Chapter 652: The Foundation of Great Families

Chapter 652: The Foundation of Noble Houses

When he saw Tang Wanzhuang, she was working at the Demon Suppression Division's office.

This was also the first time Zhao Changhe had seen Tang Wanzhuang sitting in an office reviewing documents; though the surroundings were very solemn, one always felt as if she were in a pavilion over small bridges and flowing water, writing poetry or painting.

Wherever she sat, there lay the scenery of Jiangnan.

Baoqin still stood in attendance by her side, serving tea and grinding ink. She was also an official clerk of the Demon Suppression Division holding an internal affairs post, what the modern world would call an assistant or a secretary. Seeing Zhao Changhe arrive, Baoqin gave him a somewhat resentful and cross look before lowering her head to continue grinding ink.

The one to refill the cup should have been Baoqin... it wasn't that Baoqin was overthinking, but she had never seen an emperor snatching such a task from a maid... what was this country coming to...

Unlike before, Tang Wanzhuang now looked in excellent health, with no sign of that paper-white complexion and occasional coughing; her cheeks were flushed with a healthy glow, and the moment she saw Zhao Changhe, joy bloomed from the corners of her brows and eyes, like spring flowers bursting into bloom.

Even her previous appearance had earned her the title of the world's number one beauty; now she was even softer and more beautiful, making it feel as though the title could never be stripped away, nor did it need to be.

Some staff members of the Demon Suppression Division around them were secretly stealing glances at their chief; whether married or unmarried, a look of hard-to-conceal admiration lingered in their eyes.

Too beautiful, this woman... unfortunately, the joy that bloomed from her was given to only one person.

"Is your Highness's rear stable?" Tang Wanzhuang blinked, revealing a rare playful smile.

"Ahem." Zhao Changhe glanced at the surroundings, and Tang Wanzhuang waved her hand: "All of you may dismiss."

The surrounding staff members kept their heads low as they left, harboring jealousy and resentment.

Zhao Changhe turned his head to watch everyone leave the room, clicking his tongue: "If people rebel out of jealousy, then this attribute of being a disastrous beauty is truly sky-high."

Tang Wanzhuang smiled faintly without answering this, unhurriedly rising to move over to the side tea table, her fair hands brewing tea.

The fragrance of tea curled upward as steam rose; sitting opposite her across the water mist, Zhao Changhe felt his mind, which had been in a clamor these past days, unconsciously settle down again.

It could be said that his current temperament was influenced most by Tang Wanzhuang; this kind of beauty could make a person unconsciously pursue and draw closer to it, changing oneself into such a person. Zhao Changhe, who once used to spout foul language in a mountain fortress, now felt that those memories were very distant.

Tang Wanzhuang handed over a cup of tea, stole a glance around to ensure everyone had gone, and whispered: "Husband, please have some tea."

At that instant, a blush rose to both cheeks as she slightly lowered her lovely head; watching her made one's heart skip a beat, like ripples undulating across spring waters.

Zhao Changhe took the tea, feeling that he himself was being a bit too much, and murmured with his head down: "These past few days..."

Tang Wanzhuang smiled gently: "It was Wanzhuang who asked husband to do these things, why be ashamed?"

Let her treat you as I treat you...

Tang Wanzhuang continued: "As for the matter of Suzaku, I already knew about it back when I was at the Yang family... I am not surprised by this outcome. But I never thought Genbu would also be..."

Speaking up to this point, her expression finally grew somewhat peculiar: "Do you know? In the past, the dread I felt for Genbu in my heart was even greater than for Suzaku. A long time ago, I was beaten up by her... from the moment I, the pampered young lady of the Tang family who played the qin and composed poetry, resolved to leave home to study and roam the martial world, it could be said it was all thanks to Genbu. The time I rushed to break through and ended up injuring my divine soul and lung meridian, a large part of that pressure originated from her... I once thought I could not see through her, that she was as deep as an abyss and ocean... only now do I know I was overthinking, just what kind of enemy was I fighting in the void..."

Zhao Changhe did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Originally, even if you subdued Suzaku, I thought Genbu would be a very troublesome hidden danger, but the result is simply..." Tang Wanzhuang smiled very easily: "So why should husband be ashamed? In my eyes, you have clearly over-fulfilled the required task."

Zhao Changhe said helplessly: "How did it become a task..."

Tang Wanzhuang sighed: "As a high minister of the imperial court and chief of the Demon Suppression Division, coming up with an idea akin to a honey trap for such a grand national strategy makes me feel a bit disgraced as well... but indeed, this is currently the most straightforward method, and it is also the cause husband planted himself, guided to fruition by circumstances. Although the process was absurd, the result has brought the interests of all factions in the new dynasty into alignment, leaving no further hidden dangers; we can join hands to do what needs to be done."

