He had imagined many times what his reaction would be if the matter were exposed, but in reality, he found it was nothing like he had anticipated. His mind was a complete blank. He quickly sent the butler away and remained alone, dreading seeing anyone’s face, knowing full well the mockery and sarcasm he would face behind his back.
The thought of fifty burly men, housed in his own mansion, causing bloodshed and chaos in the city gave him a splitting headache.
One day, a group of well-dressed individuals arrived at the Zhang family’s medical hall. Upon arrival, they demanded to see their proprietor, stating they had a significant business deal to discuss.
As it happened, the proprietor was out sourcing goods, and Doctor Leng was having lunch in the backyard. Remembering the proprietor’s regard for her, she was quickly summoned.
Wu Caiwei had no intention of getting involved in business matters, but hearing from the shopkeeper that these people were not to be trifled with, and that Young Master Zhang would be away for some time, she reluctantly stepped forward.
Initially, she paid them little mind. However, upon meeting their eyes, both parties were somewhat surprised, then smiled with understanding.
“You are the proprietor of this medical hall?” Ouyang Chen asked, his voice involuntarily softening, much to the astonishment of his subordinates behind him. His tone conveyed a clear sense of interest.
“No, the proprietor is away on a trip and will not return for some time. I happen to have some authority within the hall, so I’ve come to assess the situation,” Wu Caiwei replied with a smile.
“Oh? If that’s the case, let us go to the Yingbin Tower for a proper discussion. I’ve brought a major business opportunity to your doorstep,” Ouyang Chen remarked suggestively.
Wu Caiwei immediately nodded, gave some instructions to the shopkeeper, and left with them. The shopkeeper repeatedly hesitated, wanting to say something but refraining due to their presence.
For some reason, Doctor Leng felt uncharacteristically strange today. In his memory, she was exceptionally wise. Those people, at first glance, seemed difficult to deal with, yet she followed them without hesitation. Wasn't she concerned for her own safety?
When the young master left, he had earnestly instructed him to assist Doctor Leng more, fearing that during his absence, Madam Zhou might retaliate and cause Doctor Leng irreparable harm.
If not for this major business problem that required his personal attention, resulting in a potential loss of half of the Zhang family’s assets and a severe blow to their strength, he would not have left with such worry, wishing he could protect her every moment.
Watching them depart, the shopkeeper anxiously paced back and forth, then stamped his foot. He immediately ordered someone to discreetly wait outside the Yingbin Tower, ready to provide assistance if anything were to happen.
The fact that their leader could speak so courteously to a woman had already astonished these brocade-uniformed guards. What truly stunned them, however, came later. Upon reaching the Yingbin Tower, Ouyang Chen directly asked the manager to combine two tables. He ordered a spread of dishes for them and then proceeded to a private room upstairs with Wu Caiwei.
This left the brocade-uniformed guards looking at each other in bewilderment, their gazes filled with gossip as they watched the couple’s retreating backs.
“Hey, hey, do you think we’re going to have a sister-in-law?”
“Didn’t you see the leader walking side-by-side with a woman for the first time? Besides, have you ever seen our leader so gentle? It’s clear he’s a man in love.”
“I heard our future sister-in-law is a doctor, renowned for her medical skills. Could it be that the medicine we’re here to buy today was made by her? If I’ve guessed correctly, that would be incredible.”
…
The men chattered amongst themselves, their excitement growing with every word. If they could, they would have loved to eavesdrop. Soudan Novel Network.
As soon as they entered the private room and ordered food, leaving only the two of them, Ouyang Chen walked up to her and embraced her. Although they had only been apart for a few months, he had longed for her constantly, and holding her in his arms brought him a sense of peace.
After a tender moment, they sat facing each other and recounted their current lives. It was then that Wu Caiwei learned his current name was Ouyang Chen.
He was the adopted son of the Ouyang family patriarch. He had originally been a beggar, and when he was close to starving to death, he met Old Master Ouyang. The Old Master saw potential in him and took him in. Upon arriving, Ouyang Chen discovered there were hundreds of children like him. They had a great deal to learn daily, primarily literacy and martial arts.
Approximately ten years later, through his efforts, he became the most outstanding among that group of children and, to everyone’s envious gaze, was adopted by Old Master Ouyang.
He was then openly introduced to others by Old Master Ouyang, and by chance, he entered the Imperial Guards, becoming their commander.
In reality, he was the only one among those children who could operate in the open; the rest became the Ouyang family's hidden guards, carrying out unsavory tasks.
The primary reason he became the Ouyang family's adopted son was that the Ouyang family's own descendants were incompetent. Old Master Ouyang urgently needed to cultivate his own power base, ensuring that someone could benefit the Ouyang family even after his retirement.
It could be said that Ouyang Chen was both fortunate and unfortunate. From a street beggar to an official of the court, he truly achieved a class leap, reaching a height that some people could not attain in a lifetime.
Yet, he was also unfortunate. His name and lineage destined him to serve the Ouyang family his entire life. Even if some matters were difficult for him to accept, or if he suffered injustice, he could not complain to anyone. He had to express his gratitude, for any slip-up would be seen as ingratitude.
Because the Ouyang family’s resources were lavished upon him, the Ouyang young masters treated him with disdain. They did not attribute their father’s preference to their own lack of capability, but rather believed Ouyang Chen was excessively obsequious and their father was irrational for promoting an outsider over them. Consequently, they united against Ouyang Chen, constantly creating difficulties, either by sabotaging his efforts or speaking sarcastically.
Old Master Ouyang largely turned a blind eye to this. Ouyang Chen saw through it all but did not dwell on it, knowing he was merely a tool, while the Ouyang young masters were his father's favorites.
He came to inhabit this body because the original owner had sustained severe injuries while on a mission. The conditions at the time were extremely rudimentary, and he did not receive proper medical treatment nor was he discovered. After his arrival, he absorbed the original owner’s memories. Sustained by his strong will, he stumbled to the roadside, was found, and taken back, thus saving his life.
Having understood each other's circumstances, they felt more assured. Although they felt their current situations were not ideal, since they had arrived, they were determined to complete their missions. As long as they knew where the other person was, they were filled with hope for the future.
“I came to your medical hall today on official business. The pills you developed have reached the Emperor’s ears. Even the imperial physicians in the palace find them effective, so the Emperor wishes to elevate the Zhang family to imperial merchants, providing a certain quantity of medicine to the palace annually,” Ouyang Chen stated. As his words fell, Wu Caiwei’s heart leaped with joy. This was an excellent opportunity, and she was certain Young Master Zhang would be thrilled upon hearing it.