Chapter 66: If I Must Marry, I Will Only Marry Someone Who Can Cure Grandfather!

While the Imperial family was deliberating, Nalan Yanran, who was far away at the Misty Cloud Sect, was also brought back to the Nalan family mansion by Nalan Su.

"Father, what exactly is the matter that you called me back so urgently?" Dressed in a moon-white long dress, Nalan Yanran, who had just returned from the Misty Cloud Sect, asked with some curiosity: "I am already about to start preparing to break through to the Dou Shi realm during this period!"

"Oh? So fast! Didn't you just reach the nine-star Dou Zhe?" Nalan Su, who had originally wanted to chat with Nalan Yanran about Xiao Yan, immediately had his attention diverted and asked in surprise.

Even Nalan Jie, who was still sitting on the bed to the side, cast a look of anticipation.

Nalan Yanran liked this feeling of being expected by her elders and said with some self-satisfaction: "It is like this, but Teacher Yun Yun sees that my talent is very good and hopes I can progress faster, so she requested some medicinal pills to assist with the breakthrough from Master Gu He for me."

"Really? That is wonderful!" Nalan Su said with great joy.

However, the older Nalan Jie raised a different perspective: "That may be so, but using medicinal pills to break through always carries the problem of a shaky foundation. Furthermore, you have only just broken through, Yanran; did Sect Leader Yun Yun not consider this issue?"

"Grandfather is right, Teacher naturally considered this problem, so she is planning to take me out for some training during this time!" Nalan Yanran walked to Nalan Jie's side somewhat playfully, hugged Nalan Jie's arm, and said: "So Grandfather, what is the matter that you called me back this time? Tell me so I can finish it quickly and go back; Teacher is still waiting for me!"

"Is that so? Then that is truly unfortunate," Nalan Jie said with some emotion, then looked at Nalan Su behind Nalan Yanran.

"Ahem." Nalan Su coughed twice, pulling Nalan Yanran's attention over, and said: "Yanran, more than ten years ago, your grandfather and a very good friend of his set up an arranged marriage for you; you should still remember that, right?"

Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran's body tensed up for a moment. Although she relaxed quickly, it was still caught red-handed by Nalan Jie, who was close at hand. Silently glancing at Nalan Yanran's somewhat nervous profile, Nalan Jie did not say anything for the time being.

"That thing? It seems there is one," Nalan Yanran replied somewhat reluctantly.

"What do you mean 'it seems there is one'!" Nalan Su glared at Nalan Yanran and said with a somewhat stern tone: "That is your legitimate fiancé; how can you not know?! Besides, didn't the several letters sent to you previously mention him?"

"What legitimate, anyway I haven't even met him, and I don't even know what he looks like." Nalan Yanran muttered a few words in a low voice, then replied reluctantly: "So what does this have to do with you calling me back so urgently?"

"What do you mean what does it have to do with it? Didn't the previous letters tell you that Xiao Yan would be coming to the Imperial Capital? Did you even read the letters I wrote to you?" Nalan Su said with some helplessness: "It is not too late now; you should dress up properly tomorrow and come with me to see him."

"I'm not going!" Nalan Yanran pouted and refused directly.

"What did you say?" Nalan Su looked at his daughter in astonishment: "Do you know what you are saying!"

"Do you know how many factions in the Imperial Capital want to marry into the Xiao family right now? Don't think that just because you have a marriage contract you can do whatever you want! If you just ignore it like this, by the time Xiao Yan is snatched away by other factions, you won't even have a place to cry!"

"Isn't that just perfect!" Nalan Yanran also showed displeasure and retorted directly: "Just like you said, all the factions in the Imperial Capital, including the Imperial family, are vying for him, and Xiao Yan has already been staying in the Imperial Palace for several days. Maybe he is already in bed with the Imperial Princess right now. What do you want me to go do? Go watch them show off their affection or go be a concubine!"

"You!" Nalan Su was rendered speechless by this sudden retort and could only point at Nalan Yanran with his trembling right hand, breathing rapidly.

*Hah-hoo, hah-hoo*, after gasping for a few breaths, Nalan Su forcibly calmed his emotions and said in a level tone: "Yanran, since you know so clearly, you should already know about Xiao Yan's talent."

"Ask yourself, has there ever been such a genius in this Jia Ma Empire for hundreds of years? Now that such a genius is not only your age but also has a marriage contract with you—legitimate and proper—if you don't marry him, can you find someone better in the future?"

"Moreover, your father has also entrusted people to look into this person and even had a portrait painted. Although he cannot be called as handsome as Pan An, he can be called handsome and dashing. He is also a family-oriented person; he only returned for a few days and has already recruited so many alchemists for their Xiao family. Father is doing this for your own good."

Hearing Nalan Su's gradually softening tone, Nalan Yanran also gradually calmed down and listened quietly to Nalan Su's long string of words. Although she was still not very willing in her heart, she had to admit that Nalan Su was not wrong; it was basically impossible to find a partner better than Xiao Yan in this world.

But she was still unconvinced and unwilling; she did not want to give herself so easily to someone she had never met, so she continued to argue: "So what, I still don't like him."

"What? You don't like him? Then do you have someone you do like?" Nalan Su asked.

"No."

"Then have you taken the initiative to get to know any young men? For example, your fellow disciples in the sect?" Nalan Su continued to ask.

