Chapter 59: Zhang Yanyao's Hatred

That evening, at Wei Liangqing's residence.

The lamps blazed bright, illuminating the place like daylight.

Feng Zhu sat imposingly in the main seat of the great hall, flanked behind him by two young eunuchs, and then eight Embroidered Uniform Guard officers in gleaming armor.

Wei Liangqing and Zhang Yanyao stood below them, exchanging uneasy glances.

Wei Liangqing knew that today he would disappoint the noble patron, but surely such an overwhelming show of force was uncalled for.

Wei Liangqing respectfully raised his hands and said with great humility, "Eunuch Feng, may I ask what instructions the noble patron has?"

Feng Zhu held a cup of tea, swirling the leaves with the lid, and cast a glance at Wei Liangqing. His voice was shrill, neither yin nor yang: "Master Wei, quite the capable one, aren't you? You even dare to send people to spy on me."

Wei Liangqing's expression changed. He was about to explain when he suddenly remembered that he had only told Zhang Yanyao about that teahouse. He immediately turned his head to look at Zhang Yanyao beside him, but in his heart he felt it wasn't her. His gaze tightened secretly as he forced a smile and said, "Eunuch Feng must be mistaken. I've been busy with the trading company these past days. Even with ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare spy on you."

Zhang Yanyao beside him pressed her lips together, her hand in her sleeve gripping her handkerchief tightly, her gaze lowered.

Feng Zhu let out a snicker and said with a smile, "Whether you dare or not, I don't know—but someone does. Men, drag them up."

Soon, a maid covered in blood, barely breathing, was dragged in, calling out feebly, "Save me, mistress! Save me, mistress..."

Wei Liangqing's expression finally changed, and fear took full hold of his heart.

Smack!

"Bitch!"

Wei Liangqing roared, striking Zhang Yanyao to the ground with a single slap.

The moment Zhang Yanyao hit the ground, she burst into tears with a "Wuu—" and crawled over to clutch Wei Liangqing's leg, sobbing loudly: "Husband, I only thought you had taken up with someone outside, so I sent Xiaomei to take a look. I truly didn't know it was the eunuch's place. Husband, please forgive me just this once..."

Wei Liangqing grew angrier at her words and kicked her away, saying coldly, "Bitch, you just can't bear to see me do well. Men, drag her out, find a matchmaker and sell her off!"

Zhang Yanyao's face changed drastically. She lunged over again, crying out, "No, husband, please don't! I'm carrying your child..."

Wei Liangqing's eyes flew wide open, his face turning even more ferocious: "Are you telling the truth?"

Feng Zhu had been watching coldly from the side, observing Zhang Yanyao's every move. He sneered inwardly—this level of skill wasn't even a tenth of his own.

"Yes, husband. That's why I was so worried. Forgive me just this once—I'll never dare again..."

Zhang Yanyao was truly afraid now. All she wanted was to stay here; as long as she remained, she had a hundred ways to make Wei Liangqing cool down.

Wei Liangqing's face stiffened, and his eyes began to waver.

Feng Zhu sneered inwardly and said, "Enough. Men, drag her out and give her fifty strokes of the rod."

Wei Liangqing hastily blocked the way and said urgently to Feng Zhu, "Eunuch Feng, my wife was merely confused for a moment. I beg you to be magnanimous and spare her this once. Wei Liangqing will be eternally grateful and will surely repay your kindness!"

Feng Zhu's face turned cold as he looked at Wei Liangqing. "Master Wei, it seems you still don't understand. This isn't my decision—it's the noble patron's will. Do you truly intend to stand in the way?"

There was skill even in beating with rods—lighter strokes, and a hundred wouldn't kill; heavier strokes, and fifty could.

When Wei Liangqing heard it was the noble patron's will, his complexion paled a shade. He looked at Zhang Yanyao, brows knit tightly, a cruel glint in his eyes.

Zhang Yanyao knew Wei Liangqing too well. Seeing this, she immediately shouted, "Husband, husband, I know—"

"Everything as the eunuch commands!"

