Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 309 Refusal of Marriage (Part 1)

"Where's my father?"

"Your father accidentally triggered a mechanism and died underground."

"Fuck your mother's fart!"

In the main hall of the Marshal's Mansion, when Zhao Boheng revealed the truth, Lu Junhao, who was usually polite, suddenly became agitated and, in a fit of rage, uttered several vulgar words.

"You old scoundrel, you dared to harm my father! I'll stab your filthy ass!"

Zhao Boheng was not angry when he was scolded. He simply bowed to Yin Wanqing and said, "Princess, this old minister truly did not harm General Lu."

Lu Junhao grew even angrier and said, "You still dare to argue? It was you traitors who colluded with Gu Jingnian to help him bleed my father."

“The bloodletting was just a show to lure out Shen Jichi,” Zhao Boheng said. “I truly did not harm General Lu…”

"Not bad!"

Suddenly someone spoke, and walked out from the back hall; it was Ye Liunian.

He still looked disheveled, with a look of regret on his face. He first bowed to Yin Wanqing and said in a deep voice, "I witnessed General Lu's death with my own eyes. He mistakenly thought that the people imprisoned in the dungeon were Womin and wanted to capture them and present them to His Majesty. In his eagerness for merit, he accidentally triggered the mechanism and was burned alive."

Lu Junhao was very surprised, staring wide-eyed at Ye Liunian, and said, "You've been bribed?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You also colluded with Gu Jingnian!" Lu Junhao practically jumped up, pointing at Zhao Boheng and Ye Liunian, shouting, "You, you! And Yu Moxian too? You're all in cahoots! You want to betray Yong Kingdom!"

After hearing this, neither Zhao Boheng nor Ye Liunian refuted it.

Since there's no need for further argument, Yin Wanqing would never accept such an outcome.

"enough!"

As expected, Yin Wanqing frowned, slammed her hand on the table, and scolded Lu Junhao.

"You may feel aggrieved, but how can you slander a loyal minister who has served his country like this?!"

"Princess, I..."

"Go back."

Yin Wanqing's face was as cold as ice. She shouted again and chased Lu Junhao out.

In fact, she knew that Lu Junhao was right.

Even if we assume that Lu Song and the others really did die by accidentally triggering the mechanism, it is a fact that Zhao Boheng, Yu Moxian, and the others switched their allegiance to Gu Jingnian and helped him refine the superhumans.

After returning from Lianxi Mountain, Gu Jingnian began to associate more closely with the remnants of the Yue Kingdom. His style of doing things started to differ significantly from Yin Jinggeng's.

However, now that Gu Jingnian has returned to Jusai City and adopted a self-enclosed stance, while Yongting is beset by internal and external troubles, Yin Wanqing still wants to win Gu Jingnian over as much as possible if possible.

"Marquis Chengye, how about we talk privately?"

"it is good."

Today, Gu Jingnian sat there for most of the time without saying a word. His attitude was simple: he didn't care whether Yongting blamed him for the deaths of Lu Song and the others.

Soon, everyone else in the hall left.

Yin Wanqing thought for a moment and then said, "I don't believe you refined them all to increase your strength. That's not like you."

“Why not?” Gu Jingnian said, “I am learning to use any means necessary to achieve my goals.”

“Okay,” Yin Wanqing said. “I hope you remember this: when I want you to use any means necessary, you won’t hesitate.”

“You won’t lose out in this collaboration,” Gu Jingnian said.

He was telling the truth, but he deliberately used the word "cooperation" to indicate that he was not speaking as a subject of the Yin family, and that Yin Wanqing should not presume to gain his loyalty.

His voice became even more ruthless as he continued speaking.

“Those extraordinary beings were originally intended to be given to the Kingdom of Rui by your father, and their fate was to be refined. Through our cooperation, I prevented the Kingdom of Rui from becoming stronger and captured Shen Jichi, and I will also bear the wrath and counterattack of the Kingdom of Rui. Meanwhile, you rescued half of the extraordinary beings and established your own power. I owe you nothing.”

If it were anyone else, after hearing these words, they would inevitably try to pressure Gu Jingnian with the principles of loyalty between ruler and subject. However, Yin Wanqing did not do so, but instead nodded in agreement.

She understood Gu Jingnian's unruly nature.

“That’s right, you don’t owe me anything, but I want to talk to you about our future cooperation,” Yin Wanqing said. “My father will definitely still want to make peace with Rui, but you, who are so close to the remnants of Yue and have captured Shen Jichi, will surely fight Rui to the death.”

Gu Jingnian did not deny it.

In recent days, besides wanting to save Gu Caiwei, his desire to kill Emperor Rui has also grown stronger.

