Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Brother Jing, let's get a divorce.

Upon hearing this, Huang Rong inwardly groaned.

She already knew that Yang Guo had taken Lu Wushuang out.

She even thought it was better for Yang Guo not to stay in the manor, so as to avoid causing any more trouble.

But this is something you absolutely must not say to Guo Jing.

She pushed the teacup towards Guo Jing, her tone softening slightly.

"That maid's name is Lu Wushuang. She was originally an orphan of the Lu family in Jiangnan. She had a very hard life."

"I injured my leg in my early years and wandered the world for many years."

"It was Yang Guo who restored her bones and opened her meridians in Zhongnan Mountain, saving her half her life, which is why she stayed by his side to take care of her daily life."

At this point, Huang Rong paused and added another sentence.

"This child is now considered part of the Quanzhen Sect's intelligence department, not an ordinary maid."

"Brother Jing, don't let your words from the steward cloud your judgment."

Guo Jing held the teacup, but did not drink it.

He had served in the military for many years and valued official titles above all else.

It wouldn't be unusual for a young woman to serve by the side of a martial arts master.

However, the Quanzhen School is different.

That is the ancestral temple of Taoism passed down by Master Chongyang.

The title of "leader" is not only related to martial arts prowess, but also to Taoist certificates, incense offerings, and the worship of temples and monasteries in various regions.

If Yang Guo had made even the slightest mistake, the old Taoist priests on Zhongnan Mountain might very well have used it against him.

Guo Jing put down his teacup and sighed.

"Rong'er, I don't mean to be harsh on Guo'er."

"It's just that he's too young and has suddenly risen to a high position. If no one is around to advise him, he's bound to go astray in the future."

Huang Rong felt a chill run down her spine.

If someone else had said those words, she could have handled them calmly.

The person who could speak was Guo Jing.

Once Guo Jing takes "admonition" to heart, he will truly treat Yang Guo as his own nephew and wish he could guide him every step of the way.

But Yang Guo in his current state has no one to help him.

After the Tongtian Arena at Zhongnan Mountain, he has firmly secured his position as the third-generation leader of the Quanzhen School.

The righteous and inverse Nine Yin energies merged, and a primordial energy pearl was formed in the dantian. The One Yang Finger also entered a profound realm.

After the battle where Jinlun Fawang attacked the mountain, Huang Rong knew better than anyone that Yang Guo was no longer the boy who could be easily manipulated on Peach Blossom Island.

But she couldn't say all of these things.

If you put it lightly, Guo Jing won't take it to heart.

If we go too far, it will bring up the old story of the forty-nine days I spent recuperating in Zhongnan Mountain.

Huang Rong lowered her eyes, her fingertips tracing the rim of the cup, forcing herself to keep her tone steady.

"Guo'er is not the same as before."

"Although he is young, he is able to suppress those old Taoist priests of the Quanzhen Sect, which shows his ability."

"If Brother Jing really cares about him, he shouldn't have used his elder's authority to put him down the moment they met."

Guo Jing glanced at her.

"I never intended to suppress him."

His tone became a bit somber.

"Brother Yang Kang died young, and I was unable to save him back then. I still feel guilty about it to this day."

"Guo'er suffered a lot when he was young, so his temperament is inevitably extreme."

"If I don't plan for his future, how can I face the Yang family if he makes a wrong move?"

After he said that, the room fell silent for a moment.

A servant walked past the window, his footsteps very light.

The main courtyard of the Marshal's Mansion has always been strictly regulated, and when Guo Jing was in the mansion, no one dared to approach the inner room to eavesdrop.

Huang Rong still felt a tightness in her back.

She knows Guo Jing too well.

His tone wasn't just a casual remark; he clearly had a plan in mind.

As expected, after a moment of silence, Guo Jing said again:

"I returned from the camp today, and I've been thinking about an old matter the whole way."

Huang Rong's fingers stopped.

Guo Jing looked up at the door, his expression filled with a hint of reminiscence.

"My father had an agreement with Uncle Yang Tiexin back then."

