"We can have a discussion about why you want to break off the engagement." Yuwen Tong suggested.

Ling Zhang said, "There is no reason. We are just not right for each other."

Yuwen Tong shook his head, "No. I think we are."

Ling Zhang almost laughed in his exasperation due to him. Then his eyes turned cold, "Are you serious? Answer me with your heart."

"Of course. I don't think I need to tell a lie." Yuwen Tong looked at him seriously.

...

Ling Zhang stretched out to close the door and said, "I'm going to sleep. You'd better go back."

Yuwen Tong held the doors with his arms and asked, "No one told you that you can't sidestep the problems?"

"Are you sure what you said to me is real?" Ling Zhang asked angrily.

"So that's what you've be struggling about? You think I'm lying?" Yuwen Tong was a little mad, "What makes you have such a false impression?"

"No. I was just asking casually." Ling Zhang was discomposed at present. He shouldn't have asked the question. But he can't help it. Yuwen Tong forced him all the time. But he couldn't tell whether Yuwen Tong was willing to marry him or not.

Yuwen Tong had treated him like that in his last life. But at present, Yuwen Tong changed his attitude just because they met earlier and no one vilified him. Yuwen Tong even claimed they were right for each other. How could Ling Zhang believe such a person?

"Ling Zhang, you are not being honest." Yuwen Tong lowered his head to look at Ling Zhang. He stood near the door and blocked the scene outside. There was no light in the room. So Ling Zhang couldn't see his expression. But he could see Yuwen Tong's fierce and deep eyes clearly.

Feeling the strong pressure and danger from Yuwen Tong, Ling Zhang couldn't help stepping backward.

At the next moment, Ling Zhang felt the back of his waist was hugged by Yuwen Tong's arm. Then he was dragged into Yuwen Tong's arms.

Feeling the warmth on his lips, Ling Zhang was stunned and became angry.

When he tried to push Yuwen Tong away, Yuwen Tong had already left his lips. Lowering his head to look at Ling Zhang, he said, "Well, I found you are really difficult to deal with. I don't know what you're worrying about. But if you are not sure, you can just wait and see what I'll do next."

"Go to bed if you like. I will find you tomorrow."

Then Yuwen Tong loosened his arms and turned to leave.

Ling Zhang stood there quietly watching him go away. He raised his hand to touch his lips and wiped it hard. Finally he stopped and stood in silence.

Did he just need to see what Yuwen Tong would do?

How could Yuwen Tong become so confident?

"Marshal, you come back." Yao Yi and others were talking about something in the yard. They scattered as soon as they saw Yuwen Tong back, all wearing ingratiating smile.

Yuwen Tong looked at them coldly, "You got quite a nerve."

They dared to eavesdrop on his conversation with Ling Zhang.

"We... We didn't hear anything." Yao Yi said.

Yuwen Tong snorted coldly, "Go away."

Yao Yi and others ran away quickly. In the twinkling of an eye, Yuwen Tong couldn't see a person in the yard.

It was the first time for the guards to see their marshal fail. They couldn't bother their marshal at this time! However, Childe Ling definitely matched their marshal. He was so brave.

"Captain, should we help marshal?" Someone asked.

Yao Yi turned to look at him and said, "What can we do? Are you a moron? Marshal said that he can make it by himself."

"But..."

"Shut up. Marshal will peel off our skin if he knows we do something secretly."

"Captain, we won't do anything to Childe Ling. Marshal is confused why Childe Ling doesn't trust him, right? We can investigate it."

"Investigate?" Yao Yi thought of that letter marshal asked him to write to Yue Qi. Then he frowned and said, "No need to rush. Let's wait for some time."

In the capital.

"Vice captain, there is a letter from Tanyang."

Yue Qi took the letter sent by his men and opened it, looking surprised before he burnt the letter.

"Come over here, we've got an order from marshal."

......

"Young master, everyone is here." Wang Dashan called all the guards to come before dawn.

Ling Zhang nodded, "A few days later, I will teach you a set of formation, which is used to trap and kill enemies. It can take full use of your power to kill a person who is stronger than you easily."

Formation? Even Wang Dashan and Liu Yi were so shocked, let alone others.

"Young master, what kind of formation is it?" Wang Dashan asked after exchanging a glance with Liu Yi.

