Devour: Can you also draw entries from clone projection worlds?

Xu Zhu's face flushed red, and you quickly waved your hand: "No, no, no, I am a monk and cannot marry."

Li Yanzong smiled and said, "Master, there's no need to refuse. My princess admires your martial arts skills and character, and is willing to marry you. His Majesty has already agreed."

Xu Zhu was about to decline when you stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder: "Xu Zhu, let him finish speaking first."

Li Yanzong recounted the story of the Western Xia princess's marriage proposal.

It turned out that Princess Li Qinglu of Western Xia had reached marriageable age, and the Emperor of Western Xia wanted to find her a husband who was skilled in martial arts and of good character.

Someone actually recommended Xu Zhu, the master of Lingjiu Palace, saying that you are the successor of the Xiaoyao Sect, with the best martial arts in the world, and your character is beyond reproach.

When the emperor of Western Xia sent someone to inquire, it turned out to be true, so he sent an envoy to propose marriage.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhu shook his head vigorously, "No, no, this humble monk is a monk and cannot marry. Besides, this humble monk is so ugly, how could the princess possibly be interested in this humble monk?"

"Master is too modest." Li Yanzong took out a portrait from his sleeve, unfolded it, and said, "This is a portrait of my princess. Please take a look."

The woman in the portrait is beautiful, with exquisite features, a gentle temperament, and a faint smile on her lips.

You glanced at her and recognized her—it was the woman you had seen last year when you sneaked into the palace, Li Qinglu, Xu Zhu's destined wife.

Xu Zhu stared at the portrait, stunned. His eyes were fixed on the woman in the portrait, and his mouth was agape.

"This...this is a princess?"

"Exactly."

Xu Zhu's face turned red again, this time even redder, the redness spreading from his neck all the way to his ears.

He lowered his head, not daring to look at the portrait any longer, muttering, "No, no, this humble monk is not worthy of the princess."

You stepped forward, took the portrait from Li Yanzong, rolled it up, and stuffed it into Xuzhu's hand.

"Master Xuzhu, I'll make the decision for this marriage on your behalf."

Xu Zhu raised his head, staring at you with wide eyes: "Benefactor Wei, you..."

"If you don't marry her, the princess will have to marry someone else. Can you bear to see her marry someone she doesn't like?"

Xu Zhu opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

"And," you lower your voice, "don't you want to know why the princess chose you?"

Xu Zhu was taken aback: "Why?"

"Because she's seen you before, in the Western Xia palace. She thinks you're a good person."

Xu Zhu was completely speechless, his fingers trembling slightly as he held the portrait in his hand.

You turn to Li Yanzong: "Lingjiu Palace has agreed to this marriage. Go back and tell His Majesty to choose a date for the wedding."

Li Yanzong was overjoyed and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Master! I will return to report immediately!"

After Li Yanzong left, Xuzhu paced around the main hall of Lingjiu Palace several times, like a headless fly.

You sit in the chair, watching him spin around, and can't help but laugh.

"Xuzhu, can you sit down and rest for a while? You're making me dizzy."

Xu Zhu stopped and stood in front of you, looking distressed: "Benefactor Wei, aren't you harming this humble monk? I am a monk and cannot marry. If the abbot finds out, he will expel me from the sect."

"You are no longer a member of Shaolin Temple," you said. "When the Child Granny took you out of Shaolin Temple, you automatically returned to secular life. You are now the master of Lingjiu Palace, no longer a Shaolin monk."

Xu Zhu opened his mouth, then closed it again, repeating this several times, but couldn't utter a single word.

"Besides," you stood up, patted your shoulder, "don't you want a home? You've been alone all your life. Growing up alone at Shaolin Temple, practicing alone at Shaolin Temple, and coming to Lingjiu Palace alone. Aren't you lonely?"

Xu Zhu fell silent, looking down at his toes, his hands clasped together.

"This humble monk..." Your voice was soft and trembling slightly, "This humble monk does sometimes feel lonely. Especially at night, sitting alone in my room, all around is quiet, and there's not a single person to talk to."

"That's it," you said. "After you get married, you'll have a wife. She'll talk to you, eat with you, and spend every night with you. You'll have a home."

Xu Zhu raised his head and looked at you, his eyes filled with an indescribable light—expectation, longing, and a yearning for the future he hadn't felt in over a decade.

"Benefactor Wei, is this humble monk...is this truly possible?"

"Of course you can." You smiled. "You are Xuzhu, the master of Lingjiu Palace, the successor of the Xiaoyao Sect, and one of the most skilled martial artists in the world. No one is more worthy of the princess than you."

Xu Zhu's eyes reddened, and you clasped your hands together and bowed deeply to him.

"Thank you, Benefactor Wei."

The wedding of Xu Zhu and Li Qinglu was held in the Western Xia Imperial Palace.

As a relative of the groom, you sit in the VIP section, opposite the civil and military officials of the Western Xia Kingdom, all dressed in magnificent official robes, curiously watching this short, fat, and ugly groom.

The bride's face was obscured by a red veil, but judging from her figure and demeanor, she must be a beauty.

The wedding ceremony was very complicated, including bowing to heaven and earth, bowing to the parents, and the couple bowing to each other. After going through the whole process, Xu Zhu was covered in sweat.

He stood next to the bride, at a loss for what to do, his face as red as a monkey's bottom, which made the guests burst into laughter.

You sat in the audience, watching this scene, and a slight smile appeared on your lips.

In the original novel, Xu Zhu was forced upon Li Qinglu by Tianshan Tonglao, and there was no emotional foundation between the two.

But this life is different. Li Qinglu knows that Xu Zhu is a good person and that he will treat her sincerely.

Xu Zhu also knew that Li Qinglu had met him, chosen him, and was willing to marry him. Between the two of them, there was more recognition and less reluctance.

After the wedding, you went to the new house for a look. Xu Zhu was sitting on the edge of the bed, and the bride was sitting next to him. The two of them were two feet apart, and neither of them looked at the other.

"Xuzhu, why aren't you lifting your veil?" you asked, leaning against the doorframe with a smile.

Xu Zhu blushed, glanced at you, then at the bride, raised his hand and lowered it again, repeating this several times.

"This humble monk...this humble monk dares not."

You smiled, walked over, took Xu Zhu's hand, and led him to lift the veil.

Beneath the veil was an exquisitely beautiful face, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water, and a faint smile at the corners of her lips.

Li Qinglu looked at Xu Zhu with gentle and calm eyes, without disdain or disgust, only a faint, indescribable joy.

Xu Zhu stared at that face, completely stunned. His mouth was agape, and his eyes were wide open, like a stone statue.

"My lord," Li Qinglu called softly.

Xu Zhu's body trembled, and tears welled up instantly. He quickly lowered his head, wiping his tears with his sleeve, muttering, "This humble monk...this humble monk isn't crying, this humble monk is happy...happy..."

You left the room and gently closed the door.