My Brother's the Protagonist? Good Thing I Awakened My System!

The arrival of the two royals wasn't the end of visitors for the Feng Clan.

After Wang Zhiqing's departure, various people came to meet Feng Chen.

Some were merchants seeking to establish business ties with the Feng Clan, while others proposed alliances.

However, neither the First Prince nor the Second Prince made an appearance. Not even their stewards were sent.

It seemed they either didn't consider the Feng Clan worth their time or were unaware of the clan's presence in the capital.

Either way, Feng Chen had no intention of supporting either prince.

His options were to stay out of the succession battle entirely or support Wang Zhiqing—though he leaned more toward the former.

Supporting Wang Zhiqing wasn't necessarily a bad idea, but Feng Chen didn't consider it advantageous for the Feng Clan either.

Helping her ascend the throne might place the clan in a position of influence within the Azure Sky Empire, but Feng Chen felt this wasn't necessary for their current situation.

He believed that simply demonstrating his true power would achieve a similar result.

Of course, the Feng Clan elders had their own perspective and believed that marrying Wang Zhiqing was the biggest reason.

As for the other benefits and promises, they didn't seem particularly interested—or at least, not as interested compared to their eagerness to see Feng Chen marry.

In the meantime, Feng Chen had tasked the clan with gathering information on Wang Zhiqing.

Naturally, his friend Lan Jing would also get the honor to help him.

With Lan Jing's help, it wasn't very difficult to obtain information on Wang Zhiqing.

The reports revealed a princess who stood apart from the rest of the royal family.

Wang Zhiqing was admired not just for her beauty but for her actions that earned her the respect of the common people.

In times of disaster, whether floods, droughts, or other crises, she was known to take swift action.

Organizing food distribution and ensuring aid reached the needy, she made no distinction between ordinary citizens and those with influential backgrounds.

Her efforts extended to the farthest reaches of the empire, where nobles rarely ventured.

One incident that showcased Wang Zhiqing's unwavering sense of justice-involved a humble family of farmers who had fallen victim to a powerful noble clan.

The clan's young master had forcibly seized their land, leaving the family destitute and on the brink of ruin.

With no influence or connections, the family had no means to fight back and faced despair.

When Wang Zhiqing learned of their plight, she didn't hesitate to act.

She personally confronted the young master, standing firm despite the clan's considerable influence.

Her demand for justice was resolute: the land was to be returned to the family, and the young master was to compensate them for their losses.

The confrontation didn't end there.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the clan had been oppressing smaller families in the region for years.

Under the guise of "protection from monster invasions," they extorted exorbitant sums of gold coins, crippling the livelihoods of those they claimed to safeguard.

Wang Zhiqing took swift action. Not only did she ensure the farmers received their land and reparations, but she also exposed the clan's exploitation.

She ordered a thorough review of their activities and saw to it that their ill-gotten wealth was redistributed to the families they had wronged.

Her actions sent shockwaves through the empire.

For the commoners, it was a beacon of hope, a rare instance where someone in power truly stood up for them.

For the powerful clans, it was a stark warning—a challenge to their unchecked authority and a reminder that they were not beyond accountability.

In a world where power often dictated right and wrong, Wang Zhiqing's courage and sense of fairness set her apart.

She became a symbol of justice for the oppressed and a force to be reckoned with for those who abused their power.

Such acts weren't isolated. Wang Zhiqing's reputation was built on a series of similar interventions, where she sided with the weak and oppressed, often at great personal risk. Find your next read on empire

Her popularity among the people grew, but so did the animosity of the powerful and influential clans who saw her as a threat to the established order.

Her boldness and sense of justice had earned her a unique place in the empire, especially among the commoners.

Unlike other members of the royal family, who often stayed detached from the struggles of the lower classes, Wang Zhiqing was seen as a protector and champion of the people.

However, her actions also painted a target on her back.

In a kingdom where power dynamics were rigidly maintained, such defiance was bound to draw ire.

It was clear that her path to the throne, should she pursue it, would not be an easy one.

However, it seems like she also has a trump card and that is the military support.

After all, most soldiers are also made up of commoners.

So, her support also extends to the military, which should be her biggest advantage.

( When I saved her, she should have been back after going to the Military base in the Whispering Rift. )

It seems like she knows that as well and has been frequently visiting the military bases and gaining more support from the military.

"Although she has a good connection, her chances of ascending to the throne still seemed bleak."

After all, although military strength is good, it is nowhere as powerful as the Clans with Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator.

Only if someone with Nascent Soul Realm cultivator backs Wang Zhiqing, would she have the chance to ascend to the throne, otherwise, there was no way.

Feng Chen also wasn't just going to support her like this.

From the information he got, he can say that at least she has a good enough personality for him to think about supporting.

Anyway, Emperor wasn't just going to die right away and there was a lot of time before the battle for the throne took place.

***

Seven days passed since the Feng Clan's arrival in the capital, and the Dragon and Phoenix Competition was finally about to begin.

The first phase of the competition focused on selecting participants fit for the Dragon and Phoenix Competition.

This phase excluded the powerful sects with reputations as high as the heavens.

These sects were given direct seats in the competition and would select their participants internally.

This arrangement not only saved the organizers time—since the geniuses from these sects were guaranteed to qualify—but also gave face to the sects.

Most participants also agreed with this system, as it spared them the misfortune of facing these prodigies early on.

As a result, the powerful sects and their members had yet to appear, including Feng Mei and Feng Xiaoyu.

If they were qualified then they should arrive with the Icy Veil Sect in three days when the real Dragon and Phoenix Competition would take place.

"Chen'er, should we send a search team?"

Grand Elder Feng Zhenshan asked worriedly.

His concern stemmed from Feng Yun's absence. If Feng Yun wanted to compete, he needed to show up soon.

"No need! Even if you send someone, they won't find him. I'm sure he's already here. Let's trust him!"

Feng Chen said confidently.

Feng Zhenshan glanced at Feng Zhilan, who shook her head.

With a sigh, the elders relented, though the worry remained.

If Feng Yun failed to appear, he would undoubtedly be branded a coward.

The humiliation would be even greater than when his engagement with Ling Meiyu was broken.

The Feng Clan's participants were also anxious about whether Feng Yun would make it in time.

Adding to their worries, they felt nervous about the upcoming competition.

Even Feng Jianhong and Feng Liang, who had participated in the Eastern Gathering, were nervous.

The Dragon and Phoenix Competition was on a completely different level, drawing geniuses from across the country.

This was evident from the sheer number of people gathered in the capital.

They were about to face thousands of participants, each a genius in their own right.