Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 226: The Origins of the Five Great Families and the Seven Hidden Clans (4)
Feng Xuxu took the cup and sipped lightly before asking, "Why have you come so early today, opting for the unorthodox path instead of the main entrance?"
"I missed you and wanted to come earlier, but I got tied up with some matters." He stretched out his strong arms and enclosed the person he’d been longing for in his embrace.
"If you’re busy, you didn’t have to come over this late. I’ll be staying in the Capital City for a little while longer." Seeing the beautiful peach-like eyes of Dugu Chen shadowed with dark circles, she said with concern.
"It’s not a problem, what about the poison you were just discussing? What’s that about?" He remembered the conversation he heard upon entering the room and decided to ask.
"What kind of poison can make a person appear younger and also cause tiny black spots in their eyes?" She lifted her gaze to look at Dugu Chen.
Dugu Chen frowned, thinking carefully. There were many, even thousands of possibilities that could cause such symptoms; it was difficult to pinpoint.
"Little Xuxu, can you think of any other characteristics?"
Feng Xuxu furrowed her brow and thought. She had known Tinglan from the Imperial Palace. And then there was today. Suddenly, a light seemed to dawn on her, only to be quickly overshadowed by darkness.
"Little Xuxu, have you thought of something?" Seeing her eyes brighten one moment and then dim the next, he really couldn’t tell what she had in mind.
"Chen, she never eats out, does that count?" Feng Xuxu thought it over; this didn’t explain much. The first time she met her was at a palace banquet. Could it be that she hadn’t eaten anything during the entire event?
"Don’t worry, Little Xuxu. I’ll look into it later." Seeing his little woman so concerned, he resolved to fulfill his husbandly duty and take on the investigation himself to spare his Little Xuxu the trouble.
If it was truly the poison he suspected, he would have to be more vigilant against "him" in the future; he couldn’t allow anyone to use it on his woman.
"Right, I just don’t understand why the Hidden Clan has reappeared before everyone’s eyes." If it hadn’t been for her grandparents, she wouldn’t have traveled thousands of miles to the Capital City to involve herself in affairs that weren’t hers to meddle with.
"Since the founding of the empire, there were several key contributors who helped establish the realm, namely the five major families now. The founding ancestor originally wanted to grant them titles, but, as if they had agreed beforehand, all of them unanimously declined. Instead, each of the five families received a Death Exemption Token." He paused, noticing that Little Xuxu was listening intently, and then continued, "After the founding ancestor’s demise, when the Martial Emperor ascended to the throne, the Imperial Court went through turmoil. Seven sworn brothers rose up amidst the suffering of the people to stabilize the empire on behalf of the current emperor. Once peace was restored, the Martial Emperor, both grateful and wary of them, revoked their military power. Caught between a rock and a hard place, he offered them a fortune and made them agree to stay out of the public eye for a hundred years, with the alternative being death on the spot. Deprived of military power and with many new generals placed in the army by the Martial Emperor, they had no choice but to become the Hidden Clan." Dugu Chen explained at length, indirectly clarifying the grievances between these noble families and the Hidden Clan for Feng Xuxu.
"Chen, then what’s the deal with the Zhang Family from Zhangzhou Prefecture?" She remembered an old man at the tavern mentioning that the rebellion of the five princes was greatly aided by the Zhang Family of Zhangzhou Prefecture, so why hadn’t she heard about the seven brothers’ matter?
"He was a spy for the Martial Emperor. Eventually, all credit was bestowed upon him. Those who knew about it were gradually dealt with by the Martial Emperor." While speaking, he inhaled the fragrant scent of Little Xuxu’s hair, feeling his heart stir once again but restraining himself, cautious not to hurt his little woman.
Feng Xuxu raised her finely arched eyebrows, "Chen, knowing so much, could I get killed for it?" Holding onto Dugu Chen’s hand, she blinked her brimming eyes at him, coyly asking.
