Chapter 334 Consort
Countless footsteps were heard coming from different streets. Apart from soldiers who scrambled to the scene, numerous figures were seen on the rooftops.
After hearing the imperial family’s danger signal, almost half of the city went mad.
The imperial family was the strongest force in the capital, such that any movement against them would be suppressed and destroyed without mercy. Although there were past incidents where the imperial family disciples were attacked, they only happened when the most formidable powerhouse had an accident or was away from the capital. As long as the imperial family’s strongest powerhouse kept watch in the capital, nobody dared to scheme anything against the family.
Now, the sound spread far and wide in the city, causing every soldier and some masters to swarm in this direction.
Ou Yangming smiled bitterly when he noticed shadows of people moving about. The scene was getting bigger, so how was he going to explain himself? Even though the young fellow knew his life would not be in danger given that he had great potential and strength, he did not want to be known as a playboy.
“What happened?!” A loud voice was heard behind the crowd, and everyone quickly made way for a brocade-clothed elder.
A square face and a distinguished bearingWu Hongliang, one of the Five Imperial Elders.
“Greetings, inspector.” The Supreme Great Ancestor who exchanged blows with Ou Yangming cupped his hands. While also being a great ancestor, he was evidently inferior to Wu Hongliang
“Taiping, tell me what’s going on,” Wu Hongliang said after he waved his hand gently. He was so sharp-eyed that he noticed something unusual as soon as he arrived.
Wu Hanning protected Master Ou Yangming and confronted Woo Taiping, but the whistle was sounded, hence the experienced old man was in a daze.
Woo Taiping cleared his throat and looked troubled when he glanced at Wu Hanning. He was also baffled because the moment he arrived, he happened to see Her Royal Highness’ protector risk his life to attack the teen, whose abilities were fearsome. Therefore, Woo Taiping attacked without any hesitation, but Her Highness intervened, so he was puzzled. Besides, given that the princess stepped in and confronted Woo Taiping, the teen was definitely not a simple man.
“Where’s the head guard?” Wu Hongliang furrowed his eyebrows and looked around.
The young man went forward and half-kneeled as he answered, “I’m Mu Yongjian. Greetings, inspector.” “Who sounded the whistle just now?” “Sir, it was me.”
“Why did you do it?” Wu Hongliang looked fierce when he asked.
Mu Yongjian dared not delay his response, so he pointed at Ou Yangming and answered, “I was escorting Her Royal Highness back to the palace when this man came out of nowhere and barged into Her Highness’s carriage. I was afraid he’d hurt Her Highness, so I sounded the whistle.”
Everyone instantly looked at Ou Yangming, and many of them cast unfriendly looks at the young man.
Nonetheless, Wu Hongliang had a strange look on his face when he saw Ou Yangming. He shook his head and sighed. “Master Ou, His Majesty did allow you to tie the knot with Hanning, but you… Ah, aren’t you being too unrestrained?”
The street went dead silent, so much so that a fallen needle could surely be heard. Ou Yangming was dumbfounded and had a stuffy chest. He almost puked blood.
On the other hand, Wu Hanning quivered in front of him and looked oddly at Wu Hongliang Wu Hongliang let out a dry cough and explained, “Hanning, it was your great ancestor and your father’s decision, but we all agreed to it.”
Though Wu Hanning’s face was covered with a scarf, she flushed up to her ears, and her neck reddened. She stomped her foot and flashed away all of a sudden without turning back, leaving everyone else on the spot.
Ou Yangming was confused when he looked at Wu Hongliang, but he composed himself in the blink of an eye.
Just as he was about to speak after taking a deep breath, he heard Wu Hongliang’s voice, which was as soft as an insect’s buzz. “Master Ou, why did you barge into Hanning’s carriage? If you deny it now, you’re forcing her to a dead-end!”
The young fellow was struck dumb, and he swallowed his words.
It was worth noting that the princess was a prestigious figure, thus Ou Yangming would be making an irreversible mistake if he said anything inappropriate.
“Alright, it was just a misunderstanding, so you all may leave,” Wu Hongliang ordered seriously as he shook his head. He then turned around to say with a straight face, “Mu Yongjian, I won’t blame you this time since you were only being dutiful, but please remember the consort and not cause any misunderstandings in the future.”
“Yes, thank you, inspector,” Mu Yongjian replied to the elder loudly and turned around to bow at Ou Yangming. “Please forgive me, consort.”
Ou Yangming stammered, and he almost felt like dying this time.
Wu Hongliang laughed out loud and said, “Master Ou, let me introduce you to Woo Taiping, Woo Lejia’s senior. Hehe, Taiping, you kept telling me you’re going to thank Master Ou well, but why did you go back on your word?”
Woo Taiping forced a smile and apologized, “Master Ou, please forgive me for acting too rashly just now.”
Ou Yangming sighed and felt like he had nothing to lose anymore, so he responded, “Senior, you’re being too polite. I… I brought it upon myself.”
