Chapter 1090 – Trouble Arises Again (6)
“Liu Xi is loyal to the country; I truly admire that.”
Even though a storm was brewing inside, Nie Liang remained calm on the surface, seemingly oblivious to Jiang Pengji’s arrogance and confidence. He had seen plenty of hardened characters, but in the face of absolute interests, even the gentry would bend the knee.
As the saying goes, it’s easy to invite a god but hard to send them away. The Nie Clan was already involved; how could they return empty-handed?
The situation was clear: the cake that was Cangzhou was simply too big, and the rivals that emerged were too strong. Whether it was Huang Song or Liu Xi, relying solely on personal strength was not enough to safeguard Cangzhou. Not only could they not protect it, but they might also invite a fatal outcome. Rather than greedily occupying the entirety of Cangzhou and ultimately suffering a loss, it would be better to retreat strategically, ceding part of the benefits to the Nie Clan and gaining maximum benefits with minimal sacrifice.
Nie Liang smiled faintly, a gesture that seemed respectful, yet the smile at the corner of his lips held deeper meaning.
Loyal to the country?
As the most powerful lord in Dongqing, Jiang Pengji was clearly armed and proud, making the phrase “loyal to the country” a mockery.
Jiang Pengji responded with the same calm smile, raising her wine goblet towards Nie Liang in response to his praise.
“Thank you for your kind words, sir. Although the royal family is waning, defending the homeland and protecting the common people is our responsibility; I shall not forget even for a moment.”
She was indeed a treasonous rebel who held power, so what?
Reflecting on her heart, Jiang Pengji felt she owed nothing to the land beneath her feet or the people living on it—that was enough.
Besides, the actions of the Nie Clan in Zhong Zhao were no more upright than hers.
Both were two sides of the same coin; could crows really mock pigs for being black?
Just as Jiang Pengji was about to expose the Nie Clan’s secrets, Wei Ci noticed a sharp glint in her eyes. His heart jolted; he vaguely guessed what she intended to say.
If she really said it, wouldn’t that completely offend the Nie Clan?
Wei Ci subtly tugged at Jiang Pengji’s sleeve, and sensing it, she tacitly swallowed the words she had prepared.
“I have a word, and if it offends the messenger, please forgive me.” Not letting Nie Liang utter any threats, Wei Ci smiled and continued Jiang Pengji’s speech, “Birds of a feather flock together; apologies if I am rude, but someone like Meng Zhan—a treasonous rebel—is rare in this world. This person disregards the grace of the monarch and exploits the common people, leading to widespread suffering for personal gain, even to the point of betraying Cangzhou. When history records this, he will undoubtedly be remembered as a notorious traitor. I’ve heard that the Nie Clan in Zhong Zhao is a truly esteemed lineage, spanning generations and nurturing countless virtuous scholars and able ministers. With such a family background, how could they, for fleeting benefits, conspire with a treacherous villain?”
Jiang Pengji played the rogue, while Wei Ci delivered the fatal blow.
Together, they left those with weaker nerves gasping for breath!
Wei Ying, who had been silent beside Nie Liang, flashed a hint of surprise.
His memory of Wei Ci was still that of a youth just entering adulthood, seemingly calm and unexciting.
Seeing him again now, Wei Ci had gained a sharper edge.
It appeared he had gone through quite a few experiences and grown significantly.
Wei Ying felt a surge of pride akin to a brother watching his sibling come of age, and he smiled, saying, “That makes sense, but it seems rather forced.”
Huang Song seized the opportunity to shift his gaze to Wei Ying and feigned surprise, asking, “Who might this be?”
Nie Liang replied, “This person is my close friend, his surname is Wei, given name Ying, courtesy name Zishun.”
Upon hearing Wei Ying’s name and courtesy name, everyone in the tent instinctively turned their eyes to Wei Ci.
From surname to name to courtesy name, it was evident that they seemed like brothers.
Subtly, everyone felt they had stumbled upon the truth.
Another pair of plastic flower brothers!
Huang Song chuckled, “What do you mean forced? I think it sounds quite logical.”
Wei Ying replied, “In today’s world of five nations, Nan Sheng has fallen, the four southern tribes aim to overturn the rightful order, the Dongqing royal family is weak, and Zhong Zhao is not far behind. Only Beiyuan and Xichang remain, both in turmoil. The land is divided, lords rise, wild tribes trample, and treasonous rebels are rampant—this is the chaos of the times. The only solution now is for a wise ruler to come forth and turn the tide, restoring the crumbling Da Xia. People say that the benevolent perish while the tyrants thrive. I also despise Meng Zhan’s actions. Yet, what have the common people done? Our monarch has no ulterior motives; he merely wishes to protect the innocent and spare them from calamities. The Governor also speaks of protecting the common people as his duty. So long as the common people are safeguarded, sacrificing oneself—what’s wrong with that?”
As his words fell, the atmosphere in the tent turned cold, the temperature dropping several degrees.
Jiang Pengji retracted her carefree demeanor, and a hint of seriousness surfaced in her eyes.
“This gentleman truly speaks well—”
Wei Ying replied plainly, “Every word is from the heart.”
You can’t be serious!
Despite being countered, Jiang Pengji didn’t feel embarrassed; instead, she wore a calm smile, as if unaffected.
The atmosphere in the tent indirectly influenced the audience in the live stream.
As Jiang Pengji displayed her rogue side, many fans cheered for her passionately.
This was the anchor they knew, able to reduce someone to tears with just a few words.
Jiang Pengji and Wei Ci had an unspoken synergy that was off the charts!
No doubt, they were the hottest CP in the live stream!
【Combat Beauty】: Could we get a literature class representative to translate this young man’s words? It feels like something’s off.
After following the live stream for so many years, they found that characters in the stream often spoke plain, everyday language, rather than the expected classical Chinese.
Yet, despite that, their dialogues could still be quite challenging to follow in certain situations.
【Dusk Sunset】: Brother Wei’s words aren’t hard to understand—simply put, this young man stepped on the anchor while lifting the Nie Clan—nowadays, with the world in chaos, only the capable can secure protection for the common people. The anchor is powerful, but she can’t protect Cangzhou’s populace. If she can’t provide absolute safety, why should she stand in the way of the people seeking happiness?
【Summer’s Silence】: The anchor champions the greater good of family and country, insisting on territorial integrity, while Brother Wei countered from the standpoint of the people—what have the common folks done? If the anchor forces her views, that’s lack of benevolence, a self-inflicted wound—it’s a battle of wits for the anchor!
The audience watched with great interest, and Jiang Pengji’s fans were unwilling to accept the battle was lost.
【Industrial Design】: What are you saying? Our anchor’s power is formidable too, you know?
【Twenty and Meeting You】: You can’t say it like that. The Nie Clan’s power in Zhong Zhao is strong as well; the key is that the anchor has just fought in Beijiang and hasn’t caught a break before heading into battle against the Meng Clan. The prolonged fighting has drained her energy bit by bit. It’s been a year and four months since the war began, and she’s severely weakened. The current situation is complex; external forces are pressing, while the plastic brother Huang Song is also watching closely. From this perspective, the anchor really can’t protect the common people as well as the Nie Clan can—
【Sparrow in the Pine】: After suffering a setback with Brother Ci, will the anchor seek revenge through him?
