Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 527 Using his life as bait, he lured Li Zhaoting (Seeking monthly votes)

Feng Shaoqing was trembling with fear, lest Li Zhaoting's proposal to marry into the palace incur the emperor's wrath.

Given Li Zhaoting's martial arts skills and potential, the emperor would have to tolerate it no matter how angry he was. The two were in love, and the emperor couldn't say much. But some people were in for a bad time!

Especially those who compete with princesses for the title of first wife!
Feng Shaoqing waited for the imperial edict with a deathly pale face, not knowing whether he would be sent to Yanyun to perform crosstalk, to Hainan to grill oysters, or exiled to the Western Regions to watch the giant camels bar their teeth.

As it turned out, Feng Shaoqing had worried unnecessarily.

Li Zhaoting went to the palace for a visit and not only was he not punished, but his title was even promoted by one rank.

He went from being Marquis Xiaoyun to Duke Zhenguo.

For Li Zhaoting, the name Zhenguo Gong was too vulgar and far less appealing than Xiaoyun Hou, but Zhao Zhen only gave him three options, and the other two were utterly inadequate.

If you mutter "Duke Zhenguo" a few times, it sounds quite natural. Although it sounds vulgar, it carries a domineering and awe-inspiring air, like the Five Sacred Mountains suppressing the sea.

Tianxiang leaned against Li Zhaoting's chest, and thinking of the dashing scene of Li Zhaoting facing the emperor, empress dowager, and prince to propose to them, her legs became a little weak.

"Li...you..."

"There's no rush to change how you address someone now. You can go back and practice a few more times so you won't feel awkward after the wedding."

"Can you tell me the truth? What is my birth order in the family? Is there a formal birth order in the family?"

"Go ask Yu Yan, she knows it better than I do!"

Is there anything else I need to remind you of?

"The 'Water Emperor Devouring the Sun Technique' that I am passing on to you is a unique skill that I created by combining the Northern Darkness Divine Art, the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique, and the Wrath of the Water God. It is most suitable for your physique."

Not only is the cultivation speed extremely fast, but it can also cleanse the marrow and improve physical aptitude during the cultivation process. You should practice more and cultivate for four hours every day.

One hour in the morning, one hour in the afternoon, one hour in the evening, and one hour before bedtime—four hours is your limit. Doing more than that will be counterproductive.

Once you've mastered this mental cultivation technique, I'll take you on a journey across the land, using your original identity and the title of Princess Tianxiang, without needing to disguise yourself as a man.

Travel across mountains and rivers, and appreciate the beautiful scenery of the world.

Go to Mount Tai to watch the sunrise, climb the perilous peaks of Mount Hua, see the clouds and mist of Mount Heng, explore the ancient secrets of the desert, fight the wind and waves at sea, ride horses and shoot arrows on the grasslands, enjoy the scenery of Guilin, and seek immortals in Kunlun.

I will accompany you to do whatever you dream of, whatever you look forward to, whatever you most want to do in the dead of night!

The world is vast, and we are all in it together!

Li Zhaoting's gaze grew increasingly intense. Tianxiang, too shy to look up, was the "Worry-Free Princess," destined for a life of carefree joy. But only now did she realize what true carefree bliss meant. From this day forward, she would live a life of pure happiness, so blissful she nearly fainted.

Li Zhaoting carried the dazed Tianxiang back to the Eighth Prince's Mansion. The news spread throughout the capital at a speed comparable to a game announcement. Within just two or three hours, countless versions of the story emerged, and everyone in the streets and alleys was talking about it.

The discussion ended in the evening.

Emperor Zhao Zhen issued an edict:

Marquis Xiaoyun, Li Zhaoting.

Loyalty and courage are divinely bestowed, and their meritorious deeds are illustrious.

Armed with sharp weapons and armor, they captured the rebels from a perilous situation.

He single-handedly held up the pillar of strength, saving the Song Dynasty from collapse.

The nation depends on him for its stability, and the people rely on him for its restoration.