Yin Wanqing paused for a moment, then said, "I can influence national policies in the court and garner more support for Jusai City, so that we won't be attacked from both sides."

Gu Jingnian asked, "What do you want?"

Yin Wanqing did not answer, but instead asked a question unrelated to the topic.

"Pei Nian has left. Do you plan to look for her?"

Gu Jingnian seemed to be in a daze for a moment.

Since Pei Nian left, he has been busy dealing with all sorts of things and seems to have stopped thinking about her. But is that really the case?
Unconsciously, a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes.

He knew that running away from the wedding was not Pei Nian's original intention; she was being controlled by someone else at the time. On the other hand, he also knew that the reason for their separation was ultimately due to conflicts in various aspects such as identity, stance, ambition, and personality.

He tried his best in this relationship, but in the end, it still felt like a forced relationship wouldn't be sweet...

A hand waving in front of him brought Gu Jingnian back to his senses.

"I'm asking you," Yin Wanqing said. "Are you planning to look for her?"

"Maybe, it's hard to say."

Yin Wanqing nodded to show that she understood Gu Jingnian's feelings.

She picked up the teacup on the table, casually sipped the tea, and said as if chatting, "I've reached the age for marriage. You probably know what kind of people my father has chosen for me. Some are older, like Ye Liunian, and some are younger, like Lu Junhao. They are all nobles and officials, but they are all talk and no action."

"Not bad."

"Do you know what I want?" Yin Wanqing said. "My father is weak-willed. In the past, it was fine because he relied on my elder brother. Now that he has a rift with my elder brother, if things go wrong, the Yin family's empire may fall into the hands of my uncles and relatives, or even be seized by Wei Li. I have thought about it carefully. I can't rely on others. In the end, I must have my own strength. Therefore, I insisted on taking this trip in order to win people's hearts."

Gu Jingnian said, "I can see that."

"Having said all this, I want to ask you, how about joining forces with me?"

"I am not interested in the power struggles of Yong Kingdom."

"As I just said, I can support Jusai City and help you fight against the Kingdom of Switzerland."

"How do we join forces?"

“You can consider marrying me,” Yin Wanqing said calmly.

Gu Jingnian was inevitably surprised and said, "I remember you and Pei Nian were classmates and good friends?"

“You just said that you are a person who will stop at nothing to achieve your goals,” Yin Wanqing said. “Me too.”

Gu Jingnian couldn't help but turn his head and glance at her.

Yin Wanqing is someone who dislikes dressing up. She even deliberately made herself look ugly while studying at Yuewei Academy.

Today she was not dressed up at all, without any makeup, her hair was simply tied up with a strip of cloth, and she was wearing light military uniform.

It wasn't that she wasn't good-looking; she was quite pretty. However, this detail reveals that her proposal of a marriage alliance wasn't out of genuine affection, nor did she intend to use her beauty to sway Gu Jingnian.

Driven purely by self-interest.

"No need," Gu Jingnian shook his head.

“It seems that I am not useful enough to you,” Yin Wanqing said. “But you can consider that perhaps one day I will be very useful to you.”

Gu Jingnian said, "It seems I'm quite useful to you?"

“Yes.” Yin Wanqing did not deny it, and said with a smile, “The powerful young master of Jusai City can be considered a local lord in the current situation.”

"In that case, I'll let you use my name, and in return, you'll do me a favor?"

"Okay, what can I do for you?"

Gu Jingnian thought for a moment and then slowly said, "Send an envoy to Switzerland, and let me be part of the envoy."

"You're going to Switzerland?"

"Yes."

"He really can't stay idle."

Yin Wanqing thought for a moment and nodded, "Then it's a deal. Don't worry, I'll make good use of your name."

--------

The next day, Yin Wanqing left Jusai City.

On this trip, she took away most of the captured superhuman generals, most of whom will become her loyal followers.

After she left Jusai City, a rumor spread throughout Yong Kingdom.

Especially in Yongjing City, rumors and gossip were rampant.

"Have you heard? Princess Changming has gone to Jusai City to abduct a bride."

"Who hasn't heard? It's said that the bride was originally her classmate, and was to marry Gu Jingnian, the young master of Jusai City and Marquis of Wuding, but Princess Changming stole her away."

"Now that Princess Changming has returned to the capital, we must ask His Majesty to grant her a marriage..."

Despite the many criticisms, many civil and military officials in the Yong court saw the power of the princess's residence and realized that Princess Changming might be a worthy ally in this time of national turmoil.

Upon hearing this news, Wei Li, who was about to become the Empress of Yong, frowned repeatedly.

She had already sent someone to retrieve her daughter, but began to hesitate because of the rumors. In the end, she summoned her confidant, whispered a few instructions, and sent him to Jusai City to see Gu Jingnian.

(End of this chapter)