Aristocratic Family Ninth Rank

The next day.

Yang Zhao rode his horse swiftly towards Yuehu Prefecture City.

Upon arriving at the Yang family residence, he informed his Uncle, Yang Wenfeng, about the matter.

"You insist on marrying your daughter to a minor family in Qingjiang County?"

"Uncle, both families have exchanged betrothal gifts and held the engagement ceremony. We just need to pick an auspicious date for the wedding. How can I go back on my word? I can't have the Yang family branded as unjust and unrighteous."

Yang Zhao had ultimately followed his wife's advice, allowing Yang Ronghua to marry the person she loved with a happy heart.

This was because large families had always placed little importance on their daughters, treating them mostly as tools for alliances.

However, Yang Shichang's marriage was certainly unavoidable.

He mused to himself, once these matters were settled and he returned to Qingjiang County, he would need to quickly cover up his lie.

If successful, he would remain in Qingjiang County for at most another half a year.

Yang Wenfeng pondered for a moment, his eyes rippling, "Since that is the case, we can only proceed as you say."

"Originally, it would have been most fitting for your Shichang to marry the eldest daughter of the Wen family, and Ronghua to marry their eldest son.

Now, we can only choose another candidate. Your third uncle's granddaughter, Yang Rongchun, is eighteen years old and would be a suitable choice."

"I imagine he will be pleased to form this strong alliance with the Wen family."

With that, Yang Wenfeng glanced at Yang Zhao again and said lightly, "In a moment, accompany me to the Wen family to personally convey this matter."

"Thank you, Uncle."

That day.

Yang Zhao returned to Qingjiang County.

Upon returning home, he instructed Yang Shichang to go to the Xu family and invite Xu Chuan to the County Office.

The County Lieutenant had been busy and had taken a few days off, accumulating a considerable amount of official business waiting for him to handle.

Qingjiang County, County Office.

"Brother Yang, you sent for me so urgently. Is there something important?"

"It concerns the marriage between my daughter and your son."

Xu Chuan was slightly taken aback. Not long ago, he and Yang Zhao had discussed this, both agreeing that the young couple was still too young and could postpone the marriage for a year or two.

"Did something happen?"

"There's a matter from the Prefecture City that requires me to compete for the Prefectural Commandant position. However, the Yang family wants me to form an alliance with the Wen family, one marrying in and one marrying out. Chang'er would marry the eldest daughter of the Wen family, and originally, Ronghua was also to marry the eldest son of the Wen family."

"But Hua'er and your eldest son have sworn eternal love to each other. I fear that forcibly separating them would make them hate us for the rest of their lives. Therefore, I lied and said that Hua'er had already exchanged betrothal gifts with your Xu family and had the engagement ceremony, merely waiting for an auspicious date to be wed."

"This is how I persuaded my Uncle to agree to the change."

"But this lie must be maintained, otherwise, it will bring unnecessary trouble to both our families."

"Brother Yang, rest assured. I will instruct my wife to handle this matter as soon as possible. We will unify our story and not reveal a single detail, so you don't have to take risks."

"Mm," Yang Zhao nodded.

Immediately after, Xu Chuan cupped his fists and congratulated him, "Little brother congratulates Brother Yang on his impending promotion."

"It's just that when Brother Yang returns to the Prefecture City in the future, with the distance between us, it will be difficult to share a drink with you again."

"I appreciate your kind words, Brother Xu," Yang Zhao returned the gesture with a hearty laugh. "Your Xu family is by no means a mere fish in a pond. In the future, you will surely develop your family to the Prefecture City as well."

"Brother Xu, the various Prefecture Cities are the best places for aristocratic families to develop."

"Although Qingjiang County Town can be considered a prosperous county within Yuehu Prefecture, it's rare to even see a single cultivator in daily life. However, in the Prefecture City, the disciples of the major aristocratic families all have Martial Arts and Immortal Path practitioners, and the resources to aid their cultivation are abundant and varied."

"Although my Yang family is also a large clan in Yuehu Prefecture, the truly deeply rooted top aristocratic families aim for immortal cultivation, with some even having Grandmasters at the Foundation Establishment stage guarding them."

"As for Martial Arts, even becoming a Grandmaster is only comparable to the late stage of Qi Condensation."

Xu Chuan, hearing the secrets of the major aristocratic families in the Prefecture City for the first time, became very interested.

