A marriage!
A fiancée!
Ye Qiu’s face darkened instantly.
“What’s the old man up to? Does he think I don’t have enough romantic entanglements? Or that my current confidantes aren’t worthy of entering the Ye family?”
Ye Qiu said, displeased.
“Ye Qiu, don’t be upset. The old man’s doing this for your own good…”
Before Ye Wuwei could finish, Ye Qiu cut him off.
“For my own good? Shouldn’t he ask if I need it?” Ye Qiu said. “Besides, after Long Yi comes out of seclusion, it’s uncertain if I’ll even survive.”
“If he finds me a fiancée now and I die, won’t that leave the girl a widow?”
“Isn’t that just harming her?”
“Second Uncle, please tell the old man I don’t need this marriage.”
Ye Wuwei looked troubled. “Ye Qiu, I’m afraid this isn’t up to you.”
“The old man has already settled things with the other family.”
“The girl’s family is quite satisfied with you.”
Ye Qiu laughed in exasperation. “What, I can’t even decide my own marriage?”
“Second Uncle, tell me.”
“Which family’s daughter is so unlucky?”
Ye Wuwei said, “The Tang family.”
The Tang family?
Ye Qiu was stunned.
As far as he knew, among Beijing’s top elite families, only two bore the Tang surname.
One was Tang Fei’s family, and the other was Old Tang’s!
Ye Qiu’s heart jolted, and he asked, “Second Uncle, is the old man’s choice for my fiancée Old Tang’s…”
“Exactly,” Ye Wuwei took over. “Your fiancée is Old Tang’s granddaughter.”
“And you know this girl.”
“It’s Tangtang.”
Ye Qiu had long suspected Tangtang’s identity, and sure enough, she was Old Tang’s granddaughter.
Ye Wuwei said, “Tangtang’s real name is Tang Tang. Tangtang is just her stage name.”
“I watched Tangtang grow up. Setting aside her status, she’s beautiful, well-educated, refined, and an exceptional young woman.”
“She’s a big star, you’re a medical sage— you two are a match made in heaven.”
“Ye Qiu, I think you should consider it.”
Ye Qiu gave a wry smile. “Second Uncle, it’s not about considering or not.”
“Tangtang and I are just friends. There’s no emotional foundation.”
“Besides, I already have Lin Jingzhi and Bai Bing. If I marry Tangtang, what about them?”
Ye Wuwei laughed. “From what I see, Lin Jingzhi and Bai Bing aren’t petty women. If you marry Tangtang, they probably won’t object.”
“And Tangtang knows about Lin Jingzhi and the others. If you marry her, she won’t stop you from staying close with them.”
“Ye Qiu, the old man thought of all this, which is why he proposed to the Tang family.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Is the old man worried that during the final battle, I won’t be a match for the Forbidden City, and they’ll kill me?”
“So he found me a fiancée.”
“This way, the Forbidden City might hesitate because of Old Tang’s status and spare me, right?”
Ye Wuwei shook his head. “No.”
No?
Ye Qiu was surprised. He thought he’d guessed right, but Ye Wuwei denied it.
“Then what’s the reason?” Ye Qiu asked curiously.
Ye Wuwei said, “The old man considered everything you’ve thought of.”
“When the final battle comes, even if you’re Old Tang’s grandson-in-law, the Forbidden City won’t hold back.”
“And since Wudi killed Long Jiu, the Forbidden City won’t let him go either.”
“Of course, with old and new grudges combined, the Forbidden City won’t spare our Ye family either.”
“So, the old man wants to ally with Old Tang.”
“For you, for Wudi, for the Ye family, to find a glimmer of hope.”
Ye Qiu was puzzled and said, “Second Uncle, can you be more specific?”
Ye Wuwei said, “The reason the old man arranged this marriage is to tie Old Tang and our Ye family to the same boat, to take down the Forbidden City.”
“The Forbidden City has been arrogant for years, ignoring state law and Old Tang’s authority. It’s long overdue to be dismantled.”
“But for certain special reasons, Old Tang hasn’t been able to make up his mind.”
“Old Tang has only one granddaughter, Tangtang, whom he adores. If you marry her, you’ll be his grandson-in-law.”
“If the Forbidden City wants to kill you, Old Tang, not wanting Tangtang to be a widow, will step in to help you.”
“That way, the Ye and Tang families will form an alliance.”
Ye Qiu understood.
In essence, the old man wanted him to marry Tangtang to use that connection to force Old Tang to resolve to destroy the Forbidden City.
“Second Uncle, let me ask. If Old Tang decides to take down the Forbidden City, can he succeed?”
“It’s tough,” Ye Wuwei said. “The Forbidden City’s power is beyond your imagination, unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless nuclear weapons are used, regardless of the consequences,” Ye Wuwei said. “But in the capital, using nukes would make Old Tang a sinner for the ages, so he won’t do it.”
Ye Qiu was incredulous. “Even with the Ye and Tang families combined, plus me, the Dragon Gate, and Hades Hall, can we take down the Forbidden City?”
Ye Wuwei said gravely, “Still tough.”
Ye Qiu said, “If that’s the case, Second Uncle, an alliance between the Ye and Tang families is meaningless, and I’m still doomed.”
Ye Wuwei said, “What lies before us is indeed a dead end.”
“But the old man isn’t resigned, I’m not resigned, and I believe you aren’t either.”
“So we must unite as many forces as possible to confront the Forbidden City.”
Ye Qiu sensed the weight in Ye Wuwei’s words and asked, “What trump card does the Forbidden City have to be so formidable?”
“You shouldn’t know yet, to avoid added pressure,” Ye Wuwei said. “Right now, you need to do two things.”
“First, improve your strength.”
“Second, marry Tangtang.”
Ye Qiu was silent for a moment, then said, “Second Uncle, please tell the old man I won’t marry Tangtang.”
“Since even a Ye-Tang alliance has no chance against the Forbidden City, and I’m doomed, there’s no need to drag Tangtang down.”
“You and the old man should start planning a fallback.”
Ye Wuwei asked, “And you?”
“Me?” Ye Qiu smiled. “Since I challenged the Forbidden City, I’ve put life and death aside.”
“My father’s vengeance is mine to take.”
“Whether I live or die, I won’t back down.”
Ye Wuwei sighed deeply. “You’re just like your father, unyielding to the core.”
“Ye Qiu, I’ve said all I need to. I’ll convey your stance to the old man.”
“I’m leaving.”
Ye Qiu stood immediately. “Second Uncle, I’ll see you out.”
“No need,” Ye Wuwei said, pausing at the door. “Before I came, the old man said if you refuse to marry Tangtang, you’ll have to personally tell Old Tang to call off the engagement.”
