Chapter 385: Another Year [Two-in-One]
To win over the Zhao family of Xunnan?
Zhai Huan naturally understood the meaning behind those words.
He said, "I had previously thought that you and Zhao San Niang would get married. She admires you, and you wouldn't let her down, so it would be a win-win situation. But after what happened with A Jing, I realized that some things can't be forced... Compared to the help from the Zhao family in Xunnan, I hope that you can get what you want, A Le."
Life is short, don't leave any regrets.
Zhai Le frowned in thought.
An answer was not given immediately.
But now we do need strong allies.
The former king's maternal uncle relinquished military power, but his troops were a motley crew from all walks of life, representing various factions and stances. Previously, he had only managed to control them through his status as the king's maternal uncle and the presence of a group of trusted confidants.
Now that the holder of the State Seal has changed, it is equivalent to breaking the balance and suppressing the core of these soldiers.
They were all eager to do something, but not very cooperative.
One wrong move and it could even incite a riot to retaliate against my brother... Although the chances of success are slim, it would only further destabilize the situation, which is not what Zhai Le wants to see.
In the past few days, he has placed and promoted a group of his trusted retainers. Although their positions are not prominent, they can obtain firsthand intelligence at the slightest sign of trouble. He has also used the name of the former king's maternal uncle to disrupt the original organization, making it impossible for them to stick together.
However, this is not a long-term solution and is still insufficient.
The current calm is ultimately just an illusion.
It can be easily broken by external forces or internal factors.
My brother also has to spare some energy to deal with those old foxes—these old foxes care less about who the ruler is or what his surname is, and more about their own interests. They all want to take advantage of Zhai Huan's unstable power to plunder a piece of flesh.
Zhai Le saw this and was anxious.
"Ah Le, do you really want to marry Zhao Shi San Niang?"
Zhai Le didn't think much about it.
With a firm gaze, he said, "Yes, I think so."
Although it wasn't out of genuine affection but rather a calculated weighing of pros and cons, mutual affection doesn't always guarantee a happy ending, and one-sided affection isn't necessarily regrettable. Zhai Le paused, then said, "Or... perhaps we should ask her what she thinks first? If she's unwilling..."
He said, "Then I'll trouble you to find another one, brother."
Zhai Huan paused for a moment, then gently patted his cousin's shoulder.
She sighed softly, "Okay."
Before leaving, Zhai Le reminded Zhai Huan to use his scholarly ways as little as possible. Although his brother did not say how much of a burden the scholarly ways would place on him after they were perfected, judging from the great success of his first appearance, the price was not small.
Zhai Huan chuckled and said, "Yes, I'll know my limits."
In Zhai Huan's view, the effect of this scholar's way can only be described as "chicken rib"—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away.
If you become too dependent on them, you might not even know how you died.
Indeed, it can implant a real memory in a person, and even if the person knows there is a problem, it is difficult to avoid it. However, if one thinks that the way of the literati is invincible because of this, then that would be too naive, because the real confrontation still lies outside the way of the literati.
Take, for example, the former king's maternal uncle.
If Zhai Huan's false identity was not "the true king who was lost abroad", but rather the confidant/biological son of the former king's maternal uncle, could he still persuade the other party to borrow troops to force the king to abdicate?
Impossible, because the benefits of the latter's status are far less than those of the former, and it's not worth the other party risking the extermination of nine generations of their family for such immense wealth... Rather than saying that the scholar's way led the other party to betray them and be used by Zhai Huan, it's more accurate to say that the blueprint and benefits offered by Zhai Huan touched the insatiable greed deep within their hearts, which is why they hit it off so easily...
To give another example, if Zhai Huan were dealing with someone like Qi Shan, and instead impersonated a relative to instigate Qi Shan to kill Shen Tang, he would likely not receive Qi Shan's sincere cooperation, but rather Qi Shan's butcher's knife.
The true difficulty of this scholar's way lies in its need to accurately grasp the weaknesses of one's opponent's human nature—if they value family, start with their family; if they value material things, start with their interests; if they value fame, start with their reputation...
There is another very special group of people.
Those are people who enshrine morality and conscience on a pedestal; such people are often impervious to persuasion and extremely difficult to deal with...
The situation in the State of Shen is changing rapidly.
Even Zhao's third daughter, who lived a secluded life, was affected.
Hearing that the boy she had liked for many years was going to marry Shu Ji, she was depressed for several days, and her already thin body became even thinner. Her parents, brothers and sisters tried to persuade her again and again, and her younger brother even deliberately made trouble to make her laugh.
Zhao Sanniang was never truly happy.
She wasn't unaware of the seriousness of the problem.
That Lady Shuji was famous in the ladies' circles. Whoever she took a fancy to, whether married, unmarried, or engaged, she would use all sorts of means to forcibly take her away.
She may covet married men, but she will not allow anyone else to even think of her man, lest they bring about their own demise.
If it weren't for Shuji's excessive cruelty and inhumanity, the innocent lives she had taken, and the breaking up of other people's marriages, which aroused the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people... Zhao Sanniang was somewhat envious of her—it was rare for a woman to live so willfully.
