Chapter 781: Substituting the Plum for the Peach

Time is the most precious thing in this world, and at the same time the cheapest.

If one is not careful, time slips through the fingers and runs away swiftly; even a mighty being of the Divine Realm would find it hard to retrieve.

Since the annihilation of the southern invading snow plains tribe, in the blink of an eye, over half a month has passed.

Wuguo enjoyed peace and calm, with favorable winds and rains; everywhere showed a scene of prosperity and development. And the land originally belonging to the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom, which Wu Tie had sent to the Fuxi Divine Kingdom, was likewise a picture of harmonious bliss.

A large number of Fuxi Divine Kingdom's people migrated to the surface; Xi Wule marked out new city sites, built new cities, opened up new farmland and villages, and properly settled these immigrants.

The original Qingqiu populace's daily life saw little disturbance; they continued to live and work in peace and contentment.

Many of the Fuxi Divine Kingdom's people who newly migrated to the surface saw sunlight for the first time in their lives, felt the dew, saw the flowers and grasses of nature, and beheld the splendid scenery impossible to see in the underground world.

Fertile soil, endless sweet water, a wide variety of high-yield crops, countless fat and strong livestock...

This is a life that never even appeared in dreams.

The prestige of the Fuxi Divine Kingdom's royal clan, Xi Wule and Xi Bai and others, soared; the migrating tribes, big and small, truly regarded them as divine saviors to be worshipped, and many immigrant households earnestly enshrined their statues.

And those underground tribes that had not yet migrated to the surface frenziedly gathered around Xi Wule and the others.

In just over half a month, the prestige and fame that Xi Wule, Xi Bai and others had garnered in the Fuxi Divine Kingdom directly surpassed that of the current Divine Emperor of the Fuxi Divine Kingdom.

Already someone had proposed letting the rare millennia‑seen genius of the Xi clan, Xi Wule, take over the throne of the Fuxi Divine Kingdom, and let the present Divine Emperor— as one Xi clan elder put it, 'a worthless Divine Emperor who can't even manage his own wife and children'— abdicate and retire in peace!

This has already become the shared opinion of over ninety percent of the elders within the Xi clan.

The Fuxi Divine Kingdom's change of heaven and day is imminent, while Wu Tie is genuinely busy in Shenwu City to the point of nearly going mad.

Wu Tie had already made clear his identity to the Wuguo's military clans, aristocratic families, and civil and military officials— 'I, your father, am none other than the Martial King Wu Tie from the underground world, from the Fuxi Divine Kingdom, from the Wu clan!'

Wu Tie's revelation of his identity even led to the true 'Huo Xiong', who had been secretly imprisoned in the Fuxi Divine Kingdom's Black Hall for so many unfortunate years, being released by Xi Bai's order from the Black Hall's secret prison and returning to the Huo family.

In Wuguo, the life and death of every Divine Realm patriarch of the great clans, aristocratic families, and major noble houses rests entirely in Wu Tie's single thought.

Besides those Divine Realm elders, numerous half‑step Divine Realm family elites are likewise completely under Wu Tie's control.

Therefore, facing Wu Tie's revealed identity...

The Wuguo martial clans, aristocratic families, and major noble houses, provided they had sufficient status, a young maiden in the family, and the maiden's maternal clan possessed noble enough bloodline and luxurious enough lineage, all rushed in droves to the mansions of the three brothers Wu Jin, Wu Yin, and Wu Tong.

Wu Tie's disclosure of his identity naturally also clarified the identities of his three elder brothers.

Wu Tie had by his side Pei Feng, a fearsome female entity who commanded Wuguo's forbidden army; the martial clans and aristocratic families largely knew her temper, none dared to act rashly, and they sent their clan daughters to Wu Tie's presence.

However, Wu Tie's three elder brothers had already been enfeoffed as princes by Wu Tie, each receiving a vast fiefdom comprising three hundred prosperous prefectures; together the three brothers held nearly a thousand prefectures.

All the major martial clans and noble houses went mad, vying with each other to stuff their young maidens before the three Wu Jin brothers by any means, sending them to the brothers' side; some even slipped strange drugs into the brothers' wine cups at banquets, just hoping to have a single spring‑wind encounter with their own clan daughters.

Everyone knows that by marrying into the Wu Jin brothers' family, one becomes securely related to the imperial nobility, and one's wealth, honor, status and influence in Wuguo are assured.

Even if one cannot become the principal consort of the three Wu Jin brothers, being a concubine is acceptable; failing that, serving as an ordinary concubine, attendant, or even as the head of the palace maids, or as a personal serving maid, is also acceptable!

