Imperial Cultivation

The sun had just passed its zenith, and An Guogong Manor, located in the west of Yujing City, was a hive of activity.

Servants bustled about, sweeping and cleaning, making the entire An Guogong Manor spotless and immaculate, as if preparing for the New Year.

This was the first time the esteemed guest was visiting, and the Guogong Manor had to present its best face.

Moreover, this esteemed guest was none other than the heir of a Prince, a member of the imperial family.

Everyone, from top to bottom, was ready and eagerly awaited his arrival.

An Guogong and Xiao Ruoyu sat in the main hall, sipping tea while they waited.

Xiao Ruoyu seemed to have needles under his buttocks, fidgeting and restless.

An Guogong was reading a book, his expression serene and peaceful.

"Father, is there really a need to make such a big fuss?"

"We must always show respect to the imperial family. Although he is your sister's fiancé, he also represents the Emperor's face."

"...Yes," Xiao Ruoyu said, speechless.

An Guogong had always taught him to never forget his respect for the imperial family, and never to become arrogant just because of their hereditary title and imperial pardon.

Instead, they should be even more humble, grateful, and never take it for granted.

Otherwise, it would be the beginning of the Xiao family's downfall, they would be unfilial descendants, and sinners to the Xiao family's future generations, unworthy of entering the ancestral temple after death.

An Guogong read his book and slowly said, "Has your elder sister made preparations as well?"

Just then, the Wangfu's chief steward lifted the curtain and entered, softly announcing, "Master, the young master-in-law has arrived at the head of the street."

"Open the central gate!"

"Yes!" The plump steward responded and hurried out, loudly announcing from afar, "Open the central gate, open the central gate!"

His voice was filled with excitement and exuberance.

The Guogong Manor's daughter had married into the Qing Wangfu, becoming the heir's consort, and the declining An Guogong Manor would be different from now on.

They had become much more confident.

With the support of the imperial family, they could hold their heads high wherever they went.

"Let's go," An Guogong said to Xiao Ruoyu, striding towards the outside.

Xiao Ruoyu got up and followed, quickly walking outside.

As the father and son left the main hall, the guards and personal attendants gathered around, forming a large group, and escorted them around the screen wall to the front gate.

A moment later, at the end of the long street, a group of guards escorted a luxurious sandalwood and bejeweled purple carriage, drawn by six strong and spirited horses, all of them precious steeds.

They stepped in neat paces, looking relaxed, and slowly arrived in front of the An Guogong Manor's gate, stopping precisely in the middle of the two mottled stone lions.

Behind the carriage, a group of servants carried eight large boxes, painted with bright red oil, their steps heavy.

Inside were silks and satins, jewelry, pastries, tea sets, and other items, all selected from the Wangfu's treasury.

The Qing Wangfu was lacking in cultivation resources, but it had no shortage of these worldly goods, with the fiefdom offering a substantial tribute every year.

Zou Fang, holding a white jade whisk, opened the carriage door.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped out of the carriage, wearing a sable coat and hat, and slowly straightened his body, his handsome face as radiant as jade in the sunlight.

The guards around him were all dressed in brocade robes, further accentuating his grace and nobility.

Chu Zhiyuan took a few steps forward, came to An Guogong, and bowed with a smile, clasping his fist. "Greetings, Father-in-law."

Although they were not yet married, they were already engaged. For the Qing Wangfu and An Guogong Manor, engagement was equivalent to marriage, and there would be no changes.

He could call the Guogong "Master Guogong," or he could call him "Father-in-law."

Now that the imperial court and Da Zhen were at a stalemate, arguing over who the Da Zhen princess should marry, the An Guogong Manor must also be worried.

He directly addressed him as "Father-in-law" to put his mind at ease.

Upon hearing this address, An Guogong Xiao Youping immediately felt relieved and smiled, clasping his fist. "The Heir is too polite, please come inside."

