Zhuge Liang's Journey to Dominate the World: Starting from Another World

“Once the young prince marries Qu Qianchou’s daughter, it will be the time for us to infiltrate the Qu family. If we make good use of this opportunity, we can not only resolve the threat from Empress Wu, but also take down the Qu family in one fell swoop. I think Master Kongming must also have this intention!”

Ji Yizhi whispered to Li Guangling, inwardly praising Kongming's strategy. Besides, he had gained a stunningly beautiful wife for free, so why not...

……

"I won't marry some spineless prince, he's nothing but a stray dog!"

Inside the general's mansion, a young general dressed in armor and with a sword at his waist spoke angrily.

If Li Guangling were present, he would have recognized this person at a glance as the burly young general who had blocked the way from the city wall.

At that time, Kongming asked Li Guangling what he thought of this young general, thinking that if he were to recruit him, he would surely become a fierce general.

However, it seems that instead of bringing them under one's control, they were brought under one's control...

"How dare you! No matter how down on his luck he is, he is still a member of the Li Tang imperial family and has an outstanding appearance. He is more than a match for you." Qu Qianchou glared at his daughter, his tone full of reproach.

This woman, named Qu Hongling, had practiced martial arts since childhood and was physically strong. Her disguise as a man was almost undetectable, but she still could not escape Kongming's discerning eyes.

With her strong-willed personality, she was naturally dissatisfied with this sudden marriage.

Qu Hongling frowned, her tone tinged with resentment, "That Li Guangling is just a prince with no power or influence, why is Father so insistent on a marriage alliance with him?"

Qu Qianchou sighed and looked at Qu Hongling, saying, "Do you know the general trend of the world? Although Li Guangling is a fallen prince, his identity is extraordinary. His accompanying immortal master is right. If our Qu family can form a marriage alliance with him, we can use his name to expand our power and further consolidate our position."

"It's him!" Qu Hongling spat out the two words through gritted teeth, her face full of murderous intent.

"Am I just a pawn to you? If Mother were here, she would never have allowed you to do such a despicable thing."

"Do you know what you're saying?" Qu Qianchou suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with anger.

He glared at Qu Hongling and said sternly, word by word, "You have to marry me whether you like it or not, I said it!"

A flicker of pain and struggle flashed in Qu Hongling's eyes as she stormed out the door, tears welling in her eyes.

……

"You despicable scoundrel, get out here!" Outside the inn, Qu Hongling roared menacingly, sword in hand.

Li Guangling and Ji Yizhi were discussing their next plan when they were interrupted by this sudden roar.

"That voice sounds like that fierce general on the city wall. When did I offend her?" Li Guangling frowned slightly, feeling puzzled.

"What fierce general? Speaking of which, Your Highness should now address her as Madam." At this moment, Kongming walked out of the room and said as if watching a play.

Everyone present showed surprise, even Li Muling was taken aback, staring at Kongming with wide, bright eyes.

Li Guangling was momentarily stunned and asked in confusion, "Master Zhuge, this joke seems to have gone a bit too far!"

Kongming smiled slightly, gently waved his feather fan, and slowly said, "Who is joking with you? You don't know, this is Qu Qianchou's daughter, Qu Hongling."

"You... what did you say?" Li Guangling felt a sudden darkness before his eyes; clearly, the news was too sudden for him.

Recalling the figure on the city wall, clad in armor, wielding a sharp sword, with a broad back and muscular build, a sense of unease washed over me.

Kongming smiled, ignoring Li Guangling's shock, and asked in return, "Does Your Highness remember that day beneath the city wall, I asked you about this young general, and I'm sure you remember your answer?"

"Zhuge...you sorcerer...what have I done to offend you that you would do this to me!"

Li Guangling felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Kongming's words were like a sharp sword piercing his heart.

He never imagined that the burly young general on the city wall would one day marry him. This was so different from the image of the woman he had always dreamed of, and he found it hard to accept.

"Such a wild horse, let's see if Your Highness can tame it!" Kongming didn't care whether others could handle it or not, and slipped out the back door after saying this.

"Zhuge is a sorcerer... a sorcerer! A sorcerer..."

bang...

With a loud bang, the gate of the post station was kicked to pieces by Qu Hongling.

She strode in with a furious expression, gripping a sharp sword tightly in her hand, her aura menacing, like a tigress about to go berserk.

But when she saw Li Guangling slumped on the ground, crying and wailing as if he had gone mad, while constantly muttering "Zhuge the Demon," she was completely dumbfounded.

Qu Hongling stood there, stunned, looking at Li Guangling's disheveled appearance, her anger gradually replaced by doubt.

"What...what's wrong with you?" Qu Hongling asked, frowning, and lowered her sword slightly.

Li Guangling raised his head, looking at the burly woman before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions. As a prince of the Li Tang dynasty, he felt like a clown being mocked, his face full of embarrassment and helplessness.

Li Guangling took a deep breath, looking utterly dejected. "So it's Miss Qu. What brings you here?"

"Stop acting! Where is your accompanying immortal master? I'm going to kill him!" Qu Hongling's gaze swept around the inn, but she didn't find Kongming.

"He's a demon! He's not some kind of immortal master!"

Li Guangling looked at Qu Hongling, his eyes filled with grievance and helplessness, and choked out, "Miss Qu, you...you don't know, we were both harmed by that sorcerer Zhuge!"

"Zhuge the sorcerer? What did he do to you?" Qu Hongling was full of doubt and couldn't understand it at all, since they were clearly in cahoots.

Li Guangling took a deep breath and recounted, with embellishments, how Kongming persuaded Qu Qianchou to marry his daughter and how he coerced him into marrying Qu Hongling.

They even said things like they were bullied by Zhuge Liang along the way...

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Qu Hongling dropped her sword to the ground with a clang.

She crouched down and said softly, "I never imagined we were the same kind of people, our fates both in the hands of others..."

"Although I, Qu Hongling, am a woman, I have practiced martial arts since I was a child. I thought I could control my own destiny, but I never expected that I would end up as a pawn."

Qu Hongling seemed to have found someone to confide in, and poured out all her unhappiness in one go.

It turns out that her mother tragically lost her life while protecting her when she was young. She was a pitiful person in a way.

The saying "I'd rather follow a beggar's mother than a high-ranking official's father" is absolutely true.

Since her mother passed away, she has come to understand what it means to experience the coldness and warmth of human relationships.

Soon after, Qu Qianchou married a disciple of the Jade Cauldron Sect and had another son. He had no time to care for Qu Hongling. With a powerful backer, Qu Qianchou's career took off.

Qu Hongling gradually shut herself off, becoming like a hedgehog. Beneath her seemingly sharp exterior lay a soft heart...