"Sir..." the butler called out softly, feeling wronged.
He had just been beaten, and not only did his master not avenge him, but he was also showing favor to his enemy?
"Shut up! You offended a distinguished guest. I'm not punishing you by sacrificing you to the Blood Sacrifice Stele, and you dare to speak?" Ma Zhenbang reprimanded sternly.
He then looked at Ying Chen and said, "My servant is ignorant of the rules. Please deal with him as you see fit, without any regard for my feelings."
He was essentially handing the butler's life over to Ying Chen!
The butler felt as if struck by lightning.
The next second, he jolted and crawled to Ying Chen's feet, kowtowing thrice with thuds: "My lord, it was my eyes that failed to recognize true worth, my arrogance that looked down on you, I deserve to die! I beg you, for the sake of my elders and my young ones, spare my life!"
After speaking, the butler continued to kowtow.
Soon, a pool of blood appeared on the ground.
Yet, the butler dared not stop, enduring the pain and continuing his prostrations.
Just as the butler was about to kowtow himself to death before Ying Chen, Ying Chen spoke faintly, "A child not taught is the father's fault; a dog not taught is the master's fault. Your life is noted for now, and will be dealt with later."
The butler felt as if he had been granted a general amnesty, weeping with joy.
Ma Zhenbang, however, heard Ying Chen's words, "a dog not taught is the master's fault," and his expression instantly turned grim.
"You are a guest from afar, it is unseemly to talk at the doorstep. If you do not find it beneath you, please come inside for a chat?" Ma Zhenbang suppressed his emotions and cordially invited Ying Chen.
Ying Chen gave no indication either way.
Ma Zhenbang quickly led the way, ushering Ying Chen into the mansion.
Min Ziqiong, who was still looking bewildered, hesitated for a moment before quickly following.
To this day, she could not believe how Ma Zhenbang's attitude had suddenly changed.
Could it be that what Ying Chen said earlier about "the Ma family being at his beck and call" was true?
But if it were true, why did Ma Zhenbang directly refuse when the female assistant from the Min family came to demand the person, and even slapped her?
Min Ziqiong couldn't figure it out.
Led by Ma Zhenbang, the two soon arrived at a side hall.
This side hall seemed to be exclusively used by the Ma family to receive distinguished guests, and its furnishings were extremely luxurious.
Even an unremarkable teacup was an antique of some age.
Not to mention the original calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls.
After entering the side hall and closing the door, before Ying Chen could even sit down, Ma Zhenbang dropped to his knees with a thud.
Tears welled in Ma Zhenbang's eyes, his voice trembling, "Old Ancestor, I truly cannot believe it is you!"
"From my great-great-great-grandfather's generation onwards, our Ma family has passed down a maxim, stating that everything the Ma family possesses was bestowed by an Old Ancestor. The descendants of the Ma family must never forget the Old Ancestor's grace and must always await and obey the Old Ancestor's summons."
"I originally thought it was just a legend, but I never expected it to be true! You actually exist, and you actually appeared in my dream!"
"Old Ancestor, I... I... I can no longer describe my current feelings. All I can say is that I, Ma Zhenbang, am fortunate in three lifetimes! Fortunate in three lifetimes!"
Ma Zhenbang seemed extremely excited.
Min Ziqiong, on the other hand, was stunned by what Ma Zhenbang's words revealed.
Ying Chen was somehow connected to the ancestors of the Ma family?
But Ying Chen clearly looked only in his twenties!
"Impossible, absolutely impossible... It's likely there's some hidden reason I'm unaware of, otherwise, wouldn't Ying Chen be four or five hundred years old?" Min Ziqiong shook her head, banishing the absurd thought from her mind.
Little did she know, she had underestimated Ying Chen's age; four or five hundred years multiplied by five would be closer.
"Get up!" Ying Chen waved his hand lazily and said.
Ma Zhenbang respectfully stood up and stood to the side with his hands clasped.
"By the way, Old Ancestor, there is something I need to explain," Ma Zhenbang suddenly said, as if remembering something.
"When the Min family's female assistant came to demand the person, the reason I didn't comply was twofold: first, I was worried she might be fabricating your decree; second, she was utterly impolite at the time, knowing it was my birthday banquet tonight, yet she caused such a disturbance. Angered, I slapped her."
"I hope the Old Ancestor will not blame me, and I hope Miss Min will not overthink it."
Facing Ying Chen, Ma Zhenbang hoped for no blame;
Facing Min Ziqiong, Ma Zhenbang only hoped she wouldn't overthink it.
This showed that Ma Zhenbang did not take Min Ziqiong seriously at all. The words "don't overthink it" were less an apology and more a threat.
Min Ziqiong observed the rules of propriety, pretending not to understand the implied threat in Ma Zhenbang's words.
In any case, her sole objective at the moment was to take her daughter away; as for everything else, it could be as it may.
Her situation could not possibly get any worse than it was now.
"Oh? Today is your birthday, no wonder the entrance is decorated with lanterns and banners, so festive. How old are you this year?" Ying Chen's eyes flashed as he asked Ma Zhenbang.
Ma Zhenbang bowed his head and replied, "Reporting to the Old Ancestor, I am sixty-six years old this year."
"Sixty-six years old, a good age. In our time, very few lived to this age, you should cherish it," Ying Chen said meaningfully.
Ma Zhenbang's body trembled, a glint of light flashed in his eyes before disappearing instantly.
"Thank you for your teachings, Old Ancestor. I will remember them well. In that case, Old Ancestor and Miss Min, please rest here. I will go and bring Miss Min's daughter."
Ma Zhenbang clasped his hands in a salute.
With that, he turned and left the room.
Looking at Ma Zhenbang's retreating back, a look of relief and hope appeared on Min Ziqiong's face.
She would finally see her daughter!
However, after Ma Zhenbang had gone some distance, a wry smile appeared on Ying Chen's face.
Min Ziqiong couldn't help but ask, "What are you smiling about?"
Ying Chen did not answer directly but uttered eight words: "Outwardly respectful, inwardly arrogant, death is imminent."
Min Ziqiong frowned, pondering these eight words, not understanding their meaning.
But one thing she understood: she might have underestimated the situation.
...
In Ma Zhenbang's study.
The butler stood obsequiously beside Ma Zhenbang, his facial wounds either intentionally left unbandaged or not yet bandaged, but they were glaringly apparent to Ma Zhenbang.
Ma Zhenbang glanced at the butler and sneered, "You don't need to put on this pathetic act for me. I see the suffering you've endured for the Ma family, and I don't need you to remind me; conversely, if you try to use this to extort me, then you'll truly be close to death."
The butler quickly said, "No, no, no, I have no such intentions, Master, you must believe me!"
"Enough, whether I believe you is not important; what is important is your performance. Next, I have an important task for you. Can you complete it?"
The butler straightened his chest and said with certainty, "I guarantee completion!"
Ma Zhenbang nodded with satisfaction, then reached into his desk drawer, took out a token, and tossed it with a clatter at the butler's feet.
"I accidentally lost the tiger tally, and you accidentally found it. After finding the tiger tally, you, harboring resentment, decided to go all the way and privately mobilized the Ma family's combat team to shoot your enemy dead in the side hall."
"And all of this is a coincidence. I knew nothing about it from beginning to end."
"Do you understand?"
The butler's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this, "I understand, I understand!"
"It's like in the TV shows: the Emperor is always wise and benevolent, and the bad ones are all the eunuchs and treacherous ministers below!"
"But if the Emperor hadn't indulged them, how could the eunuchs and treacherous ministers have stirred up trouble?"