Chapter 466: Daybreak Once More (1/2)

[V5C173 – A Distance Within Reach]

“Let Qianye move out,” Zhao Ruoxi said word by word.

Zhao Yuying’s character was completely fearless, and she wasn’t willing to express weakness even when completely suppressed. She immediately sneered, “You want to threaten this mommy? Dream on!”

Zhao Ruoxi’s eyes flickered with surprising killing intent.

It was at this time that an incomparably cold murderous spirit broke through the Red Spider Lily’s “Nether River” domain. The three-meter long Slaughter cut across the table to separate Zhao Ruoxi and Zhao Yuying.

“Duke Chengen!”

“Father!”

The person who had arrived on the third floor was indeed Duke Chengen, Zhao Weihuang. With his strength and Slaughter’s power as a divine weapon of the generation, the Red Spider Lily was temporarily suppressed. Naturally, part of the reason was that Zhao Ruoxi hadn’t activated the weapon with all her might.

Zhao Ruoxi was greatly astonished after seeing Zhao Weihuang appear. “How come you’re here? Mother…” She suddenly stopped because the past shouldn’t be spoken of in public. Otherwise, Zhao Ruoxi wouldn’t have hesitated until today to appear beside Qianye, either.

Zhao Yuying was similarly surprised. She knew that Qianye was Zhao Weihuang’s bastard son, but Duke Chengen’s appearance made their relationship clear. The more he cared about Qianye, the uglier Princess Gaoyi’s countenance would be.

Zhao Weihuang, on the other hand, didn’t seem very concerned. He only said “no matter” before sitting down at the central table.

Zhao Yuying and Zhao Ruoxi shot hateful glances at each other before taking their individual seats. The two could no longer fight with Zhao Weihuang present. Moreover, it was even more inappropriate to bring up the reason for their quarrel.

Zhao Weihuang laughed loudly when he saw the table full of food and drinks. He placed Slaughter on the table, still unsheathed, and proceeded to pour himself a drink. “Yuying, you really know how to enjoy life. Not only did you pick a good place, but you even prepared wine and dishes to go with it.”

Zhao Yuying was somewhat embarrassed. “This momm—I mean I wasn’t expecting you to arrive.”

The third floor was usually reserved for the elders, but there was really no harm in letting some daring descendants like Zhao Yuying to use it occasionally behind their backs. However, things were a bit awkward now with Duke Chengen’s arrival.

It was at this time that Duke You’s voice came from the staircase, “Yuying was only helping me reserve a seat.”

This time, even Zhao Weihuang stood up in astonishment. In terms of seniority, he was one generation Duke You’s junior. It was just that the two were both dukes, and the former was clan lord, so they never observed familial etiquette in public—only imperial laws.

Zhao Xuanji slowly climbed up the stairs. His gaze paused slightly on Slaughter and Red Spider Lily upon the table, then smiled as though he had realized something. “It seems you’re in good spirits, Weihuang. You’re even planning to liven things up with a sword-dance.”

Zhao Weihuang laughed loudly as he returned Slaughter to its scabbard and put it to one side. He then offered Duke You a seat before glaring at Zhao Ruoxi and shouting, “Why haven’t you put away the Red Spider Lily? This gun isn’t for you to play with.”

Zhao Ruoxi holstered her gun unwillingly and sat brooding in silence. She wasn’t quite willing to give face even with two dukes, including her father, present.

Zhao Xuanji sat down beside Zhao Weihuang and asked, “Did Yuying cause any trouble?”

Zhao Yuying was immediately dissatisfied and said angrily, “Nonsense! This mommy is so kind and virtuous.”

Zhao Yuying knew immediately that she had spoken inappropriately—she quickly halted her words and shrunk back. Zhao Xuanji had gained fame for several decades and enjoyed great prestige. Even Zhao Yuying didn’t dare to be too unrestrained in front of him. This “mommy” would very likely result in several months of allowance reduction.

“What brings Duke You to the Fortune Courtyard. Could it be…” Zhao Weihuang didn’t finish his words.

Zhao Xuanji only said, “I think Duke Yan is about to arrive too.”

His voice hadn’t even ended when Duke Yan’s voice rang out, “It seems Xuanji understands me the most.”

At this point, all three dukes of the Zhao clan were present. After Duke Yan took a seat, Zhao Weihuang shot an inquiring glance at the two dukes.

The Dukes You and Yan glanced at one another, but it was Duke you who replied, “There are no outsiders here, so it’s fine to say it. Weihuang, you also know how much Jundu insisted on this matter. Moreover, Qianye’s identity is also special. So, us old men wanted to take this opportunity to see just how much potential this child has. If there’s a chance he can be brought up, we don’t mind contributing some strength to protect him.”

Duke Yan nodded. “Xuanji is right. Our Zhao clan’s fate for the next hundred years rests solely on Jundu’s shoulders. The matter from back then was probably premeditated by those people, and we failed to guard against them at that time. But it’ll be a huge joke if we still can’t protect our family’s child after so many years.”

A sternness flashed through Zhao Weihuang’s eyes as he said with a smile, “Let’s see then!”

The three dukes thus sat there, as lofty as a mountain peak, as deep as the abyss.

With the three dukes present, the two young girls could only accompany them obediently. It was nothing special for Zhao Ruoxi. She was normally so quiet that her presence was hardly discernible—it wasn’t a problem for her to sit for an entire day. For Zhao Yuying, however, it was complete torment as she really wasn’t one to sit still. If not for Qianye’s advancement, she would have never sat down to guard this place. Now that everyone before her was a senior, she had to maintain a basic sitting disposition, and that was inexplicably distressing for her.