The trusted confidants, including the two Deputy Generals, had no objection whatsoever to their own Grand Marshal’s fight to the death with Guo Sida.
The findings from the Chief Advisor and the Captain of the Prince’s Personal Guards were already in: the person who attempted to assassinate the Grand Marshal acted under orders from Emperor Yongning, yet it was thanks to the efforts of Duke Anguo, Guo Sida, that several assassins had been smoothly planted in the Northwestern border army, with one even managing to infiltrate the Grand Marshal’s Prince’s Personal Guards.
Guo Sida’s wolfish ambitions were painfully obvious. Guo Sida may have been in command of troops, but his soldiers had no real combat experience. He had long coveted the battle-tested Northwestern border troops, and it certainly wasn’t just for a day or two.
Incidentally, there was nothing suspicious about the arrow that had once pierced the original host’s heart. When the original host saw the tide of battle turning, possibly about to win the war in a single stroke, he became a bit overzealous and pushed the Middle Army forward. One of Jin’s Deputy Generals, famous for mounted archery, seized his chance and, risking his life, fired that arrow.
Truth be told, if the original host hadn’t been dodging a surprise attack from behind, that arrow would have truly struck dead center in his heart.
After Qin Jingzhou and Ling Jing made a round through the manor’s workshop, he had explained most of the original host’s situation on his end as well.
Ling Jing gave a genuine sigh. “Both father and son are really plagued by bad luck.”
Because they were rushing the marriage, all pre-wedding procedures were drastically shortened. The Old Madam Min and the head of the Min Family received generous betrothal gifts, and Ling Jing took her people back to the Min residence.
The Family Head’s wife, her schemes having come to nothing, lost her temper several times in front of Ling Jing, but since she couldn’t summon any help from Guo Sida, it was nothing but impotent rage.
Full of anger, the Family Head’s wife came and went, and somehow she seemed even angrier on her way out than when she’d arrived.
Ling Jing watched her leave with a beaming smile, only to be greeted by the eldest daughter of the Family Head.
This young woman was far shrewder than her own mother. After a few pleasantries, she got straight to the point. “None of the brothers have amounted to anything. Our Min family can only bide our time… For now, we sisters have to hold the fort.”
Ling Jing laughed outright. “Bide your time? Why bother sugarcoating things for that bunch of good-for-nothings, eating and waiting to die? It’s not like I owe the Min family anything.”
The eldest daughter almost responded, at least the Min family raised you, but the words stuck in her throat. She thought of her own brother squandering the official post their uncle died to secure, her heart filled with resentment. Then she recalled how her mother had mistreated her cousin all these years. And then the fact that Grandmother and Father had grown more worn and weary over time… Some sense of shame finally silenced her.
The Min family’s decline was now irreversible. Ling Jing had no intention of making things hard for a young woman trapped by circumstance. “Take care of yourself.”
Qin Jingzhou had already discussed it with Ling Jing and deliberately bought a house directly opposite the Min family estate, sending his trusted steward with people to quickly set up the place as their new home.
When the Min Family Head heard the news, he immediately rushed to his own gate and, watching the bustle across the street, felt bitterness rise in his mouth. Marquis Jingwen was practically saying outright that he didn’t trust his wife!
Yet this disgruntlement passed quickly. Compared to face, the Family Head valued substance more.
It would be best to have both Marquis Jingwen and Duke Anguo as allies, but if forced to choose between them, the Family Head would always pick the war-hardened Marquis Jingwen over the long-time armchair general Duke Anguo.
Having made up his mind, the Family Head turned back to the main house, determined to keep a close eye on his wife and put a stop to her meddling during their Third Daughter’s wedding.
Right then, his wife was conspiring with the bridal attendant on how to summon her nephew–a wastrel steeped in all five vices–to ruin the Third Daughter and then force her into becoming a nun. With the old lady and the master tempted by the fortune left behind by the girl’s parents, they’d simply look the other way…
At this, the Family Head, eavesdropping just outside the window, finally burst in, kicking open the door and bellowing in fury, “Enough!”
