The Palace's Nine-tailed Fox Appears

"The woman Di Xin dreamed of, Su Daji, hee hee hee."

On Fei Zhong's rooftop, a demonic wind stirred from the ground, and a white shadow flashed past in the wind.

The next day at noon

Three hundred cavalrymen lined up. Fei Zhong tidied his appearance and got into the second carriage, leaving the post station. The cavalry cleared the way, creating a grand spectacle as they headed straight for the Marquis of Jizhou's mansion.

"Father, they're here. You?"

"What did it mean that Fei Zhong didn't come yesterday?"

"He was tired?"

Su Hu rolled his eyes at Su Quanzhong, feeling extremely depressed: Is this really my own son? It's one thing that he's not as good-looking as his sister, but his brain is so slow.

"He's saying he has all the time in the world to wear us down."

Su Hu touched the jade crown of the feudal lords on his head and calmly stated what he had thought through all night:

"This is just like on the battlefield. Since it's an unavoidable battle, let's go straight for it and cut our way through!"

"Report! Marquis, Fei Zhong, a Lower Grand Master from Chaoge, has come to visit."

"Let him in."

Su Hu sat in the main seat with his legs crossed, narrowing his eyes and closing them to rest.

"Here!"

-- Thump thump thump!

Before the person arrived, a series of footsteps could be heard. The moment Fei Zhong reached the doorway, a fawning smile suddenly appeared on his face. As soon as he stepped through the main gate, his effeminate voice made both Su Hu and his son's scalps tingle:

"Congratulations, Marquis, congratulations! The Great King has decreed that your noble daughter, Lady Su Daji, be summoned to the palace as an Imperial Consort, initially bestowing upon her the rank of Imperial Consort."

The entire hall fell silent. Fei Zhong's smile remained, but he instinctively shrunk his neck.

"Quanzhong, did you hear what he said?"

Suddenly, Su Hu stiffly turned his head, staring at his foolish son with wide eyes.

"Father, he said the Great King wants to take Sister as a consort."

Su Quanzhong said, stunned for a moment.

"Slap!"

Su Hu stood up and kicked him, his furious roar nearly shaking the roof off:

"Then where's your sword? Go chop this sycophant who speaks slander and pushes your sister into a fire pit!"

"Yes! Father!"

Su Quanzhong snapped back to reality, drew the sword at his waist, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and boundless rage erupted:

"Fei Zhong, give me your life!"

"Aiya, aiya, young Marquis, brother-in-law of the King, you can't do this, you can't do this!"

Fei Zhong dodged left and right in terror. Seeing a pillar, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he dodged behind it with incredible speed. While maneuvering, he explained:

"Marquis, this has nothing to do with me! Let's put away the sword first and talk slowly, explain slowly, shall we?"

"You scoundrel, your eyesight is poor, but your tongue is nimble! I'm holding a sword, boy, less nonsense, kneel down for me!"

Su Quanzhong turned and lunged, his long sword as cold as water, and in an instant, it was at Fei Zhong's throat.

With just a gentle stroke, Fei - maneuvering - Zhong would instantly die before achieving success, a feat that would make heroes applaud.

However, although Su Quanzhong was hot-tempered, he wasn't a fool and naturally knew that Fei Zhong couldn't be killed right now.

"Young Marquis, spare my life, spare my life. This really has nothing to do with me, I'm a victim too."

Fei Zhong raised his hands high, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

These Su father and son were not playing by the rules! And this mission under imperial decree... next time, even if he were beaten to death, he wouldn't do it again!

A life-threatening matter!

"Fei Zhong, let me ask you! The Great King sits high in the court, handling state affairs day after day. Recently, he has cultivated virtue and diligently governed, earning the admiration of all the people, with his mind solely focused on state affairs! For the past two months, he hasn't even stepped foot in the inner palace, truly embodying the demeanor of a wise ruler, much like Emperor Yu who passed his home three times without entering!

If it weren't for you, Fei Zhong, spewing slander, indulging in flattery, sowing discord, and trying to please the Great King with wine and women to confuse his mind, how could the Great King have thought of taking a consort? And how could he have specifically chosen my Su Hu's daughter!

This Marquis sees through all deception with eyes as sharp as a torch, and has long seen the truth! Fei Zhong, what else do you have to say!"

Su Hu stroked his beard. His speech was full of righteous indignation: he first praised Di Xin, then shifted all the blame to Fei Zhong, and finally portrayed himself as righteous and upright, adopting an attitude of killing for the rise of Yin Shang.

His fierce gaze and stern expression hid words that pierced the heart!

"Hmph! Father, if he won't speak, it must be because you've guessed correctly. I'll kill him right now and rid the Great King of this treacherous official!"

Su Quanzhong smiled knowingly, moved his sword away from Fei Zhong's neck, raised it high, and slowly gathered his strength, as if to behead Fei Zhong with a single strike.

At this point, Fei Zhong truly couldn't tell if the father and son were genuinely foolish or pretending to be. Should he continue playing along with them or turn...

Turn for what!

The sword came down!

"Stop! Marquis Su, whatever you want to know, I'll tell you truthfully!"

In this moment of crisis, Fei Zhong straightened his back and glared at Su Quanzhong. The sharp sword blade had already grazed his hairline and stopped at his shoulder.

"Father? This?"

Su Quanzhong hadn't expected Fei Zhong to stand up. He reined in his hand but not completely. Faced with Fei Zhong's sudden defiance, he was momentarily flustered.

"Fei Zhong, what exactly does Di Xin want you for?"

Su Hu pulled Su Quanzhong aside and met Fei Zhong's gaze calmly.

If Di Xin truly intended to govern diligently and win him over to conquer Western Qi, then killing a mere Fei Zhong would be no trouble at all, without needing any reason.

"Also, about my daughter Daji, were you the one stirring up trouble?"

"Marquis, we have no past grievances and no recent enmity. I, Fei Zhong, am not a fool. Why would I offend a noble Marquis of a whole province?"

Fei Zhong brushed off his clothes, a venomous glint in his eyes, which he quickly suppressed.

Whether the Great King genuinely desired a consort or used marriage as an excuse to win him over, Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou was no longer someone he could afford to offend.

The Great King of today… he couldn't sway him with just a few words anymore…

This treacherous official was becoming more and more tiresome.

After returning to court, he should associate more with Bi Gan, ideally infiltrating the circle of capable ministers. That would at least provide him with a way out.

"The Great King dreamt of a noble lady and was instantly captivated. Furthermore, the Great King hasn't visited the inner palace for two months, causing chaos within. This is all because he is lovesick for the noble lady, which is why he specifically dispatched me to Jizhou to find her.

Of course, that's all the Great King told me. As for whether the Great King has other intentions, Marquis Su, that is beyond the guess of a lowly and treacherous official like myself."

"Dreamt of my daughter? Heh! Do you believe that yourself?"

Su Hu sneered, his heart already convinced that Di Xin intended to trap him through a marriage alliance, forcing him to turn against his friend and draw blades.

"Marquis Su, allow me to offer you a piece of advice: the Great King is not the same Great King as before. If you don't choose a side soon, your family will be destroyed. Heh heh!"

If he couldn't bring back Su Daji, Fei Zhong would die, so he naturally had to sow more discord for Su Hu.

"Hmph! Am I, Su Hu, the kind of person who sells his daughter for glory! Moreover, if he, Di Xin, were a wise ruler, he would never ask me, Su Hu, to offer my daughter for honor!"

Su Hu kicked over a table and chairs, turning to leave.

Just then, a ethereal voice came from outside the door:

"Father, let me go."