Misty Rain of the Old Times

"What did you say, Brother Xuan?" The little princess asked curiously, not having heard clearly.

She felt weak all over in Chen Xuan's arms, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she leaned on his shoulder, breathing softly and gently.

Looking away, Chen Xuan lowered his head, their eyes meeting. He teased her, "It's nothing, Qian Ning. You're already my fiancée, shouldn't you call me 'husband'? Say it for me."

"No, we haven't had our wedding ceremony yet," she said shyly.

Holding her waist, Chen Xuan persisted, "But everyone else has already started calling me son-in-law, and we're already engaged, bound by our marriage certificate, and are practically husband and wife who will depend on each other for life. Why don't you just call me that in advance?"

"Brother Xuan is just bullying me," she protested, adding that the wedding ceremony was incomplete and not formal enough, which was why she couldn't bring herself to call him that.

Since he hadn't managed to fool her, Chen Xuan didn't press the issue any further. Girls are easily embarrassed, and if he continued, she might get angry and embarrassed, and he would have to coax her back, which would be counterproductive.

The little princess's heart skipped a beat, her face flushed crimson, and her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Brother Xuan, you're poking me."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan gave an awkward smile. Since the clothes of this era didn't have pockets, he could only try to calm himself down, saying, "Qian Ning, you're so beautiful, and with your soft, fragrant body in my arms, it's hard not to be aroused. Alright, it's nothing."

“Brother Xuan, we haven’t had our wedding ceremony yet, we can’t do that. It would be a scandal if word got out. If you need me, I can have Cuiyu serve you, okay? Cuilan is fine too,” she said, looking down at Chen Xuan without daring to meet his gaze.

Although she was still a virgin, she knew everything she needed to know. This wasn't due to the experience she had naturally accumulated from writing storybooks over the years, but because she was about to get married, the old nanny in the palace had taught her many principles of human relations, and she knew that it wasn't good for a boy to keep things bottled up.

As a princess, whose status is tied to the face of the imperial family, it would be immoral for her to perform the traditional rites of marriage before marriage. Since she is temporarily unable to satisfy her future husband's needs in that regard, she has no choice but to have someone else take her place.

The little princess mentioned Cuiyu and Cuilan, who were her personal maids. They had grown up together since childhood and were like sisters. They were all exceptional beauties, with looks and figures that were not much inferior to her own. They were to be sent to Chen Xuan's side as dowry maids, and it was their duty to serve Chen Xuan.

Actually, if the little princess were to marry Chen Xuan, she would send someone to conduct a trial marriage before the wedding. This would involve having someone perform the traditional rites of marriage on her behalf. The chosen person would be Cuiyu and Cuilan, and the purpose would be to check the man's health to avoid affecting the harmony of the couple in the future.

Not to mention princesses, many daughters of wealthy families do this before marriage. Otherwise, if the husband is not good enough, wouldn't they be living as widows?

It can only be said that many of the dregs of this era can truly overturn people's values.

That being said, the little princess didn't actually mind Chen Xuan's strong reaction to her. This proved her excellence and that he genuinely liked her. If he didn't even have a reaction, one can imagine that her future would be difficult.

Since they would be husband and wife in the future, Chen Xuan no longer held back. Having calmed down, he shook his head and said, "Does Qian Ning really think I'm such a lustful person? Cui Yu and Cui Lan are both good girls; let's not ruin their purity."

“But they will be my dowry maids. I will have times when I am not feeling well, and then I will need them to serve Brother Xuan,” the little princess said matter-of-factly, looking up.

To this, Chen Xuan could only say that such an era was truly a paradise for men, where things that were originally incomprehensible seemed so ordinary to everyone else.

Yeah, it's a paradise for rich and powerful men. If poor people can't even afford to eat, how can they have time to think about these things? They're dreaming.

Chen Xuan continued to shake his head, saying, "The pleasures of the bedroom lie in mutual affection. I cannot do something like defile someone else's purity just to satisfy my own desires."

He didn't feel guilty saying this. He admitted that he was a man and also lustful, but lust didn't mean he could do whatever he wanted. Especially for someone like him, if he couldn't control his desires and let his instincts dictate his thoughts, it would be a disaster for countless people, and he himself would probably also be on the road to destruction!

