Chapter 199: Chaos in Xiaocheng (Thirty-Nine) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Shen Tang probably never imagined that the muddy waters of the Northwest of the continent would become so turbulent that they would set the stage for a change that would shake the entire continent! At that time, while the people were still dreaming, the crisis, carrying the deathly aura of rotting flesh infested with maggots, quietly spread.

Zhai Huan had difficulty falling asleep for most of the night.

Zhai Le came over and vaguely heard him mutter something: "The Purple Star emerges from the Northwest to protect the unity of the world... This has really blown up."

Zhai Le, with dry rations in his mouth, asked, "Brother, what's gotten into this mess?"

Zhai Huan said, "The strange phenomenon last night!"

Zhai Le: "That dragon?"

Zhai Huan said solemnly, "Yes, whether it's for the national seal or to become the rumored 'Purple Star,' all the ambitious forces, big and small, will gather here, and a chaotic battle is inevitable."

This is what's giving him the biggest headache.

Zhai Le muttered, "Sigh, it's the same everywhere."

Zhai Huan smiled bitterly and remained silent.

His gaze fell in the direction of Xiaocheng, and he pursed his lips slightly.

The giant dragon shadow that appeared last night was clearly not the national seal of Xin Kingdom. If Xin Kingdom still possessed such a strong national fortune, how could Zheng Qiao have encountered no significant resistance along the way? Xin Kingdom wouldn't have been destroyed so easily. Thinking of this, Zhai Huan's heart skipped a beat.

He asked his cousin, "After this matter is settled, shall we go back?"

Zhai Ledao said, "Okay."

The mess in my hometown is not much better than the mess in the Northwest.

Although traveling abroad is very free and there are not many rules and regulations to restrict him, and almost no one cares about him except his cousin, after wandering for a long time he still feels that his hometown is better—perhaps in the eyes of outsiders "it" is not good, but that is precisely why he wants to go back.

Do what you can.

Zhai Le's smile hadn't lasted long when he heard his cousin say, "Do you still remember the eldest daughter of the Zhao family in Xunnan?"

"Ah? The third daughter of the Zhao family of Xunnan...? Well, I vaguely remember her. I think she was so delicate, like a gust of wind could blow her away." Zhai Le hadn't quite grasped the meaning yet, resting his chin on his hand and racking his brains for a long time, his face contorted with misery. He only remembered that the girl was a crybaby and loved to tattle, "...and she even got me a good scolding from my parents..."

Zhai Le remembers that it happened when he was very young.

When elders attend a banquet and exchange pleasantries, children of similar age play together. Zhai Le is one of the younger children in his generation, but he is playful and has a lively and active personality, so even older children like to play with him.

He's also adorable; who wouldn't like him?

Zhai Le had always been so confident until he met the third daughter of the Zhao family from Xunnan. Despite her young age, she acted like an adult, constantly finding fault with everything. Zhai Le saw that she was beautiful and lovely, and after hearing from the servants that she had been sickly since childhood and had rarely left the courtyard, he felt some sympathy. So he picked several of the flowers he thought were the prettiest, hoping to make her laugh…

result--

Zhao's Third Sister not only didn't laugh, but she cried.

She cried so hard she could barely breathe, nearly fainting, and alarmed the elders. While Zhai Le was bewildered and at a loss, her father arrived and gave her a severe beating, then locked her up for three months at home! After that, every time they saw her, she would be reprimanded upon returning home.

Zhai Le only found out after inquiring that Zhao's third daughter had complained to her elders, saying that he was not following the rules here and there. He was really furious! But that person was too weak, and even a slight raising of his voice would frighten her into a seizure. Zhai Le avoided her at all costs, wishing he could stick to the wall.

As he grew older, the taboo between men and women began, and with his cultivation progressing smoothly, he rarely attended such occasions, so news of Zhao's Third Sister became scarce. Why was his cousin suddenly mentioning that woman? He was puzzled, and Zhai Huan could only manage a wry smile.

"That's all you think of him?"

Zhai Le curled his lip: "What other impression could there be?"

Zhai Huan: "Don't you know she's always liked you?"

Zhai Le suddenly understood something, his expression twisting and becoming unnatural for a moment. He twisted his sleeve with his fingers and said, "She calls that liking someone? I only remember how badly Father beat me... Brother, you're not trying to play matchmaker, are you? No, no, this won't do."

Furthermore, a woman's reputation is very important.

How could such an outrageous rumor be circulating?

He shook his head like a rattle.

Zhai Huan said with a smile, "This isn't something I made up randomly. The Zhao family of Xunnan personally came to propose it. How could it be false? They wouldn't joke about the reputation of the women in their clan. It's just that your uncle and aunt thought you were still too young, so they didn't agree at the time."

My aunt even asked Zhai Huan to subtly probe the matter.

As a cousin, how could Zhai Huan not know what type of woman his younger cousin liked? Despite being politely rejected, Zhao Shi of Xunnan was still persistent. Out of affection for her eldest daughter, she privately said that as long as Zhai Le was not engaged or married, there was still room for negotiation regarding the marriage.

