Chapter 97 – Delivered to the door at night

Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen

“Did that delicate and pretty young master really not shed any tears?”

Duke Xie Qingzhi toyed with the wine glass in his hand, swirling the strange murky red liquid inside, his voice tinged with a somewhat twisted excitement.

The steward Li thought to himself, even if the handsome young master didn’t cry on the spot, he would surely cry his heart out once he got home.

Of course, he wasn’t foolish enough to say that directly.

Legend had it that Duke Xie Qingzhi was a notorious “royal lunatic dog”, with a volatile temperament. No one knew what would trigger his anger, as a seemingly ordinary action could suddenly spark his desire for cruelty.

Due to his dark and violent nature, he was a complete sadist, with bizarre habits of torturing and killing people and animals. To cover up this scandal within the royal family, the Emperor had handed over the Imperial Torture Department to him, providing an outlet for his sadistic tendencies without targeting commoners.

Steward Li carefully considered his response and replied, “Sir, according to the reports, Young Master Tang Qing met General Shen Yanxia at the door. General Shen asked him if he was willing to marry you, and if not, he could help Young Master Tang Qing escape the marriage.”

Duke Xie Qingzhi chuckled, his eyes full of disdain, a smirk playing on his lips, “Him? Does he really think he’s the rising star of the Empire, challenging the authority of the royal family?”

Steward Li nodded repeatedly, bowing and said, “Of course not. What is he? Just a fool dreaming. Anything you set your sights on, even a bird, cannot escape your grasp.”

Steward Li’s words were not unfounded. Although Shen Yanxia was the youngest general in the Empire and the dream lover of many noble young ladies, as well as a figure the Tang family had always wanted to connect with, his potential was incomparable to the power held by Duke Xie Qingzhi.

When General Shen Yanxia encountered Duke Xie Qingzhi, he also had to bow and respectfully address him as “Sir.”

After some flattery, Steward Li continued, “Young Master Tang Qing decisively refused upon hearing General Shen’s words. He said he has long admired you and won’t marry anyone else but you. It seems this young master really likes you, sir.”

A strange and excited laughter rolled out from Duke Xie Qingzhi’s throat.

Interesting, truly interesting.

After living for so many years, it was the first time someone had admired him and claimed they would only marry him.

At 35 years old, although not considered old by the planet’s standards, with an average lifespan of 200 years, he was in his prime. Compared to the just-of-age, budding beauty, the Empire’s number one beauty, he was almost old enough to be his father.

“Is that Shen Yanxia from the side branch of my mother’s family, the Shen family?” Duke Xie Qingzhi suddenly asked as if recalling something interesting, with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Yes, General Shen is from that side branch related to your mother’s family. However, the Shen family had already declined long before General Shen became a rising star,” the steward Li reported dutifully, head bowed.

“So, Shen Yanxia will have to call me ‘uncle’ then,” Duke Xie Qingzhi said with a playful smile.

The thought of his nephew’s former fiancé, the Empire’s number one beauty, the elegant young master, being sent to his mansion tonight, brought a certain level of anticipation.

“I’m somewhat looking forward to it.”

He hoped this young beauty wouldn’t disappoint him too soon.

“I wonder how long my first wife will last in my hands.”

Upon hearing this, the steward Li was nearly dumbfounded. He had tried so hard to speak well of Tang Qing, following the Empress’s intentions to bring Tang Qing closer to Duke Xie Qingzhi to serve the Empress’s family.

In the end, this lunatic dog seemed more interested in tormenting this handsome young man.

“Sir, this young master is your companion, the Duchess who will accompany you for a lifetime. You can’t…” He couldn’t be tortured like a criminal.

The steward Li was sweating profusely, trying to dissuade him.

“To the dungeon.”

Duke Xie Qingzhi suddenly let out a short laugh, a wicked glint passing through his gray-blue eyes. His white teeth peeked out from the silver mask’s gap, enhancing his eerie laughter, sending shivers down one’s spine.

He finished the strange liquid in his glass in one gulp and strode out with long strides.

Knowing his mood was up, the steward Li knew it was futile to advise him and followed along.

Today, the dungeon would echo with continuous cries of misery throughout the day.

After calming down, Tang Qing went to find Tang Moyang and laid out three rules.

First, he wanted regular updates on Tang Bo’s treatment. Regardless of his brother’s condition or the expenses involved, the Tang family was not allowed to interrupt his treatment.

Tang Moyang, looking at his overly intelligent son, felt displeased and replied harshly, “Xiao Qing, your brother is also my biological son. How could I harm him? Your concerns are unfounded.”

