Villain: After I died, all the heroines cried themselves to sleep.

The pages of history turn slowly, and with a slight flick of the fingertips, two years have passed.

In the pond of the academy, the lotus leaves are just beginning to emerge.

A handsome young man walked across the bridge over the pond and into the lush peach blossom grove.

"The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful. This maiden is going to her husband's home, may she bring harmony to her family."

Gongsun Zheng recited a poem whose meaning was unclear as he arrived at the secluded library deep within the peach grove.

I entered the quiet room, and it looked exactly the same as it had two years ago.

If there is any change, it is perhaps that the petite girl by the window has gradually grown up and become more and more charming and elegant.

Upon seeing Gongsun Zheng, Linglong put down the book in her hand and covered her mouth with a soft laugh.

"Is Gongsun reciting the poem 'Peach Blossom' because she is about to get married?"

"Although it's not exactly a wedding, it's pretty much the same. I might be going back to China soon."

As Gongsun Zheng spoke, he casually found a seat and sat down.

For the past two years, he has come to this library to slack off whenever he has free time.

Firstly, it would allow him to avoid Tang Ning's entanglement, and secondly, Linglong had already seen through his true colors, so he could freely reveal his true nature without having to pretend to be well-behaved in front of others.

"That's true. I heard that King Liang has passed away and Prince Chu has ascended the throne. I imagine you will be summoned back to the country soon, and Gongsun Zheng will soon become Prince Zheng."

"You really do know everything without leaving home. But things aren't as simple as you think."

Gongsun Zheng spread out a sheet of white paper, preparing to write a letter.

"My mother and I have lived in Jinyang for ten years without ever meeting my father, the Prince of Liang. Even if he summons us back to the country, our father-son relationship is weak, and we might not be able to live any better than we are now."

This isn't just something he made up.

As fate would have it, after Gongsun Zheng and Xia Ji returned to the Liang Kingdom, they were completely disregarded by the King of Liang and had no choice but to seek refuge with Zhao Ji.

It just so happens that although Zhao Ji is the wife of the King of Liang, she is still infertile and has not been able to give birth to a son or daughter. Therefore, under the planning of her father Zhao Wei, she adopted Gongsun Zheng as her son.

"Didn't you start writing letters to Zhao Ji of Liang two years ago? All this planning over such a long time was just so that you could get the protection of that Liang King's wife after you returned to your country."

She rested her chin on her delicate arm, watching Gongsun Zheng engrossed in writing a letter.

Gongsun Zheng and Linglong dated for two years, and he never hid his true nature. He often talked to Linglong about all sorts of things, including many things that were beyond their age range.

Therefore, even if he doesn't say it, the intelligent Linglong can still guess a lot about many things.

"I feel like the academy is going to get boring again after you leave."

"It's not like I'm not bored now. After defeating Tang Tong a while ago, I've basically been holed up here every day. What else is interesting to do?"

Gongsun Zheng said casually.

……

Previously, Tang Tong's troublesome youths had suffered greatly due to his and Linglong's schemes.

Unable to defeat Gongsun Zheng in a fight, he complained to the Master, but the Master ignored him. In the end, he could only avoid Gongsun Zheng whenever he saw him.

Originally, the matter should have ended there, with everyone keeping to themselves, but Linglong blinked and said something.

"Even if they're afraid of you, we can still keep toying with them, right?"

"..."

So later on, it turned into Gongsun Zheng unilaterally framing Tang Tong.

The poor child had nowhere to turn, and finally broke down in front of Gongsun Zheng.

"I'm just a useless piece of trash! I can't beat the Liang people, and I'm humiliated like this. I'm not worthy of being Ma Fujun's son, and I have no right to be a general of the Tang Kingdom in the future..."

Hearing Tang Tong wallow in self-pity, Gongsun Zheng also broke down.

If you don't become the general guarding the Tang Kingdom, how will I ever be able to crush the Tang Kingdom and embark on the path of becoming a hegemon who sweeps across the nine kingdoms?

"You are Ma Fujun's son, how can you give up so easily?"

Gongsun Zheng was frustrated by the fact that his son was not living up to his potential.

"Have you not heard that when Heaven is about to entrust a great task to someone, it will first test his mind, strain his muscles and bones, starve his body, leave him destitute, and thwart his actions, so as to strengthen his resolve, temper his character, and increase his abilities?"

"When the Liang army invaded the Tang Kingdom, all the generals were afraid of the distance, but only Ma Fujun said that in a narrow encounter, the brave would prevail, and in the end, he defeated the Liang army. As Ma Fujun's son, do you not even have one bit of Ma Fujun's courage and determination?"

"As a grandson of a nobleman of Liang, born into a hostage state in Tang, I have not given up. You, living in Tang and enjoying the honor brought by Lord Ma Fu, should strive even harder, inherit Lord Ma Fu's ambition, and aim to become a great general of Tang!"

