78 p2
The next day, after Cui Xiaoxiao fully sobered up and opened her door while yawning, she saw a row of disciples kneeling before her.
With bashful expressions, they uniformly knelt to pledge to Patriarch Cui of the Joyous Unity Sect, expressing their long admiration for the profound and ancient martial arts of harmonious male-female dual cultivation. If given the opportunity to learn these esoteric immortal arts from Patriarch Cui, they vowed to practice diligently day and night…
Cui Xiaoxiao listened to their nonsense with a blank expression, feeling she must have opened the door improperly. So she promptly closed it again and… jumped out the window instead.
After blowing a fox whistle, Yu Ling’er also leapt down from the second floor, admiring, “Xiaoxiao, you really are destined for greatness. You merely mentioned founding a new sect, and immediately gained followers! But we can’t just choose disciples based on looks, we need to consider their family wealth too. At the very least, we should recruit some affluent disciples like Wei Jie to ensure the Patriarch doesn’t struggle for food and drink!”
The previous night, Tang Youshu had secretly knocked on Yu Ling’er’s window. Unfortunately, he was also out of money and could only give her one of his jade pendants, telling her to pawn it first. He would send her money later after selling some talismans and medicines.
Seeing he didn’t mention taking her and Cui Xiaoxiao back to Guistone Cliff, Yu Ling’er was so annoyed by Lord Tang’s rambling that she slammed the window shut, pinching his hand before he fell from the impact and crashed through the inn’s stable awning, prompting more demands for compensation from the innkeeper…
It seemed Lord Tang would need to make some major transactions…
But if Cui Xiaoxiao founded a sect and recruited some wealthy disciples, Lord Tang wouldn’t have to struggle so hard.
Seeing Yu Ling’er’s excitement exceeding her own, Cui Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but ask, “What about you? If you’re not returning to the Talisman Sect, will you join my Joyous Unity Sect too?”
Yu Ling’er seriously considered it, “You were the one who helped our Fox Tribe endure the heavenly tribulation, so I should follow you! With Wei Jie’s current ‘not recognizing anyone’ attitude, and Lord Tang learning bad habits from him, who knows how they might bully me if I return? I’ll just follow you. Besides, the ‘Carefree’ part of your Joyous Unity Sect’s name sounds perfect for our Fox Tribe! Why don’t I get Tang Youshu to defect to you as well?”
Thinking of this, Yu Ling’er’s foxy eyes lit up, wishing Cui Xiaoxiao would quickly recruit some talented disciples so Lord Tang could join her instead.
Cui Xiaoxiao felt she had sobered up enough not to continue such an unproductive conversation with Yu Ling’er.
She simply rolled her eyes helplessly before turning to head onto the street.
Cui Xiaoxiao had originally intended to find a place for breakfast. But upon reaching the main street, she discovered it was blocked off, surrounded by crowds of spectators.
Inquiring with others, she learned that the King of Changshan was marrying off his daughter, and today was the eve of the wedding ceremony when the groom’s family would deliver the betrothal gifts.
As for why the Princess of Yongning’s marriage was taking place in Luoyi City, it was because the King of Changshan’s territory was rather distant, while the groom’s family, the Marquis of Zhongyong, was located near the nearby Changcheng City.
For the convenience of marrying off his daughter, the King had arrived in Luoyi City first to temporarily reside, receive the betrothal gifts here, and have the bridal procession pass through on the way.
This was a common practice for families marrying off daughters to distant locations – to accommodate the groom’s family, sending the bride ahead before the wedding ceremony to make arrangements easier.
Seeing the long procession of betrothal gift carriages on the street, Cui Xiaoxiao knew the market would be blocked for a while.
Worried those disciples who wanted to join the Joyous Unity Sect might follow her, and not wanting to gawk at the spectacle, she donned a hooded cloak to conceal her face, pulling Yu Ling’er to a nearby pastry shop instead.
With everyone outside watching the parade, the pastry shop’s tea tables were all vacant. Cui Xiaoxiao went upstairs and ordered a few pastries along with a pot of flower tea to share with Ling’er.
However, they were not the only customers upstairs. It seemed there was also a lady guest in the adjacent private room, seated with her back towards them, her face concealed by a light veil.
It was quite normal for women to maintain a low profile in such male-frequented establishments to avoid gossip.
After taking a couple bites, two customers who had just finished watching the parade also entered and sat by the window upstairs. While ordering tea and snacks, one of them said, “The King of Changshan has always been extravagant and particular with customs. From what we saw, the husband-to-be he’s recruited is no slouch either. Such a grand display, he’s really going all out.”
The other man couldn’t help but snort derisively upon hearing this, “Going all out? I have a cousin who helped pack the betrothal chests for the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family yesterday. He said that while those pointed silver chests looked plentiful, they weren’t even filled to the brim. The top halves did contain real silver ingots, but the bottom halves were stuffed with plain bricks! And some of the silk bolts were old, damaged fabric as well. They’re trying to put on a false front, laughable!”
