Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Chu Mingkong's words were full of aggression, and even sounded a bit sarcastic to the Xiao family members, but they rejected the idea, because they only thought that the expression "Zuo Ge Ge" was a bit strange.

Why would someone willing to offer medicine to help them speak so strangely? If "Zuo Gege" really had a problem with Xiao Fengnan, he could have simply refused to send the medicine.

Everyone pretended not to hear, but Xiao Chengren, fearing that Feng Nan, being young and impulsive, might offend "Zuo Gege," said to the Princess of Chu:

"Zhi, take Lord Zuo for a walk and ask about his preferences so we can prepare a thank-you gift!"

"it is good."

After Princess Chu accompanied Chu Mingkong out of Xiao Fengnan's courtyard, the Xiao family began to discuss their plans.

Xiao Xiaole, one of the elders of the Xiao family, said solemnly:

"Clan leader, we must ensure that the matter of Tianya City is foolproof. I have already sent people to investigate the forces within Tianya City. Several major sects have sent young talents, including some supported by the royal family. In addition, the Buddhist sect has also sent people. These are just the forces on the surface."

Feng Nan's talent is certainly no less than these people, but he needs to recuperate now and is not at his peak.

Xiao Chengren nodded, his expression serious. He quickly came up with a brief direction in his mind and said:

"Feng Nan's opponents will only get stronger, and they will get stronger as the competition progresses. After a few rounds, the stronger opponents will even actively challenge others to fight, and Feng Nan will inevitably become the target of everyone's attacks. I will go to Tianya Tower in a bit to discuss with the elders there whether we can arrange weaker opponents for Feng Nan in the draw round before the self-challenge round, so that he can have more time to rest."

Xiao Fengnan said conceitedly:

"Grandpa, I don't need it!"

Xiao Chengren had always favored this grandson, especially after Feng Nan changed his surname and joined the Xiao family, he liked him even more. But now he could only be stern, he said:

"Don't be reckless at this time. I know you want to win all the way on your own, but your real opponents are the strong peers in the later rounds. Do you want to lose your strength in the early rounds and then be in poor condition and lose when you fight later? Are you willing to do that?"

Our arrangements aren't meant to make you run away, but to buy you time to recover. If you can overcome the formidable opponents ahead, what are the ones ahead?

Xiao Fengnan fell silent, persuaded by his grandfather's words, and silently accepted the family's arrangement. He gestured to the servants to help him back to his room to rest.

Xiao Chengren continued:

"There's one more thing we need everyone's help with: go to various chambers of commerce and auction houses to purchase elixirs or herbs that replenish vital energy. Buy only the best, discard the inferior ones, and help Feng Nan recover as quickly as possible!"

Xiao Xiaole recalled the extraordinary man "Zuo Gege" and said:

“Clan leader, I think this Lord Zuo must have better herbs at his disposal. I noticed that he didn’t care much about those few thousand-year-old dragon bone herbs. After arriving at Qingxin Mansion, he didn’t mention what kind of reward he wanted and didn’t ask for anything. This shows that those few herbs are not very important to him!”

Could Xiao Chengren not see this? The key point is that he had just personally interacted with this strange man and couldn't figure out his preferences at all. The crucial point is that he couldn't even discern his cultivation level. After investigating, he found "no such person."

I can't get any details out of him. It's like he appeared out of thin air. How can I befriend him and get more miraculous medicine from him?

"We'll discuss this later and see if Xiao Zhi can discern his preferences. Now that these people vying for the position of Lord of Tianya City have arrived, it means that from the moment they stepped into Tianya City, these people have been enemies, bandits!"

Since we're enemies, some things can be resolved outside the training grounds, so we can try to ease some of the pressure on Feng Nan.

The Xiao family members understood each other and, after careful discussion about their division of labor, everything became clear, and the atmosphere in the courtyard became much more relaxed.

These things had been planned for a long time. The biggest surprise during this period was actually the problem with Xiao Fengnan's martial tendons. Now that this trouble has been dealt with, they have a sense of victory.

"Feng Nan's condition is now stable, and everything is fine."

"If things go well, even if the royal family holds us accountable, we'll have already taken the city. A symbolic show of weakness will still make them acknowledge the Xiao family!"

"As long as Feng Nan is safe, we are determined to obtain the position of city lord!"

----------

Chu Mingkong and Princess Chu walked in the courtyard, the atmosphere so stiff it was as if they were in prison.

