Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 111: Chapter 109: Taking Action

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Ye Baichuan said slowly, "Exactly, as long as the Emperor decrees it, for the alliance between Da Zhen and our Da Jing, to dissolve the marriage agreement between Heir Chu and the Duke An Mansion, it is actually not a big deal."

"There’s no need to dissolve the marriage agreement." Chu Mingxuan chuckled, "Then just marry two princesses, one as the official wife and one as the concubine; it’s not uncommon."

"Then should the Princess of Da Zhen be the official wife or the concubine?" Ye Baichao snorted, "Should the Duke An Mansion’s lady be the concubine? That’s unheard of!"

"Indeed, it’s inappropriate." Ye Baichuan agreed.

"If the Princess of Da Zhen becomes the official wife, and the lady of Duke An Mansion becomes the concubine, it’s nothing, really."

"Duke An Mansion wouldn’t agree!"

"Then we can only dissolve the marriage agreement."

"It depends on what Heir Chu will do. If you ask me, simply write to the Emperor, asking him to dissolve the marriage agreement and free Miss Xiao, just marry the Da Zhen Princess." Song Tianhai laughed, "The Da Zhen Princess, they say all Da Zhen Princesses are peerless beauties. Heir Chu, you are just an heir, marrying a princess, it’s a gain!"

"Actually," Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "when marrying, one should prioritize virtue over looks, appearance is not that important."

"Hey!" Song Tianhai couldn’t help but sneer.

If Chu Zhiyuan was engaged to a plain-looking lady, such words would make sense, but Chu Zhiyuan is to marry Yujing’s first beauty, Xiao Ruoling!

Saying that again sounds extremely grating, as if it were a great sarcasm.

"Appearance is not that important! Haha..."

Everyone couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"If Miss Xiao heard these words, I wonder if she’d be happy or unhappy!" Chu Mingxuan laughed gleefully.

He loved crowds and excitement, thriving in such an environment, his spirits soaring high.

"Hearing these words from the fourth brother, knowing he’s not marrying her for her beauty, she must be happy." Chu Zhiyao smiled.

He cast a glance at Song Tianhai.

Song Tianhai’s expression was as gloomy as could be.

Whenever he thought of Xiao Ruoling marrying Chu Zhiyuan, his heart couldn’t help but ache with pain.

He had always been disinterested in women, believing they were merely distractions that would make him lose focus, consuming his essential qi, hindering his cultivation.

So he was utterly unmoved by the beauties around him.

But ever since he laid eyes on Xiao Ruoling, just a single glance in the crowd, he was hopelessly captivated, believing she was the other half heaven destined for him, his perfect woman meant to accompany him for life.

Yet when he sent a proposal, Duke An refused.

And as soon as Prince Qing Mansion’s restriction was lifted, Duke An couldn’t wait to have them come with a proposal, acting desperate to attach themselves.

This incompetent old fool actually promised Xiao Ruoling to Chu Zhiyuan!

How am I lesser than Chu Zhiyuan?

After the imperial banquet, he realized there was indeed a gap between them, but still, Chu Zhiyuan was unworthy of Xiao Ruoling.

If Xiao Ruoling marries into the Prince Qing Mansion, she can only be a concubine.

Yujing’s first beauty, such unparalleled charm, could be an empress, yet now can only be a concubine to an heir.

Utterly humiliating!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

But everyone was laughing and talking about other matters, not caring about his expression.

This wasn’t Duke Kang Mansion, not everyone revolved around him.

Among those present, princes, heirs, small dukes, if one disregarded Guo Huai’an the marquis, the small duke was at the bottom.

So nobody paid much attention to his expression.

He felt even more depressed.

When depressed, drinking leads to easy drunkenness, and the wine Chu Zhiyuan offered didn’t taste strong, yet it was potent.

Thus, in his stupor, he soon felt tipsy.

When drunk, his courage grew immensely.

He felt there was no need to use Guo Huai’an to make him sick, he could openly denounce him, scold him to his heart’s content without issue.

Besides, he deserves a good scolding for being such a jerk.

At this thought, he slammed the table, shouting, "Chu Zhiyuan!"

Chu Zhiyuan had been using Super Sense to observe everyone, guiding the conversation to continuously provoke Song Tianhai, intentionally slowing everyone’s drinking pace, not letting them truly get drunk.

Meanwhile, Song Tianhai was drinking gloomily alone, getting drunk quickly.

Seeing him in this state, with an indifferent expression, he laughed, "Kang Little Duke, you’re drunk!"

"I’m not drunk!" Song Tianhai waved his hand, shouting, "Chu! Zhi! Yuan!"

Chu Zhiyuan turned his head to look at Ye Baichao and Ye Baichuan.

