Chapter 258: Come to the Capital to Marry Me! (4.8K)

Chapter 258: Come to the Capital to Marry Me! (4.8K)



Grand Hall.

As the door was pushed open, a gust of cold wind rushed into the hall.

Feather-like snowflakes also flew into the hall with the cold wind.

The temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor environments created this scene.

"Greetings, Senior Lin!" Jiang Ning bowed respectfully.

Despite her thick-skinned nature, she couldn't bring herself to call Lin Jie 'elder sister' in front of everyone.

At the same time, Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan saw Jiang Ning's arrival and secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

They had already guessed why Jiang Ning wanted them to bring Jiang Yiming and Xiao Doubao to the Grand Hall.

Now that Jiang Ning had appeared, it meant that the worst-case scenario hadn't occurred.

Lin Qingyi, standing nearby, noticed the two of them and smiled slightly, "Why are you two still standing there? Come in quickly! If you don't come in, the warmth inside will escape."

Upon hearing this, the two of them stepped over the threshold, and Jiang Ning turned to close the Grand Hall's door.

"Come, sit here!" Lin Qingyi grabbed Jiang Ning's arm and seated him next to the young girl.

She glanced at Jiang Ning and then at the girl beside her, her expression filled with satisfaction.

"A handsome man and a beautiful woman indeed make a perfect match!"

Ji Minghao looked at the two of them and said, "What Auntie said is indeed true."

On the other side, Xiao Doubao tugged at her two braids, "Brother, what is Dudu doing?"

"I don't know!" Jiang Yiming shook his head indifferently, looking like a mature adult.

At this moment, Liu Wanwan, who was holding Xiao Doubao, had a smile on her face.

Then she glanced at Jiang Li and noticed a hint of worry in his expression.

"What's wrong?" She leaned towards Jiang Li and asked softly.

Jiang Li shook his head slightly, "I'll tell you later!"

At the same time, Jiang Ning turned his head slightly to look at the girl in the goose-yellow skirt beside him.

From the side, he could see the fine down on her face and nose.

As they were sitting close to each other, he could also smell a faint fragrance from her, a blend of osmanthus and gardenia.

It was fresh and elegant.

Sensing Jiang Ning's gaze, the girl seemed to relax.

She turned her head to look at Jiang Ning, her eyes not avoiding his at all, and they seemed to shine with a special brightness.

"You're so good-looking!" the girl exclaimed.

"Thank you, you're very pretty too!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on the girl's face.

Although she had heard such compliments countless times before, she didn't know why today it felt especially pleasing.

She looked at Jiang Ning, "My name is Ji Mingyue, what's yours?"

"Jiang Ning!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Mingyue smiled and assumed a poised manner, the awkwardness from earlier completely gone.

However, out of sight of the others, her hands, which were placed on her abdomen, were already nervously twisting and wringing her clothes, and her palms were already sweating.

Ji Mingyue tilted her head slightly towards Jiang Ning, "I don't know why, but I feel like I've met you before!"

"Met me?" Jiang Ning smiled and shook his head, "Impossible!"

"It's highly unlikely!" Ji Mingyue also nodded slightly, agreeing with Jiang Ning's statement.

Then she extended her fair hand, "Jiang Ning, I'm glad to meet you!"

Seeing this gesture from Ji Mingyue, Jiang Ning was momentarily stunned.

This gesture of Ji Mingyue's was a handshake, which was non-existent in this world.

The next moment, he hesitantly extended his right hand.

Seeing this, Ji Mingyue reached out her hand and lightly shook hands with Jiang Ning.

Instantly, Jiang Ning felt a layer of fine sweat on Ji Mingyue's delicate and fragile hand.

This layer of fine sweat revealed that Ji Mingyue was extremely nervous, so nervous that her palms were sweating.

Jiang Ning was filled with curiosity.

"I'm also glad to meet you, Miss Mingyue!" he said.

