Marriage Alliance

# Chapter 20: Marriage Alliance

Chu Zhiyuan walked slowly through the door, approaching unhurriedly. When he drew near, he cupped his hands and smiled: "I'm late again."

"Heh, we were too excited to sleep, so we came early." Chu Mingxuan promptly recounted the three of them's progress, then asked about Chu Zhiyuan's.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "I've entered Xiantian."

The three of them froze on the spot.

"Fourth Son, you really entered Xiantian?"

"Mm, thanks to Eighteenth Uncle's medicinal wine. It gave me a hand, and I broke through the Three Passes in one go."

"...Damn, I have to admit defeat." Chu Mingxuan shook his head helplessly.

He had thought breaking through a single pass was already remarkable, yet Chu Zhiyuan had broken through all three and stepped straight into Xiantian. Comparing people truly drove one to death with frustration.

"Fourth Brother, you didn't actually master the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique, did you?" Chu Zhichuan asked.

He felt that while the three of them could break through one pass, and Chu Zhiyuan could break through three, the gap shouldn't be this vast. The most likely explanation was the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique.

"Yes," Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

"Fourth Son, you mastered the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique?!"

Chu Mingxuan sucked in a cold breath.

They had all trained in the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique, only to discover it simply wasn't something humans could practice. It seemed like a flight of fancy, a patchwork of several ancient sect inheritances.

He had always thought no one could truly master it, assuming Chu Zhiyuan was just trying it out—all those who prided themselves on talent went through this step.

Now it was clear: Chu Zhiyuan had indeed mastered it.

This shocked them even more than his entry into Xiantian.

"It was also a matter of karmic coincidence. The Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique is indeed best at breaking through passes. Eighteenth Uncle, and Ninth and Tenth Brothers, you might as well give it a try too."

"Forget it!" Chu Zhiting shook his head directly: "It's simply impossible to master... As expected of Fourth Brother."

Ever since Chu Zhiyuan arrived at Bright Martial Hall, first winning the martial tournament, then slaughtering twenty Demon Beasts during the Winter Hunt—the former was acceptable, but the latter was far too astonishing.

He had known back then that Chu Zhiyuan couldn't be judged by common standards.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Zhichuan.

Chu Zhichuan's handsome face was taut, his eyes blazing, but in the end he shook his head.

He too had refused to admit defeat back then, spending a great deal of time on the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique, only to make no progress and finally give up in frustration.

Many times he had looked back and felt it was a waste of time; otherwise, he would have entered Xiantian long ago.

As the four of them were talking, others arrived one after another.

When Chu Qingfeng appeared in a flash, his gaze fell upon Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward: "Grand-Uncle, I have entered Xiantian."

"Mm, not bad." Chu Qingfeng nodded calmly, without a ripple: "Xiantian is nothing special. The road ahead is long."

Chu Zhiyuan then asked if he could continue staying at Bright Martial Hall and come to study. Chu Qingfeng readily agreed.

Then he asked where Chu Zhiyuan planned to go. Hearing that he wanted to go to the Ministry of Rites, he shook his head without speaking.

The others, however, exploded into an uproar, one after another urging him to be cautious, to think it over three times, not to rush into a decision, and that he shouldn't go to the Ministry of Rites.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said no more.

The morning in Jade Capital was exceptionally bustling.

Bright sunlight shone on the streets and alleys. Every household emerged bathed in the morning light to find breakfast.

Fragrant aromas drifted everywhere within the city.

Chu Zhiyuan sat on the third floor of Flowing Cloud Tower, with Guo Chi and Zou Fang at his table.

It was the same table he had sat at a few days ago, the same spot.

And at the table not far away, it was no longer the group of old men from before, but four middle-aged wealthy gentlemen, also eating and chatting as they dined.

Ordinary people couldn't enter Flowing Cloud Tower—only the rich and noble, those with money and leisure, unlike the bustling commoners on the streets who were busy with their affairs.

Chu Zhiyuan set down his silver chopsticks, his gaze sweeping across the third floor of Flowing Cloud Tower.

Only a few days had passed, yet it felt like years.

Back then, he had only just been released from the Prince's confinement as the Heir Apparent. Now he was already a Xiantian master, and tomorrow he would report for duty at the Ministry of Rites.

