Chapter 1609 — The Agitated Tang Family
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Although she was Tang Yuyu's own biological mother, the things she had done were utterly despicable in his eyes. His relationship with her was icy cold — he kept his distance, treating her with mere surface courtesy.
"That is true!" Old Master Tang nodded. "But Yuyu, do you know why I have never given you my blessing to become the young family head?"
"Huh?" Tang Yuyu was taken aback, not knowing why Grandfather had suddenly brought this up.
"Yuyu, you are a good man — upright and honorable in every way, and there is nothing wrong with your character. But you are far too sincere; you are not adept at schemes and stratagems! Placing you in the position of young family head too early would not be helping you — it would be destroying you! Within the family, there are many who have their eyes fixed on that seat. Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are impossible to guard against. If you truly became the young family head, you would soon become everyone's target, and by then, you might not even know how you died!" Old Master Tang sighed.
"Ah!" Tang Yuyu was stunned, suddenly grasping the depths of his grandfather's good intentions! So in Grandfather's heart, he had always been on his own side! At the thought, Tang Yuyu was deeply moved: "Thank you, Grandfather, for looking after me..."
"Enough — let's not speak of this further. This matter must be kept in the strictest confidence. You must not mention it to anyone at all. At present, only you and I, grandfather and grandson, know of this! If word were to leak, whether it would bring fortune or disaster to our Tang family is impossible to predict!" Old Master Tang admonished.
"Yes!" Tang Yuyu promptly replied with solemn gravity.
"Good. Now — come with me immediately to see your Third Concubine Mother!" Old Master Tang said. "Stay close to me, be careful, and don't let anyone see us!"
"Yes!" Tang Yuyu said.
So Old Master Tang led Tang Yuyu out of the secret chamber, avoiding everyone's gaze, and went straight to the courtyard where the Third Concubine was confined! Old Master Tang was a Heaven-tier expert, and this sort of thing was as effortless as flipping his hand.
The servant in the Third Concubine's courtyard suddenly noticed two extra figures in the yard and instinctively opened his mouth to cry out — but the moment he recognized the visitors, he was struck dumb with shock: "Old Master... Eldest Young Master..."
"Go about your business. This doesn't concern you." Tang Yuyu waved his hand in dismissal.
"Yes, Eldest Young Master." The servant didn't dare speak another word, promptly lowering his head and hurrying off to tend to his own duties, while Tang Yuyu and Old Master Tang walked directly into the Third Concubine's room.
What met their eyes was a woman dressed plainly and simply. Her spirit was somewhat downcast, but she was by no means the lunatic she had been described as! Her beauty had long since faded, yet one could tell that in her youth she must have been a lovely creature.
Looking at this Third Concubine before him, Tang Yuyu could not help but sigh. He recalled how, when he was a child and she took him out to play, she had been such a beautiful young maiden — much like the current Palace Mistress of the Ice Palace. But now... after years apart, the place was the same, but the person was gone!
Over the years, though Tang Yuyu had regularly had food and clothing sent to the Third Concubine through others, he had never visited in person — for fear of attracting suspicion! After all, he was the legitimate son and grandson; what would it look like if he were mixed up with the Third Concubine?
Old Master Tang too lamented that the years spared no one. In just ten years, this Third Concubine had withered to such a state! Thinking of his eldest son, who would stop at nothing in pursuit of power, Old Master Tang shook his head.