The four found an inn in the city and rented two rooms to stay.
Afterward, they went to the main hall to order so food and wine, and to listen to the latest news from Jianghu.
The taverns and inns were gathering places for people from all over Jianghu, a mix of all kinds, and the news flowed quickly.
"Have you heard? Xia Daozi took out a Holy Decree to propose marriage at the Shen Family, but ca back empty-handed."
"What happened? Tell us the story."
Soone nearby urged.
Chen Tang and his companions were also curious. Langya Pavilion had been declining and was not what it used to be. Could it still defy the decree openly?
The person said, "Originally, Langya Pavilion was headed by the current Minister, Shen Yuanlin. Being a scholar, Lord Shen was reportedly so terrified when Xia Daozi ca with the Holy Decree that he almost agreed."
"Guess who showed up?"
The speaker deliberately sold the suspense, took a sip of old wine, and only then said under the crowd’s urging, "Madam Su of Langya Pavilion ca out!"
Soone hurriedly asked, "Ah, is she the wife of Duke Wen Du?"
"Indeed."
The person nodded and said, "Not only that, but Madam Su practiced martial arts in Peach Blossom Village in her youth and was once among the top ten on the Wind and Cloud Ranking."
Soone questioned, "Even if Madam Su showed up, it’s not easy to defy the decree, right?"
The man chuckled, "Madam Su ca out and even brought out Duke Wen Du’s past will. It’s said that Duke Wen Du adored Miss Zhiwei and had set rules long ago, forbidding her to marry randomly."
"The future husband must either be first in scholarly ability or first in martial arts."
"Ha?"
The crowd found it all unbelievable.
Soone couldn’t help but laugh, "Really? Would Duke Wen Du leave such a will, with such details?"
"Hey! Xia Daozi is allowed to deceive His Holiness with a Holy Decree, yet Langya Pavilion can’t co up with a will?"
"Haha, the devil is high, yet morality is higher!"
The surrounding onlookers burst into laughter.
Whenever a treacherous minister suffers, it’s a great pleasure for the people.
Zhu Lingxue quietly asked, "Who is this Duke Wen Du, whose will weighs as much as a Holy Decree?"
i Zhenyu said, "Duke Wen Du is the Pri Minister from Langya Pavilion, Shen Wendu."
Chen Tang was moved.
This person, Ming Yue Wanderer had ntioned once.
Shen Wendu, in the Shen Family of Langya Pavilion, ranked only below the Layman Chilong.
Back then, during the chaos of Han Wen in Great Xia, the seventh Emperor Fei was deposed by Han Wen.
The eighth, Emperor Jianwen, lived in constant fear of Han Wen, anxious and uneasy, and left the throne after only half a year.
At that ti, all military and political power in the Great Xia court was under Han Wen’s control, leaving ministers at a loss.
The positions were vacant without Han Wen’s presence, no one dared to support a new emperor.
Emperor Jianwen even intended to relinquish the throne to Han Wen.
Later, Sword Sect’s Ye Anshi ca out to quell the chaos caused by Han Wen.
But before that, it was Shen Wendu who stood up, pacified the court, argued on principles, and with a weak scholar’s body, an unwavering will, and eloquence, staunchly supported Emperor Xiaowu’s ascendancy until Sword Sect’s Ye Anshi erged.
Emperor Xiaowu was the forr emperor, father of the current Emperor Xia.
Thus, Shen Wendu held a debt of gratitude with the Great Xia Royal Family and Emperor Xia.
i Zhenyu continued, "Later Shen Wendu died of illness and was posthumously titled ’Duke Zhen’ by the forr emperor and conferred Madam Su the title of ’Grand Dowager,’ a First Grade entitled lady. Scholars all over Nanxia regard Shen Wendu as a role model.
"During Shen Wendu’s tenure as Pri Minister, the administration was harmonious, with the Sword Sect handling martial affairs and the civil apparatus well-ordered; his prudent, generous, and reconciliatory managent was singularly effective."
