Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 422 Marrying so many, but not me?
This time, it was Lu Xingzhou who looked somewhat bitter.

Lu Xingzhou hadn't expected that Gu Zhanting's reaction was basically correct, just when all his recent plans were about to come to fruition, Ye Tinglan suddenly showed up to join in the fun.

But what if Gu Zhanting didn't cause any trouble, but instead it was the gentleman who caused it? It's really not appropriate for you to show up at this time, sir. Do you also want to go public with this?

If you're really willing to go public, even if it's not the right time, I'll still go all out.

With a heart full of trepidation, Ye Tinglan, dressed in a Taoist robe and wearing a light veil, slowly entered.

She was qualified to sit here; there was no need for Gu Zhanting to say that a seat was to be offered, as eunuchs had already brought a chair and placed it in the hall.

No matter how much Gu Zhanting secretly undermined Tianyao Holy Land, he still outwardly showed great respect for the Imperial Preceptor: "Imperial Preceptor, you have not attended court for a long time. What important matter do you have today?"

Ye Tinglan slowly sat down, her beautiful eyes giving Lu Xingzhou a sharp look, and said indifferently, "I had some insights from observing the stars, and I wanted to discuss them with Your Majesty... I just happened to hear a lot of noise here, what are you all talking about?"

Everyone kept their eyes down and remained silent.

What you've learned from stargazing—if you're here now, are you observing stars or the sun?
Then a eunuch approached and whispered to her everything that had happened.

Ye Tinglan pretended to listen, but her eyes remained fixed on Lu Xingzhou's face, and she remained silent with resentment.

She didn't need anyone to tell her what had happened; she knew everything perfectly well. Because she heard that Lu Xingzhou had been summoned to court, she was worried that Gu Zhanting would cause him trouble, so she deliberately used her divine sense to observe. However, she didn't see any trouble, but instead saw him marrying three innocent women. She was so angry that she almost spat blood all over her veil, and in a moment of impulsiveness, she came directly.

You've married so many, haven't you? There's no place for me, is there?

As a monk, shouldn't I be a mistress?

Of course, after arriving here, she gradually calmed down and pondered what outcome she truly wanted.

Simply sabotaging the relationship is pointless and will only upset the man, making the two women see each other as enemies.

Seeing the young man's sweaty and nervous appearance, with a hint of pleading in his eyes, Ye Tinglan suddenly felt like laughing.

Do you really think I'm ungrateful?
Just then, the eunuch finished his narration, and Ye Tinglan nodded slightly: "So that's what it is... Lu Xingzhou is also a disciple of my Tianyao Holy Land. Doesn't his marriage require my notification? My arrival is perfectly timed."

Gu Zhanting was eager for her to sabotage things, so he immediately cooperated: "What is the Imperial Advisor's intention?"

"You're going to marry three?" Ye Tinglan looked at Lu Xingzhou: "One principal wife and two concubines, is that right?"

Lu Xingzhou was sweating profusely. If this were the standard, what would Ye Tinglan be?

If Long Qinghuang finds out one day, she will definitely attack the city directly.

Moreover, neither Lao Pei nor Lao Sheng would be happy. The so-called "equal wife" is just a title for a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) or a concubine. There is still only one person in charge, and their daughters cannot be given the title of "equal wife."

Lu Xingzhou's mind raced, and he immediately said, "Grand Preceptor, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant."

Ye Tinglan asked with a half-smile, "What is that?"

"Since the Imperial Advisor is not here, I had another candidate to mention. Now that the Imperial Advisor is here, let's mention them together."

The courtiers: "?"

Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath: "The Imperial Preceptor has a junior sister who catches fish, and I am just as fond of her. I should have personally gone to Tianyao Holy Land to propose marriage. Since the Imperial Preceptor is here, let's not wait for another day and ask for her hand in marriage."

The ministers: “???”

Ye Tinglan almost burst out laughing: "Hmm... four, that's quite an appetite. How do you plan to arrange them?"

“In my court, there is no concept of a ‘parallel wife’; all wives are wives.”

Ye Tinglan said calmly, "There is no such etiquette."

"Marriage is a personal matter. As long as both parties are willing, it's none of anyone else's business. We just need to ask your junior sister if she's willing?"

Regardless of culture or civilization, monogamy is easily established. Some systems enshrine it in law, while others remain merely rules and etiquette. In a cultivation world like the Great Qian, it's considered natural for the strong to possess more resources, so such matters aren't enshrined in law. Rules and etiquette exist, but many in the world don't care. Reclusive sects have countless members who marry multiple wives, and Buddhism and Taoism each have their own interpretations—either multiple concubines or multiple Daoist partners. Who cares who is the wife? Even if ultimately one person becomes the master, that's truly a personal matter.

Therefore, Lu Xingzhou's statement was not too shocking... However, the imperial court is ultimately different from those mountain immortal sects; it is still a place that values ​​etiquette. To say something openly in the imperial court is truly unprecedented.

For a moment, everyone's expressions were very strange, especially those who knew that Shen Tang was a princess. Looking at Gu Zhanting's ashen face, all they could think was "Holy crap."

Little did they know that Gu Zhanting's ashen face was not only because of Shen Tang, but also because of Ye Tinglan.

He knew that there was no such thing as Ye Zhuoyu; the so-called junior sister was either the missing Ye Fuyao or Ye Tinglan herself.

The latter is more likely.

How dare he! How dare she!
Gu Zhanting gripped the armrests of the dragon throne so tightly that the hard armrests almost cracked under his pressure.

