71: Chapter 71 Five years have passed; it's time for him to come.

Time flies like a fleeting shadow.

The sun rises and sets, the silver moon waxes and wanes, the stars flicker, and the world changes; in the blink of an eye, five years have passed...

In the seventh year of the simulation, it was the beautiful season of early spring.

In the courtyard, the sun cast its light, petals fell like rain, and the spring scenery was delightful.

In the long corridor, a beautiful woman dressed in a simple, elegant skirt with a translucent outer garment gazed at the two youths in the pavilion with a smile in her eyes...

These two youths, one named Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai and the other named Qi Xuying, one fourteen and one sixteen, had already grown taller than her...

One was her biological son, the other her foster son, and both had shown astonishing achievements.

Her biological son, Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai, had already broken through to the Great Perfection stage of the Grandmaster Realm, only a step away from the Great Grandmaster, which was within reach...

Her foster son, Qi Xuying, was exceptionally intelligent and managed the entire Qi family's businesses in an orderly fashion. Branches of various industries had spread across the country, bringing in an annual income of over three million guan for the Qi estate.

At the same time, Xuying also maintained close contact with her late husband's former subordinates, causing some neutral and wavering courtiers to secretly stand on Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai's side, supporting him in seizing power from Qi Yuan...

Thinking of this, Jiang Ji was filled with gratification.

Although Qi Yuan often came to the estate to cause trouble, Xuying was able to defuse the danger every time, letting that demon Qi Yuan return empty-handed.

"Xuying, why are you so smart..."

Gazing at her foster son, Jiang Ji's eyes were filled with gentle affection.

"Mother." "Foster Mother."

The two youths ran to Jiang Ji's side at the same time.

"Alright, enough training, let's eat!"

Jiang Ji smiled gently.

"Mother, older brother is truly amazing. It was his guidance that helped me break through to the Grandmaster Realm. Although he doesn't understand the Dao of Martial Arts, he can always point me in the right direction. If he had a True Qi Spiritual Root, he probably would have broken through to the Martial King Realm long ago, hehe..."

Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai patted Su Fan on the shoulder, seemingly very proud of his "older brother Xuying" who lacked a True Qi Spiritual Root, and was not stingy with his praises.

Su Fan had also gradually adapted to the identity of "Qi Xuying".

Over these years, because he donated one million guan every year to help the poor, more and more people outside called him "Young Master Xuying", and his charitable deeds had long spread throughout the streets and alleys.

At the dinner table, Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai kept going on about "older brother Xuying's" achievements, but Jiang Ji looked at Su Fan and asked, "Is there any reply from Jing Ge?"

Su Fan was silent for a moment, then shook his head gently: "No."

Jiang Ji's expression darkened slightly, and she forced a smile: "Don't worry, we will find her eventually."

Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai naturally knew what the two were talking about, so he added: "Jing Ge had broken through to the Grandmaster Realm when he left; by now he might even be a Great Grandmaster. He will definitely be able to bring sister Su Ying back..."

After Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai finished speaking, the three fell into silence, each burying their heads in their meal...

Four years ago, Su Fan had sent Jing Ge to the Great Yan Empire to find Su Ying.

But four years had passed, and there was still no news.

Back then, he was imprisoned and taken back to Zidu by Prince Yin, while Su Ying was captured and taken to the Fengqi Pavilion in the Great Yan Empire...

The two had been separated by vast distances for more than six years.

He didn't know if she was dead or alive, or how she was doing...

Sigh, Yingzi, are you well?

... On the streets of Zidu.

"Hey, have you heard? The Great Yan Empire is going to war with the Cangyue Empire!"

"It is said that Empress Yan Yufei of the Great Yan Empire has already broken through to the Martial Saint Realm. The Cangyue Empire is probably going to suffer now!"

"Compared to that, what's even more shocking is that it is said the Empresses of the Great Yan Empire all have a 'fondness for the Phoenix Yin', and they all like to select female warriors from the Fengqi Pavilion to be their consorts. With three palaces and six courtyards, and concubines everywhere, yet they don't keep male concubines. It is truly strange!"

"That's just a rumor; you haven't seen it with your own eyes. Tsk, what woman in this world can do without a man!"

"..."

Su Fan walked past the crowd, and hearing these discussions, his heart remained calm as an ancient well.

He had long known about the news of the Great Yan Empire going to war with the Cangyue Empire through his subordinates; this was no longer a secret.

However...

The gossip about the Great Yan Empresses having a "fondness for the Phoenix Yin" was something he had heard for the first time.

"Hehe, 'fondness for the Phoenix Yin', these commoners are quite good at coining terms..."

He chuckled and walked past.

... Under the protection of his guards, Su Fan traveled by carriage to a small town fifty miles southeast of the capital, where a large number of refugees had gathered.

Under the brutal rule of Qi Yuan, the Shanhai Principality had issued the "Maritime Prohibition Order" for consecutive years, forbidding fishermen from fishing more than five miles out, with execution for violators.

In reality, Qi Yuan issued this prohibition to monopolize the right to capture merfolk. Selling merfolk to neighboring inland countries could yield huge profits, especially the merfolk pearls, which could nourish True Qi and regulate Spiritual Veins, being highly beneficial to martial artists and thus in short supply.

After the prohibition was issued, it indeed enriched the imperial court, but it caused suffering for the coastal fishermen.

The Shanhai Principality's coastline was vast, and millions of people relied on fishing for a living. Under the oppression of the prohibition, these people could no longer survive, so they raised banners to rebel.

However, the vested interest groups of the imperial court did not sympathize with them. Instead, they organized martial artist legions to suppress them madly, slaughtering wave after wave of the rebelling fishermen.

Those with a True Qi Spiritual Root had long since become the imperial court's lackeys. As for the remaining Mortals, no matter how many there were, they could only accept the fate of being slaughtered...

The coastal rebelling fishermen, finding they could not defeat the martial artist legions, turned their anger and spears toward the ordinary commoners of Jiangdong.

Jiangdong was prosperous, and most of the commoners lived a life with enough food and clothing, which was very comfortable.

Who would have thought that those fishermen would occupy their homes, seize their grain, take their wives and daughters, and even massacre entire villages and towns...

Gradually, more and more Jiangdong commoners joined the imperial legions, forming a siege on the rebelling fishermen, suppressing and slaughtering them madly...

This grand uprising, in which millions of fishermen participated, gradually fell into silence...

Leaving only corpses covering the ground and blood flowing like rivers!

At the same time, the war also brought refugees everywhere...

Su Fan often went out of the city to hire refugees, taking them to various branch stores to work as laborers, and then paid them a salary sufficient for food and clothing.

Having received his kindness, these people were all very respectful to him.

Whenever they encountered his carriage on the road, they could not help but kneel and bow.

"Young Master Xuying is here!"

"We have food to eat today!"

As soon as the refugees saw Su Fan, they surrounded him, calling him "Young Master Xuying" with every breath, each revealing a smile.

Su Fan smiled slightly; he was also deeply gratified by their respect.

Then, he took them to work.

... At this moment. Night fell.

Whenever night fell, Su Fan would stand on the high pavilion, looking towards the southwest, as if waiting for someone.

Today was no exception.

Jiang Ji held that cloak in her hand, climbed the high pavilion, and draped it over him once again.

"Xuying, it is still cold. You are a Mortal, so don't catch a cold."

Listening to the gentle murmur, Su Fan put on the cloak, looked towards the southwest, and muttered: "Five years have passed, he should be coming soon..."