Chapter 1672 — Conflict at the Birthday Banquet, Part One
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
But at a moment like this, she could hardly say anything at all; better to let Auntie decide for herself. So she said, "Auntie, you decide."
"Then... I suppose I had better go up. After all, it is the old master's great day. It would not do for me to stay away!" Xiaoming was a kind soul. She had already made up her mind to break away from the Hidden Tang clan, but on a day of celebration like this she still did not want to leave the Tang family without face. She decided to bring the matter up afterwards.
Bingtang said nothing. It was Auntie's decision; she had no way to interfere.
Xiaoming went up onto the stage. Tang Zhi had not wanted to go up at all; she felt no affection for the father who had abandoned her all those years ago, and deep in her heart she had never once acknowledged Tang the leader as her father. She acknowledged Xiaoming as her mother, but as for a father, she counted only Tang Jucheng as one.
Now Xiaoming had gone up, and Tang Zhi was caught in a dilemma. Her mother was up there; if she did not go, would that not make her mother lose face too? Whether Tang the leader lost face she did not care in the least, but she could not disappoint her own mother.
At that thought, Tang Zhi glanced hesitantly at Wei Zhao, unsure whether to go up or stay where she was.
"Wei Zhao... I..." Tang Zhi was nervous, at a loss.
"It's fine. I'll go up with you," Wei Zhao said with a faint smile. "And it's a good chance to tell him straight: you have nothing to do with him. You and your mother, Auntie Xiaoming, are moving back to Songshan City. As for the Hidden Tang clan, they are far above our reach."
"That... that doesn't seem wise..." Tang Zhi was startled by his words. To say such a thing on an occasion like this, was that not the same as slapping the Hidden Tang clan across the face?
But Wei Zhao said no more; he had already risen to his feet. With no choice, Tang Zhi steeled herself and followed behind him toward the stage.
When the crowd saw Wei Zhao rise as well and walk toward the stage, they found it strange; no one knew where he had come from. Tang the leader, too, knitted his brows, for he did not recognize Wei Zhao. This was the first time Wei Zhao had ever appeared before the Hidden Tang clan.
Yet Tang the leader could hardly denounce him in public, demanding who he was and what he did, so he could only watch as Wei Zhao and Tang Zhi came over together. For the moment he simply ignored Wei Zhao and waved to Tang Zhi: "Tang Zhi, my daughter! To see you at last. Your father has missed you so! Heaven has eyes, and it has let me find you!"
"I..." Tang Zhi's eyes went wide. She had not expected that this "father" of hers could lie to her face so fluently; it left her with no answer at all.
"Haha, daughter, today is your grandfather's birthday, but I have another great matter to announce as well!" Tang the leader said. "The second young master of the Hidden You clan, You Panhu, is a man of fine appearance and talent, and he has reached the age to settle down and establish a family. And it is said that the two of you knew each other before, old acquaintances on rather good terms. So this time I have taken it upon myself to betroth you to him!"
"What?" Tang Zhi was struck dumb where she stood. The father whose mouth overflowed with lies had already left her at a loss; now this sudden betrothal on top of it robbed her of speech entirely.
"Many thanks, Uncle!" Before Tang Zhi could speak, You Panhu had already strode forward, planted himself before Tang the leader, cupped his fists, and thanked him.
"Haha, this only makes our families closer kin! What is there to thank?" Tang the leader laughed heartily.
Xiaoming was rather bewildered now. What on earth was going on? Tang the leader had not said a word to her beforehand. The kinship recognition she could understand, that was normal enough, but betrothing Tang Zhi to You Panhu of the Hidden You clan was news she had not heard the slightest whisper of!