Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 167 Marrying Lan Fenghuang

The night ends and the day dawns.

The young men and women of the Miao village on Moon Mountain were cleaning up the battlefield with buckets of water. The losses in this battle were not great, and for the old leader Lan, he could take the opportunity to make three fortunes.

First, there were rewards from Dali. Dali used Moon Mountain to eliminate unstable factors in the surrounding area, so of course it had to give some benefits, such as silk, porcelain, and salt.

Secondly, there was the courting from the Song Dynasty. Emperor Zhao Zhen bestowed a gift upon the Miao tribe: a golden dragon inlaid with jewels and jade, which could serve as a ceremonial object for inheritance.

Third, they took advantage of the situation and brought the Miao villages involved in the rebellion under their control. For the Miao villages, this was not unusual; the winner takes all, and the loser surrenders.

Duan Zhengming asked Duan Yu to stay behind and deal with the casualties, saying that knowledge gained from books is ultimately superficial, and true understanding requires practice.

No matter how much you teach Duan Yu, it's not as effective as hands-on practice. Only by doing so can you discover problems, understand your shortcomings, and then work harder to learn.

Why did Duan Yu find being an emperor so tiring?

Because Duan Yu wanted to be a wise ruler.

Being a wise ruler is certainly tiring.

If you spend your days indulging in debauchery, surrounded by wine, women, and concubines, living a life of unbridled pleasure day and night, do you still feel tired? You just want to find a dozen more miracle doctors!
—Specializing in treating kidney problems!

Just like the young prince of Jinpeng Kingdom, who went through all sorts of hardships to escape to the Central Plains and immediately severed ties with his former officials!

What do you mean by "restoring the homeland"?
Do you know how much suffering it takes to restore a country?

Restoring a kingdom is nothing compared to indulging in revelry and pleasure.

Don't mention restoring the country to me, you all get lost!

Dugu Yihe and the other former officials were completely bewildered, thinking to themselves, "It's not that we were disloyal, it's that the prince betrayed us!"

Deep down, Duan Yu preferred romance and poetry, but he wouldn't shirk his responsibilities. Since he was destined to become emperor, he was determined to be a good emperor.

What constitutes a good emperor in the eyes of Dali?
A good emperor is one who is safe and sound!
A good emperor is one who doesn't act impulsively or rely on random, flashy ideas!

Why mention "a sudden inspiration"?
Because Li Zhaoting, Li Xunhuan, and Xiao Feng sat down to review the events, analyzing them from three perspectives: the martial arts world, the imperial court, and the advantage of foresight, they ultimately arrived at a bizarre conclusion that made people want to bang their heads against a wall.

This assassination plan, which cost so many experts their lives, yielded no real benefit, and was absurd from beginning to end, originated from a sudden inspiration from Li Chenzhou.

Analyzing from the perspectives of cost, benefit, and indirect impact, no matter how you analyze it, this assassination was not the work of a wise person. It doesn't even seem like an assassination arranged by Liu Suifeng; it seems more like a haphazard attempt to deceive.

The boss (Li Chenzhou) assigns a task with extremely high costs and negative returns. The director (Liu Suifeng) is very unwilling to carry it out, but he has no choice but to do so.

Left with no other choice, they could only make up a plan haphazardly, create a lively atmosphere, and actively offer benefits to Dali and Moon Mountain in order to minimize the negative impact.

Dali is busy appeasing the surrounding tribes.

Moon Mountain is busy annexing Mo Family Village.

There's no time to deal with the Power Clique right now.

Afterwards, when Li Chenzhou asked about it, Liu Suifeng was able to give a near-perfect mission report. It wasn't that Liu Wu didn't try hard, but rather that the enemy's strength was too great.

If Zhao Shirong were to intervene and say a few words to exaggerate the threat posed by Li Zhaoting, Xiao Feng, and Li Xunhuan, Li Chenzhou, with his intelligence, could easily smooth things over.

To avoid being held accountable by Li Chenzhou, Liu Suifeng went on a long trip, saying that four of the nineteen demons had been lost and needed to be replaced as soon as possible, so he went to find four experts.

