The Child Emperor

Chapter 98: A Falling Out

“I haven’t had enough fun yet, why would I run?” Han Ruzi laughed, noticing that the atmosphere in the hall had not returned to its initial liveliness. Everyone was now looking at Chai Yun with anticipation.

It was just dusk outside, and Chai Yun glanced at it before speaking seriously, “Drinking alone isn’t interesting. Do you want to play a game, Lord Marquis?”

“That’s exactly why I’m here.”

“This game requires some courage.”

“I happen to have a bit more courage than alcohol capacity.”

Chai Yun burst into laughter and then suddenly turned serious. “Then I won’t hold back. Lord Marquis, do you know a person named Cui Teng?”

Han Ruzi nodded.

” Cui Teng is your uncle by marriage. But I’ve heard your relationship isn’t very good.”

“I’ve heard that you and Cui Teng are good friends.”

Chai Yun snorted heavily, stomping his foot like a child. “That Cui bastard, we’re not friends; we’re enemies. Tonight, I’m going to seek revenge on him. Do you dare come with me?”

“Aren’t we going to gamble?” Han Ruzi was puzzled.

“We are. For every wounded martial artist, it’s five hundred taels; for every one killed, it’s two thousand taels. And if anyone can capture Cui Teng alive, I’ll give them ten thousand taels.” As he spoke, Chai Yun’s gaze turned to Du Chuanyun. “Is your swordsmanship as good as your gambling skills?”

Du Chuanyun’s eyes lit up.

Dice, fine wine, and martial arts – if Du Chuanyun had to choose only one among these three, he would be hard-pressed. However, when it came to ranking them by preference, he wouldn’t hesitate to put martial arts at the top. Using his martial skills to fight and earn money resonated deeply with him. To make this moment perfect, he turned and picked up a cup of wine from the table, downing it in one gulp.

“Killing one person gets me two thousand taels. Is there a limit to that?” he asked.

Chai Yun shook his head, smiling.

“Capturing Cui Teng gets ten thousand taels. What if I kill him?” Du Chuanyun inquired.

Chai Yun’s smile faded, and he replied, “You are only allowed to capture him alive, not to kill.”

Du Chuanyun furrowed his brows and was about to say something when he realized that Zhang Youcai kept tapping his foot repeatedly. It suddenly dawned on him that this was not a gathering of pugilists from the pugilist world; he couldn’t make decisions on his own. He had to follow the Weary Marquis’s arrangements. So, he took a step back and lightly poked the Marquis’s arm. “My sword obeys the commands of the Lord Marquis.”

Chai Yun laughed heartily, “A loyal sword is the sharpest in the world. Marquis, I truly envy you.”

Han Ruzi smiled and remarked, “The sword is sharp, but it isn’t drawn easily.”

Chai Yun’s smile disappeared even faster than the wind. “What do you mean? You don’t want to play?”

“I want to, but I’m afraid I can’t afford it,” the Weary Marquis replied.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Chai Yun stared coldly at the Weary Marquis, waved his hand, and both guests and servants began to leave. Du Chuanyun and Zhang Youcai only left after receiving a signal from the Weary Marquis.

Soon, only two people were left in the room. Chai Yun said, “There aren’t many people who dare to invite you to social gatherings.”

“But you do.”

“So many people want to play with me, yet I find none of them interesting. You, on the other hand, don’t seem to appreciate the opportunity.”

Han Ruzi didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. The other party seemed even more childish than him. So, he said seriously, “I’m here, so doesn’t that show my appreciation? But there are some things I don’t understand.”

“What?” Chai Yun tilted his head, looking more like a child.

“I heard that you had a close relationship with Cui Teng. How did it turn into a bitter feud?”

“Are you interested in such matters?” Chai Yun found the Weary Marquis’s reaction quite strange.

“To be honest, I have some grievances with the Cui clan as well, so…”

Chai Yun patted the Weary Marquis’s shoulder heavily and said with a smile, “That’s exactly why I sought you out. I heard that when you were Emperor, the Cui clan wanted to depose you and have Prince Donghai ascend to the throne. In the end, their plans all came to nothing. I found that hilarious.”

Chai Yun’s moods were erratic. In the blink of an eye, he became casual and natural with the Weary Marquis, as though they were brothers. “As for me and Cui Teng, yes, we used to be friends. We had a similar temperament and had fun together. But that guy lacks loyalty; he actually stole my woman!”

