The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 449 Refusing a toast means being forced to drink a penalty cup

If Lang Jiuchuan were an ordinary noblewoman, receiving a marriage bestowed by the imperial family would be considered a sweet treat by the Lang family. But she is not, so this marriage is a shackle for her, a poison coated in honey.

Moreover, this arranged marriage was clearly ill-intentioned, just as Jiang Che said, it was an attempt to lure people into his clutches.

However, the Marquis of Kaiping's mansion did not dare to directly reject this so-called bestowed marriage. Even though Lang Zhengping had already said that Lang Jiuchuan would not live long, they were unwilling to give up the idea, which showed that they were determined to have it.

Lang Zhengping felt utterly disgusted; the accusation of forced buying and selling was absolutely true.

The royal family was taking advantage of the fact that Lang Jiuchuan was a noblewoman from an ordinary powerful family, and that she had not actually become a nun, which is why they used this method to control her.

Their move was an open strategy; they recruited her in the simplest yet most effective way: by turning her into one of their own!
Although Lang Jiuchuan was also disgusted, he was not as worried as they were. He said, "It's just an imperial marriage. There's no need to be so distraught. This matter will eventually fizzle out. Don't worry."

"Do you have a solution?" Lang Zhengping asked curiously.

Lang Jiuchuan smiled and said, "If they are willing to sacrifice their children, then they shouldn't blame the wolf for opening its mouth. I may be destined to bring misfortune to my husbands."

Lang Zhengping: "..."

Cui coughed twice and said, "Using this strategy would be to injure the enemy a thousand while losing eight hundred of our own."

"I've never thought about getting married, so I don't care if I'm a jinx to my husband." But if the royal family insists on going their own way, then they can't blame her for bringing bad luck to anyone.

Cui remained silent, his feelings complicated.

The news that the imperial family intended to bestow a marriage upon Lang Jiuchuan and a prince spread quickly. Those who did not know the details simply thought that the Lang family had struck it lucky and was about to take off.

Those who knew Lang Jiuchuan's temperament were all sweating bullets for her. Although she cultivated Taoism, she was free to marry and was also a "subject's daughter". How would she break this situation?

By defying the imperial decree, she was openly making enemies. She might not care about herself, but the Lang family would inevitably be implicated.

The most ridiculous thing is that the Taoist priest Ruoxu, who had previously killed a half-demon in front of Lang Jiuchuan, still had the nerve to come to her as an intermediary.

"Marrying would sever your path to immortality, Fellow Daoist Lang. This situation is easy to resolve. Why not join the royal family directly and become a guest elder? If you are willing, this old Daoist Kewei can introduce you." Ruoxu stroked his white beard, his eyes gleaming.

Lang Jiuchuan sneered: "So this is how you work for them?"

Ruoxu's expression changed drastically: "You! Fellow Daoist Lang, you are still young, yet you know that those who adapt to the times are the heroes?"

Lang Jiuchuan narrowed his eyes and smiled sarcastically: "You said it yourself, I am young, like a newborn calf that is not afraid of tigers. I am a wild and untamed person, and I can't learn to wag my tail and beg. Daoist Ruoxu, you don't need to bother teaching me this way. I am dull and cannot learn it!"

Ruo Xu rose with a flick of his sleeve, his eyes icy cold, and snorted, "It seems Fellow Daoist Lang intends to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty cup. Then I'll see how you break this deadlock!"

"Take care, I won't see you off." Lang Jiuchuan picked up his teacup.

Ruo Xu left, panting heavily.

As soon as he left, Gong Qi, accompanied by Fu Qi, entered the general store and said in a deep voice, "I didn't expect the royal family to suddenly pull this stunt. What should we do? Someone must have suggested this to the royal family, otherwise why would it happen so suddenly?"

Fu Qi said with disgust, "The royal family is well aware of how to use power to oppress people. Their plan must be to imprison Xiao Jiu in the deep palace, not only to cripple her wings, but also to take advantage of her wisdom and talent, and to combine her bloodline with hers in order to give birth to a more outstanding and talented successor."

Gong Qi's expression changed several times: "What you said is very likely. The Xuanmen Dao root bloodline of the royal family is becoming increasingly impure, to the point that no one with strong talent has been born in the last thirty or forty years." Now, Lang Jiuchuan has emerged, with extraordinary talent and high skills. Moreover, she is a female Daoist, and a female Daoist who has just reached the age of coming of age. It would not be an exaggeration to say that she is beautiful, strong and young.

It would be a waste to just recruit such people as guest elders. If we recruit them as family, we might be able to give birth to a gifted successor through their womb!
The more Gong Qi thought about it, the angrier he became.

What disgusting behavior!

It's even more disgusting than recruiting them as guest elders.

“The Rong family is your formidable rival, and they are also allied with the royal family through marriage. I’m afraid this matter is inextricably linked to them,” Gong Qi said, frowning.

Lang Jiuchuan's eyes turned cold: "That's all the scheming they know!"

"This scheme can be considered an open plot." Gong Qi looked at Lang Jiuchuan and said, "Let our young master speak about this matter. When we killed that zombie before, the young master also gave you a token. To outsiders, you are considered a member of our Gong family. The royal family's actions are actually a blatant attempt to kidnap you."

"Not urgent."

"You intend to defy the imperial decree?"

"Who said I would defy the imperial decree?" Lang Jiuchuan suddenly laughed and said, "I am cursed by the Seven Killings. They are not afraid of me bringing misfortune upon them, so let them come."

Her tone was calm, yet sinister and chilling.

Gong Qi felt a sudden chill and asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"Not so much," Lang Jiuchuan said calmly. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Gong Qi: I don't quite believe that!
Lang Jiuchuan acted as if he were more worried than the emperor, and Gong Qi didn't press the matter, only leaving a message that if anyone needed help, they could contact the Gong family at any time.

After he left, Fu Qi said, "Now it seems the Gong family isn't colluding with the Rong family or the royal family, but what about the Feng family..."

Lang Jiuchuan said, "The Feng family is like a weather vane, maintaining neutrality. Judging from their appearance, they intend to side with whichever side is stronger. As for the younger ones like Gong Tinglan and Gong Qi, they are determined to change the current situation of the Xuan Clan. They are farsighted and know that the rise and fall of the clan will only lead to the true decline and ruin of the Xuan Clan. In the end, they may not even be able to preserve the little inheritance left by their ancestors, which is why they are thinking of resisting. But whether they have the strength is hard to say. Overthrowing an old regime is like a reform in the imperial court; it cannot be done overnight."

"In the end, the Xuan Clan's self-righteousness and condescension are deeply ingrained." Fu Qi chuckled. "That's why they felt threatened after you, this heretic, appeared, and came up with such a vicious and filthy way to trap you."

A marriage decree is even more disgusting than recruiting someone as a guest elder!

"If it is a true dragon, can a mere shallow beach trap it?" Lang Jiuchuan scoffed. "Those who give rise to this greed should not blame themselves for being dragged to hell by it!"

Fu Qi raised an eyebrow: "So you really do have a plan to deal with this!"

Lang Jiuchuan looked down at his hands and said, "It all depends on whether they want peace and quiet."

Fu Qi sighed. Could this be considered one wave after another? The Rong family hadn't been dealt with yet, and now the royal family had been added to the mix. Even if Heaven wanted her to descend to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation, this could be considered a ninefold tribulation, right?
"Miss, hurry back to the manor! The palace has sent an imperial decree!" A servant from the Lang family rushed over to announce.

Fu Qi: "..."

Well, some people really don't want to be human!