124: Chapter 124 Hidden Story

In the library, Tang Long glanced at his buzzing phone and hung up again.

Opposite him, Miao Manman took out her phone, glanced at it, and silently hung up as well.

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but smile.

"Sorry, I've disturbed your reading. I don't know why so many people are calling today."

Miao Manman replied indifferently, "What you said today will cause a lot of trouble; it's only normal that so many people are looking for you."

"What kind of trouble could it be?"

"You called Ye Qingzhou a coward, which causes great damage to his reputation; he won't just let this go. But don't worry, I will mediate for you when the time comes, just to repay the favor I owe you."

"No need!"

Tang Long's voice immediately rose, "A real man stands tall and upright; I don't need a woman to step in for the trouble I've caused!"

Miao Manman frowned, "You…"

"What did I say wrong about him? I already saved him some face in public. If I were to put it more bluntly, I think he's not only unworthy of being the President of the White Clothes Society, but he's not even worthy of the surname Ye!"

"I am actually quite curious. Your grandfather, Elder Miao Yulin, was punished for having a big argument with His Majesty over Ye Baiqiao, right? Have you never cried out for justice for him? Did you just let it pass like that?"

"And, I heard you intend to marry Ye Qingzhou? Is it because of his father's power?"

"You don't seem like that kind of person to me, did I misjudge you?"

Miao Manman's hand trembled, and she couldn't help but look up and glare at Tang Long.

"What are you looking at? If I'm wrong, feel free to refute me! What's the use of looking at me like that?"

"Do you think that just because I don't say it, no one else is saying it outside?"

"Or do you think that only I, Tang Long, have such dirty thoughts, and others won't think you are currying favor with the powerful?"

Miao Manman's eyes turned red, but she bit her lower lip and remained silent.

"Heh, since you won't speak, it means you want to avoid this question, and I won't make things difficult for you."

"When I first learned that you risked your life to practice forbidden arts to fight the people of Sangyu, I actually thought you were qualified to be my friend. Unfortunately, those who truly dare to think, act, and take responsibility are few and far between in this world; I overestimated you."

"You might be a little better than Ye Qingzhou, but not by much."

"Put away those worthless tears. Finish reciting the book quickly, and then I will have fulfilled my promise to Elder Zheng, and our acquaintance will end here."

Having said that, Tang Long poured himself a cup of tea, crossed his legs, and went back to reading his book.

Miao Manman, however, stared at him intensely. After a full minute, she suddenly shouted.

"What do you know!"

"The Six Marshals was forced away! His wife was sealed in Blue Ridge! His two disciples, one eight years old and one six years old, were all saved by my grandfather at the cost of his own life! He protected them for twenty years!"

"As long as he was there for a single day, these people could live well."

"But… but he was terminally ill… He knew… knew he didn't have much time left to live. Once my grandfather died, the imperial court would eventually settle the score with them."

"So he was deliberately defying His Majesty, deliberately dying in prison, using his own life to make the people of the country remember the Six Marshals!"

"Only under such conditions would the imperial court have reservations and not act rashly!"

"And only by protecting his family and disciples could the Six Marshals's sense of belonging to Dongyu be preserved. Only in this way, in Dongyu's critical moment, would there be a glimmer of hope!"

"Do you understand these things?"

"He died to protect the Six Marshals's family and disciples, to protect this country. But he alone… he alone could not protect his own family."

"After he died, he had to bear the charge of being a rebellious high official, and I could only be the descendant of a sinner."

"I swallow my pride, and I do whatever it takes to climb up, just because I want to have that one day where I can tell the truth to all the people of the country, upright and honorable."

"Do you understand this!"

Tang Long was stunned as he listened.

He had successfully ignited this little powder keg, but he hadn't expected it to explode into such a heartbreaking story.

Truly impressive.

This country really needs plenty of positive energy; otherwise, how could she be a queen?

He stood up quickly, straightened his clothes, and then bowed deeply to Miao Manman.

"Classmate Miao, I am truly sorry; I misunderstood you just now."

"Now I formally apologize to you, and I pay my highest respects to your grandfather, the late Elder Miao Yulin."

"He is a true hero, the true backbone of this country."

Seeing how sincere he was, Miao Manman's emotions slowly stabilized; she wiped her red, teary eyes and sat back down.

"This secret is something even Ye Qingzhou doesn't know; I originally didn't intend to tell anyone. But I don't know why, I just got a bit emotional earlier."

"You have been enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens; the pressure is just too great. Don't worry, I am very tight-lipped."

Tang Long sighed, immediately poured another cup of hot tea, and placed it gently in front of her.

"So there was such a significant hidden truth behind it. However, how long can Elder General Miao sustain this country by sacrificing himself?"

"What do you mean?"

Miao Manman immediately glared at him, her tone unfriendly.

"I don't mean any disrespect to the old gentleman; I just feel it wasn't worth it for him. The imperial court first forced away the Six Marshals, and then forced Elder Miao to his death. With such a terrible imperial court, the fate of Dongyu is truly worrying."

"That's why I want to climb up. Only by climbing to a sufficient height can I then change this country."

"How high can you climb? Weren't the Six Marshals and Elder Miao high enough? Can you surpass them?"

Miao Manman was stumped by the question.

She realized that while Tang Long's question was piercing, she had indeed been thinking too simply.

With the status of Ye Baiqiao and her grandfather, they still ended up in such a state; I'm afraid…"

"Unless you become the emperor. But by then, the first thing the Six Marshals would do upon returning is take your life."

Hearing this, Miao Manman couldn't help but feel even more dejected; for a moment, she was distracted, feeling that this was an unsolvable dead knot.

Tang Long also felt he had said too much; it was useless to talk about these things with a girl whose thinking hadn't matured yet.

The problems of Dongyu Kingdom are huge, and they are by no means limited to just these one or two things.

The currency used within its borders is called blue sea coins, which is the common currency of the Blue Sea Federation; it has absolutely no financial sovereignty of its own.

Yet it is located under the regional influence of the Yuanwu Kingdom.

In the surrounding area, there are four or five other small neighboring countries like it, and its relationship with them is not very good. The more unstable the situation in Dongyu, the more room these external forces have to maneuver.

For example, the two cities of Sangyu border the two countries of Haixing and Chilin; behind the chaos in Sangyu back then, there were shadows of these two countries and the Blue Sea Federation.

The two countries of Haixing and Chilin are also frequently plagued by chaos. However, Haixing Kingdom has nominally joined the Blue Sea Federation, and Chilin Kingdom also has some inclinations in that direction.

Looking at it from a broader perspective, this is a power struggle in the buffer zone between the two great empires: the Yuanwu Empire and the Blue Sea Federation.

Therefore, for a small country like Dongyu, it would be a miracle if it could remain stable.