Ye Baichao chuckled, finding Song Tianhai boldly spirited.

Ye Baichuan reached out to pull Song Tianhai’s sleeve, asking him to sit and talk, but Song Tianhai forcefully shook off his sleeve, saying in a deep voice, "Chu! Zhi! Yuan, who do you think you are—!"

Chu Zhiyuan paused, put down his cup, and smiled, "They say truth comes out when one is drunk, Song Tianhai, is this your truth?"

"That’s right, I’m going to speak the truth!" Song Tianhai said, his eyes ablaze, not the least bit looking drunk.

Everyone watched half-doubtful and half-amused.

Could it be Song Tianhai was pretending to be drunk, not drunk at all, and using this excuse to scold Chu Zhiyuan?

Because of Xiao Ruoling?

Almost everyone knew about Song Tianhai’s infatuation with Xiao Ruoling; such news spread especially fast.

Seeing him using this excuse to vent at Chu Zhiyuan, everyone found it amusing.

No matter how much commotion erupting between Duke Mansion and Prince Mansion, nothing would really come of it; their bickering is normal.

After all, among the Eight Dukes’ Mansions, each with its own factions, the relations with each prince and heir vary, with different levels of closeness and warmth.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then I am all ears, what is the truth?"

"Chu Zhiyuan, you are not worthy of Miss Xiao!"

"Then who is worthy?"

"Me—!" Song Tianhai pointed to his own forehead, sneering, "Only I understand Miss Xiao, and am worthy of her!"

His gaze swept to Xiao Ruoyu, saying in a deep voice, "If Miss Xiao marries me, she will live happily, not with you, Chu Zhiyuan!"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Explain this then?"

"You want to marry Miss Xiao only for your Prince Qing Mansion, to leverage Duke An Mansion’s influence, how laughable! Haha!"

He let out several laughs, shaking his head, "A dignified Prince Mansion needing to use a Duke Mansion for prestige, utterly absurd!"

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression darkened, saying slowly, "Song Tianhai, Prince Qing Mansion doesn’t need Duke Mansion for prestige."

"Hey, if Miss Xiao wasn’t Duke An Mansion’s lady, would you still marry her?" Song Tianhai boasted, "Didn’t you say marry for virtue, not looks!?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "In saying so, do you think Miss Xiao lacks virtue?"

"Hypocrisy, Chu Zhiyuan!" Song Tianhai laughed several times, "Nothing disgusts me more than people like you!"

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "If drunk, perhaps you should stop talking, and go home to sleep."

"I’m not drunk!" Song Tianhai chuckled, "Seeing a hypocritical person like you can’t help but want to scold."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a stern face, "I’m a hypocrite, Prince Qing Mansion is incompetent, needing Duke An Mansion’s backing, I’m not worthy of Miss Xiao, is there more?"

Everyone fell silent, dumbfounded, unable to believe Song Tianhai dared to speak so audaciously.

Chu Mingxuan’s round face was full of anger.

Song Tianhai was too reckless, daring to scold an heir so harshly, as if he didn’t regard the imperial family at all!

"Moreover, you have no sense of responsibility!" Song Tianhai said, "Clearly able to marry the Princess of Da Zhen, why refuse, ... and instead push it to the Twenty-third Prince, you can’t marry her, so the Twenty-third Prince can?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Anything else?"

Song Tianhai pointed at him, "Also, you are too ugly, unsightly, unworthy of Miss Xiao, haha..."

"Bang!" Song Tianhai flew out.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly withdrew his fist, looking at the limp and immobile Song Tianhai on the ground, shaking his head, "I’ve endured enough."

He sighed, "I originally thought us princes and heirs, and little dukes were one family, grievances could be resolved, shouldn’t create a fuss over a woman, so I specially arranged this banquet, alas..."

He shook his head, "My efforts turned out to be a joke!"

Song Tianhai lay on the ground, glaring at Chu Zhiyuan with all his might.

He felt as if he had fallen into a sea of knives and fire, every part of his body hurt unbearably, driving him insane, yet he lacked the strength to speak.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Mingxuan, "Eighteenth Uncle..."

Chu Mingxuan, no longer his usual jovial self, said coldly, "Song Tianhai is really drunk, he needs to sober up!"

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Song Tianhai, "Are you sober now?"

Ye Baichao hurried forward to help him, "Brother Song."

He helped the limp and muddy Song Tianhai to stand, and as soon as he braced him, Song Tianhai unexpectedly gained strength and stood staunchly.

He clenched his teeth, staring fiercely at Chu Zhiyuan, "You..."

"Not sober yet?" Chu Zhiyuan snorted.

Song Tianhai sneered at him coldly, "You’re not worthy of Miss Xiao!"

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