"Di Xin dreamed of a woman—Su Daji. Heeheehee."
On Fei Zhong's rooftop, a demonic wind suddenly swept up from nowhere, and a white figure flashed past in the wind.
The next day, at noon
Three hundred armored cavalrymen stood in formation. Fei Zhong tidied his appearance, boarded the second carriage, and left the relay station. With the cavalry leading the way, the procession advanced with great fanfare toward the Marquis of Jizhou's residence.
"Father, they're here. What do you—"
"What does it mean that Fei Zhong didn't come yesterday?"
"He was tired?"
Su Hu rolled his eyes at Su Quanzhong, feeling terribly depressed. Is this really my biological son? It's bad enough that he looks worse than his sister. Why is he so stupid, too?
"He's saying that he has plenty of time to wear us down."
Su Hu touched the jade crown of a vassal lord atop his head and calmly voiced the conclusion he had spent the entire previous night reaching:
"It's just like on the battlefield. Since the battle is unavoidable, we should charge straight in and cut our way through!"
"Reporting~ Marquis, Fei Zhong, the Lower Grand Master sent by the King of Chaoge, has come to pay his respects."
"Let him in."
Su Hu sat boldly in the main seat, narrowing his eyes and resting with them closed.
"Yes!"
—Thump, thump, thump!
Before the man even appeared, a string of footsteps could already be heard. The moment Fei Zhong reached the doorway, a sycophantic smile suddenly spread across his face. As soon as he stepped through the entrance, his feminine voice made the father and son of the Su family's scalps prickle:
"Congratulations, Marquis! Congratulations, Marquis! The Great King has issued an edict summoning your beloved daughter, Su Daji, into the palace as a consort. She will first be granted the position of Imperial Consort."
The entire main hall instantly fell silent. The smile on Fei Zhong's face remained, but he subconsciously shrank his neck.
"Quanzhong, did you hear what he said?"
Su Hu suddenly turned his stiff neck and glared at his foolish son.
"Father, he said the Great King wants to take my sister as his consort."
Su Quanzhong froze for a moment before answering.
"Smack!"
Su Hu rose and kicked him, his furious roar nearly lifting the roof:
"Where's your blade, then? Why aren't you cutting down this sycophantic villain who slandered his way into favor and pushed your sister into a pit of fire?"
"Yes, Father!"
Su Quanzhong came to his senses and drew the sword at his waist. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as a heaven-shaking fury erupted:
"Fei Zhong, prepare to die!"
"Ah, ah, ah! Young Marquis, Duke of State, you mustn't! You mustn't!"
Fei Zhong dodged left and right in terror. When he spotted a pillar, his eyes suddenly lit up. With unbelievable speed, he hid behind it, circling around as he explained:
"Marquis, this really has nothing to do with me! Let's put away the blade first and talk this over slowly. How about I explain everything?"
"You villain, your eyes may be dull, but your tongue is quite nimble! The thing in my hand is a sword, so spare me the nonsense and kneel!"
Su Quanzhong turned and pounced like a tiger. The long sword in his hand was cold as water, and in an instant, it had appeared at Fei Zhong's neck.
All it took was one light slash, and Fei Zhong the "Master of Stalling" would have died before accomplishing anything, leaving heroes everywhere applauding.
However, although Su Quanzhong was as hot-tempered as fire, he was not an idiot. He naturally knew that Fei Zhong could not be killed right now.
"Young Marquis, spare me! Spare me! This truly has nothing to do with me. I'm a victim too!"
Fei Zhong raised both hands high, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
This father and son don't play by the rules! And this business trip under imperial orders—next time, even if they beat me to death, I'm never doing it again!
This is going to get me killed!
"Fei Zhong, answer me this! The Great King sits high in the royal court, handling the affairs of the state every day. Recently, he has cultivated virtue and worked diligently, winning the hearts of the people, with all his thoughts devoted to state matters! For the past two months, he hasn't even set foot in the rear palace. He truly has the bearing of a wise ruler, showing the spirit of Emperor Yu, who passed by his home three times without entering!
