Chapter 35: Pulling Off a Massive Stunt

Li Wenxuan was slightly taken aback. This fellow seemed to have developed a knack for how things worked!

"Take whoever you can bring and accompany me to cause a scene at the General of the West’s Mansion. The bigger the spectacle, the better."

Tang Qi chuckled. "Is that all? Just causing a ruckus? I thought you were going to ask for something thrilling."

"With the four guys behind me, I can round up a hundred people in at most an hour."

"And what is the social background of these hundred people?" Li Wenxuan’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He was harboring a diabolical plot in his heart.

This plot was aimed at Li Hu, the Cui clan... and the entire General of the West’s Mansion!

As for the effect!

The more people, the better. Ideally, it should be a mix of all walks of life, from the imperial court down to the common street markets.

"Master Li, that goes without saying. From the halls of government to the marketplace, we have everyone. If you aren't in a rush, I could summon half the city!"

The confidence Tang Qi exuded was exactly the same as it had been before he challenged Li Wenxuan to a duel.

"Uh, that won't be necessary. I am actually in quite a hurry."

Li Wenxuan’s plot against the Cui clan and the others relied primarily on catching them off guard. If things were to blow up and spread before he had even acted, the opposition would be prepared, and it would be hard to say whether his scheme would succeed.

"Um, Master Li, my friends are all watching!"

Tang Qi, too, understood the art of conversation.

Li Wenxuan immediately stepped back two paces and looked up to the sky, laughing heartily: "Tang Qi, how about that? Didn't I tell you the courtyard was slippery?"

Tang Qi feigned deep resentment. He retreated several steps, picked up his red-tasseled spear, and walked away while cursing, "This courtyard is indeed slippery! Had it not been for my horse stumbling, you would never have defeated me!"

"Hahaha, I admit it too! If not for the slippery ground, who would have won today remains to be seen!"

Li Wenxuan raised his voice, ensuring that the four young scions standing on their horses beyond the waist-high picket fence could hear him clearly.

"Ha! I knew it! Brother Tang is a master among spear wielders; how could he possibly lose to this brat?" A spoiled rich kid immediately jeered.

"That punk clearly provoked Brother Tang into entering the courtyard for the duel just so he could use such underhanded tactics!"

"Hmph! What a despicable, filthy villain. Brother Tang! Set another date for the duel, and we brothers will surely come to help you hold the line!"

"That's right! Brother Tang, challenge him!"

"Challenge him! Challenge him hard!"

"..."

Li Wenxuan stood there smiling, cradling the red-tasseled spear, watching Tang Qi caught in the middle, trapped between two awkward positions.

Challenge?

Challenge!

"Next time, I’ll challenge you to a sword fight!"

Tang Qi immediately turned his head to make the appointment.

Li Wenxuan stood with his hands folded. "As for the time, let's keep it TBD..." He lowered his voice. "First, help me call those people. Once we’ve made a scene at the General of the West’s Mansion, I’ll set the time and place for you."

"This... fine then. At least I won't be taking advantage of you!"

In a sense, Tang Qi also felt his defeat was due to a stumble.

Swordplay was supposed to be ethereal and graceful. He had started learning martial arts at five. In short, Tang Qi was not just some stiff, unrefined brute; he was a man who understood the sword.

"It's just..." Tang Qi looked at the black-maned horse with some hesitation.

"I’ll lend it to you to ride for a few days!" Li Wenxuan waved generously.

Tang Qi flipped onto the horse. Just as he was about to say "thank you," he suddenly felt something was quite odd.

Why thank him?

This was his horse to begin with.

Except...

He suppressed his grief and glanced at the little red horse, which was nuzzling Li Wenxuan’s head with extreme intimacy...

Little Red, you... how could you be like this?

I clearly remember you were not this kind of horse!

Forget it!

It must be that this Li fellow forced you to do this, right?

Don't worry, I won't blame you.

Carrying a heavy heart, Tang Qi spurred his horse and lowered his head as he rode out of the Jiang family courtyard. Seeing his four friends waiting, he didn't hesitate to explain what Li Wenxuan had entrusted him with, delicately but in detail.