Chai Yun stomped his foot vehemently, and his fair face turned slightly red, his eyes filled with resentment, as if he held a great grievance.

“Cui Teng made advances towards your wife and concubines?” Han Ruzi was genuinely surprised.

Chai Yun gave the Weary Marquis a strange look, “Even if we were brothers, don’t even think about seeing my beloved wife and concubines. Cui Teng certainly has no chance.”

“The woman you are referring to…”

Chai Yun laughed heartily several times, “Lord Marquis, you really lack experience. When I say ‘my woman,’ of course, I mean someone else’s woman. I don’t wish to boast, but with my appearance and my reputation, I can have my pick of women in the world. Not to mention ordinary ladies; I can easily have my way with even the daughters of high-ranking generals and officials. For example, a few of the Cui clan’s daughters…”

“Hmm?” Han Ruzi involuntarily displayed a look of anger.

Chai Yun wasn’t being overbearing at this moment and quickly added, “Damn, I forgot that the Marquis’s wife is also from the Cui family. Lord Marquis, don’t get me wrong. The Cui clan guards their daughters well; I’ve only heard about them and I haven’t had the opportunity to see them in person. I mean, if not for Cui Teng’s sake…

Alright, let me rephrase it. For example, there was a certain general’s daughter who was engaged, but after her engagement, I still won her over after only a month. She got married last month but is still writing letters to me, wanting to meet me again.”

Chai Yun looked very pleased with herself. Han Ruzi felt an extreme sense of disgust but didn’t show it on his face. He asked, “Cui Teng stole the daughter of that general?”

“Nah, that one wasn’t all that beautiful, if Cui Teng wanted her, so I could let him have her. It’s another one, the daughter of Marquis Guiyi. I spent nearly a year pursuing her, and I’ve made some progress recently. But Cui Teng suddenly appeared, taking advantage of the prestige of his father, Grand Tutor Cui, and went to propose. Cui Teng clearly knew my intentions. If Hu You marries into the Cui clan, how could I still have a chance?”

“Hu You?”

“The daughter of Marquis Guiyi, you must have heard of her, right?”

Han Ruzi shook his head, ” Marquis Guiyi… which means Xiongnu who surrendered to our Chu empire?”[1]

“That’s right, the current Marquis Guiyi is the second generation Marquis, and his daughter, Hu You… Tsk, those who have seen her say she has unparalleled beauty. Nobody knows her name, so she’s called Hu You, meaning ‘excellent foreign specimen’.” Chai Yun had a look of longing. “If I could have her, I’d willingly give up ten years of my life.”

Han Ruzi’s disgust deepened, but he chuckled, “If Cui Teng is making a marriage proposal, you can do the same.”

“Ah, but I married early. I already have one wife and three concubines. Don’t underestimate Marquis Guiyi; he may not have much influence, but he has some backbone. He’s determined not to let his daughter become a concubine.[2] Cui Teng isn’t married yet, so he’s taking advantage. If only I had a little more time, even if it’s just a month.” Chai Yun clenched her fist in frustration.

“So, you and Cui Teng fell out over this?”

“Cui Teng not only proposed ahead of me but also warned me not to interfere with his soon-to-be wife, or he’d sever our ties. Am I afraid of him? Grand Tutor Cui currently controls the Southern Army, but he won’t be triumphant for long. It’s a pity for Hu You; she marries into the Cui clan, she will have a miserable life once the Cui clan meets its downfall.”

Han Ruzi initially suspected this was a trap. However, the more time he spent with Chai Yun, the less suspicious he became. This person was shameless to the point of being naïve, completely unaware of his own ugliness. It was unthinkable that such a person could act or keep a secret.

He still had a few questions, though. “I understand now. You want revenge for such a slight, but can a fight really prevent the Cui clan from arranging this marriage?”

“I just need to delay Cui Teng for a while. After I enjoy some time with Hu You, Cui Teng can take over whenever he wants.” Chai Yun chuckled triumphantly. Han Ruzi had to admit that even in this situation, Chai Yun still looked handsome.

After pondering for a moment, Han Ruzi asked, “Your family should have capable fighters. Why do you need my attendants for this?”

With this question, he indicated his growing interest. Chai Yun was shameless but not stupid. He turned his back to the door and spoke in a low voice, “It has to be a martial arts expert from your household to be able to teach Cui Teng a lesson.”

“Heh, I don’t see why.”

“Because of Prince Donghai.”

