Èr Niú was unconvinced. He took a step forward, about to speak, when Yuè Méi, standing beside him, pulled him back and said, "Stop causing trouble. If you go, will Tiānyī protect you or protect Second Madam?"
"What nonsense are you talking? When did I ever let that fool protect me?"
Èr Niú felt that Lín Tiānyī had stolen his livelihood, and he was full of resentment.
Zhāng Yùfēn turned around. She glanced at Èr Niú, and he was so scared that he hastily took two steps back and immediately shut his mouth.
As the Town Chief of North Town, Zhào Hé’s family background was naturally prosperous. Although the main gate of the house was not overly grand, the inner courtyard, with its three separate sections, unmistakably displayed the wealth of Town Chief Zhao’s family.
Moreover, as Zhào Hé led Zhāng Yùfēn towards the main hall, Lín Tiānyī noticed that the servants they encountered were plentiful.
After passing through the courtyard, they finally entered the main hall.
The large room was filled with red solid wood furniture. There were not many ornaments in the room, but Lín Tiānyī, with just a glance, noticed that the calligraphy and paintings on the walls, as well as the vases on the table, almost all had a certain origin.
While Lín Tiānyī was practicing martial arts with several Daoist priests in the Kunlun Mountains, he also learned about such things. During his travels, he had seen many genuine pieces.
Zhào Hé gestured for Zhāng Yùfēn to take the main seat. Lín Tiānyī, being perceptive, stood behind Zhāng Yùfēn.
Soon, a servant stirred the fire in the stove and then served fragrant tea. Zhào Hé was not at all negligent in matters of etiquette.
But Lín Tiānyī still felt something was off with this man. Could it be because he had almost come to blows with him earlier, causing him to misunderstand this Zhào Hé?
"Second Madam, something so significant has happened at the Chu Manor, and yet you have the leisure to go out?"
Suddenly, Zhào Hé raised an eyebrow, his eyes casting a rather disrespectful glance over Zhāng Yùfēn.
Zhāng Yùfēn, who had just taken a sip of tea, noticed Zhào Hé’s improper behavior. She couldn’t help but let out a cold snort and said, "Town Chief Zhao, do you have something against the Chu Family?
From the moment I entered North Town today, there have been constant troubles. Clearly, it was your people who blocked my way, yet you demand justice for North Town.
Now you say such things. What exactly do you want?"
Lín Tiānyī truly underestimated this Zhāng Yùfēn. In his eyes, he had only seen her as aloof, a“ice beauty” detached from worldly affairs. He never expected her to have such a formidable side when dealing with outsiders.
It was no wonder the Old Madam had specifically sent Zhāng Yùfēn out to handle these matters.
Zhāng Yùfēn’s words caused Zhào Hé’s face to flush. He coughed twice and said, "Second Madam, you misunderstand. I was merely concerned that with such a major event occurring in the Chu Family, it might affect the Old Madam…"
"Town Chief Zhao worries unnecessarily. Those who have left are gone. Those who remain must continue to live.
Furthermore, the Young Master holds a military position and faces all sorts of life and death situations daily, so such an event is not surprising.
However, Town Chief Zhao should be more concerned. I heard that among the four towns, only North Town neither sends grain nor fodder. Are you waiting for the Marshal to dispatch troops to bloody Lianglang Mountain and have North Town washed clean along with it?"
What a sharp tongue she possessed. In just a few sentences, she had hit Zhào Hé where it hurt. Zhāng Yùfēn once again astonished Lín Tiānyī.
His master's original intention was for him to conquer all the women of the Chu family and make them submit to him. However, what happened the night before last had left him somewhat displeased.
In his view, Zhāng Yùfēn and Divine Doctor Zhang had conspired against him, making him feel very passive. But now, it seemed that even if Zhāng Yùfēn had slept with him, he would have been willing.
As Lín Tiānyī was lost in these thoughts, Zhào Hé suddenly stood up, clasped his hands, and said, "Second Madam, please be informed, North Town this year…"
"Enough. I am merely a messenger. Whether you listen or not is up to you. However, the Old Madam asked me to tell you that if you fail to complete the assigned task by the end of the month, you will bring your head to see her."
Zhāng Yùfēn coldly interrupted Zhào Hé’s defense and abruptly stood up to leave.
In his haste, Zhào Hé reached out to stop her. Seeing that his hand was about to grasp Zhāng Yùfēn’s arm, Lín Tiānyī became furious. He suddenly extended his right palm and waved.
Zhào Hé was pushed backward by Lín Tiānyī, staggering back five or six steps before stopping.
Zhāng Yùfēn stopped and turned to look at Zhào Hé, saying, "Town Chief Zhao, you don’t understand the rules, do you? You dare to lay hands on me, do you not want this hand anymore?"
Zhào Hé was terrified. He never would have imagined that the male servant following Zhāng Yùfēn would be so formidable. Being a martial artist himself, he knew that with Lín Tiānyī’s skill, taking his hand would be effortless.
"Second Madam, Zhào Hé would not dare. I merely wished to keep Second Madam here to hear my explanation."
At this moment, Zhào Hé clasped his hands and bowed deeply, his body bent more than halfway.
Zhāng Yùfēn said no more, only snorted coldly, then walked away quickly with Lín Tiānyī.
Zhào Hé bowed and followed closely behind, his previous arrogance gone.
Just as Zhāng Yùfēn was about to get into her sedan chair, Zhào Hé quickly said, "Please rest assured, Second Madam. Zhào Hé will make up for the grain and fodder owed, even if it means losing everything."
Despite Zhào Hé’s abject compromise, the proud Zhāng Yùfēn offered no response.
After the sedan chair left North Town and neared Sajin Bridge, Zhāng Yùfēn said from inside the chair, "Listen carefully, all of you. Anyone who dares to speak a word of what happened today, I will have their tongues cut out."
The four sedan chair carriers and Èr Niú turned ashen. They simultaneously said, "Your servants would not dare!"
Lín Tiānyī and the two maids remained silent, clearly distinguishing between insiders and outsiders.
However, Lín Tiānyī inwardly praised Zhāng Yùfēn’s thoughtfulness. In fact, her intention was to protect him.
Of course, Lín Tiānyī was also forced to act today to protect her.
The sedan chair carriers carried the chair all the way to the Old Madam’s courtyard entrance before Zhāng Yùfēn alighted. She turned to Yuè Méi and said, "Everyone has worked hard. Give them some reward money."
Yuè Méi immediately took out copper coins and distributed rewards to everyone.
"Tiānyī, come with me to the main hall to report."
Zhāng Yùfēn’s voice was low and carried a hint of tenderness. She did not speak to others this way, which greatly pleased Lín Tiānyī.
Inside the main hall, the Old Madam sat with a grim expression in front of a square table. She held a hand warmer, and not far from her feet, the charcoal fire in the stove burned intensely.
Sitting to the Old Madam’s left and right were Chǔ Zhènběi and Xiè Guìlán.
Chǔ Zhènběi kept his head down, while Xiè Guìlán turned her face to the side, seemingly unwilling to look at Chǔ Zhènběi.
Just as Zhāng Yùfēn led Lín Tiānyī into the main hall, Chǔ Zhènběi suddenly lunged at Lín Tiānyī as if he had gone mad.
This time, Lín Tiānyī no longer indulged him. As he sidestepped, he swiftly swept his leg, and Chǔ Zhènběi immediately fell to the ground.
To outsiders, it would appear as if he had fallen on his own, with no involvement from Lín Tiānyī.
"You bastard, you think you can defy heaven?"
Chǔ Zhènběi, having gotten up from the ground, suddenly produced a dagger in his hand.