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

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



The Entrance Hall.

As the large doors were pushed open, a gust of cold wind rushed into the hall, carrying with it flurries of snowflakes that danced like feathers.

The stark temperature difference between the interior and exterior caused this peculiar sight.

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

Even with her thick-skinned nature, she couldn't bring herself to call Lin Qingyi 'Sister Lin' in front of everyone.

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

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

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

Lin Qingyi, standing nearby, noticed the couple's arrival and smiled slightly, "Why are you two just standing there? Come inside quickly, or the warmth will escape!"

Hearing this, the couple stepped over the threshold, and Jiang Ning turned to close the hall doors.

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

She glanced at Jiang Ning and then at the girl beside him, a satisfied expression on her face.

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

Ji Minghao observed the pair, "That's indeed true, Sister Lin."

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

"I don't know!" Jiang Yiming shook his head nonchalantly, assuming an adult-like demeanor.

At this moment, Liu Wanwan, holding Xiao Doubao, smiled with narrowed eyes.

She then glanced at Jiang Li, noticing a faint worry in his expression.

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

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

At the same time, Jiang Ning tilted his head slightly to glance at the girl in a light yellow skirt beside him.

From this angle, one could see the fine downy fuzz on her cheeks and nose, a telltale sign of her youth.

Additionally, due to their proximity, he could smell a faint fragrance emanating from her, a blend of osmanthus and gardenia.

Sensing Jiang Ning's gaze upon her, the girl's tension seemed to dissipate.

She turned to examine Jiang Ning, her eyes unafraid, shining with a bright light.

"You're so handsome!" 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, today, for some reason, they felt especially meaningful.

She looked at Jiang Ning, "I'm Ji Mingyue, and you?"

"Jiang Ning!"

Upon hearing her name, Ji Mingyue smiled, appearing relaxed, the earlier nervousness gone from her face.

Unseen by others, her hands, which had been clasped in front of her abdomen, were now twisting and wringing her clothes, her palms already damp with sweat.

Ji Mingyue tilted her head slightly, "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 nodded, agreeing with Jiang Ning's statement.

Then she extended her fair hand, "Jiang Ning, it's nice to meet you!"

Seeing this gesture, Jiang Ning was momentarily stunned.

Ji Mingyue's posture was that of a handshake, an unfamiliar gesture in this world.

The next moment, he hesitantly extended his right hand.

Noticing this, Ji Mingyue reached out again, her delicate hand meeting Jiang Ning's in a brief handshake.

Instantly, Jiang Ning felt the fine layer of sweat on Ji Mingyue's fragile, boneless hand.

This layer of sweat undoubtedly revealed her nervousness, so much so that her palms were sweating.

Jiang Ning's curiosity grew.

"Mingyue, I'm glad to meet you too!" He said.

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

"You can call me 'Ming' or 'Yue'!"

"I'm the seventeenth child in my family, and my nickname is 'Xiao Qiushi'. You can call me 'Xiao Qiushi' too!"

"Okay, Xiao Qiushi!" A faint smile appeared on Jiang Ning's face.

Seeing Jiang Ning's smile, Ji Mingyue's eyes softened like crescent moons.

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

Lin Qingyi claimed it was to give them some private time together.

Moreover, with the snow, it was the perfect time for a stroll and snow appreciation.

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

She stretched out her hand, comparing her palm to his nose, "You're so much taller than me!"

Smiling at Ji Mingyue's playful gesture, Jiang Ning said, "It's natural for men to be taller than women!"

"Indeed!" Ji Mingyue nodded, biting her finger in thought.

Then, she looked at Jiang Ning's hands.

Jiang Ning, puzzled, turned to look at Ji Mingyue.

He extended his hand, palm up.

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

"Your hands are so big!"

As they spoke, Jiang Ning felt their skin touch.

Ji Mingyue's cold, delicate hand rested on his palm, her ears turning red.

This was his first time experiencing such a gesture, imitating a bold move from his dreams.

Seeing Jiang Ning's gaze upon her, she didn't shy away, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Jiang Ning.

"Jiang Ning, your hands are so warm!"

At the gate of the courtyard.

Several people watched Lin Qingyi, Ji Mingyue, and Ji Minghao leave.

Jiang Ning's heart suddenly ached.

Ji Mingyue's boldness was too much for him to handle.

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

And she did it with such a speechless tactic.

Comparing hand sizes, and then seizing the opportunity to shake hands.

Recalling that scene, he felt like mocking it.