The Ministry of Rites had five departments, one office, and one bureau: the Department of Affairs, the Seal Casting Bureau, and the Departments of Ceremonies, Sacrifices, Guests, Cuisine, and Martial Affairs.

Among these, the five departments formed the main body. He was now an Assistant Director in the Department of Martial Affairs, of Subordinate Fifth Rank.

This was already the goal countless court officials strived for, yet it was merely his starting point—such was the dignity of a Heir Apparent.

And this position was also sufficiently leisurely.

The highest authority in the Ministry of Rites was the Minister, while the heads of the four main departments were Directors.

His position as Assistant Director was a deputy role—it could be either a post with real responsibilities or a sinecure, busy or idle depending on a single thought.

Among the five departments, the Department of Ceremonies busied itself with academic affairs and the imperial examinations, the Department of Guests handled foreign dignitaries and diplomatic exchanges, the Department of Cuisine managed palace banquets and meals, and the Department of Sacrifices oversaw ritual activities and astronomical records.

His own Department of Martial Affairs was responsible for communication with the various martial sects of the jianghu, mediating conflicts between them to maintain stability in the martial world.

Because of his transcendent status, his position was also transcendent, and as an Assistant Director, ordinary trivial matters never landed on his desk—he was quite at leisure.

So now he had the leisure to come out for an early meal, without having to rush off to Bright Martial Hall.

"Have you heard? Fighting's broken out in the north again!"

"Old Hu, who told you that?"

"Heh, I've got a nephew in the Supervisory Department. Secret news—they're keeping it under wraps, but it's already started."

"Great Zhen or Great Meng?"

"Great Meng, of course. Great Zhen's been tamed by King Ying, but Great Meng's started kicking up a fuss again. They need a good thrashing!"

"Then let King Ying head to the Great Meng border."

"King Ying probably can't go."

"Why's that?"

"A lot of ministers have submitted memorials impeaching him—cruelty in killing prisoners, embezzling military funds, letting his troops slaughter innocents and claim their heads as war merits. King Ying will probably have to shut himself in his mansion the moment he returns. How could he possibly go to the Northern Territory?"

"Those bastards—when the fighting's on, they don't say a word; when it's over, they all get fired up. Bullshit!"

"Ah..."

Chu Zhiyuan listened, lost in thought.

War had flared up again—not Great Zhen, but Great Meng.

King Ying was indeed an excellent choice, but he could also understand the ministers' concerns. After all, King Ying's achievements were already great enough.

Guarding the northwestern border for ten years, with outstanding military exploits, he had been promoted to Grand General of the North by merit, commanding the entire northwestern border army. If he went to the Northern Territory, with his abilities, he would likely turn that region into his own domain as well.

How many ministers would lose sleep over that?

Power was a cake—the more you took, the less I had.

With King Ying like this, wasn't the next emperor already a foregone conclusion? Was he definitely the next emperor?

The Emperor was in the prime of his life, not yet ready to abdicate and enter the Four Great Grotto-Heavens to focus on cultivation.

Suppressing King Ying a little probably suited the Emperor's wishes just fine.

These officials at court were all masters at reading people's minds—how could they fail to gauge the imperial will?

Impeaching King Ying had now become the mainstream and the trend at court.

"I heard that Great Zhen has sent envoys back to the capital with King Ying."

"Oh?"

"They say Great Zhen wants to form a marriage alliance with us."

"Really? That can't be, can it?"

"This news is very secret, but it's absolutely true."

"News this secret, and you managed to dig it up? Old Hu, you're not just blowing smoke, are you?"

"Believe it or not—you'll find out in a few days!"

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

Great Zhen and Great Jing were sworn enemies—how could they possibly form a marriage alliance?

In the world today, there were three great nations: Great Jing, Great Zhen, and Great Meng, along with a few like Great Lie and Great Jian, and some lesser-known states.

The three great powers had been locked in open and covert struggles for almost as long as anyone could remember.

And now they were talking about a marriage alliance? That news was a bit far-fetched.

Thinking this, he shook his head, rose to his feet, and said, "Let's go."

Guo Chi hurriedly grabbed another piece of meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed vigorously as he followed Chu Zhiyuan, while Zou Fang had already stood up long before, picking up the sable coat and sable hat to follow.