Hearing this, the first man became more animated, slapping his thigh, “Ah, so that’s how it is! It’s said the Marquis of Zhongyong’s estate has declined severely lately, barely keeping up appearances by relying on the Marquis’ wife’s maternal family’s wealth. But how could they afford such an extravagant betrothal with their current state? So they resorted to such trickery! But what did the King of Changshan see in the Marquis’ family to agree to this marriage for his cherished princess?”
“I heard the King values loyalty above all. Didn’t he get disfigured at a banquet fire a while back? It was said the Marquis’ son saved him then, which led to this marriage alliance… But that young master was known for indulging in wine and women, almost spending himself into ruin. Yet he still had the courage to perform such a daring rescue? Perhaps he did it to impress his future father-in-law and win over the beautiful princess?”
The two men gossiped endlessly like a pair of old wives.
Upon hearing this, Cui Xiaoxiao paused in her tea drinking, straining to eavesdrop more closely on the men’s conversation.
She knew today’s bride receiving the betrothal gifts was the Princess of Yongning who had gifted her the Guistone Cliff inn.
That unrestrained yet beautiful princess was to be married into such a deceitful, impoverished family resorting to stuffing bricks as silver?
Cui Xiaoxiao felt pity for the poor princess just listening to this…
At this moment, she noticed the veiled lady guest abruptly stand up from the adjacent private room and march towards the gossiping men, angrily demanding, “How dare you spout such nonsense without proof?”
The two gossiping men had been engrossed in their dramatic retelling, never expecting an eavesdropper nearby.
Caught off guard criticizing the wealthy, they could only glare defiantly, “We were just discussing our own matters, what business is it of yours?”
The indignant lady huffed, “You claimed the Marquis of Zhongyong’s estate substituted inferior goods to deceive with the betrothal gifts. What proof do you have?”
The men sneered dismissively, “We never said that. If you’re so curious, why don’t you go help the Princess of Yongning inspect the gifts herself and find out!”
At this point, a few maidservants came over to placate the lady, one saying softly, “Please don’t listen to the idle chatter of commoners. It’s getting late, we should return.”
But the veiled lady remained adamant, gritting her teeth, “If even commoners are aware of such matters, how can I remain ignorant? If it’s true, must I wait until the gifts enter the manor before swallowing this bitter pill?”
Saying this, she took a few steps towards the entrance, peering through the crowds at the lingering betrothal procession. She suddenly raised two fingers to her temples, focusing her gaze intently on those pointed silver chests.
At that moment, the shop banners suddenly began flapping wildly in a whipping gale that kicked up dust, forcing people to squeeze their eyes shut.
The abrupt windstorm only grew fiercer, almost toppling the porters carrying the chests. With a series of loud clatters, those silver-pointed chests overturned, spilling their contents that were indeed only bricks stuffed underneath a thin layer of silver ingots.
Watching from the second-floor window, Cui Xiaoxiao clearly saw the long-winded gossiper’s cousin had not lied – the Marquis of Zhongyong’s estate really had engaged in such deception!
At this moment, Cui Xiaoxiao also recognized the veiled lady revealed by the windswept hood as none other than the Princess of Yongning herself, someone she had crossed paths with before.
The gentle princess actually knew wind-controlling martial arts? Cui Xiaoxiao never expected this pampered lady to possess such skills!
But the princess was indeed bold, so brazenly exposing her future in-laws’ shame before the entire street.
At this point, the Princess of Yongning coldly ordered one of her guards, “Go! Inform the betrothal party that this is by my command. The servants of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s estate resorted to trickery when packing the gifts. Ask them to return and properly account for the real value of the gifts before my father will set another date. Speak up loudly so no one can feign deafness!”
The guard promptly relayed the princess’s instructions after presenting the Prince Cangshan’s insignia, loudly announcing her words to the stunned betrothal procession.
This immediately caused an uproar among the crowd. The situation was clear – the Marquis of Zhongyong had tried to deceive with false gifts, but got exposed by a freak windstorm witnessed by the King’s estate. Now the betrothal would be rejected and renegotiated!
The Marquis’ attendants were flustered, unsure how to proceed as they squatted to collect the scattered silver and bricks, awaiting instructions from the main estate.
Meanwhile, the Marquis’ steward could only stomp his feet in frustration before hurrying to the Prince Cangshan’s temporary manor in Luoyi City to offer explanations.
Seeing the Princess of Yongning was also about to return to the manor, Cui Xiaoxiao said to Yu Ling’er, “Let’s go take a look too.”
Yu Ling’er’s prying nature exceeded even regular humans, how could she miss out on such juicy drama? She gladly followed Cui Xiaoxiao out while concealing their faces.
But the further they walked, the more puzzled Yu Ling’er became, finally whispering, “Aren’t they heading towards Prince Can’s former manor?”
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