Wei Liangqing didn't let Zhang Yanyao finish. He bowed directly to Feng Zhu. His priorities were clear in his mind—the noble patron came first; women, there would always be more.

Feng Zhu nodded with a beaming smile and waved his hand. Two Embroidered Uniform Guard officers dragged Zhang Yanyao out toward the door.

Zhang Yanyao no longer screamed. She only stared at Wei Liangqing with a cold, venomous gaze filled with hatred.

"Alright, now let's talk business."

Feng Zhu glanced at Wei Liangqing and said in a raised voice.

"Ah... ah..."

As his words fell, Zhang Yanyao's screams of agony came drifting in.

Wei Liangqing's heart pounded wildly. He steeled himself and said to Feng Zhu, "Please, Eunuch Feng, give your instructions."

"Tomorrow the trading company opens. Use every connection you can mobilize—high officials and nobles, imperial relatives, famous scholars and great Confucians. Invite anyone you can possibly get to come. Spending some silver doesn't matter. What matters is making a grand show. From north to south, from every corner, the signboard must ring loud and clear."

Feng Zhu said.

Wei Liangqing's mind immediately raced through those he could invite, those he couldn't, and those he wasn't sure about.

Feng Zhu knew of Wei Liangqing's straitened circumstances. He leaned in close and said in a low voice, "Whether by trickery, deception, threats, or bribery—as long as people walk through the company's doors that day, that's all that matters."

Wei Liangqing didn't know what Feng Zhu's intentions were, but he still nodded and said, "Yes, Eunuch. Rest assured, I will do my utmost to handle it."

"Ah... ah..."

Feng Zhu listened to the screams outside, feeling immensely pleased inside. He glanced at Wei Liangqing and said with a smile, "As for manpower, I'll send people over first thing tomorrow morning. You should prepare well."

"Yes, Eunuch."

Wei Liangqing listened to Zhang Yanyao's screams, his mind in utter turmoil—especially since she carried his child in her belly.

"Alright," Feng Zhu said, his voice carrying a somewhat shrill, coquettish quality, smiling as he spoke. "She won't be beaten to death. This time is just to teach her a lesson. Master Wei, you too should watch your step."

Wei Liangqing's whole body ran cold. He knew—this lesson was certainly not meant for Zhang Yanyao. It was meant for him!

Wei Liangqing bowed deeply and said in a low voice, "Eunuch, please convey to the noble patron—if there is a next time, Wei Liangqing will personally carry her head to beg forgiveness!"

Feng Zhu nodded slightly and walked out of the great hall at a leisurely pace.

Outside, Zhang Yanyao lay sprawled on the ground, delicate and frail, as if on the verge of death.

Feng Zhu strolled lightly to her side, crouched down, and used his hand to brush aside the strands of hair plastered to her by sweat. He clicked his tongue and sighed, "Women—can't be too clever, and can't be too stupid. I don't know whether you're clever or stupid, but from now on, you'd best not end up in my hands again."

Zhang Yanyao bit her lip, unable to utter a single word. But Wei Liangqing behind Feng Zhu felt his whole body turn to ice—this was not the first time Feng Zhu had made such an insinuating warning.

Having said his piece, Feng Zhu walked toward the gates of the Wei residence.

Wei Liangqing escorted Feng Zhu all the way out the gate and watched until he had walked far away before secretly letting out a breath of relief. His face dark, he turned and walked back.

Zhang Yanyao had already been carried back to her room by the servants. Wei Liangqing walked in and looked at her pale face, his brows tightly furrowed. The ugly expression on his face relaxed slightly.

"Alright. Heal your wounds, and I'll send you back to Jiangnan. Don't come back after that."

Wei Liangqing said.

Zhang Yanyao bit her lip, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Wei Liangqing with a pitiable air: "Husband, I only found the matter suspicious, which is why I sent someone to follow. Husband, don't let others deceive you..."

Wei Liangqing had felt a trace of guilt in his heart, but hearing these words, he flew into a rage. Waving his hand, he said, "Enough, that's settled. Go tend to your wounds." With that, he turned and walked out, leaving behind Zhang Yanyao, whose face was twisted with hatred and unwillingness.