Shen Lang Stood Out and Won

Among these six young men, Shen Lang's competitiveness was exceedingly weak—one could even say he had no competitiveness at all.

The seeded contender was undoubtedly Wang Lian.

This distant relative of Xuanwu Earl's Manor, the young Chief Registrar, sat in the study, tense, uneasy, and excited.

Of course, he knew what he had come here to do today. He had waited for this day for many years.

He was clearly not from Nujiang Prefecture, and should have been at home concentrating on his studies and preparing for the Presented Scholar examination. Yet he had come to Xuanwu City to become the Chief Registrar in charge of criminal cases, a job he did not like in the slightest. He had done so for one reason alone: to get the moon before others from a terrace by the water.

Of course, he knew Jin MuLan could not possibly marry out and would only take a Live-in Son-in-Law.

But he did not care. He was not the only son in his family. His two elder brothers had each taken the Martial Examination and civil examination respectively.

He had been captivated by MuLan since childhood. Besides, this was a century-old noble clan. Even as a Live-in Son-in-Law, he would enjoy inexhaustible wealth, glory, and immense power.

The Young Lord of the Earl's Manor was incompetent, so the Manor's future power would certainly fall into Jin MuLan's hands. As her husband, he would undoubtedly share in the supreme authority of the entire Earl's Manor.

This was a fief spanning thousands of square kilometers, along with two thousand private troops and astronomical wealth.

Therefore, Wang Lian was determined to claim the position of Jin MuLan's husband! Aside from that Martial Examination candidate, Mo Ye, no one could pose any threat to him.

Furthermore, Jin MuLan's Martial Arts were extremely formidable, so what she needed was a scholarly husband. Only then could they complement one another.

Wang Lian firmly believed he would win this competition! Of course, he was not the only one who thought so. Nearly everyone did, especially Jin Zhong, Earl's trusted confidant. Wang Lian had been personally brought here by him, and in his heart, he already regarded Wang Lian as the Earl's Manor's future son-in-law.

Jin MuLan entered the first study. A screen stood between her and Wang Lian.

Sensing the arrival of the jade beauty, Wang Lian's breathing instinctively quickened, and he became so nervous that he could not contain himself.

Very soon, he would become MuLan's husband. Very soon, he would share a bed with this breathtaking Princess of Xuanwu City.

His cherished wish of more than ten years was finally about to come true.

"Wang Lian, what can you bring me in the future?" Jin MuLan asked.

Wang Lian slightly suppressed his excitement and said, "After you and I marry, I will take the Presented Scholar examination. From then on, you will oversee martial affairs and I will oversee civil affairs. We will complement one another and surely govern Xuanwu Earl's Manor into even greater prosperity. We will ensure that the Jin Family's century-old foundation flourishes and is passed down generation after generation."

Wang Lian believed this was what Jin MuLan wanted most in her heart.

That was right. The prosperity of Xuanwu Earl's Manor and the continuation of her ancestors' century-old foundation truly were MuLan's lifelong pursuit.

"Thank you, Cousin," Jin MuLan said, then walked out.

Jin MuLan entered the second room. This was where Mo Ye, the Martial Examination candidate, waited.

Mo Ye's Martial Arts were very powerful, and he appeared especially calm.

When Jin MuLan entered, his breathing did not change. Only his heartbeat quickened ever so slightly.

His desire for Jin MuLan was no less than Wang Lian's.

He had passed the Martial Examination, yet he came from an ordinary family. His Martial Arts were extremely formidable, but he seemed to have reached a bottleneck.

Thus, he needed vast resources and numerous ancient martial arts manuals—things that could not be bought even with money. As a century-old noble clan, the Jin Family possessed an especially profound foundation in this regard.

Moreover, no man could refuse Jin MuLan's beauty and figure.

"Young Master Mo, if you become a Live-in Son-in-Law of the Earl's Manor, what can you bring me in the future?" Jin MuLan asked the exact same question.

Mo Ye said, "I will become a Martial Scholar, rise to become one of the realm's greatest experts, lead the Earl's Manor's troops into battle in every direction, continuously establish merit, and raise the Jin Family's status and power to another level."

"Thank you, Young Master Mo." Jin MuLan rose and walked out.

Next, Jin MuLan went to the third, fourth, and fifth studies.

She asked them all the same question: If you became a Live-in Son-in-Law of the Earl's Manor, what could you bring me in the future? The answers of these three men were nearly identical: loyalty. They were willing to die for Lady MuLan, brave mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation!