"Yes," Chu Zhiyuan looked at Xiao Ruoyu, "Ruoyu's cultivation is becoming more and more refined."

"Greetings, Heir."

Xiao Ruoyu was a little shy and couldn't bring himself to directly call him "Brother-in-law."

Chu Zhiyuan exchanged a few pleasantries with An Guogong with a smile, and followed him inside, while others carried the eight large boxes of gifts in behind them.

Zou Fang followed beside Chu Zhiyuan, like his shadow.

An Guogong knew the imperial family's rules, that these personal eunuchs were always by their side.

In the main hall, the maids served tea.

Chu Zhiyuan took a light sip, put down the teacup, and first apologized, saying that he should have come to visit earlier,

but he had been delayed until now, which was truly impolite.

An Guogong waved his hand, knowing that he was busy and needed to focus on cultivation, and that they were family, so there was no need for so much formality.

An Guogong quickly brought up the matter of the Ministry of Rites.

"The Ninth Princess will arrive in the next few days, and the Ministry of Rites will send people to welcome her."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

"Does the Heir want to go and welcome her this time?"

"I'll pass. It's not my place to interfere with the affairs of the Great Meng delegation."

"The Ninth Princess, Li Hongzhao, has extraordinary talent and wisdom, and cannot be treated as an ordinary person. It's best to avoid seeing her if possible."

"Is this visit not a friendly one?"

"It's probably because of our alliance with Da Zhen. We originally wanted to send Da Zhen away first, but we didn't expect to fail to reach an agreement on the marriage."

"In your opinion, Father-in-law, will the imperial court choose to back down in order to let Da Zhen leave before the Great Meng delegation arrives?"

"It's possible."

"I am firmly against marrying the Da Zhen princess."

"Alas...I'm afraid it won't be up to you, Heir."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "Do you have any ideas, Father-in-law?"

"It depends on the Emperor."

"My imperial grandfather once promised that he wouldn't let me marry the Da Zhen princess, but now it seems that he may not keep his word."

“Sometimes, even the Emperor has no choice but to compromise.”

“If the court really compromises, I will resolutely refuse.”

“What if the Emperor issues an edict?”

“I will defy the edict. At most, my imperial grandfather will confine me to the estate for another thirty years.”

“That's not acceptable. If it's truly unavoidable, then let it be two consorts.”

Chu Zhiyuan solemnly shook his head.

Xiao Ruoyu snorted inwardly, feeling that Chu Zhiyuan was putting on a show of strength.

Which man wouldn't want a house full of wives and concubines? Moreover, the Great Zhen princess is definitely a rare beauty in the world.

However, Chu Zhiyuan truly didn't want to marry the Great Zhen princess.

Marrying her would inevitably bring endless troubles, disrupting the peace of the inner court. How could he concentrate on cultivation?

Duke Anguo, Xiao Youping, stroked his beard and pondered, his eyes fixed on Chu Zhiyuan, discerning Chu Zhiyuan's determination, which wasn't just to please him.

He thought for a moment: “If it really can't be avoided, then get married as soon as possible, before they finalize their plans.

That way, Great Zhen will give up.”

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback, then embarrassedly said: “In that case, Ruoling would be greatly wronged.”

“Being a bit rushed isn't a big deal,” Xiao Youping said. “The key is whether you two can live together harmoniously. Nothing else matters.”

“Father!” Xiao Ruoyu couldn't help but interject.

When he was listening to the Ninth Princess's matter, he couldn't concentrate, feeling that the court's affairs were too far removed from him and didn't register in his mind.

But when he heard about marrying the Great Zhen princess, he immediately perked up.

After hearing his father Xiao Youping's suggestion, he couldn't sit still.

His eldest sister was the direct daughter of the Duke's mansion, the noblest of noble ladies. Arranging the engagement in such a hasty manner, as simple as that of commoners, was already extremely shabby.

Now, to have the wedding so rushed, what would outsiders think?

