replied.
Shen Gong’ao said, “Hmph. Go tell that unfilial son: My Shen Gong mansion is not a vegetable garden, to come and go as he pleases. Since he left, there’s no need to return.”
Chu Liang said, “This old servant invited Third Young Master to return to the manor, but he refused.”
Shen Gong’ao sneered, “Putting on airs. What did that unfilial son say?”
Chu Liang said, “Third Young Master said that for him to return to the manor, the Marquis himself must go and invite him.”
Instantly!
The very air seemed to grow cold.
Shen Gong’ao’s beard bristled; he was truly about to explode with anger.
Chu Liang understood Shen Gong’ao. What this Marquis despised most was spinelessness. Although Shen Wuque had always opposed him and infuriated him, it was precisely this stubborn personality that, while angering Shen Gong’ao, also garnered a sliver of his appreciation.
But the Marquis was also immensely proud and unyielding. Anyone who dared defy his authority would be crushed to pieces.
“That unfilial son,” Shen Gong’ao said coldly, “even if he dies outside, I won’t spare him another glance. Wanting me to invite him? A pipe dream. Let him die outside, rot outside. Pass down the order: no one is to send him money or goods. Especially you, Chu Liang, you are not to send anyone to attend to him.”
“I want to see exactly what tricks this unfilial son can play right under my nose!”
With that, Shen Gong’ao stormed off angrily.
As he reached the doorway, Shen Gong’ao stumbled slightly but quickly steadied himself.
That terrifying feeling was coming again—fainting, collapsing, convulsing uncontrollably.
He must not fall. He absolutely must not fall.
Shen Gong’ao was not only the pillar of the Shen Gong Family but the very pillar supporting the entire clan.
Once he fell, the surrounding nobles would pounce like wolves and tigers, utterly devouring the Shen Gong family’s foundation. As a clan of different ethnicity, the Shen Gong Clan would be left with no place to bury their dead.
When he collapsed on the battlefield before, it could still be called a strategy to lull the enemy.
If he were to collapse and convulse at home again, it could no longer be concealed. Everyone would see the weakness of the Shen Gong Clan.
He must secretly seek a divine doctor to cure him. He must!
At that moment, Chu Liang asked, “Marquis, what is wrong?”
Shen Gong’ao felt dizzy, the world spinning, darkness flickering before his eyes. He was losing control, about to faint and fall.
But with immense willpower, he controlled himself and spoke word by word, “Chu Liang, go ask that unfilial son. Since he has so much backbone, unwilling to return to the manor, unwilling to acknowledge me as his father, why did he return to Zhenhai City? Why did he appear right under my nose? If he cannot give a perfect explanation, he can leave.”
Chu Liang felt a chill run through his body.
This logic was indeed crucial. If young master Wuque could not provide a perfect answer, he would not pass this hurdle. He would be utterly looked down upon and despised by Shen Gong’ao.
If you truly did not want to return to the manor, why return to Zhenhai City? Why return to where Shen Gong’ao could see you? Wasn’t it better to wander freely outside?
You returned to Zhenhai City yet pretended you didn’t want to return to the Marquis’s Manor. Isn’t that like a prostitute putting up a chastity arch?
Clearly, you couldn’t survive outside anymore, couldn’t bear the hardship and wanted to return to the manor, yet you still put on airs and spout lofty words. Shameless, incompetent, pathetic!
…