Wu Hongliang looked meaningfully at the young fellow and smiled with his eyes narrowed. “Master Ou, as long as you’re willing to, we’ll pick an auspicious day as soon as possible. Why were you in such a hurry? You got laughed at for nothing.”
As he lectured the young fellow, the people who rushed here earlier left one by one. Nevertheless, Ou Yangming knew from their strange looks that the news would be a heated topic soon.
He twitched his mouth and expressed helplessly, “Senior, I swear by the name of my dearest elder-Old Craftsman-that this is certainly a misunderstanding!”
“Oh, a misunderstanding? It wasn’t a misunderstanding that you broke into Hanning’s carriage, right?” Wu Hongliang asked.
“It was a misunderstanding indeed; I only did that because I thought it was Bai Shixue’s carriage,” Ou Yangming explained. “Bai Shixue…” Wu Hongliang and Woo Taiping repeated the name at the same time.
On the other hand, Ou Yangming had a splitting headache when he noticed the great ancestors looking at him weirdly.
Wu Hongliang frowned and remarked, “I didn’t know you and Bai Shixue have become so close. Ah, this will be a tricky matter…”
“I have nothing to do with her at all! She’s the cause of this disaster, and I-I can’t wait to…” Ou Yangming widened his eyes and gritted his teeth. He initially wanted to say he was going to crush Bai Shixue into pieces and turn her into ashes, but the young lady’s charming face appeared in his mind. He sighed after some thought and wondered, ‘Can I really blame her for this?’
Struck with a thought, Ou Yangming called out to the guard, “Brother Mu.”
Mu Yongjian was taken aback, but he immediately responded, “Consort, please let me know what you need.”
“I’m not the consort…” Ou Yangming noted with a dark face.
“Ah! Yes, consort!”
Ou Yangming looked fierce. Seeing as Mu Yongjian was shuddering, the young fellow knew that the guard would not resist even if he killed him, but he could not bring himself to punch him.
“Tell me—why was Her Highness here?” Ou Yangming uttered word by word.
Mu Yongjian was stupefied, and he subconsciously answered, “Her Royal Highness went to the Tianen Temple for religious practice, and we were on our way back to the palace when we bumped into you, consort.”
Ou Yangming questioned with a menacing look, “Does Her Highness do that every day?”
“That’s not it, but if everything goes as planned, Her Royal Highness visits the temple once every ten days,” Mu Yongjian answered carefully.
‘I mustn’t reveal Her Royal Highness’s whereabouts, but Ou Yangming isn’t just anyone-he’s the princess’s future husband! ‘I’m sure I’m doing the right thing by flattering him now.’
Looking at the protector’s expression and attitude, Ou Yangming finally believed that it was all a misunderstanding and a coincidence; it was not planned.
Moreover, while Ou Yangming only met Wu Hanning several times, he was aware of how proud the princess was. Regardless of the circumstances, she could not be bothered about scheming anything against anyone. Furthermore, her prestige was affected this time.
“Master Ou, what are you guessing?” Wu Hongliang frowned and stated arrogantly, “The Wu family won’t resort to such filthy measures, will we?” “Senior, please forgive me for imagining things.” Ou Yangming was embarrassed. He later turned around and asked, “Senior Woo, is Brother Woo Lejia well?”.
‘OII
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Woo Lejia had become a legitimate Supreme Great Ancestor, and he was much older than Ou Yangming, but neither Woo Taiping nor Wu Hongliang was displeased when the young fellow addressed Woo Lejia as a brother. In fact, they thought it was natural for him to do so.
“Hehe, Lejia has already ended his isolated cultivation. He has been talking about you every day, Master Ou.”
“Oh, I did make an agreement with Brother Lejia when we were in the ring. I’ll visit him tomorrow.”
“Great, we’ll be honored by your gracious presence, Master Ou.” Woo Taiping’s eyes lit up. He was not pretending to be excited because the Woo family had been waiting far too long for this moment.
Following that, Ou Yangming bowed at the two great ancestors and left at once as he was afraid that Wu Hongliang would say something else.
Wu Hongliang smiled proudly as he watched the young fellow leave.
The instant Ou Yangming returned to the courtyard, he spotted Du Gaoge, who was looking around. Feeling infuriated, he flashed toward the shopkeeper and yelled angrily, “Shopkeeper Du, what were you doing just
now?!”
Du Gaoge was shocked. “N-nothing…” “Nothing? Did you know it was Wu Hanning’s carriage?” “Of course I knew. Her Royal Highness’s carriage has a unique mark, and it’s known to everyone in the capital,” Du Gaoge answered. “Since you knew, why did you bow?” Ou Yangming was furious.
Du Gaoge was startled for a while before he mumbled, “That’s Her Royal Highness’s carriage, so of course I should bow…”
Ou Yangming was stunned and speechless.
The two of them stared at each other for some time, then Ou Yangming asked, “Where’s your young pavilion master? Where did she go?”
“Wasn’t she talking to you? She hasn’t left…”
Ou Yangming’s face twitched. When he looked up at the sky, he thought it was gloomy and felt that he had nothing left to live for.