Retaliating Against Tian Heng, the Shameless Pretty Boy

After Shen Lang ran out, MuLan stared blankly at his departing back for two seconds, then continued eating breakfast.

A maid beside her, Xiao Ting, said, "Miss, the young master is far too vindictive. I'm afraid it will damage our Earl's Manor's reputation."

She was rather tall and somewhat thin.

The moment those words came out, MuLan set down her chopsticks and turned her gaze toward Xiao Ting.

She had always treated the servants very well, so these maids were not overly afraid of her.

Moreover, Xiao Ting was sharp and capable, taking impeccable care of MuLan's daily life. She was considered the leader among the many maids.

All this time, everyone in the Earl's Manor had flatteringly called her Sister Xiao Ting when they saw her.

Seeing MuLan look her way, Xiao Ting said, "I'm not wrong. Our Earl's Manor loves the people as if they were its own children and enjoys an excellent reputation. The young master is being so rash—this can't be a good thing. Don't let him bring trouble upon our Earl's Manor."

MuLan's gaze turned cold as she snapped, "Someone, slap her ten times."

At once, an older maid entered and viciously slapped the thin, tall Xiao Ting across the face.

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap...

At first, Xiao Ting could not believe her ears. Miss was actually having her beaten? Then pain exploded across her cheeks, and she could not help crying out.

After all ten slaps, her pretty face had been beaten red and swollen, blood even streaming from her nose.

The people beside them watched in trembling silence.

Miss had never acted like this before. Sometimes, even when the maids made a few jokes about him, she had not cared much.

MuLan said, "Remember this well. Even if the young master married into our family, he is still your master. If any of you dare gossip about your master behind his back again, it will not be as simple as ten slaps."

Xiao Ting was utterly stunned. Miss had always doted on her so much.

MuLan said, "Drive her out of my courtyard and send her to the embroidery workshop."

Only then did the thin, tall maid truly panic. She dropped to her knees and kowtowed. "Miss, I was wrong! I'll never gossip about the young master again. Please spare me, spare me..."

Ten slaps were nothing serious as long as they did not ruin her face, but being sent to the embroidery workshop was dreadful.

Even among the servants of the Earl's Manor, there were ranks. Serving at Miss's side made one a person above others; being sent to the embroidery workshop made one a person beneath others, with endless work to do.

No matter how she begged, it was useless. Several older maids dragged her away.

"Master, Young Master Shen has come to offer tea," Jin Zhong said.

The Earl was in a good mood. Shen Lang had performed outstandingly last night and brought glory to his face.

Of course, Wang Lian and Mo Ye were still far, far more outstanding than him. But Shen Lang had previously been rumored to be a complete good-for-nothing. After yesterday's showing, he did not seem all that bad.

It felt like gaining an enormous bargain.

After entering, Shen Lang respectfully offered tea to his Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law.

The Earl said, "Shen Lang, what are your plans for today?"

Shen Lang said, "My parents raised me through bitter hardship. Now that I have married into the Earl's Manor, I have failed them as a son. Today, I wish to return home and spend time with them, fulfilling my filial duty at their knees."

The Earl said, "Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. That is only proper. Go, and bring two gifts from me for your parents as well."

"Yes," Shen Lang said. "Thank you, Father-in-Law."

The Mother-in-Law was graceful and noble, gentle and poised. "As your wife, MuLan should have accompanied you to pay respects to your parents, but military duties occupy her every day. I will apologize to you in her stead."

Shen Lang said, "Mother-in-Law, you honor me too greatly. Your son-in-law is ashamed."

Neither of them mentioned last night's wedding chamber, clearly having already anticipated something.

After Shen Lang took his leave, the Earl's Wife said, "I think Shen Lang is quite good. He is rather steady."

Half an hour later, Shen Lang left the Earl's Manor.

He had originally wanted to ride a horse, but it was too exhausting, so he took a carriage instead. Two mounted knights from the Earl's Manor escorted him from behind.

This could be considered returning home in silken splendor.

The luxurious carriage was no worse than a Mercedes from modern Earth, and it was escorted by two armed cavalrymen.

That kind of display was exceedingly flashy in Xuanwu City.

However, Shen Lang did not return home. Instead, he headed straight into Tian Heng's Black Clothes Gang.

"Stop! This is the Militia Thousand Commander Office. Who dares trespass?"

The Black Clothes Gang's headquarters was a small fortress flying the banner of the Militia Thousand Commander Office. Upon seeing Shen Lang's carriage, they immediately leveled bows and crossbows at it.

"Charge in," Shen Lang said.

Without another word, the two armed cavalrymen from the Earl's Manor urged their horses into a sprint and charged forward.

The soldiers atop the gang's walls were about to draw their bows and fire when someone beside them immediately stopped them.

"Are you insane? You may not value your life, but I do. Those are cavalrymen from the Earl's Manor."