Subsequently, he became even more troubled.

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

He was momentarily stunned by her beauty, and somehow, he unconsciously agreed.

Yes! With this "yes," Ji Mingyue didn't even give him time to reconsider.

She merely left a sentence.

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

After saying this, Ji Mingyue felt embarrassed.

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

In the carriage.

"Xiao 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: "..."

Both of them looked at Ji Mingyue speechlessly.

However, Ji Mingyue had a secret hidden in her heart.

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

This secret was something she had never revealed in all these years.

She treated it as just a magical dream.

In the carriage.

Lin Qingyi composed herself.

"Xiao Shiqi, so you have feelings for Jiang Ning?"

"Yes!" Ji Mingyue nodded and laughed, "Anyway, I've taken a liking to him, and I'll have him marry me in the capital!"

Lin Qingyi: "..."

Ji Minghao: "..."

Both of them were surprised by Ji Mingyue's bold statement.

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.

This secret was something she had never revealed in all these years.

She treated it as just a magical dream.

In the carriage.

Lin Qingyi composed herself.

"Xiao Shiqi, so you have feelings for Jiang Ning?"

"Yes!" Ji Mingyue nodded and laughed, "Anyway, I've taken a liking to him, and I'll have him marry me in the capital!"

Lin Qingyi: "..."

Ji Minghao: "..."

Both of them were surprised by Mingyue's bold statement.

On the other side.

Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan watched Jiang Ning leave, and they exchanged glances.

"Brother Li, did you notice that girl's nobility? She's quite extraordinary!"

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

Jiang Li continued, a hint of pride in his voice, "But Ah Ning is no less impressive! At her age, she holds an eighth-rank official position, and her martial arts skills are remarkable! Give Ah Ning a few more years, and she'll be a prominent figure in Dongling County!"

Liu Wanwan, standing beside him, patted his head.

Then she said, "Brother Li, you might be underestimating that girl! Her nobility is not ordinary; it's extraordinary, perhaps even beyond words!"

"Beyond words?" Jiang Li was slightly taken aback.

"Yes!" Liu Wanwan nodded, "Brother Li, do you know that the current royal family's surname is Ji?"

"You mean..." Jiang Li's eyes widened in surprise, "That girl is a descendant of the current royal family?"

6‖9‖Book‖Bar

Liu Wanwan shook her head, "Not necessarily! The Ji family has ruled for over eight hundred years, and their lineage has spread far and wide. The Ji surname is no longer a minor one."

"From the time of the founding emperor, Ji Xuanyuan, to the present day, his descendants have spanned several hundred generations."

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

Jiang Li, listening to Liu Wanwan's analysis, couldn't help but gasp in the cold wind.

Then he smiled bitterly, "Lin Qingyi, you're really aiming high for Ah Ning, wanting to match her with a royal descendant. It's truly too much for her."

Liu Wanwan nodded in agreement, "Yes! Whether it's the royal family or the royal descendants, they are not within our reach."

Jiang Li nodded, then sighed, "But it's Lin Qingyi's intention, and it's not impossible. Ah Ning and that young lady probably won't have a chance together!"

After speaking, Jiang Li turned to Liu Wanwan and grabbed her hand.

As an ordinary person, marrying into the prestigious Dongling Liu family was an incredibly difficult task.

To be able to marry her, Liu Wanwan was unwavering in her determination, even willing to leave her family to be with him.

And this was just the Dongling Liu family.

Such a family, whether in the eyes of the royal family or the royal descendants, was still insignificant.

The two were completely incomparable.

If we're talking about the difficulty, it's a thousand-fold difference, and it can't be simply measured.

In the carriage.

Jiang Li suddenly turned to Liu Wanwan and said, "Wanwan, all these years with me, I've wronged you!"

"Wronged? What's there to feel wronged about!" Liu Wanwan laughed, her eyes glistening with tears.

Seeing this, Jiang Li pulled her into his embrace.

"Wanwan, let's find time to take Xiaobao and Jiang Yiming to visit your parents, okay?"

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

"We can't talk about it later!" Jiang Li grabbed her shoulders, his eyes serious as he looked at her, "I have no father or mother, but your parents are still alive!"

"At this age, if we don't visit them and fulfill our filial duties, we might regret it for the rest of our lives!"

"Let's not talk about it anymore! There's no grudge between father and daughter, especially after so many years!"

"Moreover, Xiaobao and Xiaojing are already so big. Your parents can only acknowledge me as their son-in-law now, right?"

