Chapter 688 - A sudden visit
Since the release of the statement from the national investigation and the Guan Empire, two days have passed.
In IHZHI company.
Xiong Zhi was busy with the doc.u.ments when Linfeng came in.
She put down the pen, looked up at Linfeng. "How are they?"
Linfeng approached her office table as he reported what he had found out. "As expected, some of the businessmen who have connections with the police looked into Gunan's case. They probably surmised that Gunan will be guilty of the charges. It is only day two, yet rumors already circulated in the circles. This makes it harder for the Guan Empire to stabilize. Their market value keeps falling. Sooner or later, they will be out of the legendary families' position."
Xiong Zhi nodded. Then she sighed.
"We expected this. But witnessing it now is different. Guan Gu Ri and Guan Xixin must have summoned a lot of courage to make this decision."
Linfeng smiled helplessly. He gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "They surely have many deep regrets. But they did the right thing. Guan Gu Ri and Guan Xixin opted to publicize the trial so that everyone will know the real Guan Gao Huan's death, and that all those crimes were done by an impostor. They don't want their brother's name to remain tainted by Gunan's sins, even if it cost them the Guan Empire."
Xiong Zhi was silent. Her long lashes lowered to cover her dark eyes.
She naturally understood and empathized with their decision.
Even though the path that they chose would make them suffer, this was also the path that could make their hearts and minds be at peace.
A long finger gently smoothed out Xiong Zhi's furrowed brows.
"Don't be sad. I believe those two brothers will handle it better than we expect. Guan Gu Ri doesn't look like it, but he can be a capable leader if he wants to. His talent and abilities are suppressed because he prioritized his brothers over himself," Linfeng said. "And Guan Xixin can now entirely focus on the Guan Empire after this situation is settled. He put shackles on himself before because he could not trust his grandfather and his family, but now, it isn't the case anymore. Those two brothers will just get stronger with one goal in mind."
Xiong Zhi countered. "Who said I am sad? I am just thinking that if the Guan family left the legendary position, then, will another family rise and take the position? After all, to only have three legendary families in Country C, it never happened before. The economic stability of the country will be messed up for a long time "
Many others would fight to grab a piece of the available pie, and strive to sit on the available throne.
Linfeng nodded thoughtfully. "Now that you mentioned it, I think it almost happened before."
Xiong Zhi was stunned. "It did?"
"Yes, I guess? But it's not really the same situation. Instead, the four legendary families almost became 'five' legendary families."
Almost became five legendary families…?
Xiong Zhi's brows rose in surprise. Her face had an expression of blank shock.
Linfeng could not help but smile. His fingers ran over the soft white cheeks and gently pinched.
So adorable.
"Whah haffen?" Xiong Zhi spoke while her cheeks were still pinched.
'....'
Linfeng suddenly bowed down and pecked on her lips, before straightening up his body. He covered his mouth and coughed.
Alright, back to serious business.
"I think it happened in Master Xiong's generation. There was once a family that is almost equivalent to the legendary families in terms of influence and wealth. They wanted to raise their ranks through intermarriage with one of the legendary families' heirs."
"Intermarriage, huh?"
"Yes, this is a common thing after all in our circle, especially for declining families who are trying to save their positions or aspiring factions trying to rise in ranks. Since ancient times, it's been an effective strategy to immediately bolster a family's influence and resources."
Intermarriage.
Declining family.
Xiong Zhi thought of her own forced engagement in the past life, and now of the Guan family's current decline.
She shook her head.
"I think it's impossible for the two Guan brothers to be able to do that. The marriageable female heirs as of the moment are myself and Tang Xinyang." She suddenly paused.
"...Do you think the two of us will allow any of them to hold our hand in marriage?" She shot a look of 'you dare say yes and you're dead' at Linfeng. "Do you want me to?"
Linfeng immediately held Xiong Zhi's hand and pacified his suddenly riled up girlfriend.
"I am not suggesting that the two of them must marry the legendary heirs, ah! I am just stating some history."
Xiong Zhi narrowed her eyes. "Oh."
"My esteemed Young Miss, spare your boyfriend, please. I didn't mean anything. Why would I want to give away my beautiful, smart, and capable girlfriend?" He continued to rain light kisses on her cheeks and lips. "I couldn't even get enough of my lovely girlfriend…"
Xiong Zhi's cheeks turned pink.
The faint upset feeling flew away.
How could she stay angry when he was being so sweet like this?
The couple flirted for a while. Xiong Zhi doesn't even notice when the man carried her to the couch. She was busy kissing him. The couple did not go way beyond that and just hugged each other on the couch.
While resting her head on Linfeng's c.h.e.s.t within the lock of his arms, Xiong Zhi tilted her head up.
"Then what happened afterwards? Since there are still four legendary families, what happened to that family?"
Linfeng pressed his nose gently on Xiong Zhi's soft hair.
"Hmm… There's little existing records about that family, just mentioned in passing. Qian family, was it? Well, that family failed in the end. I think something happened between them and the Lu family. But it is not recorded and it looks like all of the legendary families deliberately stepped out and hid the details of what happened."
"The Lu family? Perhaps the Lu family had been their chosen partner for intermarriage?"
"Yes." He muttered. "Though I wonder what the Qian family did that made them disappear from history and family records..."
Xiong Zhi looked up. "What did you say?"
Linfeng looked down and tapped on her nose gently. "It's just something I am curious about. However, it is not something we should be concerned about."
Xiong Zhi slapped his naughty hand away, but then became guilty. She held it and blew, while Linfeng watched her gently. He bowed again and kissed her, wrapping his arm around her waist and tilting her head up to deepen the kiss.
As they were about to flirt more, Fang Dien knocked on the door.
"Miss Xiong Zhi, you have a guest downstairs."
Xiong Zhi and Linfeng immediately separated and fixed their appearance.
It was still work time!
Fang Dien stared at the door with a blank face for around a minute before the permission came.
"Come in."
He entered.
"Who came?"
Fang Dien glanced at the couple who had clearly done something intimate as their faces were flushed.
He ignored it and said a name. "A man named Lu Jin."
"..."
The couple was stunned. They looked at each other.
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