Imperial Cultivation

65: Chapter 63: Personally Settled

65 -63: Personally Settled

Duke An Mansion

Early morning, Tianxiang Courtyard

The bright sunlight illuminated Tianxiang Courtyard brightly.

In front was a bamboo grove, behind were plum trees, and in the center was a small pavilion.

The open space in front of the pavilion was a small martial arts training ground.

Xiao Ruoling, dressed in a lake-green combat uniform, elegantly showcased her graceful figure, leisurely practicing fist techniques, her moves light and elegant, like dance.

Two young maids stood watching nearby, their faces showing mesmerized expressions.

Even though they were women, they were captivated by her demeanor; she was indeed too beautiful.

Not only was she beautiful, but her movements were also extremely graceful, with every move brimming with astonishing allure.

Xiao Ruoling suddenly turned her head to glance, her bright eyes flickering.

The two maids quickly turned around and swiftly moved towards the courtyard gate, their figures disappearing behind the screen wall.

“Big sister!

Big sister!”

A clear voice came from outside; it was Xiao Ruoyu arriving outside.

“Come in,” Xiao Ruoling said.

Xiao Ruoyu, accompanied by the two young maids, hurriedly turned past the screen wall to Xiao Ruoling’s front: “Big sister, something’s wrong.”

“What’s the matter?” Xiao Ruoling took the white towel handed by a young maid and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Her mutton fat jade-like face had a blush, stunningly beautiful, her slender phoenix eyes’ black pupils extremely bright and the whites of her eyes exceptionally clear.

“The Great Grandmaster himself came to propose marriage on behalf of the Princely Heir of Prince Qing Mansion to you.”

“The Great Grandmaster?”

“Sister–!” Xiao Ruoyu hurriedly said, “Aren’t you concerned about the proposal from Prince Qing Mansion?!”

“The Great Grandmaster is not someone an ordinary prince can call upon.” Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head, “You…”

“Big sister, are you really going to agree?” Xiao Ruoyu said discontentedly, “Are you really going to marry into Prince Qing Mansion?”

Xiao Ruoling chuckled lightly, her face radiant.

The two young maids also widened their apricot-like eyes.

“Sister–!” Xiao Ruoyu called out, “Think it over, this is a lifetime matter, you can’t be careless!”

“When have I ever been careless?” Xiao Ruoling laughed.

Xiao Ruoyu hurriedly said, “It’s said that some women are smart all their lives, but get foolish when it comes to men, the smarter the woman, the more so; that Princely Heir of Prince Qing Mansion is not worthy of you at all!”

“You…” Xiao Ruoling shook her head with a smile.

She understood that in her brother’s eyes, no man was worthy of her.

Xiao Ruoyu said, “Otherwise, how about marrying into Prince Ying Mansion?”

“You know, the Heir of Prince Ying already has a betrothal.”

“You could be a concubine,” Xiao Ruoyu said, “Even being a concubine of Prince Ying’s Heir is better than being the official wife of Prince Qing Mansion’s Heir!”

Xiao Ruoling said, “The Heir of Prince Qing Mansion is now an Assistant Minister of Rites, while the Heir of Prince Ying is still in Mingwu Hall and hasn’t come out.”

“That’s only because he’s older and took the first step.”

“Remember when father sent someone to Prince Qing Mansion?”

“…

I don’t remember.”

“The Heir of Prince Qing Mansion won first place in the winter hunt, directly earning the Ninth Grade Merit,” Xiao Ruoling shook her head, “This is unprecedented; no heir in history has achieved that.”

“Just lucky.”

“Winter hunt…” Xiao Ruoling couldn’t help but laugh, “Even if lucky, one can only escape unharmed, not kill twenty demon beasts; little brother, you’re blind, unable to see the prowess of Prince Qing Mansion’s Heir.”

“…

Really that formidable?” Xiao Ruoyu hesitated.

He had always admired Xiao Ruoling and believed in her words, taking them to heart.

Hearing Xiao Ruoling say Chu Zhiyuan was formidable, he endeavored to set aside his emotions and feelings.

“If among all the princely heirs, the Heir of Prince Qing Mansion is the first, do you think it’s a grievance for me to marry him?”

“This…” Xiao Ruoyu hesitated.

If the Heir of Prince Qing Mansion truly was the first among all the princely heirs, that meant he had a chance to inherit the imperial throne.

The imperial throne of Da Jing is decided by the Emperor’s Sword that chooses its master.

It’s not about who is virtuous, but who achieves the status of Great Grandmaster.

After achieving Great Grandmaster, there’s only one more step to the Emperor’s Sword choosing its master.

In the process of the Emperor’s Sword choosing its master, anyone who has plotted against other princes and heirs or harmed siblings will not be acknowledged as the master.

The human heart may deceive, but the Emperor’s Sword cannot be deceived.

So in the competition for the imperial throne among the princes and heirs of Da Jing, it depends not on schemes but on upright cultivation and realms.

