18 When Are You Two Getting Married?

Tengfei lost all color in his face when he heard Yu Xiaoguang speak of collecting a hefty dowry from him. Somewhere along the lines, the young general had forgotten all about the young master's notorious background. He let out a sigh then pinched his temples, cursing himself inwardly for wasting time with young master Yu.

"If it's a dowry you want, tell it to me and I'll relay it to the general myself," Tengfei told him wishing to end the conversation as soon as possible.

Taking one more glance at the man who rested under shade, the young general couldn't help but wonder why he stood up for him moments ago.

"Really? Thanks so much! To be honest I was having cold feet just now, who knows how he might react?" Mei Deng responded, cracking a nervous smile on his lips.

"But...the dowry comes with a condition." He added, looking at everything but the man who wore an indifferent expression so early in the morning.

'How shameless is Yu Xiaoguang?! Does he think I'll grant him any special favors?' Tengfei scoffed and raised his nose to the other, obviously looking down on him.

"What condition is it?"

Mei Deng curled his lips and said, "no matter how I look at it, it would seem like the Wang family is bullying the Yu's after father...I mean Minister Yu passed away. First angry protestors appear at our house, and next Daiyu is to be married off, it's too much if you ask me."

Tengfei furrowed his brows and thought, 'that's why no one asked you! Just how much more will you drag late Minister Yu's name through the mud?' it took everything in this general to cage his rage.

If he were to get violent with Yu Xiaoguang right before the wedding, it wouldn't hurt him in any way. It wouldn't look good on the imperial consort, and if anything, Tengfei didn't wish for her image to be tarnished.

"Say it clearly, what is your condition?" The young general asked again, with force in his voice.

Mei Deng didn't seem to have picked up on his imposing tone and continued speaking, "if only the general could give me a place in his army, that way it wouldn't seem like the young general is a bully." Said Mei Deng, grinning from ear to ear.

"Who dared to think that way!" Tengfei accidentally voiced his thoughts, angered by the extent young master Yu was willing to go just to rise to fame.

'He even dared use his sister as leverage! What a demon.'

Mei Deng on the other hand must have miscommunicated because he had no idea that Tengfei believed he meant a military position. When in truth, the young doctor wanted to use his skills in the army, all while accompanying his sister after marriage.

"Brother traffic, you will help me relay this news to the general, won't you?" Mei Deng insisted, noticing how the day had long gone and was slowly entering mid-day.

If he didn't leave now, by the time he stepped out in his sleeping clothes, passersby would describe him as mental. For his rep, he couldn't afford to have another derogatory nickname.

"If that is all, you can take your leave, and a word of advice, don't show up here uninvited, the general doesn't appreciate..." Tengfei's lecture was cut off miserably by Mei Deng who walked past him and headed for the nearest wall.

"Don't sweat the small stuff brother traffic, like I said, I'm his would-be brother-in-law, so if he acts like a jerk, I'll just kick his ass." The young doctor said and cracked a cheeky smile, satisfied with his words.

'Why did I even want to pick a fight when it seems that this general is loaded with cash? Hehehe...I shouldn't act virtuous when I'm not the female lead, humph!' he thought as he tried to climb over the fence, eager to leave.

However, his plans came to an abrupt end.

"Is that how that sly fox raised his son? To come by his uncle's territory and not pay respects?" A voice beckoned from below. The young doctor froze up, then slowly looked down to take a peek.

It was a man well in his late fifties, wearing black and yellow robes, his hair was a mixture of black and ash, and resting on his waist was a heavy sword. He had in his left hand a jar of liquor, which suggested he had either been drinking all through the night or was engaging in midday drinking.

And his right rested on the sword holster, as though he was ready to start a fight.

"If we're going to be in-laws then come down and have a drink with me." The old man declared in a hearty tone, raising the jar over his head, urging...no...imposing on the young doctor.

************

Mei Deng didn't understand how the situation became so complicated, sitting across from him was the rumored Wang general, who had won all his battles and was heartless to a fault. Drinking heartily and spewing out nonsense as he had just found his long-lost nephew.

