Marriage Matters

Xuanwu Earl's Manor was not inside the city. It had its own estate and castle, more than twenty li from Xuanwu City.

Previously, Shen Lang had only viewed the castle from afar, stunned by its grandeur and immensity. But with his status, he had never been qualified to enter it.

The Xu Family was immensely wealthy and counted as a local powerhouse in Xuanwu City.

Yet the Xu Family Head could only enter this castle perhaps two or three times a year, and even then, at most, he would be received by the steward.

The Xu Family residence was already grand and luxurious enough, but compared to the Earl's Manor before him, it was nothing at all.

The Jin Family's Earl was a true feudal lord with an actual fief, entirely different from those nobles who possessed only an empty title.

Over the past several centuries, Xuanwu Earl's fief had once exceeded five thousand square kilometers at its largest. Later, due to political upheaval, both the Great Yan Dynasty and Yue Kingdom carried out a series of political reforms, so Xuanwu Earl's fief was now much smaller.

Even so, Xuanwu Earl remained the highest ruler of Xuanwu City.

Xuanwu Earl's Manor occupied several thousand mu, with its own farmland, breeding grounds, orchards, winery, and more.

The castle stood atop a mountain two or three hundred meters high. It covered more than a hundred thousand square meters, its walls were taller and thicker than Xuanwu City's, and its garrison outnumbered that of the city.

Thus, if war broke out and Xuanwu City fell, this territory would not be considered lost.

But if Xuanwu Earl's Manor's castle fell, then this region would truly have fallen.

And now, Shen Lang entered this castle with several centuries of history for the first time—the most noble structure in all Nujiang Prefecture.

Xuanwu Earl's Manor's young lady, Jin MuLan, removed her full suit of silver armor, revealing the fitted martial outfit she usually wore while training.

She had practiced martial arts all year round. Taller than most men, her two legs were fit and slender, brimming with absolute strength and beauty.

Removing her snakeskin training attire, MuLan stepped into the enormous bath.

Every time she returned after leading troops, the most comfortable thing was to soak in a hot bath.

After bathing, she changed into a set of men's training clothes, then went to see her parents.

Dressed as a man, she appeared even more valiant and dashing, breathtakingly beautiful and icy.

"Greetings, Father. Greetings, Mother!" Jin MuLan saluted.

The Earl's Manor study was not particularly resplendent, but every object within had a history of a century or more. Everything was exquisitely selected, refined yet restrained.

Even most of the books here were over a century old.

Xuanwu Earl Jin Zhuo was in his fifties this year. He was handsome and mild in temperament, though his gaze would occasionally turn sword-sharp, as if it could pierce straight through a person's heart.

He was a martial man with profound Martial Arts cultivation, yet most of the time he did not wear a sword. Instead, he kept a book in his hands year-round.

Though he held high position and great power, he rarely wore brocade. Most of the time, he wore either cotton or hemp garments.

He also rarely adorned himself with gold or silver. The only thing about him that appeared noble was the jade pendant at his waist.

"MuLan, you're back? How did this military exercise go?" Xuanwu Earl asked.

Jin MuLan said, "Not bad. I did not disgrace the Jin Clan."

Xuanwu Earl smiled. "If you say it was not bad, then it must have gone very well."

The way he looked at his daughter was deeply affectionate, yet also complicated. With a soft sigh, he said, "If your younger brother had even three-tenths of your heroism, then Xuanwu Earl's Manor would not need to fear having no successor. What a pity..."

Jin MuLan said, "Father, is the situation that bad?"

"Very bad!" Xuanwu Earl said. "The entire Great Yan Dynasty is carrying out new reforms, and our Yue Kingdom is no exception. The Monarch's intentions are already very clear. The replacement of old forces by new will accelerate, and the old nobility will one after another be stripped of their fiefs and military power. In such a storm-tossed age, the heir of Xuanwu Earl's Manor is so incompetent. I fear he will squander the Jin Family's foundation of several centuries. After I die, how will I have the face to meet our ancestors?"

At the mention of his son, Earl truly gritted his teeth in hatred. The boy was far too disappointing.

Jin MuLan said, "With your daughter here, Xuanwu Earl's Manor will not fall."

She was not boasting. At present, she truly was the pillar of the entire Earl's Manor and her parents' greatest pride.

But a woman would always have to marry. Jin MuLan was already twenty-two.

"Your daughter will never marry. I will remain at home to assist my younger brother and protect the Jin Family's centuries-old foundation." Jin MuLan said coldly, "Whoever tries to make me marry is trying to cut off the Earl's Manor's path to survival. They will be our family's mortal enemy!"

