Chapter Forty-Eight: Wu Yuanshuang's Sinister Scheme

“Young Master Wu, today a lot of people from the Taiyuan Governor’s Office came to your family’s pharmacy. I heard they’re all under the command of the Duke of Tang, so there was no chance to make a move. But my men saw that the boy you mentioned is very close to people from the Duke of Tang’s household. I’ll say this, Young Master Wu—we all make our living in Jinyang, so don’t try to set your brothers up,” Lei the Tiger growled, lying on a bamboo chair, his large hands impatiently rubbing the black hair on his chest. With a flick of his finger, a dark, muddy pellet shot through the air.

Wu Yuanshuang stifled his nausea, cursing Lei the Tiger in his heart but not daring to say a word aloud. “Master Lei! The Wu family has been established in Jinyang for generations—I’d never set you up for anything. I’ve investigated those two thoroughly: the mother and her son really are outsiders, and they have no relatives here in Jinyang. My father was just momentarily confused when he let them stay in the pharmacy.

“As for the Duke of Tang’s residence, do you really think that boy could have ties to someone so powerful? If he did, why would the mother and son be living in my family’s pharmacy? I’ve looked into it: the Duke of Tang’s second son was injured by a wild beast while hunting and came to the pharmacy for treatment. With Master Zhang the Divine Physician there, recovery was certain.”

Wu Yuanshuang deliberately omitted the fact that Yun Hao had saved Li Shimin’s life. If Lei the Tiger found out that Li Er owed his life to Yun Hao, there was no way he would help Wu Yuanshuang deal with Yun Hao.

As the eldest son of the Wu family, Wu Yuanshuang had enjoyed every privilege since childhood. Not only was he an outstanding student, but with his family’s support, he had also become a disciple of the respected Master Li Gang of the Imperial Academy. In Jinyang, everyone who mentioned the eldest son of the Wu family did so with admiration, calling him a prodigious young talent.

But that day, in the middle of the street, he had been humiliated in the very subject he took the greatest pride in—scholarly learning. It was one thing to be shamed before strangers, but this had happened in front of his cousin Zhang Miaoke, whom he secretly adored. There is nothing more humiliating than losing face before one’s beloved; nothing could sting more. Wu Yuanshuang swore to get his revenge, but his father had already warned him not to cause trouble for Yun Hao and his mother. Since he couldn’t use the power of his own household, he could only seek outside help. Lei the Tiger was the reinforcement Wu Yuanshuang found.

Jinyang sat on the border between the Sui Empire and the Turks, and with the world in turmoil, bandits were rife everywhere. Even in Jinyang, public order was deteriorating. Kidnappings occurred every few months; as for the trafficking of children, it was too common to count. At this time, Yun Hao was still unknown, and Wu Yuanshuang’s father was deliberately keeping him out of the spotlight. Seizing the opportunity, Wu Yuanshuang decided to pay Lei the Tiger to kidnap Yun Hao.

Whether the boy should be killed or not would depend on Wu Yuanshuang’s mood. After all, who would stand up for a pair of penniless outsiders? At most, Madam Zhao would go to the authorities, the yamen would make a show of investigating for a few days, then the matter would be forgotten. Cases like this happened all the time; if the constables worked hard on every one, they’d be worked half to death.

Lei the Tiger listened to Wu Yuanshuang’s words, his tightly knitted brows gradually relaxing. Wu Yuanshuang’s reasoning was sound—how could a widow and her son have any connection to the Duke of Tang’s household? Especially since the messenger had reported that the Duke’s future son-in-law, Chai Shao, and the second son’s brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji, had both visited the pharmacy today. If the Yun family mother and son really had ties to such people, would they still be living in a pharmacy? They’d have moved into the Taiyuan Governor’s mansion long ago!

“All right, since Young Master Wu says so, I’ll send my men to handle it. But with people from the Duke of Tang’s house guarding the pharmacy, it won’t be easy,” Lei the Tiger said. He was the local kingpin in Jinyang, but Li Yuan, that ‘dragon crossing the river,’ was too formidable. It was clear the local kingpin couldn’t suppress such a force. If he angered Li Yuan, even if Lei the Tiger were a real tiger, he’d have no choice but to retreat into the mountains—there was no second path.

“What do you mean, Boss Lei?” Wu Yuanshuang was still young and didn’t understand what Lei the Tiger was getting at.

“That boy Yun Hao rarely leaves the house. If Young Master Wu can lure him out, it’ll be much easier for us to act. Can you get him out? As long as he’s on the street, leave the rest to me,” Lei the Tiger said, pounding his chest like a gorilla, shaking loose several coarse black hairs.

“This…” Wu Yuanshuang hesitated. After all, Wu Shiyue had strictly forbidden him from causing trouble for Yun Hao. If he lured Yun Hao onto the street and the boy was then kidnapped, there was no way it would escape his father’s notice. After all, the one who truly held power in the Wu family now was his father, Wu Shiyue, not himself.

If his father traced the matter back to him, not only would his plans fail, but he’d also face his father’s wrath. He couldn’t understand what spell Yun Hao had cast on his father to make him value the boy so highly. He was just a clever child—what was so special about that? Sometimes, Wu Yuanshuang wondered if he was really his father’s son, or if Yun Hao was.

“Young Master Wu, the Duke of Tang’s second son is recuperating at the pharmacy. My men can’t possibly blend in there. If you can’t get the boy out, then we’ll have to give up. If you still want this done, we’ll have to wait until the Duke’s son leaves the pharmacy,” Lei the Tiger said, seeing Wu Yuanshuang’s reluctance. It wasn’t worth risking his neck for a few coins, not when dealing with nobles like the Duke of Tang. Everyone knew: the nobles were tigers in human skin, ruthless and merciless.

When Lei the Tiger said this, Wu Yuanshuang grew anxious. Yun Hao had healed Li Er’s wounds, and this secret couldn’t possibly be kept for long. If Lei the Tiger—whose nose was sharper than a cat’s—found out, he’d never risk crossing the Duke of Tang’s house for money. Without Lei the Tiger’s help, Wu Yuanshuang’s grudge would remain unresolved forever. He could not let that happen; he had to settle the score before the news spread. As long as Yun Hao was kidnapped, Lei the Tiger would be complicit and have no way out. Even if the Duke of Tang’s house started searching everywhere, Lei the Tiger wouldn’t dare release Yun Hao—he’d most likely kill him to silence him.

An idea struck Wu Yuanshuang. If he couldn’t do it himself, he could find someone else to act as the lure. There was no shortage of greedy men in this world. All he had to do was have Lei the Tiger seize both Yun Hao and the decoy, and he wouldn’t have to worry about any loose ends.

With a sinister chuckle, Wu Yuanshuang shared his plan with Lei the Tiger. Listening to it, Lei the Tiger gained a new appreciation for Wu Yuanshuang’s cunning. The two were still congratulating themselves when suddenly a sharp “crack” sounded from outside the window.

“Who’s there?” Lei the Tiger roared, eyes wide with fury as he glared outside.