Ji Mingyue's eyes sparkled as she looked at Jiang Ning, and a faint smile appeared on her face, revealing two dimples, "I don't really like being called Miss Mingyue!"

"You can call me Mingyue, or Yue'er."

"I'm the seventeenth in my family, and my nickname is Xiao Shiqi. You can also call me Xiao Shiqi."

"I love hearing Xiao Shiqi the most!"

"Okay, then I'll call you Xiao Shiqi."

"Good, I like hearing it the most!"

In the next moment, at Lin Qingyi's suggestion, Jiang Ning reluctantly left the hall with Ji Mingyue.

Lin Qingyi claimed it was to give them some private space.

Moreover, with the snow falling, it was the perfect time for a romantic walk in the snow.

"You're so tall!" Ji Mingyue stood on her tiptoes, barely reaching Jiang Ning's eyebrows.

She stood on her toes and stretched out her hand, barely touching the tip of Jiang Ning's nose.

Seeing Ji Mingyue trying to compare heights, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

"Men are naturally taller than women."

"That's true!" Ji Mingyue nodded slightly, biting her finger as if in deep thought.

Then, her gaze shifted to Jiang Ning's hands.

"Can I see your palm?"

Jiang Ning looked at Ji Mingyue with a sense of confusion.

He extended his hand, palm facing up.

Ji Mingyue also opened her palm, hovering it above Jiang Ning's hand.

"Your hand is so big!"

As they spoke, Jiang Ning felt their skin touching.

Ji Mingyue's cool and slightly cold hand landed on his palm, and her ears immediately turned red.

This was the first time he had ever dared to do this, imitating the bold actions from his dreams.

Seeing Jiang Ning's gaze, she didn't shy away or dodge, her eyes flickering as she looked at Jiang Ning.

"Jiang Ning, your hands are so warm!"

At the entrance of the courtyard.

Several people watched as Lin Qingyi, Ji Mingyue, and Ji Minghao left.

Jiang Ning's heart suddenly ached.

Ji Mingyue was too bold, leaving him at a loss for words.

He had never seen a girl who would dare to take a man's hand on their first meeting.

And she used such a speechless tactic, comparing hand sizes and then seizing the opportunity to shake hands.

Thinking of that scene, he felt like ranting.

Then, he became even more troubled.

At that moment, Ji Mingyue held his hand, her eyes flickering as she looked at Jiang Ning, and said that he should remember to marry her in the capital.

He was momentarily dazed by her beauty and somehow agreed.

Good!

With that one word, Ji Mingyue didn't even give him time to back out.

She simply left with a sentence.

"I'll be waiting for you to marry me in the capital!"

After saying this, Ji Mingyue couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

Watching the three of them leave, Jiang Ning felt both helpless and troubled.

In the carriage.

"Little Shiqi, what do you think of Jiang Ning?" Lin Qingyi asked with a smile.

Ji Mingyue nodded, "I'm attracted to him! I'm very satisfied!"

Lin Qingyi: "."

Ji Minghao: "."

The two of them looked at Ji Mingyue in silence.

But the two didn't know that Ji Mingyue had a secret hidden in her heart.

In her dreams, she could always see the secrets of another world.

Over the years, she had never revealed a hint of this secret.

She treated it as a wondrous mystery.

In the carriage.

Lin Qingyi composed herself.

"Little Shiqi, so to speak, you have feelings for Jiang Ning?"

"I do!" Ji Mingyue nodded, "I'm attracted to him, and I'll have him marry me in the capital!"

Lin Qingyi: "."

Ji Minghao: "."

The two of them were speechless upon hearing Ji Mingyue's bold statement.

Then, Ji Minghao shook his head with a smile.

Lin Qingyi did the same.

A young girl's momentary words couldn't be taken seriously.

On the other side.

Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan watched as Jiang Ning left, and the two of them exchanged glances.

"Brother Li, did you notice her noble aura? That girl's aura was extraordinary!"

