This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 435 It turns out the prince is newly married and finds me in his way.

The backyard of the Overlord's Mansion.

Upon arrival, Jiang Yingjun stood with her head bowed and eyes downcast, like a lackey. Three chairs were lined up in front of her, from left to right: Xiao Lingyue, Chan'er, and Xiao Lingyan.

There's a specific reason for this seating arrangement.

According to Chan'er's idea, as the head wife of the household, she should be in the center and take the lead in the C position;
Xiao Lingyan didn't care where she sat, she didn't compete or fight, and only sat down after her two older sisters were seated. She was well-behaved and obedient, so it wouldn't be long before she received her party admission ticket.

Xiao Lingyue was originally supposed to sit in the middle, but because of Xiao He's betrayal, she couldn't stand still and had no choice but to sit in the head seat on the left after Chan'er took her seat.

No problem. From left to right, the chair on the left is still the most important.

Some vixens think they've secured the main seat, but that's not the case. When there are three chairs, the middle one might seem like the main seat at first glance, but if there's a fourth or fifth chair...

Xiao Lingyue: ()
Wait, why would I have such a terrible idea?

Xiao Lingyue stared at Xiang Yuan expressionlessly and said, "Do you have other women outside?"

Xiang Yuan: |)
The Hegemon-King of Western Chu peeked out from outside the house. He was eighteen years old this year, but he had no position and was not even as good as a lackey.

He didn't intend to go inside and stand there. The backyard should handle its own affairs. If he went in now, even if he was just there to watch the fun, the blame would automatically shift from Xiao He to him.

Just watch from the side.

"Jiang Yingjun greets her elder sister."

Jiang Yingjun bowed deeply, displaying an extremely humble attitude, and did not include the label "Princess of Northern Qi" in her self-introduction.

LOL, everyone's a princess at heart.

Strictly speaking, Jiang Yingjun was a princess from a different clan appointed by the Northern Qi Dynasty, while Xiao Lingyue and Xiao Lingyan were genuine royal princesses. In the princess circle, their status was enough to crush Jiang Yingjun.

Although Chan'er is not a princess, her status as the Holy Maiden of the Underworld is far more noble than that of a princess.

Huangquandao and Shendu Xiaoshi are both top-tier clans in the world. They have only one Holy Maiden and an unknown number of princesses, which can be increased at any time depending on the situation.

Sit down!

If Chan'er had any ideas, she could simply send a note to the capital, and the title of princess would be approved that very day.

Chan'er had no opinion and looked down on the so-called princess of Western Chu. She made a few sarcastic remarks, mocking her as a cheap, worthless commodity from a roadside stall. Xiao Lingyue retorted that she was a country bumpkin and had never said anything like that, which made her very angry.

Jiang Yingjun bowed respectfully, but after a long while she did not receive a reply, she remained in the bowing posture, remaining silent and exceptionally obedient.

"Get up!"

With a silver veil covering her face, Chan'er squinted as she sized up Jiang Yingjun. She had everything: beauty, figure, and elegance. She was also a princess of noble birth, and her reputation as a talented woman was renowned far and wide, with many admirers in Western Chu...

How annoying!
Chan'er's gaze was unfriendly, a half-smile playing on her lips, her voice so soft it could melt water: "What a beautiful face, with eyes and ears, but I wonder if she's sharp-witted and has a clever mind!"

Jiang Yingjun raised her eyes, her gaze clear as water.

She was born into a prestigious family in Northern Qi, and the Jiang family of Bozhou was also a first-class family in the world. Although she did not have the same family tradition as the Prince Zhao's family, she had seen a lot of the world since she was a child. Moreover, her older sister, Jiang Wang, was the empress in the palace and secretly taught her a few skills before she left. She had her own way of dealing with Chan'er's difficult behavior.

It's a pity it can't be turned into a potion!
The book says that newcomers shouldn't be too clever, and being neither humble nor arrogant is also undesirable. If they are slick but also proud, they will arouse people's jealousy, and their future days will be very difficult.

Being a little less intelligent makes the older sisters seem smarter; that's the right approach.

But one shouldn't be too stupid either, because extremes can backfire and be seen as deliberate mockery, which would only backfire.

Jiang Yingjun lowered her eyelashes slightly, revealing a perfectly measured humility, and said softly, "Yingjun has only studied for a few years. She has some ideas but is not very insightful. She knows some rules but is too rigid. As a newcomer, I hope that you will not hesitate to give me some guidance."

