Chapter 21: Crushing Niu Family
" Indeed, Patriarch Cai. If your memories aren't falling, the contract should be still with you." Niu Chao snorted. " And, I hope you won't make excuses like you lost the contract or accidentally burnt it. After all, you know what it means to breach an imperial contract..."
" Hmph! Niu Chao, You think I, Cai Yunhai, is a person who doesn't keep his word?" Cai Yunhai snorted. " I know, The price of losing the contract was three hundred thousand gold taels."
" However, I don't need to pay for that as I still have the contract."
" Then how is it possible that your eldest daughter, Cai Yixue married to another person?" Niu Chao snorted. " You think just because you are a powerful military family, You can treat our Niu Family as a joke?"
" Just remember, Patriarch Cai. You have broken the marriage contract between our two families. I will make sure to impeach you in the imperial court."
" Well? Those are very bold words, Brother Niu." Cai Yunhai looked at his servant who brought a paper scroll. " This should be the Thousand Year Peach paper contract issued by the Imperial Court, right?"
" Hah, Indeed. I guess Patriarch Cai still knows about this, huh?" Niu Chao snorted as he took the contract. Looking at the insignia outside, he knew it was the authentic contract Cai Yunhai signed back then, without any tampering.
" As you know, My son Niu Liang and your eldest daughter Cai Yixue were supposed to get married. However, since Cai Yixue is now married to someone else, You have broken the contract."
" So, according to this, You need to pay us four hundred thousand gold taels, or something of a similar value."
" Four hundred thousand gold taels, huh? That's a very big sum." Cai Yunhai nodded. " I would have definitely paid it...If I had agreed on this contract."
" But, I don't remember agreeing to it?"
" What?" Niu Chao's eyes narrowed. " Patriarch Cai, Are you backing away from your promise?"
He unfurled the contract and showed to Cai Yunhai with a grin. " Are you forgetting that rejecting this contract is the same as the authority of the imperial family?"
" How can I reject a contract which I didn't sign in the first place?" Cai Yunhai appeared to be baffled. " Steward, Can You see my signature?"
" No, I can't, My lord."
" And you, Guard? Can you see it?"
" My eyes are bad, My lord." The guard grinned wickedly as he walked near the contract, looking at it for a while. " Nope, I can't see it."
Niu Chao quivered in rage as he turned around the contract.
" Damn it! You dare to play with us-"
Before Niu Chao could finish his sentence, his eyes turned wide from shock. " Ho-How is that possible?"
Clenching the contract tightly, his back covered with cold sweat.
He could easily see his signature. But the place where Cai Yunhai signed, it was blank!
' Im-Impossible! He signed it. Yes, I remember all that!'
' This is an authentic peach contract paper authorized by Imperial Family. How can it get tampered with?'
" What happened, Brother Niu?" Cai Yunhai asked in a comforting tone. " Are you alright? Your body looks so pale and you are sweating too much..."
" This...This is deceit!" Niu Chao clenched his fist as he looked at Cai Yunhai. " Cai Yunhai... You know the consequences of fooling the Imperial Family!!"
" I didn't do anything at all." Cai Yunhai shrugged. " It's you who is accusing me without any evidence. Now, Without any evidence, How can the Imperial Family blame me?"
" Da-Damn it!" Niu Chao held the scroll as he turned around. " We are leaving..."
" Wait!"
Cai Yunhai's voice was like a clap of thunder, making everyone stand still.
" Where do you think you are going, Niu Chao."
" Wh-What do you mean?" Niu Chao turned around and looked at Cai Yunhai. " I don't want to stay here..."
"' You think my house is some sort of inn? You can come anytime, go anytime? Cai Yunhai gritted his teeth. " Not to mention, without any evidence, you dare to spout shit in my residence..."
" Guards! Capture everyone else other than Niu Chao." Cai Yunhai ordered. " And give them hundred flogging!"
" Yes, My Lord!"
Old Yang's eyes flashed with a malevolent light as he took the guards and surrounded Niu Chao and everyone who came with him.
" Also, About Niu Chao, Throw him in our family jail. Ask Niu Family to pay Ransome if they want to take him away."
" Cai Yunhai! You dare?!"
" Why wouldn't I?" Cai Yunhai snorted. " Niu Chao, Are you forgetting that I am still one of the Three Great Generals of the Great Yan Kingdom?"
" You think a merchant family like the Niu Family can disrespect my Cai Family like this?"
Before Niu Chao could retort, Old Yang dragged him away. The guards of Cai Family looked at the Niu Family members with a dark smile.
" A hundred floggings, is it?"
" Alright, It won't hurt if we make mistakes during counting, right?"
" Kekeke, Second brother, I remember that I am very forgetful regarding the countings. So, If I make some mistakes during the count..."
" No worries, Third Brother. My heart is very big. You can keep making mistakes." The guard patted his comrade.
" Just remember, if you are making a mistake, It must not lessen than a hundred flogging."
" And if it's more than a hundred...Well...That's Heaven's will."
The Niu Clan members shivered when they heard the guards of the Cai Family. However, they have no way to protest before the heavy handed guards of the Cai Family.
" Hehe, Madame, How was my performance?" Cai Yunhai grinned as he looked at his wife Li Rou.
" It was so so." Li Rou snorted lightly. " However, You did well to hold Niu Chao for ransom."
" Hmph, To think I treated that bastard as a friend." Cai Yunhai sighed. " But it's good that we overcame this problem."
" Then what about Jia Hao and Yixue?" Li Rou asked in a soft voice.
" Yixue decided to marry him properly. Since she chose Jia Hao, I can't say anything." Cai Yunhai sighed. " I hope... They will do well."
" I... I am sorry." Li Rou sighed. " I couldn't give birth to a son for you."
" Damn it, How many times I have told you to not think about such bullshit?" Cai Yunhai got annoyed a bit.
" Yixue and Lingzhi are two gems of the family. You think they are any less than a son?"
" Besides..." Cai Yunhai grinned as he whispered. " We are still healthy. I keep giving my best shots so you can get a son..."
" Oh, You are so mischievous!" Li Rou blushed as she pushed Cai Yunhai away. " What if someone hears us?"
" Hehe, So what? I don't care..."
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" Well, Isn't it a bit inappropriate for the Sister in Law enter the nuptial chamber instead of the bride?" Jia Hao gave a light chuckle when he saw Cai Lingzhi entering the room.
" Not very funny, Brother in law." Cai Lingzhi shook her head lightly as she passed him a box.
" Take this, This is Crimson Vigor Pill which will increase your physical strength." Cai Lingzhi spoke.
" What about Miss Yixue?" Jia Hao asked her in a faint voice.
" Elder Sister, She is a bit busy... But I am sure she will come here soon." Cai Lingzhi blushed a bit.
" Mm, I just wanted to ask you a question, Sister in law." Jia Hao chuckled.
" Can I marry both the sisters?"
Cai Lingzhi's expression changed as her cheeks turned crimson.
" Wh-What are you talking about? Hmph, If Sister Yixue hears about this, She will kick you out, Hmph!"
Turning around, she walked out, she stopped before the footstep.
" If you have capabilities, You can try it..."
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Extra chapter because I got Raiden Ei woohoo!