Part 2
Ning Yunyi really didn’t know: “Is that so?”
Clay slapped the fan into his palm: “But after tonight, he won’t be anymore. At best, he’ll rank second.”
Ning Yunyi: “Why? Who’s first?” Was there someone more popular than Big Brother?
Clay secretly pointed in the direction Marshal Zong had left: “That one.”
Ning Yunyi didn’t understand: “He was around before too. Why was Ning Zhanfeng first back then?”
Clay looked at Ning Yunyi incredulously: “You must be young. Many years ago, when Marshal Zong just came of age, he was indeed the most popular number one. But he was too low-key. Aside from rarely showing his face, he ignored intentional or unintentional marriage proposals from various families. It dragged on for decades. His former eldest nephew, that Zong Ling, even came of age, and Marshal Zong still had no reaction, so everyone gave up. However, Zong Ling isn’t as good-looking as Ning Zhanfeng, plus Ning Zhanfeng is an Admiral with high talent, so he naturally became the most popular. But now it’s different. The Zong family… only has this one family head left. Do you know what that represents?”
Ning Yunyi: “What does it represent?”
Clay: “If one marries into the Zong family, it signifies becoming one of the only two masters. Even if something happens to him… the entire Zong family will soon belong to Marshal Zong’s widow. Do you know how much wealth the Zong family has?”
Ning Yunyi naturally didn’t know, but having read about the various lavish spending of the protagonist gong adopted by Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling in the book, he could roughly guess.
In the book, when Marshal Zong met with misfortune, everything in the Zong family really did go cheaply to Zong the Second’s family.
Clay lowered his voice and whispered: “I heard the old, old, old, old Zong family head could directly sponsor half of His Majesty’s treasury back in the day. Now, after so many generations, just imagine… not to mention Marshal Zong’s martial prowess is so high. If it weren’t for the fact that Marshal Zong isn’t interested in His Majesty’s position, I’m afraid the people at the top wouldn’t sleep soundly.”
The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart. Ning Yunyi’s heart skipped a beat.
Even Clay had heard of this, so what about His Majesty?
The mastermind behind the scenes could execute things so flawlessly, and the book didn’t mention any follow-up to that battle later on. Could the military high command really hide it so deeply?
Or was it originally a suppression targeting Marshal Zong for achieving too much merit?
It was just a coincidence that Big Brother Ning saw the secret of the beastmen at that time and was dragged in as a scapegoat.
Marshal Zong didn’t appear again until the banquet ended, and Ichi didn’t seek out Ning Yunyi either.
Except for when he walked out of the palace with Clay, Ichi sent a message.
[Ichi: Mr. White, the energy stone you sent last time was very effective. The Marshal is very satisfied and hopes there will be opportunities for cooperation next time.]
Seeing this sentence, Ning Yunyi considered his previous guess verified. Sure enough, Marshal Zong really had his eye on these energy stones.
However, he was relieved. If there was a demand, then at least Marshal Zong would temporarily be their shield.
As for their stance later, it would depend on whether they had conflicting interests.
There are no eternal friends or eternal enemies in this world.
[Mr. White: Naturally. I will send two more energy stones as a thank-you gift later, with the same effect.]
Opposite him, Ichi saw the message and trembled, immediately telling Zong Hao beside him: “Marshal, this Mr. White actually guessed it. H-how did he know?”
Previously, they helped so much for just one energy stone. This time, two, and as a “thank-you gift”—obviously, it was a thank-you gift for Marshal Zong clearing Ning Zhanfeng’s name tonight.
Zong Hao had already cleared Ning Zhanfeng’s name, and the Ning family would soon be restored, so there was no need to hide it from Ichi, but he didn’t reveal Ning Yunyi’s identity: “This Mr. White likely has some connection with Ning Zhanfeng.”
Ichi thought about it and agreed: “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to see Professor Ning. But this energy stone is truly useful. Good heavens, without this energy stone tonight, I might have died at the hands of the Third Prince.”
The Third Prince ambushed him on his way into the palace tonight, aiming to snatch Marshal Zong’s identity ID, thinking it was on him.
Fortunately, he had been following Marshal Zong’s orders to investigate Ning Zhanfeng’s matter and the final battle back then.
Because it involved high-ranking military officials, he had been investigating secretly using the Marshal’s identity clearance.
He hadn’t found anything concrete yet but discovered the petty actions of the Third Prince, Zong the Second, and the Mu family head first.
Ichi obeyed the Marshal’s orders and dared not contact him proactively, anxious enough to scratch his ears. Fortunately, just before setting off, the Marshal suddenly contacted him.
Ichi reported immediately, and then the Marshal told him to bring the 3S-level energy crystals given by Mr. White earlier and that energy stone.
Ichi brought them, but he didn’t expect the Third Prince to be so ruthless, actually using special imperial power to bring several top Double-S level experts to deal with him.
Although he won narrowly, he was seriously injured and almost triggered a spiritual rampage.
At that moment, the Marshal arrived just in time and used the energy stone on him, and it was actually suppressed just like that.
Then came the scene in the palace.
Speaking of this, Ichi looked at the Marshal, who had taken off his mask and helmet to reveal wet hair. Thinking of something, he asked in surprise: “Marshal, how did you get here?”
F District wasn’t close to A District.
Asking this earned him a strange look from Zong Hao, who finally looked away: “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask.”
Zong Hao’s mood was complex. He closed his eyes, pretending to be casual, but in reality urged Ichi to pilot the spaceship back to the underground city ahead of time.
He had no identity ID, no wristband, and couldn’t use the star coins in the [Bai Xiaomiao] account, otherwise, it would alert Ning Yunyi immediately. So… he had taken a shortcut directly across from F District to A District.
It was a very hidden passage known to few, but since it was a crossing, it meant it was a body of water.
Could Zong Hao directly tell Ichi he swam the whole way?
Because he had no star coins, he swam directly to A District. That sounded easy but embarrassing to say; he had his pride too.
The only fortunate thing was that he had hidden a set of old armor in that secret base when he visited before, just in case.
He hadn’t used it for over a decade, but tonight it came in handy.
Ning Yunyi arrived outside the palace gate and first saw City Lord White and City Lord Xi waiting there.
The two were still in a daze, but one was happy and the other sad.
The happy one was City Lord White. When he heard backstage at the banquet that Marshal Zong cleared Big Brother Ning’s name, he wished he could run out and celebrate immediately.
This was great news.
City Lord Xi was sad because everyone’s attention was on the shocking gossip throughout the event. Who had the mind to eat? So the skewers and braised meat they brought were forgotten and never served.
Such a good promotional opportunity, missed just like that.
Ning Yunyi, on the contrary, didn’t care. Maybe it was a good thing.
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thanks for the update!