novelraw Chapter 712 - 692: Getting Married
Chapter 712 - 692: Getting Married
Xie Jue always feared others noticing his distinct features, so he deliberately drew his eyebrows thick and dark, to the point of looking anything but handsome. Xie Jue said indifferently, "You must have an eye condition. You should see a doctor."
"My eyesight is just fine. Otherwise, how could I see through your unkempt appearance to your blossom-like beauty?"
Xie Jue had grown immune to Lan Ningzhen’s sweet talk, maintaining an expressionless face and a heart as calm as still water. Lan Ningzhen suddenly remembered her purpose and took out the completed jade pendant she had sculpted for Xie Jue, polished and refined.
It was an exceptionally beautiful jade ring.
A circular band, devoid of superfluous patterns, its vivid green radiance captivating. Polished to a smooth and soft sheen, it displayed the inherent beauty of the jade. The ring was rounded in form, thick and substantial—the kind designed for a man. Moreover, it was composed of two jade rings, one large and one small, nested together. Xie Jue was startled, "Beautiful!"
The jade was of extraordinary quality, flawlessly green without a trace of impurity. Such a combination of rings captured the attention and perfectly complemented Xie Jue’s bearing.
Lan Ningzhen said, "Aren’t I clever? This is your gift for the New Year’s Eve."
"You spent the past few days at home just polishing this?"
"Of course. A gift for one’s beloved naturally has to be perfect. Do you like it?" Lan Ningzhen asked with a smile. Xie Jue chuckled lightly, unable to say anything insincere.
"I like it!" He had always liked jade, though upon arriving in Beiman, he concealed his passion, leaving it unknown to others. Jade of this quality would have been considered tribute in Yanyang, priceless and unattainable. "I truly like it."
"A smile from you is priceless; as long as you like it, I’m happy!"
Xie Jue looked at Lan Ningzhen with an indiscernible expression. This woman truly was strange. Human nature is inherently greedy, always expecting a return for their efforts. Without saintly virtues, few would act without some ulterior motive. Yet Lan Ningzhen seemed to radiate a burning warmth, her heart ablaze, never asking anything of him in return. Even when gifting him such rare jade rings, there was no expectation of recompense.
She had spent countless days sculpting and refining the rings, pouring tremendous effort into them. He had witnessed her designing and polishing them, even cutting her fingers multiple times without concern—a truly peculiar woman!
He found that he was spending increasingly more time observing Lan Ningzhen.
"Your sister said that when you returned, your brother-in-law punished you by making you kneel for an hour. Are your legs injured?" Lan Ningzhen asked with evident concern. "Did you apply medicine? You need to take proper care of your legs in the coming days, lest the damage becomes permanent."
"It’s not a problem."
"Lift your robe so I can take a look?"
"?" Xie Jue pulled the blanket over his legs, refusing outright.
Lan Ningzhen chuckled, "Why weren’t you shy when you hugged me to sleep?"
Xie Jue took a deep breath, "That was you hugging me!"
"It’s the same. Saying you hugged me gives you a more manly image."
"No need for that!"
Lan Ningzhen laughed, gazing at him playfully before suddenly saying, "The Great King broke his leg. There’s to be a battle in mid-March this year, but it seems he won’t be able to join the battlefield. Your brother-in-law will be on the battlefield, right?"
"I don’t know. The Prince hasn’t mentioned anything."
"As his strategist, hasn’t he discussed this with you?" Lan Ningzhen said. "The incident with the broken leg at Chuxi Second Prince Manor implicated one of his advisors. Now the Great King’s injury is bound to stir speculation. Of course, your brother-in-law is always honest and straightforward, incapable of fraternal strife. We’re aware of that. But outsiders are not. Rumors swirl in Fox City. Investigation tasks have now fallen on your brother-in-law. If he becomes too preoccupied, what then?"
"The Second Prince has always been sincere and would never engage in fraternal conflict. The Princes have always displayed brotherly harmony. The Beiman King is astute and should see that this was nothing more than an accident." Xie Jue replied indifferently.
"Indeed, snowy roads are slippery, accidents happen. But did you know that the stables over there have snow cleared daily, with anti-slip mineral stones paving the ground? The facility was specifically designed for knights to ride in winter, so they wouldn’t be stuck indoors when snow piles high. The last incident involving a horse slipping occurred nine years ago." Lan Ningzhen said, "Ah, the Great King is truly unlucky."
Xie Jue looked down at a record of red sand mines, casually remarking, "Who could disagree with that? You seem awfully interested in princes’ power struggles."
"To be honest, I don’t care in the slightest. I’m far more concerned about you," Lan Ningzhen said. "When you knelt in the snow, I wanted to break the Great King’s leg myself."
"You’re defying authority."
"For you, I’d do it without hesitation."
"Oh..."
"You don’t believe me!" Lan Ningzhen sighed melodramatically, clutching her chest. "My love has been doubted again."
"It’s unrequited love!"
"Even unrequited love is love. Someday, it’ll turn mutual."
Xie Jue pursed his lips, refraining from rebuttal. Yet inwardly, he silently countered, "Never." Still, he had a role to play with Lan Ningzhen and couldn’t afford to appear too heartless.
Going too far might truly wound her, never to come back—a result equally bothersome!
After the Second Prince returned to the manor, everyone’s worries subsided. Xie Jue also breathed a sigh of relief; the Great King hadn’t doubted the Second Prince’s involvement, treating the matter purely as an accident. The Beiman King again emphasized brotherly harmony and affection, reiterating the same words time and time again. Xie Jue had anticipated this. After conferring briefly with the Second Prince, the latter headed for the rear courtyard. The Princess candidly mentioned Lan Ningzhen’s visit to Xie Jue earlier in the day.
"Anning seems to truly fancy Mr. Helian. What are we to do?" The Princess furrowed her brows with worry. "The two of them are mismatched in status, and though her father spoils her, he surely won’t let her act entirely on her whims. Prince, perhaps you could talk to Mr. Helian, ask him not to get too close to her."
The Second Prince found the matter highly troublesome and impatiently said, "Anning is clearly infatuated. Helian’s calm disposition makes him aware of the mismatch, and he’s never given Anning false hope. She’s the one chasing him relentlessly. As her brother-in-law, even I find it embarrassing—persisting so fervently when he doesn’t return her feelings."
"Why!" The Princess was visibly displeased. "Anning is a one-in-a-million beauty, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and was even a former Goddess. She’s a perfect match for any Prince. Why wouldn’t he take notice of her?"
"Because he simply doesn’t. There’s no need for reasons," the Second Prince replied bluntly. He now felt protective of Xie Jue; whether out of genuine goodwill or lingering resentment, he advocated fiercely for him. "Who does her father intend to marry her to?"
"No engagements have been made yet, but discussions are underway with several families. The King and her father hinted that they’d like her to marry Dugu Jing."
"Lao Jiu? Absolutely not!" The Second Prince countered. "Lao Jiu and Lao Liu are full brothers, inseparable in their bonds. If Anning marries Lao Jiu, her father’s favor towards her could create future conflicts between the families, especially if Lao Liu ever harbors ambitions for my position. You must tell them this is completely out of the question."
"Anning used to be the Goddess. The King’s preference is for her to marry a Prince—that’s tradition." The Princess hesitated, explaining that it had always been customary for a Goddess to wed into royalty.
"What tradition? The Heavenly God Mountain has collapsed, she’s no longer a Goddess, only holding the title in name. If her father seriously intends to create a two-faced arrangement, I’ll personally arrange her marriage to Helian." The Second Prince issued his ultimatum. "You’d better give her father a heads-up!"