Jiang Li nodded, "That girl's identity is definitely not ordinary! Being the seventeenth child in her family indicates that her father has many concubines!"

At this point, Jiang Li's face showed a proud expression, "But Ah Ning isn't bad either! At this age, he's already an eighth-rank official, and his martial arts are accomplished! Give Ah Ning a few more years, and he'll be a prominent figure in Dongling Prefecture!"

Liu Wanwan, standing beside him, patted her head upon seeing Jiang Li's proud expression.

Then she said, "Brother Li, you might be underestimating that girl! Her noble aura is truly extraordinary, perhaps beyond words!"

"Beyond words?" Jiang Li was slightly surprised.

"Yes!" Liu Wanwan nodded.

"Do you know that the current royal family's surname is Ji?"

"You mean..." Jiang Li's eyes widened, "That girl is a princess of the current dynasty?"

Liu Wanwan shook her head, "That's not necessarily true! The Ji family has ruled for over eight hundred years, and who knows how many generations have passed! The Ji surname is no longer a small one."

"From the time when Ji Xuanyuan established his dynasty and proclaimed himself the Human Emperor, his descendants have spanned hundreds of generations."

"Even if that young lady isn't a royal princess, she's still a descendant of the royal family, a princess of a king."

Jiang Li, standing beside Liu Wanwan, couldn't help but gasp upon hearing her analysis in the cold wind.

Then he smiled bitterly, "Lin Louzhu is indeed looking up to Ah Ning, wanting to match him with the royal family. She's really aiming too high."

Liu Wanwan nodded in agreement, "Yes! Whether it's the royal family or the royal family, they are beyond our reach."

Jiang Li nodded, then sighed, "But it's still a kind thought from Lin Louzhu. Ah Ning and the royal family are simply not meant for each other."

There is a huge gap in difficulty between these families and the royal or royal families, which cannot be compared.

Subsequently, Jiang Li suddenly spoke to Liu Wanwan, "These years with me, I've wronged you!"

"What's there to talk about being wronged or not?" Liu Wanwan smiled, but tears glistened in her eyes.

Seeing this, Jiang Li embraced her.

"Wanwan, let's find time to visit your family with Xiao Bao and Jiang Yiming, okay?"

"Let's talk about it later." Liu Wanwan hesitated.

"No more talk!" Jiang Li grabbed her shoulders, looking at her seriously, "I have no parents, but you have both."

"At this age, if we don't visit them and fulfill our filial duties, we might regret it for a lifetime!"

"And father-daughter relationships, no matter how many years have passed!"

"Moreover, Xiao Bao and Xiao Bao are already so big. Your parents can only reluctantly accept me as their son-in-law, right?"

"Going to your family, I'll endure some hardship, but I'm not as young and hot-blooded as Ah Ning. This hardship doesn't matter!"

At this moment.

Looking into Jiang Li's eyes, he saw unwavering determination.

Liu Wanwan slowly nodded.

"Alright then! I'll listen to you, Brother Li!"

"Hehe!" Jiang Li chuckled, feeling relieved, and then asked, "Wife, when should we visit your family?"

Hearing the word 'wife,' Liu Wanwan gave Jiang Li a playful glare.

"Let's go next spring! The heavy snowfall has blocked the roads, making the journey to Dongling City difficult and long, especially with Xiao Doubao and Yi Ming," she replied.

"Mhm!" Jiang Li nodded in agreement. "You're right, wife! We'll do as you say."

As his words fell, he suddenly bent down and picked up Liu Wanwan.

Liu Wanwan let out a surprised exclamation, wrapping one arm around Jiang Li's neck and playfully punching his chest with the other.

"You're crazy!" she teased.

Jiang Li chuckled, "I'm not crazy, I just miss you!"

"It's broad daylight!" Liu Wanwan whispered.

"So what? The house Ah Ning bought is huge!" Jiang Li chuckled.

