The Most Powerful Young Master of the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 20: I’m Afraid I’ve Gotten Myself into a Mess This Time

Bai Yutang was still somewhat weak, but she could walk with some effort. As she walked away, she said, “I have some personal matters to attend to. Take care, my husband. I’ll come see you whenever I have time, and I’ll definitely be here to hand everything over to you when you come of age.” “That’s many years from now. If you run off now, with so many handsome men in the martial arts world, what if you end up running off with someone else?” Wang Bang asked with a peculiar expression. Bai Yutang tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, “Your concern makes sense. I’m an impulsive and headstrong person when it comes to love. I don’t like to hide my feelings—if I like someone, I like them. So I can’t rule out the possibility that I might fall for someone else, but I won’t run away. If I’m wrong in the future, I’ll come before you and take my own life.” “Ah!” Wang Bang jumped in fright once again. This big sister with a screw loose was being so extreme—if she’d treat her own words like that, she’d surely treat me, Wang Bang, the same way. It looked like this young master had really gotten himself into a mess this time. “You’re overthinking it, Sister Jin Mao. You’re overthinking it. That’s not what I meant,” Wang Bang said nervously. “What I mean is, while the spirit of the agreement is important, there’s no need to be so extreme. You haven’t actually married me yet. If one day in the future you really do meet a talented man worthy of your heart, you can change your mind and go with him. I thought you knew I was magnanimous about these things.” “Don’t try to be sly with me now. We’ve already settled this. Once a decision is made, I don’t dwell on it. That’s it. Take care of yourself—I’m leaving.” Bai Yutang said as she turned to leave. “I won’t rest until I’ve taken out that imperial lackey, Zhan Zhao. I have to eliminate him before I marry you.” “My dear sister, you can’t beat him—you never will. You’re exceptionally gifted, so why do you assume he’s less talented than you? You’ve improved, so why do you think he’s standing still? Your temperament—to put it nicely, it’s fierce; to put it bluntly, it’s foolish. How can you possibly stand up to that sleazy Old Bao and Zhan Zhao? They have the imperial court’s million-strong army backing them up, and they hold the moral high ground. How can you possibly compete with them? This requires strategy—and it’s not that I look down on you, but you simply aren’t cunning enough. You’ll never be able to fulfill this wish of yours.” Wang Bang said earnestly. “You’re my husband—will you help me?” Bai Yutang asked after staring blankly for a long while. Wang Bang immediately waved his hand to distance himself: “No, no, no—this has nothing to do with me. I’m one of the court’s lackeys too—this young master is in their camp. Someday, behind closed doors, I’ll settle the score with them. But right now, to side with those roughnecks from the underworld to set a trap for them—that’s disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unrighteous. It’s twenty times worse than breaking a promise. You—you—you woman, don’t even think about dragging this ‘Righteous Wang’ down with you. I’d rather die than comply. I face death with resolve; my stance is unwavering, and I’ll never compromise in the face of any amorous traps or your tyranny, big sister.” Bai Yutang, who had already been unsteady on her feet, stumbled and fell. “I was just asking my husband a simple question as a woman—you didn’t need to go on and on with such a long-winded, nagging speech making it sound so serious. If you won’t help me, I won’t hold it against you.” After the feisty girl hit the ground, Wang Bang rushed over to take advantage of the situation, crouching down and gently running his hand along her spine. He was a bit nervous, though—after all, she was highly skilled in martial arts and had a terrible temper. Fortunately, Jin Mao didn’t mind. As far as Bai Yutang was concerned, the only downside was that he was still young and lacked that kind of charm. The boy was mostly mischievous—he didn’t even have an innocent childlike heart. Wang Bang continued, “Sister Bai, don’t leave. Stay by my side. I’ll teach you to read, teach you the ways of the world, and mold you into the person I want you to be. Get your act together and join the biggest gang of all—the imperial court. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Once you’ve truly been initiated and become the capable partner of a court lackey like me, you’ll be one of us. Then I’ll make Old Bao and Zhan Zhao jump through hoops, avenging you. That’s what they call ‘a gentleman’s revenge—it’s never too late, even after ten years.’ ” “Anyway, I’m going to go and kill Zhan Zhao first. Take care of yourself, my little husband.” Bai Yutang stubbornly stood up again. “As a man, I demand a goodbye kiss. Do you think I deserve a slap?” Wang Bang knew full well she was a stubborn mule who wouldn’t be dissuaded. Bai Yutang thought for a moment. Although this little brat was too young, lacked any sense of romance, and was downright sleazy, asking for a kiss didn’t seem like too much to ask. So she walked back over, pulled Wang Bang into her arms, and he settled comfortably against her chest, ready to kiss her. “Shut up!” Old Liao’s loud shout rang out suddenly. Bai Yutang jerked her head around, causing Wang Bang—who was already a bit nervous—to miss his mark and end up kissing her cheek instead. Sister Bai’s skin is so fair and jade-like—it feels absolutely wonderful. After Bai Yutang gently set Wang Bang down on the ground, she gripped the hilt of her exceptionally long sword. “Petty tricks!” Old Liao wasn’t about to give Bai Yutang a chance to draw her sword; as he stepped forward, he hooked his toe, sending pebbles on the ground flying. Bai Yutang, her movements slowed at that moment, was unable to dodge; she could only adjust her angle slightly at the last second to shift out of the way. As a result, the pebble didn’t strike her hand but shattered against the sword hilt instead, and the flying sand caused a dull ache on the back of her hand. As Bai Yutang took a step back, Old Liao stepped forward. Just as Bai Yutang tried to grasp the hilt again, Old Liao had already seized it. Being a step behind put her at a disadvantage in every respect; no matter what she did, she found herself in a losing position. Old Liao would inevitably strike first—the first to act gains the advantage. As a result, Bai Yutang’s expression darkened; he was deeply disheartened. Liao Qingluan’s sword was no joke—let alone facing his first strike while currently at half health. Even at full health, if Bai Yutang struck first and gained the initiative, he could only keep Old Liao at bay for two hundred exchanges at most; eventually, the tide would turn. At that point, he’d have to flee—if he didn’t, he’d surely suffer a loss. So, since Bai Yutang and Old Liao had no personal grudge, he gave up the struggle and stopped trying to clash swords altogether. “I wasn’t saying anything to bother you—why are you telling me to shut up?” Bai Yutang, seemingly influenced by Wang Bang, decided to go on the offensive with his words. Old Liao said, “I was just telling my young master to keep his hands to himself. I saw him sticking his mouth out, almost touching you. I don’t know who taught him that, but his mouth was all puckered up, sharp as a rat’s—it’s just not proper. Hmph.” Since Bai Yutang’s nickname was “Rat,” she didn’t take it as an insult and held her head high with pride. She was proud that her little husband was also a rat. Wang Bang, on the other hand, was thoroughly embarrassed. “How dare you kidnap the young master of Magistrate Wang’s household! Although the young master was unharmed, and you even saved him from the threat of that demonic centipede, your merits do not outweigh your transgressions—you are still guilty,” Old Liao rebuked, his hand on the hilt of his sword as he stared at the dead centipede on the ground. In reality, Old Liao was feigning loyalty; by speaking this way, he was clearly looking for a reason to exonerate Bai Yutang. Otherwise, Bai Yutang would likely have faced a capital offense. This matter had truly escalated—the eyewitness was Wang Xiaoya, and it was the little girl herself who had gone to the prefectural office to file the report. Bai Yutang wanted to defend herself, saying, “He saved me—he’s the one who killed the centipede,” but she saw Wang Bang shake his head slightly. He had to protect his wife, after all, so Wang Bang added, “Uncle Liao, there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding here. Bai Yutang didn’t mean any harm—she’s just a bit scatterbrained and naive, and her good intentions backfired. She asked me to come watch her catch the thief, but that thief was trying to set me up. She was trying to show off but went about it the wrong way; the way she invited me was a bit rough, which led Erya to misunderstand. Erya is young and doesn’t know any better, so it’s only natural she misinterpreted Bai Yutang’s actions. She didn’t kidnap me—I came with her of my own free will.” Old Liao breathed a slight sigh of relief and let go of his sword hilt. “So that’s how it is. I knew it—where would a major thief come from in Shuzhou City? Everything is under my control.” Wang Bang’s eyes darkened. Damn it, he’s in control of nothing. If I’d relied on him, this young master would’ve been beaten to a pulp by that big sister, and she would’ve committed a grave crime. Thankfully, this young master is resourceful and managed to take control of the situation. Come to think of it, when Old Liao said earlier that “everything was under his control,” he must’ve known about Bai Yutang’s existence all along—he just didn’t want to say anything. Bai Yutang didn’t really care about any of this. Seeing that her young husband was telling another lie, she decided to set the record straight again. Wang Bang, however, waved his hand and said, “Women aren’t allowed to interrupt when a man is speaking.” Adhering to the mindset that “when you marry a rooster, you follow the rooster; when you marry a dog, you follow the dog,” Bai Yutang wasn’t all that upset; she just stomped her foot fiercely and walked away. She had taken a total of three hundred wen from Wang Bang. She had originally planned to return it to him, but now she’d changed her mind. She could treat it as money from her in-laws for cosmetics, or as a wedding gift—either way, she wasn’t giving it back. He was still young; what did he need so much money for?