In the An'guo Duke Residence, the morning sun shone brightly in Tianxiang Courtyard.
Bamboo groves stood in front, plum trees behind, and a small pavilion in the center.
The open space in front of the pavilion served as a small training ground.
Xiao Ruoling, dressed in a turquoise martial outfit that accentuated her graceful figure, was slowly practicing her fist techniques.
Her movements were light and elegant, like a dance.
Two young maids stood by, watching with rapturous expressions.
Even as women, they were captivated by her beauty; she was simply too stunning.
Not only was she beautiful, but her movements were also extremely graceful, each posture imbued with captivating charm.
Xiao Ruoling suddenly turned her head, her bright eyes flashing with alertness.
The two maids turned nimbly, gliding 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.
"Come in," Xiao Ruoling said.
Accompanied by the two maids, Xiao Ruoyu hurried past the screen wall and came before Xiao Ruoling: "Big sister, something bad has happened."
"What is it?" Xiao Ruoling took a white towel handed to her by one of the maids and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Her fair face, like white jade, was flushed with a rosy glow, making her even more beautiful, the black pupils of her slender phoenix eyes exceptionally bright and clear.
"The Grand Clan Elder has personally come to propose marriage to you on behalf of the Heir of the Qing Prince Residence."
"The Grand Clan Elder?"
"Sister—!" Xiao Ruoyu quickly said, "Shouldn't you be concerned about the Qing Prince Residence proposing marriage?!"
"The Grand Clan Elder isn't someone that just any prince can move," Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head. "You..."
"Big sister, are you really going to agree?" Xiao Ruoyu said with dissatisfaction, "Are you really going to marry into the Qing Prince Residence?"
Xiao Ruoling chuckled softly, her radiant beauty dazzling.
The two maids also widened their eyes.
"Sister—!" Xiao Ruoyu exclaimed, "Think carefully! This is a matter of a lifetime; you can't be muddled!"
"When have I ever been muddled?" Xiao Ruoling said with a smile.
Xiao Ruoyu quickly said, "It's said that some women are smart their whole lives, but they become muddled when they meet a man, especially the smarter ones. That Qing Prince Heir is simply not worthy of you!"
"You..."
Xiao Ruoling shook her head, smiling.
She knew that in her younger brother's eyes, no man was worthy of her.
Xiao Ruoyu said, "Otherwise, marry into the Ying Prince Residence?"
"You know that the Ying Prince Heir is already engaged."
"You can be a concubine," Xiao Ruoyu said, "Even the Ying Prince Heir's concubine is better than the Qing Prince Heir's main wife!"
Xiao Ruoling said, "The Qing Prince Heir is already a Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites, while the Ying Prince Heir is still in the Mingwu Hall."
"That's just because he's older and took the first step."
"... Is he really that strong?" Xiao Ruoyu hesitated.
He always admired Xiao Ruoling and believed her words, listening to her advice.
Hearing Xiao Ruoling say that Chu Zhiyuan was strong, he tried his best to set aside his own emotions and feelings.
"If the Qing Prince Heir is the best among the heirs, do you think I'd be wronged marrying him?"
"This..." Xiao Ruoyu hesitated.
If the Qing Prince Heir was truly the best among the heirs, that meant he had a chance to inherit the throne.
The throne of the Great Jing was chosen by the Son of Heaven Sword.
It wasn't who was the most virtuous who inherited, but who achieved the Grandmaster realm.
After achieving the Grandmaster realm, there was still one step: the Son of Heaven Sword choosing its master.
During the process of the Son of Heaven Sword choosing its master, anyone who had harmed other princes and heirs or engaged in fratricide would not be recognized as its master.
Human hearts can be deceived, but the Son of Heaven Sword cannot.
Therefore, the struggle for the throne among the princes and heirs of the Great Jing was not about conspiracies and tricks, but about upright cultivation and realm.
If one was the best among the heirs, then they had a chance to become emperor. Of course, achieving the Grandmaster realm required not only aptitude but also sufficient luck and opportunity.
But with such aptitude, even if one didn't become emperor, they would inevitably hold a high and powerful position.
After all, the emperor trusted his own family the most.
Xiao Ruoling said, "Many people now know the Qing Prince Heir's background. The situation of the Qing Prince Residence is already different. It's only because of the thirty-year seal that everyone is holding back."
It was still desolate now because the various residences were concerned about the emperor's attitude.
After all, no matter how powerful the Qing Prince Heir was, it was only a matter for the future. Offending the emperor now would be a losing proposition.