While Ling Jing was making an inventory of the original host’s assets in her own room, a maid came in cheerfully to report, saying, “Madam cannot calm herself, so the Old Madam has allowed her to pray in the small Buddha Hall for a while.” Ling Jing laughed lightly. “About time. If Uncle had made up his mind sooner, his sons wouldn’t have all been ruined by Aunt… Has Uncle ever read the old saying about how indulging a child is as bad as killing one?”
The maids and attendants in the room all nodded in agreement. At the same time, they felt their young miss was utterly different from before, revealing a growing sharpness. Then again, she had a strong backer now… Both maids and attendants felt comforted for a moment.
From beginning to end, Qin Jingzhou had been eager to get married. The Min Family Head, determined to win his favor, was willing to send even his wife into the small Buddha Hall and absolutely would not tolerate anyone else causing trouble.
Thus, preparations for the wedding went smoothly. Although time was tight, the ceremony itself was impressive. Three of the four provincial governors of the Northwestern Provinces attended in person–the fourth had countless ties to Duke Anguo.
In the past, all three provincial governors had kept their distance from Marquis Jingwen. But after he thoroughly defeated Jin’s elite forces and took complete control of the West Gate Pass army, they began to curry favor and keep their options open.
When the guests had all gone, Qin Jingzhou returned to the bridal chamber.
Ling Jing went forward and, after dismissing everyone else, said, “Thank you for all your hard work.”
It was just a courtesy, so Qin Jingzhou didn’t take it seriously. Instead, he sat beside Ling Jing, gazing at the partner he’d worked alongside in several worlds, and said, “I was just thinking, maybe we ought to try it?”
Ling Jing’s eyes widened. “What?”
Previously, the boss had also asked if she wanted to get married. She’d felt he was just caught up in the moment and hadn’t taken it seriously. Now, instead of proposing marriage, he was asking if they should start a relationship… Her heart skipped a beat again. After all, this was the number one big boss of the cultivation world.
She stared at Qin Jingzhou, meeting those deep, thoughtful eyes, and replied with difficulty, “It's so sudden, I… I’m not sure I deserve it. This puts me in a real spot.”
Qin Jingzhou smiled. “You can take your time to answer. I still have plenty of years left.” He deliberately changed the subject. “When my system approached me, it said I could travel between worlds to reform the antagonists of each task world. If I finished the tasks, I’d be rewarded with the resources to ascend. Back then, I was making no progress in my cultivation and totally bored. I figured reforming antagonists wasn’t so different from guiding disciples, and it’d be a good way to see the world, so I accepted.”
Ling Jing quickly calmed down and propped her chin on her hand. “And then?”
“And then… I actually quite enjoyed it. I haven’t had any sense of hurry to ascend since.”
Ling Jing was no longer some green beginner in the cultivation world. Breakthroughs often entailed a heart tribulation. “So is this procrastination, or have you simply overcome your heart tribulation?”
“I think it’s the former,” Qin Jingzhou said, tapping his temple lightly. “After raising so many kids, I suddenly feel like getting married and settling down sounds pretty nice.”
Ling Jing was silent for a moment, then asked seriously, “So, I just happened to be in front of you at the moment you wanted to start a family… Am I just lucky?”
Qin Jingzhou suddenly rapped her on the forehead. “Do you really think I’m that casual?”
Ling Jing covered her forehead and muttered, “Alright. Actually, a romance between human and god does sound kind of appealing.”
Qin Jingzhou: …
Ling Jing rubbed her forehead, then took Qin Jingzhou’s hand, her voice suddenly soft. “It’s not that I’m unwilling, I just don’t know what to do. It feels like I’m not worthy of you.”
Qin Jingzhou replied with a laugh, “You should trust my judgment. Don’t put yourself down.”
Ling Jing lightly punched his arm. “I’m super confident, you know, but no amount of confidence can make me believe it’s natural to be able to stand on equal footing with a top-level boss.”