They would definitely think that the Duke Anguo's mansion was impatiently eager to marry their daughter into the Qing Prince's residence, which would be too perfunctory and completely lacking in restraint.

This would invisibly diminish the reputation of his eldest sister and the Duke's mansion.

They would say all sorts of unpleasant things, inevitably saying that noble ladies weren't truly noble, making it seem like they were being given away.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered and slowly said: “I have no problem with that.”

Xiao Youping stroked his beard and smiled: “Good! I will keep an eye on the court's side and see the outcome of the negotiations. With Li Hongzhao's arrival, there might be changes.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Xiao Youping probed Chu Zhiyuan's thoughts and, feeling relieved, didn't say more. He changed the subject: “Your affair with the Kang Duke's young master has caused quite a stir.”

“Kang Duke ah…” Chu Zhiyuan smiled, picked up his teacup, and took a light sip.

“The Kang Duke originally had three direct sons. The eldest and second sons are both gone, and now only this single seedling remains.”

“No wonder he's so doting.”

Xiao Youping slowly said: “The Kang Duke was extremely strict, even harsh, with his eldest and second sons, pushing them too hard, which led them to take risks. The eldest died at the hands of the Great Meng's Trampling Cloud Iron Cavalry, and the second died at the hands of the Great Zhen's Frost Piercing Iron Cavalry.”

Chu Zhiyuan immediately frowned.

That was indeed tragic enough.

“He poured almost all of his effort into the eldest son. After the eldest son died, he turned to the second son, but the second son also died. When it came to the third son, Song Tianhai, he changed his former strictness. In fact, he also wore down his ambitions, only hoping that the third son could be safe and sound. It didn't matter if he just muddled through life, and he didn't necessarily have to prop up the Duke's mansion's reputation, as long as the family line wasn't cut off.”

“Pitiful, lamentable, regrettable.”

“Therefore, he is extremely doting on Song Tianhai and protects him fiercely.”

“I understand.” Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded: “I will be mindful of it.”

He understood Xiao Youping's meaning: don't retaliate too harshly against Song Tianhai, otherwise the situation would become unmanageable.

Then it would depend on whether the Kang Duke was sensible or not.

That two sons died in battle was commendable, but that wouldn't make him tolerate his disrespect and bullying of the Qing Prince's residence.

“Actually, Ling'er has martial arts skills.”

“Oh?”

“The first generation of ancestors obtained a miraculous skill, which was kept in the mansion, but no one could master it until Ling'er did.”

“Ruoling is actually a martial arts prodigy?”

“Heh…”

Xiao Youping smiled and said: “She is indeed a prodigy, but for daughters, especially daughters of our kind of family, there's no need to fight and kill. Supporting their husbands and raising children is the proper path.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: “I'm afraid Ruoling doesn't share the same thoughts as you, Father-in-law?”

How could a martial arts prodigy be content with supporting her husband and raising children at home?

“We can only wrong her. Without her helping me support such a large Duke's mansion, it would have long been in a state of chaos.”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed: “Capable in both literary and martial arts.”

Xiao Youping stroked his beard and smiled: “She's in the back garden. Ruoyu, take your brother-in-law over to see her.”

“Yes.”

Xiao Ruoyu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly agreed, getting up quickly and leaving the front hall.

Sitting here listening to them talk, acting like old men, was truly boring.

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fist and bowed to Xiao Youping, following Xiao Ruoyu toward the back.

The two of them passed through several courtyards and arrived at the newly renovated back garden, where they saw Xiao Ruoling, dressed in colorful clothes, in a small pavilion on a rockery.

The sunlight shone obliquely into the small pavilion, illuminating Xiao Ruoling, coating her with a layer of rosy light.

Like a white jade statue illuminated by rosy light, she was beautiful like a dream.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed inwardly.

The number one beauty of Yujing, she truly deserved the name.

To have such a beauty in his arms could be considered a wonderful thing.

No wonder Song Tianhai was so heartbroken and so infatuated.