The Buffoon Who Struts and Preens

Chapter 22: The Buffoon Who Struts and Preens

Chapter 22: The Buffoon Who Struts and Preens

How should this person be described?

There was only one way to put it: flashy—extremely flashy.

Bai Yan had been in Yongtang for two years. He had seen plenty of children of powerful families on the streets, as well as arrogant heirs of wealthy merchants.

When it came to ostentation, none of them could compare to the flashy man before him.

His clothes were so garishly colored they hurt the eyes, covered in red and green. Most outrageous of all was the green hat on his head, with a brilliant red flower stuck into it.

Vulgar and eye-catching, as though he were terrified that others might not know his family had a bit of spare money.

In Yongtang City, this was the first time Bai Yan had ever seen such a bizarre outfit.

"Your nephew, Zhen Xiaoren, pays his respects to Uncle Ye. Uncle Ye, have you been well?"

The young man swaggered into the private room. He first gave Ye Youcai a perfunctory cupped-fist salute, then turned toward Ye Lingdang. A trace of greed and lechery flashed through his eyes before he put on what he thought was a suave smile.

"Miss Lingdang, long time no see. I am Zhen Xiaoren, at your service."

The moment he saw the young man, Ye Youcai's face darkened. His tone turned cold.

"What do you mean by this, Nephew Zhen? Didn't you see that I'm entertaining an honored guest?"

"You barged in like this, treating everyone with utter contempt. Is this how your father taught you to behave?"

Ye Youcai made no attempt to hide his disgust for the young man. His scolding was merciless.

Ye Lingdang also looked utterly disgusted when she saw him. She simply turned her head away and did not spare him a glance.

In the face of Ye Youcai's furious rebuke, Zhen Xiaoren acted as though he had heard nothing. He continued smiling and cupping his fists.

"I heard that Uncle was hosting a banquet here, so I came specially to pay my respects."

"I heard that Miss Lingdang caught a chill some days ago, so I specially bought some tonics and brought them here. Please accept them, Miss Lingdang."

With that, Zhen Xiaoren waved his hand. The two guards behind him hurriedly brought forward the gift boxes.

Ye Youcai did not even look at them.

"My Ye family isn't short of these trifling things. Nephew, you'd better take them back."

"Now that you've seen us, please leave. This old man still has an honored guest to entertain."

"An honored guest? You mean him?"

Zhen Xiaoren looked at Bai Yan, his face full of contempt.

"Uncle, you aren't joking with your nephew, are you? He's nothing but a young man. How does he look like an honored guest?"

"Or are you saying that this man has deceived you?"

"Shut up!"

Ye Youcai slammed his palm against the table and roared.

"Zhen Xiaoren, you're being far too insolent!"

"Must I explain to you whom I choose to entertain? Get out of here at once!"

Faced with Ye Youcai's furious roar, a vicious glint flashed through Zhen Xiaoren's eyes. On the surface, however, he continued to smile.

"Uncle, don't lose your temper. I'm only doing this for your own good."

"There have been plenty of swindlers in Yongtang City lately. Some of them specifically target wealthy households like yours, disguising themselves as scholars or officials to cheat people. I'm only worried that you'll be taken in."

"After all, we'll soon be family. It's only natural that I should look out for you."

"Shut up! Who's family with you?"

Ye Youcai was so furious that even his whiskers trembled.

"Our Lingdang already has a husband. The wedding will be held in a few days. Don't come bother her again!"

"Also, this is Lord Bai Yan of the Imperial Guard. He is no swindler!"

"What? She already has a husband?"

When Zhen Xiaoren heard this, his eyes widened and his expression changed drastically.

He had only noticed the first half of Ye Youcai's statement, completely ignoring the sentence that followed.

"Who? Who is Lingdang's husband? Why didn't I know?"

Zhen Xiaoren clenched both fists. A murderous intent flashed through his eyes.

"Uncle Ye, you wouldn't have made up such a lie just to fob me off, would you?"

"What are you worth that this old man would need to lie to you?"

Ye Youcai was so furious that he laughed instead. He raised a hand and pointed at Bai Yan beside him.

"This is Lingdang's husband!"

