Chapter 662: The True Heritage of the Aristocratic Families
Zhao Changhe could hardly remember what he had eaten during the meal, so enchanted and distracted by the languid atmosphere that he had paid no attention to the food itself. He could only recall that the little rabbit’s soft, warm curves had been remarkably similar to the rabbit-shaped steamed buns on the table. In the end, he could not tell which one he had devoured.
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In any case, both were delightful.
But in the end, nothing truly improper happened. It was not the right time or place.
For all the talk of being a “conqueror,” he was just one man, and not in peak condition. At a time like this, Cui Wenjing was not going to expend effort protecting his safety. Within the vast Cui Clan, how many dissenters were lying in wait? Could someone try to assassinate him while he was distracted? Might Desolate Calamity return to make another attempt? These uncertainties lingered.
Flirting and teasing was fine, but indulging completely? That would be foolish. A single misstep, and he’d find himself in the afterlife exchanging notes with his dear Chancellor Cao. This was no way to handle things.
Patience was key. When the wedding came, the Cui Clan’s elite would undoubtedly stand guard to ensure the bride’s safety as she was “consumed.”
The issue of a main wife had once been a headache, but the current circumstances made it less pressing. The Cui Clan’s position was weaker, leaving them with little leverage to demand prestige. Still, even without titles, the order of marriage alone was a problem.
Tang Wanzhuang, ever the loyal minister, had openly argued with the empress about their relationship. If those women found out he had held a wedding elsewhere first, it was not a question of whether they would cut him to pieces, but of who would get the biggest piece.
Nevertheless, Zhao Changhe suspected that a wedding would not be happening anytime soon. With Desolate Calamity injured, it was an opportune moment to rally the Cui Clan and the Cao Gang to launch a swift assault on the Wang Clan’s territory and eliminate them as a threat. The looming pressure from the northern barbarians left no time for indulgence. Besides, Yangyang was not going to “grow up” any time soon.
By the time Cui Wenjing finished making arrangements and strolled to his daughter’s residence, the so-called “scoundrels” were sitting primly in the courtyard, sipping tea as though nothing had happened.
The first words he overheard were: “How many troops does the Cui Clan currently have?”
Cui Wenjing’s jaw dropped. He was shocked they were even discussing at all, let alone such matters, and decided to stay outside for a moment and listen.
Cui Yuanyang’s voice was serious, “We have more than 30,000 armored soldiers and around 5,000 to 6,000 warhorses. Including auxiliary forces, we could muster as many as 200,000 troops. Of course, by law, only a small portion can truly be considered ours; most should be considered part of the official military forces of the various administrative districts of Great Xia. However, we’ve managed to maintain control through various means... As for supplies, we’d need a detailed assessment, but I don’t think we’re short.”
Cui Wenjing found himself torn between pride at his daughter’s understanding of their family’s military assets and exasperation at her willingness to spill their entire inventory to an outsider. Traitorous little rabbit, he thought, selling out the family secrets so easily....
Then again, he had already decided to relinquish the Cui Clan’s control over these forces to the court, so it hardly mattered now.
Zhao Changhe, on the other hand, did not seem unimpressed by the figures. He no longer viewed a few thousand cavalry or thirty thousand armored soldiers as insignificant. In fact, it was quite the opposite; he recognized their strength. For context, the once-mighty Maitreya Cult had boasted a million followers sweeping across Jiangnan, yet among them, only a few thousand could be considered properly armed and armored, even at their peak. Their true cavalry? Likely under a thousand.
By that measure, the Cui Clan’s forces were formidable indeed.
Men could be trained, but resources and equipment were not so easily obtained, and with the adequate supplies they possessed, the Cui Clan’s terrifying foundations became clear. In times of chaos, such a foundation could quickly transform into a major power vying for dominance.
Back when Cui Yuanyang did not fully understand Xia Longyuan’s strength, she had once offhandedly remarked, “We might not even fear him.” Cui Wenwei, too, did not think much of the new court’s strength. Their confidence stemmed from the undeniable fact that their family was genuinely powerful. Without the presence of Profound Control Realm-level forces to shift the balance, the Cui Clan indeed had no reason to fear anyone under normal circumstances.
The Wang Clan, raising their banner of rebellion, found themselves facing the stalwart resistance of an equally matched Cui Clan. For the Wang Clan, this had likely felt like a cruel twist of fate. Against any other opponent, they could have swept through unchallenged, yet here they were, struggling for months to take the relatively small city of Puyang.
This disparity is precisely why emperors have historically chosen to compromise and cooperate with such families. It was also why Zhao Changhe needed to break this first stalemate. Once it was resolved, the balance of power would tilt decisively in his favor. Conversely, if the aristocratic families united against him, the effects would be disastrous.
Tang Wanzhuang had remarked to Xia Chichi not long ago that Zhao Changhe’s fateful connection with Cui Yuanyang two years prior seemed almost like a sign of destiny. Only someone like Zhao Changhe could bring together the disparate forces of the Cui Clan, the Tang Clan, and the Four Idols Cult and attempt to unify a fractured and chaotic realm.
Cui Wenjing lingered outside, choosing not to enter just yet and listen instead.
Inside, Zhao Changhe was asking, “What’s the situation with the Yang Clan? Do you know?”