"————Neither do I." Nalan Yanran answered honestly. Although she knew this answer was disadvantageous to her, her pride would not allow her to win an argument by lying.

Sure enough, as soon as Nalan Yanran's words came out, Nalan Su's tone immediately turned stern: "Then what are you talking about liking or not liking! If you go on like this, you will never find a husband in your life. Do you intend to never marry for the rest of your life?"

"So what if I don't? Teacher hasn't married either," Nalan Yanran muttered in a low voice again.

*That is because she hasn't found a suitable one, otherwise you see if the old Sect Leader wouldn't marry her off! * Nalan Su thought to himself, but since it involved the Misty Cloud Sect Leader, he did not say it out loud.

"Even so, your marriage contract was set long ago. If you break the engagement, not to mention what others will think of our Nalan family, your grandfather's reputation will also be ruined. Your grandfather loves you so much; do you not care at all?" Seeing that reasoning was not working, Nalan Su played the emotional card.

"Ugh." It had to be said that this sentence was much more useful than the previous ones, and Nalan Yanran looked at Nalan Jie with some apology.

However, at this moment, Nalan Jie, who had set the marriage contract for Nalan Yanran and had always hoped for the marriage to happen, quietly changed his attitude.

"Alright Su'er, you don't need to say any more." Nalan Jie waved his hand at Nalan Su, who was still wanting to continue speaking.

"Yanran." Nalan Jie stretched out his hand, which looked like a withered branch, and gently stroked Nalan Yanran's cheek.

"Grandfather." Nalan Yanran replied softly, covering Nalan Jie's hand with both of hers.

"Although Xiao Yan is indeed a golden son-in-law that makes people covet, the one getting married is you after all. If you really don't want to marry, then forget it. As for the eyes of others, this old man's reputation, and so on, there is no need to worry about it. Without these, the Nalan family is still the Nalan family; it makes no difference!"

"Grandfather!" Nalan Yanran's eyes instantly turned red and moist.

"However, there is one thing you must tell Grandfather: what kind of person do you actually want to marry?" Nalan Jie looked at Nalan Yanran with some hope: "You know about Grandfather's body; I am afraid I cannot hold on for many more years. I don't worry about anything else. The only thing I cannot let go of is your marriage. Whether you marry or not, you must at least give Grandfather some peace of mind."

"No, Grandfather, you will be fine!" Nalan Yanran threw herself directly into Nalan Jie's arms, her voice carrying a hint of sobbing. "Alright, alright, everyone is going to die sooner or later; it is just a matter of time. Speaking of which, Yanran, you still haven't answered Grandfather's question!" Nalan Jie kindly stroked Nalan Yanran's hair, soothing her emotions.

Under Nalan Jie's soothing, Nalan Yanran gradually calmed down.

Facing Nalan Jie's inquiring eyes, Nalan Yanran hesitated for a moment, but still chose to say honestly: "Grandfather, Yanran does not want to marry. If, if I must marry, then I will only marry someone who can cure Grandfather!"

"Bullshit, what kind of nonsense are you spouting! Even Master Gu He has no way to deal with your grandfather's illness; even if there really were someone who could cure it, they would probably be an old man too!" Nalan Su could not help but curse.

"Even so, I, Nalan Yanran, would be willing!" Nalan Yanran retorted without any politeness.

"Alright, alright, since Yanran doesn't want to marry, then let it be." Nalan Jie appeared very peaceful and expressed his approval of Yanran's thoughts. As for that remark about only marrying if he could be cured, he, like Nalan Su, did not think it was possible.

In the end, facing Nalan Yanran, who had Nalan Jie's support, Nalan Su naturally had no way to proceed. In the end, he only had Nalan Yanran agree to meet Xiao Yan tomorrow; after all, even if she wasn't going to marry him, she still had to make things clear in person, right?

After Nalan Yanran left, Nalan Jie kept Nalan Su behind.

"Su'er, although I didn't speak up when you were lecturing Yanran just now, you must have had other motives mixed in." In private, with no one else around, Nalan Jie did not hold back and said it straight.

"Father!" Nalan Su looked at Nalan Jie, who was lying on the bed, in astonishment. It was not that he was surprised his motives were seen through, but that Nalan Jie would actually say it out loud.

"I am doing this for the family!" Although Nalan Jie pointed it out directly, Nalan Su did not think he was wrong: "Besides, is Xiao Yan not good? I didn't wrong her!"

Regarding this, Nalan Jie had to admit: "You are right. You are the Clan Head of the Nalan family; naturally, you must consider the family. If I were ten years younger, if my body were not like it is now, just waiting to die, perhaps I would have chosen the same approach as you."

"Father!" Nalan Su was not happy because of his father's understanding, because there was clearly an opposite sentiment following this.

"But, ever since I was struck by the Branding Poison and holed up in this small side room, I have gradually felt that, compared to how prosperous the family is, what I hope for more is that you younger generations can live happily." Nalan Jie's tone was peaceful, his voice carrying an obvious sense of old age, and he continued: "Let Yanran's matter be decided by herself; let us not interfere anymore."

Nalan Su opened his mouth, still somewhat unwilling, but seeing his father rarely show a look of pleading toward him, Nalan Su ultimately did not persist and said helplessly: "Since that is the case, then so be it."

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