Logically, Ye Tinglan should never have agreed to such an absurd proposal. However, under everyone's watchful eyes, Ye Tinglan calmly replied, "If you can truly treat everyone equally, I can accept this marriage on behalf of my junior sister. But as you said, the betrothal gifts from the Heavenly Yao Holy Land cannot be omitted."

Lu Xingzhou breathed a sigh of relief and bowed deeply to the ground: "Thank you for your kindness, Imperial Preceptor."

The assembled officials: "!!!" Pei Qingyan and Sheng Qingfeng's mouths were practically agape.

What's this?
How could the Imperial Advisor agree? Why does his eyes even show a hint of joy?
If even the Imperial Preceptor's junior sister is willing to marry like this, what about us?

As expected, Lu Xingzhou looked at them again: "I wonder about you two..."

Pei Qingyan: "..."

Sheng Qingfeng: "..."

You won't agree? Forget about the mistress, you won't even get a fourth one!

The two spoke almost simultaneously: "Since the Imperial Advisor doesn't mind, how can I be a stubborn person? Let's ask her herself. If she is willing, it can certainly become a beautiful story."

Ye Tinglan's prompt agreement became an excellent way out for the two of them; otherwise, it wouldn't have been easy for them to lose face.

The entire court was silent, as if they were watching a play orchestrated by someone, or as if they were still dreaming from last night's dream.

Please, the Imperial Advisor agreed because she's ultimately an outsider to worldly affairs, doesn't value these rituals, and probably doesn't even understand them. And you two? Are you also outsiders to worldly affairs? You're just taking advantage of any opportunity to back down, aren't you!

Especially you, Pei Qingyan, from a family with a thousand-year history, is this how you play the game?

Looking up at Gu Zhanting, who was sitting high on the dragon throne, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

…………

After the court session ended, Ye Tinglan, using the excuse of having something to ask Lu Xingzhou, directly dragged him to the National Observatory.

What? You were inspired by stargazing, and now you have matters to discuss at court? I forgot.

Everyone in the court has forgotten.

"You're quite capable, Lu Xingzhou? You're incredibly shrewd, aren't you?" As soon as they reached the foot of the observatory, Ye Tinglan pinned Lu Xingzhou against the wall, gritting her teeth: "You're so good at calculating, you've predicted everything from Huo Xingyuan's to Gu Zhanting's reactions, but if I hadn't gone, would you have really overlooked me? Huh?"

“No…” Lu Xingzhou raised his hands in surrender: “Sir, you yourself don’t want to make it public, so what am I supposed to say…”

He paused, then said, "If you're willing, I can say right now that I'm asking Ye Tinglan for marriage, instead of 'catching fish'."

One sentence shattered Ye Tinglan's composure. After a long silence, she finally sneered, "You're willing?"

Why shouldn't I?

“By exposing your relationship with me, you'll be firmly on the sidelines, making it harder to navigate between different factions. Not only that, you might also face the emperor's murderous intent. With the pretext of Ye Zhuoyu, even if the emperor has suspicions, he won't have concrete evidence, and you can at least try to maneuver.”

"I don't care," Lu Xingzhou said calmly. "If I can win Ye Tinglan fairly and squarely, even if the emperor strips me of all my power, even if I have to face his murderous intent, I won't care. I'll deal with whatever comes my way. With you by my side, what do I have to fear from Gu Zhanting!"

Ye Tinglan's eyes flickered, but she ultimately said nothing.

Lu Xingzhou gently removed her veil: "But sir, are you willing? To face the eyes of the world, to be said to be disrespectful to your elders, to be contrary to your monastic vows, to be said to be..."

"Stop talking." Ye Tinglan breathed softly, turning her head away, her voice becoming somewhat pleading: "Anyway...anyway, I've already married you as Mr. Ye..."

Lu Xingzhou reached out and gently stroked her lips, whispering, "One more time."

Ye Tinglan turned to look at him.

"At this point, it's just an engagement. There will be another chance when I formally propose to you at the Heavenly Yao Holy Land... I hope you've made up your mind by then."

Ye Tinglan pursed her lips, and after a long while said, "No matter what, how should you thank me today?"

Lu Xingzhou did indeed have to thank Yetinglan. While a plan may seem foolproof, there are many things beyond one's control, especially the attitudes of Pei Sheng and his companion. If they stubbornly oppose it out of pride, things will become very difficult.

It was precisely the unexpected appearance of Ye Tinglan that made things seem more natural, and the pressure from her made it difficult for Gu Zhanting to say anything that would contradict himself.

But Ye Tinglan's help was so... I don't know whether I should be proud that I've also secured a place, or bitter that I've helped another little bitch gain a title.

Lu Xingzhou knew the complex emotions she was feeling at that moment, so he lowered his head and kissed her forehead: "I only thank you, sir, for marrying Mrs. Ye to me."

The slight unease in Ye Tinglan's heart vanished instantly, and she bit her lower lip, somewhat moved, saying, "Xingzhou... your mouth is truly made for deceiving women..."

"This mouth has another use... Honey, want to try it?"

Upon hearing the word "wife," Ye Tinglan immediately went limp, panting as she said, "It's just an engagement, I'm not... not your wife yet... um... not here..."

"Yes, ma'am." Lu Xingzhou scooped her up in his arms and kicked open the door to the room below the observatory.

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.

P.S.: I haven't been sleeping well lately, so I've been adding even less. Today's climax is even more important, so to avoid anyone getting stuck here, I've added more.

Asking for a monthly ticket~
(End of this chapter)