Chapter 107: The Third Path

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The rumors of Zhang Shouren’s victory at Jinan spread far and wide. The more measured account, however, was that the Eastern invaders had too few battle-hardened troops and suffered terribly at the hands of the firearms. Their marksmen were completely countered by the Fushan matchlocks, and with the artillery lending its support, they were utterly defeated.

When Zhou Yanru served as Grand Secretary, his reputation was anything but good. He resorted to every possible means of corruption and fraud, and many within the Restoration Society held his character in contempt. Zhang Pu, however, had always supported Zhou Yanru, believing his abilities far surpassed those of ordinary men. As for his character, Zhang felt that it could be restrained through proper means.

“Yan’er!” When the Northern Qi Emperor pushed open the door, he saw Tang Ning standing amid the light of a hundred candles. His expression was impossible to read, caught between grief and joy.

The last consort selection in the Great Shun Dynasty had taken place in the twentieth year of Yonghe. This time, however, a new emperor had ascended the throne, so the selection was grander than ever—and far stricter.

What Jun Li had not expected was that, just as she reached the moon gate she had passed moments earlier, a figure flashed by, and another man stepped out.

“There is one matter I do not understand. I beg Your Highness the Princess to enlighten me.” While everyone in the court was still immersed in amazement at the new earth-digging device, Zhang Chongxin, Vice Minister of Revenue, stepped forward once more to raise a question.

Upon hearing of the Fourth Prince’s death, Noble Consort Xian finally could not withstand the blow and fainted. After regaining consciousness, she went mad with grief and, ignoring Xiang’er and the imperial physicians’ attempts to stop her, rushed into the side hall.

“Report, my lord! There is something strange ahead!” A scout suddenly returned from the front and hurriedly delivered his report, his face carrying an expression as though he had seen a ghost.

When a third-rank official served as governor, his authority came close to that of a provincial governor-general. For Liu Jingyao, this was an exceptional opportunity; and for Zhang Shouren, it would naturally mean rising with the tide.

Molou felt that wielding a sword should belong to light and purity. As for something as dark as killing, it was more appropriate for him to handle it himself.

“All right, Yingying. This is not your decision to make.” Butler Xiang shifted his gaze to Qi Qi, his tone suddenly turning severe.

Mumu flew in circles through the air as he spoke, unable to suppress the delight on his face.

Once the wounds in her heart had healed, he would return to the position of a stranger and reappear in her life.

Whenever Yang Yun spoke with them now, all he received in return were pairs of reverent eyes and expressions filled with utter fear.

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“Damn it, you dare lay a hand on my brother? You’re asking for a beating!” Jin Yao cursed angrily. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the men, seized one of them, and hurled him aside. Only then did the remaining two notice that their companion had been thrown far away. They glared at Jin Yao, their faces blazing with fury.

Amu Hinamori sat silently in her seat. Although she continued to work with her hands, she remained utterly silent.

At the same time, he was so vexed that he wanted to smash his own head against something. If he could simply pass out, he would not have to endure such unbearable embarrassment.

“What an incredible voice!” Yayoi Yuuki gazed admiringly at Chishima Ginei beneath the stage lights, yet her heart skipped a beat. “That voice… it sounds just like Utau…” she murmured gloomily. Lowering the glow stick in her hand, Yayoi curled herself into a ball and hugged her knees.

Just then, an enraged voice exploded beside Ye Xuan and the others’ ears like a muffled thunderclap.

Lady Bian smiled and joined in, saying, “Zixiu and his elder sister share the same blood, so it is only natural that he cares for his mother. I merely happen to benefit from his concern as well.”

Seeing this, Cao Ang lowered his head awkwardly and smiled. Inwardly, he cursed the original Cao Ang for being such a blockhead, incapable of saying even a few considerate words to his own family.

At the very center of the main hall stood a faceless statue. It was the very place Ye Zixuan had entered the first time.

“You really were lying to me?” Xiao Keke stared at him with a pair of swollen, tear-red almond eyes, asking in disbelief.

The North American branch of New Venture Electronics registered more than one hundred thousand domain names in succession, earning a reputation as a major domain hoarder. By reselling several hundred of them, the company recouped several million dollars.

That harmless, innocent expression favored by the English no longer worked on him, and he certainly had no intention of accepting England’s goodwill.

Sima Yi said softly, “I am young and have little experience. I fear I would be unfit for official service. It would be enough for me to serve as an administrator in the young master’s household, thereby repaying you for summoning me repeatedly.”

Cao Ang was slightly taken aback when he heard this. An administrator?

Those who could enter the Privy Council were generally literate, so Edward gathered several people to serve as examiners and revise the papers.

“No, I did not come this time for your business. On the contrary, I am here to bring you business.” Lin Qi said this mainly because he truly had no intention of taking on this rather dirty line of work.

At present, however, the mourning observances in Great Xia were not so strict for ordinary commoners without official status. Most observed them for a year, though some filial sons chose to mourn for three years. It varied from person to person.

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“It’s in an office building nearby. I was wondering just now why you had come to Xunzhou.” Xiao Peng asked in bewilderment.

Chu Xiangkuang tossed half a pack of Emperor’s Legend cigarettes onto the coffee table, sat beside me with one leg crossed over the other, and asked how we intended to deal with Tang Mingyu.

“Ragnar.” The Pope softly called the Prison Lord by his true name. He already understood what had happened.

Suddenly, he realized the truth. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he walked toward the large bed in the bedroom and pushed her down onto it.

Perhaps the world line had somehow shifted, or perhaps I had been dropped entirely into some parallel world.

At the entrance to the Xiao residence stood a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious gray robes. He moved with the imposing stride of a dragon, and his thick eyebrows added several shades of boldness to his face. He was the current head of the Xiao clan.

Just now, she had heated some water and soaked a towel in it, helping Father apply a hot compress to Le Ge’s injuries. Then she had gone out. In the outer reception room were Confucius’s filthy clothes and Le Ge’s filthy clothes. Besides, she herself had a set of filthy clothes as well, and she was going to wash them.

Among the younger disciples who had followed the experts of a major power, some suddenly spat blood, unable to withstand such overwhelming might.

If this special item could be purchased here, the Lin sisters would never have lost their lives because of it.

Gong Yu did not bother with courtesy. She simply reached out, seized Cheng Nini’s hand, and bent it backward without the slightest hesitation.

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