Section 4: The Shattered Dreams of a Young Girl

It was when she was merely six years old that she had to bear a fated nightmare, which was to be destined to marry the son of the Grand Marshal Long Zhantian, Long Yuntian.

"Are you sure that your actions will not be known to Long Zhantian?" Wen Siyuan asked.

Therefore, removing the root cause seems to be the only solution, as long as Long Yuntian is dead, the so-called marriage contract will naturally dissipate.

The incident of poisoning Long Yuntian has caused significant turmoil, and no one can withstand the wrath of the Imperial Marshal, not even the Chancellor. The only consequence following the event is the complete disappearance of the Wen family.

At this moment, Wen Xiaoxing felt shaken, keeping her thoughts to herself, rushing to the military camp at night. All of this pointed to a single possibility—Long Zhantian was planning a rebellion

There are still nearly three months until the wedding date. Since there is no choice, I would like to take the opportunity to go out for a walk in the next few days. Wen Xiaoxing tidied her hair, revealing a bitter smile, and left with her maid, Xing'er, her figure appearing lonely and desolate

Long Yuntian must die, but the key lies in how to do it quietly and without a trace; otherwise, the wrath of the Long family is something no one can withstand. Therefore, Wen Xiaoxing meticulously planned for this matter over the course of three years, advancing step by step, until she found a rare opportunity. She has also considered the various consequences in great detail, and she is very confident that, no matter what, the Long family will definitely not trace it back to her.

"That is indeed a Martial Saint; which Martial Artist of the Saint rank is not lofty and detached, gazing at the world with a smile? How could power and wealth possibly sway them?" Wen Siyuan let out a bitter laugh, "It is said that the royal family has a Martial Saint, but Emperor Zhu Yu is unlikely to fight to the death for you and the Long family. The events of twenty years ago have already proven that without the Long family, the first to suffer misfortune would be the Zhuque Empire. Moreover, which member of the Long family is not a person of extraordinary talent?" It is said that Long Zhantian could withstand a Martial Saint even at the Master level; now, he is likely not even challenged by an ordinary Martial Saint. You must know that your uncle Mu Lihua is merely at the initial level of Martial Saint, and facing Long Zhantian would be a certain defeat. As for the old Marshal Long Jiantian, he has maintained his status at the Martial Saint level for at least thirty years, and no one knows how terrifying he has become now.

"Apart from the Long family and our Wen family, where else in the Zhuque Empire can we find a Martial Saint?" Wen Xiaoxing looked at her father, harboring a glimmer of hope in her heart, although she also knew that this hope was quite slim. "With our Wen family's financial resources and power, can't we invite one?"

Domineering, starkly domineering

Twenty years ago, Prince Zhu Yu of the Zhuque Empire ascended to the throne. Like all passionate young people, the new emperor was full of vigor and ambition, preparing his troops to achieve extraordinary feats, expand territories, and establish an immortal legend.

Emperor Zhu Yu ventured recklessly and fell into the trap set for him by Xiao Han. The cold river breached its banks, flooding seven armies, with fewer than 30,000 survivors out of 400,000 troops, who were trapped at the mouth of the cold river, constantly facing life-threatening danger

Ultimately, the Wen and Long families reached a secret agreement, whereby the Wen family decided to marry off the newly seven-year-old Wen Xiaoxing to Long Yuntian as his wife, in exchange for the Long family refraining from pursuing the matter for the time being

This cannot be attributed to Wen Xiaoxing's lack of foresight, but rather to the loyalty and selflessness of General Long, which have already penetrated the hearts of every individual in the Zhuque Empire. Anyone in the Zhuque Empire could potentially rebel, even the Crown Prince Zhu Zhou, but the Long family would absolutely never do so. This has been proven by the Long family over a thousand years, with the iron-blooded dedication of more than thirty imperial generals.

