In order to win Zhang Chen’s trust, Zhang Gaoqiu would go to any lengths.
At this moment, the only thought in Zhang Gaoqiu’s mind was: "A golden opportunity! By sticking my neck out for this kid now, there’s no way he won’t be deeply grateful to me. If I ever want to harm him in the future, he might even end up thanking me for it instead."
Zhang Gaoqiu was filled with self-satisfaction; he had to seize this opportunity. Seeing Wang Xifeng across from him, who was looking annoyed, Zhang Gaoqiu quickly sent a message through his Divine Soul: "Aunt, I’ve heard about your situation. Don’t worry, just follow my lead. I promise to give you a satisfactory explanation. Not only will I retrieve the slot this kid took, but I’ll also make him a disgrace in the circle of the powerful."
Upon hearing Zhang Gaoqiu’s message, Wang Xifeng glanced at Zhang Gaoqiu, her eyes flickering slightly. Then she took a deep breath, turned her stern face toward the Seventh Rank Divine Spirit beside her, and said, "Didn’t you hear what the young master said?"
The Seventh Rank Divine Spirit’s face immediately changed color at her words: "Madam..."
"At worst, after your death, the family will fashion a new Incense Golden Body for you, ensuring you continue to live in the form of a Divine Spirit. Your descendants will not be mistreated by the family either," Wang Xifeng’s voice was ice-cold.
The Seventh Rank Divine Spirit shuddered, his eyes filled with tragic determination. He glared angrily at Zhang Chen, and in the next instant, he struck his forehead fiercely with his palm. In that moment, the Divine Spirit’s divine light dissipated, and he collapsed to the ground, lifeless like a lump of flesh.
A Seventh Rank Divine Spirit, dead just like that!
Zhang Chen’s pupils shrank at the sight. This was a Seventh Rank Divine Spirit, no weaker than a cultivator of the same rank. Even an Eighth Rank Bloodline Practitioner might not defeat him in a fight, yet he ended his own life just because of a command from the family’s matron. The Shen Family indeed had immense wealth and influence.
Before Zhang Chen could respond, his cousin Zhang Gaoqiu had already turned around to look at him: "Cousin, has this vented your anger? If you want me to disrespect Aunt, I dare not. You’ve vented your anger, and in the end, we are family. If things go too far, it won’t end well for both families."
At this point, Zhang Gaoqiu approached Zhang Chen and whispered in a low voice: "You took someone else’s slot to enter the academy, and now they can’t even trouble you for it?"
Zhang Chen remained silent at these words, glancing at his own family and then at Zhang Gaoqiu. He knew this guy had ulterior motives and wanted to see what trick he would play and whether there was an opportunity to turn the tables on him.
Besides, he hadn’t yet secured the slot to enter the academy, so it was not the right time to fall out openly.
"In that case, let’s put it aside for now. I hope Aunt can manage her subordinates well. If you can’t control your own subordinates, how can you manage the vast Shen Family?" Zhang Chen said as he led the three little ones and signaled to Mrs. Zhang. The family entered the house, closed the door, and ignored Wang Xifeng and Zhang Gaoqiu.
Faced with Zhang Chen’s attitude, Wang Xifeng was furious, her body shaking. She then glanced at Zhang Gaoqiu, who hurriedly whispered: "Please stay calm. I will exact revenge by tomorrow, and you will be satisfied. But you must play a role in a show with me tomorrow. Without you, it can’t go on. I guarantee you will get that slot back."
Upon hearing Zhang Gaoqiu’s words, Wang Xifeng snorted coldly, flicked her sleeve, and turned away: "Let’s hope so."
Watching Wang Xifeng’s retreating figure, Zhang Gaoqiu glanced back at Zhang Chen’s courtyard. He quickly opened the door and went in, offering Zhang Chen a lot of reassurances, hoping to pacify him temporarily. He spoke a lot about how "we are all family," "let’s not fall out," and "it won’t end well for both families" to placate Zhang Chen. Then, patting his chest, he promised, "Cousin, stay here as long as you like. I will not allow anyone to bully you."
He then promised: "Tomorrow, I’ll treat you to a drink and explain the various workings within the Shen Family. Things inside the Shen Family aren’t as straightforward as they seem."
After establishing a connection with Zhang Chen, he turned to prepare for the next day.
Watching Zhang Gaoqiu walk away, Mrs. Zhang emerged, tidying her disheveled hair, her voice filled with seriousness: "Something seems off. Zhang Gaoqiu and Wang Xifeng were casting glances at each other. I suspect there’s something shady between them. The Shen Family is full of trouble, perhaps we’d best leave! If we really fall out with the Shen Family, how will we, a single mother and child, stand against them?"
Hearing Mrs. Zhang’s words, Zhang Chen smiled lightly: "Mother, please stay here for now. Once I’ve accomplished something, we can leave the Shen Family."
Seeing that Zhang Chen was confident and composed, Mrs. Zhang no longer tried to persuade him. She felt at ease knowing he had a plan.