The little princess looked up and said speechlessly, "That's what they're supposed to do. Does Brother Xuan think they're not pretty enough?"

"What are you saying? They're very beautiful, truly one in a million, loved by everyone," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

Still puzzled, she asked, "Then why doesn't Brother Xuan want them to serve him?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Xuan said with a wry smile, "If there's no mutual affection, then all that's left is instinctive desire, which isn't what I want. Let me put it this way, they are indeed beautiful, and everyone likes beautiful things, like flowers. Does seeing a beautiful flower mean you have to pick it? That's actually a kind of destruction of beauty, losing its purest form of beauty."

The little princess nodded as if she understood, but her brother Xuan did not hide his feelings at all, yet he was able to control himself. Perhaps he could not be called a gentleman, but at least he was a good person.

These kinds of private topics between the young couple are actually quite interesting, but Chen Xuan knew when to stop. If they continued, it would probably veer into something risqué, so he changed the subject and said, "By the way, Qian Ning, I was so busy with the marriage proposal the other day that I didn't have time to read your new novel. How about I get a sneak peek now?"

“Okay, this is my first time writing in the Western fantasy genre that Brother Xuan mentioned. There are many parts that I don’t quite understand, so I need your advice.” She readily agreed, and the two of them smoothly changed the subject, showing their long-standing tacit understanding.

She then got up and retrieved the manuscript. After Chen Xuan took it, he asked, "There's so much already, when does Qian Ning plan to publish and release it?"

"No rush. I'll polish it properly. After all, it's a completely new genre, and I can't tarnish the reputation of Tingfeng Jushi. At least we should wait until we have some free time after we get married."

"Well, speaking of which, Qianning, you'll be able to make a lot of money writing stories in the future, while I, a grown man, have no way to make a living. I'm really ashamed."

"Hehe, then I'll take care of you from now on. Brother Xuan just needs to enjoy life as a master," she said happily, looking eager to try.

Deep down, that's what she really thought, but she also knew that with her future husband's abilities, money would be easily within his grasp.

With a smile, Chen Xuan joked, "That's great! From now on, when I'm dating, don't hesitate to ask you for money."

Already used to Chen Xuan's words, she didn't mind his taking advantage beforehand. Instead, she was happy to see it happen and said, "No problem, Brother Xuan, I support you bringing more girls home in the future. That way, the whole family will be more lively."

She actually took it seriously. Chen Xuan shook his head and looked down at what she had already written. To be honest, it was quite interesting. The opening was the 'classic' story of a down-on-her-luck princess who was stranded in a magical forest and rescued by a country bumpkin protagonist. From there, a bizarre and fantastical Western fantasy world slowly unfolded.

It might seem melodramatic to Chen Xuan, but this entirely new genre is a groundbreaking innovation in this era.

Seeing this, the little princess stopped disturbing him and quietly took out her basket to embroider her wedding dress. In her heart, she thought, "Don't be fooled by my brother Xuan's unreliability. He doesn't actually intend to bring many girls home. That won't do. How many children can I have by myself? It seems I have to help him with the arrangements so that we can have many children and grandchildren in the future."

Born in this era, her thinking was not wrong. No matter how glorious a family is at the beginning, if it does not have a large number of descendants to support it, it may be cut off by an accident or disaster in the future.

Just like the Zheng family, their family was incredibly wealthy, with few in the surrounding countries able to rival them. But in this generation, they only have one daughter. No matter how much wealth they accumulate in the future, it will just end up benefiting others. After a while, who will even remember the Zheng family?
'Huh? The Zheng family... I remember the Zheng family's daughter was named Zheng Wanqian. She was also incredibly beautiful. I saw her at the foot of Xiaoxuan Palace Mountain before. From what I understand, Zheng Wanqian seems to be in love with Xuan-gege. Shouldn't we take her in? It's better to let my Xuan-gege have her than let someone else have her.'

Even before they were officially married, the little princess was already wholeheartedly worrying about Chen Xuan's future; her change of mindset was truly admirable.

There are jealous women in this era, but they are a minority. Obviously, the little princess is not among them, and she has already adjusted her mindset to consider the continuation of the 'family'. Under the premise of the continuation of the family, everything else is a minor issue.

