Chapter 678 – Alliance at Huangshui (15)
Why has Zhong Zhao become the most powerful nation among the five in the Central Plains?
Firstly, Zhong Zhao enjoys unique geographical advantages, bordered only by other Central Plain nations, with no foreign calamities to trouble it.
Secondly, Zhong Zhao was the first among the five nations to be established, seizing a considerable amount of wealth from previous dynasties and attracting numerous prominent families.
With neither foreign powers eyeing it covetously nor the accumulated wealth of noble families as a foundation, becoming the leader among the five nations was only to be expected.
However, excessive comfort has led to internal strife.
Today, Zhong Zhao has followed the unfortunate path of Dongqing, and factional struggles have become increasingly ferocious.
In addition to internal conflicts, the rich, decadent, and complacent lifestyle has distorted the minds of some, allowing them to run amok.
As the man in gray mockingly pointed out, with so many nuisances arising in Zhong Zhao, it’s simply too few dead people.
What if Zhong Zhao had a horde of enemies lurking like tigers and wolves, leaving their borders in turmoil, countless young men sacrificing tragically, and newborns decreasing year by year? Let’s see if they would still stir up the so-called “Four Books for Women”… prohibiting widows from remarrying and compelling women to remain chaste…
Ha! What a global joke!
The man in gray left the teahouse, following his memories to the location of the sunken paddy ceremony.
By the time he arrived, a crowd of common people had already gathered around the water’s edge, gaping and gossiping.
The clamor, mixed with cries, drew the man in gray’s attention. A young child was weeping nearby, a boy of around seven or eight, and a girl not older than three or four, both looking quite pallid.
Beside them stood a young man in his twenties, his face twisted with rage as he protected the children, howling at the crowd.
Piecing together discussions from the teahouse and the chatter of the onlookers, the man in gray discerned the gist of the story.
In short, it was about a twenty-three-year-old young widow who, unable to bear loneliness, stole away a man from her village and was subsequently drowned for it.
The man in gray took a couple of steps closer, using his tall stature to catch sight of the pale, drowned body of a woman lying beside the pond.
By the time he got there, the woman had already been drowned in a pig cage!
Not long after, the crowd dispersed, leaving behind a strange joy that arose from breaking taboos—it was repulsively ugly.
Just as the man in gray was about to leave, he saw the young man wading into the water to pull the half-submerged body of the woman out, preparing to carry her home.
He lowered his gaze, paused, and handed some silver coins to the child standing beside the young man.
Given the young man’s appearance, he didn’t seem wealthy enough to afford a proper burial for the woman.
The young man, trembling and biting his lip, with tears brimming in his eyes finally managed to say in a thick accent, “Thank you, big brother.”
Taking the opportunity, the man in gray asked a few more questions and learned another version of the tale.
The drowned woman was the beauty of the neighboring village, who moved to this village after marrying a local man years ago. They had been married for years without conception, and finally, when she bore a daughter, her in-laws despised her even more. After her husband’s death, she faced even harsher treatment, with her in-laws believing the daughter was a bad omen. They even attempted to abandon the girl into the mountains to be fed to wolves.
The young man, who hunted in the mountains, happened to save the daughter, leading to their acquaintance and romance over time.
A widowed woman struggling to raise her only daughter, and a widower with a son—they seemed a match made in heaven. Eventually, they decided to live together and support each other.
However, the woman’s in-laws couldn’t accept this, berating her for not remaining chaste for their son, and falsely accusing them of having a relationship.
The young man, having years of hunting experience, scared off those who came to seize the woman.
He could fend off once or twice, but how could he protect her forever?
That morning, the woman, afraid her daughter and stepson were missing—worried they might be sold or abandoned—hastily went out to search, unaware it was a trap set by her own kin. She was captured and drowned in the pond.
By the time the young man realized the trouble, it was too late.
Hearing this account, the man in gray let out a short, mocking “Ha.”
What’s the most laughable thing in this world?
A woman who belongs to anyone making a righteous demand that all other women remain chaste!
“Take this silver and go somewhere else. If they ever remember, they might also seize this girl…”
The young man was weeping profusely, clearly feeling wronged, but he didn’t accept the man in gray’s goodwill.
To him, the fact that the man in gray didn’t come to verbally abuse him and the woman was the utmost kindness.
The man in gray sighed, handing the pouch of silver to the boy who was cowering to the side, and couldn’t resist ruffling the little girl’s hair.
“What’s wrong with this world…”
The young man sobbed as he carried the cold, swollen corpse of the woman.
“Ha, wicked people will eventually reap what they sow.”
With this farewell remark, the man in gray slipped away quietly.
That night, the imperial city was brightly lit.
All around, the pleasure quarters were bustling with life, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments echoing, and shadowy figures moving gracefully, arousing fantasies.
Inside the palace, there was also a continuous array of musical performances, radiating an air of extreme opulence.
The man in gray, having changed into a different outfit, slipped into the palace with the help of an insider, eventually arriving at the Tianfeng Palace where the Empress resided.
At the top of the striking red entrance hung a black-gold plaque, inscribed with three grand characters—Tianfeng Palace.
Inside the palace, the candlelight flickered, and the eaves carved from sandalwood were adorned with phoenixes poised to take flight.
In the inner chamber, beams of sandalwood and pearl curtains adorned the space, with a magnificent moon pearl hanging from the ceiling, gleaming brilliantly as if it had pulled the full moon from the sky into the hall, resembling a fairyland. The white jade floor shimmered with a gentle glow, embedded with gems and golden beads, carved with lotus designs, each flower vividly crafted with distinct petals and delicate centers, while the center housed an ornate golden incense burner that emitted curling wisps of fragrant smoke.
Ah, truly luxurious to the extreme!
The man in gray had already changed his outfit; he walked directly inside without encountering a single palace maid.
“Someone, come! Bring me…”
Inside, a woman in palace attire knelt before a dressing mirror, applying her makeup.
Upon closer inspection, the gem-encrusted mirror wasn’t made of bronze, reflecting the figure with crystal clarity, as bright as a demon-revealing mirror.
The palace-clad woman caught a glimpse of a weathered man standing behind her through the reflection—a face that stirred some familiarity… this man… resembled someone she knew… she trembled all over, realizing there were no serving palace maids around.
Suppressing her inner fear, she feigned calmness and turned to ask, “Who are you?”
“Your Highness has quite a poor memory, do you still remember Xie Qian, whom you plotted against over a decade ago?”
As he spoke, he revealed a long spear wrapped in cloth, lunging straight toward the woman’s heart.