At a critical moment, the old marshal Long Jiantian, who had not commanded an army for ten years, and the then Grand Marshal Long Zhantian led an army of 100,000 to swiftly rescue Hanjiang Pass. At that time, Long Zhantian was merely a Grand Master of Martial Arts and had not yet entered the Sacred Realm

I understand the madness of the Long family better than you do. If Long Yuntian is truly dead, within a day, the entire Zhuque City will be drenched in blood. A crazed Martial Saint is terrifying, but a crazed Grand Marshal is even more so. Long Zhantian would at least take a million lives with him. All potential culprits would be ruthlessly slaughtered; this is a tradition of the Long family. Whenever a member of the Long family dies an unnatural death, they will certainly unleash a massacre. Such instances have occurred three times in history, each time resulting in rivers of blood and mountains of corpses. Long Zhantian's calm demeanor can only indicate one thing: Long Yuntian is not dead. To be honest, you are quite fortunate; otherwise, given our relationship with the Long family, you would definitely be the first to be sacrificed. The Long family does not need evidence. You should prepare for your wedding instead..." Wen Siyuan sighed as he looked at his daughter.

The two individuals joined forces to coerce the royal family, resulting in the surrender of the court physician at that time, thereby uncovering the truth of the matter

Wen Siyuan has always been renowned for his elegance and rarely loses his temper. However, once he does become angry, the consequences are certainly not something a mere Wen Xiaoxing could bear

For a young girl, marrying a fool is likely the greatest shame of her life, especially for someone like Wen Xiaoxing, a paragon of excellence; this is undoubtedly an unbearable humiliation.

Do I still have a choice?" Wen Xiaoxing looked pale as she gazed at her father. "Is there any option other than marrying into the Long family?

Seeing her father's fury, Wen Xiaoxing dared not conceal anything and hurriedly revealed the plans she had devised

The Dragon Mansion, General Long Dayuan, control over more than seventy percent of the empire's military forces, Long Zhantian, the Martial Saint—these weigh heavily on her heart like an insurmountable mountain

At that time, the Minister of War, Wen Siyuan, repeatedly urged the Emperor to mobilize troops to attack the White Tiger, but was consistently vetoed by General Long Zhantian. Consequently, he harbored resentment and waited for an opportunity to take revenge

After Wei Xiaoxing finished explaining, Wen Siyuan raised his head and looked out at the scenery, taking a long time to exhale.

"It is the father who has wronged you, it is the father who cannot protect you, because the father must also protect the entire Wen family, and must protect the entire empire, and can only choose to sacrifice your happiness..." Wen Siyuan looked at his daughter, who was pale and distressed, her eyes swollen and red, her voice choked with sobs. In this moment, he was a standard loving father, rather than the prime minister, a figure of duality in the realm of state affairs.

In Long Zhantian's view, the newly ascended emperor of the Zhuque Empire was not a favorable time for initiating a great war due to the instability in the political arena. However, the new emperor, Zhu Yu, was full of youthful vigor, consumed by thoughts of achieving merit and expanding territory, and naturally dismissed Long Zhantian's perspective.

Ten years later, Long Zhantian successfully advanced to the Sacred Realm, being jointly recognized with the old marshal as the Twin Saints of Zhuque. The Long family, with its dual saints, exerted immense pressure across the world, becoming the unrivaled force of the time

The noble class of the Zhuque Empire is numerous, and with the power of the Long family, which one cannot marry? Even a princess of the royal family can be wed. Why is it that I alone am unfortunate? Why must I be the one to make sacrifices? I do not understand. Is it because of my excellence and beauty? If that is the case, I would rather use a dagger to mar my own face right now. Wen Xiaoxing looked at her father and roared in anger, while the little maid Xing'er beside her turned pale with fear. In her impression, her young lady had always been composed and never lost her demeanor like this.

At that time, General Long's wife, Ao Xue, was pregnant. Therefore, Wen Siyuan secretly bribed the imperial physician of the Long residence with a large sum of money and stealthily poisoned the medicine meant to preserve the pregnancy. Although the child did not die prematurely as a result, the later-born Long Yuntian turned out to be a natural idiot

Subsequently, the Minister of War, Wen Siyuan, who accompanied the army, and Emperor Zhu Yu fled back to Zhuque City in a state of disarray.