Chen Xuan, who was engrossed in reading the manuscript, had no idea that the little princess was already thinking about building a harem for him. He personally had no such thoughts. It was true that he was lustful, but he could control himself. Just as he said, if you like a beautiful flower, does that mean you have to pick it?

One of them was reading a book, and the other was embroidering a wedding dress. They would exchange a few words from time to time, creating a warm and sweet atmosphere. They felt happy and content just being together, and they wished they could stay together forever. This is how young couples are at the beginning.

As Chen Xuan read, maps of the capital city kept popping into his mind, and gradually a rough guess formed in his head. He wondered if things would develop the way he expected.

He arrived in the morning and stayed at the princess's residence until evening before leaving. Since they hadn't had a wedding ceremony, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to stay there directly...

It's a new day, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.

After finishing his morning tasks, Chen Xuan, who was in no hurry to return to the south for the New Year, was like a salted fish, considering whether to go play with the little princess. However, she was embroidering her wedding dress, and he couldn't keep bothering her. Besides, being close to her would inevitably lead to some lewd thoughts. He couldn't really make Cuiyu and Cuilan serve him, because in the end, he would be the one who suffered.

He was bored and agonizing over what to do all afternoon when the little girl who had gone out to shop returned.

Seeing that her master was uncomfortable, the maid hesitated for a moment and asked, "Master, I've prepared everything. When are we going back?"

"No rush, let's wait a few more days. Anyway, we'll get back soon, and I reckon Madam and the others are still on their way. We won't even have a place to visit them when we get back," Chen Xuan said lazily.

Nodding, the little girl said, "Yes, sir. Let me think about what else I need to prepare, so that it won't be too late when we get back."

"It's alright, just let me know when you think of something. At worst, I'll bring you to the capital again. It'll only take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea," Chen Xuan said nonchalantly. Then, he asked with great interest, "Roujia, have you decided what you want for the New Year?"

“Sir, I really don’t need anything. I’m already very content with what I have,” she said, shaking her head.

After a moment's thought, Chen Xuan made a decision: "Since that's the case, then how about this? I'll make you two outfits later, using ice silkworm silk. Anyway, you have some free time, and it's time to arrange a maid outfit, along with stockings and little leather shoes."

As he spoke, he looked at the increasingly beautiful young girl and thought that she would look very cute and pleasing to the eye in that outfit.

Feeling that her master's gaze was a bit improper, and since he had said that, the little girl immediately became a little shy and said, "It's all up to you, Master."

Then she suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, right, sir, when I came back just now, I saw that the Jiang Prince's mansion was already holding a grand banquet, and there was a continuous feast stretching for a mile along the street. Anyone who went to offer their congratulations could sit down and eat for free. Many people are grateful for the benevolence of the Jiang Prince."

Chen Xuan was not surprised by this at all, saying, "The marriage of the Prince of Jiang's daughter, a union with the Jiang family, naturally requires a grand celebration. Judging by the time, preparations have indeed already begun today."

The other party even sent an invitation that day, but Chen Xuan ignored it completely and didn't even know where the invitation had gone.

Speaking of which, the Jiang Prince's Mansion is not far from where Chen Xuan lives in the capital, less than ten miles at most. They can be considered to be on the same street, since everyone living in this area is either rich or noble, so it is quite normal for a young girl to pass by there.

The Jiang family's General's Mansion is also on this street, but it's more than 20 miles away from the Jiang Prince's Mansion. If the Jiang family doesn't take a detour when welcoming the bride, they'll have to pass by Chen Xuan's house.

At this moment, Chen Xuan was pondering to himself: Jiang Yuan had already entered the capital, and his family had already started preparations, throwing a lavish banquet. Were the Jiang Prince and the Jiang family really doing this just for show? Could they have ulterior motives?

At this moment, the young maid hesitated for a moment and said, "Master, when I passed by the Jiang Prince's Mansion, I always felt that it wasn't as lively as when Young Master Gao got married."

“As for the prince, he holds a high position and wields great power, so it’s normal that fewer people come to congratulate him. But the young master is different. He is the top scholar in the imperial examination. Although he has a bright future, he hasn’t fully made his fortune yet, so naturally many people come to him to make friends and curry favor,” Chen Xuan said with a smile.

