Chapter 563
Chapter 563
“Isn't Ying'er about to turn twenty?”
Zhu Hongzhu was surprised for a moment, then nodded and said.
“That is correct. She will turn twenty after the Spring Festival.”
“Does she currently have a man she fancies? Or perhaps you have someone in mind, Prime Minister?”
Zhu Hongzhu shook his head.
“It would be useless even if I had someone in mind. The suitor must first pass the trial of winning her heart, and that is no easy feat.”
There was not a shred of falsehood in his words. The Zhu Clan had found at least dozens of talented young men for Zhu Ying to meet, but the result was always the same. They all fled with their tails between their legs, utterly defeated and left in tatters by her. Ning Yuanxian hesitated for a long while before gritting his teeth and speaking.
“Prime Minister, I have someone in mind.”
He couldn't bring himself to say that the person was a good match.
“Oh? Your Majesty has someone? Please, do tell.”
“Jin Mucong, the heir to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. He is of noble birth and has a kind character.”
It seemed the king was indeed a pragmatist. It was an accurate assessment of Jin Mucong. Zhu Hongzhu did not even try to hide his surprise. In his mind, he had never imagined the king would make such a suggestion.
‘Jin Mucong? Isn't he the one who, as an Imperial Academy student, holds no official rank, and can be described as lacking both learning and talent?’
Of course, he would one day inherit the title of Count of Xuanwu, but for the highest nobility, scholarly honor was exceedingly important. A person without such honors could never hold their head high in aristocratic society. This was akin to the modern-day Earth, where the children of incredibly wealthy families all earn master's or doctoral degrees from prestigious universities. From places like Cambridge, Oxford, or Harvard, Caltech, or the University of Zurich. If one among them had graduated from an unknown university, they would be too ashamed to even present themselves.
Jin Mucong's current academic standing was equivalent to that of an online student at Peking University; he wasn't even a regular university student. Of course, Shen Lang's academic background was even worse; one could say he held a degree from a diploma mill like Pacific Western University or the fictional Clayton University. A degree bought with money, one for which he never attended a single day of class.
After a long pause, Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu nodded and said.
“Jin Mucong... that young man is quite earnest.”
It seemed the Prime Minister was also a pragmatist.
“Why not let the two of them meet?”
Zhu Hongzhu nodded.
“Very well. We can set a date for them to meet and get acquainted.”
This was a blind date. Since the king had brought it up, he had to give them a chance to meet. Ning Yuanxian, feeling he had no face to remain in the Prime Minister's residence any longer, quickly bid farewell and left.
‘Now, Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu will surely think me unreliable.’
* * *
After Ning Yuanxian left, Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu summoned Zhu Ying.
“His Majesty has recommended a suitor for you.”
Zhu Ying was startled. For a woman from any other family, the king recommending a suitor was tantamount to a royal decree of marriage, something that could not be refused. But for the Zhu Clan, such rules did not apply. Zhu Hongbing, who was beside her, was the one to ask.
“Who is it?”
‘What are you so interested for? Are you planning to break Shen Lang's bones or something?’
“Jin Mucong, the heir to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ying was dumbfounded, and Zhu Hongbing was just as stunned.
‘Has the king truly gone mad? Who does he think Jin Mucong is? He's a famously poor student at the Imperial Academy.’
Although he defeated Tang Yun in the dispute over Gold Mountain Island, everyone knew that Shen Lang had written the essays and poems for him. On his own merit, Jin Mucong couldn't even pass the provincial exam, let alone qualify as a scholar. Last spring, Jin Mucong even had the audacity to take the metropolitan exam, but we shall not speak of his results. The chief examiner who graded his paper at the time remarked that it must have taken immense courage for this person to even show up for the metropolitan exam. But Jin Mucong had his own take on the matter.
‘That's only because Brother-in-law didn't give me the predicted questions. If he had, I would have passed the final imperial exam. It's not my fault I came in last.’
In his heart, Zhu Hongbing felt that Jin Mucong wasn't worthy of even a single one of his sister's fingers. What's more, that fatty was involved in a huge scandal last year. A scandal in which he was said to have been defiled by a married woman. It was a scandal that completely destroyed his reputation, even more humiliating than a rumor that he had forced himself on someone.
‘The dignified heir of an ancient noble family lost his virginity like that? To have never slept with a woman by the age of nineteen... you are a disgrace to the nobility.’
Of course, Zhu Hongbing was about to turn eighteen and had also never slept with a woman. But their situations were different, weren't they? Jin Mucong had no one to sleep with even if he wanted to, whereas countless noble ladies who wished to sleep with Zhu Hongbing were unable to. Zhu Hongbing had arrogantly declared that he had a sort of mental puritanism, and that he would never defile his body and soul until he met the one true female confidante of his life. From this statement alone, one could tell how young and immature this boy was.
Zhu Hongzhu asked.
“Granddaughter, since His Majesty has spoken, what do you say to meeting him once?”
Zhu Ying nodded.
“Alright. I love going on blind dates.”
‘Ugh! You love going on blind dates? You just love the feeling of crushing men with your intellect and talent.’
And so, the blind date between Zhu Ying and Jin Mucong was set for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow.
* * *
Shen Lang was still in the basement, conducting experiments. This was perhaps his only hobby. He had recently made another major discovery. It was something he discovered while modifying those with blank bloodlines. While not a great discovery, it was one that could be used to harm people. After the experiment ended, Ying Zheng's wife, Lady Zhuo, brought a meal. She had come to deliver the meal not to Shen Lang, but to the wife of the Sword King, Li Qianqiu.
