Chapter 218 Zhu Zhuqing's Predicament
Having received Qin Mu's forgiveness, Elder Lin and the other three were grateful for Qin Mu's magnanimity.
After all, in any power, the worst outcome of their actions would be suppression and being given the cold shoulder.
If they were not careful, it was not impossible for them to be beheaded on some pretext.
But Qin Mu not only didn't do that, he treated them equally, so how could they not be grateful?
On the other hand, it was because they still believed in their own sinful nature.
Although on the surface it seemed that Qin Mu had forgiven them, who knew what the new Pope was really thinking behind the scenes?
In particular, if they failed to complete the task personally assigned by Qin Mu, wouldn't that just give Qin Mu the opportunity to punish them?
Therefore, while they were grateful to Qin Mu, they were also wary of him.
But it was precisely because of these precautions that they were more dedicated to their tasks than the other elders.
When it came to their own lives, no one dared to be careless or negligent.
When they finally arrived with their mission, their efficiency was even better than that of some of the elders whom Qin Mu valued.
Qin Mu was naturally fully aware of this.
He understood perfectly that although these people had opposed him before, as long as he could win their sincere allegiance, they would definitely become his capable henchmen.
As the saying goes, a friend turned enemy is more dangerous than an enemy; an enemy turned friend is more reliable than a friend.
Of course, in addition to Elder Lin and the other three, some of the staunch supporters of Bibi Dong were also identified by Qin Mu.
Qin Mu did not make things difficult for them either. While giving them a warning, he also entrusted them with some important tasks.
Under Qin Mu's combination of kindness and severity, the vast majority of cadres were moved to tears and chose to surrender.
Qin Mu accepted all these people without question, while secretly dismantling their familiar networks of communication and subsequently placing them among his subordinates.
They ostensibly changed to new jobs, but in reality, trusted officials were used to monitor them.
As long as they honestly and dutifully continued to serve the Spirit Hall and contribute to it, they would have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of their lives.
However, if someone harbored even the slightest disloyalty, they might be detained or even killed on the spot before their thoughts could escape!
The Star Luo Empire, the Zhu Family.
As nobles of the Star Luo Empire, the Zhu family enjoyed a prominent position that surpassed that of other nobles because their Netherworld Cat Martial Soul could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Technique with the White Tiger Martial Soul of the Dai family, the royal family of the Star Luo Empire.
The two families had a close relationship and generations of intermarriage, and their status was so prominent that even some of the princes from collateral branches of the royal Dai family could not compare.
At this time, a huge uproar was stirred up in the Zhu family because of Zhu Zhuqing.
The reason was that Zhu Zhuqing, relying on her high status in the Zhu family, disregarded the orders of the royal Dai family and directly selected three outstanding members of the next generation of the Zhu family to send to the Spirit Hall.
Such behavior aroused strong resentment from Dai Mubai, the current crown prince of the Star Luo Empire.
"Zhu Zhuqing! Who do you think you are? Sending our outstanding talents to the Spirit Hall, if they can actually get on the Spirit Hall's good side, that's fine.
The problem is, we made such a statement, but the new Pope of the Spirit Hall didn't say anything at all.
Not only that, it has also aroused the dislike of His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"In my opinion, you should get engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince as soon as possible!"
Inside a lavish room in the Zhu family home, a dozen prominent figures from the Zhu family sat around an exquisite wooden table.
At this moment, everyone's face showed a hint of anger, and the one who reprimanded Zhu Zhuqing was an old man sitting at the very front.
As the person involved in the incident, Zhu Zhuqing stood below the hall with an indifferent expression, as if the old man had not spoken of her at all.
"Zhu Zhuqing! Do you really think that just because you've surpassed your sister, our Zhu family can't do without you?!
I'm telling you, today you must finalize your marriage with His Highness the Crown Prince! Otherwise, we will strip you of all your status in the Zhu family!"
"We can get married even without you, we'll get married to someone else!"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's nonchalant attitude, the old man was furious.
As if she had heard some crucial information, a slight change finally appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's usually calm face.
Seeing this, the old man assumed Zhu Zhuqing was afraid and immediately replied with a cold laugh.
"Of course! I keep my word!
Since you have already sent the next generation of young talents to the Spirit Hall, out of respect for the new Pope, we will pretend this never happened.
But the condition is that you must marry His Highness the Crown Prince! Otherwise, you will no longer be a member of the Zhu family!"
Upon hearing the old man's words again, Zhu Zhuqing looked around at the Zhu family elders sitting at the wooden table.
But at this moment, not a single person was willing to stand by her side or say a word in her defense.
Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but show a trace of sorrow on her face.
"The Zhu family is all seated in high esteem, yet now they are sacrificing the happiness of a descendant for their own benefit. They truly deserve the noble name of the Zhu family in the Star Luo Empire!
No one has ever asked me what that so-called Crown Prince is like, or whether I am willing to marry him.
In the end, I was just a victim of a political marriage!
Such a family is better off not staying!"
As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing once again coldly swept her gaze over each elder in the hall, ignoring the resentment on their faces, and with a sneer, prepared to leave.
"Zhu Zhuqing! Who are you trying to imply with your sarcastic remarks? Do you really not take us seriously?!"
After saying that, one of the middle-aged men immediately jumped up from his seat and released his martial spirit.
Like Zhu Zhuqing, this Netherworld Cat possessed seven soul rings: two yellow, two purple, and three black.
Faced with the middle-aged man's attack, Zhu Zhuqing knew she was no match for him, so she simply gave up resisting.
At this moment, however, what she was thinking about was not her dissatisfaction with the Zhu family, but the lone figure of a boy standing on the competition stage, fighting against seven opponents!
"Indeed, one should not meet someone too amazing when one is young, otherwise one will not be able to spend the rest of one's life in peace.
Even though I have met many talented young people now, they are not even one or two tenths of him."
Thinking of this, Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes in anguish, awaiting the judgment of fate.
Just then, a soft cough echoed through the world!
When the Zhu family members realized what was happening, an old figure suddenly appeared in the main hall.
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[end of the chapter]