Of course, it was only envy of her freedom, not her manners. But then again, it was because of blood ties, not because of Sook-hee herself, that she felt a sense of incompleteness...
Let's get back to the main topic.
Once Zhai Le and Shu Ji get married, if the petty Shu Ji finds out that he proposed to Zhai Le, even with family protection, he will be harassed and his family will be in trouble.
Thinking about these things, Zhao Sanniang became sullen again.
You can't just let go of someone you've liked for years; that feeling is far more bitter than medicine served by a maid.
She closed her eyes and drank it all in one gulp. On the day of Zhai Le's wedding, she tossed and turned until late at night before finally falling asleep from exhaustion.
I woke up weakly late in the morning.
The series of news left her completely bewildered.
Zhai Le's marriage to Shu Ji fell through, Shu Ji died, the king died—all because of Zhai Huan's elder brother…
When her mother told her, she couldn't help but say with envy, "Zhai Yuewen is truly a man of integrity and loyalty."
It was clear to anyone with discerning eyes that while Zhai Huan harbored ambitions, they hadn't swelled to the point of overthrowing the royal court. His primary aim was to assist the court and restore order. However, when Shu Ji killed Zhai Huan's fiancée, Zhai Huan swiftly and decisively killed her.
He was so angry that he lost his temper for the sake of a beautiful woman.
Isn't this even more romantic and touching than the folk tales of the marketplace?
Zhao Sanniang thought casually, "If Zhai Le's marriage didn't work out, doesn't that mean I still have a chance?"
Her mother saw right through her thoughts.
He said, "Don't do anything foolish."
Zhao Sanniang said, "That's just what I think..."
As a young woman confined to her home, begging her parents to arrange a marriage with the Zhai family was already the most outrageous thing she had ever done in her life. How could she possibly have the courage to do it again? With the Zhai family currently embroiled in controversy, Zhai Le probably had no interest in discussing marriage.
Her mother smiled and said, "Just wait patiently."
Zhao Sanniang: [Wait?]
[When the Zhai family came to propose marriage, your father told your mother that Zhai Yuewen had murdered the emperor in front of the palace. He did it swiftly and decisively, but he also left a mess to clean up. The Zhai family is short-handed and unable to control the situation, so naturally they need to seek allies. What ally is more reliable than a marriage partner? Not to mention Zhai Le, you can choose any of the other unmarried men in the Zhai family.]
Zhao San Niang's heart stirred.
She felt slightly ashamed of having such thoughts of taking advantage of someone's misfortune, but she also had a vague expectation that Zhai Le would actually come to propose marriage.
She stayed in her little courtyard tending to the flowers and plants, occasionally feeding the fish in the pond, but time passed slowly and unbearably.
A few days later, Zhai Le actually came to visit.
But it wasn't about proposing to her parents.
Instead, he wanted to see her.
Zhao San Niang was both uneasy and nervous.
Through the screen, she could vaguely see the figure on the other side, a boy who had grown into an adult.
The servants around him were waiting outside the door.
Zhai Le took a deep breath to calm his inexplicable tension.
"Zhao San Niangzi..." Zhai Le hesitated for a moment before asking, unsure whether to use her nickname, "I heard... you like me?"
Zhao Sanniang: "..."
Her face flushed red and then pale; she was so ashamed she wished she could disappear into the ground.
But she still managed to suppress her embarrassment and awkwardness, and said, "Mm."
Even though he already knew the answer, hearing the other person admit it was still quite novel. Zhai Leguang vividly remembered being severely beaten by his father for offending the other person when he was a child. He never imagined that the other person would like him; how could he have come up with such a thing?
"Then I'd like to ask to marry you, will you?"
Zhao San Niang's face was no longer pale, but only red.
So red it could drip blood.
"Marriage is a major life event... it should be decided by the parents..."
Zhai Le asked, puzzled, "...Huh?"
Haven't they already gone to propose marriage? Zhao Sanniang's parents should have agreed, so why do they need to reconsider?
Upon further reflection, although Shuji and I were not a real couple, we had gone through the proper ceremonies, and Zhao would indeed look down on a second marriage.
Zhai Le scratched his face. A second-marriage widower whose "wife" died that day didn't sound like a good match.
Seeing that Zhai Le hadn't responded for a long time, Zhao Sanniang felt annoyed, wondering what she had said wrong. Then she heard him say, "The title of 'second-marriage widower' is indeed unpleasant... Sigh, I apologize for disturbing you..."
After saying this, while Zhao Sanniang was still in a daze, she bowed and took her leave. As she got up and walked to the door, she was stopped by a pretty young girl who hurriedly ran out. The girl said angrily, "Zhai Xiaofang, where are you going?"
Zhai Le: "..."
Hearing the commotion, Zhao San Niang's personal maidservant peeked out, her face flushed, and she hid behind the screen.
"Who's complaining about you?"
Zhai Le: "..."
So it wasn't a complaint after all. I breathed a sigh of relief.
