The City’s Strongest Son-in-law Chapter 1223 - 1222: Gathering Information

"What is your name?" Shen Rushuang inquired.

"Su Changfeng. And yours?" Su Changfeng responded.

"Shen Rushuang."

"A lovely name."

"You mentioned you've forgotten a great deal?" Shen Rushuang asked.

"It would be more accurate to say I remember nothing at all. If it isn't too much trouble, could you perhaps assist me in finding a physician? With the Shen Family's considerable influence, it should be a simple matter, correct?" Su Changfeng inquired.

Shen Rushuang scoffed internally. From her perspective, Su Changfeng was on the verge of death; she possessed no kindness to spare for a man destined for the grave.

"Commencing tomorrow, you should venture out and explore. In approximately half a month, Tianshui City's customary Hunt Festival will commence. You are required to participate alongside me then," Shen Rushuang stated.

"The Hunt Festival? What exactly does that entail?" Su Changfeng inquired, a frown creasing his brow.

"Discover that for yourself. Very well, I shall depart now." Without awaiting Su Changfeng's response, she turned and made her exit.

Though their interactions had been brief, limited to two encounters, Su Changfeng perceived that behind Shen Rushuang's cool demeanor lay a heart as frigid as ice. She likely embodied the archetype of a strong, assertive woman, and her reluctance to marry into the City Lord's household must stem from a compelling reason.

Regrettably, Su Changfeng possessed no familiarity with this particular world, rendering him incapable of discerning Shen Rushuang's true motives.

Yet, fortunately, he would soon have the liberty to explore and observe. This would allow him to gain a more accurate understanding of this realm and ascertain Shen Rushuang's identity.

Following a wash, Su Changfeng reclined on the bed, his gaze fixed through the window upon the luminous, clear moon adorning the night sky. He found himself contemplating whether the moon overhead was identical to the one in his original world.

Upon awakening the following day, the initial sensation Su Changfeng registered was a distinct chill emanating from his arm. Lifting his gaze, he observed that the small serpent had reappeared, coiled upon his limb.

In truth, after Su Changfeng regained consciousness the previous day, he had searched extensively for the creature but to no avail. He had initially presumed it had seized its chance for freedom and departed. He had never anticipated its return. It must have harbored concerns about being detected and chose to lie low initially.

"Little one, your loyalty is truly remarkable. I had thought you had abandoned me!" Su Changfeng exclaimed, unable to suppress a chuckle.

The Little White Snake flicked its tongue, offering no discernible message.

Su Changfeng donned his attire and opened the door, stepping out into the open.

Finally able to venture outdoors, Su Changfeng inhaled deeply, murmuring, "Indeed, the atmosphere here is exceptionally invigorating. Should a future opportunity arise, it would be wonderful to bring Han Xue and Niannian here to spend our retirement."

As these words escaped his lips, he couldn't help but recall Shen Hanxue's prior statement concerning a preference for residing in a place where polygamy was permissible. This world, so reminiscent of antiquity, must surely be such a place, he reasoned.

The Shen Family undoubtedly lived up to its reputation as a distinguished lineage, their courtyard significantly more expansive than that of the Ye Family in Beijing. This was, however, logical. The Shen Family stood as one of Tianshui City's preeminent clans, making their residence in such a grand estate unsurprising.

Furthermore, this was an entirely new world, likely possessing vastly different real estate values and demographic considerations compared to his own.

Had it not been for the diligent guidance of the household servants, Su Changfeng might have become hopelessly lost. After navigating a considerable circuitous route, he finally reached the main thoroughfare.

The main street itself was precisely as Su Changfeng had surmised—quaint and imbued with an ancient charm. The clothing worn by the passersby bore no resemblance to modern fashion. Being present here felt akin to inadvertently stepping onto a film set for a historical epic.

"I wonder what the experience would be like driving a sports car on this very street?" Su Changfeng mused whimsically, a smile playing on his lips.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of Tianshui City and the Shen Family, the most opportune location to commence his investigation was undoubtedly a teahouse. Consequently, Su Changfeng proceeded directly to one without hesitation.

His attention was ultimately drawn to a teahouse bearing the name 'Earth Building,' which appeared to be the most frequented establishment. However, as he contemplated the characters for 'Earth Building,' Su Changfeng found the name somewhat peculiar.

Upon entering, a server approached to extend a welcome. Nearby, patrons were engaged in animated discussions, their focus centered on the most hotly debated topic of the moment—Shen Rushuang's impending marriage.

"To whom exactly is the eldest Miss Shen betrothed? They are supposedly not from Tianshui City, yet I've heard this individual is a simpleton."

"That is baseless gossip. Some are circulating that the person in question is disabled."

"Utter nonsense! I heard from an insider within the Shen Family that the individual is missing an arm."

Hearing these pronouncements, Su Changfeng's lips twitched. He cast a glance at his own limbs, a realization dawning that rumors could indeed be incredibly destructive. He pondered what exactly transpired during his prolonged period of unconsciousness.

Su Changfeng felt compelled to move closer and interjected, "However, I had heard that the individual remained in a coma for an extended duration. Regardless of their physical state, why would the esteemed eldest daughter of the Shen Family agree to wed such a person?"

The group glanced at Su Changfeng, and though they didn’t recognize him, they showed no hesitation in his presence, continuing their animated conversation.

"I’ve heard Shen Rushuang’s actions are primarily to sever ties with the City Lord," one person remarked.

"Everyone in Tianshui City is aware of Wang Junyi’s long-standing affection for Shen Rushuang. Last night, over ten people met their end in the City Lord Mansion, allegedly slain by Wang Junyi in a fit of rage. It’s a perilous existence to be a servant these days."

Upon hearing this, Su Changfeng couldn't help but furrow his brow. Logically, the City Lord should be the paramount figure in Tianshui City, wielding immense influence. How then could Shen Rushuang dare to defy him?

"Isn't Shen Rushuang concerned about the City Lord retaliating against the Shen Family?" Su Changfeng inquired, curiosity piqued.

"Young man, you must be new to Tianshui City, aren't you?" a man among them asked, regarding Su Changfeng as if his question were peculiar.

"Your perception is sharp, elder brother. Indeed, I've only just arrived. Would you be so kind as to shed some light on this matter? This round of tea is on me," Su Changfeng offered.

His words were met with hearty laughter from everyone present, and they proceeded to explain the situation to Su Changfeng in full detail.

From their explanations, Su Changfeng gleaned that the City Lord of Tianshui City did not possess the absolute authority he had initially envisioned. Despite his title, the City Lord was, in fact, beholden to the three prominent families within the city.

To put it plainly, while known as the city's ruler, the City Lord of Tianshui City lacked the autonomy to make many independent decisions. This was due to the fact that the city's infrastructural expenses were collectively shouldered by these three major families.

Even the City Lord's initial ascent to power had been contingent upon the backing of these very families. In essence, the City Lord functioned akin to a puppet.

However, it seemed this former puppet was now disinclined to remain under control, leading the Shen Family to become the primary opposition, directly confronting the City Lord. Some even whispered that the Shen Family harbored ambitions of replacing the City Lord. If such rumors held truth, Shen Rushuang's audacious challenge to the City Lord would be entirely understandable.

Yet, thus far, among these influential families, only the Shen Family had openly defied the City Lord; the other two families remained non-committal. This peculiar situation left Su Changfeng perplexed.

If all three families had collectively supported the City Lord's ascension initially, why would only the Shen Family now take the lead in opposing him? Why the divergence in their stances?

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