"If I go to your house, I might face some hardships, but I'm at this age, and I'm not like Ah Ning, who is young and hot-blooded. A little hardship is nothing!"

At this moment.

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

Liu Wanwan nodded slowly. "Alright then, I'll listen to Brother Li!"

"Hehe!" Jiang Li chuckled, feeling a weight lift from his heart. Then he asked, "My lady, when do you think we should visit your family?"

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

"Let's go next spring! The roads are blocked by heavy snow now, and it's too difficult to travel with Xiao Doubao and Yi Ming to Dongling City. It's a long journey!"

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

His words had barely left his mouth when he suddenly bent down and picked up Liu Wanwan.

As Liu Wanwan let out a surprised cry, one hand hooked around Jiang Li's neck, and the other struck his chest.

"You're crazy!" Liu Wanwan pouted playfully.

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

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

"So what if it's daytime? The house that Ah Ning bought is big enough!" Jiang Li chuckled.

As Liu Wanwan cried out, Jiang Li carried her towards the inner courtyard.

Eastern Yard.

Jiang Ning returned to his own yard.

He rearranged the environment to have all five elements, then began his cultivation practice.

He hadn't forgotten that just as he was toasting with the Eighth Prince of Great Xia, Ji Minghao, the second young master of the River God Manor had suddenly arrived.

The second young master's actions had left Jiang Ning confused.

He didn't seem to consider Jiang Ning as an enemy, nor was he particularly friendly.

He Jinsheng, the second young master of the River God Manor, seemed to have an ambiguous attitude towards Jiang Ning, leaving him perplexed.

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

His current strength gave him a sense of confidence.

The confidence to face any challenge.

At the same time, the token representing the identity of the Eighth Prince of Great Xia, which Ji Minghao had just given him, also boosted his confidence.

This token alone could resolve potential crises.

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

The identity of the Eighth Prince also represented significant trouble, possibly related to the struggle for succession.

As far as Jiang Ning knew, the current emperor was not in his prime but was nearing retirement age.

Ji Minghao's friendship with him was sincere and without any ulterior motives.

However, there was a hint of recruitment in his intentions.

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

Once entangled in the potential struggle for succession, it would be a massive problem.

Moreover, this trouble wasn't something he could easily escape from. Using Ji Minghao's identity token would directly align him with Ji Minghao's faction.

"If I can avoid using it, I won't!"

"But if I need to take action, I can't let one obstacle stop me!"

Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

At that moment, he recalled the words Ji Minghao had said to him when they were about to enter the front hall together.

If He Jinsheng became his enemy,

Jiang Ning would have to quickly improve his status.

An eighth-rank official was too lowly in the eyes of the River God Manor.

He should strive to climb the official ladder.

Ji Minghao had also given him a suggestion.

Since he had reached the sixth rank in the martial path, he could participate in the Martial Imperial Examination.

In Great Xia, having an official title made a significant difference in status.

Those with renowned martial prowess were often Martial Champions.

Without the title of Martial Champion, even with equal achievements, the speed of official promotion varied greatly.

With these thoughts, Jiang Ning had an idea.

With his current accumulation, he had over ten contribution points in the Inspection Office.

Using these points, he could rise even higher.

Moreover, with his current martial prowess, participating in the Martial Imperial Examination would guarantee him the title of Martial Scholar, if nothing else.

There were still over two months until the county-level examination of the Martial Imperial Examination in Dongling Prefecture, to be held in the spring of the following year.

This was just the first level of the examination.

The next level, the prefecture-level examination held in the prefectural capital, where one could become a Martial Candidate, would be held a month after the county-level examination.

As for the final level, the imperial-level examination held in the imperial capital, where one could become a Martial Champion, was held once every three years, unlike the other levels, which were annual.

There was still over a year until the final imperial-level examination.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning recalled his agreement with Ji Mingyue.

He suddenly felt a headache coming on.

"I really am a big-mouthed fool!"

Jiang Ning slapped his forehead.

"I can only wait until next year. If I go to the imperial capital to compete for the title of Martial Champion, I'll talk to Ji Mingyue again. I believe she'll have forgotten about me by then!"

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

"It was just a casual joke!"

"A young girl's heart is like the clouds in June, ever-changing!"

"Ji Mingyue might forget about it in a few days!"

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

With these thoughts, Jiang Ning's mood improved.

Then, he prepared the environment.

He lit the torches, and the flames soared into the sky.

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

With all five elements present, this was the best environment for his cultivation!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end