The atmosphere among the three immediately became grave. Their daughter was making such a tremendous sacrifice for the family that the Earl and his wife felt heartbroken, unable even to utter words of comfort.

After quite a while, Xuanwu Earl changed the subject. "When you returned today, your cavalry injured someone on the streets of Xuanwu City?"

"Yes," Jin MuLan said.

Xuanwu Earl said, "Treat him with care. After he recovers, give him a sum of money and send him home. Especially at a time like this, our family needs a good reputation."

Just then, the voice of an Earl's attendant sounded from outside. "Master, Doctor An requests an audience."

"Let him in," Xuanwu Earl said.

A moment later, an elderly man entered. He was An Zaishi, one of the three physicians of the Earl's Manor. After Jin MuLan brought Shen Lang back to the manor, he had been responsible for treating him.

"Master." The old physician An Zaishi stepped forward and bowed. "The young man who was struck has awakened. He is not seriously injured."

Jin MuLan was startled. Hadn't that young man been struck quite badly?!

"That is good." Xuanwu Earl said, though he was slightly surprised. Was such a trivial matter really worth reporting to him, the Earl? Sending the steward to handle it would have been more than enough.

An Zaishi said, "After awakening, that young man requested to see Earl."

"See me?" Xuanwu Earl was taken aback. This young man truly did not know the height of heaven or depth of earth. Even officials of Xuanwu City would not dare request an audience with him rashly, much less an ordinary youth.

Physician An Zaishi said, "He said he has something very important to tell Earl, something concerning the young lady's marriage."

At these words, Xuanwu Earl could not help becoming serious. His brows furrowed as he nodded. "If he is not seriously injured, let him come see me."

Shen Lang truly was not seriously injured. Only his muscles and bones were hurt, making it somewhat difficult for him to walk. Having stayed up all night, his face was also a little pale.

After arriving at Xuanwu Earl's study, he bowed and saluted. "This student, Shen Lang, pays respects to Earl."

He was a citizen of Xuanwu City and, in a sense, also a subject of Xuanwu Earl, so he ought to have knelt in salute. But Shen Lang came from Modern Earth, so naturally he was unwilling to kneel before anyone.

Xuanwu Earl's expression was not amiable, but neither did he put on an imposing air. His gaze fell on Shen Lang's face, and he was rather taken aback by his beauty.

What an exceptionally pretty young man. Such looks were rare among country folk!

"A student?" Xuanwu Earl said. "What scholarly rank do you hold? I know all the civil and Martial Scholars and Recommended Men in Xuanwu City, yet I have never heard the name Shen Lang."

Shen Lang said, "This student is a student of Hanshui Town Academy."

Saying this, Shen Lang felt somewhat embarrassed.

Hanshui Town Academy offered only basic education, roughly equivalent to an elementary school on Modern Earth. Such credentials were truly embarrassing to mention. More importantly, he had not even graduated from Hanshui Town Academy before being thrown out.

Xuanwu Earl frowned. "You are so delicate and refined. Your parents must have doted on you and allowed you to focus on your studies, yet at your age, you have not even entered Xuanwu City's Academy. You have utterly failed as a son—grossly unfilial!"

At this moment, Earl truly felt a measure of contempt toward Shen Lang. His own son was already ignorant and incompetent beyond measure, but he was still far better than the young man before him.

At these words, Shen Lang felt a slight fondness for Earl. He could clearly sense that Earl regarded everyone in Xuanwu City as his own subjects. Hearing that Shen Lang had performed poorly in his studies, he immediately rebuked him on behalf of his parents.

"You were injured by the cavalry of my manor. Are you seriously hurt?" Earl asked.

Shen Lang said, "This student is fine. Only my muscles and bones ache somewhat."

Earl said, "You said you have something important to tell me, something concerning my daughter's marriage. Speak."

Shen Lang said, "I heard that the Zhu Family intends to seek a marriage alliance with you. Zhu Hongxue wishes to marry Miss Jin MuLan of the Earl's Manor."

This was secret news; almost no one knew of it yet.

In an instant, Earl's expression changed dramatically.

The Zhu Family? One of Yue Kingdom's foremost powers, relatives by marriage to the Monarch. Tiannan Province's Governor-General and the General Who Pacifies the South both came from the Zhu Family.

If Jin MuLan married out, who would guard the Earl's Manor? Who would command the Jin Family's private army?

Someone was trying to dig out the roots of Xuanwu Earl's Manor, trying to snap the main beam of his house!

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