Princess Chu is capable of handling social conversations; at least she can keep the conversation from getting awkward or silent, but only if she's talking to a normal person!

All communication must be based on the premise of a normal person, a normal mind, and normal thinking. This is the minimum requirement. However, the persona that "Zuo Gege" previously presented was not quite normal.

Princess Chu couldn't find a way to communicate with him. Her father, Xiao Chengren, asked her to find a way to win him over and find out his preferences, but after wandering around for a long time, she still couldn't find a starting point for the conversation.

Left with no other choice, the Queen of Chu had to ask directly:

"I'm curious about Your Excellency's hobbies. Hunting? Managing the medicinal herb garden?"

Chu Mingkong pondered for a moment, then said tactfully and subtly:

"Pretty much. As for me... I don't have any big ambitions. What I like most is grass."

He added in his mind, "It's not a verb."

The Queen Consort of Chu said, "You like grass? Then it seems you're tending to the medicinal herb garden."

Chu Mingkong continued, "He also likes snakes, mad snakes, exploding snakes, and snakes that never stop (di, not de)."

It is not a verb either.

Princess Chu tried to understand; it must be something like taking care of spirit beasts. She asked疑惑地问道:

"I've never heard of these kinds of snakes before."

------

P.S.: I've been thinking about some witty remarks for a while now. The last chapter was 3,000 words, and I should be able to reach 8,000 today, so I only need 2 more chapters to go.

Chapter 201 The Upheaval at Tianya Tower (Two chapters owed)

Chu Mingkong could naturally understand what the Princess Consort of Chu meant. She simply wanted to win him over. She probably valued his generosity and straightforwardness in giving out medicine and wanted to take him in as a retainer to drain him dry. Or perhaps she wanted to get better medicine from him to treat Xiao Fengnan's injuries, or even provide raw materials for the pills he would need for his future cultivation.

Chu Mingkong did want to give Xiao Fengnan the best medicine so that he could stand on the training ground in full condition, but his current mentality can only be described as "rule-bound," just like Elder Renji of Baicao Valley.

It wouldn't make sense to cure Xiao Fengnan directly. Lu Zhicai died so unjustly. Chu Mingkong wouldn't be able to sleep if he didn't let that brat suffer a little.

Chu Mingkong's current plan is that if Xiao Fengnan really can't compete with him at his peak condition later, he will bring out better medicinal herbs.

“I understand what Princess Chu means. It’s not impossible to give Young Master Xiao better medicinal herbs, but there’s something on my mind: good medicine needs to be used in the right place, and this makes it impossible for me to give Young Master Xiao the slightly better medicinal herbs I have.”

All things have a spirit, and I worry that when the seedlings see that I'm the one who cared for them, they won't want to grow up quickly.

Princess Chu's face was solemn and dignified. This was the first time the other party had shown his attitude towards Xiao Fengnan. She did not let her serious expression last too long and quickly returned to a polite smile. Although it was not from the heart, it did not affect her pleasing appearance.

"Your Excellency is joking. What is it that is causing you to be so troubled and affecting your relationship with the Xiao family?"

My Xiao family... Regardless of the prevailing views in the Tianji Empire, a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl. You are using the resources of the Chu royal family to scheme for the interests of the Xiao family, and now you even verbally refer to yourself as a member of the Xiao family.

"When I was wandering outside the city, I encountered a member of the Lu family. That family was crying very sadly. The husband of that family is Young Master Xiao's martial arts teacher. I've already said all this, will Princess Chu understand?"

Princess Chu remained silent, unable to respond. She understood what the other person meant: was he trying to stand up for Lu Zhicai? But why was he still helping Feng Nan? Could there be something wrong with the medicine?!

Chu Mingkong raised his hand to interrupt her rambling thoughts:

"Princess Chu, rest assured, there is no problem with the medicine. I don't want a young hero to perish in some strange place. Fireworks should be displayed in their full glory and brilliance. But if Princess Chu wants better medicinal materials, please handle them properly and at least let Young Master Xiao go to Lu Zhicai's cenotaph to apologize."

After finishing speaking, Chu Mingkong explained how to contact him later, and then left.

The beautiful face of the Princess of Chu was shrouded in a gloomy cloud. She found her father, Xiao Chengren, and explained the meaning of "Zuo Ge Ge". Only then did Xiao Chengren understand why the other party had been unwilling to provide better medicinal materials.

The reason is actually here.

