Chapter 1880: Chapter 936: Scheming Young Couple (Part 1)
Today is Gu Xiaoshun’s birthday. Early in the morning, Yao Family took Gu Xiaobao to the tea house to buy tea leaves and snacks, never expecting to encounter such an incident.
A madman actually set fire to the tea house. The fire on the first floor had been put out, but none of the guests stranded in the private rooms on the second floor dared to rush out.
The reason is simple: this madman had splashed kerosene all over the corridors and the backyard.
He just stood there on the rooftop, holding a torch in his right hand, and there were several large holes in the roof right above the stairs and corridors.
No one dared to guarantee that in the moment they tried to escape, this madman wouldn’t throw the torch in his hand.
The reason Yu Yaya was able to get out was that Gu Xiaobao cried for candied hawthorn. She went across the street to buy a skewer, and just as she paid, the fire started.
The tea house was located at the corner of Chang’an Avenue to the east, not far from Bishui Alley.
When Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen arrived at the scene, the nearby officers were also alarmed. To prevent unnecessary injuries, the officers formed a human wall, keeping the citizens far away.
Several shops across the street were crowded with onlookers.
At this time, even the Token from Renshou Palace was useless.
Fortunately, Xiao Hen held a position in the Ministry of Justice.
“Ministry of Justice’s investigation,” he said, presenting his order from the Ministry of Justice to the Jingzhao Residence’s officer.
After checking the order and confirming its authenticity, the officer’s expression eased a bit. Then he looked at Gu Jiao: “Who is she?”
Without changing his expression, Xiao Hen said, “A doctor invited by the Ministry of Justice.”
The commotion was quite significant, and indeed many people were injured.
The officer suspected nothing further and let the two enter.
As the two approached the front of the tea house, they unexpectedly saw a familiar figure.
Gu Jiao blinked in astonishment: “Tang Yueshan?”
Tang Yueshan was clutching his abdomen with his left hand, continuously oozing blood from his fingertips, his face pale, and his breathing rapid.
— He was injured.
He heard Gu Jiao’s voice and turned to look at her. At the same time, he also saw Xiao Hen, and he frowned slightly, wanting to speak but hesitating.
It was evident that he looked quite uncomfortable and embarrassed.
Their gazes simultaneously shifted to the arsonist on the rooftop.
The man was disheveled and in a sorry state, and it took them a great deal of effort to recognize who he was.
“Tang Ming?” Gu Jiao was puzzled.
“It’s him,” Xiao Hen said.
The last time they saw Tang Ming was two or three years ago. Back then, no matter how dark and despicable he was inside, on the surface, he was at least a dashing young master.
Now, he looked like a completely different person compared to the current frenzied and ragged arsonist.
“What happened?” Gu Jiao asked Tang Yueshan, glancing at his abdomen again, “You’re injured.”
“I’m fine,” Tang Yueshan said.
“Did he do it?” Gu Jiao was referring to Tang Ming.
With Tang Yueshan’s martial skills, unless those few powerful figures intervened, it would be difficult for anyone to injure him in a one-on-one fight.
Tang Yueshan sighed: “After returning to Capital City, I found he was hanging out with some unsavory characters. We had a big argument, and he ran away from home. This morning, I discovered him lying in a gambling house, using Wushi Powder with those people.”
Wushi Powder, a medicine for treating typhoid.
However, this medicine has certain side effects, causing hallucinations and effects similar to ecstasy.
Long-term use can lead to addiction.
No wonder Tang Ming’s mental state seemed off.
Tang Yueshan’s mood was complicated, a mix of anger and frustration: “I beat up those people… also beat him up, ordered him not to associate with them again, or I’d kill them all!”
Gu Jiao asked, “And then he attacked you?”
Tang Yueshan said bitterly, “He wanted to commit suicide. I tried to grab the knife and accidentally hurt myself.”
The saying goes, scandals should not be publicized; though they appear as uncle and nephew outwardly, Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen knew that he and Tang Ming were actually father and son.
This situation is truly disgraceful.
“What do you plan to do?” Gu Jiao asked Tang Yueshan.
With Tang Yueshan’s archery skills, one arrow could shoot him down. The problem was, if he fell, the torch in his hand would drop, possibly igniting the entire tea house.
Tang Yueshan looked at the delirious Tang Ming on the rooftop and said with difficulty, “I want to stabilize his emotions first and lure him down. But he seems unable to hear me now.”
Gu Jiao said, “He just used Wushi Powder; he can’t listen to anyone. You talk to him here, and I’ll go up and grab him.”
Tang Yueshan stopped her, “You can’t! The rooftop is full of kerosene!”
Gu Jiao said seriously, “My mother and brother are in the tea house.”
Tang Yueshan was at a loss for words.
After a while, he awkwardly squeezed out a few words: “I’m sorry…”
Gu Jiao said calmly, “Let’s not talk about that now, stick to the plan.”
“…Alright!” Tang Yueshan clenched his fist and agreed.
“Be careful,” Xiao Hen urged Gu Jiao.
“I understand. Wait for me here,” Gu Jiao replied, then turned and took the alley leading to the backyard of the tea house.