In order to wrestle over the three precious lumps Wu Jin, Wu Yin, and Wu Tong, the two old scholars Kong Chengxi and Meng Buyan even spouted a lot of nonsense citing classics at the court meeting, ultimately leading the bewildered Wu Tie to agree to amend Wuguo's imperial rites.

After that court meeting, the princes of Wuguo inexplicably went from being allowed one principal consort to being able to take three principal consorts, twelve concubines, and various ranked consorts and attendants— a total of three hundred and sixty 'minor wives'!

Under the push of the myriad officials, the three Wu Jin, Wu Yin, and Wu Tong inexplicably acquired a large group of fiancées.

Wu Tie, after finally grasping the intentions of those officials' subordinates, became enthusiastic and, together with Wu Yu, threw himself into the major affair of selecting wives and concubines for the three Wu Jin brothers.

Although the Wu Jin brothers already had wives and children in the underground world, Wu Tie and Wu Yu shared the same view— having wives and children underground does not hinder marrying and having offspring in the surface world.

Wu Tie thought it out clearly— this would also strengthen the bonds between Wuguo's martial clans, aristocratic families, and the Wu clan, stabilize relations, steady the hearts of Wuguo's Divine Realm experts, and make them wholeheartedly bind themselves to the Wu clan's warships.

Even Wu Tie had already issued an explicit order: not only the Wu Jin brothers, but also his many cousins and paternal cousins— if the Wuguo martial clans and aristocratic families could use this means to put their brothers to sleep and obey, they are willing to give their daughters in marriage, as long as they add a bit more dowry.

And Wu Yu thought even more openly.

Wu Yu's idea is simple— let the children branch out and multiply; the more offspring, the better.

Apart from the fact that the daughters of Wuguo's martial clans and aristocratic families are overly slender— waists too thin, arms and legs too slender, appearing fragile— which makes Wu Yu less than satisfied, everything else pleases him to the utmost.

Thus, picking dates, checking hours, preparing wedding feasts, arranging betrothal gifts… all these matters, Wu Yu busied himself with even more seriousness and dedication than Wu Tie.

In short, after the Fuxi Divine Kingdom openly stepped onto the surface world and Wu Tie revealed his identity, the capital of Wuguo fell into a state of chaos and revelry.

All the descendants of the Wu clan had become sought‑after catches; each had settled on some marriage arrangement, awaiting their turn to hold the wedding.

Wu Tie and Wu Yu spent these days busy writing marriage documents, then, as the groom's relatives, delivering them to the mansions of high officials— as Wu Tie himself, he personally went door‑to‑door to propose for his brothers; this is a favor, and it is enough to let those officials completely set their hearts at ease and wholly turn their allegiance to Wu Tie.

Such matters admit no negligence; Wu Tie must personally handle them, so that everyone under heaven can be at ease.

Merely, the Wu clan youths who had previously reinforced Wu Tie numbered 120,000… in a short time, Shenwu City will host over ten thousand wedding ceremonies, hehe… even though Wu Tie and Wu Yu possess formidable cultivation and profound magic, they are about to go mad from the busyness.

In Shenwu City, within the palace, Pei Feng led a large group of female officials, together with the numerous ministers of Wuguo's Rites Hall, carefully reviewing the mountain‑like piles of assorted rare treasures and luxurious garments before them.

"You all, be sure to be careful, and careful again."

"The three princes are the Emperor's maternal brothers, closest to His Majesty…… Since the three princes will marry simultaneously, each betrothal gift, each garment, must be perfect in every way, with no oversight."

"Hmm, check once more— are the wine vessels over there all complete?"

"Here, these betrothal gifts sent to the brides' side— each prince is to have three principal consorts and twelve concubines; are they all exactly the same, without any difference?"

"Hmm, no, this head‑cover— why does the edge have a loose thread? Quickly find the cause…… Who is the manager in charge of this at the Interior Manufacture Office? First drag him out, give him a hundred blows, then let him report back."

"These pearls used for inlay seem already perfect, but there is still something…… Hmm, I see— the pearl luster isn't splendid enough…… Go ask, see if we can replace them with a batch of better pearls."

Pei Feng was very serious, tightening her small face as she busied herself here, occupied with tallying the various materials needed for the wedding.

Her countenance was stern, but her mood was tense and excited.

Wu Tie had spoken plainly; everything had been laid out and clarified— if Pei Feng is willing, after the grand wedding of the three Wu Jin brothers, it will be the wedding ceremony of Wu Tie and Pei Feng.

