Одна улыбка может обрушить город

Глава 51

Xu Da cursed his bad luck, gave him a sharp tap on the head, and then muttered in a low voice, "What kind of son-in-law is Yang? You want a beating if someone hears you?"

The gatekeeper immediately fell silent. Xu Da, hearing the pounding on the door, held his breath and slipped behind it to listen for a while. Sure enough, it was the young master of the Yang family knocking. He then squatted down by the door, pretending not to hear. He thought to himself that the main gate was adorned with gold nails and vermilion lacquer, so he wasn't worried about it being broken by the knocking. He figured the young master would stop and leave once he got tired of knocking and no one paid attention. But a moment later, there was a loud bang, like something heavy hitting the door knocker. Startled, he quickly stood up and listened intently. There was another bang, this time even the thick wooden door shook.

Xu Da knew exactly what kind of person the Yang family's son-in-law was. Fearing that if he continued to hide, he might actually break down the door and be blamed for the trouble, he hurriedly opened the small lattice door on the right side of the main gate, revealed his face, and pleaded, "Young Master, Madam said you are not allowed to come in. Please, Young Master, have mercy and don't make things difficult for me!"

When Yang Huan arrived at the Xu residence, he found the gate already tightly shut. He knocked on the door for half a day, but there was no response from inside. He was furious and picked up a large rock from the side and threw it at the two door knockers. After hitting it twice, the gatekeeper finally showed his face. However, instead of opening the door, he even changed his address from "Young Master Yang" to "Young Master". Yang Huan was furious, threw the rock down with a "plop", and turned to leave.

Xu Dafang had just spoken when he snapped the small door shut again. He listened carefully and, finding it quiet outside, opened the door again. He saw that the man was indeed gone, leaving only a large stone on the ground. He thought that Young Master Yang had given up and breathed a sigh of relief. He closed the door again and went to rest. But a moment later, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps outside, and someone kept banging on the door. He exchanged a glance with the other gatekeeper, then slightly opened the small door and peered out. He turned pale with fright. There were about a dozen burly men gathered outside. Judging from their attire, they were the kind of porters who usually waited for labor at the bridgehead. These porters were now all carrying large, round logs, with Young Master Yang standing beside them, hands on his hips, his face contorted with malice.

It turned out that Yang Huan had turned and left to find the porters at the nearby bridge, where he tossed out a sum of money. Seeing his generosity, the porters immediately surrounded him, eager to get their hands on him. When they heard he was going to carry logs to ram the gates of the Hanlin Academy, they all shrank back, but before they could take more than a few steps, he said, "Do you know who I am? My father is Grand Commandant Yang, and my sister is Consort Yang! I live near Zheng Gate, nicknamed Little Tyrant. Who in the capital doesn't know my name! That Hanlin family is hiding my wife and won't let me see her. I'm going to take her back! You smash their gates down, and I'll reward you with double the money! Take the money and leave! Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up."

The porters, already reluctant to part with so much money, were even more determined to go when they heard that this man was someone important and was going to abduct a woman. They excitedly went to a nearby lumberyard, picked out the thickest log, and carried it with a dozen or so men all the way to the Hanlin Mansion, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

When Yang Huan saw that the small door had finally opened again, the gatekeeper appeared and angrily asked, "Are you going to open the door or not?"

Xu Da had been a gatekeeper for ten years, and this was the first time he had encountered something like this. His hands and feet went weak with fear, and he stammered, "Young Master... please have mercy! Madam ordered that we not open the gate. Perhaps you could wait a moment, and I'll go and report to Madam again?"

Yang Huan's face darkened, and he roared, "Go now! I'll wait a little longer. If my mother-in-law still doesn't like you, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Xu Da strode inside with lightning speed. Xu Hanlin and his companion, having heard that Yang Huan had set up such a Bagua formation outside, rushed to the main gate. Opening the small door, they indeed saw Yang Huan standing there with a menacing expression, surrounded by burly men who could barely encircle a thick log, and a large crowd of onlookers pointing and whispering. Feeling utterly humiliated, Xu Hanlin trembled with anger, shouting through the small door, "Yang brat! My Xu family has no further connection with you. This harassment is utterly shameless! Get out of here!"

When Yang Huan saw that Xu Hanlin had finally shown his face and was speaking to him, he bowed respectfully and said, "Father-in-law, I have no other choice but to do this. If you and mother-in-law return my wife to me, I will leave."

