In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 514 Wedding Dress

As for Zheng Qiuyan and Qingying... they were ultimately born into the Zheng family.

The head of the Zheng family is an official appointed by the imperial court, and there is no way they could get involved in such matters. Otherwise... before Zheng Qing's Taicang Army is fully trained, the imperial court will probably arrest Zheng Qing and bring him back to the capital for questioning.

"senior."

Watching Chen Dao walk faster and faster ahead, Zheng Qiuyan frowned slightly and asked Jiang Changye, "Young Master Chen, can you really succeed?"

"I don't know."

Jiang Changye shook his head, "If I'm not mistaken, young friend Chen should be a fourth-grade martial artist, while the Green King is at the fifth-grade level, at most the peak of the fifth grade."

If it were a one-on-one fight, Chen Xiaoyou would definitely win.

But you should know that this battle won't be a one-on-one fight.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qiuyan nodded subconsciously. The Qingwang Mansion did not only have the Qingwang as a martial artist, but also many guest ministers and military generals who served the Qingwang.

Chen Dao was all alone, facing the vast Qingwang Mansion...

They were inevitably outnumbered and outmatched.

"If the situation becomes dire, I implore you, senior, to save Young Master Chen."

Zheng Qiuyan pleaded, putting aside the deal between Chenjia Village and the Zheng family, even just considering her personal relationship with Chen Dao, she did not want to see Chen Dao die.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Jiang Changye nodded solemnly. This time, Chen Dao was not the only one who was going to take action against the Green King; his two precious disciples were also involved. No matter what, he could not sit idly by.

…………

…………

It's getting light.

The bustling city has regained its vibrancy, with people venturing out of their homes to make a living.

One by one, the martial artists who had gathered in the city left the restaurants where they were staying and headed to the Qingwang Mansion, which was located in the very center of the city.

Standing on the open ground in front of the Qing King's mansion, Zhu the butcher looked at the magnificent mansion that occupied nearly one-tenth of the entire city and couldn't help but sigh, "The Qing King lives in such a big place, isn't he afraid of tiring himself out?"

If we calculate the size of the Qingwang Mansion using the methods from Earth in the previous life, it would be at least 20 square kilometers, with each side exceeding 4 kilometers in length and width. Living in such a huge mansion, one would probably have to walk several hundred meters just to use the outhouse.

Anyway, Butcher Zhu felt that living in such a mansion was either comfortable or tiring, he didn't know.

"What's so tiring about it!"

Qianli'er, standing beside him, sneered, "The Prince of Qing has people to serve him in everything he does, from eating and drinking to relieving himself. Even when he goes to bed at night, the palace maids warm his bed in advance. How could he possibly be tired?"

"Too."

Zhu the butcher nodded, then sighed, "Damn it, these princes and nobles live such extravagant lives. My fellow villagers in Qiongzhou have to haggle over every pound of pork. Unlike this Prince Qing, who has delicacies at every meal, and is served in every way, even at night when he sleeps, there are maids to help warm his bed."

"If you, Butcher Zhu, wanted to, couldn't you live that kind of life too?"

Qianli'er said with a smile.

"No, I have a sense of shame; I wouldn't do something like this to steal or plunder."

Zhu the Butcher shook his head. Just as Qianli'er had said, with his peak fourth-rank strength, if he wanted to, he could live in a magnificent mansion like the Green King, but he could certainly live a life of ease, with everything done for him.

Born into a family of pig butchers, he was perhaps used to an ordinary life and had no desire for such a luxurious lifestyle.

"Squeak!"

The imposing main gate of the Qingwang Mansion opened, and two men with considerable auras, clad in full armor, stepped out. Facing the martial artists gathered outside, they loudly proclaimed, "The Qingwang has decreed that martial artists of the sixth rank or above may enter the mansion for further discussion."

Upon hearing this, the mid-level martial artists present remained silent, while the other martial artists began to clamor.

"Only martial artists of rank six or above can enter? What about us?"

"We've traveled all this way to the prefectural city, are we really going to be denied entry through the main gate?"

"King Qing is being far too unreasonable. We have come from afar, why won't you let us in? Do you look down on us?"

"Exactly! Why can a sixth-rank martial artist enter, but we can't?"

"..."

Looking at the indignant lower-rank martial artists, the man standing on the right side of the main gate flashed a hint of disdain and said, "This is the order of the Azure King. What, do you still want to force your way into the Azure King's mansion?"

"..."

The lower-ranking martial artists remained silent. They were good at talking, but they didn't really have the guts to force their way into the Qingwang Mansion.

Putting everything else aside, the aura emanating from the two men guarding the door was enough to deter them from making any rash moves.

"May I ask if I may enter, sir?"

Wearing a Taoist robe, Li Qingsong walked up to the two men and asked them a question.

"So it's Master Qingsong."

Respect immediately appeared on the faces of the two men.

Master Qingsong, known in the martial arts world as the White-Eyebrowed Taoist, earned this title because of his two unusual white eyebrows. It was only by seeing his two conspicuous white eyebrows that the two recognized Master Qingsong's identity.

"Master Qingsong is a renowned martial arts expert in Kyushu, so of course he can go in."

The man in armor on the left gestured for them to enter, saying, "Master Qingsong, please come in. King Qing is already waiting inside the mansion."

Li Qingsong nodded and stepped into the mansion.

Upon entering the mansion, servants from the Prince of Qing's residence immediately came and led Li Qingsong toward the banquet hall.

Following Li Qingsong, Jiang Canghai and his group from the White Lotus Sect, along with Zhu Tufu, Qianli'er, and several other peak fourth-rank martial artists, as well as several sixth-rank and fifth-rank martial artists, also entered the Qingwang Mansion. Only a large number of lower-rank martial artists remained outside the gate, unable to enter.

"Damn it, I came all this way, only to find I can't even get through the gates of the Prince Qing's mansion."

"That King Qing is just looking down on us! So what if our cultivation level is a little lower? Why won't he let us in!"

"Damn it! Aren't lower-ranking martial artists martial artists? Why won't they let us in?"

"Damn it, I traveled thousands of miles from Yuzhou to this Qingwang Mansion, but I can't even see a trace of Python Blood Grass or Python Bone Grass. It's infuriating."

"..."

Hearing the commotion from the lower-ranking martial artists outside the door, the two armored men made no comment, pretending not to hear it.

The message previously sent by the Azure King was already very clear: only martial artists of intermediate or higher rank are allowed to enter the manor to discuss matters concerning Python Blood Grass and Python Bone Grass.

These lower-rank martial artists weren't looked down upon by the two men; rather, they simply weren't qualified or capable of possessing Python Blood Grass and Python Bone Grass.

Even if they managed to obtain the Python Blood Grass and Python Bone Grass by taking advantage of the chaos, it would be useless and might even lead to their death.

Because they simply don't have the ability to protect these medicinal herbs, they will most likely be intercepted and killed by other, stronger martial artists, and then end up benefiting others.