Nan Hua's eyes flashed as she heard familiar name from a distance away.
"You think you're something, Zhang Dan Shui?! Do you think that just because you're already a formal official now it meant that you're better than the rest of Zhang Family? Let me tell you that someone at your position could be replaced at any time! I'm someone worth much more than you!"
Zhang Dan Shui.
If not for hearing this name again, Nan Hua would have long forgotten about the young man whom she met at the palace at that time.
(A/N: poor Zhang Dan Shui)
It seemed that he managed to stay alive and bluffed his way out of the mess in the palace a few weeks ago. Since that was the case, she should fulfill her promise… but the problem of her unable to meet with that young man personally still remained.
It was not good to meet with him in public with her current identity.
As for meeting in secret, she still hadn't had much investigation about Zhang Family yet.
"Luo, let's take a look."
"Ah, Hua'er wants to see?" Nan Luo furrowed his eyebrows. He was originally planning to wait for the commotion to die down before going down. But seeing that Nan Hua wants to see, he became conflicted.
"Mhm."
"It might be dangerous."
"I'll be fine." What danger would it be when it was just two young masters from Zhang Family fought against each other? Both of them were not powerful martial artists. Compared to her and Nan Luo's martial arts, they were nothing.
Not to mention, they were in the Capital City. What kind of idiot would blatantly provoke other people in this kind of situation?
"Alright."
Long Qian Xing watched the twins walked out. His servant from behind called him but he waved his hand. Since the twins wanted to take a look, he would also take a look. Though, he wondered just who could possibly create problem in this place.
Bang!
There was some dull sound of people getting hit.
Nan Hua walked out and saw the two young masters near a table. Zhang Dan Shui was standing with his head lowered while another young man, who looked to be similar to Zhang Dan Shui was pointing at Zhang Dan Shui, berating the other party. The words were extremely hurtful and completely humiliated Zhang Dan Shui.
However, Zhang Dan Shui kept his calm and didn't seem like he would retort at all. However, the clenched fist clearly told others that he was repressing his feelings yet he couldn't do anything.
"Oh, the Zhang siblings." Nan Luo furrowed his eyebrows.
Nan Hua looked at Nan Luo. "Do you know them?"
"Not really, but their father is similar in ranking with Mr. Nan Shu Cheng. He once come to Nan Family residence with his sons since they had passed the examination to become palace officials."
In other words: he come to brag.
Nan Hua nodded, not feeling too surprised that their family would know each other. Being of the same professions, it did seem that they would have some interaction with each other.
"Zhang Dan Shui is the older brother but he's of concubine born, which is what I heard." Nan Luo looked at the two people in front of him. He shrugged. "Zhang Dan Shang is the younger brother from the main wife. As you can see, those of concubine born will usually be repressed."
Though, in our residence, it was the opposite.
Nan Luo honestly hated this condition very much. It was clearly the problems of the head of the house with their wives, but why bring the children into the mess? He didn't like the fact that they were dragged into the mess at all.
"Luo didn't like concubine born children?"
"I just didn't like Nan Family concubine born children." Nan Luo scoffed. As for other families, what was the use of him caring about them? He didn't have any relationship with those people at all.
Nan Hua nodded. She wanted to use this Zhang Dan Shui but if Nan Luo didn't like concubine born children in general, she might need to keep him in the dark forever. Since he didn't have such aversion, she would tell him in the far future.
Bang!
"Are you listening, you b*stard?!" Zhang Dan Shang, the young man who was berating Zhang Dan Shui, roared in anger. He looked at the young man in front of him and the more he looked, the more annoyed he became. This b*stard shouldn't have existed in the first place.
Zhang Dan Shui, who kept his head lowered, replied, "Yes, I'm listening."
"Good, clean up the mess! You're just a b*stard son, a lowly being just like that peasant woman."
Zhang Dan Shui's body trembled. He could accept any insult thrown to his face but he couldn't take it when they were involving his mother. His eyes turned red as he tried hard not to lash out.
Whenever he lashed out, his father would beat him up and his mother would be bullied even more. No matter how much he hated it, he couldn't speak up against his younger brother right now.
His keen senses suddenly noticed a group of people coming out of the private room. When he saw them, he was stunned and nearly raised his head in reflex.
Nan Hua!
The young girl whom he met at the palace was here once more. For the past few weeks, he had done his homework and done some investigation regarding Nan Hua and the Nan Family. The result was quite interesting because the young girl was known to be the unremarkable and cold daughter of Nan Family.
The cold part was true. But unremarkable?
How could an unremarkable young lady possibly infiltrate the palace, which was known to be the most heavily guarded place in the entire Fei Yang Kingdom? That would be a joke to all martial artist in Fei Yang Kingdom.
However, he had been thinking that he should figure out a method to meet with Nan Hua again. So far, there hadn't been any suitable method that he could think of. Meeting a noble lady was not easy.
Not to mention, she was still very young and hadn't had attended many parties formally.
Thus, Zhang Dan Shui couldn't figure out a method to contact Nan Hua. He thought that he should just leave it up to fate. Who would have thought that he would meet the young lady when he was just strolling on the street with his annoying younger brother?
He quickly repressed his intention to greet them. His eyes landed on the young man behind Nan Hua, who was slightly taller than the young lady. The soldier's attire and also the aura around him…
Zhang Dan Shui looked at his younger brother who kept on mocking him and even started to bring his mother. He looked up then to the side before cupping his fist. "8 rank Official Zhang Dan Shui greets Young Commander Long."
Young Commander Long?
Zhang Dan Shang was stunned. He quickly turned to the side and greeted the commander along with his friends. They were quick to change the conversation.
"Young Commander Long, it's really unexpected for us to be able to meet you in this place."
"Young Commander Long, I have heard of your past endeavor…."
Long Qian Xing's lips curled up to form a sneer as he looked at the young masters in front of him. He didn't like interacting with these bootlickers in the slightest bit. His eyes landed on Zhang Dan Shui, who was still standing in his place as his eyes darkened.
What a cunning official to use other people like this.
"I'll return first."
Nan Luo looked at Long Qian Xing then to the fervent official. He nodded. "We're also going to leave."
"Alright, take care."
As the twins headed to the door, Nan Hua turned to look at Zhang Dan Shui once more. She mouthed out, 'Wait.'
Wait.
It was just one word, but Zhang Dan Shui felt much better when he saw Nan Hua said that. He did feel a bit ridiculous for trusting the words of a young girl who was much younger than him… even more than a decade, so fast. However, he didn't manage to interact with many other officials.
Even if they knew about his problems, they would stay away and would not help him.
He needed help from someone else and meeting Nan Hua might be the only path left for him.
'Just wait…. Someday, I'll reach the place where I'll be free from Zhang Family.'
Zhang Dan Shui's eyes turned slightly cold as he watched his younger brother and other young officials. They were all siding with Zhang Dan Shang since the young master was favored. Not to mention, he was the main son, which meant that he was someone of higher status.
Rather than the unfavored concubine son, whose future prospect was rocky, they better paid more attention to the promising one.