novelraw Chapter 721 - 701 Bestowing Marriage
Chapter 721 - 701 Bestowing Marriage
During the banquet, Xie Jue took the eldest son of the Second Prince out to relieve himself. Lanningzhen followed him as well—she seemed glued to him, refusing to leave his side. No matter where Xie Jue went, her gaze followed him, inseparable. Dugu Jing couldn’t stand it and followed them as well. After the few of them left, many in the hall noticed this peculiar situation and couldn’t help but laugh, commenting that young people truly wear their hearts on their sleeves. When they like someone, it’s written all over their faces, as if wanting to become one person.
Some even congratulated the Beiman King, saying that the Goddess and the Ninth Prince were a match made in heaven, destined to be a beautiful tale.
General Lan smiled and said, "Anning is no longer the Goddess. She was startled on Heavenly God Mountain. Even at home, whenever she hears others bring up the topic of the Goddess, she always grows melancholic. Gentlemen, please don’t mention it in front of her. When my daughter gets angry, even I can’t handle her."
The general who had just mentioned the Goddess and the Ninth Prince turned embarrassed. Speaking of Lanningzhen as the former Goddess, her status was rather unusual. When the volcano at Heavenly God Mountain erupted, it was considered a divine wrath and punishment in Beiman. The Goddess was supposed to be the sacrificial offering. But the entire Heavenly God Mountain, including the temple, was destroyed. During the sacrificial rite, there was another seismic upheaval, signaling that the Goddess was unworthy. Thus, Lanningzhen was stripped of her status and sent back to the Lan Family. Curiously, after her return to the Lan Family, the seven days and nights of seismic activity at the Heavenly God Mountain finally subsided. Therefore, the Priest Court concluded that the Heavenly God disapproved of the Goddess and decided she wasn’t even qualified for the sacrifice, leading to her dismissal. She was stripped of her Goddess status.
In Beiman, being sacrificed to the Heavenly God is regarded as a supreme honor.
So when General Lan mentioned that Lanningzhen felt melancholic thinking of the Goddess, everyone couldn’t help but recall the actions of the Priest Court and chose not to say more. High Priest Jin Tu appeared not to have heard and remained silent. After the disaster at the Heavenly God Mountain, nearly all the elders of the Priest Court perished, and the current members of the Priest Court were notably younger.
Though they retained their rank, their authority was far less than before.
When Lanningzhen saw Dugu Jing outside, she found it amusing. "Are you a stalker?"
"You’re the stalker! You’ve been trailing Helian Feng like a shadow. He goes to relieve himself, and you follow him. The male and female lavatory halls are separate. What are you doing here?" Dugu Jing snapped. "If you’re so eager to follow, you might as well go in and take a look."
Lanningzhen retorted, "What’s got you so fired up? Did you swallow a firecracker?"
"You cling to Helian Feng without restraint; do you know how much ridicule I endure because of you? People say I’m a dignified Prince, celebrated for my military achievements, yet I can’t compare to some frail boy from Qianling Town. My reputation is in tatters. Why... why him of all people? Anyone would have been better—even if you had your eye on Second Brother, I could have lived with that!"
"Don’t joke about family ethics." Lanningzhen glared at him irritably. "Why are you always chasing after me? What exactly do you like about me?"
"You can fight alongside me, ride alongside me."
"There are countless women in Fox City who can fight and ride with you."
"It’s different! They can’t beat me."
"Your criteria for choosing a partner are certainly unique. All right, then—I can’t beat you either." Lanningzhen conceded readily. "So let me off the hook."
"No way! You came after me first!" Dugu Jing’s eyes blazed with anger. "You can’t just give up halfway and leave me to be mocked by everyone!"
"You’re too thin-skinned. Afraid of some laughter? Forced love doesn’t taste sweet. Don’t waste your energy."
"How do you know if it’s sweet or not if you haven’t tasted it yet?"
Lanningzhen hadn’t expected the stubborn Dugu Jing to argue back, leaving her both exasperated and amused. "You’re so full of nonsensical logic. Fine, let me be clear—I’ve already pledged myself to Helian Feng. We’ve shared a bed since before the New Year. In this life, he’s the only one I’ll acknowledge. Give up."
"Doesn’t matter!" Dugu Jing remained unfazed—Beiman customs didn’t particularly mind. Women remarrying was common even among the Beiman King’s wives. "Tonight, Father is summoning you to the Imperial Court to put an end to your delusions. You’re going to marry me. If you refuse to comply, the ones to suffer will be the entire Lan Family."
"Are you threatening me?" Lanningzhen’s displeasure flared—she loathed being threatened, especially when her weaknesses were exploited.
"I’m just stating facts. If you hadn’t provoked me back then, I wouldn’t have paid you any attention."
"Bullshit! It was your lust that drove you to me! Knowing who I was as the Goddess, you let yourself be goaded into challenging me to a fight. Who approached whom? You’re still young, and yet you already know how to twist the facts?" Lanningzhen snapped. "Go read some books, kid."
Dugu Jing, hit where it hurt, became even angrier and blurted out recklessly, "Lanningzhen, even if I came to you first, it was you who deliberately used me to provoke Helian Feng. Don’t think I’m unaware of your schemes—playing innocent while harboring ill intent!"
"Oh, so you figured it out. Yes, I did it on purpose. What of it? You waltzed into my trap on your own."
Lanningzhen had just finished speaking smugly when she noticed Xie Jue standing at the end of the corridor. Beside him, the young noble teased, "Oh, Auntie, why’d you admit it? It’s so embarrassing."
Seeing Xie Jue’s carefully disguised expression gave nothing away, but Lanningzhen’s heart raced uncontrollably. Was he angry?
When he got angry, he was truly difficult to placate!
"Helian Feng, you’re just in time. Tonight, Father will decree a marriage between Lanningzhen and me. If you have any sense, bless us. After all, on New Year’s Eve, one of Second Brother’s advisors died suspiciously in the manor. Father could kill you as easily as slaughtering cattle. Don’t be foolish and throw your life away," Dugu Jing declared boldly.