Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 65: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf
The Cao Mansion is particularly lively today.

Servants were walking back and forth, and the sound of sharpening knives could be heard in the side yard.

Everyone was very busy because the host was going to hold a banquet to entertain guests.

Old Man Cao changed his clothes into gorgeous clothes and walked with a cane. The cane was also extremely exquisite, with a tiger head carved on it.

Old Man Cao ordered everyone to do their work and he did not allow anyone to be idle. He used to be an official in the county, but later when he got old, he used his connections to retire.

But even so, he could not suppress the desire to manage others in his heart. He would give orders for everything on weekdays and give orders to the servants. When he was free, he would look after his tenants and teach them how to farm. Even Carpenter Wang did not like to work in their house, mainly because this old man liked to manage him and teach him how to do carpentry work.

"Don't just stand there! I'm talking to you! What are you standing there for? Go see if there's anyone who needs help!"

While Old Man Cao was talking, he suddenly stopped and looked into the inner room.

At this moment, Lecturer Lu was sitting in the inner room with someone else. The person lowered his head and was wrapped tightly.

"Did you remember what I said?"

"Remember, leave secretly, don't let anyone see you, go to the county government tomorrow and cry to Liu Youjiao, and accuse Murong Guang of getting drunk and raping my daughter, and forcing her to death."

"Well, what else?"

"Also, they insisted that Murong Guang committed adultery. If an envoy from the Murong family came to interrogate him, they would change their story and say that Liu Taozi had ordered them to help him frame him and establish his authority."

Lecturer Lu smiled and nodded, "Okay, okay, that's best."

"Don't worry, I have already made arrangements for your son. Just go ahead and do your job. If anything happens to you, I will protect your whole family."

The man bowed quickly and said sincerely: "Thanks to your care over the years, my son has been able to succeed. I will repay you for your kindness with my life!"

"Well, I also hope you can understand that Liu Taozi is a scourge to Cheng'an. If he knew about your son's affairs, he would be dead. It would be better for everyone if we get rid of him now."

"I see!!"

Lecturer Lu looked at his confidant standing beside him, and the confidant took the man out through a small door.

Lecturer Lu cleared his throat, walked to the front yard with a smile on his face, and met the old man Cao.

Old Man Cao frowned and looked very uneasy.

"Teacher Lu, I think we should just forget it. Not to mention that Taozi has someone backing her up, there's Murong Guang. If we offend him, it would be even more frightening than offending Liu Taozi."

"Why don't we invite him to dinner and ask him to take care of us in the future, and use his power to intimidate Liu Taozi."

Instructor Lu's face turned pale. "It's already this late, do you still want to hide?"

"Why would Murong Guang offend the county magistrate for a meal? Only if he is arrested will the adults in his family come forward to negotiate with the county magistrate."

"Besides, I have already made all the arrangements. The woman and the person who is going to complain are all ready. When Murong Guang gets drunk, I will give the woman to him. We will wait for the result tomorrow."

"But what if Murong Guang resents us because of this?"

"As long as today's banquet allows him to eat well, drink well, and have fun, then even if he blames me, he won't blame us. I'm still here, so don't worry."

After some persuasion from Lecturer Lu, Mr. Cao finally gave in and said, "Okay, as you said."

Everyone became busy again, and the two stood in the yard waiting.

The other two also came here and they waited together.

After a long time, the guests still hadn't arrived. Just when Lecturer Lu was getting a little worried, a simple carriage finally appeared in front of their courtyard.

A tall but very thin young man got out of the carriage, followed by six strong servants.

Lecturer Lu hurried forward and bowed, "Greetings, Lord Murong!"

The young man looked at Lecturer Lu in a daze. His eyes were red and his skin was extremely white, so white that it was pathological, and you could see the blood vessels distributed there.

The clothes were ordinary, nothing particularly luxurious.

His eyes were a little dull and not very bright.

"Are you Lu Zhanshan?"

"It's me! Lord Murong! We live in the same city, but we haven't seen each other for a long time. I specially invite you to come here today."

As Lecturer Lu was speaking, Murong Guang looked at the old man, "Who are you?"

"I, Cao Hunhe, pay my respects to Lord Murong!"

Murong Guang didn't say anything, and Lecturer Lu hurriedly introduced everyone present to him.

"These people are all kind people in the city. When they learned that I knew you, they wanted to hold a banquet. They didn't expect you to come."