The archer looked carefully. Was that not the banner of Xuanwu Earl's Manor? His soul nearly fled his body in fright.

They called themselves militia, but they were really a criminal gang. If they dared shoot arrows at the Earl's Manor's cavalry, they would be seeking their own deaths.

"Why aren't you rushing to report to the gang leader?" the minor leader on the wall ordered.

At once, a gang member ran frantically inside to report to Tian Heng.

"Ha ha ha..."

Before the man appeared, his voice arrived first.

From a great distance away, Tian Heng spread his arms and called out with hearty warmth, "May I ask which distinguished guest from the Earl's Manor has arrived? Tian has failed to welcome you from afar. Forgive me, forgive me."

"Stop!"

Shen Lang called for the driver to halt, then stepped down from the carriage lazily. "Gang Leader Tian, I trust you have been well!"

Tian Heng felt helpless inside. So it really was you, Shen Lang.

He had never expected that Shen Lang would marry into the Earl's Manor last night, then impatiently come today to slap him in the face.

Shen Lang's petty face had changed far too quickly. Just two days ago, he had been so respectful, seeing Tian Heng like a mouse seeing a cat. Yet today, he was so brazen and unrestrained.

The nature of an upstart, laid bare without the slightest concealment.

Yet Tian Heng forcibly suppressed his anger, stepped forward with cupped hands, and said warmly, "Young Master Shen, I trust you have been well. If there was anything you needed, you could have simply sent a servant. Why trouble yourself to come all this way personally?"

From Tian Heng's manner, it was as though the two had never held any grudge and were close friends.

However, Shen Lang was displeased by those words.

Tian Heng was still addressing him as "you," rather than "sir"?

What did that mean? He did not take Shen Lang seriously? Tian Heng said, "Please, please come in for some tea, Young Master Shen!"

Inside Tian Heng's lavishly decorated reception hall, Shen Lang sipped his tea at an unhurried pace.

Tian Heng was disdainful. Shen Lang was a fallen pauper who had suddenly become rich after a long poverty—did he even know how to appreciate tea? Naturally, none of that showed on his face.

Tian Heng said, "What advice does Young Master Shen have for me on this visit?"

Shen Lang said, "I came for that debt of one thousand gold coins. We should repay every debt we owe. Those who borrow money and refuse to repay it are grandsons."

Tian Heng burst into laughter and pulled an IOU from his robe.

This was the IOU for one thousand gold coins that Shen Lang had written after biting his finger.

With a light tug, Tian Heng tore the IOU to pieces, then burned it completely in the candle flame.

"What debt of one thousand gold coins? I have no idea what you are talking about. I forgot about it long ago." Tian Heng waved a hand. "There is no such thing!"

Tian Heng was being quite sensible.

Just like that, the debt of one thousand gold coins had been wiped away.

Shen Lang took a gentle sip of tea and frowned. "Gang Leader Tian, you are the one who owes me one thousand gold coins. How could you forget? And you even destroyed the IOU? What are we supposed to do now? The evidence is gone. People might think I came here to extort money from you."

The moment those words came out, Tian Heng froze, the tea in his mouth nearly spraying out.

Damn it. I, Tian Heng, have roamed the martial world for so many years, yet I've never met anyone as shameless as you.

Your ability to turn black into white is far greater than mine, Shen Lang!

"What? Gang Leader Tian, are you planning not to repay it?" Shen Lang asked mildly.

Repay your grandfather! Tian Heng cursed inwardly, wishing he could grab a blade and chop Shen Lang into minced meat.

But... he could not.

Drawing a deep breath, Tian Heng put on a smile. "How could that be? Others may not repay money they owe me, but if I owe others money, I will certainly repay it!"

"Someone, bring one thousand gold coins."

A moment later, someone carried over a small chest containing a full one thousand gold coins, weighing more than fifty pounds.

"Young Master Shen, please count them," Tian Heng said.

Still calling him "you"? Not even a "sir"? Shen Lang said, "Sigh, we are all acquaintances. Let us forget the interest."

Tian Heng was about to explode with rage. Not only was this bastard extorting one thousand gold coins from him, he even wanted interest?

Yet Tian Heng quickly put on a smile again and said, "Even brothers settle accounts clearly. Interest must be paid, it must be paid."

Then he took out another one hundred gold coins as interest.

"Does Young Master Shen have any other instructions?" Tian Heng asked.

Shen Lang said, "Where is Tian Shisan?"

Tian Heng said, "Why are you looking for him, Young Master Shen?"

Shen Lang said, "Yesterday, he went to seize my parents and kept shouting that he would kill my whole family. I am going to break both his legs!"

Tian Heng's eyes were truly about to burst from fury.

This was bullying people beyond all measure, bullying people beyond all measure!

Note: Thank you, Baiwei Suixin, for the ten-thousand-coin reward. Thank you!