During the recent decisive battle on the border, the Sword King Li Qianqiu had not accompanied Shen Lang, staying at home to be by his wife's side. But when Big Dummy had to go to the State of Jiang to see his wife give birth, he had no choice but to go with him. He couldn't very well send Tang Yan with Big Dummy, could he? If he did, the two of them might not even reach the State of Jiang by the year after next. Their combined intelligence probably wouldn't even reach one hundred and twenty.
“Let me take that.”
Shen Lang took the meal and brought it to the Sword King's wife. It had been nearly half a year since Shen Lang had treated the deadly poison of the Sword King's wife, Lady Qiu. Her body was gradually recovering, and at least her figure had returned to that of a normal woman. Her face and skin had not yet fully recovered, but compared to before, her beast-like appearance had much improved, and her hair had grown several inches.
However, she still lived in the basement, never lighting a lamp when others were present, and only lighting a candle when she was alone. Having regained her sanity, she had become particularly conscious of her appearance. She could not bear for others to see her ugly and frightening form, so she would only return to live above ground and show herself to everyone after she had fully recovered. Even when she was with her husband, Li Qianqiu, she ate and conversed in the dark. To aid in the recovery of her appearance, Shen Lang had prepared some precious items for her that could beautify her face and skin. The Sword King's wife was now using two face masks every day.
“Aunt, it's time to eat.”
Shen Lang called from outside. The Sword King's wife was inside reading a book, and upon hearing Shen Lang's voice, she immediately extinguished the candle. The room was once again plunged into pitch-black darkness. Shen Lang entered with the meal. He had no intention of eating with her. This was because she had to eat pig's trotters every day, and no one could stand eating the same food daily. And they were pig's trotters, stewed until tender with jujubes. But she had no choice. It was rumored that this dish was good for one's skin.
“Aunt, I apologize. I've had to ask Senior Sword King to do something for me again.”
“It's fine. He's a farmer at heart; if he has nothing to do, his whole body will feel stiff.”
“If you're too bored, Aunt, I'll bring the baby over tomorrow. Isn't it fun to play with a baby?”
Lady Qiu was deeply moved, her eyes growing warm. She was a pitiable woman. She had wanted a child her whole life but never succeeded. In the end, she adopted a daughter, but that daughter turned out to be a venomous snake sent by her enemies, who ruined her entire life.
“Don't do that. You'll scare the baby. It's better if I hold the baby after my appearance has recovered. I wonder when that will be. When that happens, I can go outside with Li Ergou. This aunt of yours is quite skilled in martial arts, so I'll be able to help you with your work then.”
The Sword King Li Qianqiu's birth name was Li Ergou, but the previous Sword King renamed him Li Qianqiu after taking him as a disciple. An old farmer would hardly have been able to give his son such a majestic and powerful name as Li Qianqiu. But Li Ergou and Li Gouzi, though different names, had a rather similar feel.
“How could I dare ask that of you?”
“Why not? We martial artists aren't worth much.”
“Aunt, in a few days, I'll make you some equipment and a book. If you follow the exercises, your figure will improve even more. My wife practiced them every day before she was pregnant.”
“Excellent!”
“Aunt, you must be very bored here. Are there any other books you'd like to read?”
“Have you finished writing the fourth volume of *Battle Through the Heavens*?”
“Not yet.”
“Then you should hurry that fatty along and tell him to write faster. Reading that book is the only joy I have these days.”
* * *
News that Zhu Ying was going on a blind date with Jin Mucong spread. It wasn't the Zhu Clan that spread the word, but the queen, who, upon hearing of it, flew into a rare rage and immediately went to the king's study to demand the truth. Her voice was not quiet, so those outside heard everything, and the rumor began to spread. The queen confronted the king with a single sentence.
“Is Your Majesty doing this to torment our Zhu Clan?”
Ning Yuanxian did not argue with her; he simply turned and left. His relationship with the queen was not good, but as husband and wife, they treated each other with the respect one would show a guest. The queen was a peerless beauty, elegant and poised, but she was far too arrogant. Decades ago, she too had been the most talented lady in the capital. After marrying Ning Yuanxian, she behaved with the modesty and propriety of a virtuous wife. But inwardly, she was incredibly arrogant, keeping everyone at a distance.
This woman possessed great artistic talent, and thus her standards were sky-high; she believed only the best man in the world was worthy of her. In her heart, she felt that Ning Yuanxian was somewhat lacking in learning and talent. The two had a son who died young, and later they had a daughter, who was now thirteen years old. After Crown Prince Ying Yi was made the queen's adopted son, she came to think of him as her own flesh and blood.
This woman performed her duties as queen flawlessly. She did not dominate the harem; instead, she ensured the king's favor was distributed evenly, and she never interfered in matters of state. She did not want to monopolize that kind of favor; rather, she maintained a lofty and arrogant demeanor. Compared to her, Byeonbi was affectionate and considerate, and was deeply in love with Ning Yuanxian.
In any case, the queen already harbored considerable dissatisfaction with the king, and the moment she heard he was trying to pair Zhu Ying with that useless fellow Jin Mucong, she could no longer restrain herself. The king, unable to tolerate her attitude, also retorted.
“Is a daughter of the Zhu Clan so precious? Even so, you should not treat another family's child as worthless.”
These words only fueled the queen's anger, leading her to spit out the words asking if the king was tormenting her Zhu Clan. But after their argument, the news of Zhu Ying and Jin Mucong's blind date spread far and wide. Everyone in the capital was once again shocked.