Her voice was soft, and her posture was extremely humble. She took the initiative to hand the knife to Chan'er, appearing innocent and naive, as if she had never experienced hardship and only wanted a place to stay.

As long as I behave well, my sister will definitely treat me well!

The effect was so-so. This tactic of retreating to advance might work on the dignified and composed Xiao Lingyue, but it was hard to say whether it would work on Chan'er. With a knife in her hand, she would only satisfy Jiang Yingjun's desire to seek death. Her eyes flashed, and the smile did not reach her eyes: "You are quite clever. Since you are willing to learn, what harm is there in giving you some pointers?"

Before she could finish speaking, a sharp, imposing aura of a grandmaster suddenly erupted, crashing down like an invisible mountain, intent on exposing Jiang Yingjun's ugly side.

Please accept the rules you set!

The vast difference in their levels left Jiang Yingjun speechless with bitterness. She gritted her teeth, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Half a year ago, on the border between the two countries, she still couldn't withstand the heavy pressure exerted by Xiao Feng even with the help of her magic weapon. Now, in the backyard, with a newcomer arriving, she dared not reveal her protective items, and Chan'er's strength was far superior to Xiao Feng's.

In just a few breaths, she was drenched in sweat, her legs were weak, and she was about to collapse.

"???"

Why does it smell so good? x3
Xiao Lingyan dared not speak, nor did she intend to. She harbored some dislike for this newly arrived Northern Qi princess.

If even someone as mild-mannered as Xiao Lingyan is like this, let alone Chan'er. It's only because she's been spoiled by Xiang Yuan that she's mellowed her ruthless nature. If she were still the ruthless and vicious witch from the Southern Frontier, she would have killed Jiang Yingjun long ago if someone tried to steal her husband.

Xiao Lingyue watched calmly from the side until Jiang Yingjun could no longer bear it, then she waved her hand to dispel the pervasive oppressive atmosphere in the room.

Chan'er glanced at her with displeasure. The first wife was establishing her authority, and this sister who had brought the wolf into the house dared to interfere, and was still pretending to be a good person.

How dare you! Who do you think caused this scene?!
Stop joking around. That's not what we agreed on before.

Xiao Lingyue cursed her bad luck inwardly. If it weren't for that scoundrel surnamed Xiao who killed without burying the dead, she wouldn't have had her seat in the middle taken away by Chan'er.

Suppressing her dissatisfaction, she resolved to break that scoundrel surnamed Xiao's henchmen next time, masked her face. She glanced casually at the struggling Jiang Yingjun and said gently, "I have long heard of your reputation as a master, sister. You are proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and your singing and dancing are all superb. However, many people are not worthy of their reputation. Why don't you play the zither and paint first to dispel your doubts, sister?"

Jiang Yingjun's heart trembled slightly. The water in the backyard was deeper than she had imagined. She had previously thought that Xiang Yuan had used exaggerated rhetoric, but now it seemed that he had clearly toned it down.

A moment later, she arrived carrying a zither. She was also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Looking at the renowned Jiang Yingjun, she wondered what other tricks the two mistresses of the backyard had up their sleeves.

Looking forward to it.JPG
Move aside, you're blocking Xiang's view of the show.

Outside the door, Xiang Yuan, annoyed that his zither was blocking his view, replaced the door panel and continued to peek out.

Jiang Yingjun's reputation as a master is beyond doubt. Although the Northern Qi navy hyped her up, her basic skills are undeniable, and she deserves the fame that was created through hype. With her delicate hands lightly touching the strings of the zither, she made her fellow musician Baoqin admire her inferiority with just one move.

It's such a pity we didn't get to meet such excellent craftsmanship at Yushengfang.

Of the three chairs, Xiao Lingyue and Xiao Lingyan had some knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while Chan'er was the most knowledgeable. Seeing that Jiang Yingjun was indeed talented, she sent a message to Xiao Lingyue expressing her dissatisfaction.

It's all your fault! She managed to get away with it!
If you don't understand, don't speak. Even if I gave you the chance to be the older sister, you wouldn't be a good one.

Xiao Lingyue rolled her eyes. Jiang Yingjun had indeed put on an act, but so what? She still performed her art honestly.

