Qi Yi ushered Governor Yu Tongguang, County Captain Wang Shao, and several other distinguished guests into the main hall.
These are the highest-ranking officials in Fengyang County on the surface.
Governor Yu Tongguang holds immense power, able to appoint and remove county magistrates except those appointed by the Court. He can independently appoint or remove several assistant officials in the county and other county officials, making his power considerably large.
County Captain Wang Shao controls the military stationed in Fengyang County and has authority over its security. County Minister Yu You is a local official and also the clan leader of the prestigious Yu Family in the Commandery City, being second only to the Governor in rank.
County Inspector Yao He is also a significant figure, holding the authority to monitor local officials and report to the Court at any moment; he has been smiling serenely since entering the main hall.
Zhang Jian noticed that once these heavyweight county officials entered the main hall, the Dragon and Tiger Qi hovering above the Qi Mansion became exceptionally astonishing.
Indeed, a governor possesses an aura that cannot be dealt with through ordinary means.
"To break through this Dragon and Tiger Qi and harm these regional governors, magic cannot be used—it can only be done using one’s own spiritual power, employing martial artists’ techniques for slaughter, or figuring out a way to break through this layer of Dragon and Tiger Qi to use magic..."
Zhang Jian secretly calculated in his mind.
Both conditions are extremely challenging to meet. The former is difficult because most of these governors have a military background, with extraordinary martial arts skills, and becoming a governor of a county means their martial skills are exceptional, with formidable deputy generals and personal guards at their side.
The latter condition could occur if the order within the county falls into complete chaos, the counties rot, and public opinion turns against them, potentially breaking the Dragon and Tiger Qi.
At that moment in the hall, Governor Yu Tongguang, while stationed, revealed another intention: seeking a marriage alliance.
"Old General Qi, I’ve heard that the family has many granddaughters who have reached marriageable age but are not yet wed, particularly the second young lady under the First Lady, who has excellent character and is exceptionally beautiful.
Coincidentally, I have a son who is about to come of age. Since it’s Old General’s birthday celebration, why not have a double celebration? I’ve always admired Old General’s family, and I’d like to form a marital alliance with the Qi Family. I wonder if Old General would be willing to make this happen!"
Yu Tongguang was smiling serenely at this time, gently taking a sip of clear tea, while his narrowed eyes sparkled slightly.
"This..."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yi frowned.
He clearly understood the underlying intentions of the Governor’s words.
It was evidently an attempt to draw in the Qi Mansion and divide Fengyang County.
He could see the other patriarchs, Gu Chengyan and Yu You, casting their gazes over, immediately feeling a headache. Just then, Yu Family Patriarch Yu You laughed and spoke.
"Uncle, it’s rare to encounter such excitement. This County Minister might as well join in the fun. I heard that the second room of the Qi Mansion has two daughters under Yuan Si, and Yun Ying is not yet married, waiting in the house. Today, I’ll propose a marriage for my unworthy son. What does Uncle think?"
Yu You’s words caused the other esteemed officials of the county to subtly change their expressions.
Qi Yuanwu and Qi Yuansi, the two brothers standing next to Qi Yi, exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of pressure.
Especially Qi Yuansi, who felt particularly troubled, having already discussed with Madam Zhang Qi about forming a marital alliance, but now finding this situation difficult to reject.
Otherwise, wouldn’t it imply that the Qi Family is abandoning neutrality and siding with the Governor?
However, the Qi Family’s current stance actually tends towards the local county-honored clan. Collaborating with the domineering Governor is akin to bargaining with a tiger.
Moreover, they had heard that this Governor was a man of great ambition.
His reputation in the Court was not particularly good.
The Qi Family was even more unwilling to collude with him.
But tearing the facade prematurely was not the best choice either.
...
At this moment, in the back yard, an eerie atmosphere began to manifest in a place where no one could anticipate.
Madam Zhou from the First Household, affected by the Nightmare Suppression Technique recently, had not yet recovered. After the birthday celebrations, her female attendant assisted her to the back yard for rest.
Her features were lovely, skin fair, and her eyes were exceptionally spirited, yet the strong, determined aura she exuded disrupted this layer of beauty.
Though physically weakened, she was in high spirits because today, a brother from the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion also came to celebrate Qi Yi’s birthday.
The sibling duo had not seen each other for a long time, and Madam Zhou was naturally very joyful, exhibiting a nicer demeanor towards her female attendants and elder maids along the way.
"Speaking of my brother, he hasn’t been to the Qi Family for over a decade. He only came once during my wedding, but after so many years, he has grown even more heroic; his official rank has also climbed, being a Young Marquis from the Marquis’s Mansion—his demeanor is incomparable to local standards!"
Upon hearing her words, several surrounding female attendants and elder maids bowed their heads. One tall and strong elder maid complimented.
"The Young Marquis is indeed a superior figure, a true phoenix among men, naturally outshining ordinary persons!"
Madam Zhou nodded in agreement: "Yes, the Old Master doesn’t realize that the reason our family was able to send Yuan Wu to serve in the Imperial Guard is thanks to the benefits from my maiden family, otherwise we wouldn’t have the qualification for a seat in the Guard."
Her expression showed no restraint of pride in her eyes.
As she stepped into the boudoir tower, Madam Zhou did not notice the dimming of light in the surrounding rooms, nor the dense Yin Qi suddenly appearing on the walls.
Under the constantly lit beef tallow candles around, the light flickered darker abruptly, the boudoir tower doors suddenly shut tightly, followed by a short scream. The female attendants and elder maids outside changed their expressions, rushed in, and soon after, a chorus of screams echoed from the back yard.
Back in the main hall, Qi Yi was racking his brain, trying his best to stall Governor Yu, as well as that County Minister Yu, as he smiled.
"Governor Yu, County Minister Yu, surely both of you remember that every few years, the Court recruits noble daughters from various counties and towns into the Imperial City’s inner court, taught by the Empress, and this year is the time..."
His voice hadn’t yet fallen when a hurried silhouette entered through the door, quickly whispering into his ear.
"What?"
Receiving the ominous news, Qi Yi’s face immediately turned pale. His piercing gaze swept over the people present, causing the county’s officials to change their expressions, realizing that something might have happened to the Qi Family.
Next to the Governor, another person, clad in a Daoist robe, frowned, casting a glance towards the Qi Family’s back residence.
Nearby, a burly figure exuding intense Evil Qi quietly guarded Yu Tongguang’s side. Yu Tongguang, however, was indifferent, waving his hand for this personal guard to step aside.
At this moment, Zhang Jian subtly sensed something, glancing towards the back residence.
His extremely sensitive Divine Thought faintly detected something, yet the overwhelming Dragon and Tiger Qi acted as a barrier, but he felt a cold spiritual mechanism seem to flash and disappear.
Now, Qi Yi was already in a rage, shouting fiercely.
"Immediately seal the Qi Mansion, allow no one to leave. If anyone tries to force their way out, kill them on sight!"
"Yuan Si, immediately mobilize stationed troops from the county to surround the Qi Mansion. Whoever dares cause trouble is the culprit; you must avenge your sister-in-law!"
Qi Yi gritted his teeth slightly.
His face was dark enough to drip water.
Today was his sixtieth birthday, and yet someone dared to act against Madam Zhou during the banquet; these actions were excessively blatant.
What dismayed Qi Yi more was that with Madam Zhou’s incident, the balance in Fengyang County would inevitably collapse, leading to unforeseen chain reactions.
Yet his actions at the time caused the many officials present to change expression.
Almost assuming Qi Yi had directly torn the facade!