Chapter 884 - 332: Marriage, Origins, Schemes (Part 4)
Chapter 884: Chapter 332: Marriage, Origins, Schemes (Part 4)
...
Such a commotion at the Prince’s Mansion.
The major noble families in Jingzhou soon got wind of it.
The Council Hall of the Seventh-Grade Yun Family.
Elder Yun sat at the head, with elders on both sides discussing the matter intensely:
"The Fu Family really struck it lucky to catch the eye of the Seventh Prince. Although that second son isn’t the eldest son, his standard of living and resources are on par with the Crown Prince. In the future, with the backing of the Prince’s Mansion, the Fu Family can surely ascend effortlessly."
"Indeed, what a pity."
"When I sent Third Mother over back then, that Jin woman kept obstructing us. If we knew things would turn out this way, we would have found a way to make things happen sooner."
"By the way, what gift should we prepare for this celebration?"
...
Everyone was talking enthusiastically.
Elder Yun, at the head, seemed to be asleep. After everyone retreated, Elder Yui finally opened his tightly closed eyes, yet inside them was undisguised anger.
He snorted coldly:
"Good for you, Fu Family!"
He flung his sleeve and returned to the secret chamber, closing the array before taking out a triangular mirror. He cast a technique into it, causing ripples to appear. Then Master Yun of the Joy Sect appeared on the mirror, and Elder Yun quickly saluted:
"Father, I just received news that Fu Changsheng, who caused my second brother’s death, is soon to be allied by marriage to the Seventh Prince’s Mansion. In the future, if we want to move against the Fu Family, I’m afraid it will be..."
As difficult as reaching the heavens.
After all, although the Seventh Prince’s Mansion is far from the royal family,
it is still the eldest son of the powerful Eldest Princess.
In the spirit mirror,
Master Yun, upon hearing this, slightly narrowed his eyes:
"Yui’er, the Fu Family must not be allowed to grow any further, you should..."
It’s unknown what Master Yun said next.
Elder Yun froze for a moment, then hesitated:
"Father, from investigations, Fu Changsheng is very cunning and extremely cautious. I’m afraid a fake cave mansion won’t easily lure him in?"
"Hmph, who said it’s a fake cave mansion? I entered that place in my Purple Mansion phase long ago. After so many years, the fruits of the Field Spirit Tree there should have matured. The Field Spirit Fruit is a crucial item for a Spirit Pet to break through to Tier Three. I heard the Fu Family has specifically created a Spirit Beast Valley. If he knows there’s such a Field Spirit Tree in the cave mansion, he’d jump in even knowing it’s a trap. By then, you..."
They discussed for a long time.
In the end, Elder Yun, brimming with confidence, saluted:
"Father, rest assured, this time I will definitely complete the task perfectly."
"Mm, I await your good news."
Master Yun’s image slowly faded away.
Elder Yun sat in the room for a while, then took out a Communication Jade Talisman to send a message:
"I will personally attend Fu Family’s wedding banquet."
.....
In the blink of an eye, it was the wedding day.
According to the customs of Jingzhou, when a daughter marries, her parents cannot accompany her; only siblings can escort her. However, when the groom comes to fetch the bride, the bride’s family often hosts a wedding banquet.
It certainly couldn’t compare to the Prince’s Mansion in grandeur.
Moreover, the Sang Garden was mostly female relatives.
So, Fu Changsheng and Liuu Meizhen discussed and decided to simply book the Drunken Immortal Tower in the marketplace. There weren’t many relatives from their Fu Family, and the entire Drunken Immortal Tower had nearly a hundred tables, which was sufficient.
Fu Changsheng and Liuu Meizhen also went ahead to the backyard of their own shop in the marketplace. In their view, the major noble families of Jingzhou would all be crowding the Prince’s Mansion, and likely wouldn’t come to their place. So, Fu Changsheng had no intention of hosting, planning only to show up briefly once the banquet started.
As the sound of celebratory music and drums began to play,
Cui Zhi joyfully passed the message inside:
"Father, Mother, the bridal procession has entered the city, and they’re distributing wedding candies all over the streets. They’ll probably arrive here in about half a cup of tea’s time."
Ningning, already dressed and groomed, was visibly a bit nervous.
Liuu Meizhen comforted her with a few words, leaving some space for Ningning and Fu Changsheng, and went out to organize things herself.
Fu Changsheng cast a technique on the array in the room, and with a hum, the array’s light curtain rose. Looking at his daughter under the wedding veil, his heart was a mix of joy and sorrow:
"Ningning, do you remember what I told you before?"
"Yes, don’t worry Father, I won’t tell anyone about Xiao Mu, not even Mr. Zhou."
That’s the way.
