“What happened?” Ling Zhaowen came back to see his wife sitting there frowning, so he asked, puzzled, “Anything happened in our family?”
“Nothing happened in our family; it was Zhang.” Fu Caiwei saw her husband back, and hurriedly went to him, “My dear husband, do you know where Zhang learned the formations?”
After a pause, Ling Zhaowen asked her, “Formations? What kind of formations?”
Fu Caiwei replied with concern, “Zhang told me he wanted to train the guards and he would teach a formation called Trap-and-Kill Formation of Twelve’. He said the guards can trap and kill the enemies even when inferior in number. Since he has never learned art of war, where did he know this formation? Is it possible he was deceived by others?”
“‘Trap-and-Kill Formation of Twelve’? Ling Zhaowen changed countenance, and questioned Fu Caiwei closely, “What else did he tell you?”
Fu Caiwei was startled by his reaction, “Nothing else, is there a problem with this formation?”
Ling Zhaowen wore a stern expression, and he thought of his missing eldest brother and sister-in-law who died young, as well as the dust-laden past for more than ten years.
“Nothing to do with the formations. It could not be explained in a few words, and I will explain to you when I come back,” Ling Zhaowen said as he hurried out.
“Where are you going after just coming back?” Fu Caiwei asked.
“I’ll talk to Zhang.” After saying that, Ling Zhaowen quickly walked way.
Worry appeared on Fu Caiwei’s face.
In the study, Ling Zhang was carefully looking through the roster of the remain guards. Writing down each person’s birth place and general background, he planned to let Xiafeng verify the information the next day.
“Young Master, Second Master is here.” Xiafeng shouted outside the study.
‘Uncle must have just come back from the Prefecture Yamen. Why did he come here so anxiously? What happened?’
Ling Zhang quickly put down the roster he was holding, stoop up and went out.
As soon as he walked out, he saw Ling Zhaowen walking into the study with a serious face, “Zhang, uncle has something very important to ask you.”
Ling Zhang then looked at Xiafeng, “Guard outside the study.”
Xiafeng nodded, “Yes.”
Walking into the study with Ling Zhaowen, Ling Zhang asked with worry, “Uncle, is there something urgent?”
Ling Zhaowen stood still, and seriously looked at Ling Zhang, “I have heard of what you said to your aunt today. So, you have remembered the formations your mother taught you?”
It turned out to be this matter. Doubts cleared, he nodded directly and admitted, “Yes, I remember it.”
“How much and when did you remember it?” Ling Zhaowen stared at him.
“It is because of the dream that day. After that dream, I suddenly remembered what my mother taught me, basically all she taught me,” Ling Zhang replied.
“That day at Jia’s home?” Ling Zhaowen asked.
“Yes, and I tried a simple formation that day.” Ling Zhang said, and then told Ling Zhangwen how he simply set an illusive trap and got an unexpected result in detail.
Ling Zhaowen looked at Ling Zhang with disapproval, “Why did you keep it from me? You should tell uncle early. What could you do if Jia family noticed the traces you inadvertently left?”
“The traces were destroyed by Jia Yuanling’s several cousins. They suddenly went mad and broke things in the garden, thus destroying all the traces I had left, so no one would notice.” Ling Zhang replied.
After listening it, Ling Zhaowen finally breathed with ease. Then he remembered why he came here, and wore a stern face again, shooting a sharp look at Ling Zhang.
“Why did you easily try it after you had just remembered? And how dare you keep it from your family?”
“I’m still thinking about how to explain it to you and grandfather.” Ling Zhang replied, “After all, no one in our family dares to mention my father and mother these years.”