Xiao Ruoyu snorted, "Sister, are you saying that marrying him would be a great bargain for us?"
"Father and the Qing Prince are like-minded," Xiao Ruoling smiled, pursing her lips. "It's also for my own good that he's doing this."
Father and the Qing Prince had been playmates since childhood, growing up together and having a deep friendship, and he knew the Princess Consort well.
Letting her marry into the Qing Prince Residence was ultimately for her own happiness.
Entering the Qing Prince Residence meant that at least her parents-in-law would be good to her, and as for her husband, she wouldn't worry about not being able to captivate him with her beauty and skills.
Others didn't dare to get close to the Qing Prince Residence, but the An'guo Duke Residence wasn't afraid.
Imperial favor wasn't that important to the An'guo Duke Residence right now.
Her father was in the Ministry of Rites, a clean and quiet department, and her younger brother was young and practicing martial arts at home, not yet ready to go out into the world. In the next ten years or so, there would be nothing to ask of the emperor.
In ten years or so, the Qing Prince Heir would also be successful, and there would be no need to worry about her younger brother being wronged again.
She had long understood these things, so she wasn't against marrying into the Qing Prince Residence.
After meeting Chu Zhiyuan, she was even less resistant.
He was handsome, his eyes clear and calm, and according to her father, the Heir was also steady and peaceful in the Ministry of Rites.
He was worthy of being a good husband.
"Sigh—!" Xiao Ruoyu was dejected.
He accepted it rationally, but his heart was still unwilling and dissatisfied.
"Xiao Hu, you must grow up quickly and share Father's burdens," Xiao Ruoling stroked his head. "Don't make me worry anymore."
"Sister—!" Xiao Ruoyu shook his head, shaking off her jade hand, and said with dissatisfaction, "I don't need you to worry about me anymore!"
"Then why were you lazy yesterday? Did you practice for two hours?"
"... I had something to do."
"Lost in reading?"
Once he started reading, he would get lost in it and forget the time.
"Xiao Yuan reminded you, but you scolded her."
"... I said to wait a little longer, but she kept nagging, and I got annoyed and said a few words. I didn't mean it."
Xiao Ruoling snorted and said, "You don't know how to appreciate kindness. There aren't many maids like Xiao Yuan, so don't chill her heart."
"I know, I know," Xiao Ruoyu quickly said, "I've already coaxed her."
Xiao Ruoling said, "You know the rules."
"Sigh—! Fine, I'll practice for four hours today."
"If you keep talking idly here, you won't have enough time to practice for four hours today."
"I'll leave then," Xiao Ruoyu left unwillingly.
When Chu Zhiyuan returned home in the evening, he heard Bai Ning Shuang explain what had happened and was quite surprised.
He thought it would be difficult to get his wish and that the emperor would block it.
But the emperor didn't block it.
Truly, the emperor's heart was difficult to fathom.
The emperor didn't block this marriage. Did that mean that even if he won, he wouldn't have to marry the Great Zhen princess, or was he going to make the Great Zhen princess his concubine?
It was the first time the Grand Clan Elder, Chu Qingyan, had personally acted as a matchmaker.
The Grand Clan Elder acted decisively, directly finding the Director of the Directorate of Astronomy, and the two had their horoscopes matched that day.
Bai Ning Shuang was even more decisive. After the horoscopes were matched in the morning, he sent wild geese, tea, two boxes of jewelry, four boxes of silk brocade clothing, a box of writing instruments, a box of books and ancient books, and several jars of fine wine and some pastries and fruits to the An'guo Duke Residence in the afternoon.
Thus, the marriage between the two families was settled.
It would have been impossible to be so quick if the Grand Clan Elder hadn't personally intervened.
For ordinary commoners or wealthy families, these two steps might only take two or three months, but for powerful families like the Duke Residence and the Prince Residence, it would take half a year to a year, requiring banquets for relatives and friends, sacrifices to ancestors, and visits to the ancestral home for offerings, a very complicated process.
Bai Ning Shuang was able to move the Grand Clan Elder and act so quickly, which was beyond Chu Zhiyuan's expectations, as if he was afraid that Chu Zhiyuan would regret it.
But this was exactly what Chu Zhiyuan wanted.
After these two steps were completed, it meant that the marriage had been completely settled, and there was no need to rush the rest. The two families could choose a date for the wedding.
After these two steps were completed, it meant that the marriage had been completely settled, and there was no need to rush the rest. The two families could choose a date for the wedding.