In fact, he understood that the reason Gao Jingming's wedding was so lively was largely due to his own influence. Of course, the people who attended on the first day were all people with whom he had a casual relationship, which truly reflected Gao's personal abilities and charm.

"Is that so?" the little girl asked, seemingly understanding but not quite...

The day slipped by unnoticed, and Chen Xuan didn't go to the little princess's place in the end. The next day, the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Xuan stayed at home as usual. The news of the marriage alliance between the Jiang King and the Jiang family had already spread far and wide. Even at home, Chen Xuan could hear the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works discussing it enthusiastically. Both families were extremely prominent, and their every move attracted attention. With such a powerful alliance, it was hard not to think in certain directions.

However, some things are too taboo to be said openly, so they can only be discussed quietly in private.

Chen Xuan didn't pay too much attention to this matter, only occasionally noticing Jiang Yuan's movements. Even though the two were ten miles apart, Jiang Yuan didn't deliberately hide his aura. With Chen Xuan's perception, it wasn't difficult for him to keep track of Jiang Yuan's movements from a distance.

After arriving in the capital, the other party did not make any extra moves and stayed at home. On the surface, he seemed very well-behaved, as if he had only come to the capital to report on his duties and take the opportunity to arrange his son's wedding. As a subject and a father, he was impeccable.

But what he really thinks, only he himself knows.

It was already the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, the wedding day of Marquis Zhenyuan Jiang Li and Princess Jiang. If everything went smoothly, the next day would be the most important day in Jing Kingdom, the grand court assembly of the whole country.

The 25th day of the twelfth lunar month is an auspicious day, suitable for weddings, groundbreaking ceremonies, and starting construction; however, it is inauspicious for long-distance travel.

It was a beautiful day. Early in the morning, Chen Xuan was considering whether to go visit the little princess. He actually wanted to go, but before he could take any action, the little princess herself came first, accompanied by Steward Hua, Xia Mei, and Eunuch Li. Three innate masters accompanied the little princess.

It should be noted that the little princess doesn't usually travel with such a grand entourage. Either Xia Mei or Steward Hua would stay at the princess's residence. Their arrival early in the morning, especially on such a special yet not-so-special day, made it hard for Chen Xuan not to have some doubts.

Was this arranged by Old Deng?
Upon meeting, Chen Xuan, suppressing his excitement, said, "Qian Ning finally decided to come!"

"I haven't been here for a few days, just wanted to check on things," she said somewhat shyly. This was the first time she had come by her own initiative since their engagement. Once closer, she whispered in a low voice, her voice tinged with a hint of resentment, "Brother Xuan hasn't come to see me for two days. Did you miss me?"

It's simply that a day apart feels like three autumns; that's how it is between young men and women at the beginning.

Xia Mei and the others wisely stood away, and Chen Xuan joked, "Qian Ning has come to my door herself, aren't you afraid I'll bully you?"

"Haven't Brother Xuan bullied me enough?" She smiled and rolled her eyes.

Chen Xuan thought about it and realized that the two of them had been almost completely honest with each other, but they were just sticking to the last step.

Before he could say anything, the little princess hesitated for a moment and then said, "Actually, it's my third brother's daughter's wedding. As his aunt, I should go to congratulate him, but my relationship with my third brother isn't very good, so I didn't really want to go. That's why I came to Xuan-gege's place, making an excuse that I wasn't home, but I've already sent someone to deliver the congratulatory gift."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanxin thought, "So that's how it is. She's using me as an excuse." But to be fair, the saying that there's no kinship in the royal family is really true. Even if the little princess and Prince Jiang aren't siblings, she should still be there on such an occasion. But she simply couldn't be bothered to come up with a reason not to go.

“Alright, then Qian Ning can stay here for a day,” Chen Xuan said nonchalantly.

In fact, he would have gone even if the little princess hadn't come. It wasn't for any other reason than that he was worried that someone might use the little princess to their advantage on this day when something big could happen. For example, some people might be wary of him and try to control the little princess so that he would be careful not to meddle. Such a thing is not impossible.

Nodding, the little princess hesitated and said, "Won't Brother Xuan think I'm too heartless? After all, I didn't even attend my niece's wedding in person."