Fu Changsheng, with earnest advice, repeated his instructions, feeling he could never stop worrying. In the end, it all condensed into one sentence:
"Just remember one thing."
"Your father always has your back. In the Prince’s Mansion, you needn’t constrain yourself. If you ever feel unhappy or unsatisfied, just come home. And if Zhou Xuanming dares to mistreat you, just let me know, and I won’t spare him."
Clearly, Ningning was already sobbing under the wedding veil.
Fu Changsheng couldn’t bear to see his daughter cry, so he stopped with the emotional words and, with a pat on his storage bag, there was a flash of dawn light, and a large red box appeared in his palm:
"This is for you to have as a keepsake from your father."
The box wasn’t sealed with any restriction.
Ningning scanned with her Divine Sense and quickly waved her hand:
"Father, you’ve given too much, this can’t be."
Inside the box was a silver note worth ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, widely accepted across the Great Zhou Dynasty. Such a large denomination really startled Ningning.
In addition,
Besides the silver note,
there were eight Life Replacement Talismans.
Also, a pair of Tier Two Spirit-devouring Insects.
Not counting the dowry list prepared by Liuu Meizhen, just these three items offered by Fu Changsheng would make others envious. This wasn’t just sending off a daughter; it was enough to marry a noble daughter from a prestigious house.
Fu Changsheng pushed the box into Ningning’s hands:
"Gifts from elders mustn’t be refused. With these treasures, at the Seven Commandery Prince’s Mansion, you will have the means to establish yourself."
While speaking,
the wedding party had arrived.
After the festivities,
the groom led the bride to the Seven Commandery Prince’s Mansion, flowers paving their path, Immortal Cranes circling around, and they traveled on the Jade Dragon Boat solely reserved for the Royal Family, departing from the marketplace and arriving at the front of the Prince’s Mansion.
First came the procession delivering the dowry.
They saw spiritual flowers and herbs, spirit pills filling the entire courtyard, and guests whispered to each other:
"Although the Fu Family originates from the remote Eastern Wilderness, their dowry doesn’t seem lacking."
"Hmm, it seems they follow the standard specifications for the eldest daughter of an eighth-grade Noble Family from Jingzhou for her marriage."
Not particularly remarkable,
but not disappointing either.
They couldn’t quite figure out why the Commandery Prince specifically chose the Fu Family’s daughter.
At this moment,
they saw Cui Zhi crossing the crowd, placing a magnificent gift box at the forefront of the dowry. The box seemed unremarkable, but when everyone saw what was inside, they were speechless with shock:
"This...."
"Isn’t the Fu Family a nouveau riche?"
Ten thousand spirit stones, plus eight Life Replacement Talismans, a pair of Tier Two Spirit-devouring Insects, and even a Tier Three Spiritual Artifact!
This dowry specification,
was more grandiose than welcoming a bride from a seventh-grade Noble Family.
Everyone exchanged glances, their eyes heating up as they looked at Cui Zhi. With such generosity from the Fu Family, the Fu Family’s daughter undoubtedly became the center of attention.
Initially, some privately mocked the Fu Family as being out of place.
But they were thoroughly intimidated by this display:
"Could it be the Commandery Prince is marrying into the Fu Family for their wealth?"
Among the crowd,
Elder Clan Leader Jin was also present.
At that time, he thought the dowry list he prepared for his young lady was the best in Jingzhou, as after his son’s death, he kept most of the family’s assets firmly in his hands, planning to legitimately pass them to his granddaughter for her wedding.
But compared to the box of treasures from the Fu Family, it seemed a bit lacking.
Elder Clan Leader Jin snorted:
"Coming from the countryside, they only know how to attract attention!"
No matter how much dowry they provided,
it’s useless.
As long as his daughter remains in the Prince’s Mansion without faltering, the Fu Family’s daughter won’t have a good time.
Meanwhile,
Jin was in her backyard. It was her grand day, and although she organized it herself, the Chief Consort took charge, so naturally, there was no place for her as a consort. Jin never competed with the Chief Consort’s spotlight, and at this moment, Nanny Jin obtained the dowry list.
She rushed in, excitedly speaking a few words by Jin’s ear, finally saying:
"Madam, judging by this, Fu Clan Leader seems eager to marry off the entire Fu Family. The young madam must be deeply cherished at home."
Their previous intelligence suggested that,
the young madam was an outsider, only returning to the Fu Family after coming of age, but she left home soon after. They speculated she received unfair treatment or was driven to escape, but now it seemed different.
To be willing to part with so many valuable dowries,
she must be the apple of her parents’ eyes.
Nanny Jin glanced at the young lady’s room from where sobs occasionally came, quietly saying:
"Madam, after the young lady..."
...
After Fu Changsheng sent off the wedding party, the banquet began.
During the feast,
an unexpected guest arrived.