Shen Lang Bows in Marriage

Not to mention anyone else—even Shen Lang himself deeply doubted whether tonight's groom was really him.

For the entire day, aside from meals being delivered, no one paid him any attention. Even the people who brought food had not said a single word to him.

The Earl had not seen him, the Earl's Wife had not seen him, Lady MuLan had not seen him. Not even Jin Zhong had come to see him once. It was as if he had been completely forgotten in this guest room.

He even suspected that the Earl's Manor had found a better candidate. From a certain perspective, there were simply too many people in all of Xuanwu City more suitable than him. Who knew how many young men would be willing to brave fire and water for Jin MuLan?

Finally, at dusk, two maidservants entered—or rather, two middle-aged women entered—carrying a crimson robe embroidered with gold, along with the groom's hat, belt, boots, and other things.

"Young Master Shen, bathe and change. Prepare for the wedding!"

Taking in a live-in son-in-law was, in some ways, the same as taking a wife. The bride's family needed to go to the groom's home with betrothal gifts, and naturally, the wedding was held at the bride's home.

Most of the time, the bride wore a veil and rode in a bridal sedan around outside before returning home.

In more extreme cases, the groom even had to sit in the bridal sedan, wear a veil, and be carried to the bride's home for the wedding ceremony.

Very unfortunately, Xuanwu City belonged to one of those more extreme traditional regions. A live-in son-in-law had to ride in a bridal sedan. He did not need to wear a veil, but he did have to wear a mask.

Even so, many people saw this as a trampling of a man's dignity.

Thus, in Xuanwu City, many men would rather remain bachelors for life than become live-in sons-in-law.

At this moment, Shen Lang wore a red brocade robe and a silver mask as he sat inside the sedan.

He would first be carried from the Earl's Manor to a temple, then carried back for the wedding ceremony.

The entire Xuanwu Earl's Manor was festooned with lanterns and decorations, servants streaming about like clouds.

There were not many guests, only a little over a hundred.

More than half were people from the Earl's Manor itself. The remaining minority were prominent figures of Xuanwu City: scholars with academic distinctions, serving civil and military officials, outstanding martial artists, and so on.

Ordinarily, many guests would have come to the marriage of the Xuanwu Earl's Manor's daughter. Not only would people from Nujiang Prefecture attend, even the Governor's Manor and the Monarch would have sent representatives.

But today's wedding had been arranged far too hastily, so even guests from Nujiang Prefecture had been unable to make it in time.

This could be considered the shabbiest wedding in the Earl's Manor's history.

Although the guests in the grand Great Hall chatted with one another, their minds were not on the conversation. Every gaze kept turning toward the entrance.

Because everyone was incomparably curious and expectant. Who would tonight's groom be?

Jin MuLan was Xuanwu City's Princess. What sort of extraordinary person could marry her? Just how outstanding was he? Even if he was marrying into her family, it was enough to make others jealous until their livers ached.

Especially those unmarried young talents—their faces were livid as they held their breath and stared fixedly at the door.

Who was it? Who could be worthy of Lady MuLan? Although he had not received an invitation, Tian Heng, leader of the Black Clothes Gang, had shamelessly come anyway. His heart was incomparably tense, terrified that the groom would be Shen Lang. That would be a disaster.

At this moment, however, he listened from the side as others spoke of how illustrious the Xuanwu Earl's Manor was and how exceptional Lady MuLan was.

Moreover, the numerous prominent guests were all speculating about the groom. Every name they mentioned belonged to a dazzlingly gifted young talent, at the very least a Recommended Man—either a civil Recommended Man or a martial Recommended Man.

"A Recommended Man? Stop joking. The groom must at least be a Presented Scholar."

"That's right. The Jin Clan is no ordinary nobility. They are nobles with a true vast fief. Quite a few Presented Scholars may be immensely talented but have no patron. What would be wrong with marrying into the Xuanwu Earl's Manor and obtaining glory and wealth out of thin air?"

In the Ming Dynasty, live-in sons-in-law were barred from taking the imperial examinations, but Yue Kingdom had no such rule.

"That's right. Besides, Lady MuLan is so beautiful, so outstanding. Who knew how many people coveted her?"

"Without the title of Presented Scholar, don't even dream of marrying Lady MuLan."

As for Shen Lang, no one had even mentioned half a word about him. How could that be possible? He was simply a toad lusting after a swan.

Thus, Tian Heng relaxed a little.

At this moment, Zhang Jin was also staring at the entrance. He too was jealous of tonight's groom.

Who was Jin MuLan? She was practically the dream lover of every young man within several hundred li, Zhang Jin included.

He knew why this wedding had been arranged so hastily. The Xuanwu Earl's Manor did not wish to marry its daughter off, while the Zhu Family's proposal party was already on the road.

Zhang Jin did not care about any of that. He even felt somewhat relieved. A peerless beauty like Jin MuLan had ultimately not fallen into the hands of Zhu Hongxue, that favored son of heaven. Why should every good thing go to him?

Seeing that look in her fiancé's eyes, Xu Qianqian could not help feeling jealous. Yet she showed none of it, instead smiling sweetly as she said, "I'm truly so curious. Which man is so fortunate as to marry Lady MuLan?"

