Luoshui City is situated on a barren plain, which might seem an unwise choice for an imperial capital. However, every matter has two sides. Although it lacks geographical advantages and is scorching hot throughout most of the year, resembling a baking oven, these were trivial concerns. The wise founding emperor of the Da Xia dynasty considered only two reasons when choosing this location.
Firstly, the Mangdang Plain lies at the very heart of the empire, making it conveniently accessible and easy to govern from. The second reason was to demonstrate strength.
Deliberately establishing the imperial capital in such an easily attacked and poorly defended location was a message to foreign tribes and unscrupulous sects: even without natural defenses, Da Xia was not a force to be trifled with.
Indeed, this proved true. With the emergence of the Taixue (Imperial Academy), Da Xia has seen a growing number of talented individuals. Take the imperial court, for example—although those officials may appear frail, most are experts at the Xiantian level or above. Some are even at the Zongshi level or higher.
Luoshui is truly a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers abound.
Tiance Inn is a renowned hotel in Luoshui City, bustling with guests nearly every day, even early in the morning.
Li Tan, who had just left Tiance Inn, was now staring wide-eyed with a stunned expression.
Events that could startle an emperor were rarely trivial, but this time was somewhat of an exception. The incident was simply too sudden and dramatic, like a scene straight out of a play.
Cheng Ducai, a minister ranked among the Nine Ministers, had publicly thrown a marriage ball at his own doorstep—not to mention, it was more like he was discarding his daughter—which was bizarre enough. Now, the heavens had played a cruel joke. The marriage ball had ignored a large crowd of eager competitors and landed precisely on him, the most innocent bystander.
Then, a barrage of murderous glares followed the heads that turned in unison toward Li Tan. If looks could kill, Li Tan would have been reduced to nothing.
However, no one could possibly understand Li Tan’s current mood, which resembled that of an elderly woman who had just lost her wallet while going out to buy groceries. He genuinely regretted coming to witness this spectacle.
He wanted to flee immediately, but the unusual auras inside and outside Cheng Mansion made him hesitate. Fleeing now would be a blatant disrespect to Cheng Ducai. Disrespecting Cheng meant disrespecting the Da Xia dynasty itself. Although the latter statement was somewhat exaggerated, the general idea was accurate. Soon, Li Tan would be pursued by a group of Xiantian experts. He couldn’t possibly engage in a direct confrontation, which would be an open act of resistance. At that point, he might have to reveal the identity jade token of Zuo Qingchun to extricate himself safely. While this would indeed ensure his safety, the Dan Pavilion was a neutral faction. Although it was much larger than the Da Xia dynasty, it was still inconvenient for them to interfere in another nation’s affairs. Although presenting the token wouldn’t be a major issue, if word got out, how would the world view the Dan Pavilion?
They might accuse it of abusing its power. If someone with ill intentions used this as an opportunity to cause trouble, Li Tan would bear the blame and betray the trust of Elder Zuo Qingchun.
Thinking about this, Li Tan felt a headache coming on. He shot an angry glance at Zhang Cong, who stood nearby, his face filled with jealousy. Zhang was puzzled—why did Li Tan look so displeased after receiving such a great blessing? Was he looking down on the daughter of Minister Cheng?
A classic case of gaining benefits yet complaining about them! Li Tan raised his head, meeting Cheng Ducai’s strange expression—half delighted, half mournful. He twitched his lips and said, “What a pity. I failed to catch the marriage ball.”
The implied meaning was clear: I am unwilling. Cheng Ducai was obviously somewhat displeased but, after all, this involved someone’s lifelong happiness, so he chose to respect Li Tan’s wishes and retrieved the marriage ball.
Li Tan immediately felt relieved. Zhang Cong, however, was heartbroken and devastated, pounding his chest in regret. Then, as if sensing Zhang’s sincerity, the marriage ball once again traced a perfect arc through the air and landed on Li Tan’s head.
Li Tan, who had just been regretting not having moved farther away earlier, reluctantly caught the marriage ball. The first time he had refused to catch it, claiming he hadn’t noticed, but to refuse a second time would be an open provocation to Minister Cheng.
