Chapter 436 - 226: The First Beauty, Spirit Platform Sacred Artifact

Chapter 436: Chapter 226: The First Beauty, Spirit Platform Sacred Artifact

After leaving the Jingwu Bureau, Chen Sheng went straight back to the Nie Family. He met with Patriarch Nie, Nie Tiankun, and presented Chu Zhennan’s appointment order for his inspection.

Although Chu Zhennan seemed to trust him implicitly, entrusting him with great responsibility, Chen Sheng saw the situation with perfect clarity.

Compared to the inscrutable Commander of the Jingwu Bureau, the Nie Family—with whom he had already formed an alliance of mutual interest—was a far more reliable pillar of support.

After all, with this marriage alliance, the Nie Family was betting on his future.

This bond was far more secure than an appointment from Chu Zhennan based on momentary interests.

During their conversation, Chen Sheng also tactfully mentioned his hope that the engagement formalities could be simplified and expedited, avoiding excessive complexity.

Though he had never personally experienced the grand wedding ceremony of a great Noble Family, he had personally disrupted two of them.

For example, the marriage between the Song Family of Qu Shui and the Lu Clan of Luoyun Manor.

Even for families at the Prefecture City level, the complexity of their rituals was still a significant hassle.

For an ancient lineage like the Nie Family, with a thousand years of history, the rules would only be more numerous and more stringent.

However, the situation in Ning’an was volatile, and Chu Zhennan would never permit him to be delayed for several months.

Chu Zhennan’s parting words had been the clearest possible hint.

Chen Sheng was not wrong.

The marriage of a noble lady from the Nie Family’s Direct Lineage was an extremely grand affair.

It required not only performing rites to heaven and earth and informing the ancestors, but also inviting all the prominent powers from across Yunzhou to witness the ceremony.

This served, first, to display the magnificent prestige the Nie Family had accumulated over a thousand years.

And second, it was to send a clear message to the world: from the moment the engagement was settled, Chen Sheng was the legitimate son-in-law of the Nie Family.

Anyone who moved against him would have to consider the weight of the colossus standing behind him.

However, Chen Sheng’s request and the urgent situation in Ning’an could not be taken lightly either.

After convening a private council with several core elders, Nie Tiankun made the final decision: the engagement would be kept simple.

They would strive to complete the entire process within five days and would not send out widespread invitations for now, limiting participation to core family members.

When the time came for the formal wedding, they would hold a magnificent celebration and make up for all the missing rites.

Even so, what they called a "simplified" process still seemed quite convoluted to Chen Sheng.

But this was as simple as it was going to get.

Chen Sheng couldn’t ask for more.

’The people of Ning’an will just have to suffer a little longer.’

’Of course, the Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple will be the ones to take the blame in the end.’

...

"Lingxi... my apologies. This whole situation is unfair to you."

By the flower path outside the Simurgh Phoenix Pavilion, Chen Sheng looked at the serene, gentle woman before him, his voice laced with sincere apology.

Simplifying the engagement ceremony was of little consequence to him, but for a noble lady of the Direct Lineage like Nie Lingxi, it could be perceived as a slight.

After all, she was of the Great Elder’s direct bloodline, a cherished jewel of the Nie Family.

Nie Lingxi lifted her gaze, a faint smile gracing her lips, gentle as a breeze rippling across a lotus pond.

"You’re too kind, Chen. If anything, I should be thanking you."

"I’ve seen more than enough of those tedious rituals since I was a child, and I’m not particularly fond of them. To be free of some is a relief. Besides... you have the great responsibility of Ning’an on your shoulders. How could you be delayed by such empty formalities?

What’s important must come first."

Chen Sheng knew she was most likely saying this to comfort him, but her words still warmed his heart.

The young woman who was to be his wife was not only stunningly beautiful, but also remarkably perceptive and understanding.

Chen Sheng’s gaze softened, and he said gently,

"Since we have a moment, perhaps... we could take a walk together? I’ve been with the Nie Family for some time now, but I haven’t had a chance to properly appreciate the manor’s scenery."

At his words, Nie Lingxi unconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—a lock the gentle breeze had teased loose. With a slight nod, a faint blush brushed across her cheeks.

"I’d like that."

The two walked side-by-side, strolling slowly along the pebbled path.

The garden’s flowers and trees were artfully arranged amidst scattered pavilions, and the faint sound of a babbling stream could be heard in the distance.

"I heard that your return to Ning’an is to..."

Nie Lingxi began softly, asking about the situation he was about to face, a subtle note of concern in her voice.

...

In the pavilion above, Nie Lingshan leaned against the carved window frame, her chin in her hand, her eyes following the couple’s retreating figures below.

A fond, knowing smile played on her lips, but as she watched, a complex glimmer surfaced in her eyes—part gratification, part melancholy.

"What’s the matter? Envious?"

Nie Zhijing, who had appeared by her side at some point, tapped her fingers lightly on the windowsill, her voice full of mirth.

"Don’t be ridiculous!"

Nie Lingshan immediately looked away and huffed, explaining defensively,

"I was just... feeling a bit sentimental. Lingxi and I grew up together; we were inseparable. When we were little, we even promised we’d never be apart.

I never thought that in the blink of an eye, she’d be getting engaged... Once she’s part of another family, I’m afraid it won’t be easy for us to be together all the time like we are now."

Once the engagement is set, she’ll be married in a year at the soonest, or three years at the latest.

Though she and Lingxi were twins who had bickered and fought constantly since they were children, the intimacy and reliance that came from their shared blood ran bone-deep.

In the entire Nie Family, her younger sister was the person she was closest to, the one she cared about most.

And what moved her most was that even though she was clearly the older sister, it seemed that for all these years, it had always been Lingxi who was patient with her, always the one to give in.

’Sometimes,’ she even thought, ’if I were the younger sister, maybe life would be easier.’

"What’s so difficult about that?"

Nie Zhijing hid a smile behind her sleeve.

"You could just marry him along with Lingxi. After all, you two sisters have always been inseparable. And... I’m willing to bet that Governor Chen wouldn’t have the slightest objection."

"Then why don’t you marry him?" Nie Lingshan shot her an irritated glare.