"Even those born in the wild woods of Jianghu, the Green Forest heroes, would respectfully address him as ’Duke Wen Du’."
Pausing montarily, i Zhenyu added, "At least during Duke Wen Du’s tenure as Pri Minister, the Profound Celestial Sect had not yet gained a foothold in Great Xia."
"I see."
Zhu Lingxue realized, "Duke Wen Du had the rit of assisting the forr emperor’s rise; ignoring the will would be disrespectful to the late emperor."
i Zhenyu remarked, "Madam Su had long retired, not concerning herself with family affairs. Xia Daozi overstepped, provoking even the likes of her out of seclusion."
Listening to all this, Chen Tang felt relieved and couldn’t help but smile, silently elated for Zhiwei.
He had initially worried whether Zhiwei, after disappearing for years, would be snubbed upon returning ho.
It seed he was overthinking.
With family like this, Zhiwei would not be bullied again!
"Madam Su is truly formidable. Even in her old age, she still has such vigor, coming out of retirent for the sake of a younger family mber, using Duke Wen Du’s will to counter a Holy Decree."
"Madam Su cos from a noble background, the Su Clan of Wu State, although not one of the four great families of Great Xia, still one of the noble lineages."
"Peach Blossom Village was founded by the Su Clan; Madam Su, after all, has martial roots. Though aged, that martial spirit remains, and she won’t allow a junior like Xia Daozi to bully them."
The nurous Jianghu guests discussed it animatedly.
Soone said, "But Xia Daozi is still the Pri Minister, possessing high rank and great power, with his son controlling the Imperial Palace Guard. Inside and outside the court, all power lies in their hands; losing face before Madam Su, they are unlikely to let this rest."
"What’s the point of dissatisfaction?"
Another sneered, "Talent-wise, Xia Yuanxian stands no chance. As for martial arts, huh, doesn’t everyone know he manages the Imperial Palace Guard due to his father’s connections?"
"Indeed, Xia Yuanxian isn’t even twenty yet commanding the Imperial Palace Guard; Xia Daozi is a bit too hasty!"
As people discussed, a Jianghu guest suddenly ran in from outside, looking excited, panting as he said, "News just ca in from the Capital City!"
"What?"
The crowd asked in unison.
The man swallowed, caught his breath, and said, "Today at the court, Xia Daozi challenged Minister Shen, asking if the ’first in martial arts’ ntioned in Duke Wen Du’s will refers to the Sword Sect?"
The crowd shook their heads.
The Sword Sect is quite aged, obviously not eligible.
The man said, "Minister Shen replied, of course, age must et the requirent, not too old, below twenty years."
Soone beside remarked, "Isn’t the ’first in martial arts’ under twenty the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking?"
In Great Xia’s martial world, there are four rankings: Wind and Cloud, Heaven, Earth, and Human, all issued by the East Mountain Sword Pavilion.
Reportedly, within the Sword Pavilion, there is also a Grandmaster Ranking.
Out of the four, only the Wind and Cloud Ranking restricts the age to under twenty.
Considering the marriage to Zhiwei, this age criterion is relevant.
Thus, calling the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking the ’first in martial arts’ among the young generation is indeed correct.
The person nodded, "That’s how Minister Shen replied as well."
"However, Xia Daozi was dismissive, mocking the so-called Wind and Cloud Ranking as re self-promotion by people from Jianghu, inadequate to convince anyone."
"There’s more to Great Xia than just Jianghu; there’s the Imperial Palace."
"He also said that the talented youths on the Wind and Cloud Ranking are nothing compared to the masters within the Imperial Palace!"
No sooner had he finished than curses erupted from all around.
"Nonsense!"
"Utter rubbish!"
"Let those masters from the Imperial Palace co out and compete; everyone on the Wind and Cloud Ranking has proven themselves in battle!"
"Exactly, let’s see who truly deserves the bragging rights!"
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