After the song ended, Jiang Yingjun showcased her calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing skills, living up to her reputation for talent. The three chairmen wanted to praise her but were reluctant to utter any words of praise.

Standard quality! x3
Jiang Yingjun worked tirelessly for an hour without a single complaint, obediently standing and waiting for what was to come.

Chan'er: This woman is cunning and shrewd, and she can endure anything. Keeping her around is a disaster. I'll scratch her face.

Xiao Lingyue: She is somewhat scheming, but she is also quite obedient, much better than some vixens.

Xiao Lingyan: But why does she smell so good?

A moment later, having established her authority and followed the rules, Xiao Lingyue looked at Baoqin, who brought out a tea set, exactly three teacups, and placed them on the table in front of Jiang Yingjun.

Seeing this, Jiang Yingjun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She also knew a little about tea ceremony; this cup of tea would surely be...

Wait, who gets the first cup of tea?

Jiang Yingjun stared blankly at the three chairs in front of her. The third cup was for Xiao Lingyan, which was obvious and correct. The key was the first two cups, which Xiang Yuan hadn't told her when he came.

Judging solely by the seating arrangement, Chan'er, who sits in the center, is the head of the household. However, in terms of speech, demeanor, and even the tone of her voice, Xiao Lingyue is undoubtedly the first wife.

So, who is the leader of the tyrant's backyard?

Xiang Yuan always avoided this question. When asked, he would say he was cultivating, and when asked again, he would say he was tired. He never directly supported Xiao Lingyue, nor did he deny Chan'er's status.

You can discuss and decide for yourselves, just don't destroy the house.

Xiao Lingyue and Chan'er haven't come to a conclusion yet, let alone Jiang Yingjun, who is new to the area. Holding her teacup, she felt flustered and under immense pressure, feeling even more helpless than when she was just being teased by Chan'er.

Seeing that Jiang Yingjun had no sense at all, Chan'er was quite displeased. "You have such good eyesight, can't you tell who the leader is?"
Just as he was about to reprimand her, Xiao Lingyue slowly spoke up: "First, offer tea to your sister Chan'er. She is the Holy Maiden of the Yellow Springs, and her status is noble. Even I have to give her some leeway in the manor."

Jiang Yingjun felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and obediently offered tea, giving the first cup to Chan'er.

Chan'er took a small sip; it was astringent and hard to drink.

Firstly, she was unhappy with Jiang Yingjun. She and her husband had gone through many twists and turns to get together, but who was this Northern Qi princess who suddenly appeared and moved into the Overlord's Mansion?

Secondly, Xiao Lingyue's tone and the subtext of her words implied that she was asking why she should listen to Xiao Lingyue's arrangements, since the leader hadn't even spoken yet!
When it came to the second cup, Jiang Yingjun still didn't make a move, waiting for Xiao Lingyue to give instructions.

Xiao Lingyue smiled slightly, thinking to herself that he was sensible, unlike Cheng Yu of the Zhaowang Mansion... cough cough, in short, he was clear-headed and did not seem like a troublemaker.

"The second cup is for your sister Lingyan. We are half-sisters, and I used to call her Sister Yan. She deserves this cup." Jiang Yingjun nodded obediently and offered the second cup of tea to Xiao Lingyan with both hands.

Xiao Lingyan nodded first, then glanced at Xiao Lingyue, and finally...

I drank this cup of tea.

"..."

No, you really want to drink it! x5
Baoqin: Third Princess Consort, I don't think you understand anything!
Jiang Yingjun: You should decline at this point.

Xiang Yuan: As expected of you, you never disappoint.

Chan'er: Hehe, I just like Yanmei's upright temperament, and I will beat you tomorrow.

Xiao Lingyue: I used to really like Yanmei!

Seeing that Xiao Lingyue hadn't put on a good act and had made a big mistake, Chan'er was secretly pleased and gained a wave of goodwill from Xiao Lingyan. She sighed that even though they were both from the Zhaowang Mansion and had the same surname, some people were just too cunning.

Serves you right for pretending! You've finally met an honest guy!
Xiao Lingyue was annoyed that she had made a fool of herself by not being able to see the plot she had repeatedly declined. She took the third cup of tea, took a small sip, and let the overlord standing outside the door come in to lead the people in.

After suffering so much injustice, I came to comfort you.

