Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 354: Chapter 160: News of the Shangjiangjun Returns to Sha Village! Zhao Feng’s Grand Wedding! (Part 2)

Ying Zheng opened it and took a look.

”Spirit Stones?” Ying Zheng was taken aback, looking at Zhao Feng in surprise. ”You’re actually giving such precious Spirit Stones to me?”

”I was fortunate enough to acquire a few,” Zhao Feng replied with a smile. ”I have no use for them, so I might as well give them away.”

”Fine. You’ve shown some heart, young man.”

”I will accept them. Consider it payment for presiding over your wedding banquet.” Ying Zheng, of course, had no intention of refusing and took them immediately.

However, his tone soon changed.

”After the wedding banquet, will you return to your hometown?” Ying Zheng asked.

”Yes,” Zhao Feng nodded. ”I haven’t been home in four years, and I don’t know how my mother and sister are faring. I must go back to see them and spend some quality time with them.”

「In Shaqiu County, Sha Village!」

BANG BANG BANG.

BOOM BOOM BOOM.

Hundreds of people beat gongs and drums as they marched through the village, heading toward the Zhao Mansion at its center. This spectacle drew all the villagers out to stop and watch.

”What’s happening? Why such a commotion?” one villager asked.

”I have no idea,” another replied.

”Look! The one in the lead is the Prefectural Governor! It looks like they’re all heading to the Zhao Mansion!”

”How do you even recognize the Prefectural Governor? He’s the highest official in all of Shaqiu County!” someone exclaimed.

”Hah, you must be new here,” a man scoffed. ”It’s not just me; most of the people in our village recognize him. The Prefectural Governor visits the Zhao Mansion almost every month to pay his respects and look after the Zhao Family. After all, their Zhao Feng is now a Main General of Qin—and the youngest in the world at that. His rank is high and his power is immense.”

”I know of General Zhao Feng! Who in the world doesn’t know his name these days?”

”My daughter married into Sha Village precisely because of him. As fellow villagers, we’ve all benefited from General Zhao Feng’s grace.”

”Hahaha, that’s right! General Zhao Feng’s mother is exceptionally kind to all of us. She leases the fields her son was rewarded with to fellow villagers at a low rent. The entire village is indebted to the Zhao Family.”

”The Prefectural Governor is here again today, and with such formality. It must be more good news.”

”I heard that the Zhao state has been annexed by our great Qin, and that Lian Po, once hailed as an invincible War General, fell at the hands of General Zhao Feng.”

”I heard it wasn’t just Lian Po, but Pang Xuan, too! Both were top-tier War Generals, and both were killed by General Zhao Feng!”

”Who would have thought that a small place like Sha Village could produce a man like General Zhao.”

”With such great fanfare, it must be that the Imperial Court has sent rewards for General Zhao. Let’s go watch the excitement! A spectacle like this doesn’t come around every day.”

”Exactly, let’s hurry before we lose the good spots!”

The villagers all began to converge on the Zhao Mansion.

「Within the Zhao Mansion in Sha Village!」

”Madam. Miss. The Prefectural Governor has arrived,” the housekeeper of the Zhao Mansion announced respectfully.

When Governor Yan Bing first started visiting, his presence sent shockwaves through the household. It was no small matter for the governor of a county to visit their home. But after a year or two of near-monthly visits, everyone had grown accustomed to it. Every time Yan Bing came, he would bring a multitude of gifts: servants, gold and silver, medicinal herbs—whatever he could think of. He spared no effort in currying favor with the Zhao Family.

Mrs. Zhao understood the nature of his kindness. Though she had tried to refuse at first, she eventually found herself unable to continue doing so and accepted Yan Bing’s goodwill on her son’s behalf.

”It looks like there’s news of your brother,” Mrs. Zhao said, her face lighting up. ”I specifically asked Governor Yan last time to send someone immediately if he heard anything about your brother.”

”The Zhao state has fallen, so brother should be coming home soon,” Zhao Ying added happily.

”Let’s go out and greet Governor Yan,” Mrs. Zhao said at once, and the mother and daughter headed for the entrance.

Just as they reached the mansion gates, Yan Bing, in his familiar fashion, was already directing men to carry in chests one after another. The guards at the gate didn’t stop them, as they were all too familiar with Governor Yan.

”Governor Yan, is there news of my Feng’er?” Mrs. Zhao asked as soon as she saw him.

”Haha! Madam! Congratulations, congratulations!” Yan Bing said, his face flushed with excitement. ”Excellent news has arrived from Xianyang! General Zhao Feng has been appointed Protector-General by the Great King!”

