Undying Life

Chapter 264: The Great Light and Great Yu Alliance

Such a beautiful scene, not only for those outside the mansion of Princess Qianyou but also for those within.

Everyone watched breathlessly, mesmerized by the beauty. The queen's eyes sparkled with excitement. While effects created by large-scale spells might be better, the sheer quantity here was unparalleled. At least the queen had never seen such a massive fireworks display.

Mr. Shuijing took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly with a hint of admiration.

Ah Da and Ah Er looked up with excitement, while Princess Qianyou's gaze turned to Zhongshan, her eyes softening, a deeper affection evident.

"Qianyou, is there more from Zhongshan? More?" The queen asked eagerly.

Looking at the queen, Zhongshan shook his head speechlessly. "No, it's been over three hours since they came down. It'll be dawn soon!"

"That's a pity," the queen sighed lightly.

"I'm satisfied. Let's go, let's have something to eat in the Fragrant Orchid Hall," Princess Qianyou said.

"Okay," the queen nodded.

The two women entered the hall first, followed closely by the four men.

Inside, the dining table was arranged according to the style of the ancient Great Yu Dynasty, with a circular layout offering a variety of delicacies.

As the queen picked out food on her plate, she said, "Qianyou, you're really lucky to have found Zhongshan. He came up with so many ideas."

Zhongshan smiled slightly, while Princess Qianyou pouted inexplicably. "It's a pity he's leaving my mansion soon."

"Huh?" The queen was surprised.

Zhongshan scratched his nose with a wry smile. It was the princess's decision in the end, but now she blamed it on him.

"In forty days, there's the imperial examination. If he attends and gets the top three, he can't continue to be my guard," Princess Qianyou said.

Hearing this, the queen was momentarily stunned, then she looked at Princess Qianyou and smiled, "Not being a guard anymore, but becoming a general or minister in the future. Otherwise, how can he match up to a princess like you?"

"Sister..." Princess Qianyou blushed.

"A man, of course, needs to make achievements, or he'll be worthless just staying by your side," the queen explained to Princess Qianyou bluntly.

Princess Qianyou blushed, while Zhongshan felt a bit embarrassed. The queen was quite straightforward.

"But I doubt whether this Mr. Zhongshan of yours is really that capable. Top three in the imperial examination is not easy at all. Are you that confident?" the queen suddenly asked, puzzled.

"Well, if you don't believe it, you can ask Shuijing," Princess Qianyou said.

Upon hearing this, the queen immediately turned to Mr. Shuijing for clarification.

Seeing the queen's gaze, Mr. Shuijing immediately said, "Mr. Zhongshan's talent far exceeds mine!"

"I don't believe it. Shuijing, don't intentionally speak nonsense," the queen shook her head and laughed.

"Every word spoken by Mr. Shuijing is true," Mr. Shuijing immediately replied.

"Mr. Shuijing is too modest. How could Zhongshan dare to compare himself to you?" Zhongshan smiled.

"Well, why not compare? Shuijing, why don't you participate in the imperial examination too?" the queen suggested.

"Huh, do you want me to participate in the imperial examination?" Mr. Shuijing stared at the queen.

"Yes, let me see how well you can do. Even if you pass in the future, you can continue to serve my husband. Otherwise, you'll always be stuck in the palace as an adviser, which is too unfair," the queen said kindly.

Mr. Shuijing smiled bitterly. Unfair? More like too weak. But for what he wanted, being weak didn't matter. However, now that she had spoken up...

"Alright, Shuijing, I'll listen to you," Mr. Shuijing said immediately.

"That's the way," the queen smiled.

Twenty days had passed since the Starlight Lanterns and the city fireworks.

Jifanzhai had firmly established itself in the ancient capital. Although there were many shops following suit, producing fireworks that were no less impressive than those of Jifanzhai, and even crafting more exquisite Kongming lanterns, this first shop still won over a large number of customers.

The most important thing was that Zhong Zheng deeply understood Zhongshan's theory of sixteen words: "People without me, people have me superior, people superior, I'm cheaper, people cheaper, I'm nonexistent."

Now, everyone was following suit. Jifanzhai only treated it as an auxiliary industry, with even more novel things about to emerge. Human wisdom was boundless, and strange and rare items were sure to satisfy the endless consumption in the ancient capital. Moreover, they were about to start opening branch stores.

The shops continued to thrive.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Princess Qianyou's mansion became extremely tense.

Inside the Orchid Hall, there were still four people: Zhongshan, Qianyou, Ah Da, and Ah Er.

"Ah Er, is the information absolutely true?" Princess Qianyou asked again, puzzled.

"Yes, Princess. It's absolutely true. That Bai Ye, who was bitten by the Zombie Emperor, was originally the emperor of the Daye Dynasty. Not long after Bai Ye disappeared, the Daye Dynasty was divided by the surrounding countries. And not only that, but the other two dynasties that surrounded the Great Yu Dynasty, the Dayan Dynasty and the Dalu Dynasty, were also destroyed not long ago," Ah Er said.

