Chapter 256: Husbands Are Meant to Be Sold
Honestly.
Sang Zhe wasn’t too keen on taking this job.
After all, based on his countless years of watching drama, pretending to be a boyfriend to deal with family matters was as good as setting up a “once this battle is over, let’s head home for marriage” premium flag.
The moment he agreed, he would inevitably encounter plots like “parents disapproving of the son-in-law, offering a million to get away from my daughter,” “the childhood friend harboring a crush on the girl coming to challenge him to a duel,” and “matchmaking competitors throwing insults.”
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
But Tang Yubing was his former boss, who had treated him well in both career and life, making her a mentor he greatly respected.
It didn’t feel right not to help her out.
“Uh… Sister Yubing, I’m actually indifferent about this.”
Sang Zhe thought for a moment and said with an awkward smile, “But pretending to be someone else’s boyfriend isn’t something I can decide on my own. After all, I do have a wife. If she gets angry, that’s a dilemma.”
“How about this, let me ask Little Ying first. If Little Ying doesn’t mind, then I—”
One minute later.
“What are you talking about, of course we help,” Zhang Xiaoying looked at Sang Zhe as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Sang Zhe: “?”
“Oh, you don’t know? Sister Tang’s been venting to us several times.”
In the courtyard’s pavilion, Zhang Xiaoying took a sip of tea and turned to Shi Qingyan and Yan Rouwan: “A few days ago, when we were having tea, we heard Sister Tang complain about her family pushing her to go on blind dates.”
“Marriage should be about mutual affection; how can her family just drag her into it without understanding?”
“Exactly.” Yan Rouwan, sipping her tea, added: “You don’t know, Sister Tang has been so stressed about her family lately that she’s starting to lose her hair.”
“Every day at work, she’s sighing and looking worn out; it breaks our hearts to see her like that.”
Shi Qingyan nodded in agreement.
Sang Zhe remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, “So you guys had already conspired together, just waiting for me to come back and inform me?”
“Husband, how could you say that?”
Zhang Xiaoying covered her mouth and giggled: “Sister Tang has taken such good care of you in work and life; now she just needs a little help with her family! What’s the big deal?”
“Knowing your character, how could you bear to see Sister Tang looking so troubled without doing anything?”
Sang Zhe felt something was off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
He felt like he was being sold out.
“… Fine.”
In the end, he helplessly said, “But this matter might have to wait first. After all, there’s more important work to deal with right now.”
“Once the second batch of goods arrives smoothly, I’ll go home with Sister Yubing.”
Zhang Xiaoying, Yan Rouwan, and Shi Qingyan exchanged smiles.
Instead, Tang Yubing looked a bit embarrassed; her pretty face flushed as she lowered her head and hesitantly said, “W-Well, it’s not absolutely necessary to go back…”
“It’s nothing, we should always remember and repay our kindness.”
Sang Zhe said cheerfully: “Ever since I joined the Punishment Department, I owe it all to Sister Yubing for getting to where I am today.”
“If Sister Yubing thinks highly of me and wants me to pretend to be her boyfriend, I’d be happy to help.”
Tang Yubing stared at him, slightly lost in thought.
After a long while, she finally snapped back to reality and turned her head slightly to whisper, “Thank you…”
Her subtle expression was completely observed by Zhang Xiaoying nearby.
“Alright.”
Zhang Xiaoying suddenly clapped her hands and smiled: “Now that it’s settled, it’s time for our girl talk!”
“Goodbye, Husband~ The hot water in the bath is ready~”
Watching the group of giggling girls in the pavilion shoo him away, Sang Zhe pouted in grievance but could only sigh and obediently head off to take a bath.
Oh no.
Could it be that his position in the house would keep getting lower from now on?
Sigh, men.
——
——
Meanwhile, deep within Tianlang City in the Holy Kingdom, amid a majestic palace.
“… Gu Yingmian?” a slightly displeased voice rang out.
On the dragon throne, wrapped in a black robe concealing her alluring figure, the authoritative and fierce-eyed Empress Huo Ningxue frowned slightly: “Are you sure it was her who acted?”
“I have confirmed with the three Tianlang Wei multiple times; the only one matching the description is the Sword Flower Palace’s master, Gu Yingmian.”
A general in dragon armor with red epaulets respectfully replied: “The Tianlang Wei are all faithful warriors of the Holy Kingdom; they would never deceive Your Majesty.”
Huo Ningxue certainly did not doubt the loyalty of the Tianlang Wei.
When she was young, she had followed her father and personally witnessed how the Tianlang Wei were selected from hellish conditions.
Each Tianlang Wei was a precious asset to the Holy Kingdom.
“If it really was Sword Flower Palace acting, then this could be interesting.” Huo Ningxue’s gaze lowered slightly.
“The esteemed Master Gu Yingmian of Sword Flower Palace, a peerless sword cultivator in the Great Ascension stage, has fallen for a mere foundation-level cultivator from the Demon Cult?”
“No wonder a trivial foundation-level cultivator managed to climb to such a high position in the Demon Cult. Turns out he’s just a kept man!”
But surprise aside.
This failure meant the plan to capture someone from the Demon Cult had gone awry.
Moving forward, even if they switched targets, the Demon Cult would likely be well-prepared, increasing their protection of high-ranking members.
Moreover, the fact that the enemy chose not to kill the Tianlang Wei and instead sent them back indicated that the Demon Cult firmly rejected the Holy Kingdom’s probes, planning to confront them openly.
“… Interesting.” The corner of the woman’s lips subtly curved up.
“Since the other side doesn’t intend to waste time on such side quests.”
“Then, let’s face them head-on.”
“This is the first time I’m showing my sharp edge since taking the throne. The Demon Cult and the Floating Splendor Commerce have come at the perfect time; I’ve been racking my brains on how to make everyone recall the Holy Kingdom’s fame.”
“General Long,” Huo Ningxue’s tone was detached.
“I’m here.”
“The Tianlang Wei will follow your lead.”
She calmly stated: “This time, I want all the goods from the Floating Splendor Commerce; not a single item should leave the city.”
“… At any cost. If necessary, be prepared to kill.”
“I will obey!”
The general’s voice boomed in response.
“Chancellor Cao.”
“I’m here.” The previously loud-voiced middle-aged man stepped forward.
“Go to the National Master’s residence and request assistance from the National Master for the Tianlang Wei. Tell them it’s my decree.”
Chancellor Cao’s body trembled, and he lowered his posture even more: “I will obey.”
Soon, as the chancellor and general took their leave, the entire court fell into whispers and hushed conversations.
Clearly, everyone felt that something significant was about to happen in the Holy Kingdom.
(After twelve days and over five thousand kilometers, my self-driving trip around Qinggan has finally ended.)
(I feel like my soul has been cleansed. I’m very happy, but also very tired; almost like I’m about to die.)
(I’ll take a break, and starting tomorrow, I can catch up on updates.)
