Chapter 568: Secret, the whole world knows (1/2)
Chapter 568: Secret, the whole world knows
What was the background of Tang Li’s fiancée?
Tang Li could only chuckle. “I…don’t know.”
Han Yunxi thought he was joking. “You can tell me in secret. I won’t sell you out.”
Tang Li continued to chuckle. “I really don’t know. If you know, don’t tell me either. I don’t want to know.”
That woman had been hand-picked by his father, not him, so he’d rather spend his entire life single rather than marry her.
Currently, Han Yunxi was sharing the same horse as Long Feiye and nestled in his arms. She looked doubtfully at Long Feiye and asked, “You know, right?”
Long Feiye’s reply left her even more speechless. “Your lordship was never interested in finding out.”
As it turned out, he’d helped Tang Li escape his marriage for over a year without ever bothering to check the background of the female’s family? In the end, Han Yunxi ended up chuckling too.
“The ones who were chasing us back there were all martial arts experts. I suspect their origins aren’t simple.”
Tang Li grew agitated at her words. “Back then, they found over 50 top level experts to surround this young master. If I hadn’t used the Pear Blossom Rain Needles on them, heheh, the consequences would have been unthinkable!”
“Could it be that they’re from one of the mercenary cities? Like the City of Daughters?” Han Yunxi asked.
“Or part of some big financial group. As long as they have the money, they could employ an entire assassin city,” Tang Li had no feelings towards his fiancée, but he didn’t avoid the subject, either.
“There’s only a handful of groups like that in this world…” Han Yunxi trailed off, before growing alarmed. “They can’t be from the Cloud Realm Trade Consortium, right?!”
This was the first time Tang Li had ever given serious thought to his fiancée’s identity. He pondered over a bit before proclaiming, “It’s possible!”
“If they really are, then you should hurry up and marry her so you can scope out their inner workings,” Han Yunxi teased. “I heard their new representative Ouyang Ning Jing is still dawdling about in Medicine City with the Council of Elders.”
“If it’s Ouyang Ning Jing, this young master could reconsider,” Tang Li joked back. He had heard updates on Medicine City from Chu Xifeng. That Ouyang Ning Jing was a lot harder to deal with that Ouyang Ningnuo. She was young, but a strong and stubborn woman.
Han Yunxi only cast him a scornful look. “It’s no guarantee that she’d even want to marry you!”
Han Yunxi and Tang Li chatted aimlessly the whole way, occasionally breaking into arguments. Long Feiye had zero interest in their topics, but didn’t interfere with their talk. Of course, that was because Han Yunxi was dealing with Tang Li instead of some random man. As they continued west, the landscape grew bleak and dreary until the influence of winter. A few days later saw them enter the borders of Western Zhou at last.
Emperor Kang Cheng naturally hadn’t forgotten how the Duke of Qin had refused to marry Princess Duanmu Yao in the past. The humiliation it’d cost Western Zhou was still fresh on his mind, but as the sovereign of a nation, he couldn’t make Long Feiye his enemy over such a minor detail, nor refuse his overtures to work together. After all, the Duke of Qin had gained the most from Tianning’s civil strife. Even now, his every moment sent ripples through every single country on the continent today. Emperor Kang Cheng had no idea why the Duke of Qin would suddenly pay him an official visit now, but he remained open-minded and attached high importance to the event. His men had gotten in contact with Chu Xifeng long ago to make arrangements for the visit.
His original plan was to receive the Duke of Qin as soon as he stepped foot into Western Zhou, but it was rejected. To this day, he still had no idea about the Duke of Qin’s whereabouts and was forced to wait for news of his official arrival. Unexpectedly, other news reached him first—an unexpected tidbit about the Great Qin Empire’s Nether Clan. The source was unknown, but within a few days, all of Cloud Realm Continent was talking about it. Apparently, the Driving Arrow Arts of the Nether Clan had once again resurfaced on the continent. Emperor Kang Cheng was discussing this very matter with various important officials in his imperial study after the morning court session.
“The Nether Clan’s Driving Arrow Arts? Everything was fine, why are there suddenly rumors of that now?”
“Your Majesty, there are no waves without wind, no smoke without fire. I’m afraid that someone must have witnessed it for themselves.”
“Allegedly, the user shoots an arrow with their bare hands. I wonder how it works?”
“Your Majesty, the Seven Noble Families of the Great Qin Empire have gone into hiding for years. Now that there’s suddenly news of them, this old official thinks it’s only the beginning!”
“The two imperial dynasties of the time are already extinct. Even of those Seven Noble Families have the skills, so what? Cloud Realm Continent’s long changed hands. Your Excellency Li, don’t be like that man of Qi who feared that the sky would fall.”
“The Seven Noble Families have deep roots and an abundance of talent in their clans. If we allow them to strengthen themselves to their former glory, the consequences will be unthinkable! As this old official sees it, Cloud Realm Continent’s four nations, four great cities, sword sect and Tang Clan all need to work as one to destroy the Seven Noble Families before they rise against us like a prairie fire!”
“This junior official begs to differ! As this official sees it, the Great Qin Empire is now nothing but dust. If there’s enough good faith, we could choose someone else to lead the Seven Noble Clans. Anyone who earns their support could regain the glory as a unifier like the former days! May Your Majesty show clear precedence and give a show of force first! Do not let the Seven Noble Clans fall into another’s hands!”
—
As the various officials and ministers deliberated, the contention grew heated. Only General Chu, standing in the very front of the crowd, didn’t express an opinion. Noticing this, Emperor Kang Cheng asked, “General Chu, what do you think of this matter?”
General Chu was plagued with a guilty conscience which left him stifled and depressed! He was almost ready to lose it and walk away. He had been waiting for Long Feiye to pressure the Chu Clan with terms while holding Chu Tianyin hostage. But the man hadn’t contacted them at all. Now the 15th was almost nigh, but rumors of the Driving Arrow Arts had spread instead. It completely caught the Chu Clan unawares.
Just what is Long Feiye planning by spreading these Driving Arrow Arts rumors?
Faced with Emperor Kang Cheng’s questioning, General Chu had no choice but to be prudent. Heaven knows whether Long Feiye had already told the emperor something on the sly?