Hearing this through the door, Madam Xu disregarded all decorum and cursed, "Yang Huan, you scoundrel! My daughter is already engaged, and she's far better than you. You'd better give up on that idea!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Huan frowned and replied, "Since my mother-in-law says so, even if you open the gates wide and carry me in a sedan chair, I won't be willing! Look at these two sturdy lions at the gate, let's use them to practice and see if these wooden stakes are strong enough!" After saying this, he waved his hand, and the porters, who had been waiting impatiently, picked up the wooden stakes, aimed them at the two large lions, and rammed them down with all their might. With two thuds, the two lion heads fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces.

Chapter Sixty-Four

Seeing the two imposing stone lions guarding his gate instantly smashed to pieces, and noticing the whispers and cheers of the crowd outside, Xu Hanlin was consumed by rage. His voice trembled as he roared, "Yang Huan, you ignorant brat! You destroyed my stone lions! Even under the Emperor's nose, you dare to be so lawless! Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the Emperor? Then, even if your father has connections to the highest levels, he probably won't be able to protect you!"

Yang Huan seemed to ignore him, and said with a dark face, "I just want to go back to my wife. Father-in-law, will you open the door or not?"

Madam Xu, who was standing to the side, could no longer contain herself and shouted through the door, "Yang Huan, our two families have already gone to the yamen to get a divorce. It's all in black and white, with the prefect's seal on it. Go home and ask your mother for it to see for yourself. Don't even think about coming into my house!"

Yang Huan's face darkened, and he roared at the porters, "What are you waiting for? Slam them down hard!"

The porters responded in unison, grabbed the large log, took a few steps back, and shouted in unison as they rushed straight towards the gate of the Hanlin Academy. With a loud "thud," the two iron rings in the middle of the gate bounced wildly, the thick wooden door creaked with a dull sound, and even the dust in the gaps of the eaves tiles fell down in a flurry.

Xu Hanlin was so angry that he couldn't speak for a moment, and his hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.

Yang Huan tilted his head, about to order the porter to bump into him again, when he suddenly heard a commotion behind him. Turning around, he saw that it was his father, Grand Commandant Yang, who had arrived in a hurry with his men. The onlookers immediately parted to make way for him.

Yang Huan hesitated only slightly before turning his head back and uttering the vicious word "ram" again.

The porters, unaware of the commotion behind them, were poised for a second assault, ready to pounce. Suddenly, a furious shout rang out from behind: "Stop! All of you, stop!" They halted, turning to look. The speaker was nearly fifty, dressed only in a simple blue robe, yet his face held an imposing air, especially now, radiating anger. His features bore a striking resemblance to this young Master Yang. They were momentarily stunned, frozen in place, clutching their wooden frame, staring intently at Yang Huan.

Seeing that Grand Commandant Yang had arrived in front of him, Yang Huan reluctantly turned around and called out, "Father."

Grand Commandant Yang berated him, "You unfilial son! You still know how to call me father? I thought you were still peacefully serving as an official in Qingmen County, but I never expected you to come here and cause trouble! Where did you get the audacity to dare to ram into the gate of an official of the court? You've really made your father proud! Now kneel down and kowtow to Lord Xu to apologize!"

Yang Huan, his neck stiff and face flushed red, roared, "They took my wife away and wouldn't let me in to see her, so why can't I break down the door?"

Yang Taiwei was so angry that his eyebrows stood on end. He stepped forward and slapped him on the head. Not satisfied, he kicked him hard in the buttocks, making him kneel on the ground.

The porters nearby were stunned, thinking to themselves that this time it was the father who had suddenly appeared to teach his son a lesson. Fearing repercussions, and having already received a considerable amount of money, they grabbed the piece of wood at the leader's signal and quietly slipped away from the crowd.

Grand Commandant Yang then turned around, bowed to Hanlin Xu inside the small gate, and repeatedly apologized, saying, "My son is unruly and has caused such a mess today. It's all my fault for not disciplining him properly. I hope that Lord Xu will forgive him for the past relationship between our two families. I will have my son apologize to your family right away." As he spoke, he kicked Yang Huan again, ordering him to apologize aloud.

Yang Huan knelt upright, without uttering a single word.