"If the descendants of both families are male, they shall become sworn brothers; if one is male and the other is female, they shall become husband and wife."

"The fact that Kangdi and I couldn't become true brothers has always been a regret in my heart."

Huang Rong's lip line tightened instantly.

She already guessed what Guo Jing was going to say.

But she still hoped that Guo Jing was just being nostalgic and would never say those words aloud.

Guo Jing, however, did not stop.

"Now that Guo'er has grown up, Fu'er has reached the age to be engaged."

"In my opinion, it would be better to betroth Fu'er to Guo'er."

Huang Rong slammed her hand on the corner of the table.

The water in the teacup sloshed, splashing out a few drops that landed on the table.

Guo Jing was unaware of her momentary loss of composure and continued speaking according to his own thoughts.

"If this marriage goes through, it will fulfill the promise made by our two ancestors and also give Guo'er a place to settle down."

"Now that he has a family, he is no longer bound to the position of leader of the Quanzhen Sect."

"No matter how strict the rules of Zhongnan Mountain are, they can never be greater than human ethics."

"Let him return to secular life and stay in Xiangyang. I will personally teach him martial arts and how to be a good person."

"It would be a good thing to have him help defend the city in the future."

Huang Rong's ears were ringing.

Just a few hours ago, Yang Guo was sitting in the front hall, forcing her to personally clean up the mess of Guo Fu's wedding.

He calculated every step meticulously.

Why did Guo Fu fall for him? Why couldn't Guo Jing know the truth? And how could Huang Rong lure out the other candidates so that Guo Fu would back off on her own?

Although Huang Rong was annoyed at the time, she had to admit that the method was very safe.

But Guo Jing's words were like turning the entire chessboard upside down!

If Guo Jing were to speak up, this would no longer be just Guo Fu's fleeting girlish thoughts, nor would it be the expedient plan that Huang Rong casually mentioned on the carriage.

Instead, it will become an old agreement between the Guo and Yang families, a source of Guo Jing's long-standing guilt, and a marriage that the Xiangyang Marshal's Mansion will publicly acknowledge!

When it comes to that point, whoever backs down will hurt others.

Huang Rong's throat tightened.

Even more critically, she couldn't tell Guo Jing that Yang Guo was no longer the nephew he thought he needed to be promoted to the position of official wife.

She also couldn't tell Guo Jing that she and Yang Guo had already crossed that insurmountable line.

The ridiculous garment hidden at the bottom of the trunk last night was like a hidden nail, making her restless.

Every time Guo Jing said "a marriage between relatives," she felt as if that hidden nail had gone a little deeper into her flesh.

"Brother Jing".

When Huang Rong spoke, her voice was lower than usual.

"This is inappropriate."

Guo Jing was taken aback.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Fu'er and Guo'er are about the same age and were once together on Peach Blossom Island when they were young."

"The Yang and Guo families have an old agreement; if they could marry, wouldn't it be a match made in heaven?"

Huang Rong did not rush to refute.

She knew very well that when talking to Guo Jing about these things, she couldn't just start with romantic feelings.

Guo Jing valued both righteousness and reason.

To stop him, we must consider this marriage within a broader context.

She took a handkerchief and wiped the water stains on the table, using this action to calm herself down.

"If it were just an ordinary family in the martial arts world, this marriage would certainly be worth discussing."

"But Guo'er is now the leader of the Quanzhen Sect."

"Although the Quanzhen Sect does not prohibit marriage until death, it is not as easy as changing clothes for the sect leader to return to secular life."

Guo Jing frowned.

Huang Rong continued:

"Chongyang Palace has ancestral temple records, a register of its disciples, and land and property from various temples and monasteries in Guanzhong for offerings."

"The change of leadership affects the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people."

"After suppressing Zhao Zhijing's lineage, Guo'er reorganized the mountain after Jinlun Fawang attacked the mountain."

"If he were to return to secular life now to arrange a marriage, what would those he had subjugated think?"

Guo Jing fell silent.