"You can call it Small Trapping and Killing Formation. It needs a good teamwork between you twelve. After the twelve guards come back from the herbs plantation, they should also practice it. When you all grasp it, it will become a Big Trapping and Killing Formation. At that time, you will be a strong troop." Ling Zhang said.

Big Trapping and Killing Formation? Wang Dashan, Liu Yi and others were more astonished at what they just heard.

"Well, do you have anything else to ask?" Ling Zhang looked at them.

"Young master, at your service." The guards said.

"Okay. I have to tell you in advance. We must practice many times to learn it as it requires good cooperation, which will be very hard. Everyone has to hang in there." Ling Zhang said.

"Young master, don't worry. We can endure hardship." Wang Dashan promised.

"Yes. We also practice very hard to learn Kung Fu. If the formation can kill people stronger than us like you said, we'd like to have a try." Liu Yi said.

"Yes. We are all willing to practice it." Others also said.

After screening all the guards and some of his tough way of handling matters, Ling Zhang was now highly respected by the guards.

"Good. Empty boasts are useless. I will know your resolution when you begin to practice. Now I need to know what you are good at. Don't hide it. Show me all your skills." Ling Zhang said.

Although Ling Zhang came here to exercise every morning and almost knew what they were good at, he still wanted to observe it carefully.

Wang Dashan quickly arranged everyone to show their Kung Fu to Ling Zhang.

Some were good at boxing, some kicking, some could use knifes, some like swords, some whips, and others spears. Of course, by 'good at' it didn't mean that could compare with the soldiers of Yuwen Tong.

After seeing it one by one, Ling Zhang remembered each one's advantage. Then he said, "Besides that, I need to know whether you can work with each other well. Captain Wang, you are more familiar than me in that. Please."

Wang Dashan nodded, "Please leave it to me."

The method that Wang Dashan came up with was really interesting, which included all twelve people. But their teamwork was so terrible.

Ling Zhang frowned deeply.

The guards were a little nervous when they saw Ling Zhang frowning.

"I knew your teamwork would be bad before practicing. But I never expected it would be so terrible. You'd better try hard to train it before practicing the formation."

All guards didn't dare to make a noise.

Wang Dashan said, "Young master, I believe they will make progress if we give them some time."

"Please give us some time." Guards said.

Ling Zhang agreed, "I can give you time. But you must do it well."

"From the teamwork test just now, I find some of you were quite rigid in cooperation. Are you on bad terms at ordinary times?"

Ling Zhang stared at a few guards with his fierce eyes.

The ones being stared looked awkward and didn't dare to meet Ling Zhang's eyes.

"I won't blame you. It's normal to have frictions. But we must resolve it. Now you can tell me. I hope I can mediate in your dispute." Ling Zhang said.

The guards were so embarrassed. Looking at each other, they faltered and didn't say a complete sentence.

"Is it hard to say?" Ling Zhang said, "Well, others can leave now. You guys stay."

"Yes." Liu Yi went away with others.

Only the three persons and Wang Dashan left.

"Now you can tell me what happened." Ling Zhang required.

"We, we..." One of them raised his hand to scratch his head and smiled awkwardly, "It's about a girl."

"A girl?" Ling Zhang couldn't understand, "Do you three like the same girl?"

"No, no, no. It's not true. We were once in a brothel..." The man was too shameful to say with his red face.

The brothel? Ling Zhang's eyes became fierce. He asked, "You have a conflict due to a prostitute?"

"It has been such a long time. How could you still argue with each other about that?" Wang Dashan said.

"Captain Wang, do you know it?" Ling Zhang asked him.

"Ha, sorry to let you know it. The three went to the same brothel on the same day. Then they all took a fancy to the same beautiful girl. In the end, the girl didn't choose any of them. But they fought with each other." Wang Dashan said.

"You guys, tell me what happened." Ling Zhang looked at the three men.

The three men looked at each other. Then person at the right stood out and said, "At the beginning, the girl wanted to stay with Qiu Bing. But Zhou Xiang wasn't happy and said he saw the girl first and he should get her. Qiu Bing didn't agree. He said that the girl had chosen him and Zhou Xiang couldn't grab her. Then Zhou Xiang blamed that he was too selfish. Gradually, they began to fight. I wanted to stop them. But they didn't listen to me and hit me. Finally, we three fought with each other. The girl also went away with someone else." Both Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang lowered their heads out of embarrassment.

