Chapter 26

A competition among the descendants of the feudal lords ended in such an outcome. Given Princess Gouyu's identity, no one would doubt that she had intentionally given Jiang Chen an easy pass.

After all, whether in terms of status or position, Jiang Chen was not someone who could make Princess Gouyu do such a thing.

Moreover, who didn't know that Princess Gouyu was famous for her impartiality? If not for this, how could the emperor entrust such a significant event as the Qianlong Examination to Princess Gouyu?

Similarly, while Jiang Chen's defeat of Bai Zhan Yun was miraculous, it was a real event that happened right before their eyes. Even if they wanted to doubt it, they couldn't find a reason to do so.

Back at the banquet, the dishes and drinks were served one after another, but with so much happening today, the atmosphere at the scene was somewhat subdued.

Each person, to some extent, had their own concerns.

Especially those feudal lords who had conflicts with Marquis Jianghan, they were unsure. Was Jiang Chen's victory over Bai Zhan Yun just a fluke?

Or was he playing the role of a tiger in sheep's clothing, and now, as the Qianlong Examination was about to enter the final round, this father and son were finally showing their true colors?

If a beginner with three meridian true qi could, after watching the opponent's martial technique once, find a weakness and defeat an opponent with eight meridian true qi,

From the perspective of martial arts masters, no one would believe such a thing.

Finding a weakness after watching once and defeating the opponent in actual combat, how could that be possible?

If defeating a stronger opponent was so easy, why would everyone work hard to cultivate?

However, if Jiang Chen was playing the role of a tiger in sheep's clothing, he was certainly doing it too convincingly.

Most importantly, farting during the Heaven Worship Ceremony didn't seem like the plot of someone playing the role of a tiger in sheep's clothing! This was a grave sin, and he would certainly be executed.

Could it be that Emperor Dongfang Lu was playing the role of a tiger in sheep's clothing with Jiang Chen?

That would be even more absurd! The emperor wasn't that bored, was he? And the Jiang family father and son didn't have such a great face to make the emperor mobilize the entire country to stage a play for them?

Only Marquis Tianshui and a few other princes and ministers had some vague suspicions. Because that night at Marquis Jianghan's residence, they had witnessed the truth.

"Perhaps the divine power entrusted to Jiang Chen hasn't left, so this kid got lucky," Marquis Tianshui explained to himself.

This speculation was the most reasonable. By observing Jiang Feng's expressions and actions, Marquis Tianshui concluded that Jiang Feng was also unaware of this matter beforehand.

Given Jiang Feng's depth, if he was playing the role of a tiger in sheep's clothing, his acting wouldn't have reached such a level, and he would have shown some flaws early on.

After the banquet started, Xuan Fatso and others frequently came over, being very close to Jiang Chen. In the past, they followed Jiang Chen because he was generous, righteous, and willing to stand up for his friends.

Now, Jiang Chen's strength made them feel a sense of pride and honor.

"Great! Brother Chen, I've been with you for two or three years, and I never knew you were such a true genius! Your acting, talent, and strength are all top-notch... I admire you, I really do!" Xuan Fatso was excited, drooling, more excited than a child during the New Year. It was as if Jiang Chen's greatness was his own greatness.

At another table, Bai Zhan Yun's face was pale, and he was drinking alone, silent.

Yan Yiming, who had been defeated by Jiang Chen in one move earlier, had now recovered and said resentfully, "This Jiang Chen must have used some evil magic! How could a mere three meridian true qi defeat me?"

Hong Tiantong, on the other hand, felt lucky. Fortunately, he was smart and didn't show off after Bai Zhan Yun demonstrated the "Dongwang Finger."

Imagine if he had fought Jiang Chen, he might have been the one to lose face today, not just these two.

Seeing Bai Zhan Yun drinking alone, Hong Tiantong had a thought and tried to incite him, "Brother Bai, don't lose heart. Jiang Chen was just lucky. In terms of real strength, how could a beginner true qi realm be your match? The 'Dongwang Finger' is just an introductory martial technique. This kid is just lucky and has practiced it more thoroughly. If we compare family traditions, how could Marquis Jianghan's family techniques compare to the White Tiger Marquis's family techniques?"

Bai Zhan Yun lowered his head and smiled bitterly, a stark contrast to his usual arrogant and domineering demeanor. He shook his head slightly but said nothing. He wasn't a fool.

Previously, he had suppressed Jiang Chen several times purely to please Long Juxue.

However, after being enlightened by Jiang Chen, he suddenly saw things clearly.

Indeed, why should he waste his prime years on a woman who would never look at him? Moreover, every time he and Hong Tiantong suppressed Jiang Chen, it was always Bai Zhan Yun who suffered.

What did this mean?

It meant that Hong Tiantong was malicious and always made Bai Zhan Yun the scapegoat.