Seeing that he had taken some of the information to heart, Huang Rong continued speaking.

"They would say that Yang Guo was preoccupied with personal feelings and failed the Chongyang ancestral temple."

"They would also say that it was you, Guo Jing, who, relying on the power of Xiangyang, forced the leader of Quanzhen Sect to return to secular life and marry a woman."

"At that time, not only will Yang Guo's reputation be damaged, but your reputation for guarding the city all these years will also be used for gossip."

Guo Jing's brows furrowed even lower.

He was not afraid of rumors, but he did not want to implicate others because of himself.

Especially for a large sect like the Quanzhen School, with its complex internal rules, it's not something that can be resolved simply by saying "return to secular life."

But he still did not give up.

"What if Yang Guo himself is willing?"

Huang Rong felt a deep bitterness in her heart.

Would Yang Guo agree?

If that scoundrel were here, he would probably pretend to be a dutiful nephew, fooling Guo Jing around, and then dump the mess on her.

She knew Yang Guo's mouth all too well.

She knew even more clearly that if he really wanted to cause trouble, a banquet tonight would be enough to keep her from having any peace.

Huang Rong raised her head, her tone becoming even gentler.

"Even if Guo'er is willing, this matter cannot be rushed."

Guo Jing looked at her.

Huang Rong said, "You know Fu'er's temper better than anyone else."

"We spoiled her since she was little, and she only acts on her likes and dislikes."

"If she hears your marriage proposal today, she might be happy, but what about after the wedding?"

"Can she tolerate Lu Wushuang?"

"Can you tolerate Guo'er, as the sect leader, as associating with the women of the sect and female warriors of the martial world?"

Guo Jing waved his hand.

"Lu Wushuang was just a maid."

"It's not uncommon for a man to have a maidservant by his side in a wealthy family."

"If Fu'er makes a fuss over this, it's because she's immature. We can teach her slowly after we get married."

When Huang Rong heard the words "chamber maid", she felt a lump in her throat.

Guo Jing spoke so frankly that she was left speechless.

Huang Rong understood perfectly well that Lu Wushuang had already been taken in by Yang Guo and had followed him all the way.

The way that girl looked at Yang Guo showed that she was no longer just an ordinary maid.

Moreover, Yang Guo had more than just Lu Wushuang by his side.

There is also a Little Dragon Girl in Zhongnan Mountain.

And then there's Li Mochou.

Any one of these names alone would be enough to cause Guo Fu a huge uproar.

Huang Rong couldn't say it outright, so she had to look at it from a different angle.

"Brother Jing, Fu'er is not an ordinary girl."

"She is your daughter, Miss Guo, who was watched grow up by many sons of military families in Xiangyang City."

"If she marries Guo'er, it will not be a simple marriage, but a marriage between the Guo and Yang families, which would connect the Marshal's Mansion and the Quanzhen Sect."

She paused, then continued:

"The Mongols are now eyeing Xiangyang."

"Guo'er recently took down another spy in Guanzhong, and he still has the Mongolian roster in his hands."

"If word gets out about this marriage, what will the Mongols do?"

"They only need to spread a few rumors, saying that the Quanzhen Sect has surrendered to Xiangyang, or that you are using the Quanzhen Sect to expand your power, to create a lot of suspicion in the martial arts world."

Guo Jing's expression turned serious.

This is something he cannot afford to ignore.

The defense of Xiangyang relied not only on soldiers, but also on the assistance of chivalrous heroes from all walks of life.

If people in the martial arts world misunderstand that he is using his daughter's marriage to annex the Quanzhen Sect, it will not be a good thing for Xiangyang.

Seeing that the situation was loosening, Huang Rong suppressed her inner turmoil and added another sentence.

"Besides, we haven't even asked whether Fu'er and Guo'er are willing or not."

"If marriage is decided solely based on the old agreement of the parents, it will only lead to resentment later on and harm both of them."

Guo Jing picked up his teacup and took a sip.

He pondered for a long time before saying:

"Rong'er, what you said makes sense. But the old agreement is there, and I can't just pretend it never happened."