"No way, as long as I'm happy. Speaking of which, I'm still your uncle. Even when the King of Jiang sent an invitation, I just stood there doing nothing," Chen Xuan said nonchalantly.

She immediately smiled and said, "Yes, I haven't been here for a few days. I'll go check on how the renovation is going."

While she was genuinely concerned about the future home's decor, she was also worried that Chen Xuan might try to take advantage of her in broad daylight.

After the little princess left happily, Chen Xuan put away his smile and quietly asked Steward Hua, "Did your father-in-law send you to accompany Qian Ning?"

"Yes, His Majesty is worried about His Highness's safety and only feels at ease when he tells us to find a way to bring His Highness to the young master's place," Steward Hua said without hesitation.

Nodding, Chen Xuan indicated that he understood. The little princess knew nothing, but there were plenty of people to arrange things for her. All she needed to do was be happy and carefree.

Looking up at the rising winter sun, Chen Xuan thought to himself that today was unlikely to be peaceful!

He glanced again in the direction of the palace. Old Deng had already made ample preparations; it was just a matter of who had the better strategy.

Taking a deep breath, on this utterly ordinary day, Chen Xuan sensed an impending storm brewing...

Before they knew it, it was noon. The little princess, who had been inspecting the renovation progress inside and out, and Chen Xuan spent their time drinking tea and playing chess. They were playing Gomoku, and the little princess, who was playing it for the first time, was having a great time.

Without making a sound, the little princess won another game and was eagerly anticipating the next one when the sounds of music and celebration came from afar.

She glanced in the direction of the sound and said, "It must be the General's wedding procession. I didn't expect it to pass by our house."

"This will still be a home, no problem," Chen Xuan said with a smile. "Sounds lively, how about going out to take a look?"

“Alright, didn’t Brother Xuan escort the top scholar to his wedding? Haven’t you seen enough?” The little princess hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Getting up to lead the way, Chen Xuan said, "Participating in person is different from just watching others do it."

At this moment, Chen Xuan secretly kept an eye on Jiang Yuan's aura. The other party was still in the General's Mansion, just like an ordinary elder waiting for his daughter-in-law to enter the house and kneel down.

Soon Chen Xuan led the little princess and the others to the entrance, where they saw the wedding procession from the General's Mansion approaching.

It was quite a large event; from a quick glance, I could tell there were over a thousand people, several times larger than the procession on Gao Jingming's wedding day.

The Great General of Wei is marrying his son's wife, and the groom, Jiang Li, already holds the title of Marquis. With such a status, no one can find fault with the wedding procession.

The wedding procession of military families differed from that of civil officials. Chen Xuan observed that the Jiang family's wedding party consisted of at least a hundred people dressed in armor, though they were unarmed. This not only highlighted the prestige of the military family but also prevented any suspicion of ulterior motives.

Upon witnessing the wedding procession, Chen Xuan's heart stirred. The seemingly normal members of the wedding procession actually exuded an aura of iron-bloodedness, clearly elite soldiers who had survived thousands of battles. Among them were three innate masters, and the rest were no ordinary people; they were the kind who could engage in a bloody battle if given a knife!

However, this still doesn't seem out of place. With a military family like the Jiang family, it's perfectly acceptable for their less than a thousand subordinates to lay down their arms and welcome the bride.

If King Jiang and the Jiang family were to cause trouble today, would they really be able to storm the palace with their meager numbers of less than a thousand elite soldiers?
That's impossible, it's practically suicide. We'll see what tricks they come up with next.

Chen Xuan did not see the renowned Marquis of Zhenyuan, Jiang Li, in the procession. As the groom, he was not part of the wedding party; these people would take the bride back to him.

There were so many people watching the spectacle on both sides of the street that Chen Xuan and his group were just one of them.

Even after the procession had passed by and gone far away, people were still talking about it.

The little princess looked away and said, "With the Jiang family making such a grand display, it seems they really intend to marry their niece."

Although she and the Prince of Jiang did not have much of a sibling relationship, from her perspective, she did not want her niece to suffer grievances after marrying into the family. One thing at a time.

Chen Xuan thought to himself that this kind of marriage alliance based on mutual interests was a losing proposition if taken seriously; it was just for show.