Li Chenzhou agreed to Liu Suifeng's plan, stating that two of the four guardian positions were vacant, and if the opportunity arose, he would recruit two more top-tier experts to fill the vacancy.

Liu Suifeng: ┓(`)┏

Are you trying to work me to death?
Even a donkey shouldn't be used like that!

……

"My dear son-in-law, look at this golden dragon! The Central Plains is a land of abundant resources and treasures, a celestial empire, truly enviable!"

"Father-in-law, do you intend to lead the army into battle?"

"Pah! I was just being a little envious!"

The old master Lan squinted as he played with the golden dragon.

The golden dragon bestowed by Emperor Zhao Zhen.

The treasure that Gongsun Ce found by chance.

Some time ago, Gongsun Ce was visiting his family when he encountered the Huanxiyue Opera Troupe on his way. He stopped to watch their magic show, but an accident occurred during the performance. After Gongsun Ce investigated, he discovered that it was a murder.

Several years ago, an officer was escorting a batch of treasures back to the capital. On the way, he invited the Huanxiyue Opera Troupe to perform. Yu Li's apprentice, Kang Qiao, along with several acrobats, poisoned the food and robbed the treasures. Yu Li refused to collude with them and, despite being seriously injured, took the most precious golden dragon and hid it in a secluded cave.

The officer's lieutenant and daughter survived, and pretended to be a grandfather and granddaughter fleeing from war. They settled in the local ancestral hall, where legends of the Jade Pear Ghost and the Treasure Cave spread.

Kang Qiao and his companions could not resist the temptation of the treasure.

In order to keep the treasure for himself, Kang Qiao used her beauty to lure the members of the opera troupe into killing each other. Gongsun Ce searched extensively and successfully found Jinlong, thus solving the case.

Jinlong was sent back to the capital.

Zhao Zhen was pondering what reward to give to Miao Jiang when Jinlong was sent back.

Gongsun Ce learned the true essence of writing memorials to the emperor.

—Only report good news, not bad news!

Kang Qiao and his accomplices robbed treasures and indiscriminately killed innocent people; their crimes are unforgivable and they deserve to be torn to pieces.

Can officers escape responsibility?

During the escort of the treasure, they arbitrarily hired opera troupes to perform acrobatics and ate outside food at will. Their vigilance was far less than that of the escort agency, which at least constitutes dereliction of duty.

Furthermore, several actors in the troupe did not die from infighting; some were killed by the deputy general.

How should these things be reported?

Just as Gongsun Ce was hesitating, he remembered the story Li Zhaoting had told him about Di Renjie's handling of cases. When Di Renjie was handling a case in Jiangzhou, he used the Spring and Autumn Annals style of writing when he wrote the memorial, and the only one who was guilty was Xue Qinglin, not Lin Yongzhong.

Although somewhat reluctant, Di Renjie's approach to problem-solving seems more worthy of emulation.

Too rigid and easy to break.

Being too straightforward is not necessarily a good thing.

...The headquarters of the Power Gang.

Li Chenzhou sighed, "Madam, those old bald monks at Tianlong Temple are truly stubborn. Even using Li Xunhuan as bait, they couldn't lure away those three old bald monks."

Zhao Shirong smiled and said, "The three eminent monks guarding the Heavenly Wrath Sword must not leave for even a moment. From the moment they sit there guarding the Heavenly Wrath Sword, unless they pass away, they cannot leave the altar for even a moment, guarding the Heavenly Wrath Sword day and night."

Is it worth it?

"A single sword is certainly not worth it, but this sword represents Zhao Da's promise. As long as the Heavenly Wrath Sword exists, if Dali suffers a disaster in the future, we can ask the Great Song Dynasty for help."

"Even the fifth brother can't do anything about this?"

"Fifth Brother has a way. There is no one in the world that Liu Wu cannot bribe. As long as he is willing, he can definitely get the Heavenly Wrath Sword, but Fifth Brother is very resistant to it."

"why?"

"Because all the previous owners of the Heavenly Wrath Sword were consumed by malevolence and died violent deaths, none of them met a good end! Fifth Brother doesn't want you to go mad and become a demon for the sake of a sword."

"Sinking Boat, can you subdue the Heavenly Wrath Sword?"

