The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 474 My Eldest Niece Wants to Rebel
Prince Jing is dead, and the imperial decree for the marriage is null and void. But what follows is a lecture. Lang Zhengping listened to the decree delivered by the chief eunuch while kneeling, feeling somewhat numb.

It hasn't been long since the imperial decree for marriage arrived, but it's already been revoked. Less than a month has passed, it's like a joke.

As for the head eunuch's reprimand, he said it was like a tortoise chanting scriptures, he couldn't understand it. Anyway, Jiu Niang didn't have to marry that unlucky Prince Jing anymore. As for the reputation of being a jinx, let her be, as long as she's happy.

"Your Excellency should keep a close eye on your family, especially Miss Lang. Send her to the Canglan Temple to cultivate as soon as possible, lest she bring trouble upon your family," the head eunuch said sarcastically.

Lang Zhengping smiled and said, "Father-in-law is right. This year has been unlucky. We were observing the mourning period at home, but one event after another has happened. Isn't it upsetting? Sigh!"

The head eunuch's eyelids twitched. This must be a sarcastic remark to His Majesty. He was about to curse when he glanced at a girl carrying a white cat and saw her walking slowly towards him.

Who else could it be but Lang Jiuchuan, that ruthless and cunning fiend?
The chief eunuch quickly shut his mouth. He had already delivered the imperial edict and was eager to leave. He didn't even accept the red envelope that the steward was waiting to offer, fearing it might be money to buy his life.

This mansion is poisonous; he never wants to come here again. Next time, he'll send his godson.

When Lang Zhengping saw Lang Jiuchuan return, he happily walked over and said, "Ninth Sister, is this imperial decree of marriage truly null and void?"

"Yes, but don't be too happy yet. Have someone invite my mother to the study to talk."

Lang Zhengping's heart skipped a beat when he saw her somber expression.

When Cui was invited to Lang Zhengping's study in the front yard, she first looked at Lang Jiuchuan and the tiger cub in her hand.

But soon, she was captivated by Lang Jiuchuan's words, and her brows furrowed.

Lang Zhengping said, "So, you're saying that you got this marriage decree by standing up to His Majesty?"

"You could say that," Lang Jiuchuan said calmly. "The so-called arranged marriage is nothing but a humiliation. My troubles are far more than that. Now that I'm standing up for myself, I've dragged the Lang family into this mess. However, he's wary of my methods, so he won't do anything openly. He won't kill or confiscate property for the time being. At most, he'll just keep the Lang family out of trouble. The Lang family is further away from the center of power."

"Your Majesty still has some sense of shame." Lang Zhengping nodded. "As for not being able to stand out, it's alright. Anyway, your brothers aren't very capable. Trying to stand out will only bring trouble to the family. It's better to keep a low profile. So, continue to stay at home and observe mourning while studying."

Lang Caimeng, pretending not to exist, stood to the side: "..."

He was summoned to listen to the proceedings because Lang Zhengping felt that as the next head of the family, he couldn't be completely ignorant.

Lang Jiuchuan shook his head: "When his position is truly threatened, he can be utterly incompetent, not caring about his reputation, and only seeking to get rid of me as soon as possible. But the strength I have shown now makes him wary, and he is also using the Lang family to restrain me. So, the royal family and I are mutually restraining each other."

Based on the methods she had previously displayed in the palace, even if it aroused Emperor Anhe's murderous intent, it would also make him wary, because her attitude was tough enough and her strength was undeniable.

If he dares to make a move, she will go crazy!
Compared to someone who has everything, someone who has nothing is naturally more afraid of losing it.

Cui asked, "How did it come to this?"

Lang Jiuchuan looked at her with a complicated expression and said vaguely, "Once I return to the Lang family, the cause and effect will be established!"

To be precise, who she is, and who she will be, was already determined the moment she awoke in this body, with all the rights and wrongs, grudges and causes already established.

Whether it was the original owner's or her own, it was all closely related to the Xuan Clan.

"The Cui family can't use them either? And the good karma you've built up before can't be used either?"

Lang Jiuchuan shook his head: "Ordinary nobles are still at a disadvantage against the Xuan Clan and its powerful families. Now, the royal family also wants to weaken the strength of the Gong family, Feng family, and other Xuan Clan families in order to control everything." Everyone fell silent.

Nobody's stupid. Those in power for a long time are most wary of their subordinates becoming too powerful and of powerful ministers becoming too influential. Therefore, they try their best to weaken the strength of their rivals in order to keep power in their hands.

The Tantai family is both a royal family and a Xuan family, but it is not as skilled in Xuanmen Taoist arts as the increasingly powerful Gong family, so it naturally fears them.

Lang Jiuchuan looked at the group and said, "The Marquis of Kaiping's mansion is just a noble family. You don't need to think too much about the Xuan Clan and the Daoist sect, nor do you need to worry about it. I'm just laying it all out here to let you know how things are going. Just continue living your lives as usual. Don't worry about anything else; I'll handle it myself."

Lang Zhengping and the others felt even more uneasy after hearing this.

Lang Caimeng said, "Ninth Sister, you are all alone. How can we feel at ease hiding behind you?"

"What can you do?" Lang Jiuchuan asked in return.

Lang Caimeng lowered his head in shame, and after a long while, he managed to stammer out, "Do you think I have an affinity for Taoism? Is it possible for me to enter the Taoist school now?"

Lang Jiuchuan: "..."

It's rare for her to be speechless.

Jiang Che let out a strange, croaking laugh.

"Doing nothing and not causing trouble is helping me. But there's no need to be afraid of trouble. Just keep living your life as usual." Lang Jiuchuan looked at Lang Zhengping and said, "After Lang Cailing and the others finish their mourning period, they should marry far away and find families with upright morals."

If anything really happens, we'll protect as many people as we can!
Lang Zhengping and the others exchanged glances, their hearts filled with mixed feelings. She was taking precautions against something going wrong; it was hard to protect even one of them.

"Don't be discouraged. We can't live by constantly having to be subservient to others," Lang Jiuchuan said calmly. "There is no such thing as unchanging imperial power."

Everyone held their breath. Did this mean they wanted to rebel?
Cui, her face pale, said, "You intend to challenge the imperial authority all by yourself?"

"They forced me into this fighting circle." Lang Jiuchuan looked back and said, "I just want to live."

I just want to live.

The four words "calm" carried a tremendous weight, like a heavy hammer falling on the hearts of several people, extremely so.

When did a noblewoman's only wish become to simply live?
Her words also revealed a sense of helplessness, a helpless resistance against the oppression of the imperial power and the powerful Xuan clans.

Even if you don't fight, others will force you to fight, because your strength and your very existence are a silent struggle.

Looking at Lang Jiuchuan, who appeared calm and as if chatting casually, Cui felt her heart tighten, as if something was choking her, making it hard to breathe.

How could a girl raised on a farm possess such extraordinary abilities, even attracting formidable enemies like the Xuan Clan and the royal family? What happened in the middle of all this, and what is the truth? She dared not think about it too much, much less try to find out.

Lang Zhengping, on the other hand, stared blankly, his mind a jumbled mess. What to do? His niece wanted to rebel, but he had no troops, no money, and no talent. What could he do? He was so desperate!

(End of this chapter)