"If you, Fei Zhong, had not offered slanderous advice, fawned shamelessly, sowed discord, and tried to please the Great King by tempting him with wine and women, how would he have thought of taking a consort? And why would he have specifically chosen my daughter?
"This Marquis sees everything clearly and has eyes like torches. I saw through the truth long ago! Fei Zhong, what else do you have to say?"
Su Hu stroked his beard. His speech was utterly righteous: first elevating Di Xin, then placing all the blame on Fei Zhong, and finally presenting himself as a man so upright that he was willing to kill for the rise of Yin Shang.
With his brows lowered and eyes blazing, every word struck straight at Fei Zhong's heart!
"Hmph! Father, he refuses to speak, so you must have guessed correctly! I'll kill him now and rid the Great King of this treacherous villain!"
Su Quanzhong smiled knowingly and pulled the sword away from Fei Zhong's neck. He raised it high and slowly gathered strength, as if he intended to slice off Fei Zhong's head in one blow.
At that moment, Fei Zhong truly could not tell whether this father and son were genuinely dim-witted or merely pretending. Should he continue acting along with them, or turn—
Turn my ass!
The sword's coming down!
"Stop! Marquis Su, whatever you want to know, I'll tell you everything honestly!"
At the critical moment, Fei Zhong straightened his back and glared at Su Quanzhong. The sharp blade had already sliced through his topknot before stopping at his shoulder.
"Father? This...?"
Su Quanzhong had not expected Fei Zhong to straighten up so suddenly. He stopped his hand, but not completely. When Fei Zhong, who had abruptly found his backbone, glared at him, Su Quanzhong panicked for a moment.
"Fei Zhong, what exactly did Di Xin send you here to do?"
Su Hu pulled Su Quanzhong back and calmly met Fei Zhong's gaze.
If Di Xin truly intended to govern diligently and win Su Hu over so he could conquer Western Qi, then a mere Fei Zhong could naturally be killed without any need for an explanation.
"And what about my daughter Daji? Were you the one sowing discord?"
"Marquis, you and I have never had any past grievance or recent enmity. I, Fei Zhong, am no fool. Why would I offend the mighty Marquis of a province?"
Fei Zhong patted his clothes. Resentment showed in his eyes, but he instantly suppressed it.
Whether the Great King truly wanted a consort or was using a marriage alliance as an excuse to win Su Hu over, Marquis Su of Jizhou was no longer someone Fei Zhong could afford to offend.
The Great King of today is no longer someone I can sway with a few words...
Being a treacherous minister is getting more and more tedious.
After returning to court, I should associate more with Bi Gan. Better yet, I should enter the circle of capable ministers. At least that will leave me a way to survive.
"The Great King dreamed of your beloved daughter and was instantly struck by her beauty. Since he hasn't visited the rear palace for two months, it has been in chaos, and it is precisely because he cannot stop thinking about your daughter that he specially sent me to Jizhou to find her.
"Of course, that is all the Great King told me. As for whether he has any other intentions, Marquis Su, that is beyond what a treacherous villain like me could possibly guess."
"He dreamed of my daughter? Hah! Do you believe that yourself?"
Su Hu let out a cold laugh. He was already certain that Di Xin intended to bind him through a marriage alliance, turning him against his friends and forcing them to meet in battle!
"Marquis Su, allow me to give you a word of advice. The Great King is no longer the man he used to be. If you do not choose a side soon, your family may be destroyed in the future. Heh heh!"
If Fei Zhong failed to bring Su Daji back, he would die, so he naturally had to apply a little more pressure to Su Hu.
"Hmph! Am I, Su Hu, the sort of man who would sell his daughter to seek glory? Besides, if Di Xin is truly a wise ruler, he would never ask me, Su Hu, to sell my daughter for honor!"
Su Hu kicked over the table and chairs and turned to leave.
At that moment, an ethereal voice came from outside the door:
"Father, let me go."
Before you continue