Chapter 34: Get Out

He Yun, the Meng woman, and He Zhong, a family of three, had gone out to purchase supplies. Jiang Nian sat alone on a large camphor wood chest in the inner room of the main house, pondering whether he should pay a visit to the Qin family next door. He was genuinely curious to see the beauty of Qin Keqing in this world of the "Dream of the Red Chamber." However, given the social proprieties of this era, even if he were to go to the Qin residence, he would likely not be able to see her.

Just then, an uninvited guest arrived. To be precise, it was an uninvited guest leading a group of uninvited guests. Wang Ziteng, escorted by eleven personal guards, arrived at the Jiang residence on horseback with an aggressive air. Among the guards was Cheng Xu, a fourth-rank military officer known as a Dusi. Xue Pan also followed on horseback, having acted as the guide for Wang Ziteng. Wang had brought this contingent specifically to subdue Jiang Nian.

Since the He family was out and the Jiang servants were busy cleaning the house and organizing luggage, the front gate remained wide open and unguarded. Wang Ziteng, riding a tall, imposing steed, arrived at the gate with a majestic air. He dismounted and led his armored guards into the courtyard.

"Move aside!"
"Who dares to block the Lord Commissioner!"

The Jiang servants tried to intervene but were pushed aside by the guards with harsh rebukes. Wang Ziteng marched through the flower-gated screen and into the inner courtyard.

Startled by the commotion, Jiang Nian stepped out of the inner room and stood at the entrance of the main hall, looking toward Wang Ziteng. Meng Xiong quickly approached Jiang Nian, but Jiang Nian simply said, "Step back," and Meng Xiong retreated.

"Is that him?" Wang Ziteng asked Xue Pan, gesturing toward Jiang Nian. Xue Pan lowered his head in embarrassment. Having confirmed the target, Wang Ziteng locked eyes with Jiang Nian; their gazes met in the air, as if sparking with invisible fire. Wang Ziteng stared coldly, remaining silent. Jiang Nian also kept his peace, standing quietly as if waiting for the other to speak first. The atmosphere in the courtyard became tense and strange, as if the very air had frozen.

Wang Ziteng let out a "humph," breaking the silence. He trod upon the moss-speckled stone steps and walked toward Jiang Nian, his gaze sharp, yet he still said nothing. Jiang Nian remained equally silent and composed, as if he did not feel the pressure of Wang’s presence.

Seeing Jiang Nian’s composure, Wang Ziteng grew irritated. He glared at him and strode into the main hall, intending to find a seat, only to discover that besides some scattered luggage, there was not a single table, chair, or even a stool to be found. Frowning, Wang realized it was because Jiang Nian had only just moved in.

He turned to Jiang Nian and asked coldly, "Are you Jiang Nian?"

Since the visitor was clearly hostile and aggressive, Jiang Nian had no intention of showing courtesy. Instead of answering, he stared back and asked, "Who are you? And why do you barge into my home?" He had heard the guards address him as "Lord Commissioner" and, combined with the situation regarding the Xue family, he had already guessed the man's identity, but he wanted to hear it confirmed.

Wang Ziteng sneered, his eyes piercing like blades. "Who am I? I am the uncle of the young lady you have forced to become your concubine."

Jiang Nian remained calm, not responding, his eyes still fixed on Wang. Growing more incensed by the silence, Wang demanded sharply, "Young man, why do you not answer?"

Only then did Jiang Nian speak in a flat tone: "I was waiting for you to continue. You only said you were the young lady's uncle, but you have yet to state your name, your rank, or why you have trespassed in my home."

A sinister glint flashed in Wang Ziteng's eyes as he replied, even more coldly, "I have heard that you, a mere youth, once boasted that you knew I was the Commissioner of the Capital Garrison, yet claimed you did not fear me, saying that even if I had been on the boat that day, you still would have forced my niece to be your concubine. Is this true?"

Wang Ziteng had expected this to intimidate the boy, perhaps even causing him to panic or offer an apology. Instead, Jiang Nian smiled faintly. "I do not fear you—that is true. But as for your claim that I forced the young lady to be my concubine, that is inaccurate. I am merely having the Xue family repay a great debt of gratitude, and it is a reasonable demand."

Wang Ziteng was taken aback by this unexpected reaction. He paused, briefly wondering if Jiang Nian truly had some illustrious background—why else would he be so calm in such a situation? Thinking this, he suppressed his hostility and offered a faint smile of his own. "What is your true background? Tell me, perhaps we have some connection."

Jiang Nian pondered for a moment before replying, "I have no illustrious background. However, Lord Wang, you arrived with such aggression that your ill intent is obvious. Even without a noble pedigree, I possess a sense of pride—how could I easily yield to your pressure?"

Wang Ziteng’s expression turned fierce again. Having assumed Jiang Nian had no true standing and was merely bluffing to save face, he now believed his own assessment. Too impatient to waste further breath on a teenager—especially in a room without a chair—he fixed his sharp gaze on Jiang Nian and cut to the point: "I am here today to demand that you hand over that ridiculous concubinage contract! My niece, a lady of the Xue family, cannot be your concubine. Hand over the document, abandon this notion, and forbid your servants from speaking of this. If you do, I will treat you well, and the Xue family is willing to offer you a sum of silver as compensation."

Jiang Nian smiled faintly once more. "And if I refuse? What can you do, Lord Wang?"

Wang Ziteng scoffed, "If you refuse, you will surely meet a miserable end!"

Jiang Nian pondered silently for a moment, then looked directly at Wang Ziteng and said a single word, flatly: "Begone."

Wang Ziteng’s eyes widened. "What?" People of this era did not understand the connotation of the word in the way Jiang Nian did from his previous life.

Jiang Nian’s expression turned cold. "I told you to begone! Leave this place immediately. Do you understand?"

Wang Ziteng understood well enough. In a fit of rage, he instinctively wanted to slap the boy, but he restrained himself, feeling that given his power and age, striking a junior would only demean his own status.

He glared at Jiang Nian with malice. "Young man, you are acting with such insolence before me. Do you know what the consequences will be?"

Jiang Nian chuckled softly. "You old man, why do you talk so much? I told you to begone; just get out!"

Wang Ziteng: "..." His face trembled with suppressed rage. Although he had been insulted by young men before, it had been many years since the last time. Nowadays, even the princes of the Taishun Emperor treated him with respect. He had never expected to be treated this way by Jiang Nian.

"Hmph!" Wang Ziteng let out a snort through his nostrils, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave. Naturally, he would not let this matter rest.