While Ye Youcai had been dealing with Zhen Xiaoren, Bai Yan had remained by the side, drinking wine and eating the dishes. Ye Lingdang was very considerate; whenever she saw that Bai Yan's cup was empty, she filled it for him.

Bai Yan had no interest in this clown whatsoever. Rather than watch a flashy wastrel leap about like a flea, he would much rather deepen his bond with his fiancée.

If his father-in-law needed him to step in, Bai Yan would naturally do so.

Since Ye Youcai had not said anything, Bai Yan would not steal the spotlight. He would leave his father-in-law plenty of face.

Ye Lingdang had eyes only for Bai Yan. Zhen Xiaoren was completely ignored.

Seeing this, Zhen Xiaoren was so enraged that his eyes turned red.

"This young brat is Lingdang's husband? What kind of joke is this?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"One look tells me he's a penniless wretch. He has nothing at all. What right does he have to marry Lingdang?"

"The clothes on his back aren't even worth as much as one meal for this young master!"

Zhen Xiaoren was unwilling to accept it, gnashing his teeth in fury.

He had coveted Ye Lingdang for more than a day or two.

He coveted not only Ye Lingdang's beauty, but also the Ye family's wealth.

As long as he married Ye Lingdang, he could embrace a beauty and gain a fortune worth tens of thousands of strings of cash. He would obtain both the woman and the wealth.

He absolutely would not allow anyone to snatch away what belonged to him!

"Someone come here! Break both of this brat's legs and throw him outside!"

"A toad dreaming of eating swan meat—he should at least look at where he is!"

Zhen Xiaoren let out an angry roar, and the four guards behind him immediately stepped forward.

Ye Youcai slapped the table and rose on the spot, pointing at Zhen Xiaoren and shouting.

"Zhen Xiaoren, what do you think you're doing? You dare injure someone in broad daylight? You've got some nerve!"

Bai Yan tugged at Ye Youcai's sleeve and said calmly.

"Father-in-law, please calm down."

"For a wastrel like this, your son-in-law has plenty of ways to deal with him."

The tension had reached this point. It was time for him to step in. If he still did nothing, he would only seem weak and easy to bully.

Bai Yan watched the four guards charge over. He slapped the tabletop, sending the four chopsticks resting on it leaping into the air. Then he flicked his sleeve, and the four chopsticks instantly transformed into sharp arrows, shooting forth with a shriek as they tore through the air!

Four sharp whistles rang out. The guards were sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the corridor outside the door.

All four clutched their thighs and let out agonized screams.

When everyone looked over, they saw that the four guards' thighs had been pierced through by the chopsticks, blood flowing all over the floor.

"You... What are you trying to do!"

"You actually dared to attack someone!"

Seeing Bai Yan casually send his four guards flying, Zhen Xiaoren panicked at once and stumbled backward in fright.

He had never imagined that this seemingly frail and scholarly pauper before him would possess such formidable martial arts.

"You just ordered someone to break my legs. Now I'll break yours as well. I'd say that's only fair, wouldn't you?"

Bai Yan held his wine cup and looked at him with an ambiguous smile.

"You dare!"

"Do you know who my cousin is?"

Zhen Xiaoren roared, putting on a brave front while inwardly quaking.

"Oh? So now we're competing over background?"

Bai Yan raised his brows slightly and smiled with interest.

"Then tell me, what kind of person is your cousin? Is he some high-ranking official of the Imperial Court?"

Seeing that Bai Yan seemed to have been cowed, Zhen Xiaoren grew arrogant again. He planted one hand on his waist.

"My cousin is a Brigade Leader of the Imperial Guard! If you lay a hand on me, you'll be slapping the Imperial Guard in the face!"

"You know about the Imperial Guard, don't you? They're the Emperor's personal army. Injuring an Imperial Guard officer is equivalent to plotting rebellion, a crime punishable by the extermination of three clans!"

"Well? Are you scared now?"

"If you're scared, kneel down and kowtow to this young master to admit your mistake. Perhaps I'll even spare you this once!"

Zhen Xiaoren borrowed the tiger's skin to make a banner, his face full of arrogance and smug delight.

Yet he failed to notice that after he finished speaking, the air in the room suddenly fell into an eerie silence.