"By the way, Brother Yang, could you tell me how those aristocratic families in your Prefecture City are classified by rank?"

Yang Zhao smiled in surprise at his words and began to explain, "In the Great Wei Dynasty, families are secretly divided into nine ranks, just like official positions. Ninth rank is the lowest, and first rank is the highest."

"A Ninth-Rank Aristocratic Family must have at least one Innate Martial Artist or a cultivator at the third level of Qi Condensation."

"An Eighth-Rank Aristocratic Family requires a Martial Artist at the late Innate realm or a cultivator at the middle stage of Qi Condensation."

"A Second-Rank Aristocratic Family must have at least three Foundation Establishment stage existences."

"A First-Rank Aristocratic Family must have five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, among whom there must be Grand Cultivators at the late Foundation Establishment stage."

Xu Chuan pondered for a moment and said with a wry smile, "My Xu family doesn't even measure up to the current Ninth-Rank Aristocratic Family."

"These are the classifications for families in the Prefecture City. Families in the County Town are generally not included, as more than ninety percent do not have Innate Martial Artists. So, Brother Xu, you don't need to be so self-deprecating."

"I, Yang, am still very optimistic about your Xu family."

Xu Chuan nodded and asked again, "Then what rank is your Yang family currently?"

"Curious? It's not exactly a secret in Prefecture City, so I don't mind telling you," Yang Zhao said with a faint smile. "My Yang family is ranked Sixth-Rank."

Sixth-Rank meant there were at least three Grandmaster Martial Artists, with one at the late stage of Grandmaster overseeing it.

The exact number of powerhouses was the highest secret of each aristocratic family.

Yang Zhao was certainly not foolish enough to reveal that.

"The task is heavy and the road is long," Xu Chuan sighed.

"Brother Xu, the path of an aristocratic family isn't built in a day or two. My Yang family took over three hundred years to reach this point, and each generation worked diligently to be promoted to a Middle Three-Rank aristocratic family."

Yang Zhao shook his head and chuckled speechlessly.

After returning, Xu Chuan immediately had Bai Jing prepare the matters for the Three Letters and Six Betrothals. He then asked her to accompany him and Xu Mingwei to the Yang residence in two days.

Xu Mingwei was overjoyed but also surprised.

So, he asked.

Xu Chuan did not hide anything and explained the Yang family's situation.

"Thank you, Father."

"You should thank your Uncle Yang, your future father-in-law. His Yang family could have sent Ronghua for an arranged marriage, but they didn't, which also carries risks."

Xu Chuan smiled and patted his shoulder. "You must remember this favor and repay it in the future."

"Understood, Father."

Two days later.

The Yang residence.

"Brother Yang, my Xu family has prepared the Three Letters and Six Betrothals. Please check them."

Xu Chuan cupped his fists and looked at Yang Zhao. Yang Zhao smiled, "I naturally trust you to handle things, brother. Come, let's have some tea and chat."

Xu Chuan and his wife chatted cheerfully with Yang Zhao and his wife about the marriage between Xu Mingwei and Yang Ronghua.

After some discussion, the wedding was finally set for the second day of the second lunar month next year.

It was currently October.

That left four months.

Enough time for both families to make all the arrangements for the marriage.

"Brother Mingwei, the engagement is finally settled. Congratulations," Yang Shichang cupped his fists in congratulation.

"Brother Shichang, congratulations to you too. Father told me about your family's affairs." Xu Mingwei looked calmly at Yang Shichang, seeing only a trace of bitterness and envy in his eyes.

"What is there to congratulate me about? It's just a family alliance."

As he spoke, he patted Xu Mingwei's shoulder. "Treat my little sister well. If I find out she's being bullied, don't blame me, your future brother-in-law, for coming back from Prefecture City to beat you up."

"Naturally," Xu Mingwei solemnly made his promise.

Xu Chuan decided to announce the marriage between the two families on Clan Establishment Day.

Yang Zhao did not object.

The Xu family was currently a rising aristocratic family in Qingjiang County.

Many aristocratic families and wealthy merchants from Qingjiang County would attend the grand Clan Establishment ceremony.

Announcing it publicly would also solidify it.

Even if his Uncle and the Wen family investigated, they would find no loopholes.

Time flew by, and it was suddenly the Xu family's Clan Establishment Day.

The Xu family had finally taken another step up. The next step, everyone could probably guess.