Fiancée Stolen by MC, I Trip Them up-Chapter 367 - 269: Only the Living Have Hope!

Linglong, being exceptionally intelligent, naturally saw through what Zhang Qian and the others were thinking.

She did not feel that there was anything inappropriate about this practice.

If it were Linglong, she would do the same, perhaps even more aggressively than Zhang Qian and the others.

This was already a matter of life and death; compared to preserving one’s life and livelihood, things like face and dignity seemed too hollow.

After all, there’s only hope if one is alive!

Linglong did not rush to speak. She waited until the discussions around her quieted down and then slowly began to speak:

"His Highness the Crown Prince is already aware of your thoughts."

"His Highness understands everyone’s anxiety, but the situation is special now, which is why he has not informed everyone immediately."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qian clasped his hands towards Linglong and said, "May I ask, Chief Historian, what is the reason for this special situation you mentioned?"

Linglong explained, "There are two reasons for this."

"On one hand, His Highness cannot confirm whether the monsters will invade the Great Xia or when they might invade."

"If His Highness takes everyone away and the monsters do not come, then people would have to be sent back, which would delay farming and exhaust resources."

"On the other hand, the location selected by His Highness for evacuation is remote, with harsh conditions, and even the Path of Cultivation there is different from the mainstream methods now. Without preparation, rushing there could be life-threatening."

"Therefore, His Highness decided after much consideration to first send the Imperial Guard to pave roads and bridges. Once everything is stable, the citizens will be transported there."

To accommodate the less literate, Linglong spoke in very simple terms, ensuring everyone could understand.

After Linglong finished, the previously agitated crowd fell completely silent.

Some people still appeared doubtful, but they no longer looked at the Crown Prince’s Mansion with angry eyes as they did before.

Zhang Qian seemed surprised that there was another story behind it and said with a frown, "The Huai Tree Wang clan and other noble families left overnight without a trace..."

Linglong said, "They went voluntarily!"

Seeing some people around looking confused, Linglong explained, "Although His Highness does not approve of ordinary people taking risks, he does not stop those who dare."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qian mused, "Could it be that the Huai Tree Wang clan and those noble families went voluntarily?"

"Of course!" Linglong nodded affirmatively. "The Huai Tree Wang clan alone has several thousand people. If it wasn’t voluntary, how could they all leave overnight?"

After Linglong spoke, she looked at Zhang Qian with a strange expression: "You don’t think the Huai Tree Wang clan was in trouble, do you?"

Zhang Qian hurriedly said, "This official dares not."

Zhang Qian’s position was honestly earned through exams, so he naturally wouldn’t engage in baseless conspiracy theories.

In fact, anyone with common sense wouldn’t think that way.

After all, we’re talking about thousands of people, not just chickens.

Even if it were thousands of chickens, it wouldn’t be possible for them all to be silently slaughtered overnight.

Thoughts raced through Zhang Qian’s mind.

The Chief Historian of the Crown Prince’s Mansion had no reason to deceive them.

Since the Chief Historian said the Huai Tree Wang clan and other noble families voluntarily went to the Refuge, then there is no other possibility.

Thus, Zhang Qian now had only two paths before him.

One was to keep waiting.

To both wait for the arrival of monsters and for the Zhao family to ready the Refuge.

The advantage of this is not having to take risks or suffer hardships.

The phrase "clearing away the thorns" sounds inspiring, but being the one described, the hardships would only be known to oneself.

However, if one just waits, there would be no share of the benefits.

Zhang Qian thought it over and decided to choose another path.

Zhang Qian was from a humble family and had worked hard to reach his current position.

After tasting the sweetness of power, Zhang Qian naturally did not want the rest of his life to be ordinary and uneventful.

To gain, one must first give.

Zhang Qian had understood this truth long ago.

The number of seats of power is always limited.

Once the New World takes shape, it would be nearly impossible for Zhang Qian to gain any share of power.

Thus, now is an opportunity.

To enter the New World early and pioneer with the Zhao family.

In a way, going to the New World to pioneer with His Highness the Crown Prince could also be seen as a meritorious act accompanying the rise of the dragon!

Thinking of this, Zhang Qian did not hesitate any longer and directly bowed in great ceremony towards the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

"This official Zhang Qian volunteers to go pioneer, requesting His Highness the Crown Prince to approve."

Hearing Zhang Qian’s words, the other three Imperial Censors paused, exchanged glances, and then followed Zhang Qian in bowing towards the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

"May His Highness the Crown Prince grant our request!"

Upon seeing this scene, Linglong raised an eyebrow, deeply impressed by Zhang Qian’s keen political sense.

No wonder he was the most talented figure from a humble background in the Great Xia Imperial Court.

This Inspector of the Imperial Censorate displayed consistent exceptional performance.

Linglong looked at Zhang Qian and said solemnly, "Minister Zhang, you must think carefully. There is no falsehood in my previous words. The New World is remote and harsh, and most importantly, as soon as we cultivators enter it, our True Essence will be instantly contaminated, forcing us to undergo Reincarnation."

At this, Linglong looked at Zhang Qian and warned, "If you go to the Little World, you must abandon everything you have now—fame, power, wealth—and start anew in that unknown place."

After speaking, Linglong looked at Zhang Qian: "Even so, are you sure you still want to go?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Absolutely!" A gleam flashed in Zhang Qian’s eyes.

He was not intimidated by Linglong’s words.

On the contrary.

Zhang Qian felt his blood surge, almost wanting to laugh up to the sky.

Abandoning everything and starting anew?

Zhang Qian finally understood why the Huai Tree Wang clan and those noble families were so urgent.

If it really was as the Chief Historian of the Crown Prince’s Mansion said, that everything resets upon reaching the New World, starting over from scratch.

Then those most affected would definitely not be someone like him from a humble background, but the noble families led by the Huai Tree Wang clan.

In a new environment, all the experience and wealth they accumulated would become worthless.

Except for their large numbers, those noble families were no different from Zhang Qian and his kind.

Zhang Qian had endured the suppression of noble families for a long time.

In the Imperial Court, officials from those noble families often ostracized and oppressed Zhang Qian.

Much of Zhang Qian’s energy was used up in battles against them, leaving no time for self-improvement.

At the midnight hour, recalling his daily encounters, Zhang Qian often wished he could eradicate those noble families.

Yet the noble families’ strength was formidable; even though Zhang Qian tried his best, he couldn’t shake their foundations.

Zhang Qian had to accept this.

Unexpectedly, overnight, the heritage noble families had built over millennia turned to nothing.

Though hierarchies may eventually be redrawn, at this moment, everyone stands on equal footing.

As to who will last to the end, that will depend on one’s abilities.

"This official is determined!"

Zhang Qian said decisively, bowing to Linglong,

Meanwhile, he silently vowed in his heart.

Once he establishes himself in the New World, he must show those noble families his strength!

PS: Seeking completion of reading, seeking follow-up reading!