But some things still need to be said.
Zhai Le wanted to marry Zhao Sanniang, mainly to leverage Zhao's power. However, he was certain that he would not betray Zhao Sanniang after the marriage, nor would he act in a heartless and ungrateful manner, abandoning his first wife once he gained power. He swore an oath of courage.
Zhao Sanniang was both angry and amused after hearing this.
What a blockhead!
As a child, he picked her favorite flowers and stole her favorite fish. He even smashed the tree she planted for her birthday with a punch to show off. Now that he's grown up, he's even more capable, and he says these things so casually.
This led to her being forced into marriage by him, just like Shuji.
She acted like she really adored Zhai Xiaofang!
Zhao San Niang didn't reply. After saying a few words, she excused herself, saying she wasn't feeling well, and went back to her room to sulk.
After her anger subsided, she became even more frustrated.
Okay, she is very rare.
At her age, if it weren't for Zhai Xiaofang, she would have been engaged and married long ago. She had seen what her close female friends were like after marriage; none of them were truly happy. At best, they were only superficially harmonious; at worst, they were depressed.
It's better to marry someone you like than to suffer mistreatment after marrying someone you don't love; life won't be too difficult that way. If things don't go well, you can only blame yourself for having poor judgment. Besides, she won over Zhai Xiaofang physically; why should she worry about not winning his heart?
Gritting her teeth, she agreed to the marriage.
The two teenagers thought that the marriage was in their hands, but in reality, it was their parents who made the decision.
Zhai Huan is in dire need of help, but doesn't the Zhao family also seek benefits? Zhai Le has never been the best choice for a marriage alliance. If it weren't for Zhai Huan's unwavering protection of his fiancée over the years, the Zhao family would have preferred to marry their daughter to Zhai Huan.
He is the true master of the Zhai family.
In contrast, Zhai Le's conditions are far inferior.
This plan must not be known to outsiders, especially Zhai Huan—because Zhai Huan insisted on observing a year of mourning for his wife, and the situation in that year was still uncertain. For Zhao to be trusted and given important responsibilities, a marriage alliance that would satisfy him was necessary.
It's perfect that both children happened to be willing.
A marriage based on mutual attraction driven by self-interest, veiled by the illusion of genuine affection between the young people, could indeed be considered a match made in heaven. With the Zhao family's faction entering the scene, the old foxes who had been plotting their move finally calmed down.
The Zhai and Zhao families may not have many outstanding scholars, but they do have quite a few outstanding martial artists.
These old men had no desire to test just how tough the two sides' fists really were. Even the various factions in the military camp, unable to contain their rebellions, were brutally suppressed, leaving rivers of blood and mountains of corpses.
Next, we'll deal with those powerful warlords who took advantage of this time to cause trouble one by one!
The changes in Shen Kingdom, located in the southeast, naturally did not reach Shen Tang's ears in the northwest of the continent. Unlike Zhai Huan and Zhai Le, who racked their brains to fight against the enemy and could not have a peaceful New Year, she had a very happy and joyful New Year.
Heyin's premium pigs are sold to dog slaughterhouses. One premium pig sells for the price of five ordinary pigs, and even then, they are in high demand, leading to a shortage of Heyin's premium pigs and making them a bestseller in Heyin's neighbors.
The common people who raised pigs also made a fortune.
Some commoners even steeled themselves, slaughtering a fat pig and presenting the best meat as a New Year's gift to the government office, pleading with Shen Tang to accept it. Without Shen Tang, where would they be today? Shen Tang didn't stand on ceremony, accepting the New Year's gift and taking the opportunity to promote scientific and standardized pig farming knowledge, striving to deeply instill this idea in people's hearts!
Inside the government office, she happily counted her small change.
Yes, she's rich now!
"Sigh, after working hard for a year or two, I've finally seen some savings..." A bag full of loose silver and dozens of copper coins. Shen Tang carefully put them back into the money bag and stuffed them into his bosom.
Although the refugees and bandits cast a shadow of panic over the River Governor, the common people still believed in their Lord Shen.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, the festive atmosphere only intensifies, and many strangers speaking with accents from other regions have appeared in Fugu City.
Needless to say, these people all came from the three southern regions.
I'm just here to join in the fun.
As the opening ceremony of the second Fugu City New Year Games began, the light from the fireworks illuminated everyone's faces. Shen Tang and the others were a bit better than last year; they still had a lot of scholarly air left after the opening ceremony—well, after all, there was Jiang Sheng.
Happy New Year!
"My lord, may you enjoy a peaceful and healthy new year!"
The road was teeming with tourists.
There were more people and it was more lively and festive than last year.
"Let's all have fun, don't be shy, haha!"
Shen Tang greeted every acquaintance he met with a warm New Year's greeting, treating everyone equally regardless of age.
On the way, she encountered Jiang Sheng, who was curious about everything. She took out a copper coin with a red string on it from her bosom.
"Here, you can have your turn first!"
Jiang Sheng: "..."
A good lord should be a master of impartiality!
(End of this chapter)
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