Because these three had been raised and trained by the Earl's Manor since childhood, that was their only answer.

Jin MuLan entered the final room! Separated by a screen, Shen Lang sensed Jin MuLan's presence—a wonderfully pleasant, rich feminine fragrance.

Shen Lang focused his attention into his eyes and saw Jin MuLan's silhouette through the screen.

At once, his heartbeat accelerated again.

"Shen Lang, if you become a Live-in Son-in-Law of the Earl's Manor, what can you bring me in the future?" Jin MuLan asked.

"What?" Shen Lang said.

He really is Second Fool, Jin MuLan laughed inwardly. Then she asked gently, "What is the most precious thing you can give me?"

I've preserved my chastity for more than forty years! Shen Lang instinctively thought.

Naturally, he could only think that. If he dared say it aloud, he would surely be beaten to death.

So how should he answer this question? Shen Lang could certainly offer a great many things.

For instance, he was an excellent gynecologist. If MuLan had any unmentionable ailment, he could treat it for her.

Or, he knew the secret formula for smelting steel. He could raise the Earl's Manor's steelmaking to a new level, make the Jin Clan's private troops' armor sturdier, and their blades sharper.

Or, his eyes were incredibly sharp. If MuLan encountered any blockages in her meridians while practicing, he would know exactly where to unblock them.

He could even guess how the first five men had answered.

Wang Lian had surely said that he and Jin MuLan would complement each other in civil and martial matters, govern the Earl's Manor into greater prosperity, and pass down the Jin Family's century-old foundation generation after generation.

Mo Ye had surely said he would train his Martial Arts to an awesome level, lead the Earl's Manor's army in slaughter across the four directions, establish tremendous merit, raise the Jin Family's foundation to another level, perhaps even become a Marquis.

As for the other three, they had been trained by the Earl's Manor, so they surely said they were willing to offer their loyalty.

So how should Shen Lang answer? What did Jin MuLan truly want most in her heart?

Seeing that Shen Lang did not answer at once, Jin MuLan said, "It's all right. Think slowly and answer slowly. There's no rush."

Jin MuLan's voice was icy toward everyone else, but she instinctively softened when speaking to Shen Lang.

Still, her tone truly sounded as though she were speaking to someone with impaired intelligence, afraid she might frighten him.

Shen Lang thought for two minutes, then found an answer.

"The most precious thing I can give you is... freedom. As long as you don't go looking for other men, you can do whatever you want," Shen Lang said.

The moment those words came out, Jin MuLan froze. Then her beautiful eyes glared fiercely at Shen Lang through the screen, and she nearly rushed over to beat him up.

What did he mean, looking for other men? Was Jin MuLan such a shameless woman? Yet she was not particularly annoyed inside.

What a Second Fool. He has no schemes at all.

Then Jin MuLan walked out.

Behind the screen, Shen Lang revealed a smug smile.

If nothing unexpected happened, he had already won sixty percent of the battle.

Why had Jin MuLan asked that question? She was testing whether these six men had ambition.

The Young Lord of the Earl's Manor had no prospects, so after Earl Jin Zhuo died, the entire Manor's authority would fall into Jin MuLan's hands.

Naturally, she would devote herself heart and soul to assisting her Younger Brother.

What did she fear most? That her husband would have ambitions and covet the Earl's Manor's power, perhaps even harm her Younger Brother.

If that happened, she would become a sinner of the Jin Family.

The talent of her future husband was secondary. Most important of all, he absolutely could not have ambition, lest disaster arise within the walls of the family.

Yet Wang Lian and Mo Ye had acted so impressive, looking as if they intended to govern the Earl's Manor together with Jin MuLan. Who knew how worried Jin MuLan was inside.

Since the two of you are so impressive, should we just hand the Earl's title over to you?

Therefore, Shen Lang's answer showed that he had no ambition at all.

That was the most correct answer. That was what Jin MuLan wanted most in her heart.

Jin MuLan returned to her father's Great Hall.

At this moment, the Earl and Earl's Wife were waiting anxiously. When they saw her appear, they could not help asking, "So soon?"

Yes, Jin MuLan had finished choosing in less than a quarter of an hour.

"Daughter, have you chosen your husband?" the Earl asked. "If you have, I'll immediately send out more than a dozen groups of people to distribute wedding invitations far and wide. You'll marry tonight."

"I've chosen," Jin MuLan said.

The Earl's Wife rose and asked excitedly, "Who is it? Wang Lian or Mo Ye?"

"The husband I chose is... Shen Lang!" Jin MuLan said.

Note: Brothers, vote!