The backyard was left in a state of disarray by the fire, with flames extinguished but still plenty of small flames remaining. The officials were busy putting out the fire, while trying not to cause too much disturbance, fearing it might provoke Tang Ming on the roof.
Tang Ming’s body swayed precariously.
It seemed as though, at any second, he would fall alongside the torch.
Tang Yueshan quickly said, “Mingming, come down, let’s talk this out! I won’t stop you from making friends! Do whatever you want! Your uncle won’t stand in your way!”
“Uncle…” Tang Ming seemed to be triggered by this word, suddenly perking up, and looked mockingly at Tang Yueshan on the long street.
The drug effect of the Wu Shi powder was strong, and at this moment, people appeared blurry to him, yet he could still recognize that the person was indeed his “good uncle.”
He suddenly burst into hysterical laughter, “Uncle… Uncle… Are you my uncle? Are you! Dare to swear to the heavens that you are my real uncle!”
The onlooking crowd turned their eyes to Tang Yueshan.
What did Tang Ming mean by this?
Tang Yueshan was the younger brother of his real father, so wasn’t he his real uncle?
The term “real uncle” made everyone focus on the first word.
Could it be that Tang Yueshan was not the real son of Old Master Tang, so they were not real uncle and nephew?
Impossible, Tang Yueshan’s appearance was very similar to Old Master Tang, no one who had seen them doubted they were not real father and son.
Tang Yueshan’s cheeks were burning hot, “Mingming! Come down first! We can talk at home!”
Tang Ming roared, “Who wants to go home with you! Do you dare to proclaim your deeds to the whole world!”
The crowd became even more curious, judging by the looks of it, there was a big scandal in the Tang Family.
Xiao Hen spoke calmly, “Tang Ming, by doing this, where are you placing your mother? If you don’t care about others, shouldn’t you at least think of your mother?”
Once the father-son relationship was exposed, Tang Yueshan would undoubtedly be criticized, and Tang Madam couldn’t remain unaffected.
If the rumor spread that Tang Madam couldn’t resist loneliness and seduced her brother-in-law, she would be drowned in the spittle of the public.
Perhaps it was Xiao Hen’s words that awakened a last thread of reason in Tang Ming; he managed to hold back the shocking secret that was about to spill from his mouth.
Flawlessly, Xiao Hen said, “Your mother would be worried, you should come down quickly.”
Tang Ming sneered, “You want me to come down? Dream on!”
Xiao Hen whispered to Tang Yueshan, “Does he want any particular thing?”
Tang Yueshan had a sudden idea, “The Tang Family Bow.”
Tang Ming had always wanted to get the Tang Family Bow and become the heir of the Tang Family army.
Unfortunately, Tang Yueshan was never satisfied with him.
Just before Tang Yueshan went on an expedition, the two of them had a conflict over the Tang Family Bow, Tang Yueshan recalled that his words were somewhat harsh back then.
“Could it be for this reason that Mingming turned to the Wu Shi powder?”
Tang Yueshan was insensitive to family matters, only now realizing that Tang Ming had always been striving to become the heir in his eyes, even after being humiliated by Gu Jiao and nearly becoming a cripple.
He never gave up, he worked hard to practice martial arts and to recover his body.
He eagerly wanted to take over the Tang Family Bow, yet faced stern opposition from his father.
Saying he was not worthy…
Xiao Hen decisively said, “Give him the Tang Family Bow.”
Tang Yueshan was taken aback, “What?”
Xiao Hen calmly said, “Announce him as the next owner of the Tang Family Bow.”
Tang Yueshan’s face changed drastically, “No way!”
Xiao Hen said, “Is the bow more important, or is your son more important?”
Tang Yueshan frowned, “Both are important… but…”
“No buts.” After saying this, Xiao Hen did not argue with Tang Yueshan any longer, directly addressing the person on the roof, “Tang Ming, if you die, the Tang Family Bow will always be someone else’s.”
Hearing the Tang Family Bow, a persistent obsession flashed in Tang Ming’s heart.
At that moment, Gu Jiao slowly climbed up the wall; because it was covered in oil, it was very slippery, and she nearly fell several times.
Xiao Hen’s hand, hidden in his wide sleeve, suddenly clenched tightly, and he said to Tang Yueshan, “If you don’t get it now, both your son and Jiaojiao will die!”
Tang Yueshan gritted his teeth and went to the carriage to fetch his Tang Family Bow.
Tang Ming gazed greedily at the bow.
Tang Yueshan took a deep breath and with difficulty said, “Come down, and I’ll give you the Tang Family Bow.”
Tang Ming said coldly, “You first give it to me, then I’ll come down!”
“Give it to him!” Xiao Hen said.
Tang Yueshan gritted his teeth and tossed the longbow in his hand toward the roof.
Even though he was affected by the Wu Shi powder, Tang Ming remained alert to the surroundings; however, when the Tang Family Bow flew towards him, he was completely engrossed.
His eyes contained nothing but the Tang Family Bow.
He tightly gripped the torch in one hand and steadily reached out with the other.
Now!
Gu Jiao leaped forth, grabbing the eaves single-handedly, and with a strong pull, she somersaulted through the air and landed stably behind Tang Ming, kicking him down!