Just then, the entire hall suddenly fell silent.

Because the Earl and Earl's Wife had appeared and taken their seats at the place of honor.

A plump young man stood beside them, his face full of displeasure. He was the Young Lord of the Earl's Manor.

Everyone's expressions sharpened, because the wedding ceremony was about to begin, and the groom's identity would soon be revealed.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Firecrackers sounded outside.

The groom had arrived!

Everyone surged forward, wanting to see this heaven-slaying lucky bastard.

Under everyone's fixed stares, a sedan was slowly carried to the entrance. The curtain was lifted, and the groom stepped inside.

He wore a silver mask, so his face could not be seen. He seemed somewhat thin, but his figure was tall and slender, his hands fair. He ought to be a scholar.

The crowd began guessing which great talent of Yue Kingdom he was.

"The bride arrives!"

Jin MuLan appeared as well! Nearly every man's breath caught, while all the women's eyes widened before filling with intense jealousy.

Because Jin MuLan was taking in a live-in son-in-law, she was not dressed in a crimson bridal gown, but in a silver dress.

The dress was somewhat androgynous and tightly fitted, making her look heroic and valiant.

This was a powerful signal, telling everyone that Jin MuLan was a female general, and that she would fight and kill for the Xuanwu Earl's Manor for the rest of her life. No one could ever make her remove her armor.

It was precisely this silver gown that set off her devilish figure in such a soul-stirring fashion.

Peerlessly gorgeous, dazzling in every direction.

At once, every man became even more crazed with jealousy toward the masked groom.

Jin MuLan's expression held neither joy nor sorrow. For the sake of her family, she was entirely willing to sacrifice her own happiness. Moreover, having someone as insignificant as a mayfly like Shen Lang become a live-in son-in-law actually better suited the family's interests.

But Shen Lang was, after all, a man with a notoriously terrible reputation.

Low intelligence, unable to manage his own life, unable to graduate from the Academy's introductory class even after ten years of studying, and so on.

Thus, even if she was sacrificing herself for the family, it was impossible for Jin MuLan not to feel sorrow at marrying such a person.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!"

Everyone stood neatly.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

"Second bow to the elders!"

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

"The ceremony is complete. Send them into the bridal chamber!"

The wedding ceremony was solemn yet brief.

As a live-in son-in-law, he had to be like a bride and could only remove his mask after entering the bridal chamber.

This was simply unbearable! Suddenly, a voice rang out. It was Liu Chengyan, Prefect of Xuanwu City.

"Earl, though tradition dictates that a live-in son-in-law may only reveal his face upon entering the bridal chamber, we are truly curious what kind of outstanding talent could be worthy of Lady MuLan. Could you satisfy this humble official's curiosity?"

Prefect Liu Chengyan had practically voiced everyone's innermost thoughts.

Just then, a burst of laughter sounded from outside, though there was a chill within it.

"Hahaha! I had come to pay Earl a visit, but I never expected to happen upon my worthy niece's wedding by such a coincidence."

The laughter drilled into everyone's ears, nearly splitting their eardrums.

The newcomer possessed very high Martial Arts! Accompanied by that laughter, a tall figure slowly entered.

The Xuanwu Earl hurriedly rose and went forward to welcome him.

Everyone present bowed deeply!

"Greetings, Lord Zhu Lin!"

This man was Zhu Lin, younger brother of Zhu Rong, the Governor-General of the south, and brother-in-law of the Monarch's wife. He was Yue Kingdom's Great General Who Pacifies the South, Central Governor of White Cloud Province, and concurrently the Prefect of Pingnan Pass. His power was immense, and his might shook an entire region.

He had come on behalf of the Zhu Family to propose marriage to the Xuanwu Earl's Manor. He had already traveled at tremendous speed, covering two or three hundred li a day, yet he had not expected to arrive directly at Jin MuLan's wedding.

Announced today, married today? What did that mean? Was it not crystal clear?

They did not wish to form a marriage alliance with the Zhu Family, yet did not wish to refuse outright. Thus, before he arrived, they had married Jin MuLan off—and taken in a live-in son-in-law at that.

"Xuanwu Earl, you are not being very considerate. Your worthy daughter married, yet you did not even notify me. If I had not come to Xuanwu City on official business, would I not have missed it?" Zhu Lin's eyes were icy, though his face bore a smile. "What sort of young talent is worthy of my niece MuLan? Remove the mask and let us see!"

"Yes, remove it and let us see!" everyone could not help shouting.

Jin MuLan glanced at Shen Lang and nodded.

Shen Lang directly removed the mask from his face!

At once, many people present let out startled cries.

Tian Heng's eyes suddenly widened, and cold swept through his entire body.

It really was... Shen Lang?! Now there would be big trouble!

But no one was more shocked than Xu Qianqian and Zhang Jin.

At this moment, Xu Qianqian could no longer control herself. Forgetting the bearing of a dignified gentlewoman, she stared at Shen Lang's handsome face in utter disbelief and let out a cry of alarm!...

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