Chapter 434 - 225: Overseeing All of Ning’an’s Military and Political Affairs

Chapter 434: Chapter 225: Overseeing All of Ning’an’s Military and Political Affairs

After bidding farewell to Nie Tiankun and Nie Baichuan, Chen Sheng followed Nie Xiangjun to the Simurgh Phoenix Pavilion.

The pavilions here were exquisite, set amidst well-tended flowers and trees. This was the residence of the Nie Family’s three unmarried young ladies.

Chen Sheng had come to inform Nie Lingshan and her sister of the decision made in the grand hall.

He had already made it clear that he would do his best to cooperate but could not guarantee their wish would be granted.

Now that the Nie Family’s leadership understood the situation and had issued an ultimatum, it was impossible for him to continue fighting on Nie Lingshan’s behalf.

A man must know his place. While it was true the Nie Family valued his potential, if he were to act recklessly and without restraint, he would be destroying his own future.

Within the garden pavilion, all three beauties of the Nie Family were present.

Chen Sheng also finally met the famed Nie Zhijing—known as the Pearl of the Nie Family and one of the Eight Beauties of Mingjing.

She was truly no ordinary woman.

She wore a simple, elegant gown. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, held loosely in place by a single jade hairpin. A few stray strands caressed her cheeks, accentuating her jade-like skin and her clear, cool eyes, which were as perfect as a painting.

Her beauty was unlike Nie Xiangjun’s carefree spirit, Nie Lingshan’s playful vivacity, or Nie Lingxi’s gentle tranquility. It was a stunning beauty, detached and otherworldly.

She was like a winter plum blossom under the moon—solitary and pure, requiring no adornment to possess a grace all her own.

In terms of sheer facial perfection, Nie Zhijing was the most exquisite woman Chen Sheng had ever seen.

Of course, the twin sisters, Nie Lingxi and Nie Lingshan, were also stunning beauties. Like spring blossoms and the autumn moon, each had her own unique charm.

But if Chen Sheng had to choose for himself, he would probably lean toward the twins.

’After all, the allure of twin lotus blossoms on a single stem was a rarer temptation.’

As Chen Sheng was observing Nie Zhijing, her own cool, clear gaze fell upon him.

’To have captured the heart of Nie Lingxi, who has such impossibly high standards... this man must be extraordinary.’

’But at first glance, he just seems calm and composed, with a clear gaze. Other than the faint, sharp aura of a recent Breaking Realm, I don’t see anything else particularly special about him for now.’

"You tell them," Nie Xiangjun said to Chen Sheng with a soft sigh.

Facing Nie Lingshan’s look of veiled expectation and Nie Lingxi’s calm gaze, Chen Sheng paused for a moment before relaying the entire conversation from the grand hall, paying special attention to Nie Tiankun’s ultimatum.

At the end, Chen Sheng shook his head slightly.

"Things being as they are, this was all I could do. I truly did my best."

Upon hearing this, Nie Lingxi’s lips twitched, and she instinctively glanced at her sister.

Nie Lingshan froze for a second, then forced a faint smile. "I understand... Thank you, brother-in-law."

After a pause, she lowered her eyes.

"You... can go back and tell the Clan Leader and the Great Elder... to choose Lingxi."

"Lingshan."

Nie Xiangjun’s heart ached seeing her struggle to remain composed. She advised her gently,

"A marriage alliance concerns the entire clan’s interests; it’s not something one person can change. Even if the Great Elder adores you, there are still many other elders. The rules and traditions of the clan cannot be decided by a single person.

They can see right through that little scheme of yours.

Listen to your aunt’s advice. Since it’s inevitable, you might as well... choose someone you find agreeable. It will save you some suffering later on."

The Nie Family had a thousand-year history, and its strict rules maintained the balance of the vast clan.

If a legitimate daughter could evade an arranged marriage based on personal preference, what would the other clan members think?

The clan’s solidarity would surely be undermined.

Nie Xiangjun knew the stakes all too well. Even if she wanted to help, she was powerless to change their fate.

She had faced the same fate years ago. Fortunately, a senior from a Daoist Sect had taken a liking to her and made an exception to accept her as a disciple. That was how she’d barely managed to escape her own Shackles, but even that had caused considerable turmoil within the clan.

Nie Lingshan kept her head down, silent for a long while, her long eyelashes trembling faintly.

Finally, she gave a barely perceptible nod, her voice almost a whisper.

"I... understand. I’m... going to see Grandfather."

"I’ll go with you, Sister."

Nie Lingxi stepped forward and gently took her hand.

Chen Sheng watched with a calm expression as the two sisters left together, saying nothing more.

Nie Xiangjun tilted her head back, took a swig of Spirit Wine from her flask, and turned to Nie Zhijing, who had been sitting by and watching quietly. "Zhijing, your marriage to the royal family... has a date been set yet?"

"Soon, I suppose. I’m not entirely sure of the details myself."

Nie Zhijing’s lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile.

"I’ll let you two talk. Please excuse me."

Seeing this, Chen Sheng rose and cupped his hands in a farewell gesture.

He had no intention of eavesdropping on the women’s private conversation.

After Chen Sheng’s figure vanished beyond the moon gate, Nie Zhijing gazed in his direction and said softly, "Lingxi is a fortunate girl. That man... I think he’s quite something."

"Oh?"

Nie Xiangjun’s brow twitched. Her heart gave an odd little jump. ’Please don’t let another problem crop up,’ she thought. "What makes you say that?"

"Have you forgotten, Aunt? I possess the Ming and Qing Spirit Eyes talent and have also practiced the clan’s secret Star Pivot Qi Observation Method."

Nie Zhijing’s eyes shimmered as if holding starlight. "Just now, I secretly observed his fortune. Although it’s a tangled web, intertwined with a faint, blood-colored Evil Qi, at its very core, a brilliant purple qi is rising. Such prosperous fortune is a rare sight indeed.

What’s more curious is that when I tried to probe deeper, my Spirit Eyes automatically warned me with a faint, stinging pain... This means he either possesses a great Treasure that conceals his destiny from divination, or his fate is so extraordinary that his future cannot be easily predicted.

Either way, he is no ordinary man."

Nie Xiangjun grew thoughtful at her words and then asked,

"And what about the Second Prince you’re engaged to? What is his fortune like?"

Nie Zhijing’s smile faded as she shook her head.

"He appears to be under a canopy of imperial favor, wreathed in purple qi, and his reputation is magnificent. In truth, his foundation is weak—a castle in the air, an illusion like a flower in a mirror or the moon reflected in water. His future is murky and uncertain, fraught with immense variables."