He is hereby specially promoted to the rank of Duke of Zhenguo, and bestowed with a red inscription to forever commemorate his outstanding achievements. He is granted a fief of eight thousand households, and the title shall be hereditary.

The proclamation was made known both domestically and internationally.

Admire this!

The promotion of Li Zhaoting's title was something that the civil and military officials had long anticipated. Given Li Zhaoting's potential, it was not impossible that he might be granted a princely title someday.

However, at this point in time, by elevating Li Zhaoting's rank, it was clear that the emperor had agreed to marry Princess Tianxiang to Li Zhaoting, and neither the Eighth Prince nor the Empress Dowager had any objections. The tide had turned, and they immediately changed their minds.

One by one, people came to congratulate Li Nanxing.

Li Zhaoting's title is unlikely to be promoted anytime soon, but given his ability to cause trouble, he will accumulate more and more merits. At that point, if Li Zhaoting cannot be rewarded, then Li Nanxing will be the one to be rewarded.

In two or three years, Li Nanxing will likely be promoted from Vice Minister of War to Minister of War. If he can endure another ten or so years and make more contributions, he may be able to be honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

A banquet is required to celebrate a promotion in rank.

Once in Beijing, once in Nanjing.

Li Zhaoting threw a grand banquet in the capital, then spent a few sweet days with Tianxiang before leaving the capital under the glaring eyes of the Eighth Prince and returning to Jinling to celebrate his promotion.

The underworld in Beijing was overjoyed, setting off firecrackers.

The jinx is gone!

Finally, I can get a good night's sleep!

These past few days, I haven't been eating well, and I've been having nightmares. I'm terrified of opening my eyes. Li Zhaoting, along with the Imperial City Guard and the Six Doors, surrounded my bedroom, declaring that I was colluding with the Manchu traitors and was an unforgivable traitor who deserved to be executed along with my entire family!

That's how the Yu Xian Gang disappeared!
The leader of the Amethyst Sect is still recovering from his injuries!
Li Yanbei and Du Tongxuan both feigned illness!
Even Deng Ren, the Little God of Wealth, had to sleep in the Imperial City Guard camp, fearing assassins might sneak up and kill him.

Li Zhaoting, with a yellow dog on his left and a falcon on his right, waved towards the capital and said, "I will be back!"

Beijing gangs: Don't come any closer!
……

If anything in the world is faster than a steed, it must be rumors. As soon as Li Zhaoting arrived home, he was greeted not by his beautiful wife and concubines, but by someone bound hand and foot.

Bai Yunfei and Lan Xiaodie knelt familiarly in the ancestral hall.

Jiang Yuyan went to a dark room to reflect on her mistakes.

Li Zhaoting listened to the instructions of the ladies.

"Ladies, this time I..."

"My lord, it's not that I'm jealous, but Tianxiang is a princess, and her sisters at home are worried. What should I do if Tianxiang acts recklessly?"

Feng Suzhen sat upright in the main hall, gently stroking her lower abdomen.

Li Zhaoting laughed and said, "Madam has always been in charge of all matters, big and small, in the family. Her word is the law of the Li family, and even the Heavenly King himself cannot change it."

Li Shengnan said softly, "Husband, I brought four sisters with me when I entered the house. I am obviously not a jealous woman who quarrels over love and stirs up trouble, nor am I a shrew."

However, there are some things we need to clarify beforehand, so that my husband won't be in a difficult position later.

A country has its laws, and a family has its rules.

Family rules must be followed by everyone.

Cheng Huaixiu continued, "My lord! You always manage to give us trouble! Princess Tianxiang is a golden branch and jade leaf, so high and mighty. How can we sisters possibly serve her? Don't just focus on being the powerful Duke Zhenguo outside. You still have to support the family! I, Cheng Huaixiu, will listen to everything you say. If you say east, I will never go west. Your words are more authoritative than the Heavenly King himself! But..."

