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Chapter 213
Chapter 213
Chapter 213
After going through endless hardships to enter the immortal sect, and disregarding everything to seek the elixir of immortality, she only wanted her loved one to gain eternal life. But now, just a few life-nourishing pills made her father lose his composure so much.
Ever since she was little, she had always thought that Mo, her strong and omnipotent master, was very powerful. But now at a glance, she could clearly see his cultivation level - at the late Foundation Establishment stage.
In the Dao Sword Sect, there were at least eight hundred foundation establishment stage cultivators, and all of them could not withstand a casual sword strike from her. Let alone Older Master Mo, a rogue cultivator.
So Li Shiyin began to doubt life and reconsider the meaning of cultivation.
For three or four consecutive days, she felt very depressed and would only eat one large bowl of rice at every meal.
Today at noon, she was sitting in meditation in the backyard garden, comprehending the Heart Divine Eye technique. The Heart Divine Eye was not so much an eye technique, but rather a divine ability that relied on one's primordial spirit to cultivate and comprehend based on talent...and she had not even started learning it yet.
Just as she was gaining insight, a servant suddenly came over and said, "Young miss, we have guests visiting the house. The General is asking you to come over."
Guests? Li Shiyin was puzzled. As a young lady, what guests would want her to accompany them?
"Who has come?" she asked the servant.
Recalling the General's instructions, the servant only said he did not know.
So Li Shiyin became even more confused.
When she quickly walked to the entrance of the reception hall at home and looked inside, she finally understood.
The visitors today came very formally, with a huge entourage. There were those carrying gifts, those handling etiquette, those adding a sense of occasion - all kinds of people, very lively with over thirty people.
But in the end, only three people entered the reception hall and were personally welcomed by Li Zhan and his wife... Right now, there were five people sitting in the hall, separated into host and guest seats.
The three guests were all men. Two were middle-aged men in their forties and fifties. One had an elegant demeanor, the other had the air of an immortal. The third was a handsome, bashful looking youth of seventeen or eighteen years, with delicate features.
Li Shiyin recognized the elegant middle-aged man and the shy, delicate youth. The former was the current Prime Minister Cheng Lixue, and the latter was his son Cheng Nan. As for the middle-aged man with an immortal air, she could guess - he was either Cheng Nan's master or guardian.
Aside from Cheng Lixue and his master, who was Cheng Nan?
This Cheng Nan was precisely the young master Cheng from Danyang, engaged to Li Shiyin.
In principle, Cheng Lixue was the Prime Minister of North Chu, while Li Zhan was the Grand General. These two civil and military officials could by no means form a marriage alliance, in order to avoid suspicion and maintain stability of court politics. If these two families married, the Emperor of North Chu would truly struggle to eat and sleep.
However, this betrothal had historical origins.
When Li Zhan made the engagement with Cheng's grandfather back then, first he did not expect that he could actually conquer lands with the previous Emperor and become the Grand General. Secondly, he did not anticipate that the son of that poor scholar he engaged his daughter to back then would rise to become the present Prime Minister.
The casual promise between brothers back then, as their status and positions changed, was endowed with many strange values.
In fact, considering political stability, Cheng Lixue and Li Zhan were prepared to tacitly forget about this engagement.
Who knew, problems arose now. Firstly, that little rascal Cheng Nan was already obsessed with Li Shiyin, and said that he would not marry anyone but her in this lifetime. Secondly, they had joined the immortal sect and become powerful immortals...
A marriage between two cultivators was completely different from one between the children of prestigious families. At the very least, cultivators transcended worldly affairs, and the partisan struggles in court could hardly affect them anymore.
In other words, Cheng Nan and Li Shiyin's engagement today could no longer be interfered with by the Emperor of North Chu. It would only be decided by the two of them and both parents.
Therefore, the Cheng family's visit today was somewhere between formal and informal. It was not a proper proposal, but also not just a casual visit. Rather, it was a kind of "inquiry about marriage", an informal discussion.
The male side came to ask whether that so-called engagement was still valid.
Li Shiyin appeared at the doorway, and everyone inside saw her. Cheng Nan eagerly stood up, wanting to come over, but was constrained by the presence of his elders and did not dare approach. For a moment he hesitated on whether to enter or sit back down, looking rather amusing.
"Come over and greet Uncle Cheng," Li Zhan said to Li Shiyin.
Meanwhile, Cheng Lixue softly scolded Cheng Nan, "Sit properly!"
Li Shiyin came over to greet Cheng Lixue, then went to sit next to Yang Yanqi.
Cheng Nan reluctantly sat back down, but his eyes kept staring at Li Shiyin, still looking silly and gleeful.
"Shiyin has been home for many days, how come she hasn't come to see Uncle Cheng?" Cheng Lixue said with a smile.
North Chu was huge, and Danyang City was also massive, but in truth, there were only so many people and families at the very top. These families were all extremely familiar with each other.
"I've been at home with mother these past few days, planning to come see Uncle Cheng in a couple days," Li Shiyin replied with a smile. "Didn't expect Uncle Cheng to come see me first."
Her graceful response made Li Zhan and his wife glance at each other. These were words that unruly girl could say?
"Hahaha..." Hearing this, Cheng Lixue also laughed. And in the etiquette of the Martial World, the louder and longer the laughter, the more amiable it signified. Today, Cheng Lixue was very friendly. He said, "That's because I was missing little Shiyin so much!"
Thus, the few people in the room chatted for a while longer with pleasantries. Similarly, in the etiquette of the Martial World, the weightier the main issue, the more preparation it required. For major life events like these, involving national politics and the two cultivators, it had to be brought up only at the very end.
So when the time passed noon, Li Zhan smiled and invited Cheng Lixue, "It's getting late, Prime Minister. Let us move somewhere else to have a meal before continuing our chat."
Cheng Lixue's expression grew solemn. He knew it was time. With a smile he responded, "Ah, how can I run over to the General's home to mooch food?"
After a pause, his tone changed as he brought up the main issue. "I came to visit General Li today because there is a matter I wish to confirm with the General."
"Oh? What matter might that be?" Li Zhan knew full well, but still asked the question.
"My late father was on good terms with the General..." Cheng Lixue started from the very beginning, even citing scriptures as reference. Finally, he asked Li Zhan, "I wonder if the marriage between my unworthy son and your beloved daughter still stands?"
After making a fuss for many days, all Cheng Lixue ultimately wanted to ask was this one sentence.
At these words being uttered, the two drowsy youths in the room immediately became alert.
Cheng Nan's spirit rose and his eyes shone excitedly. Was it time to propose to the girl he had loved since young? Was it time to fulfill his vow and take her as his wife?
As for Li Shiyin, her brows were tightly knitted as she lowered her head in contemplation. That snot-nosed brat who used to tag along behind her actually wanted to marry her? How dare he!
Li Zhan glanced at Li Shiyin. His daughter had grown up and become a cultivator, making him somewhat hesitant. But eventually, he still replied with a smile, "Of course it sti..."
"No!" Li Shiyin suddenly interrupted Li Zhan's words.
In this kind of situation, daring to interrupt him was truly unbridled! Li Zhan glared fiercely, about to scold her...
Li Shiyin stood up and faced the three from the Cheng family. In a deep voice, she said, "My heart belongs to another. I cannot marry Cheng Nan. There is no need to speak of this engagement anymore. It is I, Li Shiyin, who has wronged you. I am willing to bear the consequences alone. Please forgive me."
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