Zhai Le was completely bewildered.

He said, "How can a man build a family if he has not achieved even the smallest merit?"

He paused again after saying that.

"Furthermore, they are really not a good match."

Zhai Huan said, "A man of talent and a woman of beauty, what's wrong with them being a good match?"

Zhai Le didn't hide anything: "I just didn't want to put my future sister-in-law in a difficult position. Third Sister Zhao is indeed very good. Her family background, talent, and cultivation are all exceptional. I'm practically marrying above my station."

His words were not self-deprecating or self-deprecating, but the absolute truth.

Zhai Le's branch belongs to the second house of the Zhai family.

His father was born prematurely in August and was weak as a child. The constant medical treatment and medicine he received was a huge expense. Even though he was taken care of when the family was divided and was given the title of "a scholar of integrity" and received more property than originally planned, he still faced the pressure of not being able to make ends meet.

To help his brother, the eldest uncle even took Zhai Le in, and his food, clothing and daily necessities were the same as those of his cousin Zhai Huan.

The elders treated everyone equally, so Zhai Le couldn't be ungrateful.

Zhao's third daughter comes from a very good family; that won't do.

It's just right to be with my cousin.

My cousin had a childhood betrothal to a woman from a respectable family. However, fate intervened; his future wife's family suffered misfortune, their reputation declined, and she was disfigured in an accident. The two, who were originally a perfect match, were no longer suitable, but my cousin refused to accept it.

Canceling an engagement at this time would be seen as snobbish and materialistic, and it would also drive the woman to despair. Since it's a predestined union, how can it be dissolved because of a minor setback?

Only she could hold the position of matriarch of the Zhai clan.

Zhai Huan personally visited to express his firm stance on the marriage, stating frankly that family background and appearance were irrelevant.

If Zhai Le were to become engaged to Zhao's third wife, it would put his future sister-in-law in a difficult position. After all, in an environment that values ​​family background and social standing, the wife of the head of the family is not as good as the second wife, which would inevitably attract gossip.

Based on Zhai Le's understanding of that Third Sister Zhao...

He was genuinely afraid that Zhao's third sister-in-law would say something to his future cousin-in-law like, "You can't do this, you can't do that," so it was best to refuse.

Who knew—

Zhai Huan said, "Brother, I hope you will accept this."

Zhai Le: "What about the sister-in-law who isn't yet married into the family?"

Isn't this embarrassing for her?

Zhai Le is the type who has ideas and preferences about her marriage, but when it comes to actually getting married, personal preferences are less important than other conditions. Either way, it's an arranged marriage, and as long as the newlyweds put their heart into it, the outcome will be pretty much the same.

Conversely, those who don't manage their marriage well, no matter how compatible they were before marriage, will end up with a mess. This is Zhai Le's "marriage and love experience" derived from a bunch of local gossip.

Zhai Huan smiled and said, "What you're worried about won't happen."

His fiancée was not as easy to bully as Zhai Le thought. Besides, Zhao's third wife had never been known for being domineering and arrogant over the years—except for when she was a child and she would tattle on Zhai Le. But this was really not the woman's fault.

Zhai Le is just too stubborn and deserves a beating. He ruined the flowers, fish, and trees that people worked so hard to grow. It's no wonder he got beaten up.

Zhai Le rested his chin on his hand: "But, the Zhao family of Xunnan came to propose marriage several years ago. Perhaps she has already agreed to the marriage?"

He didn't ask his cousin why he suddenly brought up his marriage, nor did he ask why he recommended Zhao San Niang. It wasn't that he didn't want to ask, but rather that he already had the answer in his heart and there was no need to inquire.

However, if his cousin hadn't told him, he really wouldn't have known that the Third Sister Zhao actually liked him...

Zhai Le was both amused and exasperated.

He thought she hated him.

Zhai Huan shook her head again: "No."

Zhai Le muttered to himself, "If that's the case... it's not necessarily a bad thing... At worst, I can go back and find out what's interesting about 'discussing poetry and philosophy, and doing needlework,' and maybe we can get along..."

You see, at his age, even if he doesn't actively seek out information, his peers will occasionally talk about the situation of eligible unmarried women. After all, the range of potential marriage partners is only so large, so it wouldn't hurt to do some research beforehand.

He occasionally heard about Zhao's Third Sister.

A good reputation is naturally desirable.

One woman, a hundred men seek her.

However, she was not keen on going out and rarely accepted invitations from other women her age, citing illness as an excuse nine times out of ten.

Seeing Zhai Le speak so readily, it was Zhai Huan's turn to be stunned. He couldn't help but emphasize very seriously, afraid that Zhai Le wouldn't understand: "But Le, if you already have someone you like, then tell your brother. Don't worry about the Zhao family of Xunnan. A marriage isn't about two families becoming enemies. If it doesn't work out, it's just that fate isn't on your side..."

He wanted to gain the support of the Zhao family of Xunnan through his cousin, but that wasn't the only way. If he really wanted a powerful alliance through marriage, he was more suitable than Zhai Le, and he wouldn't have insisted on fulfilling the marriage contract when the woman asked to break it off.

