Chapter 101: The

The Lady of Marquis Shoushan's heart softened.

Worried about her younger brother's health, she still said, "Do not worry too much; before I came, I had the Marquis go inquire."

Yuan Bingkai looked at his elder sister and uttered an "Mm."

"Has your yamen office been busy lately with matters concerning the Tianwu Army's horses?"

"Mm. Before the New Year, the Tianwu Army was rectified by Marquis Marquis Yongyi, and the patrol cavalry's horses were all embezzled by someone; now they must be resupplied. Before the New Year, this matter was most urgent."

"Was it handled by Vice Envoy Du?"

"It was."

"Both of these marquises have paid visits; Marquis Marquis Yongyi stated outright that he would plead for you, and Vice Envoy Du also said that even if something happens, he will protect your official post."

Hearing these words, Yuan Bingkai felt like tea leaves steeped in hot water, slowly unfurling.

The look of utter despair from earlier was gone.

Below the hall, the knees of both the Elder Xiao Zhangshi and Younger Xiao Zhangshi ached from kneeling, and they shifted uneasily; upon hearing these words, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law instantly became joyful.

"Aunt—"

"Kneel properly." Just as the Elder Xiao Zhangshi, Younger Xiao Zhangshi, and Yuan Yuan Wenchun were about to rise, the Lady of Marquis Shoushan's single sentence pinned them down.

Yuan Bingkai said, "Thank you, Elder Sister."

"Then, what of these two? How are they to be dealt with?"

Closing his eyes, Yuan Bingkai said, "After all, they bore sons and daughters for the Yuan family; Elder Sister, it would not be proper... Even if there truly is something, as long as I retain my official post, I need only devote myself to my public duties."

"Chun-ge'er, what about you?"

"Aunt, she is already with child; I..."

"Oh, finally there is one."

The Lady of Marquis Shoushan stood up.

Looking at her younger brother, she said, "No matter what I say, I am an outsider, a member of the Huang family; since neither of you is willing, I shall not interfere further in your family affairs."

Having spoken, the Lady of Marquis Shoushan rose to her feet.

"Oh, by the way, since you are still going to Yang Zhou, this is my token of regard."

She placed a silver note on the table.

"Do not see me off; your body has just recovered. I will not invite further dislike."

"Elder Sister!"

The Lady of Marquis Shoushan waved her hand.

Walking toward the second gate of the Yuan residence, before mounting her carriage, she looked at her brother standing at the entrance of the main hall and waved for him to go inside.

Once inside the Huang family's carriage, her posture, which had been straight and rigid, finally slumped.

"A good wife prospers three generations; an unworthy one ruins three! Alas, let us go; return to the manor."

After the Lady of Marquis Shoushan departed from the Yuan residence,

Marquis Yuan paid no heed to either the Elder or Younger Xiao Zhangshi and went straight, supported by servants, to visit Yuan Yuan Wenshao.

With no tiger in the mountains, the monkeys began to act as overlords.

The Elder Xiao Zhangshi sat in the spot where the Lady of Marquis Shoushan had just been seated, looked at the female servants outside the hall, narrowed her eyes slightly, and asked,

"Just now, who was the one who replied?"

At that moment, the tea for the Lady of Marquis Shoushan was only just being brought up; the Elder Xiao Zhangshi lifted the tea cup.

"Hmm?"

The female servant outside entered, bowed deeply, and said,

"Lady, it was I who replied."

"Come in!"

"Yes."

"Crash!"

The tea cup was thrown out, shattering; the splashing tea soaked the young female servant, but fortunately, since the weather was cold and her clothes thick, she was not scalded.

"You little wretch, kneel!"

"Someone, slap her mouth!"

The female servant knelt in panic, saying, "Lady, I... Lady, spare my sin!"

The old nurse beside the Elder Xiao Zhangshi walked over.

She began slapping the girl across the face.

"Slap!"

"Slap!"

"Wu, Da Da Niangzi, spare my life; this slave dares not do it again."

"Still daring to speak? Continue beating her."

She intended to vent all the anger she had just endured.

On the sixth day,

the holiday for the officials of Great Zhou was nearing its end.

Everyone in Bianjing was discussing what punishment the Yuan family would receive.

Meanwhile, the prodigal sons of Bianjing, such as Lü Zhang Sanlang, Han Han Wulang, and others, had already heard of such matters from their families or servants.