Xiao Lingyue, the first wife, was a master of her craft, far surpassing even Chan'er's skill, not to mention Xiao Lingyan, a poor student. With just a few moves, she made Jiang Yingjun realize who the real leader of the household was.

Xiang Yuan silently gave a thumbs up, then led away the well-behaved Jiang Yingjun. Seeing that she was still reserved, he smiled and said, "There's no need for that. Your three older sisters are all straightforward. If you wear a mask, it will only make them dislike you."

Xiang Yuan told Jiang Yingjun to let her true nature shine through, guaranteeing that she would be seriously injured, and that dying wouldn't be so easy.

Jiang Yingjun was speechless. She had just arrived at Prince Zhao's residence and had been strictly disciplined. Seeing her teacher's carefree attitude, she couldn't help but cast a resentful glance at him.

Mr. deserves a reward!
Xiang Yuan dared not give rewards indiscriminately. Original works are very difficult to create. If he kept giving rewards, he would eventually run out of ideas, which would affect his sacred and transcendent image in the eyes of literary and artistic young women.

Besides, what if I become desensitized?

The best time to reward Jiang Yingjun is when she is covered in ants.

There's another point that Jiang Yingjun might not realize, but he sees very clearly: two pairs of eyes are watching her from behind, seemingly close yet always present. Rewarding Jiang Yingjun at this moment, given the peculiar nature of this artsy young woman, would hardly be a reward; it would be clearly harming her.

There was no reward, but the tour guide did receive one.

"Come on, let me show you around the Overlord's Mansion. The backyard is huge, no less impressive than the Northern Qi Imperial Palace where your sister lives..."

Xiang Yuan waved his hand and led Jiang Yingjun on a tour of the Overlord's Mansion.

Logically speaking, although there was a marriage agreement, Jiang Yingjun was a princess of Northern Qi. Sending her to the Overlord's mansion before the marriage was even finalized seemed a bit too hasty.

What if I'm not satisfied with the product during the trial period and want to return it?

This is a disgrace to Northern Qi!
But Liu Che still sent the person over, keeping everything simple and not worrying at all about returning the goods without a reason.

The specific marriage agreement has not yet been finalized. This is because the two princesses of Western Chu are currently engaged and it is not appropriate for them to usurp the engagement.

As for the wedding date of Xiao Lingyue and Xiao Lingyan, the capital city wanted to make arrangements, but since Xiao Yan had not yet ascended the throne, it was not appropriate to hold a grand ceremony. Furthermore, the capital city's decision was not final; it depended on the opinion of the Overlord's Mansion.

Xiang Yuan wasn't in a hurry at all. He was only eighteen, still a child, and at the age when he should be studying hard and making progress every day.

……

With one more person in the backyard of the Overlord's Mansion, at first glance, it seemed no different from usual.

As for the matters in the backyard, they should work things out on their own. Xiang Yuan had reminded Jiang Yingjun that she didn't need to hide her true nature, but seeing that she was still walking on thin ice, he didn't say anything more.

Having grown accustomed to Xiao Lingyue's domineering methods, Chan'er's unreasonable and domineering nature, and Xiao Lingyan's harmless demeanor, she herself would naturally unleash her true nature.

At first glance, the backyard doesn't seem to have changed much, but the front yard is quite different.

The day after Jiang Yingjun entered the mansion, many people were wailing and crying in the square in front of the mansion.

They were all scholars and students, and I don't know what they were wailing about. They fell to the ground and cried. There were quite a few of them, and more were arriving one after another. It was clear that it was organized and premeditated.

The lines are all pretty much the same: the white moonlight has turned dark, the idol got married, the sky has fallen, and I don't want to live anymore.

Fans are like this; they can't handle too much setback, let alone the devastating impact of their idol being betrayed and deciding to retire from the entertainment industry to focus on being a wife and mother.

What kind of place is the Overlord's Mansion? Even the emperors of the Three Kingdoms had to dismount and walk there. How could they allow idlers to cry and waile? The guards immediately wanted to beat them up and drive them away.

If you dare to do it again, you'll be sent to a dark room and jailed.

Xiang Yuan intervened promptly, saying that such a trivial matter was not worth making a fuss about, and that the tyrant was not an unreasonable person; if they wanted to cry, let them cry. He specially allocated funds to build a shed to prevent the wind, sun, thunder, and rain from harming the scholars' health, so that they wouldn't be able to cry tomorrow.

