PFC Chapter 129: Hongmen Banquet
Chapter 129: Hongmen Banquet
"When I was traveling, I participated in a calligraphy and painting gathering. There was an age limit for painters. I was ten years over the age of 10, so I was not eligible to participate."
"But at that time, many famous painters gathered together, and I couldn't help myself. I used the alias Zhou Han, lied about my age, and attended the gathering wearing a mask."
"I didn't expect that Zhou Han's calligraphy and paintings would be so well-received at that gathering, and his fame would skyrocket from then on."
"I also met a few painters at that time who I got along very well with. We exchanged paintings and talked about everything. My seal was lost at that time."
"A few years later, Zhou Han's calligraphy and paintings appeared on the market and became very popular."
"The painting style is very similar to mine, and the signature is my lost seal."
Hearing this, Jiang Ningwan was extremely shocked, "Shameless villain!"
No wonder Grand Tutor Qin couldn't stand Zhou Han's paintings and burned every one he saw.
"Why doesn't the Grand Tutor clarify?" Qin Shuangchi asked.
Grand Tutor Qin smiled faintly, "It's too late to clarify. No one believes it anymore."
"Besides, I have my dignity to protect, so I can't risk it."
After saying that, Grand Tutor Qin looked at her and said, "It's not too late to clarify your matter."
"If this continues to spread, people will only recognize Lu Qingheng and not you."
He deeply understands the frustration involved.
So I must help Jiang Ningwan clarify this matter.
……
Early the next morning.
Notices were suddenly posted on the streets and alleys.
The teacher in the academy also told the story of the southern expedition to conquer Canglong. It was the same story told by the storyteller, but Jiang Ningwan changed back to him.
For a time, more and more doubts about Lu Qingheng were raised.
Lu Qingheng hid in the house and dared not go out, almost to the point of hunger strike.
That day, Jiang Ningwan was riding his horse to the army, but after leaving the city, he was stopped by a figure riding a horse.
"Jiang Ningwan, let's talk." Qin Beihuang looked angry and serious.
Jiang Ningwan snorted coldly, rode his horse around him and went straight to the military camp.
Qin Beihuang refused to give up and chased him all the way to the military camp.
"General!" The soldiers in the camp saluted respectfully.
Jiang Ningwan heard the footsteps chasing behind her, and without turning her head, she said lightly: "Don't let Qin Beihuang in."
"Yes!"
The next moment, Qin Beihuang was blocked outside by several soldiers.
Qin Beihuang shouted anxiously, "Jiang Ningwan, are you hiding from me on purpose because you feel guilty?"
Jiang Ningwan turned a deaf ear and decided to select the deputy general in the next two days.
He chose two people who were both approved by his uncle. They had clean family backgrounds and reliable character, and most importantly, they were old subordinates of his grandfather.
She called the two of them over, got to know the situation, and expressed her attitude.
By the time they finished their work, it was already evening. When Jiang Ningwan left the military camp, she didn't expect Qin Beihuang to still be waiting for her outside.
"You really are haunting me." Jiang Ningwan jumped on the horse.
Qin Beihuang suddenly rushed over, grabbed the reins and prevented her from leaving.
"release!"
Qin Beihuang refused to let go, "What do you want in exchange for letting Qingheng go?"
Jiang Ningwan sneered, "I let her go? Don't you think what you said is ridiculous?"
Qin Beihuang frowned, "I know you hate Qingheng, you don't need to deny it."
"Qingheng just wants to live a good life now and doesn't bother you anymore. She might have been wrong about the storytelling, but she didn't harm you. Why did you push her to death?"
"You've posted notices all over the streets, implicitly saying that Lu Qingheng is taking credit for something he didn't achieve. Don't you think that's a bit excessive?"
Jiang Ningwan sneered: "Excessive?"
"Who is more shameless in taking credit for someone else's work?"
"You will not live if you do your own evil."
After saying that, Jiang Ningwan pulled the reins, and the horse neighed and raised its hooves, scaring Qin Beihuang away.
Then she rode away gracefully.
Looking at that bold and bright figure, Qin Beihuang was a little dazed for a moment.
After returning from the battlefield, he dreamed of a figure riding a horse every night, and he always thought that he was dreaming of Qingheng.
However, at this moment, he suddenly realized something terrible.
He was so upset that he didn't want to admit that he regretted it a little bit.
……
Within three days, the rumors in Kyoto City were completely cleared up.
The person people were talking about in the streets and alleys was no longer Lu Qingheng, but Jiang Ningwan.
Even the major restaurants changed their notices, directly correcting them to read: General Ling Wei and Jiang Ningwan are allowed to enter free of charge.
That evening, Jiang Bingde personally came to invite her to have dinner at the Duke's Mansion. His attitude was very kind and he intended to show goodwill.
Jiang Ningwan chuckled, "I'm not destined to enjoy the food at the Duke's Mansion."
"I barely took two bites of my meal before my bowl was thrown and I was slapped and punished."
Jiang Bingde looked a little embarrassed. "Why bother talking about the past? Besides, you did some things wrong before."
"I asked you to return home today to discuss with you how to dispose of your mother and grandfather's ashes."
Hearing this, Jiang Ningwan was shocked.
"What? Ashes?"
Jiang Bingde nodded and said, "Actually, I have been sending people to investigate secretly, but your mother and the others' bodies cannot be transported back, so they can only be burned and brought back."
"And this matter cannot be publicized, no one can know about it!"
"You can't even write names on the urn, let alone worship openly."
Jiang Bingde looked serious and gave her instructions as if he was facing a great enemy.
Jiang Ningwan understood the reason and did not ask any further questions.
"Give me the ashes of my mother and grandfather."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Bingde showed hesitation.
Jiang Ningwan's heart sank, she knew that this matter came with conditions.
It won't be that easy to hand it over to her.
"Tell me, what are your conditions?" Jiang Ningwan said in a cold tone.
Jiang Bingde hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "There are still two deputy general positions vacant in your army. I have someone I want to assign to you."
"Who?"
"You'll know later. If you agree, I'm afraid I'll have to give your mother and your grandfather's ashes to you for safekeeping."
Jiang Bingde said this without any confidence.
Now it’s time to ask Jiang Ningwan for help.
And there are conditions attached to her help, which makes it more like a cold deal.
There is no family affection at all.
Jiang Ningwan snorted coldly, "I knew it. You wouldn't think of me when good things happen to you. Eating? It's just a Hongmen Feast."
"After threatening me with the deed to my ancestral home, now you're threatening me with my mother's ashes."
"If I don't agree to let you in, are you going to threaten me by throwing my mother's ashes?"
Jiang Ningwan clenched his palms tightly and gnashed his teeth in anger.
Jiang Bingde's face turned ugly. "What are you talking about! Am I that kind of person in your eyes?"
"Yes."
The cold word pierced Jiang Bingde like a sharp blade.
"Do you still know that I am your father?"
Jiang Ningwan remained calm, "Not like that."
"you!"
Jiang Bingde was very angry.
"Wait until you bring my mother and grandfather's ashes, then we can discuss the deal."
After saying that, Jiang Ningwan left indifferently.
Looking at Jiang Ningwan's departing back, Jiang Bingde felt a lump in his throat. Which daughter in the world dared to be so disobedient and unfilial!
But he couldn't do anything to Jiang Ningwan now.
What made him even more heartbroken was Jiang Ningwan's attitude, as if he really didn't recognize him as his father.