"You said there was some good wine?"

"Yes, yes, they are all the best wines in Cheng'an!"

Murong Guang didn't say anything else and walked straight in. Everyone hurriedly followed him. Two servants stood at the door, holding the knives at their waists, and the other four followed at the end.

They walked all the way to the inner room, where all kinds of delicacies were placed. Murong Guang stood there, examining the food in front of him and looked around.

"Where's the wine?"

"Please eat something first, the wine will be served now!" Murong Guang found a place and sat down at random. It was neither the host seat nor the guest seat, but no one dared to find fault, so they had to sit around him.

Murong Guang took a few bites of the meat and shook his head, "The meat has been cooked for too long, it's too soft and has no chewiness!"

Old Man Cao immediately shouted to the people beside him: "Didn't you hear me? I told you to be attentive, and this is how you are? Take away the mutton! Give me fifty lashes for the cook!!"

Hearing this, Murong Guang suddenly laughed. His face was almost fleshless, and his smile looked particularly sinister.

"You are a good person."

"Thank you, Lord Murong!"

He took another bite of the chicken and shook his head again, "Too little ingredients. It tastes bland, like chewing wax!"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Old Man Cao, as if he was waiting for something. Old Man Cao ordered again, "Take the person who cooked this meal out and beat him up!"

Murong Guang's zombie-like face suddenly came to life. He slowly woke up with excitement on his face.

Every time he took a bite, he would make a few comments and always find fault, and Old Man Cao would cooperate and deal with all these people.

Lecturer Lu brought out the wine at the appropriate time.

Murong Guang swallowed it down, then smiled and found fault, "It's a good wine, but it's not the best wine in Cheng'an!"

After he finished speaking, he stared at Old Man Cao. Old Man Cao was stunned for a moment, then he slapped himself hard, "Then this is my fault, I have to punish myself!"

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

Murong Guang laughed loudly. He drank wine and ate meat in big gulps and was extremely excited.

The other people started talking, but Murong Guang pretended not to hear them and ignored them completely. Everyone was very embarrassed, but they were still relieved when they saw him eating and drinking heartily.

At some point, Murong Guang stood up unsteadily and touched his crotch.

"I need to pee."

Immediately two servants stepped forward, and one of the rich men stood up, "I'll take you there now!"

They left the banquet like this. Old Man Cao watched them leave temporarily, then wiped the sweat off his face and looked at Lecturer Lu.

"Is this Murong Guang a bit unusual?"

"You don't know, like this, the children of big families are all noble and ambitious. Murong Jun is good at taking medicine. After taking it, his wisdom is greatly improved and he doesn't care about trivial matters anymore."

At this moment, a scream suddenly came from not far away.

Several people hurriedly stood up, and Old Man Cao walked quickly to the door, "What happened?!"

Then he saw a man trotting over. It was a servant of the Cao family. His eyes were filled with fear at the moment. "Master! It's bad! It's bad!"

"Mr. Murong got drunk and broke into the backyard. His servants blocked the door."

Hearing these words, Old Man Cao staggered. The backyard was where his family lived.

With the support of his servants, he hurried all the way there, and everyone followed him.

Two strong slaves stood at the door, staring at everyone coldly. From inside, women's screams, cries, and pleas for mercy could be heard continuously.

Old Man Cao felt his face turn red and his whole body tremble.

"Open the door, open the door."

Lecturer Lu hurriedly pulled him back and said, "Mr. Cao, don't be anxious."

"Don't be in a fucking hurry."

As they were talking, something suddenly flew out from the wall.

The old man looked closely and saw that it was a half-grown head that looked terrified.

"Grandson. My grandson!!!"

The old man roared and rushed towards the gate. The servant swung his knife mercilessly and hit the old man in the face. The old man fell to the ground immediately.

Everyone was terrified and turned to run, only to see two other slaves holding knives standing behind them.

The gate of the courtyard was slowly opened, and Murong Guang walked out of the gate in a daze. Several servants covered in blood escorted him to the carriage.

The carriage turned around and quickly disappeared in the distance.

The gate of the courtyard was left open and no sound was heard for a long time.

This went on for a long time.

Suddenly.

A man rushed out of the yard crying.

The man was in tattered clothes, covering one eye, with blood running down his face. He ran out, fell heavily to the ground, and then started crying and screaming.

"Someone is coming!!"

(End of this chapter)