Xu Hanlin, a scholar by birth, was well-versed in literature and possessed profound knowledge. Although he was furious just now, he might have let it go if Yang Huan had softened his stance and kowtowed in apology. However, seeing Yang Huan's still arrogant expression, his anger flared even more. He steadied his trembling hands and feet and sneered, "Lord Yang, you flatter me. It's just that my stone lion isn't strong enough; it broke its head after a slight bump. I can't possibly accept your son apologizing to me. Lord Yang, you should go back and think about how to get your son back to his territory as soon as possible, lest the Emperor finds out and asks, leading to another lawsuit!" With that, he disappeared, slamming the small door shut behind him.

Grand Commandant Yang, thoroughly humiliated by Xu Hanlin's sarcastic remarks, stood there motionless for a long time. Before he could recover, he saw his son suddenly scramble to his feet, seemingly about to bang on the door again. Enraged, he turned and shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? Seize this unfilial son and send him home!"

His shout brought the servants from the Grand Commandant's residence who had come with him back to their senses. They swarmed towards Yang Huan, and seven or eight of them pinned him down. Grand Commandant Yang, seeing that Yang was still struggling desperately, was furious. He personally took the rope he had brought with him and tied Yang's hands tightly behind his back before ordering his men to forcibly take him back.

It turned out that today was a day off, and Grand Commandant Yang was writing a letter in his study. He was thinking about the recent incident between his family and the Xu family. Although Madam Jiang had sent a letter to Yang Huan, he hadn't read it and didn't know what she had said. He was worried that the woman might be making things up, and that his son might feel uneasy upon receiving the letter. He planned to explain things carefully, offer some advice on the current political situation, and, incidentally, assert his authority as a father, give his son a lecture on how to be a good official. He was halfway through writing the letter, pondering how to choose words that conveyed his earnestness without losing his usual dignity, when suddenly someone came to report that Erbao, who had gone to Qingmen County with the young master, had returned, saying he had urgent news. Confused, he assumed his son had encountered trouble in the countryside and had sent him back to deliver a message, so he hurriedly called him in. After Erbao, breathless, recounted his ordeal, he learned that Erbao had returned to the capital without permission. He had arrived this morning and, before even entering his own home, had not only stormed into Zhuxuan Tower to assault someone but had also chased after Xu Hanlin's residence to cause trouble. Enraged, Erbao grabbed ropes to bind people and, with seven or eight servants, rushed towards Xu Hanlin's house. On the way, Erbao thought about how Yang Huan had been away training for over half a year, hoping he had made some progress and wouldn't cause any more trouble. This would make it easier for Erbao to plead for leniency before the Emperor regarding Yang Huan's unauthorized return to the capital, as it was a charge that could be serious or minor. To his surprise, as soon as he arrived at the street corner of the Hanlin Mansion, he saw a large crowd gathered there, all looking excited as if they were watching a commotion. He immediately felt a sense of foreboding. After rushing over, he saw that his son had indeed caused trouble. He had smashed the heads off the two guardian lions at the entrance of the mansion, leaving them bald except for their bodies. His mind went blank for a moment. Without any hesitation, he slapped the man across the face and gave him a hard shove on the buttocks.

Madam Jiang had just learned of the matter and was terrified to see Grand Commandant Yang storming out with ropes and men. She wasn't afraid of her son's unauthorized return to the capital, but rather that if he had truly caused trouble, the enraged Grand Commandant Yang might act ruthlessly and without restraint. If Yang Hao and his wife were in the South Courtyard, they could have helped stop him, but a few days ago the Empress Dowager had fallen ill and gone to the royal villa outside the city to recuperate, summoning Madam Gu to accompany her. Yang Hao, seeing his wife absent, had also left and hadn't returned. Now only the old lady remained in the mansion. But the situation was urgent, and she couldn't worry about such things; she hurriedly went to the north room to seek help.

Grand Commandant Yang returned to his residence, shoved Yang Huan into his study, bolted the door, rushed to his desk, grabbed a copper ruler, and angrily cursed at Yang Huan: "You little beast! I thought you had improved, but it turns out you're still the same as before! I'll beat you to death right now, so you won't embarrass me!" With that, he raised the copper ruler and lashed it down on Yang Huan's head.

Yang Huan stood straight, not flinching, and his face immediately burned. But he didn't feel the pain anymore; instead, the rage in his heart burned even brighter. Instead of lowering his head, he raised it even higher, his neck stiff as he shouted, "Jiao Niang and I are perfectly fine. If your two families want to fight, let them fight. Why are you trying to separate me and her? I don't care. Kill me today if you want, but if you don't, I'll still come back tomorrow!"

