Obsessive Tycoon and His Swan Girl
Chapter 510 - 468: Authority Challenged Again

Chapter 510: Chapter 468: Authority Challenged Again

Zhuo Jinman’s statement left everyone without words to say.

In the Beicheng Continent over the years, the rules have always been strict, and the Elders Council is the foremost among them.

The Zhuo Family’s power was overwhelming. Though Zhuo Jinman’s explanation seemed a bit far-fetched, it was nonetheless irrefutable.

Since Qin Kuo was a person of the Zhuo Family, naturally he could represent them; on the Jiang Family’s side, it became rather difficult to refuse.

The Jiang Family’s matriarch frowned. It appeared that Zhuo Jinman came fully prepared, determined to achieve her goal.

She knew that Zhuo Jinman’s true intent was not on the surface; Jiang Xi had been unparalleled in medical skills in the past, and Jiang Zhe likely had great potential too. The Zhuo Family wanted to gather all available talents under their banner as soon as possible, for their own use.

This put the Jiang Family’s matriarch in a difficult position.

Jiang Zhe pushed Xiaobao and Fatty aside and stepped forward.

Jin Ruoshi hurriedly pulled her back. "Jiang Zhe, don’t agree to it at any cost."

"Would I be that foolish?" Jiang Zhe retorted.

Jin Ruoshi released her hand.

"Xiaozhe, you go first. Leave this matter to us; it’s not your concern," said the Jiang Family’s matriarch. Although she didn’t wish to hand Jiang Zhe over to Qin Jingchen, there was no alternative, "Qin Jingchen, please take Xiaozhe away first."

"I’ll consider her own wishes," Qin Jingchen stated.

"Grandma, let me say a few words," Jiang Zhe spoke.

Seeing her determination, the Jiang Family’s matriarch reluctantly allowed her to speak.

Jiang Zhe walked to the center of the crowd and looked Zhuo Jinman in the eye.

Zhuo Jinman, calm and composed, smiled at her, confident of victory.

Qin Kuo stood behind Zhuo Jinman with an indifferent look, as if the discussion wasn’t about him.

Zhuo Jinman asked with a smile, "Do you have any conditions? Whatever they might be, feel free to state them."

It was as if the marriage agreement was already set in stone, and now it was just a matter of discussing the details.

Everyone speculated that Jiang Zhe might very well agree.

After all, the Jiang Family had long since fallen from grace; compared to the Zhuo Family, they were significantly weakened. Such an opportunity could actually help the Jiang Family and be a channel to restore their former glory.

In this light, Zhuo Jinman’s proposal didn’t seem like revenge against the Jiang Family; rather, she was providing assistance.

If Jiang Zhe didn’t agree, wouldn’t that be rather ungrateful?

The surrounding murmurs softly reached Jiang Zhe’s ears, and Zhuo Jinman, too, listened with a smile on her face, knowing that she had played her cards right. She had occupied the moral high ground, and she might even get a firm hold on Jiang Zhe directly.

Jiang Zhe began, "I already have a marriage commitment, so it’s impossible for me to enter another one with you. Honesty and keeping one’s word, as far as I know, are also among the most important codes of conduct in Beicheng Continent, aren’t they?"

Zhuo Jinman had anticipated such an excuse and responded, "Is that so? May I know with which young gentleman of the Beicheng Continent you have this marriage commitment? We would like to meet him."

"Qin Jingchen," said Jiang Zhe.

As soon as she spoke, Qin Jingchen stepped forward.

On seeing this man, remarkably handsome and extraordinary, bearing a slight resemblance to Qin Kuo, the crowd took notice.

However, he looked unfamiliar, clearly not someone from the Beicheng Continent.

Zhuo Jinman smiled and asked, "Didn’t we just say that, Jiang Zhe, children from the Beicheng Continent, like you, cannot marry foreigners? This Mr. Qin Jingchen, as far as I know, is from the Dragon Emperor Country, right?"

The Jiang Family matriarch immediately became anxious, and Xiaobao, Fatty, and Jin Ruoshi planned to whisk Jiang Zhe away at any moment.

Qin Jingchen’s expression remained unchanged, his demeanor gentle, but when he spoke, his voice carried a compelling force, "Indeed, I am not a local. Was it the Elders Council who initially made this rule?"

"Of course, it is. This is also to protect our own interests," Zhuo Jinman said.

"Since it was the Elders Council that made the rule, but knowing full well that I am a foreigner, Elder Fang decided to let me enter into a marriage alliance with a local girl. How about we let Elder Fang explain this?" Qin Jingchen’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone present heard him loud and clear.

Elder Fang, when mentioned by name, instantly broke out in a cold sweat on his back.

Fang Jun’s face also showed embarrassment. Although Qin Jingchen did not name her, how could the crowd not guess?

To think that she, the most outstanding and beautiful of the younger generation in Beicheng Continent, had actually taken the initiative to seek a marriage alliance with a foreigner and was outright rejected—whether or not people said it to her face, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t talk behind her back.

Especially the young ladies of age from noble families, while complimenting each other on the surface, which one of them didn’t secretly compete behind the scenes?

Fang Jun, realizing this, could hardly conceal her embarrassment.

As if that wasn’t enough, Qin Jingchen named her father directly, leaving Fang Jun even more at a loss for face.

Zhuo Jinman, angry, looked toward Elder Fang, remembering that Elder Fang indeed had the intention of arranging a marriage between Fang Jun and Qin Jingchen.

But she hadn’t expected that Elder Fang had actually gone behind her back to find Qin Jingchen?

"Elder Fang?" Qin Jingchen, seeing Elder Fang not speaking up, called out Elder Fang’s name again.

Elder Fang had no choice but to come out. Qin Jingchen not naming Fang Jun had already given him face.

He said, "I did have such thoughts. Society has long moved past the point of parental commands and matchmaker’s words. If Beicheng Continent is to develop, indeed many old rules must change..."

Zhuo Jinman’s anger grew even deeper.

Elder Fang could only press on, "I was about to submit a proposal on this matter. Dr. Zhuo, it’s not a personal matter against you, I just believe some old customs really ought to be revised. Beicheng Continent has long begun cooperating with strong nations and big corporations in various aspects. Some of the old and irrational rules, if clung onto, will only add troubles and bring no benefits."

These words resonated with many young people.

The world had changed, and they had long been exposed to advanced cultures outside their own. Like the young people standing here today, many had idols who were basketball stars, soccer players, actors, and even financiers from other countries.

Their horizons were broadening, naturally altering their views on love and marriage, no longer steadfast in the old generation’s dogmas.

Elder Fang’s words deeply aligned with their sentiments.

Zhuo Jinman’s authority was being challenged time and again, and she could hardly contain her raging fury.

Whether these rules were followed was not important in itself; what mattered was that these rules represented the prestige of the Elders Council! Only if the rules were followed could they be respected!

At Jiang Zhe’s instance, Zhuo Jinman’s authority had been provoked time and again, and now Elder Fang dared to add to that!

Elder Fang did indeed speak with great difficulty, for he could not explain that his seeking a marriage alliance with Qin Jingchen was to form a union of two powerful individuals.

He kept a low profile precisely to prevent Zhuo Jinman from discerning his ambitions.

Caught between two evils, he chose what he believed to be the lesser one for his explanation.