#94 - Fifth Master, the princess is here! - Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

"Good morning, Lord Xiao."

"Good morning, Lord He."

"Congratulations, Lord Xiao."

Lord He cupped his hands in congratulations.

"Congratulations? What is there to congratulate?" Xiao Mochi replied with a smile.

Lord He: "Xu Ming and Xu Pangda were both Lord Xiao's students. They were in the Zhixing Academy at the time, and Lord Xiao enlightened them. Now, one has passed the imperial examination as the Zhuangyuan, and the other as the Bangyan. Isn't this a joyous occasion?"

Xiao Mochi shook his head: "Xu Ming and Xu Pangda's achievements today are all due to their own efforts. The enlightenment back then was nothing."

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Lord He smiled and said, "Although that's what you say, the friendship is quite deep."

How could Xiao Mochi not know Lord He's underlying meaning? He still wore a smile on his face: "Mo Chi only hopes that they will be honest and upright officials in the future and not betray their hearts. If my friendship with them allows us to drink a few more cups of tea together, that would be the best."

Lord He was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Lord Xiao is right. Lord Xiao, please."

"Lord He, please."

The two walked into the palace together.

Inside the Qiankun Hall, the officials gradually arrived.

"Have you heard? Yesterday, His Majesty bestowed a marriage upon Xu Ming."

"How could I not have heard? I was at the Xu residence at the time and personally saw the Zhuangyuan Xu decline His Majesty."

"Zhuangyuan Xu wrote a memorial that triggered the blessings of literary and martial fortune."

"I'm also curious about what exactly Zhuangyuan Xu wrote in that memorial."

"Regardless of what he wrote, Zhuangyuan Xu's refusal of the marriage will likely cause His Majesty to lose face."

In the imperial court, many people were whispering and discussing what happened at the Xu residence yesterday.

As expected, what happened at the Xu residence yesterday should be gradually spreading throughout the imperial capital.

If the reason Zhuangyuan Xu wrote in that memorial is not sufficient, it will be a very troublesome matter.

Listening to the crowd's conversation, Xiao Mochi had no reaction.

Xiao Mochi also hoped that Xu Ming could marry the princess and have a royal grandson to strengthen the foundation of the country.

However, Xu Ming's refusal made Xiao Mochi think even more highly of him.

Xu Ming must have his own reasons for refusing.

At least this shows that Xu Ming is not the kind of person who would compromise for the sake of power.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

With Eunuch Wei's duck-like voice, everyone in the imperial court stopped talking.

"Welcome, Your Majesty," the crowd shouted in unison.

"Beloved subjects, rise," Emperor Wu waved his hand. "Before the court meeting, there is a memorial that needs to be reviewed by all of you."

Xu Ming had already gotten up and was practicing the Kaitian Fist in the courtyard.

Now that Xu Ming has grown up, with boys avoiding their mothers and girls avoiding their fathers, Xu Ming has moved out of the courtyard and is living with Xu Pangda.

"Fifth Brother, you're up so early."

Xu Pangda walked out of the room and saw his Fifth Brother practicing his fist techniques in the courtyard.

Xu Pangda looked at the time; it was only halfway through Mao Shi.

"I got used to it in the Bloodbath."

Xu Ming put away his stance. "Third Brother, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

Xu Pangda smiled honestly: "I've also long been accustomed to getting up and reading at this time. Fifth Brother, don't worry about me; you continue to practice your fists."

Xu Ming nodded and continued practicing his fist techniques, while Xu Pangda took a book and sat in the courtyard to read.

However, Xu Pangda's gaze would occasionally drift in Xu Ming's direction.

After an incense stick's worth of time, Xu Ming completed his morning routine, took a deep breath, calmed the martial artist's true energy within his body, looked at Xu Pangda, and smiled: "Third Brother, is there something you want to say? Why have you been looking at me?"

"It's nothing."

Xu Pangda smiled. "I was just thinking, is the reason you wrote in that memorial really your reason for refusing the marriage?"

Xu Ming also smiled and did not hide anything: "Not entirely."

Xu Pangda's curiosity immediately arose, and even a hint of gossip flashed in his eyes: "Could it be that you're really waiting for Qin Qingwan?"

Xu Ming was stunned for a moment and shook his head: "No."

"If it's not Qin Qingwan, then is it Zhu Cici from Qi, Miss Zhu?" Xu Pangda continued to guess.

Xu Ming was somewhat puzzled: "Why would Third Brother mention Miss Zhu?"

"Didn't Fifth Brother write a 'Lovesickness' poem and send it to Miss Zhu as a birthday gift back then? I even sent it to you, Fifth Brother," Xu Pangda said matter-of-factly.

"That 'Lovesickness' poem was sent out by you, Third Brother?" Xu Ming asked in surprise.

"Yes," Xu Pangda nodded. "Didn't Fifth Brother ask me to help send it back then? I saw there was also a poem on the table, so I sent it."

"…"

Xu Ming didn't know what to say for a moment.

That 'Lovesickness' poem…

Hopefully, it won't cause any trouble, right?

After all, for a literary girl like Zhu Cici, that poem's lethality is not small.

"Fifth Brother, do you really like Zhu Cici?" Seeing Xu Ming's silence, Xu Pangda assumed that Xu Ming had acquiesced and said in surprise, "Fifth Brother, you need to think clearly. It will be very difficult for you and Zhu Cici…"

Fifth Brother is the Zhuangyuan of Wu, deeply valued by His Majesty, and may even be the leader of the literary world of Wu in the future. He cannot possibly go to Qi as a bridegroom.

And Zhu Cici is a literary genius that is hard to come by in a thousand years. Qi will not allow Zhu Cici to marry outside the country.

No matter how you look at it, it will be difficult for Fifth Brother and Zhu Cici to have a result.

"Third Brother is thinking too much," Xu Ming smiled. "I don't like Zhu Cici."

Xu Ming did not refuse the marriage because of Qin Qingwan and Zhu Cici.

Qingwan might have forgotten about him.

Zhu Cici is even less likely to run away with him; otherwise, the entire Qi would have to hunt him down.

Xu Ming also has a certain affection for Wu Yanhan. After all, they have been together for so long, and Wu Yanhan is indeed very beautiful. When the beauty list is updated in two years, Wu Yanhan will definitely be on it.

It's just that Xu Ming really doesn't think he will always be in Wu.

Although Wu is one of the Ten Great Dynasties of the human race, Xu Ming still thinks that Wu is small compared to the world. Xu Ming wants to go out and see.

See what the immortal cultivation sects outside are like.

See how fierce the martial artists outside are.

See the thousands of demon kingdoms in the Southern Border.

See the barbarians in the Northern Wilderness.

See the so-called seeking immortality and asking questions.

If he becomes a consort, it will be difficult to go out, at least until he has a child, and it has to be a boy.

Not to mention how many years that would take.

If he really has children, will he still want to go out?

"Third Brother, I actually have my own…"

"Fifth Young Master, Fifth Young Master!"

Just as Xu Ming was halfway through saying "I actually have my own reasons," Chunyan ran in:

"Fifth Young Master, hurry to the front hall! Princess… The princess is here!"