tallest building

Chapter 103 Something went wrong

The dog days of summer have begun, and schools are closed due to the extreme heat.

Gong Chang'an would play pranks on Gong Bao'an at home every day, which prompted Wen Mingqian to say to him, "Why don't you think about entering the Imperial Academy as soon as possible? All you do every day is play pranks. How can that be right?"

Gong Chang'an said with a grin, "Mother, don't worry, I won't neglect my studies. I just feel sorry for Bao'an, so I'll take him out to play so he won't be so sad."

“But he can’t just play around. Besides, the weather is hot these days, and he’s still young. We need to be careful not to let him get heatstroke,” Wen Mingqian said.

“I know, didn’t someone from the Feng family come yesterday and say they wanted me to go to their house today?” Gong Chang’an replied. “I figured my sworn brother would ask me to stay there for a few more days, so I won’t take Bao’an with me.”

"It's better not to take him. Young Master Feng has a bad temper, and we don't want him to cause any trouble." Wen Mingqian felt that he wasn't Gong Baoan's biological mother after all, and it wouldn't be good if he just let him go to someone else's house and caused any trouble.

Putting everything else aside, Feng Tianzhu's stepmother harbors a deep grudge against Song Shi. If she were to take her anger out on Gong Bao'an because of this, it would be better not to let him go.

"Miss, aren't you going out today?" Zhang Ma asked as she walked in. "Didn't the Lady of Changrong Marquis invite you to go boating on the lake?"

“I remember, I’ll be out in a bit,” Wen Mingqian said. “I still need to find a way to get her to introduce me to the Princess.”

"The eldest princess has a strange temperament, and very few people have been able to enter and leave her residence in recent years." Zhang Ma shook her head with a click of her tongue. "It's really extremely difficult to even catch a glimpse of her."

“Who can argue with that! Fortunately, Lady Changrong is very adept at social maneuvering and can make friends with all sorts of people,” Wen Mingqian said. “As long as there is even a sliver of hope, we cannot give up.”

"In the Great Qi Dynasty these days, the Grand Tutor is always revered. The Dong family is truly exceptionally powerful!" said Zhang Ma. "These past few days, everyone on the street has been saying that the Emperor has bestowed 100,000 strings of cash each upon the Empress's two younger sisters for cosmetics. What a great favor!"

“The Dong family’s power is too great; even the Emperor cannot help but be wary of them. After all, Grand Tutor Dong has twice installed and twice deposed emperors, making him even more powerful than Huo Guang of the Han Dynasty.” Wen Mingqian took out a pair of red coral earrings and put them on.

Her eyes and brows in the mirror were aloof and cold, even with the red accents on either side.

"Let Sang Er accompany the girl!" said Zhang Ma. "That girl is always restless at home."

“It’s good that she’s coming with me, but we still need to arrange for two people to go with Chang’an,” Wen Mingqian said.

"I'd be fine with just one servant," Gong Chang'an quickly said. "The Feng family has plenty of servants, why bring so many?"

"Whatever you want." Wen Mingqian didn't stop her. "Zhang Ma is getting old, and it's hot, so she shouldn't have to go through all that trouble. Besides, he's a regular visitor to the Feng family, unlike other families."

After explaining everything, Wen Mingqian finally went out.

Just as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw Ma Ping'an walking over with an old woman.

Wen Mingqian had no choice but to stop and ask him, "Did you need something from me?"

Ma Ping'an said with a smile on his face, "It was the master who sent someone to deliver things to the madam."

The old woman who had been following Ma Ping'an also stepped forward obsequiously and said, "When the master was on the street, he saw some water chestnut flour cakes for sale, so he bought some and had them delivered. He said he remembered that the madam liked to eat these, and they were still hot!"

Wen Mingqian glanced at the water chestnut cake wrapped in fresh lotus leaves. He remembered that this was the first snack Gong Xu bought for him.

They were newlyweds at the time, and went to Chunfeng Bridge to admire the flowers. There happened to be this for sale at the bridgehead.

Wen Mingqian did indeed love eating water chestnut flour cake; it was her mother's specialty dessert. Perhaps that was why Wen Mingqian was so fond of water chestnut flour cake.

Even if she liked something, she lost her appetite if Gong Xu bought it. "I'm not hungry, and I'm in a hurry to leave. It's a waste to leave this food uneaten, so let's share it!" Wen Mingqian said before leaving.

The old woman held the cake, unsure of what to say. Ma Ping'an glanced at Zhang Ma and said, "Give this to Zhang Ma, so that the people in the madam's courtyard can share it."

But when Zhang Ma learned where the cake came from, she refused to accept it, saying only, "You should take it and eat it! Nobody in this yard wants it."

Not long after Wen Mingqian left, a servant at the second gate relayed a message: "The Feng family's carriage has arrived; they're going to pick up the Fourth Young Master."

Gong Chang'an had already finished getting ready and rushed out like a whirlwind, leaving Zhang Ma unable to keep up.

"My little darling, slow down, be careful not to fall and break your teeth," Zhang Ma called from behind.

“Aunt Zhang,” Gong Baoan tugged at Aunt Zhang’s clothes from behind, “Fourth Brother is gone, will you play with me?”

"What can I possibly play with you?!" Zhang Ma said irritably. "Get lost! Do you really think I care about you?!"

She already had a fierce appearance, and with that tone of voice, Gong Baoan was so frightened that he trembled and ran away.

Although Zhang Ma didn't like him, she still had to understand Wen Mingqian's feelings, so she instructed Mei'er, "Take good care of him and don't get hurt."

Just then, someone from the old lady's side came over and told Zhang Ma that the old lady hadn't been eating well these past few days, and asked her to find a way to stew some nourishing soup and send it over.

Zhang Ma then began to make arrangements, and she was busy for about an hour.

Ma Ping'an suddenly rushed over in a panic.

"Aunt Zhang, has the Fourth Young Master gone out?" Ma Ping'an asked breathlessly as he ran.

"Didn't you go out? You left in the Feng family's car." Zhang Ma stopped what she was doing. "Why are you asking this?"

"Something's not right!" Ma Ping'an said. "The Feng family's car is waiting outside!"

"What did you say?!" Zhang Ma's eyes widened suddenly. "Whose car was that before?"

Without waiting for Ma Ping'an's reply, he ran out the door in a few quick steps.

Ma Ping'an, a young and strong man, couldn't outrun her.

The Feng family's carriage was indeed parked outside the gate, and the coachman, Zhang Ma, recognized it; it was indeed a member of the Feng family.

"It's Zhang Mama!" The coachman smiled and bowed. "I'm here on Madam's orders to pick up your fourth young master. I already sent a message to your residence yesterday."

“Our fourth young master has already been taken away by you!” Ma Ping’an said. “Did your household make a mistake? Did you send two groups of people?”

"No, I was the one who delivered the message yesterday. Madam only entrusted this matter to me, just in case things go wrong," the coachman said with a friendly smile.

"Old Huang, you were right there when the Fourth Young Master got into the carriage, tell me!" Ma Ping'an called to the servant in the gatehouse.

“I’m right here! It should be the carriage of the Duke of Feng. The coachman looks kind to me. He told me himself that he’s from the Duke of Feng’s family, so I sent someone in to deliver the message.” Old Huang’s tone was extremely certain.

(End of this chapter)