Grand Marshal Long Zhantian is indeed the foremost expert of the Zhuque Empire, a Martial Saint who looks down upon the masses from a lofty height. Moreover, Grand Marshal Long holds significant prestige within the military, allowing him to mobilize over seventy percent of the national forces without any formal procedures. It is important to note that according to the laws of the Zhuque Empire, the mobilization of large armies requires the joint signature of the Emperor and the Grand Marshal, which highlights the formidable power of the Long family

"Certainly, I have planned this scheme for three years, which is sufficient to ensure that there are no mistakes." Wen Xiaoxing pondered for a moment before affirmatively responding, "I have meticulously scrutinized every step of the operation, and there are absolutely no loopholes."

The two armies engaged in a decisive battle at Hanjiang Pass, enduring seven days and nights of bloody conflict, ultimately rescuing the trapped Emperor Zhu Yu

"Why? With Long Yuntian's death, the Long family will be left without heirs. Does Long Zhantian still have any reservations? Keeping the death a secret, rushing to the military camp—everything indicates that the Long family is planning a rebellion?" Wen Xiaoxing asked in confusion.

The esteemed Prime Minister, governing the realms of life and death, exudes authority and undeniable presence through seemingly simple words

At that time, Wen Siyuan was the Minister of War and also a prominent advocate for war, in opposition to the Grand Marshal Long Zhantian, who held a more cautious perspective regarding the question of whether to go to war.

"Unless another Martial Saint emerges from our Wen family, otherwise..." Wen Siyuan did not continue his words, but Wen Xiaoxing had already understood his father's meaning

At the beginning of the war, things went quite smoothly, as the White Tiger Empire did not anticipate that the Vermilion Bird Empire would suddenly deploy troops. Moreover, at that time, Emperor Zhu Yu personally led the army, and the morale was high. Consequently, they captured three cities in succession and advanced all the way to the Cold River Pass of the White Tiger Empire, where they encountered the renowned general Xiao Han of the White Tiger Empire.

I hope you can clarify the matter regarding Long Yuntian. Wen Siyuan's tone was very calm, yet the determination and insistence in his words were unmistakable

The Fury of Thunder, Wen Siyuan gritted his teeth. If it were not for the fact that the person before him was his only beloved daughter, he would have wished to tear her apart a thousand times. To bring the Long family to extinction, such an outcome was something he could hardly dare to imagine. The past few days had not only put his own Wen family at risk, but it seemed that the entire Zhuque Empire had also been teetering on the brink of life and death.

I gave Long Zhantian a foolish son, and he returned me a foolish son-in-law. "Long Zhantian is indeed full of blood and guts, and possesses great cunning." Wen Siyuan's eyes widened in anger, his gaze bloodshot, and his words were pronounced slowly and deliberately.

"Long Yuntian is not dead? How is this possible?" Wen Xiaoxing asked with a pale face, hearing that she could not escape her misfortune. Wen Xiaoxing's complexion turned ghastly, and the little girl, Xing'er, beside her was already frightened pale by Wen Siyuan's words.

Wen Xiaoxing's excellence, beauty, and family background have made her the object of pursuit for all the young masters in Zhuque City, to the extent that even the Emperor of the Empire, Zhu Yu, once attempted to make her the Crown Princess

If Long Zhantian were to rebel, the palace of Zhuque City would change hands within a day; it is absolutely impossible to prepare for three days. The strength of the Long family is beyond your imagination. The reason you speculate this way is that you do not understand the terror of the Long family. Wen Siyuan glanced at his daughter.