Their gossip, once filled with sarcastic remarks on this topic, shifted to a new subject.

At the Qiyun Tower,

Lü Zhang Sanlang of the Duke of Lingguo's household whispered secretly, "I asked some acquaintances from the Horse Administration; they told me that substance is a decoction boiled from certain herbs commonly fed to livestock to induce estrus."

Wei Wei Faqi of the Fu'an Marquis household hurriedly asked, "Brother Lü, if that stuff works even on beasts, wouldn't the effect be even better on humans? Why don't you get some so we brothers can have some fun?"

At these words, quite a few of the surrounding youths, who knew neither the height of the sky nor the depth of the earth, became eager to try, giggling and saying they would go test it out and make the young ladies of Qiyun Tower or Guangyun Terrace submit.

Many of the young ladies from Qiyun Tower exchanged glances, preparing to withdraw; if they were truly caught and pinned down here with no escape, they might not even have their lives to leave through this door.

Han Han Wulang forcefully threw his emptied wine cup at Wei Wei Faqi's face, startling the struck man.

Seeing everyone looking over, Han Han Wulang said, "Do several of you wish to die? You want to go try it? Then do not do it at my group's wine gathering!"

Hearing this, the young ladies in the room looked at Han Han Wulang, their eyes full of gratitude; if even one of the scions in this room came to harm, they would not fare well either.

The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment,

until Lü Zhang Sanlang finally said, "Brother Han Wu, what do you mean by this?"

"Do you know that Yuan Wen, also known as Yuan Yuan Erlang, is older than us, precisely at the age when his body is strongest and his fiery energy most vigorous? I hear he even exercises daily! Yet even he was so drugged he could barely force himself up to speak with his own father before collapsing to the ground in a coma!"

Taking a new cup of fine wine filled by a young lady from Qiyun Tower, he said, "You lot? If you consumed it, I fear you would complain you were dying too slowly?"

Wei Wei Faqi and the others hurriedly raised their wine cups, saying, "Thank you, Brother Wu, for the reminder; we are indebted to you."

Han Han Wulang raised his cup and drained it in one draught.

Gu Gu Tingbing of the Gu family laughed and said, "Everyone says this matter of romance is like a pig's bladder; blow too much air into it, and it bursts. I wonder if Yuan Yuan Erlang can still get hard?"

"Oh?"

"Ah?"

"Brother Bing, what you said is truly... hahahaha!"

The crowd burst into loud laughter.

"Could it be he is no longer capable?"

"Who knows!"

At this moment, Qin Chi Han of the Dongchang Marquis household came to Han Han Wulang's side and whispered a few words into his ear.

After hearing his words, Han Han Wulang's eyes lit up; he spoke a sentence to the page boy beside him, and the page boy immediately departed.

In the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, a young man walked in,

and the young masters upstairs looked at this man, then turned to Han Han Wulang with questioning expressions.

Han Han Wulang said, "I have disturbed my brothers' elegant enjoyment; let this be my compensation to you."

Finishing, he lifted his chin and asked, "Has the life-forfeit bond been signed?"

"Young Master, it has been signed."

"Good, drink."

With that, a bowl of wine was handed to the man; the young man looked at the wine bowl, steeled his heart, closed his eyes tightly, and drank it down.

Wei Wei Faqi asked, "Brother Han Wu, what was in that wine?"

Holding his wine cup, Han Han Wulang said, "The very thing you wished to see. Madam Brothel-keeper, call in several more resilient young ladies; today we came seeking full enjoyment and shall certainly not let you be disappointed—watch!"

"Oho!"

"Watch!"

"Watch!"

Gu Gu Tingbing was still puzzled, but when he saw the man begin to tear at his waist sash with bloodshot eyes, he understood.

Later, roughly two shichen afterward, a man nearly paralyzed was carried out; it was said he died a few days later.

This group of noble scions then dispersed,

and as they left, all were saying that this substance was truly not something humans should consume!

A single human life had merely provided these noble scions with a little more fodder for conversation.

Several others whispered secretly, "Judging by this, that Yuan Yuan Erlang is in deep trouble."

The next day, many young ladies at Qiyun Tower took leave.

【No more updates】

Regarding the previous text: Xiao Xiao Zhangshi is the niece of Da Xiao Zhangshi; this has been corrected.

Thanks to the readers for the reminder.

Today there are five chapters, totaling ten thousand words; the author is also coughing and has fainted.

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(End of Chapter)