[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence":3,"chapter-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-340":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Warlord: Starting with Daily Intelligence",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2338803,4572,"Chapter 340: The Violet Family","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-340",340,"\u003Cp>“Cousin Catherine, this is Maurice, the eldest son of Marquis Price; the Price family has always been on excellent terms with our Hernade family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Liam, the eighth son of Marquis Boone; Boone’s domain is rich in iron ore and timber, and has long been a cooperative ally of our Hernade family! By the way, Cousin Menia married Liam’s older brother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this is Dant, the second son of the Grand Commander of the Eastern Legion…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her nominal cousins introduced each one, Catherine’s already perfunctory smile gradually vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, the Hernade family sent a messenger, saying her cousins would come to visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she was surprised that these cousins—whom she’d only met once—had traveled such a great distance to see her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since they were blood relatives, and her grandfather had always treated her kindly, Catherine did not refuse; she even prepared a welcoming ceremony in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never expected that not only her cousins would come, but also five noble youths she knew nothing about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Catherine sense something was amiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beautiful Miss Catherine, it is an honor to meet you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Miss Catherine, allow me to offer my praise for your beauty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the cousins finished their introductions, the several elaborately dressed youths began speaking one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Catherine disliked them, for the moment they saw her, she clearly felt the shift in their gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That look—like they wanted to swallow her whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though fleeting, they masked it well afterward—but not well enough to escape Catherine’s notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had encountered far too many such looks before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catherine completely dropped her smile. “Cousin Scarlett, Cousin Doyle, weren’t you two the only ones coming to visit me? Why bring so many strangers I don’t know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catherine emphasized the word “strangers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noble youths caught her tone and instantly grew awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the cousins quickly put on smiles. “Cousin Catherine, originally it was only myself and your cousin coming to visit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But along the way, we happened to visit the families of Maurice and the others, and thought—since these friends had never been to the Southern Region—we simply invited them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all our fault, Catherine; don’t take offense. Besides, their families are among our Hernade family’s closest cooperative allies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As a Hernade heir, you’ll eventually interact with them. Bringing them here now is just helping you get familiar ahead of time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! Cousin Catherine, they’ve come a long way. For my sake and your cousin’s, let them enter the castle with us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catherine frowned again and again, but ultimately could not refuse outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, even if not for these unfamiliar cousins, she had to consider the Hernade family’s interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She already knew the identities of these youths; no need to guess—they were undoubtedly vital to the Hernade family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, please, come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! Thank you, Cousin Catherine!” Scarlett and Doyle exchanged a glance, clearly pleased with their scheme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, they signaled to the youths, and under the servants’ guidance, they entered the castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The castle had already prepared the reception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, servants led them to their guest chambers to freshen up, then brought them to the banquet hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though five extra guests had arrived, the dinner’s abundance remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These pastries are delicious! Miss Catherine, I’m honored to taste such delicacies at your home!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Miss Catherine, how are these pastries made? Could your head chef teach our servants?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, I learned this recipe from another noble family, and promised not to reveal it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the meal, the youths kept finding topics to flirt with Catherine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As hostess, Catherine had no choice but to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her tone was extremely cold, they still didn’t take the hint and stop—making her deeply annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Learned from another family? Cousin Catherine, which one? Could you tell me?” Scarlett suddenly asked, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, because this pastry was soft, chewy, sweet, and fragrant with milk—she liked it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, she wanted to ease the youths’ awkwardness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cousin Scarlett, it’s just a viscount’s family; even if I told you, you wouldn’t know them!” Catherine intended to brush her off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she forgot—being born into a viscount’s family herself—she overlooked how great nobles viewed even nobility in strict hierarchies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she spoke, the youths who had asked before immediately replied, “A viscount’s family? Miss Catherine, we thought it was some earl’s—or even a marquis’s or duke’s family!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Miss Catherine, just a viscount. Tell us outright; no need to fear them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! Just mention our families’ names, and the viscount might even be delighted to hand over the recipe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more they spoke, the more absurd it became—far beyond Catherine’s expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cousin Catherine, Maurice and the others spoke bluntly, but they’re telling the truth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just name their families, and the viscount might even thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So why not tell them?” Doyle smiled as he urged Catherine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catherine was speechless; her expression turned icy, the last trace of polite demeanor gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She returned to her true self. “Forgive me, Cousin Scarlett, Cousin Doyle. To you, a viscount may mean nothing—but to the Violet Family and to me, Catherine, he deserves equal respect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I will not break my promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doyle, Scarlett, and the noble youths froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catherine couldn’t understand their snobbery; likewise, they couldn’t comprehend Catherine’s refusal to look down on minor nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Earl, a delegation has arrived at the castle gate—Viscount Gervas from Stormhold!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the atmosphere grew awkward, the steward approached Catherine cautiously to report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catherine’s previously cold expression instantly softened, as if winter had turned to spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gervas? Why is he here?” Catherine was both startled and delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately rose, lifting her skirt to run outside the dining hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then she remembered the other guests still inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suppressed her sudden joy. “Excuse me, Cousin Scarlett, Cousin Doyle—I have another visitor. I must take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Catherine forced herself to walk calmly, chin held high, out of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Catherine left, the diners exchanged glances—especially the noble youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could she be Catherine’s close friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe? Otherwise why was she so happy just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had seen Catherine’s sudden change in expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was someone of immense importance to her.\u003C\u002Fp>",1034,"2026-06-20T22:44:02.338Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0e177b7ac60ca6ccfb32240a50819ea9c1b4cfb6a44d01342b05fa9eface5968","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-341","warlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-chapter-339",521,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarlord-starting-with-daily-intelligence-cover.jpg"]