After festering overnight, countless rumors swirled around Cangyun City, creating a chaotic mess.
Some people, led by the Chenlong Martial District, were still making waves.
Yet the Chen royal family remained silent, showing no indication of responding to matters concerning the Supreme Martial Commander.
On the contrary, Tang Ziyan from the Southern Polar royal family became the center of everyone's attention after constantly putting herself in the public eye.
She was not particularly good-looking.
And there were rumors that this Tang Ziyan was nothing more than a household servant of the Southern Polar royal family. She was only granted the Tang surname because her ancestors had rendered great service to them.
Even though she was a servant, it didn't stop some of Cangyun City's upper-class from fawning over and currying favor with her.
This was especially true for the Long Family, one of the eight great influential families of the city.
The eight great influential families, always lofty and unrivaled, had seen three of their own destroyed by Chen Yang. The remaining families had been quiet for some time, but now, they were becoming active once again.
Especially the Long Family.
Relying on a past connection to the Southern Polar royal family, they had now drawn intimately close to Tang Ziyan.
As long as they could cultivate this relationship, their future would be limitless.
A wave of heated discussion stirred up a frenzy.
Tang Ziyan had repeatedly made public statements. She proclaimed that she, a noblewoman of the royal family, didn't mind Chen Yang's current embarrassing situation. Even if he were to be removed from his position as Supreme Martial Commander, she was willing to take him in as a live-in son-in-law.
Whether Chen Yang would accept this gesture all depended on whether he knew what was good for him.
However, a full day and night passed without any response from him. Instead, the rumors of his dismissal from the position of Supreme Martial Commander grew more and more outrageous.
Chen Yang advocated for stepping down, but the Elders' Court vehemently disagreed.
This apparent deadlock stirred up tumultuous waves among the public.
Could it be that Chen Yang was being held up by this matter?
But Tang Ziyan couldn't be bothered with that. As a member of the royal family, any word from her demanded an immediate response from anyone, no matter who they were.
As a result, Tang Ziyan was furious.
Word got out through the Long Family that she was quickly losing her patience, considering Chen Yang to be nothing more than a fallen phoenix.
No, a person like that wasn't worthy of being called a phoenix. He was merely an ungrateful wretch who dared to ignore the grand opportunity bestowed by the Southern Polar royal family.
I, Tang Ziyan, was born and raised in royalty. My status is immensely noble, pure as ice and jade. How dare a mere Supreme Martial Commander, whose position is hanging by a thread, ignore me? Does he really think he's somebody?
Once these words were out, they enraged many people, who began to curse loudly.
No matter what the future held for the Supreme Martial Commander, were his years of glorious, hard-won achievements just a joke?
Such blasphemy was a crime punishable by death!
"Chen Yang, being noticed by the Southern Polar royal family is a blessing you earned in your past life! The Long Family now commands you to show yourself at once for an audience!" Long Kuang, the young master of the Long Family, declared, ordering Chen Yang in a commanding tone to appear immediately or face the consequences.
"The Long Family may bear the name 'Dragon', but why do they love acting like dogs? What a disgraceful bunch."
"And that Tang Ziyan, isn't she just a household servant of the Southern Polar royal family, not some noble lady? It seems she's forgotten her own lowly station."
"That woman claims to be noble and pure as ice and jade? Pah!"
Instantly, a torrent of insults erupted, causing a huge uproar.
So, this woman who acted so high and mighty was just a servant?
At the same time, everyone understood completely. This was a deliberate attempt to disgust and humiliate the Chen royal family.
The final result didn't matter. In fact, the Southern Polar royal family probably never intended to make the marriage happen in the first place; they just wanted the sense of accomplishment from trampling on their rival.
「Meanwhile, at the Elders' Court.」
Jin Zheng and Wu Xing, their brows deeply furrowed, sat in silence in the council hall.
"Chen Yang wants to step down because he's afraid we'll be implicated after he killed that old scoundrel Han Qing," Wu Xing said.
"Forget it. I disagree," Wu Xing stated decisively. "Besides, the Great Elder hasn't woken up yet. Without him, the main decision-maker, we can't make the final call."
"The Great Elder wouldn't agree either," Jin Zheng nodded. Then, his tone shifted. "Ye Kuan's former disciples and his old friends have still not been behaving themselves. Today, I've invited them all here."
"It's time to rap their knuckles."
「Ten minutes later.」
A group of a dozen or so people walked into the council hall.
Leading them was a man in his seventies, once one of Ye Kuan's closest friends.
His name was Zhang Zhi.
Zhang Zhi had held a grudge ever since Chen Yang killed Ye Kuan.
With the rise of the three kings from the Chenlong Martial District, who now rivaled the War God of the State, Chen Yang, Zhang Zhi naturally jumped into the fray.
To him, this was a golden opportunity.
"Greetings to the two Elders."
"Greetings."
The others all greeted Jin Zheng and Wu Xing respectfully, but Zhang Zhi simply strode forward and sat down without a word.
Jin Zheng didn't beat around the bush. "I've called you all here today to say just one thing: watch your mouths, understand the situation clearly, and don't let others lead you astray only to ruin yourselves in the end."
"Heh..." Zhang Zhi laughed. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
"Don't play dumb," Wu Xing said with a raised eyebrow, his voice cold. "The Supreme Martial Commander has fought for the nation and its people for over a decade. His military merits are illustrious, and he will not tolerate any of you stirring up trouble."
"Since he wears that uniform, he should bear the responsibility that comes with it. Why make it sound so grandiose?" Zhang Zhi lit a cigarette and said with a chuckle, "Couldn't he just stay at the nation's gate and guard it obediently? If he died, he'd become a hero. But no, he had to interfere with interest groups!"
"Why couldn't he just be a good watchdog? Why did he have to run around biting people?"
BANG!
Wu Xing slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, his eyes blazing.
What kind of talk was this? A watchdog? Biting people?
Those words were more than an insult!
Furthermore, did they view the entire eight hundred thousand Martial Guards of Hanyun Valley as mere watchdogs guarding the interests of certain factions?
"If we can't see eye to eye, there's nothing more to say."
Zhang Zhi grinned, tossed his cigarette into a nearby tea mug, and turned to leave with a casual air.
Suddenly, the council hall felt empty.
"That Zhang Zhi! He once held a position in the Bureau of Secrets. Are those words fit for a human to speak?" Jin Zheng roared, smashing a cup in his fury.
Wu Xing gave a faint smile. "The Jingnan Prince's one hundred fifty thousand Martial Guards are returning from quelling the rebellion. After such a humiliation of the Supreme Martial Commander, do you think he'll let it slide?"
「One hour later.」
One hundred fifty thousand Martial Guards crossed the Eight Hundred Li Hongzhi River.
Their objective was clear.
Zhang Zhi, who received the news immediately, called Jin Zheng and yelled, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Are you asking me?" Jin Zheng responded with a malicious grin. "When you were calling them watchdogs, did it ever occur to you that this day would come?"
"You cur! Did you really think you could just defecate on people's heads whenever you pleased just because you're backed by those three kings from Chenlong? They are here to demand an explanation!"
"Just you wait!"
Zhang Zhi was left speechless.
Those who insult the Supreme Martial Commander, those who insult the fine men who have shed their blood and given their lives for this great land...
No matter who they are, they will be killed