She changed the subject, a hint of grievance in her voice, "You need to give us some reassurance, don't leave us hanging, worried that one day the princess will unleash her power and we won't even have a place to stand! I'm going to Lingnan to sell skewers, and my older sister is going to Hainan to sell hot pot..."

Wang Shenglan quickly added insult to injury: "Husband, I'll listen to whatever you say! Whoever you tell me to hit, I'll hit!"
But...but...

The princess has such a high status!
What if she... what if she bullies you?
Or... or what if she doesn't like us and wants to kick us out? My dear husband, it's not that we're jealous of each other, we just want some reassurance.

My husband, you know me!
I'm too lazy to make a fuss.

In the end, I'm always the one who cleans up the mess!
I can't count on any of my sisters!

What are you looking at? I'm talking to you, Li Shengnan, the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect. You shout so arrogantly, but when it's your turn to charge in, you're hiding faster than a quail.

And you, Fairy Jingzhai Cheng Huaixiu, what do you mean by the most beautiful woman in the world? You're the most precious porcelain in the world. My lord just touched you a few times, and you're already asking me for help!

If only I had a few sisters who could share my burdens!

Why must my husband be subjected to a three-way interrogation?
"You all go back and reflect on your actions!"

Wang Shenglan truly lived up to her reputation as Li Zhaoting's darling. Her words were both witty and sharp, and while she verbally sided with her sisters, she managed to scare Li Shengnan and Cheng Huaixiu away with just a few words.

Blue Phoenix chimed in, "Brother Li~~ Phoenix listens to you the most! You say you want to marry a princess, so marry a princess, Phoenix has no objection! But... if the princess is mean to you, Phoenix will help you... uh, no..."

Phoenix will help you cheer her up!
We sisters will definitely get along well!

Lan Fenghuang's voice was sweet, with a soft Miao accent; a single sentence could send shivers down your spine.

Looking at his beautiful wives and concubines, each with their own distinct style but all exuding charm, and listening to their subtle and overt coquettish complaints, worries, and whining, Li Zhaoting wore a helpless yet indulgent smile. Being a womanizer requires skill!

I have long since mastered Duan Zhengchun's sayings.

Li Zhaoting's eyes were clear and full of deep affection.

"My ladies, how could I not know your feelings? Am I the kind of person who would start something and then abandon it, who would try to climb the social ladder? How could I leave you?"

Suzhen's composure, Shengnan's understanding, Huaixiu's straightforwardness, Shenglan's sincerity, and Fenghuang's innocence are all treasures in my heart, and none of them can be missing in the family! Suzhen, you manage the household affairs with fairness and impartiality, which I trust. Tianxiang is a princess, but once she enters the family, she is a member of the Li family. Before the family rules, everyone is equal.

You are the matriarch of the household, so you should manage things as needed without any worries. Your husband is your strongest support.

Sheng Nan is absolutely right! Every family has its rules, and Sheng Nan will teach Tian Xiang the rules when she enters the family.

Huai Xiu, don't panic! As your husband, I am the pillar of our family, standing tall and strong. I will definitely protect our family.

Suzhen had met Tianxiang and knew her personality; she was just like Shenglan, both having a straightforward temperament.

Just say what you want to say!

My husband speaks frankly and without reservation.

Li Zhaoting waved and pulled Wang Shenglan into his arms. Wang Shenglan reached out and grabbed Li Shengnan with her left hand and Cheng Huaixiu with her right, easily pinning the two of them down.

The strength is overwhelming and the world is unparalleled!
After a month apart, his strength has increased again.

Feng Suzhen asked, "My lord, what did the Eighth Prince and the Empress Dowager say? Didn't any of the civil and military officials say that this is unreasonable? Didn't any censors impeach them?"

Li Zhaoting chuckled: "Ever since my battle with Pang Ban in the Western Regions ended in mutual destruction, the court was destined to marry a princess into the Li family. To put it bluntly, if I didn't have a marriage alliance with the royal family, the court officials wouldn't be willing!"

Cheng Huaixiu said, "What the master says is right!"

It's ostensibly praise, but in reality, it's a way of claiming credit.