”What? Protector-General?”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhao was completely stunned.

”What’s a Protector-General?” Zhao Ying asked curiously.

”Miss Zhao,” Yan Bing said with a smile, ”the position of Protector-General is what’s commonly known as a Shangjiangjun, or Senior General.”

At these words, Zhao Ying’s expression also turned to one of shock.

”Se-Senior General? How is that possible? My brother became a Senior General? He’s only twenty years old! This can’t be real, can it?” Her voice trembled.

When this news got out, it wasn’t just strangers who found it incredible—even Zhao Feng’s own sister couldn’t believe it.

”A Senior General?”

”Zhao Feng was appointed a Senior General by the Great King?”

”My heavens! How is that even possible?”

”He’s only twenty years old, and he’s been appointed a Senior General?”

”The Zhao Family has truly produced a dragon! The youngest Senior General in Qin, the youngest in the world!”

”This is just too unbelievable.”

”Our Qin’s fourth Senior General... and he’s only twenty...”

The villagers gathered in front of the Zhao Mansion were all dumbstruck, utterly shocked by the news Yan Bing had brought. They had expected something big, given the gongs and drums, but no one could have imagined this.

A twenty-year-old Senior General! This could only be described as the ancestors’ graves emitting green smoke. No, even that couldn’t begin to describe such a fortuitous event.

”Then when will Feng’er be coming back?” Mrs. Zhao asked with concern. She hadn’t seen her son in four years; it would be a complete lie to say she didn’t miss him.

”It is said that the Senior General will first hold a wedding banquet in Xianyang for the ministers of the Court. Afterward, he will return home to host another one for the village elders and folks,” Yan Bing said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. This is for the best. That way, he won’t offend his colleagues at Court. In just four short years, her son had reached the position of Senior General, a truly unprecedented feat. If he held the wedding directly in Sha Village and the King of Qin happened to make a surprise visit, it could lead to a major disaster. Therefore, holding one feast in Xianyang and another in Sha Village was the ideal choice.

”I also think holding the wedding feasts this way is best,” Yan Bing said respectfully. ”This way, the Senior General can foster relationships with the ministers in Court, and secondly, the Great King will certainly attend the banquet, given the Senior General’s high station.”

Mrs. Zhao nodded. ”Thank you for bringing the news, Governor Yan.”

”Madam, you are too kind,” Yan Bing replied instantly, his tone now even more deferential. ”It is my honor to be able to deliver this message to you.” After all, Zhao Feng’s new position was much, much higher.

”Mother,” Zhao Ying said, still looking at her mother in disbelief, ”is that still my brother? Has he been replaced by an imposter? I found it hard to believe when he became a general, and now he’s a Senior General.”

”Never mind you; your mother can hardly believe it either,” Mrs. Zhao replied, a hint of worry in her voice. ”But your brother must have endured a great deal of hardship over these years.”

「Xianyang City, the Zhao Mansion!」

Today, the mansion was exceptionally festive and abuzz with celebration. The entire estate was filled with distinguished guests. Nearly everyone who had attended the event at the Royal Mansion was present here today as well. One reason was out of respect for Zhao Feng, and another was for Wang Jian.

Of course, the most important factor was their respect for Ying Zheng himself.

Today’s wedding banquet was personally presided over by Ying Zheng. Zhao Feng was the first and only person in the world to be granted such an honor.

In the plaza before the main hall, just as it had been at the Royal Mansion, every seat was filled.

At this moment, Zhao Feng, dressed in black wedding attire, held Wang Yan’s hand. She wore a long black gown and held a fan to veil her face as they walked toward the seats for the elders.

Ying Zheng presided over the wedding feast, seated side-by-side with Wang Jian. Beside him, Zhao Gao served as the crier.

Zhao Gao’s hoarse voice boomed, ”Today, Zhao Feng and Wang Yan of the Wang Family are joyously united in marriage! A grand wedding celebration, sanctioned by Royal Edict and witnessed by all citizens of Great Qin! Today, here at the Zhao Mansion, as Zhao Feng’s elders are not in attendance, the Great King himself shall preside in their stead!”

As his voice fell, the guests below exchanged stunned glances. Even Zhao Feng was slightly surprised, because when he had invited Ying Zheng to preside, he had not asked him to act in the capacity of an elder, as that would have been presumptuous.

But now, with Zhao Gao’s proclamation, Ying Zheng had appeared in the role of an elder. This deeply moved Zhao Feng.

The King of Qin has truly shown me immense grace!

Meanwhile, in the square, the expressions on Fusu’s and Wang Wan’s faces...