"..."

Tang Tong listened to Gongsun Zheng's words in a daze, as if he had been enlightened and suddenly understood everything.

He immediately bowed respectfully to Gongsun Zheng.

"I'm convinced, young sir. You are a true gentleman of ancient times!"

Even Linglong was somewhat surprised afterward that Gongsun Zheng, a man from Liang, would use Ma Fujun's defeat of the Liang army to inspire Tang Tong, a man from Tang.

Gongsun Zheng didn't think that much about it and could only pretend to make things up.

"What Tang or Liang Kingdom? We were one family thousands of years ago. As descendants of a duke, we should have our eyes on the whole world."

This startled Linglong, leaving her completely bewildered.

[Goal achieved!]

Your duplicity successfully deceived and won over all your classmates, greatly satisfying your desire for conquest and ambition.

[The rating for sweeping through nine kingdoms and establishing dominance over the world has increased.]

[The rating for "Collecting Beauties and Treasures from Ten Kingdoms" has been improved.]

……

Back to the present.

Gongsun Zheng wrote a letter while chatting with Linglong.

Suddenly, a sound came from the doorway of the quiet room.

"Xiao Zheng, you were hiding here again!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw Tang Ning, dressed in a red dress, rushing in.

She approached Gongsun Zheng and saw that he was writing a letter, so she immediately spoke.

"Are you still writing letters to your family in Liang? I heard from my father that Liang has sent an envoy to Jinyang, probably to take you back home."

"Huh? Really?"

Gongsun Zheng raised his head, feigning surprise.

Tang Ning's father, Lord Anling, was the prime minister of the Tang state, so he was naturally aware of the Liang envoy's visit.

"Xiao Zheng, are you preparing to return to Liang Kingdom?"

Tang Ning stared at Gongsun Zheng.

"I'm not entirely sure about that either. If the Liang envoy wants to take my mother and me back to our country, I'll probably go with my mother."

Gongsun Zheng scratched his head and pretended to be innocent.

Linglong, standing beside her, smirked, looking on with amusement.

"Then it seems it's true..."

Tang Ning appeared somewhat downcast.

Gongsun Zheng could understand the other party's feelings.

Over the past two years, he has gotten along well with Tang Ning. She treats him almost like a younger brother, not only teaching him self-defense swordsmanship but also frequently feeding him snacks and toys. She has taken great care of him.

Now that they know Gongsun Zheng may be leaving, they can't help but feel a little sad about parting.

"Sister Tang Ning, there's no need to be sad. All good things must come to an end."

Gongsun Zheng revealed an innocent smile and gently comforted Tang Ning.

"Didn't you aspire to be a chivalrous woman of the martial world? When you travel the martial world in the future, you can always come to Liang Kingdom to find me. Even if we are separated by distance, you will always be my sister."

"Yes! I can come to you!"

Tang Ning thought about it and realized that it did seem to be true.

She stopped feeling sad and instantly cheered up, reaching out to rub Gongsun Zheng's head.

"Xiao Zheng, you're really smart!"

"..."

Is it possible that you're just stupid?

Gongsun Zheng forced a smile, inwardly criticizing Tang Ning's simple-mindedness.

He didn't actually want Tang Ning to go to Liang Kingdom to find him.

After all, Liang Wangzheng's reputation was not good according to his predetermined fate, and Tang Ning was a person who hated evil as if it were her enemy.

Gongsun Zheng could already foresee what would happen then.

But then Tang Ning continued speaking.

"But if Xiao Zheng is preparing to return to his country, remember to write a letter to my cousin to say goodbye."

The cousin Tang Ning mentioned was a few years younger than Gongsun Zheng.

When they arrived at the quiet room of the library, they found Gongsun Zheng writing a letter there. Gongsun Zheng tricked them into thinking that he was writing a letter to his sister in the distant Liang Kingdom.

This made her think of her cousin.

According to her, her cousin was frail and sickly from childhood, unable to withstand even the slightest cold, and could only stay at home, living a rather lonely life.

So Tang Ning asked Gongsun Zheng to write a letter to his cousin and make friends with her.

Gongsun Zheng, having ten years of experience as a pen pal, did not refuse.

So for the past two years, he has often written letters to his younger sister whom he has never met, which are then delivered by Tang Ning.

"Don't worry, Sister Tang Ning, I'm all prepared."

Gongsun Zheng patted his chest and guaranteed.

"I will leave many letters for my younger sister, and my older sister only needs to deliver them to her regularly, so that she won't be lonely even after I leave."

"Great idea! Why didn't I think of that!"

Tang Ning suddenly realized.

She rubbed Gongsun Zheng's head again and laughed happily.

"Xiao Zheng is very thoughtful. In that case, come with me to practice swordsmanship. I recently took on a master who can secretly teach you a move or two to prevent you from being bullied when you return to Liang."