"Destroyed? Two dynasties, how were they destroyed? How long has it been? Two years? A mighty dynasty, actually destroyed?" Princess Qianyou frowned.

"The Dayan and Dalu Dynasties were indeed strong, but the ones who destroyed them were even stronger. It's not difficult for the three major dynasties to destroy two dynasties," Ah Er said.

"Which three major dynasties?" Princess Qianyou frowned.

"The Great Yu Dynasty, the Great Guang Dynasty, and another one, the Great Xun Dynasty," Ah Er said.

"The Great Xun Dynasty?" Princess Qianyou frowned in thought.

Zhongshan narrowed his eyes. From this information, he quickly discovered something unusual.

It was indeed easy for the three major dynasties to besiege and destroy two dynasties, but the key was what the purpose of these three major dynasties was.

The Great Yu Dynasty and the Great Guang Dynasty, he had just visited. One had the King of Jilu, and the other had the Cold Extremity Prince. As for the Great Xun Dynasty, Zhongshan also knew about it. It was one of the three dynasties currently at war with the Daluo Dynasty.

Why could the three major dynasties suddenly cooperate sincerely to jointly exterminate two small dynasties sandwiched between them?

Perhaps it was to expand their territory, which could explain it, but the relationship between these three major dynasties was too special, at least too special for the Daluo Dynasty.

Could it be that the Great Yu Dynasty and the Great Guang Dynasty were actually cooperating?

"Bad!" Princess Qianyou suddenly exclaimed.

"What's wrong, Princess?" Ah Da asked curiously.

"The Great Yu Dynasty and the Great Guang Dynasty are cooperating," Princess Qianyou frowned.

"They're cooperating?" Ah Er asked in confusion.

"No, I mean, they're planning to cooperate against my Daluo Dynasty," Princess Qianyou frowned.

"Against my Daluo Dynasty?" Ah Er exclaimed in surprise.

"The Great Xun Dynasty was originally at war with our dynasty, not counting it, my Daluo Dynasty is about to face a joint attack from the Great Yu Dynasty and the Great Guang Dynasty, changing from facing three major dynasties to now facing five major dynasties," Princess Qianyou said in shock.

"The five major dynasties?" Ah Er also sucked in a cold breath.

"Yes, it's possible that the war has already started at the border. By wiping out the two dynasties, the Great Guang Dynasty's territory now extends to the border of my Daluo Dynasty. Facing a joint attack from five major dynasties, the situation is dire," Princess Qianyou frowned.

"That's not the main issue. The most important thing is whether there might be others lurking in the dark," Zhongshan furrowed his brow.

"Are you saying, sir, that there are other forces involved?" Princess Qianyou asked.

"Yes, but who knows for sure now?" Zhongshan shook his head.

"Alright, the Emperor summoned me. I'll go meet him and see what his attitude is," Princess Qianyou said.

"Okay," everyone in the hall nodded.

Twenty days later, in the Orchid Hall of Princess Qianyou's mansion.

Zhongshan, Qianyou, Ah Da, and Ah Er all had furrowed brows.

"Princess, just as you guessed, the frontline war has begun. Although the City of Wushuang has not fallen, countless casualties have already occurred. The City Lord of Wushuang, Shuitianya, has died in the line of duty," Ah Er sighed.

"Shuitianya is dead?" Ah Da found it hard to believe.

Who was Shuitianya? Wasn't he the one Zhongshan helped to become the City Lord a few years ago? Dead? He actually died?

"He's dead. The situation on the frontline is very grim. Wushuang City is also having trouble holding out," Ah Er sighed.

"It's coming aggressively!" Zhongshan frowned.

"Yes, these past few days, my father has gone to the frontline to supervise the war. Of the four Great Princes, only the Great Xuan Prince is still in the ancient capital. I don't know what he's up to. Right now, the forces he's involved with are facing the attacks of the Great Yu Dynasty and the Great Guang Dynasty," Princess Qianyou frowned.

"He's waiting for the imperial examination ten days later. He wants to wait until after the imperial examination to personally oversee the situation in the south," Zhongshan took a deep breath.

"Wait until after the imperial examination?" Ah Da asked in confusion.

"Yes, the war in the south is the most complicated. The Great Xuan Prince is not an ordinary person, as you've described him. He must be waiting until after the imperial examination to grasp the overall situation, coordinate the counterattack. However, although he's in the ancient capital, his orders should be continuously issued to all directions, coordinating the defense," Zhongshan said after some thought.

"Why? Why wait until after the imperial examination?" Ah Da asked in puzzlement.

"After the imperial examination, you'll understand," Zhongshan said.

"Alright," Ah Da nodded with doubt.

"Sir, what are your plans? Are you still going?" Princess Qianyou suddenly showed a hint of worry.

"I've already registered my name. There's no reason not to go. Don't worry, Princess, no matter how I perform in the examination, I've once been a member of the Princess's mansion," Zhongshan smiled.

"Okay," Princess Qianyou nodded lightly, although still somewhat worried, her expression was much more relaxed.