Qin Jingzhou guessed Ling Jing didn’t want to hear empty talk like “I think we’re equals,” so he simply pressed, “How about a probation period?”
Ling Jing probed, “Three worlds? I don’t believe a big boss like you wouldn’t find me anyway.”
Qin Jingzhou agreed with a smile. “Okay.”
Ling Jing then asked, “And if the trial doesn’t work out…”
“We’ll still be friends?”
Ling Jing breathed a long sigh of relief. “You’re really a good person.”
Qin Jingzhou just smiled without answering.
The System hadn’t said a word the whole time, but now finally spoke up, “Wow, Brother Zhou, you actually enjoy it!”
Qin Jingzhou replied helplessly, “So, what, it would be normal if I were cold and distant for my whole life?”
The System didn’t hesitate, “That’s how it seems to me. I don’t recall ever seeing you truly smile. It’s like nothing in this world could move you or matter to you.”
Qin Jingzhou: …That actually makes sense.
After Qin Jingzhou’s confession, Ling Jing hugged her pillow and got lost in thought.
Good thing she had her own System to share some of her feelings with.
Qin Jingzhou, with nothing urgent to do, sat down to write letters to his conveniently acquired “children.”
He had already sent word to notify them of his remarriage.
The replies from his eldest son and daughter could be summed up in just four words: “Sincere blessings.” The roast-pork son, however, voiced a different opinion: Father, you’re not young anymore, stop bringing misfortune to young women!
Qin Jingzhou had not felt offended. He just couldn’t help sifting through the original host’s memories again: What exactly gave the roast-pork son the nerve to speak to his father like that?
But he found nothing.
Now it was time to depart. In any case, he would never again meddle in the roast-pork son’s affairs, and he had to remind his eldest son and daughter, especially Yan Jun, to keep a close watch on their younger brother.
Five days after their wedding, Qin Jingzhou led twenty thousand elite troops, left the camp, and marched on the Capital to report in triumph.
Eighteen days later, Qin Jingzhou arrived at the outskirts of the Capital and waited at the post station for Emperor Yongning’s designated envoy.
Riding high on his massive victory, many powerful families of the Capital were eager to make his acquaintance, so even on the outskirts, he was up to date on palace rumors. For example, it was said that the person sent to greet him this time would be none other than his “old foe,” Duke Anguo, Guo Sida.
Guo Sida… Qin Jingzhou would need to make some preparations.
He walked the official road himself, then ordered his men to dig out traps under cover of a dim, moonlit night. The highway was, at the very least, flat and orderly, not riddled with pits and holes, so such a trap would be hard to spot.
The next day, Duke Anguo, Guo Sida, put on a grand show as he led his retinue out of the city. Publicly and privately, he did not want to show any weakness before Yan Jingzhou.
So, five thousand shield-bearing, armored soldiers stood arrayed behind Guo Sida, banners flying around him. He himself rode a majestic steed, turning to Yan Jingzhou, whose own contingent preceded and followed him, and called out in a booming voice, “Brother Yan, it’s been too long!”
Qin Jingzhou smiled gently, raised a hand in greeting, and spurred his horse forward.
Seeing this, Guo Sida signaled his horse to break ranks, too. He knew the official road was in disrepair and deliberately kept his horse at a steady pace. But just as he was about to reach out and grab Qin Jingzhou’s arm, his fine steed suddenly twisted its leg, causing both himself and his mount to tumble to the side.
Duke Anguo fell hard, horse and all. Losing face was one thing, but losing his life was another.
Panic-stricken, Guo Sida’s men rushed forward. The Prince’s Personal Guards put all their strength into hauling their master out of the saddle, while the horse, struggling and thrashing, tried to get up. The guards dragged, the horse threw itself up—
Then, an excruciating pain shot through Guo Sida’s body, and his expression twisted.
Seated in the carriage behind Qin Jingzhou, Ling Jing nearly burst out laughing. So this was what it looked like for a man to be split clean down the middle!