So, while Xiang Yuan was in seclusion, he made sure to set aside half an hour each day to enjoy the howling of the defeated dogs outside his door.

Emotional value at its peak!
The more fiercely they cursed and the more miserably they cried, the more comfortable Xiang Yuan felt.

What a melodious wail! Keep crying, I'm going to do some fun with your pure and innocent idol!

Proud.JPG
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

End of December.

Xiang Yuan opened his eyes in the quiet room, his eyes flashing with black and white. Sensing something, he took out the jade disc and held it in his palm.

I sensed a new world!
"The White House Master has agreed to come with me. Should we bring Lingyue and Chan'er along as well...?"

Xiang Yuan pondered this question with a serious expression. Although he and Bai Wuyan had cultivated together, seen each other naked, and bathed together several times, and their physical intimacy was difficult to control, he knew that their relationship was innocent.

The key is that Xiao Lingyue and Chan'er don't think so. Their prejudice is like an immovable mountain. They firmly believe that the two of them have had an affair and have been intimate.

Especially Chan'er, because she often joined doubles in a daze, was convinced that Xiao Lingyue and Bai Wuyan also had doubles.

Given the demoness's nature, upon seeing Bai Wuyan, she wouldn't care who Bai Feng was. Holding the Reincarnation Mirror, she would immediately make her shameless younger sister call her "elder sister."

Then it got lively!

Xiang Yuan shook his head repeatedly after a moment's thought. Things couldn't be changed. The idea of ​​Bai Feng, Bai Long, Bai Hu, and Bai Gui teaming up to run a dungeon only existed in theory and could never happen in reality.

Just then, the space beside him fluctuated abnormally, and a pure white figure stepped out of the spatial curtain and stood in the quiet room.

Bai Wuyan!
Senior Sister Bai Feng's authority over the Yanfu Sect far surpasses that of the other three. When Xiang Yuan opened the new world, she was able to sense it immediately and fulfilled her promise by coming to team up with him.

Upon seeing Leng Yan's figure, Xiang Yuan gasped and lowered his voice, "Senior Sister Bai Feng, what brings you here?"

"I cannot come?"

"..."

To be honest, when Chan'er called you a harlot, Lingyue didn't even argue back, so it's safer for me to go find you.

At this moment, Xiang Yuan was extremely fortunate. The Overlord's Mansion came with its own Little Heavenly Sect Grand Array, with layers of restrictions, making it impossible for Xiao Lingyue and Chan'er to sense the changes in the quiet room. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to explain himself clearly.

The restriction could stop Xiao Lingyue and Chan'er, but it couldn't stop Bai Wuyan. With a quick glance, she saw the four beautiful young women and immediately frowned.

"No wonder you didn't let me come. It turns out the prince is newly married and so lovey-dovey that he thinks I'm in his way," Bai Wuyan sneered.

"..."

Senior Sister Bai Feng, your words are too ambiguous and could easily cause misunderstandings.

Xiang Yuan understood Bai Wuyan's meaning and mocked him for being lustful, unwilling to part with his young wife, and not wanting to enter Yanfu Sect for the time being. However, her wording was inappropriate and sounded strange, carrying a hint of a resentful woman.

Seeing that Xiang Yuan was at a loss for words, Bai Wuyan's face grew even colder: "What are your plans, Your Highness? Will you stay in the manor with your beloved wife, or will you abandon them and leave with me?"

Can we put it another way, making it sound like an elopement?

Xiang Yuan thought to himself, "Cultivation is a major matter, so I will naturally leave with Senior Sister Bai Feng. Please wait a moment while I inform Madam, lest they can't find me."

Xiang Yuan closed his eyes and transmitted his voice; it would be fine soon.

Just as he was about to take out the Yanfu Gate to open a new world, he was stopped by Bai Wuyan.

"Let's go to Wushuang Palace first, I need to get some medicine..."

Bai Wuyan looked at Xiang Yuan with disdain, saying that she really couldn't bring herself to eat it if it wasn't washed clean.

Half an hour later, at Wushuang Palace, the two dressed in their finest attire stepped into Yanfu Gate. At the same time, at Jianxinzhai, Su Ran Sword Master held onto Yanfu Gate, his figure fading as he stepped into the portal of light.

"I'll play with you for a bit..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

10,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)