Liu Wanwan exclaimed as Jiang Li carried her towards the inner courtyard.

Eastern Courtyard

Jiang Ning returned to his own courtyard.

He rearranged the surroundings to create a balanced environment with the five elements, and began his cultivation practice.

He remembered the unexpected visit from the second son of Qinghe Duke Manor while he was toasting with the eighth prince of Daxia, Ji Minghao.

The second son's actions left Jiang Ning puzzled.

He didn't understand if the second son considered him an enemy for killing his brother, or if he had friendly intentions.

He Jinsheng, the second son of Qinghe Duke Manor, seemed to have an ambiguous attitude towards Jiang Ning, leaving him confused.

However, Jiang Ning didn't dwell too much on He Jinsheng's ambiguous behavior.

His current strength gave him a sense of confidence.

He had the confidence to face any challenges that came his way.

At the same time, the token representing the eighth prince of Daxia, Ji Minghao, which he had just received, also boosted his confidence.

This token alone was enough to resolve potential crises.

But Jiang Ning wouldn't use it lightly, as it would mean owing a favor to a powerful figure.

The identity of the eighth prince carried significant trouble, possibly related to the struggle for the throne.

According to Jiang Ning's knowledge, the current emperor was not in his prime but nearing retirement age.

Although Ji Minghao's friendship with him was sincere and without any ulterior motives, there was still a hint of recruitment in his intentions.

If Jiang Ning easily accepted his favor, he would undoubtedly have to repay it in the future.

Getting involved in a potential power struggle for the throne would be a huge problem.

This kind of trouble wasn't something he could easily escape from. Using Ji Minghao's identity token would directly affiliate him with Ji Minghao's camp.

"If I don't have to use it, I won't!"

"But if I need to take action, I won't hold back!"

Jiang Ning silently vowed to himself.

At that moment, he recalled the words Ji Minghao had said to him before they went to the grand hall together.

If He Jinsheng became his enemy, Jiang Ning would need to quickly improve his status.

An eighth-rank official was too weak in the eyes of Qinghe Duke Manor.

He could climb the ranks if he wanted to.

Additionally, Ji Minghao had given him a suggestion.

Since his martial arts had reached the sixth rank, he could participate in the martial examinations.

In Daxia, having an official title brought a different kind of status.

The most renowned generals were often martial champions.

Without the title of martial champion, even with equal achievements, the speed of official promotion would be vastly different.

Considering these points, Jiang Ning had an idea.

With his current accumulation, he had over a hundred thousand contribution points in the Inspection Bureau.

Using these points, he could rise even higher.

Moreover, with his current martial arts level, participating in the martial examinations would at least guarantee him the title of martial graduate.

There were still two months until the county-level examinations in Dongling Prefecture, to be held in Dongling County next year.

The prefecture-level examinations, where one could obtain the title of martial candidate, would take place a month after that in the prefecture capital.

As for the imperial examinations, where one could become a martial champion, the timing was different from the annual county and prefecture examinations.

The imperial examinations, where one could become a martial champion, were held once every three years in the capital city.

There was still more than a year until the next imperial examinations.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning recalled his promise to Ji Mingyue.

He suddenly felt a headache coming on.

"I really have a big mouth!"

Jiang Ning slapped his forehead.

"I'll have to wait until next year. If I go to the capital to compete for the martial champion title, I'll explain things clearly to Ji Mingyue. I believe that after a year, she'll have forgotten about me!"

"After all, today was just our first meeting!"

"It was just a playful remark!"

"A young girl's heart is as changeable as the clouds in June!"

"Ji Mingyue will probably forget about it in a few days!"

"After all, it was just our first meeting, so how could there be any deep affection?"

With these thoughts, Jiang Ning's mood improved significantly.

Then, he prepared the environment for his cultivation.

He lit the torches, and the flames rose high.

The surrounding snowy ground was filled with swords and knives, their blades shimmering with cold light.

The environment was infused with the essence of the five elements.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end