ebookland Chapter 190 Rift
Chapter 190 Rift
Tao Yang sat on the couch. After drinking the hangover soup, he still felt dizzy. He pressed his aching temples and sighed to himself, "Drinking leads to trouble, drinking leads to trouble. I was too impulsive yesterday."
At this moment, the servant who was helping Tao You wash up muttered indignantly, "Third Master is going too far. He sent a concubine a top-quality Kunshan jade, but sent back to the mansion a first-grade Kunshan jade. What will the Qiu family's daughter think now that she's married into the family?"
With the country fragmented by warlords, everyday items such as salt, grain, and coarse hemp that ordinary people could afford had become strategic resources. Smuggling was merely for profit, not for treason, so naturally, people wouldn't trade these things easily.
Therefore, smuggling mainly involved flashy but impractical gems and silks. Even the most practical medicinal materials, such as dendrobium, donkey-hide gelatin, and ginseng, were only affordable to the wealthy due to their scarcity and high prices. However, the upper-class nobility never stopped indulging in pleasures.
The jade produced in the Kunshan Jade Vein of Xuanguo is famous far and wide. Some of the jade sold to Anguo is from Kunshan. However, jade is also divided into different grades. The best jade is called Bi, which is priceless and rare.
Tao You would naturally send the finest Kunshan jade back to the Tao family of Anguo for social interactions. When Tao Yang was discussing marriage, the matriarch of the Tao family sent this Kunshan jade as a betrothal gift to the Qiu family.
The jade that could be used as a betrothal gift was naturally of the highest quality, but it paled in comparison to the one Lin Youniang had. The finest Kunshan jade was enough to be presented to the king, yet it was so casually given to a concubine. This shows how much wealth Tao You had hidden away all these years!
Although Tao Yang was furious, he would not have acted out on the spot if he had been clear-headed enough last night. He was also somewhat annoyed at the moment, since Tao You was the one in charge now. If he broke off relations, his actions would only become more difficult.
The servant was still ranting and raving, "That mistress is so frivolous, she seems to know how to seduce men, she might just deliberately come after the master..."
"Alright, stop gossiping. If people hear this, who knows how much trouble it will cause!"
Tao Yang stopped the servant, but he couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards Lin Youniang. Her clothes were tied too loosely, and even an accessory could fall off. Heaven knows, he never intended to embarrass Tao You in such a despicable way.
Sighing softly, Tao Yang straightened his clothes and stepped out the door. What must be faced will always be faced.
Upon entering the courtyard, Tao Yang and Tao You met face to face, stopped in their tracks, and looked at each other in silence.
Tao Yang felt that Tao You was in the wrong, but he should at least apologize to Tao You for the blunder caused by Lin Youniang, even if he had to say something polite. However, he was used to being arrogant and couldn't bring himself to say it.
As for Tao You, scolding Tao Yang is pointless since his seventh brother has never taken him seriously, and it's impossible for him to back down first. How would You Niang view him then?
And so, the scene became somewhat awkward.
"Ahem~" Tao Yang coughed lightly, "Third Brother, you're up really early. How did your chat with Military Advisor Guo go yesterday?"
Seeing that Tao Yang was pretending nothing had happened, clearly intending to let the matter pass by lightly, they guessed that he must have been drunk and couldn't control himself yesterday, and now that he had calmed down, he was trying to make amends.
Perhaps it was because years of forbearance had become a habit, but if the direct subordinates softened their attitude, Tao You would find it difficult to continue. So, although her expression was not good, she still hummed in response.
The two engaged in awkward, half-hearted conversation, as if nothing had actually happened.
But what's done is done, and mistakes cannot be undone; the rift has already formed.
Pingshan Pass Commander's Tent —
"Qingxi, you're being too hasty," Lu Zhen said solemnly.
Shen Qing sighed inwardly. There was no time to lose, but the real reason could not be explained. He could only say, "Last year's battle to defend Yucheng was full of coincidences that could not be replicated. I urgently need a great victory to establish my prestige so that I can command the army in the near future and command the people to submit."
Lu Zhen remained silent for a long time, a struggle flashing in his eyes, as if he had made up his mind. "There are some things you shouldn't get involved in. I will handle them."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qing was inevitably moved, and a complex expression welled up in her eyes. She cupped her hands and bowed deeply to Lu Zhen.
"Thank you, Father Commander, for your kindness."