There were two of them who faced off against Pang Ban back then. Without Cheng Huaixiu's help, Li Zhaoting would have fled long ago.

Feng Suzhen nodded: "My lord, your title has been promoted to Duke. We need to hold a banquet to celebrate and invite relatives and friends to celebrate for three days at our ancestral home in Jinling."

I have already prepared the invitation.

SF Express was responsible for distributing the invitations.

The time is tentatively set for half a month later.

"My lord, is this time alright?"

"My wife is a capable homemaker. With her managing the household and stabilizing the family, I have no fear even if Pang Ban attacks!"

"It's getting late. Meizhu, prepare bathwater for the master. Shenglan, Huaixiu, and Shengnan, you all serve the master his bath. Fenghuang, come with me to rest!"

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Cheng Huaixiu and Li Shengnan were both getting restless. However, their health wouldn't allow it. If it weren't for Wang Shenglan's help, they wouldn't be able to get up even if they slept until the afternoon of the next day. Wang Shenglan was right; everyone in the family except her was useless and couldn't help at all!

Li Zhaoting's lips curled slightly as he looked at Cheng Huaixiu and Li Shengnan with a sinister air: "Madams, what did you just say? Could you repeat it?"

Cheng Huaixiu hurriedly begged for mercy: "My lord, I didn't mean it, please forgive me!"

Li Shengnan, though physically weak, was stubborn: "Don't beg for mercy! What's there to beg for mercy about! The three of us can take on one. Even if we can't beat him, at least we can fight to a draw!"

Eh!
Wang Shenglan, what are you doing!
let go!

Let go of me!
Cheng Huaixiu, we're allies! A fairy and a witch are allies! How could you... betray us!
My lord, spare my life!

"My lord, I truly know I was wrong!"

That night, Li Shengnan realized that Wang Shenglan, with her love-struck mind, was unreliable, and Cheng Huaixiu, with his opportunistic nature, was equally unreliable. In this cold and desolate mansion, only Li Zhaoting's warm embrace could bring her comfort, and Li Shengnan fell into a deep sleep.

It's not difficult to appease one's beautiful wife and concubines at home.

Feng Suzhen knew Tianxiang very well and knew that Tianxiang's personality was not difficult to get along with. However, she was worried that Tianxiang's special status would disrupt the harmonious atmosphere of the Li family after she married into the family.

For the next two weeks, Li Zhaoting spent his time at home with his wife and had small gatherings with friends. After two weeks, he set off for Chang'an, firstly to visit Cihang Jingzhai to inquire about the Primordial Heavenly Demon, and secondly to leave seclusion again and go directly to Tianshan to train several times in the vicinity of Tianshan.

Cheng Huaixiu is needed to lead the way to Cihang Jingzhai.

Li Shengnan had made the trip to Tianshan in advance.

The Tianshan Mountains are covered in ice and snow, and having too many people around would be inconvenient. Apart from Li Shengnan and Cheng Huaixiu, no one else was brought along, and even Yuanbao was left at home.

……

The world has changed, and Chang'an is no longer as prosperous as it was during the Tang Dynasty. The powerful families that once dominated Chang'an are now more decayed than the city itself. Only four families are still considered decent and can barely be regarded as martial arts elites.

The Chi family, the You family, the Ge family, returning home.

Zhongnan Mountain remained as prosperous as ever, with more and more hermits practicing alchemy and cultivating Taoism. As the Quanzhen Taoist lineage gradually spread, many charlatan Taoists liked to use Zhongnan as their name. The once peaceful and blessed land was now a mess, filled with the wails of ghosts and monsters.

From the perspective of martial arts sects, there are three sects in Zhongnan Mountain: Quanzhen Sect, Ancient Tomb Sect, and Cihang Jingzhai Sect. Most of the others are independent practitioners.

Li Zhaoting severed the lineage of the Yuxian Gang, making him a super nemesis to those who wanted to take a shortcut through Zhongnan Mountain. Upon hearing that Li Zhaoting was coming, they all hid far away, making Zhongnan Mountain quite peaceful.