"Does he really think I'm a fool?" Bai Zhan Yun glanced at Hong Tiantong, suddenly feeling a lot of suspicion and disgust towards this treacherous person.

...

At the head table, as the host of the day, Long Zhaofeng was somewhat surprised by what had just happened, but he didn't take it too seriously.

Even if Jiang Chen had some depth and talent, compared to his daughter's innate constitution, there was an unbridgeable gap.

Therefore, his desire to seize Marquis Jianghan's half-spirit vein territory not only didn't weaken but he decided to act first.

After a few rounds of drinks, Long Zhaofeng raised his cup and said to Jiang Feng, "Brother Jiang Feng, I was very surprised by your son's performance today. I have long had the intention to befriend you. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to ask again, what do you think of my proposal?"

"Why not take this opportunity to finalize it happily? You have seen my sincerity. As long as you nod, you will receive 300,000 taels of silver from me every year. Our two families can become brothers forever. What do you think?"

Long Zhaofeng spoke with a generous tone, as if forcing Jiang Feng to lease his half-spirit vein territory at a low price was a great favor to Marquis Jianghan.

Jiang Feng, who was forcibly pulled to this table, knew it wouldn't be easy. Seeing Long Zhaofeng's direct approach, he could only tough it out and say, "Lord Long, my territory in the southern border is a poor and remote area with no economic resources. Most of the expenses of the marquisate rely on the income from that half-spirit vein territory. Lord Long's proposal would cut off a major source of income for my territory. I find it difficult to comply."

It must be said that for someone with Jiang Feng's temperament, speaking so humbly was already a great effort. In another situation, Jiang Feng would have slammed the table and left.

"Brother Jiang, you are making things difficult for me," Long Zhaofeng's tone hardened.

"Ha ha, Lord Jiang, doing nothing and receiving 300,000 taels every year is a no-cost business. Why would Lord Jiang refuse?" another feudal lord pretended to advise.

"Indeed! If it were me, I wouldn't even frown at such a business."

"Lord Jiang, Lord Long is the first feudal lord. Being brothers with him is a great honor that many people would kill for. Why don't you appreciate it?"

"Isn't that right? Lord Long is the first feudal lord, and Miss Juxue is favored by a hidden sect. The Long family is destined for endless wealth and honor. By going against Lord Long's wishes, you will only make your path narrower."

These people were all dependent on Long Zhaofeng. Their words, which sounded like advice, were actually threats, coercion, and aiding in tyranny.

Many things that Long Zhaofeng couldn't say directly, they were helping him to do.

It must be said that if it weren't for Jiang Feng's strong character, another feudal lord would have been unable to withstand such a scene.

Jiang Feng resolutely shook his head, "Don't talk anymore. Everyone can say nice things, but if you were asked to cut your own flesh, you wouldn't be so generous."

The representative of the Danwang Garden, the Grand Master of the Danwang Garden, who had been sitting silently, chuckled, "Lord Jiang, through our cooperation with your territory, we found that your territory's ability to cultivate spirit herbs does not meet our standards. Therefore, after a unanimous decision within the Danwang Garden, we will no longer accept spirit herbs from your territory. Our previous cooperation will end here."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng's expression changed completely.

The reason he was firm and unwilling to lease the half-spirit vein territory to Long Zhaofeng was because of the cooperation with the Danwang Garden.

Through this cooperation, the Jianghan territory could earn 5 million taels of silver annually.

However, now that the leader of the Danwang Garden personally announced the termination of the cooperation and the boycott of spirit herbs from the Jianghan territory,

This was a direct blow to the root.

Jiang Feng asked in a hoarse voice, "Grand Master, must it be so absolute?"

The Grand Master replied calmly, "A wise man adapts to the times! Your mistake, Lord Jiang, is always failing to adapt to the situation and see the big picture."

This was no longer advice but a warning to Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng had been suppressing his anger for a long time, and the Grand Master's words finally ignited his long-suppressed fury.

The suppressed anger erupted suddenly and completely. Jiang Feng stood up from his seat and laughed loudly, "Good, good! You all put on a show, but you're thinking like barbarian bandits!"

"I tell you, I, Jiang Feng, am not a clay Buddha! I can earn less money, or even no money, but I will not sell my integrity, not even a bit!"

"Danwang Garden, right? Boycotting the Jianghan territory, right? I don't care! I'd rather use that half-spirit vein land to raise pigs than let you bandits benefit!"

Jiang Feng's outburst was sudden and thorough!

It felt so good to burst out. Jiang Feng felt that all the pent-up anger in his stomach was finally released.

The entire banquet suddenly became quiet again as everyone's eyes, filled with various strange meanings, focused on Jiang Feng. Each person was thinking, why were the Jiang family father and son becoming the center of attention one after another? Were they deliberately going against the Long family?

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