Chapter 166: “maple” Plan
With these words spoken, the air in the living room instantly froze.
Kong Er’s gaze suddenly turned ice-cold, like a dagger tempered with frost, stabbing straight at Tang Baozhang.
The two bodyguards behind her remained still, but their eyes instantly locked onto the target, their right hands subtly sliding toward the bulge at their waists.
An invisible killing intent spread through the air.
Tang Baozhang’s expression changed slightly, and he involuntarily stepped back.
“Elder Brother Tang, what explanation do you want from me?” Kong Er repeated, slowly extinguishing the cigarette in her hand and rising to her feet, her movements elegant yet carrying a chilling intent that made hearts race.
She was not tall, but the pressure she exuded at this moment made the tall Tang Baozhang feel suffocated.
She slowly paced to Tang Baozhang, and he seemed able to smell the faint tobacco scent and cold perfume on Kong Er.
“Elder Brother Tang, Father sent me here to console the orphans and mourn an old minister of the party and country.”
“Yet you ask me for an explanation?”
“You need to think before you speak. Some matters should be left unsaid, for everyone’s sake.”
“Keep a low profile, live peacefully, and protect Elder Tang’s reputation—that is true filial piety.”
“As for those things you shouldn’t say or think… I advise you to drop the idea sooner rather than later.”
“The water in the Huangpu River is deep—drown a person or two, and you won’t even hear a splash.”
Madam Tang shuddered and quickly stood to apologize: “Second Miss, please don’t be angry. Baozhang spoke out of turn; it’s not what you think.”
Kong Er’s gaze sharpened slightly, then she suddenly put on a smiling face again as she looked at Madam Tang: “Madam Tang, that’s not what I meant either.”
,”The dead are gone; we should prioritize the overall situation.” As her words fell, the secretary timely stepped forward and respectfully placed a bulging kraft paper envelope and a letter stamped with the bright red seal of the National Government Ministry of Finance on the tea table.
“This is a small token from Madam and Dean Kong, to express our solatium.”
She paused, her eyes through the smoke carrying an air of an offer that could not be refused, “Father has always respected Elder Tang. He specially instructed that if the family wishes to sell the ancient books and calligraphy and paintings collected by Old Mr. Tang during his lifetime, the Central Library is willing to acquire them at the best price—to preserve the cultural heritage for the nation and keep the pearls from gathering dust.”
Acquire the treasures? Acquire what treasures—this is clearly kicking them when they’re down…
Talking about prioritizing the overall situation, after all this, your Kong Family is the overall situation, right?
Cloaked in fine words like “care,” it’s more like naked threats, even hinting at “hush money.”
Tang Shaoyi loved collecting antique books and artifacts; though his lifetime collection was not priceless, it was certainly no small sum.
Kong Er says to donate to the Central Library—please, those are cultural relics, not manuscripts.
If you donate to a museum, that might make sense…
But now…
Thugs, robbers…
The Tang Mansion fell into dead silence. Tang Baozhang, as if drained of all strength, slumped onto the chair covered with white cloth, hands covering his face.
The bulging envelope and bright red official document lay quietly on the tea table, as if silently mocking their grief and helplessness.
Kong Er stepped back, the chilling threat on her face instantly vanishing, replaced by her usual lazy arrogance.
“Alright,” she fastened the top two buttons of her suit, her tone light as if concluding an unimportant meeting,
“Our token has been delivered. Shanghai is unsettled; I won’t impose further. Madam Tang, take care of your health.”
“Farewell.”
With that, Kong Er turned sharply, and the bodyguard immediately handed her the felt hat.
She took the hat and put it on, raising her hand to pull the brim down low again, covering most of her face and revealing only her sharp jawline.
Her boots struck the floor, producing heavier “thud thud” sounds than when she arrived, each step like treading on the fraying heartstrings of the Tang family.
The secretary followed closely, the bodyguards bringing up the rear, and the group quickly vanished at the dim end of the corridor.
“Elder Brother, what do we do?” Tang Baorong said softly: “Second Miss said it was a condolence visit, but she was really after Father’s relics.”
Tang Baoyue said angrily: “Baorong, you have the nerve to say that? Isn’t this all because of your husband’s mess with Guangde?”
“I heard the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce has halted the cotton acquisition plan.”
“The Kong Family spent so much money to finally drive down the cotton price, and then you just up and quit.”
“Kong Er came under the guise of condolences, but really to collect a debt.”
Tang Baorong sneered: “Second Sister, what do you mean by that?”
“The Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce isn’t run by Guangde alone. Yu Jiaqing, Shen Xing Shan, Gao Baoan—these big shots didn’t nod, and Guangde wouldn’t dare act on his own.”
“You can’t even keep your husband in check, and you want to meddle in business?”
This remark from Tang Baorong completely enraged Tang Baoyue.
Tang Baoyue’s husband was Han Dehui, a high executive at the Shanghai bank. Before Tang Shaoyi’s death, he played the perfect son-in-law.
But just days after Tang Shaoyi’s death, Han Dehui showed his true colors, and Tang Baoyue learned her husband not only had a mistress outside but also a three-year-old illegitimate son.
“Enough! Master’s bones are still warm, and you’re cursing each other before his spirit here. Do you still have any regard for me? I’m not dead yet…”
Madam Tang roared, and the group instantly fell silent.
After a long pause, Madam Tang slowly said: “Those calligraphy, paintings, and ancient books are mere worldly possessions. If they want them, give them.”
“Baozhang, deliver the items to the Kong Family residence. Send someone back to the old house in Zhongshan to check—repair what needs repairing, add what needs adding.”
“Without Master’s protection, Shanghai is no longer safe for us.”
“Master always wanted to return to his roots. Let’s fulfill his wish—pack up, escort the coffin home.”
Chongqing, Yangjiaping, Lu Family Teahouse.
Xiong Ye Liangping, using the alias Lu Qiaosong, hurriedly entered the side room where Nantian Yangzi rested.
With a creak, Xiong Ye Liangping pushed open the door of the side room and walked in without hesitation.
“Xiong Ye-kun, didn’t anyone teach you how to spell ‘politeness’?”
“You don’t even know to knock first?”
Nantian Yangzi’s lazy voice rang out, carrying a hint of reproach.
“Miss Yangzi, I have no time to discuss manners or upbringing with you right now.”
Xiong Ye Liangping took out the telegram from his pocket and handed it to Nantian Yangzi: “Headquarters urgent order: Tang Shaoyi assassinated. Your teacher, General Dohihara, urges us to accelerate the mission.”
“We must contact the Wang group as soon as possible.”
“He has given you the highest authority. I hope you won’t delay any longer.”
Nantian Yangzi took the telegram, glanced up and down at it, her expression turning grave: “It seems we really have no time to waste.”
“Xiong Ye-kun, I have a proposal here. Find a way to go to Shanghai as soon as possible—do not use the radio. If intelligence leaks, the Empire will be in a very passive position.”
With that, Nantian Yangzi retrieved a document from a hidden compartment under the dressing table.
Xiong Ye Liangping took the document, gave it a quick scan, and immediately trembled all over, a bitter taste inexplicably rising in his mouth.
“Yangzi, you—you actually want to assassinate the Principal? Have you gone mad……”