“Brother Li! Don’t worry! There’s still some time before the Taixue starts accepting new students. I’ll wait for your wedding!”
Zhang Cong, envious to the point of wanting to sacrifice himself for Li Tan.
Why hadn’t I noticed before that this brat talks so much?
Li Tan felt gloomy as he was escorted into Cheng Mansion by servants under a sea of envious, jealous, and resentful gazes. In the main hall, he once again met Cheng Ducai.
Up close, Cheng Ducai’s temples were flecked with gray, lacking the distant majesty he had appeared to possess. He looked more aged, yet his expression remained as complicated as someone who had unexpectedly encountered his daughter in a brothel.
Li Tan politely bowed slightly and clasped his hands together in greeting: “This junior greets Minister Cheng.”
Ordinarily, commoners meeting Cheng Ducai would refer to themselves as “grass people,” but Li Tan was a cultivator, exempt from such formalities. By calling himself a junior, he indirectly informed Cheng that he was not a nobody from the countryside who could be easily manipulated.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Ducai’s expression subtly changed. His smile grew even warmer: “So young yet with impressive cultivation skills. I must be blessed by our ancestors to gain such a virtuous son-in-law!”
Needless to say, Cheng Ducai’s flattery skills were so refined that even Li Tan felt inferior. At a moment like this, he even managed to compliment his own ancestors. Regardless of ability, with such a silver tongue, one could surely thrive in both court and country.
“Senior flatters me. This junior cannot accept such praise.”
Li Tan also forced himself to respond flatteringly.
“Hmph, still calling me senior?”
Cheng Ducai feigned displeasure.
Li Tan’s lips twitched violently as he forced out the word “Father-in-law” with the expression of someone suffering from constipation.
Cheng Ducai beamed with joy, patting Li Tan’s shoulder and calling him “virtuous son-in-law” repeatedly. Even when Li Tan pulled out his ultimate move—claiming to be from a poor, obscure family in Linjiang—it failed to dampen Cheng’s enthusiasm. Soon, the lady of the house entered as well. Although she smiled brightly on the surface, Li Tan keenly noticed a hint of bitterness hidden in her expression.
She was sorrowful. Indeed, there must be a hidden reason behind the marriage ball incident, something that had forced them to take such drastic measures. If he could uncover what had happened, this farce could be resolved.
Li Tan’s mind became slightly clearer, no longer as agitated as before. Since he had come this far, he might as well accept the situation. Worrying further would only harm himself. It was better to go with the flow. At worst, he could accept the marriage in name only, without consummating it. After all, they couldn’t possibly keep him there forever once they had married their daughter to him.
Once he entered the Taixue, he could gradually resolve this matter.
Having made up his mind, Li Tan calmed down and said composedly, “I traveled a great distance to Linjiang to study at the Taixue and pursue officialdom to bring honor to my ancestors. Since the Taixue will soon begin accepting new students, I fear my wedding might have to be postponed for a while.”
This was a strategy—using the Taixue as an excuse to delay the wedding.
“No problem. The Taixue’s recruitment period is still a little ways off. We’ll hold the wedding tomorrow. I have another property in Luoshui, which I’ll present to you as my daughter’s dowry.”
This was less like marrying off a daughter and more like hastily getting rid of a broomstick. What had that poor girl done?
Li Tan couldn’t refuse the marriage, so he had no choice but to accept the dowry, lavishing Cheng with thanks and flattery. Then, he seized the opportunity to ask the most critical question: “This junior is merely a humble commoner with modest cultivation skills. You, Minister Cheng, rank among the Nine Ministers. Receiving such an honor leaves me deeply honored and humbled.”
This was a roundabout way of telling Cheng that he understood there must be a reason behind their actions.
“Haha, dear son-in-law, you’re overthinking. What’s this talk of being undeserving?
We are both subjects of Da Xia.”
Cheng’s expression stiffened briefly but quickly returned to a smile. Li Tan understood that Cheng had resolved not to reveal the reason, and that whatever the reason was, it was absolutely something he couldn’t be told.
Li Tan did not press the matter further, pretending that his question had stemmed merely from nervous humility. Cheng and his wife exchanged smiles and dropped the subject, as if, to them, their only concern was successfully marrying off their daughter.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage