Chapter 181: Foresee
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Shangguan Nu had built a special conference room for his wife. The hostess and guests were separated by a square-hollowed wooden wall.
Three killers were waiting to pass on the orders. It was nothing more than performing his duty and to support Shangguan Ru well. Of course, Gu Shenwei accepted the orders at once, while thinking that now that Eighth Young Master was a fat sheep to Lady Meng, the best he could do was put him on a butcher's block.
The killers soon left Slave Huan alone with Luo Ningcha behind the wall.
Just as they stepped out the door, she broke the silence by smashing some cups, prompting Maid Cui to gasp painfully.
As always, Miss was angry again.
"You foul, nasty bastard. Your nasty plan got me into big trouble. Do you think you can walk away?"
Gu Shenwei had to set aside all his contempts ever since Shangguan Fei's rise to power, including his contempt of Luo Ningcha. Maybe someday she would achieve something, although unlikely, but it may be worth the wait. Thus he patiently explained himself. "I've been loyal and running around for Your Grace's well-being."
"How moving! Do you want me to bestow you with this blind maid? Well, tell me, what have you done for me?"
"Haven't Your Grace heard that the two masters are tangled in a fight in South City? Her Majesty is very hurt."
"This is credited to you?"
"Your humble servant wouldn't take the full credit. But, alas, I did get some work done."
He was not completely lying. He did drive the wedge, just not for her.
Luo Ningcha fell into silence behind the wall, reflected on the servant's loyalty and asked, "Even if you did something right, why don't you report to me? I have to bring it up in front of the wicked one."
"The wicked one" was another name for Lady Meng. Every time she mentioned her mother-in-law, Luo Ningcha would be complaining about how she had been bullied. Here she went again, snapping. "It's all your fault. Why did you have to save that trash, Shangguan Hong? I'm over my head now. Besides, Madam Yang hates me and she won't talk to me. She's too busy running around sucking up to that wicked one."
"In my humble opinion, Your Grace, she's secretly grateful to you, definitely not hateful."
"So what? Now she becomes a pet of that wicked one. She's no longer loyal to me."
Gu Shenwei decided to assign a task to distract her so she wouldn't be concerned about this issue. Thu he persuaded. "The more loyal she acts, the more likely she's going to betray. No matter how hard she tries, Madam Yang wouldn't be pardoned. If given an opportunity, she will fall away from their group."
"How will she fall away? Anyone can act like that. I won't worry about that."
"Well, the Sixth Mistress can help us."
"Don't you know that the Sixth Mistress also comes from Meng Family? She's also the wicked one's pet."
"Maybe not."
Luo Ningcha seemed to realize, stopped Gu Shenwei and then signaled him to continue. "I've covered the maid's ears. You can say it now."
"It hasn't happened yet, but as long as Your Grace wishes, I will try to make it happen."
"I will do anything to make that wicked one weep."
"Here is the situation. The twins picked up a fight in South City, it turned out the Ninth Young Master won, and thus, the Tenth Young Master badly needed revenge. So I encouraged her to trash Sixth Young Master's place in South City, in order to drive a wedge between the Sixth Mistress and Her Majesty."
"Can you do it?" Luo Ningcha was not that stupid, instead, she was skeptical of Slave Huan.
"I've already made her trust me, she listens to me."
"Perfect!" Luo Ningcha raised her voice, even startling Gu Shenwei. She continued, "Do it now. I'll see how close they are."
"But I still need Your Grace's help."
"Just say it, money or people?"
"I cannot be too obvious on this, in case Her Majesty suspects us. Hence, I'd have her rob from both Sixth Young Master and Eighth Young Master. But I am, after all, Eighth Young Master's servant; I just don't know what the Eighth Young Master would think about the plan."
"Simple, no matter how much gold my husband lost in South City, I'll have Bighead Kingpin make it up to him. Don't worry, I have you covered."
This was what Gu Shenwei had been waiting for, and next, he would encourage her to do another thing. He opened his mouth, but no words were uttered. He fainted.
After a few months, he had a qigong deviation attack again.
Since he achieved Yin and Yang Strength by sped-up technique in Leftslope Vihara, Gu Shenwei had never fainted again. Until today, his Dantian Internal Breath was strong enough to suppress the lurking Force in Baihui and Xuanji acupoints. He even had dreamed that the Force was under control and it would be as irrelevant as a wart on the skin.
But without any warning, he was woken up to reality. The Qigong deviation never went away, it stood out to declare its existence.
The duration was short because he came around hearing Miss's voice. "...Get up, I order you. Don't you dare scare me like that."
"Yes, Your Grace." Gu Shenwei rose up, his heart wildly beating. He now had a desperate desire to fight and draw blood.
"What... what game are you playing at?" Miss spoke with fear, but only because of the fear that she might be infected.
"It was that my Internal Breath went into disorder. There's no need to worry."
Miss knew nothing about kung fu, and also doubted Slave Huan's words. But as long as he looked normal, she would give out orders. "I see. But still, be decent, don't do that again in front of me. Go call a physician to cure it. I don't want my business to be delayed."
Gu Shenwei expressed his gratitude for Miss's concern while he suppressed his anger. Then, he brought up another topic. "You Grace should ally with the Eighth Young Master's three killers."
"Why? Do I even have to suck up to my husband, who leaves me alone at home for months? I hate him, just as much as I hate the bad, ungrateful Bighead Kingpin."
Luo Ningcha was about to lose it again. Thus, Gu Shenwei had to again preach that a woman relied on her father and husband, and etc. Yet, he was interrupted by Miss. "I know, I know. Stop it. Just tell me, why do I have to ally with them?"
"Bighead Kingpin once revealed he wanted to build a permanent camp at the border of Jade City, which needed support from Golden Roc Fort. I thought it was hard for Bighead Kingpin to bring it up, thus we could make the three killers suggest it to Eighth Young Master, and then the Master brings it up to Supreme King. This would be a big favor. Wouldn't it be good for Your Grace if Bighead Kingpin is camped near Jade City?"
"He has such plans? Let me think."
Gu Shenwei did not worry about it. Miss would do as she said afterward. Actually, he simply asked a counselor to predict Bighead Kingpin's moves. If the three killers mentioned such suggestions in front of their master, they would get into trouble.
Gu Shenwei had to do something about the three killers because the hands of two of them had been chopped off.
During the Gu Family slaughter, a child target had slipped through their net. It resulted in Shangguan Nu' hand being chopped off by his father, thus, the enraged Shangguan Nu did the same to his subordinates.
Those who bore only one hand was the Gu Family's archenemy.
Gu Shenwei had always known that they survived. But after seeing them, he decided to make them suffer.
If Gu Shenwei did not guess wrongly, Golden Roc Fort would never be willing to become neighbors with Bighead Kingpin of Iron Mountain.
Since most killers loved money and did not care about the situation in Western Region, they would be persuaded. Miss was not eloquent enough, yet she had enough money.
At the moment, it never occurred to him that his words would bring about a storm that would drag in so many people, including himself.
Slave Qing was the third person that came to Slave Huan. Slave Qing's rank was low among the hundreds of butlers in Stone Castle. He used to be an attendant during Young Master's childhood, and had accompanied Shangguan Ru in Iron Mountain camps. He had endured hardships but had not gained any credit.
Slave Qing thought back and forth and asked many seniors where he went wrong. Finally, he knew that being an attendant, he never really "played" with masters. In master's eyes, he was an ordinary servant who would restrict them.
Thus, Slave Qing managed to get out of Stone Castle to serve Shangguan Fei via his connections. But it was too late, by the time he arrived downhill, the Ninth Young Master had already risen to power. Thus, Slave Qing had again failed to grasp an opportunity.
Thus, in Slave Qing's eyes, Slave Huan was no longer an annoying attendant, a sparring partner, but rather a well-experienced opportunist artist. They both started as a servant, moreover, Slave Huan was lower than Slave Qing in the beginning. But now Slave Huan managed to succeed on his own. Slave Qing desperately needed to learn some tricks from Slave Huan.
Therefore, something happened that Gu Shenwei had never expected: He would bask in flattery from Slave Qing, which was unsettling.
Gu Shenwei detailed the situation and mentioned some things to be aware of in South City, and then paused deliberately. As Slave Qing was still very good at analyzing the circumstances, he fetched 500 taels silvers he prepared earlier, and reluctantly handed them to Slave Huan.
Gu Shenwei snatched the silvers. It was not that he wanted the money, but only by doing this could he make Slave Qing take his words seriously. Gu Shenwei said, "The Ninth Young Master had grown up, he doesn't need that children stuff anymore. South City has the busiest streets in Western Region with so many streets and alleys. His Highness just need a guide."
Slave Qing finally realized the hint and thanked Slave Huan many times. Gu Shenwei casually mentioned Xu Yanwei's name and left Slave Qing guessing.
It hasn't been three days since Gu Shenwei had returned to Stone Castle, but he foresaw before anyone else that the recently restored peace was about to break down.