Zhao Changhe hesitated for a moment and whispered: "Wanzhuang, from my perspective, this isn't something to be measured by such utility. I would rather you call me a philandering scoundrel than have you view them as..."

"They view me the same way, so we are even." Tang Wanzhuang laughed: "Oh, husband, how the women in your inner courtyard disparage each other and view each other as the conquered is our business, you shouldn't worry your head over this..."

Zhao Changhe: "...So regarding Yuanyang's side, do you all view it the same way?"

"Cui Yuanyang... what she says doesn't count." Tang Wanzhuang shook her head slightly: "Suzaku and Genbu are the masters of the Four Symbols Sect; Cui Yuanyang is not. The previous strategy cannot be applied to this matter."

Zhao Changhe said: "I came here precisely to discuss this matter with you; when it comes to noble houses, you understand them better than Chichi and Qing'er."

"Qing'er... hee..."

"..."

"Ahem." Tang Wanzhuang cleared her throat: "Just as the young lady of the Wang family married Cui Yuanyong and can now only wipe away tears in the cold palace, and the Empress was directly bestowed death by the late Emperor without even leaving any last words. The young ladies of noble houses, including myself, originally had no self to speak of in such matters; they were all merely tools. I am considered fortunate, holding the highest position and strongest martial force in my family, able to fight for my own future. As for Cui Yuanyang... her attitude holds no meaning; the one you still need to deal with is Cui Wenjing."

Pausing for a moment, she added: "In fact, the object of your interactions with the Cui family has always been Cui Wenjing; Cui Yuanyang, on the contrary, is merely the bond between you."

Zhao Changhe nodded: "Yes."

Sometimes he himself didn't know whether he was dating Yuanyang or Old Cui; his presence was incredibly high.

"But having such a bond is an advantage that makes the relationship different from other families; he can become a maternal relative, which is also what he originally wanted to strive for." Tang Wanzhuang said: "However, the main problem now has shifted to the conflict of interest between imperial power and the noble houses. The late Emperor severed the roots of the noble houses, provoking a collective rebellion; Cui Wenjing did not personally participate, but by giving up Qinghe, he represented a stance of breaking ties. Now that Her Majesty has established the Han dynasty and no longer continues the Xia line, Cui Wenjing should be watching coldly from the sidelines, to see how Her Majesty's attitude toward the noble houses compares to that of the late Emperor."

"Mm."

"Cui Wenjing is considered the one with the greatest vision and structural awareness among all the families, but he is still a typical representative of the noble house mindset. If he finds that Her Majesty is still walking along the footsteps of the late Emperor, then the probability of Cui Wenjing cooperating with the Wang family is higher than that of him submitting to Her Majesty... do not think that because the Cui and Wang families fought to the death, family interests are like national interests, where there are no eternal friends or enemies. Currently, the Cui family has not expressed a stance, simply because our imperial examination plan has not yet been announced and implemented... moreover, Her Majesty and I are still discussing the tax system of the new dynasty, which poses a major challenge to the current population and land annexation of the noble houses; once announced, the Cui family will definitely part ways with us."

Zhao Changhe finally said: "I understand all the reasoning, but how can there be a win-win in this kind of matter? This is a complete contradiction in stance, and agreement cannot be reached at all. Relying on trickery is useless; Old Cui is an old fox..."

"In the past, they relied on the Qinghe Sword to inherit ancient knowledge, including their martial arts and culture. The difference from ordinary people's inheritance through texts lies in the fact that texts require understanding, and if descendants are unworthy, they might fail to learn, whereas a sword spirit can transmit comprehension via the divine soul, allowing them to achieve faster and steadier cultivation progress than anyone else. Over these years, the sword spirit fell into slumber, and each family has correspondingly been in decline, visible to the naked eye." Tang Wanzhuang said: "In a sense, the model of relying on a sword spirit for inheritance has been proven not necessarily stable; once the sword spirit encounters trouble, the family's inertia cannot keep up, leaving them dragged down to a state worse than other families accustomed to using texts."

Zhao Changhe nodded: "That is true."

"Now that the sword is broken, it is an established fact; indulging in the past, obsessing over whether the sword can be restored, or obsessing over hatred holds no meaning. It requires someone with great wisdom and great determination to lead the family to awaken from the old inheritance model and adapt to a completely new era; does he, Cui Wenjing, possess such decisiveness and foresight?" Tang Wanzhuang said: "I believe he is already considering it; only those who can ride ahead of the wave can gain the greatest benefits in the new era."

Zhao Changhe said: "Should I just act as a lobbyist like this, or should I offer something tangible?"

Tang Wanzhuang stepped away from her seat and bowed deeply: "Wanzhuang asks for a personal favor... to request an official title of Marquis of Wu for my nephew Buqi. This empty peerage and fief will involve no authority whatsoever, but it shall be hereditary forever, enduring alongside the state."