Pei Feng gritted her teeth, her heart pounding heavily.

She regarded this triple‑princes' wedding as a rehearsal for her own future wedding.

Every step, she is learning, becoming familiar with, and silently committing to memory.

Back then, in Daze Province, while leading the uncles and elders of the Black Phoenix Army in bloody combat, Pei Feng even forgot that she was actually a young girl.

But what could she do then?

Her father's honor, the survival of the Black Phoenix Army— all weighed upon her shoulders.

No matter what, she must bear it, she must hold it up.

That burden was too heavy, it weighed on her until she went numb.

She had truly forgotten that she was actually a delicate woman who needed someone's care.

Later, later she ran into Wu Tie.

Strangely, from the initial conflict to the cooperation of the two families.

From the two families' cooperation, to close coordination, then mutual understanding and tacit agreement, gradually forming allies who would stand together against wind and rain.

At some point, things just naturally came to be—Wu Tie bore all the wind and rain, and she only needed to wholeheartedly maintain the rear for him.

From the Duke of Yuzhou, to the Prince of An, from the Prince of An to the Prince of Wu…… from the Prince of Wu to now, the sovereign who dominates the territories of the two states from that time.

Even, Pei Feng watched Wu Tie's cultivation soar all the way, leaping forward, and as his status rose, Wu Tie's status also surged.

Correspondingly, there was that unspoken understanding between them that needed no words.

That feeling which makes one shy, makes the heart sweet, sometimes tinged with a hint of sourness and annoyance, like the affection of kin.

In short, it's very good, very wonderful.

And all of this truly seems like a dream—after so many wind and rain, finally they are about to wed.

As long as the marriages of the three Wu Jin brothers are properly arranged……

Pei Feng slightly pursed her lips; her faintly red lips stretched out, resembling a lovely sword, as she forcibly restrained herself from laughing out loud. Meanwhile, the palace ladies beside her and the officials of the Ritual Hall thought she was dissatisfied with the previous oversights and was suppressing her anger.

Thus, the palace ladies lowered their heads cautiously, the officials of the Ritual Hall bent their waists, each trembling with fear, not daring to breathe.

Pei Feng walked expressionlessly past one huge display rack after another, constantly pointing out various flaws.

These officials of the Ministry of Rites must be soundly disciplined; even, Pei Feng does not hesitate to let them suffer some fleshly pain, to remind them to be careful and earnest in their work, and to see that everything is done to perfection.

These fellows, if Wu Tie's eldest, second, and third brothers get married, they would dare to be perfunctory……

Hmph, will they also dare to muddle through the future grand wedding of Wu Tie and Pei Feng?

Therefore, it is necessary to give a preventive shot in advance.

Pei Feng's expression grew ever colder and haughtier, her attitude increasingly aloof; she slightly lifted her chin, like a proud phoenix, slowly walking past piles upon piles of various rare treasures.

For the sake of her future perfect wedding, Pei Feng has also gone all out.

The officials of the Ritual Hall listened attentively to Pei Feng's myriad criticisms, each trembling with fear, drenched in cold sweat.

Pei Feng continued forward, inspecting, picking faults, and rebuking all the way.

Unbeknownst to her, Pei Feng, leading a large entourage, had walked into the depths of the palace when suddenly a brilliant red-and-white spiritual light burst forth from beside her, and then Pei Feng abruptly vanished from within that light.

In its place remained a gorgeous plum tree, its branches covered in brilliant plum blossoms.

The palace ladies and officials stood stunned, then let out a shrill cry, quickly summoning countless guards who surrounded the palace.

After a short while, Wu Tie hurriedly brought a large crowd into this palace.

National Preceptor Qingfeng held a wine jug in his left hand and a fried pork knuckle in his right, lazily trailing behind.

Unexpectedly seeing that brilliant plum tree, Qingfeng widened his eyes and exclaimed, 'Yo, you came this fast? Not bad, not bad…… When did those White Lotus Palace people bribe someone inside your imperial palace?'

Wu Tie turned around and asked in a deep voice, 'National Preceptor, do you know whose handiwork this is?'

Qingfeng nodded firmly, pointing at the plum tree and asked, 'Have you heard of replacing the peach with the plum? This is the famous Li Dai Tao Jiang of the White Lotus Palace's scattered sect divine ability: as long as one has any random item belonging to the target…… one can, from an extremely distant place, shift the target away.'

'The reinforcements of the White Lotus Palace have arrived far sooner than I, the poor Daoist, imagined!'