Wen Xiaoxing is exceptionally intelligent, with wisdom as vast as the sea, and is renowned as the genius beauty of Zhuque City

Every girl has a beautiful dream, in which she rides a white horse with a prince, but he is definitely not a fool

For other young ladies in their blooming years, marrying into the Dragon Manor is considered a beautiful affair akin to ascending the branches to become a phoenix, regardless of whether the young master of the Dragon family is a fool. However, this certainly does not apply to her, the proud and haughty young lady of the Xiangguo Mansion, Wen Xiaoxing

However, he never expected that Long Zhantian would rebel. Long Zhantian's intention is quite simple: I do not know who the murderer is, but I will eliminate all possible suspects.

However, the Long family is indeed too powerful. As soon as it was heard that she was the fiancée of Long Yuntian, the young master of the Long residence, everyone kept their distance as much as possible. Even the emperor intentionally or unintentionally avoided this matter to prevent provoking the Long family, which clearly demonstrates the might of the Long family

Regarding Long Yuntian being a natural fool, it may be possible to deceive the other nobles of Zhuque City, but it is absolutely impossible to conceal this from the Prime Minister, who is known as the head of the hundred officials. Therefore, for Wen Xiaoxing, finding a way to break this fateful curse has become an unavoidable topic of discussion

Wen Xiangguo, in his forties, had a square face and was dressed in a blue robe, exuding a hint of scholarly demeanor. At this moment, his expression was quite serious, and his eyes seemed capable of seeing through the hearts of others as he calmly gazed at his daughter

"Go, immediately inform Father, I hope it is not too late." At this moment, Wen Xiaoxing was also terrified, her face pale. She had meticulously planned everything, deeply concealing the Wen family behind the scenes. Unfortunately, the Long family was not concerned about who the murderer was; they merely wanted to eliminate everyone who could possibly be involved.

"No need, I have already arrived." The curtain at the entrance was drawn back, and a middle-aged man, around forty years old, walked in with a pale face.

"The idiot that Long Yuntian is today was created by my father himself back in the day?" Wen Xiaoxing looked at her father in disbelief, "How is this possible?"

"Why would this person be me?" Wen Xiaoxing looked at her father, her face pale, and asked in a sharp voice

"Yes, this is indeed something I caused back then." Wen Siyuan looked at his daughter, calmed his emotions, and sighed, "So your sacrifice was for the entire Wen family. Father is sorry for you."

After the child was born, General Long Dayuan devoted all his energy to treating Long Yuntian's illness. Taking advantage of Long Yuntian's absence from court, Emperor Zhu Yu forcibly passed the decision to deploy troops

"Alas, this matter is actually my father's fault." Wen Siyuan sighed as he looked at his daughter, recounting a story that had been sealed for twenty years

"Nothing is impossible; otherwise, you would definitely not be able to stand here and speak to me now." Looking at Wen Xiaoxing's pale yet stubborn face, Wen Siyuan let out a sigh

Evidence? Does Long Zhantian need evidence? A free heart's judgment is sufficient; the Long family is not concerned with who the murderer is, but rather who might be the murderer

What the driven-to-madness General Long Dayuan will ultimately do is beyond anyone's guarantee

Once he decides to rebel, the world of the Zhuque Empire will inevitably be turned upside down in an instant. The dignified Son of Heaven, Emperor Zhu Yu of the Zhuque Empire, will have little ability to resist.

The Long family must rebel; a thousand years is sufficient to rebel a hundred times, so why wait until now

Is it the Martial Saint? Heh. Wen Xiaoxing let out a bitter laugh; even though she is usually as wise as the sea and adept at strategizing, she still felt a profound sense of helplessness in the face of absolute power

"Long Zhantian will not rebel, this is now certain," Wen Siyuan said lightly, glancing at his daughter.

As Wen Xiaoxing grew up, as her wisdom increased, and as she became increasingly outstanding and knowledgeable, Wen Xiaoxing began to feel an ever-deepening sense of despair

This is a result of the millennium of accumulation by the Long family, as well as the majesty of the martial arts saints. The mere imperial power is utterly laughable in the face of absolute martial force and a millennium of heritage