Grand Commandant Yang was furious, his anger reaching a fever pitch. He raised the copper ruler high again, about to bring it down, when he suddenly realized that his son, whom he hadn't seen for over half a year, now seemed to be half a head taller than him. His once fair face was now tanned, and his angry glare was filled with stubbornness. He looked like a completely different person. He paused for a moment, then lowered the ruler, cursing angrily, "You unfilial son! You unfilial son! Since ancient times, marriages have always been decided by parents. Now that his family has distanced itself from ours, each pursuing their own future, how can we remain in-laws? Let it be. Tell your mother to find you someone else!"

Yang Huan angrily retorted, "I don't want a celestial fairy! I only want my beloved wife!"

When Grand Commandant Yang saw that he was stubborn to the end, his anger, which had just subsided, flared up again. He raised his arm to strike again when he suddenly heard someone banging on the door from the outside. He also heard his mother's voice and knew that Jiang must have brought reinforcements. Helpless, he went to open the door, and a group of women rushed in.

Jiang hadn't seen her son for over half a year and had been longing for him day and night. Seeing him standing there with his hands tightly bound behind his back, she was startled. She rushed over and, without a word, untied him, cursing her father for being heartless, leaving marks on his hands. When she looked up and saw his dark, thin face, with a red, swollen patch on his right ear and cheek, and then turning to see the copper ruler in the Grand Commandant's hand, tears welled up in her eyes. She embraced Yang Huan tightly, calling him her darling.

Seeing her grandson's haggard face and the red, swollen marks on his cheeks from his beating, the old lady felt sorry for him and went over to scold him: "You can discipline him all you want, but why did you only hit his head and face? You really don't know how to hold back!"

Grand Commandant Yang dared not argue, and hurriedly offered a few kind words of comfort before personally escorting him back to the north room. Upon his return, he saw Madam Jiang still surrounding Yang Huan, bombarding him with questions, while Yang Huan remained standing motionless, like a wooden statue. He cursed, "A doting mother spoils her son," and then poked his face with his finger, saying, "You ungrateful wretch! Returning to the capital without permission is already a crime, then you assaulted an official, and now you even went to ram the Xu family's gate! You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! If you are impeached tomorrow, even if you die a hundred times, don't expect me to say a word for you! Go and kneel before the ancestral tablets to reflect on your mistakes. If you don't admit your wrongdoings, don't even think about leaving the house!" With that, he repeatedly ordered someone to take him to jail. Madam Jiang dared not stop him any longer and could only watch helplessly as her husband locked her son in that room and ordered him to face the wall to reflect on his actions.

Although Grand Commandant Yang cursed, he was also somewhat anxious. He knew that today's events were too absurd, and the Xu family would not let it go easily. He feared that things would not end well. After a moment's thought, he went out to visit a few court officials with whom he usually got along, hoping they would speak on his behalf at tomorrow's court meeting.

The two headless lions at the entrance of the Hanlin Mansion had long been removed, but the Xu family was still furious. Madam Xu dragged Madam Lu and several daughters-in-law to denounce Yang Huan, not to mention the three sons who only learned about the incident after returning home, and they were even more furious.

“Father, although the Yang family holds high positions and wields great power, our family is not one to be slaughtered at will. That brat surnamed Yang is so arrogant that he dares to bully us at our doorstep. If you are reluctant to report him at the court assembly tomorrow, I will personally remonstrate with him! As a person who has been sent to a post outside the capital, he returned to the capital without authorization, which is one crime. He also assaulted his superior, which is another crime. He broke the stone lion guarding the house and openly bullied an important court official, which is yet another crime. All three crimes should be punished together. Even if there is a concubine in his family in the palace, I do not believe that the Emperor will not punish him!”

The third young master of the Xu family was a Chaofeng Lang, also known as the Left Censor. He was an advisor, second only to the Censor-in-Chief in rank, with a bright future ahead of him. He was also someone who couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing. Upon hearing this, he immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

Xu Hanlin remained silent, lost in thought. Although he and Grand Commandant Yang had fallen out due to their differing political views, it was only natural for him to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. Although he was somewhat pedantic, he was not a petty person. Today, he was quite angered by that brat Yang Huan and had given Grand Commandant Yang a huge embarrassment. But now that he had calmed down, he remained silent, lost in thought.

"Dad, what are you thinking? They've come to my doorstep and are making a scene. If I don't teach them a lesson, they'll really think we have no one left!"