And sitting at his right side was brother traffic, who for some reason looked like the younger version of the retired general the resemblance was too uncanny.

"Brother traffic, I believe he's drunk and cannot even recall who his son is. Let's do ourselves a favor and have him escorted to his chambers." Mei Deng whispered into his companion's ear, nervously scratching the back of his head.

Tengfei didn't make a move to respond and kept his strict gaze on the man who continued drinking himself to a stupor, as though something useful would be said.

"So..." The old man announced out of the blue straightening his back, he stared at both men for some seconds and then cleared his throat.

"When are you two getting married?" He asked with all seriousness in his voice, that one would not have been able to tell that he was under the influence if not for the intoxicating scent that followed him.

Mei Deng coughed awkwardly in response, earning a raised eyebrow from Tengfei, who parted his lips to speak first.

"The date is set for tomorrow," Tengfei answered with a straight face, Mei Deng widened his eyes in shock and gave an incredulous look, hopelessly distraught.

"Wait... wait...wait brother traffic, wedding? Whose wedding? When did I ever consent to marry you?! Not that there's anything wrong with you, but you're just not my type." He went on and on babbling about how incompatible they would be.

Tengfei who was genuinely confused tossed a glance at young master Yu, "what nonsense are you spewing out in front of General Wang?" He retorted sharply.

Mei Deng who didn't hear him object to the marriage decided not to waste his effort of him.

'All we shared was an accidental kiss! Why would he fall in love so quickly? Was that why he stood up for me?' he slapped his forehead and shook his head from side to side.

"What a mess." He muttered under his breath.

Mei Deng then shifted his attention to the retired general who watched them both with amused eyes. "Uncle, please educate this subordinate to focus on the art of waring rather than fall hopelessly in love with strangers. What would the general say?" He asked, trying to draw reasoning with a drunk man.

"The general? Who is that young brat to go against me? So what if he fucking broke my record and became the youngest general?! That Tengfei can't go against the wedding!" General Wang announced in a loud voice, misreading Mei Deng's intentions.

"Eh?!" He exclaimed in full wide-eyed surprise, Tengfei closed his eyelids painfully, showing his distaste for noisy people.

"Say something too! Uncle is so drunk and can't seem to understand what I'm saying." Mei Deng charged his companion tugging on his shoulder like a nagging wife.

Tengfei rolled his eyes then peeled off the man's fingers eyeing him cautiously, as though sending him a warning not to touch him without saying so beforehand.

It seemed that one kiss still haunted the general.

"Is there a problem with this idiot here? Won't you agree to this wedding? Here, have a sip." The imposing Wang General said, pouring his liquor into a cup and then pushing it to Yu Xiaoguang.

Helpless, and not wanting to make an enemy out of the general, he hopelessly took the cup of liquor and drank half of it, forcing a polite smile. The old general stared at the remainder and pouted, he diverted his gaze to Tengfei and drew his lip back in a full smile.

"Here, drink up too, it's your wedding after all!" And without warning, he pressed the cup to Tengfei's lips, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

The young general widened his eyes in shock and pressed his lips hard against the cup, refusing to allow a single sip to fall into his mouth.

Seeing how obstinate he was being, the old man used his free hand to press both sides of his son's cheeks, forcing his lips apart.

The liquor spilled down his lips into his mouth, after the cup had been emptied the old general suddenly passed out cold on the table, smiling in his sleep.

"Tch." Hissed the young general as he rose to his feet, hiding his lips behind his elbow as he rushed out of the room, refusing to show his face to a confused Mei Deng.

"What was that?" The doctor thought to himself, wondering why his companion rushed out like he was possessed.

Little did he know just what was on the man's mind while he retreated with reddened ears, and widened eyes.

'This Yu Xiaoguang! How dare he steal two kisses from me?!' Tengfei thought to himself, as he marched down the hallway, heavily guarding his lips.