“What does he have to do with this?” Han Ruzi had come for Prince Donghai, but he hadn’t expected this turn of events.

“We’re not ordinary commoners. When we fight, it’s not just about who has more people; it about who has greater status. For example, if the opponent sends a fifth-rank civil official, we should at least have a fifth-rank military officer. If we send someone of lower rank, it would be embarrassing, and we might even attract trouble. Those old folks in the Ministry of Rites and the Bureau of Imperial Clan Affairs are like ferocious tigers when they hear of inferiors disrespecting their superiors. They would submit impeachments without any hesitation.”

Han Ruzi couldn’t believe that the fights between noble scions had such nuances. He shook his head and said with a smile, “Is Prince Donghai going to stand up for Cui Teng?”

“That’s right. There are very few princes in the capital, and either they’re too old or too timid. Your position is higher than Prince Donghai’s, and you have a feud with the Cui clan. It’s just right for you to handle Prince Donghai. As for your attendant, he’s from the pugilist world, and if he causes trouble, he can simply walk away. Much more convenient than our own servants. If all else fails, we can just hand him over.”

Han Ruzi shook his head. “I don’t have many people in my service, and I can’t afford to lose any.”

Chai Yun smiled knowingly and spoke in an even lower voice, “Zhang Yanghao told me. You like playing dice, but I understand your predicament.”

“My predicament? What do you mean?”

“I consider you a friend, and you shouldn’t treat me like a stranger. As a marquis, you hold a hollow title, with only a small stipend from the court, yet your expenses are significant. You say you like dice, but, in reality, you like gold and silver. Of course, who doesn’t? It’s just that the world is so unfair. Some people are drowning in money while others can’t make ends meet. Why not distribute it more evenly? But it can’t be distributed randomly; there should be some trust involved. I, Chai Yun, am a trustworthy person. Let me tell you the truth: I’ve never spent money on women, at most a few pieces of cheap jewelry or sachets. But when it comes to friends, you can ask around, have I ever been stingy? Even though Cui Teng is the son of the Grand Tutor, over the years, I’ve spent nearly ten thousand taels of silver on him. Have I ever complained or hesitated?”

Han Ruzi had heard enough. “Capturing Cui Teng alive is worth ten thousand taels?”

“That’s for your attendant. You would get five times that amount. But I won’t tell outsiders this, so you don’t have to worry about getting a bad reputation.” Chai Yun had at least some principles. “So, what do you think?”

“It really will not cause too much trouble?”

“At most, a few servants and martial artists will die. What else could happen? You just need to keep your attendant in check and not let him make a mess. Everyone else knows the rules, and they won’t really harm the young masters.”

“Well, hearing it from you, this does sound interesting.”

“Of course. If we win, Cui Teng and Prince Donghai won’t raise their heads for a year. Your grudge will be settled, and you’ll gain a big sum of money. In the future, if you ever need money, just let me know.”

“It’s not about the money…” Han Ruzi hesitated, knowing that he should not appear too eager.

Chai Yun knew the deal was sealed. He clasped the Weary Marquis’s shoulder and smiled, “Of course, we’re talking about friendship here. Come on, call everyone in, let’s get drunk and then we’ll seek revenge on Cui Teng.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight. But we have to wait until Lady Hengyang retires to rest. She favors me the most and can’t sleep peacefully without seeing me. It’s her birthday today, and I can’t disappoint her.”

The shameless person turned out to be a very filial grandson, but Han Ruzi’s impression of Chai Yun couldn’t be changed. “Tonight is definitely not possible. Pick another time.”

“But I’ve already made plans with Cui Teng.”

“Still not possible. I have to return to my manor tonight, and Du Chuanyun isn’t prepared yet.”

Chai Yun appeared somewhat unhappy but didn’t insist, slowly releasing the Weary Marquis. “Alright…” Suddenly, he grabbed the Weary Marquis’s shoulder. “You won’t be swayed by your wife, will you?”

“I won’t. I do not treat the Cui clan as true relatives.”

Han Ruzi insisted on returning to his manor not because of his wife. He was looking for Meng E just in case there really was a trap on Prince Donghai’s side. He needed someone to protect him.

[1] The Guiyi in Marquis Guiyi literally means “returning to righteousness”, or “returning to the fold”. It is a term that is often used to describe an enemy who surrenders and joins up instead.

[2] In ancient China, a man could only have one wife, but could have multiple concubines. Concubines were much lower in status than the wife and were essentially regarded as servants with a special job description.

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