The Chi, You, Ge, and Hui families all sent out spies to keep a close eye on Li Zhaoting's journey.

Among powerful and influential families, few are truly clean.

Of the four major martial arts families in Chang'an, only the Ge family is relatively clean; the others are all rotten to the core.

Going home is an exception.

When I got home, I was covered in feces and smelled terrible.

If Li Zhaoting were to catch them committing crimes and acting tyrannically, their families would be destroyed and their entire clan wiped out.

In late autumn, the autumn wind is like a knife, withering all things.

This is the perfect time to punish the wicked and uphold justice.

In Chang'an, a city with ties to the martial arts world, the most reputable physician is named Mei Tuizhi.

Mr. Mei was gentle, highly skilled in medicine, and had noble medical ethics. He often provided free medical treatment to the poor. However, fate was unkind. Mr. Mei's son fell seriously ill and became mentally unstable, turning into a madman.

It is said that the cause was a massacre.

The sight of blood-soaked corpses and rivers of blood left Mei Yushu severely frightened, causing permanent brain damage. Although she has the ability to live a normal life, she is extremely timid and will panic and tremble at the slightest sound of wind, thunder, or rain, sometimes even fainting.

There are many versions of this massacre.

After all, twenty years ago, there was more than one murder case in Chang'an. Each case was extremely brutal, with blood flowing like rivers, and all those who knew about it were silenced.

Those dirty, shameless, bloody, and cruel schemes have been swallowed up by the torrent of history, leaving only the glamorous and wealthy martial arts families.

Of course, some people are unwilling to do this.

Especially the "Avengers" who weren't all killed.

When a person loses their entire family and is determined to seek revenge, they would gladly pay with their life and be torn to pieces. Coincidentally, Li Zhaoting is about to arrive in Chang'an, and this opportunity seems to have arrived.

……

The autumn wind is chilly, and the leaves are falling.

Three fast horses arrived at the tea stall outside Chang'an City.

Li Zhaoting dismounted and ordered three large bowls of steaming hot tea. This was a tea stall, and apart from tea, peanuts, and edamame, there was no other food or drink. The tea stall owner was a cautious businessman who only wanted to focus on doing one business his whole life, until he was quietly buried.

Li Zhaoting whistled towards the sky.

A candied hawthorn skewer flew down from mid-air and landed on my shoulder.

This trip will take us through snow-capped mountains, so Yuanbao (a type of sachet) won't be very convenient. Candied hawthorns are a must-have.

In the endless snow-covered mountains, a golden eagle, born and raised in nature, can increase the chances of survival by 50%. For a master like Li Zhaoting, as long as there is a golden eagle guiding the way, he can come and go freely even if the mountains are blocked by heavy snow.

After taking a sip of tea and feeling the warmth in his stomach, Li Zhaoting let out a comfortable burp.

Li Shengnan whispered, "Husband, something's off about the atmosphere at the tea stall. There are at least half of them assassins."

Cheng Huaixiu said, "These assassins' skills are really rough; they probably haven't undergone rigorous training."

Li Zhaoting gave a helpless, bitter smile.

These assassins' flaws were too obvious.

Li Zhaoting, Cheng Huaixiu, and Li Shengnan are all exceptionally good-looking individuals. Riding tall horses, they casually summon a golden eagle, yet the porters and sedan chair bearers drinking tea at the tea stall don't even glance at them, which is illogical.

Li Shengnan took a sip of tea: "The tea is not poisoned, which means it's not a shady shop. These people are clearly filled with hatred, and they probably harbor deep-seated grudges."

Cheng Huaixiu nodded: "You're right! These people's killing intent isn't directed at us. Their eyes are always on the intersection, showing a rather resolute attitude."

Li Shengnan sighed, "A desperate strike!"

Li Zhaoting waved his hand: "It's not a life-or-death struggle, it's using their lives as the opening act of a grand feast!"

(End of this chapter)