Cui Yuanyang replied, “We haven’t communicated openly. No one’s sent envoys, at least officially. As for what’s happening behind the scenes, I’m not sure. You’d have to ask my father... No, wait, don’t keep running to him!”
Her tone suddenly turned wary. “You always run off to ask him. Ask him some other time, if you really must. If you leave to look for him right now, don’t expect me to talk to you again!”
Cui Wenjing: “...”
Zhao Changhe could not help but laugh. “Your father’s busy right now. I’m just asking you for what you know.”
Cui Yuanyang grumbled, “Even if you have a bit of goodwill with the Yang Clan, that goodwill was tied to the Lianshan Sword. Now that the sword’s been destroyed, that goodwill doesn’t mean much anymore. Even if you promise to reforge it, it won’t help. Both you and Desolate Calamity can make similar promises, but with your stance on aristocratic families and Xia Chichi’s identity as the former emperor’s daughter, Yang Jingxiu will never side with you. If you made yourself emperor, maybe the Yang Clan would hold some hope, but Xia Chichi? Why would they accept her?”
“Chichi has her own minor ties with the Yang Clan, but by this point, positions are fundamentally opposed. Any lingering goodwill doesn’t matter anymore,” Zhao Changhe said, sipping his tea. “I don’t intend to treat the Yang Clan the same way I’m treating yours. There have to be distinctions.”
Cui Yuanyang brightened immediately. “What do you plan to do?”
“For now, the most pressing enemy the Han dynasty needs to crush to establish dominance is the Wang Clan. Turning our attention to the Yang Clan first would be putting the cart before the horse. I need the Cui Clan to help me keep the Yang Clan in check.”
Cui Yuanyang was momentarily stunned. “You don’t need us to send troops against the Wang Clan? I’ve been wanting to give them a good beating for a long time now.”
“To be honest, what concerns me most is the prospect of your families uniting. As long as that’s prevented, taken individually, the Wang Clan is nothing more than a hollow shell to me.”
“They may have been held back at Puyang, but their forces are still considerable...”
Seeing the frustration and eagerness on Cui Yuanyang’s face, Zhao Changhe could not resist reaching out to pinch her cheek. “Well... you could just come with me.”
Cui Yuanyang’s eyes lit up instantly. “Really?”
“Of course,” Zhao Changhe said. “But before that, I’ll help forge you a sword. It’s something I promised your father, and besides, my dear Yangyang deserves to make her debut on the Ranking of Man.”
Cui Wenjing, unable to stay silent any longer, finally stepped into the courtyard. “Wait, wait. You mean you can forge the sword now?!”
Cui Yuanyang spun around in surprise. “When did you get here?”
Cui Wenjing gave her an exasperated look. “I knew you wouldn’t want me intruding on your time with your sweetheart, so I stayed outside to avoid disturbing you. Satisfied?”
Cui Yuanyang protested, “That’s not true! I’m always happy when you’re here, Father.”
Cui Wenjing could not fathom how he had raised such a shameless little scoundrel. Ignoring her, he turned to Zhao Changhe. “What do you need from the Cui Clan?”
Zhao Changhe replied, “First, I need you to send a message to the capital. I have plans I need to discuss with Chichi and Wanzhuang.”
Cui Wenjing nodded. “I was going to make a formal report to the court anyway. Write your message, and I’ll have Yuanyong personally deliver it.”
“Good. Besides that, I don’t need much. I’ll need a fire strong enough to melt and reforge the broken sword, and most importantly, I need a secure environment where we won’t be disturbed.”
“If anyone dares to interrupt us while reforging Qinghe, they’ll face my damn fist!” Cui Wenjing declared vehemently.
Zhao Changhe: “?”
Yuanyang: “?”
The declaration of “my damn fist” had such uncharacteristic ferocity that it caught them off guard. Was this still Cui Wenjing speaking? Or had his wild son somehow taken his place? Suddenly, Yuanyong’s infamous crude outbursts made more sense...
“Ahem.” Cui Wenjing cleared his throat, quickly regaining his usual calm demeanor. “Anyway... You mentioned that to awaken the original sword spirit, either Yuanyong or Yuanyang needs to be involved. Would Yuanyang alone suffice, or do we need Yuanyong as well?”
“One person should be enough. As long as the intent aligns with the sword’s spirit, one person will do. It doesn’t require advanced cultivation. But do you have a suitable fire? It doesn’t seem like it’s something your family specializes in. If all else fails, I might have to ask Venerable Vermillion Bird for help.”
There was a hint of unease in his tone. Vermillion Bird was not in the best position to leave the capital right now, though Qinghe was close enough that it would not cause too much of an issue. The real concern was whether Vermillion Bird might... tear Yangyang to pieces.
Cui Wenjing could not help but chuckle. “You think our ancestors chose to settle in Qinghe just to claim some grand name as an ancient aristocratic family?”
Zhao Changhe’s instincts flared. “There’s a secret realm here?”
Cui Wenjing stroked his beard with a smile. “Not just here—every major family has one. It’s time for you to see what truly forms the foundations of these aristocratic families. And I suspect this particular secret realm could be of immense value to you.”
On the side, Cui Yuanyang sat with her chin propped on her hands, sulking as she sipped her tea. I knew it. Once these two start talking, it’s all ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ and ‘You know what I want.’ Meanwhile, I’m just the outsider...
I even knew about the family’s secret realm! Why didn’t I think to sneak Big Brother Zhao in to show him first?