"Zhao Kun, you don't like that girl?" Wang Dashan asked.

Zhao Kun said, "The girl isn't so beautiful."

Ling Zhang was speechless.

"Zhao Kun just wanted to help. But you two hit him. As friends gathered by fate, you two should apologize to him first." Ling Zhang looked at Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang.

Qiu Bing scratched his head and looked at Zhao Kun, apologizing, "I've always wanted to say sorry. But I feel shameful to say that."

Zhou Xiang also said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, grandson."

"Grandson?" Ling Zhang's eyes became cold instantly and stared at Zhou Xiang.

Zhou Xiang got a chill over his spine quickly and explained in a hurry, "Young master, don't get me wrong. I didn't curse him. It is his nickname s. It's just a joke."

Zhao Kun snorted, "You're just taking advantage of me. I will forgive you if I can punch each of you once."

Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang looked at each other, gnashing their teeth, and said, "Okay."

Zhao Chen hit them one by one without any unnecessary ceremony.

"Oops, you beat me so hard," Zhou Xiang couldn't help but laugh after saying that.

"Great, it's settled then. All that has left is for you two to work things out," Ling Zhang said, looking at Qiu Xiang and Zhou Bing meaningfully.

Sensing the coldness in Ling Zhang's eyes, Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang trembled, "Young master?"

"Since you wanted to compete, then duke it out. Whatever the result is, I hope you don't haggle over the things happened in the brothel. An upright man should not do such a short-sighted thing ever. I am ashamed of what you have done. Don't bear any grudge if you lose, it must be because you are incompetent. All you can do is practice hard and win the next match." Ling Zhang said.

Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang were a little relieved, but when they looked at each other again, their eyes were full of passion.

They repressed themselves at the beginning of the competition because of Ling Zhang's presence. Neither of them used weapons, fighting hand to hand. They exchanged several rounds of fists and hit each other hard. Gradually, their anger rose and fought with their full might.

Ling Zhang pulled a poker face while watching them fight but could barely hold back his impulse to roll his eyes as he didn't expect that these two men would fight this hard for a prostitute's favor. They must be having a real boring life.

A fight was the best way for them to resolve the conflict. Anyway, there was no animosity between them.

Gradually, the anger dissipated between Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang, instead that was a battle about winning and losing.

Qiu Bing was thinner than Zhou Xiang, and more flexible; Zhou Xiang was not as flexible as Qiu Bing, but more powerful. In this hand-to-hand combat, Zhou Xiang gained the upper hand. They both threw a punch, and as their fists collided, Qiu Bing backed a few steps, while Zhou Xiang only took a step back.

They both stopped, panting hard. And their face looked funny. Besides his flexibly, Qiu Bing also had sharp fingernails, which left bruises and scratches on Zhou Xiang's face.

Therefore, judging from the injuries on their faces, Zhou Xiang looked more miserable.

"End of the competition. Zhou Xiang won," Wang Dashan said.

Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang's tensed up bodies were relaxed immediately, and then the two of them lay on the ground together, gasping for breath.

"Your face is much uglier than mine," Qiu Bing said to Zhou Xiang.

"Pah, you fight like a woman, I didn't try my best," Zhou Xiang said.

"So why did you still beat me?" Qiu Bing shouted.

"Even so, you lost, what a shame," Zhou Xiang said.

Qiu Bing shouted, "You can count on it, I will take you on when I can stand up."

"Do you think you can scare me? Come on!" Zhou Xiang said.

Ling Zhang didn't stop them, because he could tell that there was no grudge between them. As for what they wanted to do in private, that was their own business.

"From now on, all the grudges should be written off. If you guys act like a bunch of jealous women, get out of house."

Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang didn't dare to be loquacious again, and they hurriedly promised that they wouldn't make the same mistake again.

"Captain Wang, get a doctor for them," Ling Zhang said to Wang Dashan.

"Thanks, but we don't need it, young master. We all have rough skin, so we just need to apply some medicated wine," Qiu Bing said in a hurry.

"Only if you guys recover early can my plan be carried out soon," Ling Zhang looked at him.

Qiu Bing scratched his head awkwardly, "Thank you then, young master."

Standing above the roof of the Green Bamboo Mansion in the distance, Yuwen Tong had been watching what happened at the guards' residence the whole time. He rubbed his chin, saying, "It has been settled so quickly."

