“I, Qin San, the butler of the Xia Manor, respectfully welcome the grand arrival of Shrine Envoy.” The butler went to the door and bowed in welcome.
From the two palanquins, a male and female got down from it.
The female looked to be about seventeen years old. She had a dignified look and exuded elegance. She also had a striking bearing.
The male was an old man of about eighty years old. His calm expression gave off a feeling that he was imposing despite not being angry.
Uncle Qin didn’t recognize the young lady.
But with a single glance, he immediately felt that the old man looked very familiar.
He rubbed his eyes repeatedly before he shouted out involuntarily, “Old…old Shrine Master!”
In Lone Cloud City, there was only one old shrine master.
It referred to the previous shrine master, the martial legend, Zhen Nantian!
Zhen Nantian laughed softly and waved his hand, preventing Uncle Qin from kneeling to pay his respect. He then asked, “Is Young Master Xia of your esteemed manor around?”
After the Rainbow Cloud Banquet, Xia Qingchen made a promise and told Zhen Zhilan to bring her grandfather over to the Xia Manor once he had adjusted his physical condition.
A month had passed and Zhen Nantian had done so. Hence, he came over to visit Xia Qingchen.
Uncle Qin hurriedly spoke, “Young Master and Master have already gone out. Why don’t I call them back?”
Compared to the family dinner, receiving this legendary character was evidently more important.
“It’s fine. I will just wait in the manor.” Zhen Nantian was pretty easy-going.
Uncle Qin nodded hurriedly and immediately invited them into the great hall for a seat.
….
At the Cloudguest Restaurant.
Xia Qingchen and his father arrived on schedule.
According to the situations in the past where their family gathered, Xia Qingchen and his father would usually be the first to arrive. Xia Xun and Xia Qilin would always arrive later due to their high status.
But this time when they headed there, Xia Xun and his son had arrived.
In addition, Xia Cangliu was also present.
Xia Qingchen casually glanced and saw a composed-looking, beautiful middle-aged woman who bore some resemblance to his father.
This woman should be his aunt, Xia Jie.
“Aunt.” Xia Qingchen off-handedly called out, considering it a greeting.
Xia Jie cast a glance at Xia Qingchen and surveyed him, smiling slightly. “A young man of striking appearance. Eldest brother, your son isn’t bad.”
Xia Yuan nodded and he went with Xia Qingchen to take a seat after that.
Coincidentally, Xia Qingchen’s seat was arranged beside Zhao Churan.
“Cousin Qingchen.” Zhao Churan smiled and greeted, revealing an affable look that was rarely seen on her face.
Now, she found Xia Qingchen much more pleasing to the eye when compared to Xia Qilin.
“Mn, cousin.” It was a pity that Xia Qingchen’s reaction was cold and indifferent. In fact, he didn’t even look at her straight.
This caused Zhao Churan to feel extremely unsatisfied in her heart.
She silently mused, “I’ve already taken the initiative to greet you, yet you still act like this. You merely are an acquaintance of Zhen Zhilan, right? What’s so impressive about that?”
She turned her head away and no longer looked at Xia Qingchen.
The Xia Clan had all gathered for the first time.
But… the atmosphere wasn’t too harmonious.
Xia Yuan and Xia Xun didn’t even speak a single sentence to each other.
Xia Qingchen, Xia Qilin, and Zhao Churan weren’t talking at all.
It was still Xia Cangliu, their grandfather, who broke the silence. “It’s rare that all of us can gather. Children, come and give a toast to your aunt.”
The people at the table reluctantly clinked their wine cups, but the atmosphere was still very cold.
This caused Xia Cangliu to feel somewhat awkward.
“Today, other than to hold a welcoming reception for my daughter, I have two things to announce. These two things are considered major matters of the Xia Clan.” Xia Cangliu’s voice became more spirited.
“Firstly, after the discussion between our two families, the marriage engagement between Qilin and Churan is confirmed.”
This time, the reason why Xia Jie came to Lone Cloud City was precisely to discuss this matter.
During these days after she arrived, she had finished the discussion with the Northern Xia Manor and their decision was now publicly announced.
Xia Yuan was surprised. He then smiled. “Congratulations.”
Xia Qingchen also revealed a trace of a smile. “Congrats to both cousins.”
There were no ripples in his heart. The engagement between the two of them invoked no feelings in him.
That indifferent expression on his face caused Zhao Churan to feel somewhat disappointed.
