Connection by Marriage
At an evening banquet a day later, Chang Biao toasts Ma Ying Jie, extremely grateful that a Ma tribesman saved his daughter, and Ma Ying Jie modestly calls it a chance encounter. Ma Hong Yun becomes the center of dozens of gazes and feels a little uncomfortable. At a signal from Chang Biao, Pan Ping calls Ma Hong Yun a hero saving the beauty, but Ma Hong Yun is speechless, since he never knew how he saved Chang Li while escaping the iron beak birds. A guest on whom Chang Biao’s gaze falls then stands up, and narrates Ma Hong Yun as an aloof hero with brains and brawn who fears no danger. The crowd cheers, and their gazes turn respectful, warm or appreciative. ch. 578
Ma Ying Jie, who knows Ma Hong Yun’s nature, does not believe the tale. He smiles faintly and nods approvingly, but wonders why Chang Biao sends a phony to speak for Ma Hong Yun. He stays inwardly on guard. Ma tribe has fallen since losing the Imperial Court contest, and his master and father died on the battlefield, while Chang tribe stands like the sun at noon because of Fang Yuan. Pan Ping has left the demonic path to become an external elder of Hei tribe, and Ma Ying Jie cannot offend Chang Biao or Pan Ping. ch. 578
Chang Biao praises Ma Hong Yun and says that since the rescue his daughter has been silent, her heart drifting to the young hero, and that he held the banquet in gratitude and for this reason. The hall is in an uproar. Guests remark that Chang Li is beautiful and pleasant, and that Chang Biao, though not her birth father, loves her as a daughter, so he would become Ma Hong Yun’s father-in-law if they married. Ma Ying Jie suspects this is the reason for the fanfare. Chang Biao takes out two red steel relic Gu as thanks for the benefactor. Ma Hong Yun looks to Ma Ying Jie, who nods, and then kowtows in thanks. ch. 578
Chang Biao puts the two Gu in Ma Hong Yun’s hand himself and asks how he feels about his daughter. The flushed Ma Hong Yun can only say that Chang Li is beautiful, very beautiful. Chang Biao laughs. The banquet lasts until late at night, and the news that Chang tribe will marry its daughter to Ma Hong Yun spreads everywhere. On the second day Chang Biao invites Ma Ying Jie and Ma Hong Yun to a smaller banquet. Ma Ying Jie, who has not slept all night, finds the invitation card exceptionally heavy and summons Ma Hong Yun. ch. 578
When the servant arrives, Zhao Lian Yun is instructing Ma Hong Yun to explain everything in full detail to Ma Ying Jie and to offer him the two red steel relic Gu. Ma Hong Yun protests that he risked his life for them. Zhao Lian Yun kicks him. She says their standing rests on friendship with Ma Ying Jie, who will accept the Gu and then return them. She adds that Ma tribe has declined, its only rank three elder, Ma You Liang, is handicapped, and the new tribe leader has no usable subordinates and wants trusted aides. She reasons that Ma Ying Jie can use Ma Hong Yun, his former head servant, at ease, that the offering shows loyalty, and that returning the Gu with more rewards would set an example for the tribesmen. She calls this buying horse bones with a thousand gold, tells the confused Ma Hong Yun to just obey, and he agrees. ch. 578
Ma Hong Yun offers the two Gu as told, but unlike her estimate Ma Ying Jie accepts them and does not return them. After Ma Hong Yun returns, he complains endlessly to Zhao Lian Yun. She feels some doubts and wonders whether her estimation was wrong. ch. 578