Meanwhile, Zhang Gaoqiu headed straight to Shen Ling’s residence. After they met, they shared a moment of tenderness in the room. Zhang Gaoqiu held Shen Ling in his arms, gently stroking her smooth skin and said: "I have everything ready for tomorrow, but we still need Aunt’s cooperation."
Shen Ling hesitated: "Can’t we use someone else?"
Zhang Gaoqiu replied: "Use who? If we used a woman from the Shen Family, the elders might just go along and side with that wildling. If we use someone else, they might not cooperate with us. Even if someone else agrees to cooperate, I’d be afraid to use them. If the plan leaks, we would be in big trouble."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ling’s face showed hesitation, and Zhang Gaoqiu gently stroked her skin, saying: "Now that the slot for our elder cousin to enter the academy has been snatched by that kid, we have no other way to take it back. This requires Aunt to just show her face, and it’s not as if anyone would actually take advantage of her."
Hearing this, Shen Ling made up her mind: "Alright! I will talk to my mother. As long as that little thief gets what he deserves."
The next day
As dawn broke, a servant came to deliver a message that Zhang Gaoqiu had invited Zhang Chen for a drink.
Zhang Chen, after a brief contemplation upon hearing this, revealed a mischievous grin. He knew that Zhang Gaoqiu would certainly try to sabotage him at the banquet, so he simply sent the servant back without confirming whether he would attend.
He wanted to take the opportunity to play a trick on Zhang Gaoqiu.
The servant returned to report, and upon hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu raised an eyebrow, then left the room with a look of frustration: "Damn wild kid, he’s being so hard to handle! Better not let me catch him, or I’ll make sure he pays."
Heading straight to Zhang Chen’s courtyard, Zhang Gaoqiu adjusted his mood, then put on a fake smile before pushing open the door to enter the courtyard. There, he saw Zhang Chen gazing at the sun in the sky.
"Brother, I invited you to drink, why won’t you come?" Zhang Gaoqiu wore a warm smile with a faint hint of reproach in his words.
"Because of last night’s events, I really don’t feel like drinking," Zhang Chen replied.
Zhang Gaoqiu chuckled: "Nonetheless, today’s drink is a must for you."
"How so? Is there something special about this drink?" Zhang Chen asked.
"Consider this, you and Shen Ling are engaged, and Wang Xifeng is Shen Ling’s biological mother, your future mother-in-law. Today’s banquet is not just my affair; I’m trying to mediate to turn hostility between you and Madam Wang into friendship."
After Zhang Chen heard Zhang Gaoqiu’s words, he nodded: "So that’s it; it seems I have to attend."
"You have to attend! Shen Ling’s cousin is also here; if you don’t go, Shen Ling’s cousin will be displeased," Zhang Gaoqiu added.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen no longer refused and headed to Zhang Gaoqiu’s place. Soon after, he saw Zhang Gaoqiu instructing the maid, "Serve the dishes."
As the two took their seats, exquisite six dishes and a soup, accompanied by fine wine, were served shortly after.
But as Zhang Chen looked at the food and wine, he hesitated; he wasn’t familiar with medicinal properties. If Zhang Gaoqiu had drugged him, it could be a big trouble.
He decided to keep an eye on Zhang Gaoqiu; if Zhang Gaoqiu didn’t start eating, he wouldn’t touch the food either.
Zhang Gaoqiu didn’t start eating; he just asked the servant beside him: "Has Miss Shen Ling and the madam arrived?"
The servant shook his head in response, and Zhang Gaoqiu said, "Go urge them!"
Upon hearing, the servant took the command and left, while Zhang Gaoqiu told Zhang Chen, "Hold on a moment, brother."
Then he poured Zhang Chen a glass of wine, raised his cup: "Let’s drink a glass first."
The two clinked glasses; Zhang Gaoqiu took only a small sip and then put his cup down. Seeing this, Zhang Chen pretended to sip his wine and put the cup down, thinking to himself: "He doesn’t want to drink; could there be something in the wine?"
At this moment, Zhang Gaoqiu also noticed Zhang Chen’s untouched wine, secretly thinking: "This kid is really cautious, but luckily, I planned ahead."
So he pointed at the spread of food and said: "Let’s not wait anymore, let’s start eating for now."
Zhang Chen picked up his chopsticks, his eyes fixed on Zhang Gaoqiu, but he dared not start eating easily. He had heard of the term ’composite poison’ in films from his past life.
Composite poison is when a single item isn’t toxic, but when combined, it becomes poisonous.
Seeing Zhang Chen reluctant to start, Zhang Gaoqiu took the lead and picked up a dish with his chopsticks.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen also extended his chopsticks to taste a bit, knowing there’s another poisoning method — the wine could be poisoned, while a dish on the table could be the antidote. If he didn’t eat, he could be caught off guard.
Thus, Zhang Gaoqiu ate one dish, and Zhang Chen followed with the same, which made Zhang Chen’s eyelids twitch, secretly cursing: "What a little fox, but thankfully I was prepared. No wonder this kid could come from the Northern Land to Jiangnan; with this cautious personality, he’s truly a seasoned veteran of the Martial World."
Nevertheless, no matter how sneaky you are, you’ll only drink my foot wash. I have measures in place that will catch you off-guard.