She initially thought that Xia Qingchen would be sad.
After all, someone as beautiful as her was not going to be married to him, but to Xia Qilin instead.
Although in truth, she was also very dissatisfied with this marriage engagement.
After seeing Xia Qilin’s inner nature that would cause people to feel disgusted, she was extremely opposed to this marriage.
But for a major matter like marriage, she could only listen to the arrangements of her parents.
Everyone began to smile; only she alone had a dim and slightly lost expression.
The person she wanted most in her heart was that benefactor who had saved her back in the Ghostwail Forest.
Each young woman would always fantasize about a supreme hero saving them during times of danger.
She met one, but she couldn’t obtain that person.
“And as for the second matter…” Xia Cangliu’s expression turned solemn as he wanted to say something but stopped. Under Xia Xun’s urging, he continued to speak albeit hesitantly. “As for the second matter, I hope that as the eldest sibling, Xia Yuan, you can sacrifice a little.”
Xia Qingchen’s eyes flashed.
He had known nothing good would come out of them agreeing to come to this banquet.
Xia Yuan’s expression didn’t change. “Father, finish your words first.”
Xia Cangliu paused for a while. His expression grew determined. “Recently, your second brother’s clan encountered some difficulties and needed to gather a million taels of silver. Hence, I hope you can help him out a little.”
After his explanation, Xia Yuan finally understood what was going on.
So it turned out that Li Weifeng had close interactions with the Northern Xia Manor and this led to the Northern Xia Manor becoming a target of high suspicion for the martial pavilion.
Through this past half a month, the martial pavilion had thoroughly checked every location in the Northern Xia Manor.
Although the Northern Xia Manor didn’t participate in any banditry, they had done many secretive transactions with Li Weifeng.
Based on these clues, the martial pavilion was preparing to judge the Northern Xia Manor as spies of the bandits.
Now, they already forbid people of the Northern Xia Manor from leaving Lone Cloud City.
Fortunately, Xia Cangliu had broad connections. He managed to seek out someone from the upper echelons of the martial pavilion, and that person promised that as long as the Northern Xia Manor paid up a million taels of silver, that person would think of a way to pardon them.
Xia Yuan didn’t wish to help at all.
When he was facing difficulties, his second brother had never given him a single cent before.
Now that his second brother was in trouble, only then did he think about him, his big brother?
“Xia Yuan, can you give me some face and help out?” Xia Cangliu spoke.
It was well known that the thing Xia Yuan valued most was filial piety.
His father had personally asked him to help. If he refused, he wouldn’t feel good in his heart.
“Alright, how much do they need?” Xia Yuan yielded.
Xia Cangliu’s expression eased. He smoothly continued, “One million.”
What?
Xia Yuan was badly shocked. “My total capital is only valued at one million, you want me to take everything out?”
What did a million taels of silver mean to the Southern Xia Manor?
Even if they sold the manor, all their businesses, and their land deed, they would barely be able to get a million taels.
Xia Cangliu should be very clear of this point.
Xia Cangliu continued speaking boldly, “Xia Yuan, now is the time of peril for our clan! The Northern Xia Manor’s momentum of development is greater compared to your Southern Xia Manor. Your Southern Xia Manor’s businesses are small in scale and it’s hard to expand them. Helping your brother to get through this is the best solution!”
His thinking was very simple. Protect the more powerful clan and sacrifice the weaker one!
Xia Yuan laughed. “Father, let me ask you. It’s fine for me to sell the Southern Xia Manor away. At most, I can just become a beggar. But what about Qingchen? Does he have to suffer and be on the streets with me?”
He simply didn’t dare to believe that his father could make such a shameless and ridiculous request.
Xia Cangliu seemed to have already thought things through as words flowed like water from his mouth. “You and Qingchen can move into the Northern Xia Manor. In the future, all of our family will be living under one roof, wouldn’t that be a joyous thing and even better?”
Pak~
This time, even before waiting for Xia Yuan to be infuriated, Xia Qingchen slammed his palm onto the table and stood up.
He coldly glanced at Xia Cangliu. “Old thing, I’ve been tolerating you for a very long time now!”
What was called speaking bullshit?
This was precisely it!
The Northern Xia Manor entangled themselves with Li Weifeng. This was a mistake they committed.
Now, they didn’t even need to spend a single cent and wanted Xia Yuan to sell the Southern Xia Manor to compensate them for their own mistake!