Having lost interest in the spectacle, he turned back and said, "It was indeed a grand wedding, truly the envy of everyone. I wonder what the Ministry of Rites will do with the wedding they arrange for us. If it's more shabby than this, I won't do it."

"I'll ask Father later, and he'll definitely be no worse than the Jiang family," the little princess said shyly.

Actually, this was Chen Xuan's business, but Lao Deng said to let the Ministry of Rites handle it. Neither of them took it seriously, acting like outsiders, which was truly both laughable and lamentable.

After returning home, I continued playing Gomoku with the little princess to pass the time.

Soon after, Chen Xuan looked towards the General's Mansion. In his perception, Jiang Yuan moved, making no attempt to conceal his towering and abyssal aura as a Grandmaster, and appeared at the Jiang Prince's Mansion in the blink of an eye.

Following Jiang Yuan's movements, Chen Xuan's attention also turned to the Jiang Prince's Mansion. Although they were far apart and he hadn't witnessed it firsthand, he could tell what was going on from the subtle movements.

Only then did he realize that this was the truth. King Jiang had been preparing for this for many years, and the moment of truth had come!
Recalling the map of the capital, the Jiang Prince's Mansion is less than 20 miles from the Imperial Palace. Once launched, it can directly target the Imperial Palace!
Before Chen Xuan could pay much attention to the commotion at the Jiang Prince's residence, he suddenly turned around and looked in a certain direction on the horizon, his brows immediately furrowing.

Even though they were dozens of miles apart, he could clearly see and sense that two innate masters were soaring into the sky and heading towards the little princess's private villa on the floating island. It seemed that they clearly wanted to destroy one of the floating islands that served as the foundation of the capital's grand formation.

The capital city's grand formation has seven such floating islands, and the one belonging to the little princess is undoubtedly the smallest and easiest to attack.

Even if it's small, it's still over a hundred meters in diameter. Could just two innate masters destroy it? They should be able to do it given enough time, but how could they possibly give that much time for such an operation?
However, if they possess an item comparable to a Grandmaster's strike, that's a different story. They could obtain it in an instant. Once that floating island is destroyed, the capital's grand formation will be missing a part, and the so-called grand formation will become nothing more than a decoration!
That floating island holds many memories for Chen Xuan and the little princess. How could he allow others to destroy it? Even putting that aside, the little princess's private floating island, which the two of them are engaged to, is practically Chen Xuan's. It's like someone is trying to take over his property. How could he just sit idly by?

Before Chen Xuan could take any action, almost at the same moment, a new situation arose.

King Jiang had been plotting for years to form a marriage alliance with the Jiang family. Since he chose to make his move on this auspicious day, he was naturally fully prepared, and his actions would be swift and devastating.

A loud roar, like thunder, echoed throughout the capital.

The voice came from Jiang Yuan, a Grandmaster-level expert. He spoke righteously and without any attempt to conceal his aura: "Traitors are in power, bewitching the emperor and using Your Majesty's hand to harm loyal officials. This has caused widespread panic in the court. If this continues, the country will surely fall apart. As a subject, I cannot tolerate these traitors continuing to harm the country and its people. For the sake of the common people, for justice, and for the long-term survival of the Jing Kingdom, I dare to take this opportunity to eliminate these traitors, set the record straight, and clear the emperor's path. All generals, listen to my command and follow me into the palace to eliminate these traitors!"

"Eliminate the traitors, set the record straight, and cleanse the court of corrupt officials; we swear to follow the Great General to the death..."

As Jiang Yuan finished speaking, voices of agreement echoed from all directions.

The sound was like thunder, sending chills down the spines of countless people throughout the capital.

At this moment, Chen Xuan thought to himself, "What a Jiang Yuan! He really has some guts. As expected, he's come with ill intentions. He's actually gone this far. No matter how high-sounding his words are, in reality, it's no different from rebellion."

Could it be that Mr. Pei's words have truly come true: the imperial star is swaying, a hidden star is appearing, and it is about to enter the central heaven to steal the great treasure?
With a thud, the little princess also heard those words. The chess piece in her hand fell to the ground, and she abruptly stood up, her face filled with shock. "You treacherous scoundrel, how dare you! Father..." (End of Chapter)