Huang Rong's heart sank.

Guo Jing's words show that he has not completely let go.

Sure enough, he said again:

"I won't force Guo'er, nor will I let Fu'er suffer. But we should at least find out what they think about this matter."

"At the welcome banquet tonight, I'll first observe how Guo'er behaves now. If he truly has a sense of responsibility, I'll ask him privately tomorrow."

Huang Rong's palms felt hot.

We mustn't let Guo Jing test Yang Guo tonight.

Yang Guo was best at taking advantage of others' opportunities.

If Guo Jing asks one question, he can answer with ten.

Once the conversation starts, and Guo Furuo is also present, the situation will be difficult to salvage.

Huang Rong stood up and reached out to press down on Guo Jing's sleeve.

"Brother Jing, tonight's banquet will include Lü Wende, Zhao Fan, and several commanders from the city."

"Now that Guo'er is the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, if you test him during the banquet, even if it's just a casual remark, others will understand the implication."

Guo Jing looked at her.

Huang Rong spoke even softer, yet every word she uttered hit the nail on the head.

"You know Lü Wende well; he's respectful on the surface, but he's got a lot on his mind behind the scenes."

"If he thinks the General's Mansion wants to use the Quanzhen Sect to expand its power, he will tell the army tomorrow."

"Although Zhao Fan is cautious, he is surrounded by many gossipy people."

"We have been guarding Xiangyang for many years, and the worst thing we can do is to mix family matters with military affairs."

Guo Jing fell silent as he thought of the factions within the army.

Huang Rong seized the opportunity and said:

"Leave this to me."

"I'll ask Fu'er first, and then find another opportunity to sound out Guo'er's opinion."

"If both of them agree, we can then discuss the Old Testament. If one of them is unwilling, it will save face in public."

Guo Jing pondered for a long time before finally nodding.

"Okay, I'll listen to you on this."

Just as Huang Rong breathed a sigh of relief, Guo Jing added another sentence.

"But we can't delay too long."

"Now that Guo'er has come to Xiangyang, I must make proper arrangements for his future."

"If he still considers me his uncle, he should listen to my advice."

Huang Rong forced a smile.

"I see."

Guo Jing stood up and placed the teacup back on the table.

"Then I'll go to the front hall first. Although this banquet is a welcome dinner, there are several military generals present, so we can't be impolite."

"You should go there soon too."

After he finished speaking, he patted Huang Rong's hand and turned to leave the room.

The sound of footsteps faded away along the corridor.

Huang Rong stood there until the sound disappeared, then she leaned on the edge of the table and sat back down in her chair.

The aroma of tea still lingered in the room, but she had no heart for it anymore.

Guo Jing's words disrupted all her original plans.

Yang Guo asked her to postpone Guo Fu's marriage, but before she could do anything, Guo Jing brought up the old agreement.

The Old Testament, family ties, guilt, the overall situation in Xiangyang, and the leader of the Quanzhen Sect.

Each thread was twisted together in one place.

If she doesn't handle it well, tonight's welcome banquet will turn into a trap.

It will not only trap Guo Fu, but also Yang Guo, and will drag her in as well.

Huang Rong raised her hand and pressed her temples.

She had to see Yang Guo first.

At least that bastard should be silenced at the banquet.

But then she thought about it again and gritted her teeth.

Getting Yang Guo to shut up is easier said than done.

If he finds out that Guo Jing has brought up the old agreement, he will probably not only not restrain himself, but will also take the opportunity to manipulate her and force her to make another concession.

Huang Rong looked out the window; the sun was already setting.

The dinner is approaching.

She covered her burning cheeks with both hands.

It’s over.

Everything is in complete chaos.

If Brother Jing insists on marrying Fu'er to Yang Guo, there's nothing I can do to stop him.

However, Guo'er absolutely cannot be with Fu'er!

At that time, I'm afraid Yang Guo and Jing-gege will fight each other.

How could Guo'er be a match for Brother Jing?