"Marshal, is this the reason why you asked me to find out where Ling Family learned about this formation? Is that a great one?" Yao Yi asked curiously.

"Curious?" Yuwen Tong glanced at him.

Yao Yi nodded honestly. A tactical formation that made the Marshal curious must be unusual.

"You will know it when they start trainning," Yuwen Tong said.

Yao Yi hummed in disappointment. "Why bother to ask if you didn't intend to tell me, marshal?!"...

The Jia Family...

"Your Lordship, the plan failed, are we really going to let Ling Zhaowen get the position of left Tongzhi? And there's also that Lu Kui." A middle-aged scholar with beard said to Jia Zhong.

"Adviser Qian, I invite you here for advices, not for questions," Jia Zhong stared at him with cold eyes.

Adviser Qian gave a reluctant smile. "I do have an idea, but the successful implementation of this idea needs your cooperation."

"Tell me then," Jia Zhong's attitude softened a bit.

"Do you still remember that Ling Zhaowen made an inspection tour in Tai Countylast May and stayed at the Liu Family for a night?" Adviser Qian asked.

Jia Zhong nodded, "County Yamen was being overhauled at that time and there was no place to live, so Liu Family vacated a yard for all Yamen officials. That's when he came. So what?"

"You don't know much about it. At that time, there was an affair." Adviser Qian's eyes turned bright.

"An affair? Is that related to Ling Zhaowen?" Jia Zhong looked at Adviser Qian doubtfully.

"Right, it is said that the daughter of Liu Family, Liu Chengfang, fell in love with Ling Zhaowen. But Liu Weiling never agreed. In fact, Ling Zhaowe has gotten married, even if she married him, she could only be his concubine. Because of this, Liu Chengfang had several conflicts with her family. Liu Weiling worries that this will tarnish the family reputation once it is exposed, so he asks the Liu Family to keep this a secret," Adviser Qian said.

Jia Zhong hummed in a cold tone, "Liu Chengfang has such a bad taste that she falls in love with Ling Zhaowen."

"Your Lordship, Liu Chengfang hasn't given up until now. Recently, Liu Weiling wants to betroth his daughter to someone, which makes his daughter make a scene. Finally she is grounded by Liu Weiling. You probably don't know that Liu Chengfang has a beautiful face and a nice figure. She is a darn beauty."

"Ling Zhaowen is a man, do you think he can restrain himself if he knows that there is such a beauty determined to marry him? What we should do is to create him a chance, then..."

Adviser Qian then leaned over to whisper in Jia Zhong's ear.

"He really takes a big advantage," sneered Jia Zhong after hearing the proposal.

Adviser Qian gave a sinister smile and said, "Your Lordship, don't worry. After what we set up, Liu Chengfang will be a woman with bad reputation. You will have her as you please by that time."

Evil thoughts flashed in Jia Zhong's eyes as he said, "Then let's get started."

"Got it," Adviser Qian said.

As they two planned all this, a man in black crawled on the roof, and slipped away after a long time when he found that the men in the house had left.

...

After staying the guards' residence for a whole morning, Ling Zhang got a basic idea of the ability of the twelve guards. All they needed was some time to cultivate tacit understanding. When the right time came, Ling Zhang could teach them the Trap and Kill Formation of Twelve.

But Formation was changeful, so it was difficult for the guards to grasp the essence of it. It would take a long time for them to learn it well.

After getting changed in his own room, Ling Zhang got a message from Fu Caiwei's maid.

"Young master, this is the list of herbs you need. Madame asked me to bring it here for you to check."

Ling Zhang nodded, taking the multi-page list and examining it carefully. He found that the names of the two herbs on the list were circled with red ink. "Can't find these two herbs?"

The maid said, "No, but these two herbs need to be bought from the north. Butler Wang had made some inquiries, finding that Jiang's Herbs happen to have a batch of goods to be transported from the north to Yanzhou, including th two kinds of herbs you need. Madame has talked to the shopkeeper of Jiang's Herbs. So we just need to wait two more days for them to deliver the herbs."

"Okay, say thanks to her for me," Ling Zhang said.

The maid bowed and said, "Young master, is there anything else you need me to pass on?"

Ling Zhang looked through the list and found that the deployment of each was clearly written by his aunt, which could be understood at a glance.

"No, you can go back."

"Then I'll excuse myself, young master."