"Causing a stir at the General of the West’s Mansion? That’s our specialty!"

"What’s our motto? A man can be idle, but he can't stop stirring up trouble. If you’re alive, you’ve got to make a fuss!"

"Brother Tang, let’s meet outside the General of the West’s Mansion in an hour. None of us brothers will lose face—everyone go back and find your cousins, have them find their cousins, and let’s get this show on the road!"

Watching the group of scions ride off, whips cracking, Li Wenxuan happily patted the money pouch tucked into his chest, then glanced at the little red horse.

The sensible little red horse already knew how to return to the stable for food and drink after a fight.

However, he hadn't expected these spoiled youths to be so cooperative, without even needing Tang Qi to make up any conscience-clearing excuses.

Perhaps spoiled youths have their own troubles, too?

Why expose the painful reality of others, right?

Li Wenxuan turned and went back inside, changed into his official uniform as a Hundred-Man Commander of the Penalty Division, threw on his blood-red cloak, and finally stepped out.

Coincidentally, the landlord’s innocent and cute daughter pushed the door open. She looked at Li Wenxuan in surprise, and after a moment of stunned silence, she remembered to bow: "Greetings, My Lord!"

Li Wenxuan smiled. "You saw what happened earlier. They were looking for me; you don't need to be afraid. Just go about your daily business as usual."

"Yes!" Jiang Xiaoxiao stood stiffly.

Seeing her nervousness, Li Wenxuan didn't say anything more. He beckoned, and the little red horse trotted over to him.

Just as he was about to mount, he heard a familiar, timid voice: "Master Li, wishing you good fortune!"

Turning his head, he saw none other than Mad Donkey.

Mad Donkey flashed a fawning smile, holding silver in his hands as he approached Li Wenxuan: "Master Li, this is the change from the merchants after I paid them last night..."

Li Wenxuan, having just harvested a massive amount from his "ATM," had no interest in such small change for the time being, so he said generously:

"Go find them again today and have them build a kitchen, a latrine, and a bathroom next to this house. Their wages won't be lacking!"

But as if thinking of something, Li Wenxuan added: "Of course, keep it practical. Don't add a bunch of flashy, useless junk!"

"Ah? Yes! This subordinate understands, I’ll go right now!"

Mad Donkey felt a sense of relief. It seemed... Master Li still quite liked the things he had set up!

Watching Li Wenxuan mount his horse and disappear from sight, Mad Donkey hurriedly set to work.

At a corner in the distance, the Martial Emperor sighed and withdrew his gaze, glancing at the complex expression on the face of the former General, Tang Wushuang.

"Minister Tang?"

"Your Majesty, I am here!"

The Minister, usually known for his booming voice, seemed a bit lacking in spirit at this moment.

The Martial Emperor smiled with satisfaction. "Shall we return? Your son has once again challenged my Hundred-Man Commander of the Penalty Division to a sword fight. Will you come to watch next time?"

"I..." Tang Wushuang’s face twitched; he truly did not know what to say.

"Minister Tang, it's not that I want to lecture you, but why hide your skills from your own son? Teach him a few moves from that style of yours that is invincible across the Northern Camps—surely then he could take down my humble commander?"

Hearing the Martial Emperor’s words—which sounded like anything but bragging, yet were clearly the ultimate boast—Tang Wushuang looked up with a bitter, helpless smile.

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

"Alright, let's head back. We shall make another appointment next time!"

"I..." Tang Wushuang’s mouth twitched violently. He understood that the Emperor was intent on continuing to watch his humiliation.

But... who could blame him when his rebellious son, Tang Qi, was so disappointing?

The General, invincible across the Northern Camps, could only lower his head and bow, murmuring: "As you command, Your Majesty!"

He had already made up his mind to be a humble man from now on and stop showing off... After all, who was to blame when every son he sired was more useless than the last?

After Tang Wushuang left, the Martial Emperor sat in his carriage and took a leisurely look at Chief Steward Li: "Don't just stand there. Since we're idle, let's head to the General of the West’s Mansion to watch the show!"