“This Zuo Gege’s attitude is really strange. I’m worried that he might be plotting against Feng Nan,” said the Princess of Chu.

"...It is indeed very strange. Did he help Feng Nan to make him bow down, or did he really just not want to see Yingcai fall?" Xiao Chengren stroked his beard and looked out the window at the sky in deep thought. "In that case, whether this Minister Zuo is worth winning over is something we really need to think about carefully."

Xiao Chengren knew the importance of first impressions. Regardless of whether the impression was right or wrong, once the first impression was formed, it was difficult for Zuo Gege to change his opinion of Xiao Fengnan. Why is the story of reconciliation a beautiful tale?

It's precisely because it's almost impossible!

Don't try to make someone who doesn't like you like you, regardless of their reasons. You can treat such a person as a teammate for temporary benefit, but never rely on them to protect your back; they might just sneak up on you from behind one day.

Xiao Chengren said to his daughter and the others in the room:

“We need to change our view of this Left Minister. We shouldn’t expose ourselves to him; this man is potentially dangerous.”

The elderly physician whom the Xiao family had served for many years had taken notice of the secret of Minister Zuo. He was certain that Minister Zuo possessed a treasure trove, a treasure that would excite every practitioner of medicine. He said:

"So, does Patriarch Xiao mean to take action against this person, instead of trying to reason with him, and directly seize his medicinal herbs?"

Xiao Chengren shook his head, glanced at the old doctor with displeasure, and said:

“No, we can’t afford to cause any trouble at this critical juncture. What Zuo Gege wants is an explanation for the Lu family, but the explanation itself isn’t really important. Have you found out who made Feng Nan change his martial tendons? Use that person as a scapegoat. First, we need to find a way to get the medicinal herbs that Zuo Gege has so that Feng Nan can recover to his full strength.”

A masked man dressed in black stepped forward and said:

"We found out. It's Young Master Xiao's cousin, Xiao Chenglin. She's usually quite close to Young Master Xiao..."

He didn't make any absolute statements, but what he meant was that Xiao Fengnan and his cousin Xiao Chenglin had a special relationship.

Princess Chu frowned. Xiao Chenglin was five years older than her. How could this woman have laid a hand on her son?!

Moreover, it caused Feng Nan to suffer the pain of his martial tendons decaying!

"Is there any evidence?" she glared at him angrily.

Xiao Chengren raised his hand, signaling his daughter to calm down:

"Where did Cheng Lin obtain the method of martial tendon transplantation? She has never practiced this kind of secret technique."

The spies had already investigated this matter for the head of the family, and they were equally puzzled:

"This is very strange. The secret manual seems to have suddenly appeared in Xiao Chenglin's room. Out of curiosity, she took it to show Young Master Xiao. I have already taken control of Xiao Chenglin and could not get any more information out of her."

"Alright, I'll go ask her myself later." Xiao Chengren took a deep breath, quite angry at the news.

I never expected that the person who almost harmed Xiao Fengnan was actually from within the Xiao family. What a scoundrel!

Xiao Xiaole then asked, "Patriarch, how is the communication with Tianya Tower going? Are they willing to arrange a competition for Feng Nan? It would be best if it were tomorrow."

"It's all settled, except for Elder Hong of Tianya Tower, who is quite opposed. He actually wants to persuade the other elders to find a way to bring Chu Mingkong back for the competition, believing that he has the rightful position of heir and is the most qualified to take the position of city lord. How foolish!"

The position of heir should rightfully belong to my grandson, Fengnan!

----------------

Tianya Tower is the pivot of Tianya City, its brain.

These days, Tianya Tower is filled with the elders' debates about whether or not to open a small door for Xiao Fengnan, and whether or not to acknowledge the Xiao family.

Although Tianya City was released by the previous King of Chu long ago, Tianya Tower has always considered itself a part of the Chu royal family. It does not consider itself superior to Xiling because of the prosperity of Tianya City, nor does it consider the other cities in Xiling to be poor and dilapidated rural areas.

If we acknowledge the Xiao family, wouldn't that be like changing our own master?

Elder Hong, exhausted after a day of arguing, returned to his room to rest. He opened the door and, by the moonlight, saw a person sitting inside.

Elder Hong was initially puzzled, but when he saw the other party remove his hood, he was overjoyed and began to stammer with excitement.

"You...you're back! Finally, I don't have to argue with those confused people about who Tianya City should belong to anymore. You've been missing for so long, where did you go...?"