"If I say I don't, then I'm not qualified to wield the Heavenly Wrath Sword; if I say I do, then that would be underestimating the masters and swordsmen of all dynasties!"

"Let's not talk about that anymore, Chen Zhou. The Nangong family wants to cooperate with us. This is an excellent opportunity."

"The Nangong family, hmph!"

Li Chenzhou let out a heavy snort.

The Nangong family, which had a history of hundreds of years, was once a famous martial arts family in the Jianghu. However, after reaching its peak, it declined and became a corrupt family with a gilded exterior but a rotten interior.

Some are obsessed with past glories, seeking solace in a life of debauchery; some work hard to start businesses, hoping to establish a new foundation; and some use the prestige of a martial arts family as a selling point, specializing in teaching aristocratic etiquette.

Li Chenzhou disliked the Nangong family, but their resources were very important to the Power Gang.

Zhao Shirong said softly, "I'll go take a look."

Li Chenzhou is not suited to discussing cooperation.

He is very likely to get into a fight with the other party.

He used a heavy punch to beat the head of the Nangong family to death!

Li Chenzhou clenched his fist. Having just emerged from seclusion, he was eager to find an opponent to fight, wipe out a few minor sects, and let the martial arts world know that the Power Gang's strength remained undiminished.

Which sects should we target?
Li Chenzhou opened the clan roster!
This time, there's no need for a "sudden inspiration".

The list was compiled by Liu Suifeng.

You can choose any one to target without any problem.

……

Thanks to Li Chenzhou's quick thinking, Li Zhaoting's trip to Miao territory was thrown into chaos. After helping his father-in-law settle things in the Miao village, he returned to Jinling with Lan Fenghuang.

Under Lan Fenghuang's eager gaze, Li Zhaoting invited guests to the ancestral home for a wedding ceremony.

All the necessary items must be included.

A lively banquet was set up, and martial arts practitioners from the vicinity of Jinling were welcome to come and enjoy the feast.

The laughter and chatter continued into the night.

Li Zhaoting went to the bridal chamber triumphantly.

Inside the bridal chamber, Lan Fenghuang was extremely uncomfortable. As soon as the red veil was removed, Lan Fenghuang took a step, twisted her waist, and pressed Li Zhaoting onto the bed, then slapped him.

Five Luo Light Smoke Palm!
She actually learned this amazing skill.

"My wife, we haven't drunk the nuptial wine yet!"

"Let's drink tomorrow, let's take care of business first!"

Lan Fenghuang pulled the booklet out from under her pillow.

This was given to her by Feng Suzhen, who told her that it was the etiquette and norms for the wedding night in the Central Plains.

How could Lan Fenghuang not understand Feng Suzhen's teasing?
Just pretend you don't know!

When there's a bargain, you should definitely take advantage of it first.

"My lord, how is my figure?"

"What a perfect gourd."

What do you want to do now?

"Unconsciously, lying on my pillow, I feel the fragrance of green clouds!"

Li Zhaoting murmured the poem "Ten Fragrances".

...Many words omitted here...

The next morning.

Last night, Lan Fenghuang was so energetic that she seemed capable of uprooting a willow tree, but now she is as delicate as Lin Daiyu, nestled in Li Zhaoting's arms, more obedient than a little rabbit.

Feeling Li Zhaoting's gaze, Lan Fenghuang let out a soft moan, opened her eyes, and said, "My lord, get up and do your morning exercise. I want to sleep a little longer."

"Aren't you afraid Suzhen will laugh at you?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Let me tell you, I've already bribed Meizhu. In a few days, I'll find an opportunity to lure my sister into my room, and Meizhu and I will attack her from both sides, leaving her nowhere to escape..."

Lan Fenghuang enthusiastically recounted her grand plan, which she had been devising for over half a month. As the saying goes, you don't feel tired when you're doing bad things. Lan Fenghuang, who was originally drowsy, became more and more excited as she talked, gesturing wildly as she demonstrated her capture plan and subdued Li Zhaoting.

"My lord, where are you running to!"

"Hehe~ I've fallen for my wife's trick again!"

Li Zhaoting closed his eyes, resigned to defeat.

Let the female demon do as she pleases!
(End of this chapter)