"Fireworks over our heads all day long, what exactly is the Longxiang Army trying to do?"
"They want to eat shellfish."
"What do you mean?"
"You know mantis shrimp? They eat shellfish, but the shellfish are covered in a thick shell. The mantis shrimp's pincers are very strong and can smash the shell from the outside to eat the meat inside."
"Are you saying Jiankang City is a shell? That does make sense. Can the shellfish beat the mantis shrimp?"
"No, just defending without counterattacking, how could it win? But I've heard some rumors..."
"What rumors?"
"The court plans to recall Su Zigao."
"Su Zigao of the Northern Army? Isn't the General of Gallant Power fighting a guerrilla war in Jiangbei? Does he have the resources to come back and fight the rebels?"
"Well, when the court fled south in haste years ago, they left many technologies and industrial production lines in the Central Plains. Su Zigao, over the years in Jiangbei, has secretly gathered many refugees and revived many military factories under the guise of fighting demons and protecting the court. It's said his technological equipment is far ahead of both us and the Longxiang Army."
"That makes sense. After all, the Great Cataclysm happened so long ago. Both the Longxiang Army and the court have had to stabilize with weapons and equipment that are generations behind. If General Su can get hold of the Empire's peak military gear, his refugee army... might easily crush the Longxiang Army?"
"Hard to say. The refugee army doesn't have any supernaturals, after all. Besides, the court is also afraid he'll become another Wang Chuzhong, and he fears being used as cannon fodder against the Longxiang Army. Both sides probably won't reach an agreement anytime soon."
"Anyway, our Shendu Cheng family finally doesn't have to go to the battlefield recently. Who knows what kind of deal the clan leader made with the court."
"Hey, you don't know, do you! Let me tell you, it's said the clan leader has agreed to marry the princess and become the imperial son-in-law!"
"No way? But my partner told me the clan leader is going to marry the youngest daughter of the Taiyuan Wang family! He was originally engaged to Qingfeng of the Xing family, but after the old master Cheng passed away, the Xing family wanted to break off the engagement and end the cooperation. Then a letter from the Wang family scolded the Xing family for being blind, and the Xing family immediately broke off the engagement with us and said they couldn't climb up to us. All cooperation between the Cheng and Xing families remains unchanged. My partner heard this himself while reporting to the clan leader of the Xing family."
"Your rumor is less believable than mine. I've heard that the Emperor has long set his sights on the clan leader, wanting him as a son-in-law, and sent the princess to get close to him. They even have a child together. But the clan leader had already made a lifelong promise to the eldest daughter of the Wang family. So, when the Wang family found out, they were deeply humiliated. The Duke of Wuchang marched east with an army of 100,000 to Jiankang to seek justice for his niece."
"Come on, are you saying the Longxiang Army's rebellion was caused by the clan leader? Why don't you say the Great Cataclysm was also his doing?"
"The clan leader wasn't even born when the Cataclysm happened, right?"
The two Cheng family members were gossiping when they suddenly heard the clan leader's voice behind them:
"What are you two discussing?"
They stiffened and turned around to see Cheng Jinyang standing there, slightly bent over, with an ear-to-ear smile, listening to them.
"Nothing, nothing. Hello, clan leader, we'll get back to work now."
The two of them fled in a hurry. Cheng Jinyang watched their backs and thought, "Are these clansmen too idle? Even daring to make up stories about me! Do they want to go to the shooting range and eat bullets?"
He turned around with his hands behind his back and saw Cui Jinqi peeking out from behind a tree in the center of the courtyard, grinning and saying:
"Hey, isn't this the great young master Cheng, who is fought over by both Miss Wang and Princess Nankang?"
"These rumors..." Cheng Jinyang suddenly realized, "Could it be you spreading these stories about me behind my back?"
"Not at all!" Cui Jinqi immediately said angrily, "What evidence do you have to groundlessly accuse me!"
"It's simple." Cheng Jinyang stepped forward, coldly saying, "Princess and I knew each other before I joined the family. Miss Wang and I are close. How could ordinary members know these details? It must be someone who knows my social network well, deliberately spreading these rumors!"
Cui Jinqi felt a pang of guilt and turned to leave, but Cheng Jinyang grabbed her arm, angrily demanding:
"Explain yourself!"
"I have nothing to explain." Cui Jinqi said in a panic, "If you keep holding me, I'll shout harassment and make you socially dead!"
"In my Cheng family territory, you still dare to slander me?" Cheng Jinyang was speechless, and then he mockingly laughed, "Go ahead, shout. Let's see who dares to respond to you here!"
Cui Jinqi was instantly terrified, feeling as if her soul had left her body. She suddenly remembered that this was his territory. Even if he really intended to violate her, who among the passing Cheng family members would stand up for justice and stop the clan leader's misconduct?
So, she quickly swung her hand, skillfully breaking free from Cheng Jinyang's grip. While fleeing, she hurriedly took out her phone and sent an urgent voice message to Miss Wang:
"Wanrou, help! Jinyang is trying to assault me!"
The message from the other side came quickly, clearly indicating that Wang Wanrou was not in the clan territory at the moment.
But as soon as Cui Jinqi saw the message on the screen, her heart sank halfway.
Miss Wang's reply contained only two words:
Remember contraception.
Aaaaahhhh!
Cui Jinqi screamed internally.
She suddenly realized a problem: her interpersonal relationships were in a terrible state. The family and friends who cared about her mostly didn't believe what she said; those like Wanrou who could discern her truths from lies didn't care at all.
In other words, wasn't there no one she could ask for help? Was she really going to fall this time, be caught by the Cheng family guy, and end up returning to the Qinghe Cui clan territory with a child in her arms, only for her father and brothers to think she was playing a prank, fooling them with someone else's child?
For a moment, Cui Jinqi was so anxious she almost burst into tears, regretting her nearly negative credibility.
However, she quickly remembered another lifeline.
Xiao Wangshu!
She would definitely help her!
The two of them, one chasing and one fleeing, dashed into the bedroom. Cui Jinqi turned to lock the door, but Cheng Jinyang barged in. She rushed to the bed, grabbing the still-sleeping girl who had stayed up all night, shaking her awake:
"Wangshu! Save me, Wangshu!"
"Even if Miss Wang came, she wouldn't be able to save you!" Cheng Jinyang said, approaching with a fierce expression.
Seeing that Yang Wangshu was still not awake, Cui Jinqi quickly shouted:
"The limited-time quest is about to expire!"
At the words "limited-time" and "expire," Yang Wangshu reflexively sat up.
But the next second, realizing her mask was off and there were two people beside her, she let out an ear-piercing scream.