He has more than one cousin, Zhai Le.

He wasn't even an only child; he had brothers.

But the only person he truly connected with, someone he'd grown up with and supported since childhood, was Zhai Le. If Zhai Le had someone else in his heart, he wouldn't use Zhai Le's marriage as a bargaining chip. Zhai Le wasn't just his younger brother; in a way, he was also like a "son" he'd raised.

_(:3」∠)_

Zhai Le was taken aback by his question.

Smiling, she waved her hand and said, "No, no!"

Are you kidding me? His cousin knows all the men he knows. They're all eligible bachelors! Which one could he possibly like? Besides, in this chaotic world, women are trying to stay home, not venture out. Where would he find acquaintances?

"Brother, have you been reading too many tragic love stories?"

The scenario of a scion of a noble family daring not to disobey his family's arrangements, painfully separating from his beloved and suffering the torment of unrequited love, will not happen to him. He's not at the age where he's running around causing trouble and getting into trouble; he knows exactly what he wants.

To say that there's anything wrong with Third Sister Zhao...

Perhaps his body is too weak.

Sigh, he still prefers guys who can fight.

Therefore—

Why can't women in this world have both literary talent and martial prowess?

If such a person existed, Zhao's Third Sister would likely be a talented and refined scholar, seemingly frail but actually incredibly swift on the battlefield. One a scholar, the other a warrior, they would complement each other perfectly.

Zhai Le didn't dwell on it for long before putting it aside.

It's too early to think about these things now.

Zhai Le murmured as he gazed at the rising sun on the horizon.

The brothers need to extricate themselves from this mess and return to their homeland before they can even consider starting a family; otherwise, it's all just a pipe dream.

The Zhai brothers didn't deliberately guard against others during their conversation.

Even with his eyes closed, Commandant Yang listened to most of it.

Slightly surprised.

He seems to have confused the primary and secondary relationship between the two brothers.

However, Zhai Huan is indeed more suitable than Zhai Le.

Perhaps it was some kind of intuition, but he always felt that once the Zhai brothers returned, they would be like hidden dragons entering the sea, with unlimited potential. At this moment, he also thought of the rumor he had overheard—"The Purple Star will emerge from the Northwest to protect the unity of the world"—but he wondered who that Purple Star was.

Can this world truly come to an end and move towards unification?

——————

If Wu Yuan knew that the rumors he had painstakingly spread had benefited others, I wonder what his feelings would be.

This was one of his backup plans, intended to create momentum for himself at a suitable time in the future.

After all, the Northern Desert has always been criticized as a foreign race, and the hundred countries on the continent have never considered the Northern Desert to be one of their own.

No matter how fierce the internal strife is, it's a family matter. Outsiders trying to seize the "industry" is absolutely unacceptable.

To reduce resistance, the blessing of "divine intervention" is indispensable.

As a result, a giant dragon phantom did indeed appear in Xiaocheng.

Yet no one associated him with the "Purple Star".

Wu Yuan felt really angry!

However, some people were even more irritable than him and wanted to fuck a dog.

Needless to say, this person is Zheng Qiao, the ruler of the Geng Kingdom.

A luxurious and extravagant palace.

Officials dressed in court robes stood trembling, heads bowed, and a heavy, chilling atmosphere filled the air.

The natural energy within a radius of several miles had changed from its usual gentle warmth to a chaotic and violent state. Under this oppressive force, the weaker officials were already pale and sweating profusely. Their inner garments were soaked with the thick, sticky sweat and clung tightly to their skin.

They didn't even dare to breathe loudly, let alone complain.

I'm really unlucky. If I had known this would happen, I would have taken sick leave and stayed home to avoid the ravages of the storm.

Riots in various places are one thing, but why did those two lunatics from Geng Kingdom also jump out to cause trouble for King Zheng Qiao? Zheng Qiao is not having a good time, and his ministers are having an even worse time, as if a sword is hanging over their necks.

It would be better if I lost my own life, but I'm afraid of implicating my family.

Why aren't you saying anything?

There seemed to be a faint smile in his words.

The young man speaking possessed a striking, androgynous beauty, a beauty that transcended gender, making him incomparably handsome. In terms of looks, few in the world could rival him, yet his face carried a natural air of mockery and meanness. Beautiful as he was, he inspired awe and scorn.

As for lust at first sight and blasphemy?

The last person who dared to do this has a grave overgrown with weeds.

The old king of Xin who succeeded in his scheme?

They were in a state of despair, unable to live or die, and the entire Xin royal family, young and old, had become objects of amusement and venting for the young people.

His early life was full of glory, but now he's down on his luck.

"They're all usually so talkative, how come they're all mute now!" Zheng Qiao was smiling one second, but the next his face changed drastically. He waved his hand, sending a pile of memorials flying everywhere, knocking the hats of court officials askew and drawing blood from their foreheads, showing how hard he hit them. "The Imperial Seal of Xin Kingdom wasn't recovered, a ninth-rank fifth-grade official got away with it, and those two good-for-nothings, the Prince of Zhi, have gotten away with it right under our noses..."

(End of this chapter)