Tang Qing said, “Father, I am also your biological son, and in the end, I was also sold to the royal family by you without hesitation. I don’t want to discuss your moral issues now. I want a clear answer.”

Tang Moyang reluctantly nodded.

He admitted he was a bit cold-blooded and selfish. But Tang Bo was also his biological son, who had earned significant merits for him. If anything happened to Tang Bo, the Tang family’s status would plummet.

Tang Qing continued, “Secondly, I want to take away the properties and funds listed here. These are the inheritance left to me by my mother, Lady Chen Ruxin, to be managed by you until I came of age. Now that I am an adult, I want to take these with me.”

Tang Moyang looked at the list of real estate and funds, feeling as if a piece of his heart had been torn out. It was as if he wanted to vomit blood, “You, you ungrateful brat. If it weren’t for the Tang family raising you, would you have what you have today?”

Tang Qing sneered, “It’s not the Tang family that raised me. Your wealth came from the funds Lady Chen Ruxin gave, your current status from the military merits Tang Bo earned with his life, and the future power and honor from selling my happiness in marriage.”

“These are rightfully my possessions. If I find even a penny missing, I will have a lawyer confront you. After all, it’s not me who would embarrassed by us going to court.”

Observing Tang Qing, Tang Moyang realized his son was not only exceptionally intelligent but also eloquent. Today was the first time he had shown his claws.

He remembered his first wife, Chen Ruxin, who was similarly articulate and assertive.

Tang Qing’s demeanor, much like his first wife’s, was unyielding and commanding, inciting a sense of resentment.

Tang Moyang’s face turned green with anger, veins popping on his forehead, as he coldly asked, “Do you have any other demands? Spit them all out at once.”

Regardless of his changing expressions, Tang Qing continued with his demands, “Thirdly, I’m marrying Duke Xie Qingzhi for the honor of the family. Therefore, the Tang family must prepare a dowry for me.”

“As for the amount, Father, you better figure it out. So I don’t accidentally slip up and let Duke Xie and the Empress think that our family married off an unfavored son to the royal family.”

These three demands left Tang Moyang dizzy and infuriated. He slammed the cup in his hand to the ground.

“You, you… you ungrateful child…”

Tang Qing looked indifferently at the furious Tang Moyang. He knew Tang Moyang, despite his bad temper and selfishness, was not foolish. The demands he made were ones that Tang Moyang had to fulfill. No matter how angry he got, in the end, he would have to comply.

“I’m going to see my gege now. I wish you a pleasant day.”

After Tang Qing finished speaking, he turned to leave. Behind him, Tang Moyang’s exasperated and mocking laughter could be heard:

“Xiao Qing, I forgot to tell you, the Duke requests you to go directly to his mansion tonight. There will be no wedding.”

“I have agreed.”

Tang Qing’s steps paused briefly, and he coldly replied, “Then remember to prepare the dowry early.”

With that, Tang Qing straightened his back and left the living room, heading towards Tang Bo’s treatment room.

Pushing the door open, he smelled the familiar scent of disinfectant, changed the water in the vase, opened the windows for ventilation, and checked around to ensure nothing had been tampered with before finally sitting beside his brother.

“Gege, what should I do?”

Tang Qing let go of the facade of being tough and looked at Tang Bo, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed, lost in thought.

Although he had felt Tang Moyang was too biased before, having his gege’s support had prevented him from being truly mistreated. Tang Bo had once been one of the Empire’s rising young generals, with significant contributions in the Zerg War. However, in a battle, he suffered severe brain damage and had been in a coma ever since.

When his gege was around, he would never have allowed Tang Moyang’s mistress and illegitimate children to live so openly in the Tang residence. Not to mention, he wouldn’t have let Tang Moyang repeatedly favor those illegitimate children, choosing to ignore the son of his late wife.

But with his gege in a coma, the family had been invaded by that mother and her two sons. His father had become increasingly unfamiliar. If it weren’t for Tang Bo needing treatment here, he would have left this home long ago, fearing what might happen to his gege once he was gone.

“Gege, rest assured, I will come to see you regularly and won’t let them mistreat you.”

Tang Qing tucked the blanket around Tang Bo, speaking with determination.

“I will also take care of myself, be cautious in dealing with the Duke, you can trust me, gege.”

Tonight, he would marry the Duke named Xie Qingzhi.

The rumored royal lunatic dog, whose face had been corroded by Zerg venom, with a penchant for bloodshed and slaughter. At 35 years old, nearly twice his age, he was also Tang Qing’s third arranged fiancé.

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