If he is the first among all the heirs, then he has the prospect of becoming the Emperor; of course, achieving the status of Great Grandmaster requires talent, luck, and opportunities as well.

However, with such talent, even if he does not become Emperor, he will undoubtedly hold a high position of power.

After all, the Emperor places the most trust in his family.

Xiao Ruoling said, “Now, many understand the background of the Heir of Prince Qing Mansion, and the situation at Prince Qing Mansion is already different; it’s just that all families are currently patient due to thirty years of confinement.”

It’s still quiet now because the mansions are wary of the Emperor’s attitude.

After all, no matter how capable the Heir of Prince Qing Mansion is, it’s a matter of the future; offending the Emperor now would be an unwise move.

Xiao Ruoyu snorted, “Sister, so marrying him would mean we’re getting a great deal?”

“Father and King Qing have a similar temperament,” Xiao Ruoling pursed her lips and smiled, “It’s also for my good that they would do this.”

Father and King Qing were playmates from childhood, growing up together and having a deep bond, and they were also well acquainted with the Princess.

Having her marry into Prince Qing Mansion was ultimately for her happiness.

Entering Prince Qing Mansion, at least the parents-in-law would be good, and as for the husband, with her beauty and skill, she was confident in winning him over.

Others might not dare to associate with Prince Qing Mansion, but Duke An Mansion feared nothing.

The Emperor’s favor was not that important to Duke An Mansion now.

Father held a position in the Ministry of Rites, a peaceful government office, and her younger brother was at home practicing martial arts, not yet at the age to venture out; for nearly ten years, they had nothing to seek from the Emperor.

In ten years, when the Heir of Prince Qing Mansion rises, there would be no fear of her younger brother being wronged again.

She had long thought things through, so she did not resist marrying into Prince Qing Mansion.

After meeting Chu Zhiyuan, she was even more inclined.

He was handsome, his gaze was righteous and calm, and according to her father, the Heir acted prudently and harmoniously in the Ministry of Rites, greatly winning his favor, a truly good match.

…

“Sigh–!” Xiao Ruoyu slumped dejectedly.

He accepted it rationally but still felt unsatisfactory and dissatisfied internally.

“Little Tiger, you need to grow up quickly too and share father’s burden,” Xiao Ruoling patted his head, “so I won’t worry about you anymore.”

“Sister–!” Xiao Ruoyu shook off her jade-like hand, dissatisfied, “When do I make you worry!”

“Then why did you slack off yesterday, did you practice for two hours?”

“…

I had something to do.”

“Lost track of time reading?”

“…

Once I started reading, I got so engrossed, I forgot the hours.”

“Xiao Yuan reminded you, but you drove her away with scolding.”

“…

I said to wait a little longer, but she nagged me, aggravating me until I said a few words; it wasn’t intentional.”

Xiao Ruoling snorted, “Ungrateful, maids like Xiao Yuan are rare, don’t disappoint her.”

“I know, I know.” Xiao Ruoyu quickly responded, “I’ve already smoothed things over.”

Xiao Ruoling said, “You know the rules.”

“Sigh…

Fine, I’ll practice for four hours today.”

“If you keep chatting here, you won’t complete four hours today.”

“I’m leaving now.” Xiao Ruoyu walked away unwillingly.

——

When Chu Zhiyuan returned home that evening, he listened to Bai Ningshuang explain what had happened and was quite astonished.

He thought it would be difficult to get his wish, expecting the Emperor to block the way.

But the Emperor surprisingly didn’t block it.

Indeed, the imperial heart is hard to fathom.

The Emperor did not block this marriage, perhaps meaning even if he won, he needn’t marry a Princess of Da Zhen, or perhaps the Princess of Da Zhen could become his concubine?

It was the first time Great Grandmaster Chu Qingyan took on the role of a matchmaker himself.

The Great Grandmaster worked efficiently, directly speaking with the Director of the Observatory, who performed the marriage match on the same day.

Bai Ningshuang was even more efficient, sending Duke An Mansion two boxes of wild geese, tea, jewelry, four boxes of silk clothing, a box of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, a box of books and ancient texts, a few jars of fine wine, assorted pastries, and fruits, etc.

Thus, the marriage was settled between the two families.

If not for the Great Grandmaster himself, it wouldn’t have been this quick.

For ordinary families or typical wealthy families, these two steps might take two to three months; for noble families like the Duke Mansion or Prince Mansion, it would take six months to a year, requiring feasts for relatives and friends, ancestral rites, and visits to ancestral places, a very complicated process.

It surprised Chu Zhiyuan that Bai Ningshuang could enlist the help of the Great Grandmaster and acted so quickly, as if fearing Chu Zhiyuan might back out.

This, however, fit Chu Zhiyuan’s intentions perfectly.

Once these two steps were completed, it meant the marriage was thoroughly settled, and the rest needn’t be hurried; the two families would choose another day to hold the wedding ceremony.