Chapter 222

What is a heavenly person?

Heavenly persons are no longer mundane; when heavenly punishment does not descend, a heavenly person could be called a god of this world.

Therefore,

Niu Dingtian fears no opponent.

He did not know how long he could linger in this realm relying on the spiritual spring water, so for this wedding he wanted no regrets; he prepared to hold a grand ceremony for his several wives, unprecedented in scale.

Thanks to Kuihua Laozu's methods, Niu Dingtian obtained the rank of Commandery Prince, gained three imperial clan princesses, and even acquired two imperial concubines.

No one knows the power of a heavenly person powerhouse better than Kuihua Laozu; let alone princes and consorts, even if it were a noble consort or empress, if not for the fact that only a few of them are too old in age, he would have prepared to secretly send them over.

As residents of Lin'an City, Chen Jin'er and Yan Huixi not only received imperial edicts, but even their homes in Lin'an City and the old residence in Niu Clan Village were repaired by the imperial court.

Furthermore, a plaque was hung at the gate of the old residence in Niu Clan Village, reading: "Former Residence of the Prince of Xiangyang".

No wonder he is a two-hundred-year-old old eunuch; Kuihua Laozu excels at handling worldly affairs.

Thus, one day Chen Jin'er returned to Niu Clan Village, Miss Huang returned to Peach Blossom Island, Han Xiao Ying returned to her old home in Auspicious Prosperity, Bao Xiruo returned to Red Plum Village, Yan Huixi returned to Lin'an City, and He Yuanjun returned to Great Reason.

As for Fentian and Murong Miaozhen, well, the two homeless ones took up residence in Facing-the-sun City.

Niu Dingtian divided eight wedding procession teams, preparing to calculate the time, to simultaneously welcome his eight brides onto Nine Palaces Mountain.

Outside Lin'an City, Niu Clan Village

A rustic farmhouse courtyard, its ground laid with red carpet and red silk hung high. Early in the morning, the courtyard gate was crowded with villagers from inside coming to watch the excitement.

Everyone knew that the sister-in-law and sister of the former Little Ox Scholar had returned.

The visitors came with simple carriages and were friendly in manner, showing no trace of the distance befitting a prince's household.

"Eh? Is that young lady not Silly Treasure? How did she change her appearance, becoming as beautiful as a fairy?"

A villager pointed at Sha Gu Guobao entering the courtyard, his face full of astonishment.

"Silly Treasure" was a nickname given by the village's mischievous children back then, and as a result, Niu Dingtian had often given him a sound thrashing.

"Where? Where? Let me have a look—she used to often sit by my doorstep playing with mud back then!"

Someone craned his neck, straining to push forward; just as he squeezed to the front, he came face‑to‑face with a fairy‑like young lady staring at him, and he immediately jerked his head back in fright.

Seeing this, Chen Jin'er in the room could not help but let a faint smile appear at the corner of her mouth.

Afterwards, she nodded to Qian'er beside her; Qian'er then took up a tray and followed her out to the courtyard gate.

"She's out! She's out!"

"The bride is out!"

Seeing Chen Jin'er in red robes smiling and waving, the villagers who had been about to disperse all stopped in their tracks, curious.

In these times, it is uncommon for a bride to appear in public on her wedding day.

Upon reaching the courtyard gate, Chen Jin'er smiled at the somewhat reserved villagers and said, "Back then, the fellow villagers took good care of me and my uncle; I have always kept that in mind. A little wedding money is no token of respect—let me treat all the elders and fellow villagers to a feast."

Speaking, she picked up a red envelope from the tray and began handing them out one by one to the villagers who were still a bit dazed.

The villagers reacted, their faces breaking into smiles as they shoulder‑to‑shoulder shouted their congratulations:

"Thank you, Miss Chen!"

"Thank you, Miss Chen!"

……

Those who had received the red envelopes even squeezed out of the crowd, running through the village shouting, "Miss Chen is distributing wedding money! Miss Chen is distributing wedding money!"

Hearing the shouts outside, a farmwife who had been busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast hastily wiped her hands on her apron and rushed out the door.

The toothless tot inside the house heard the sound, jumped straight off the kang, barefoot, and went chasing: "Mother! Wait for me! Wait for me!"

"Don't crowd, everyone, watch out for the children inside, don't rush, each person will get one!"

As more and more villagers gathered, hearing that the red envelopes contained one tael of silver each, they tried to stay composed but feared missing out if they fell behind; Chen Jin'er patiently soothed them.

Before long, adults and children alike had been handed out over two hundred taels of loose silver.

To Chen Jin'er's surprise, the villagers who received the lucky money kept bringing eggs to her door, unable to refuse, and by morning she had collected a full basket of them.

Compared to Niu Clan Village, Red Plum Village five li away was relatively much quieter.

The villagers' impression of this deserted little courtyard remained only that of Mr. Bao from over a decade ago.

Since the little scholar of Niu Clan Village held his funeral here years ago, no one has ever come back.

Thus, when a group of strangers suddenly moved in and cleaned up, the villagers felt curious and surprised, but seeing that the newcomers were either rich or noble, they dared not go in to ask.

Inside the room was precisely the bedchamber where Bao Xiruo had lived years ago; the furnishings she used, aside from being somewhat aged, were exactly as they had been back then.

Before the bronze mirror, an old maid was combing the hair of Bao Xiruo, who wore a rosy cape; gazing at the jade-like face before her that seemed unchanged after over a decade, she couldn't help but sigh:

"You are still as beautiful as ever; Auntie, I never dreamed I would see you again, girl."

Bao Xiruo looked at the old maid in the mirror and smiled: "I thought I would have no relatives left when I came back this time; seeing you, Auntie, is an unexpected joy. You are now alone; come back with me to Facing Sun, and I will care for you in your old age and see you through to the end." This time she returned mainly out of nostalgia, plus to pay respects to her father; otherwise she would not have wanted to come back to the village and cause a stir, after all, she had divorced and remarried.

She never expected to meet her aunt, who had once wandered outside with her uncle during her childhood, at the village entrance; in an instant, she felt as happy as seeing family.

The old maid's face showed some hesitation; after a moment's thought, she said softly: "Forget it, noble families have many rules; Auntie, you'd be better off staying in the village where you're free. Besides, what sense is there in marrying off a useless old woman?"

She actually feared offending her husband's family and being disliked; staying in the village may be free, but having no children or grandchildren, no one would want to die alone in a house without anyone knowing.

Seeing the old maid's worries, Bao Xiruo said: "Auntie, rest assured, my husband treats the elderly with utmost kindness; if he knew I still had living relatives, he would be delighted and would have no objection at all. Please enjoy your twilight years there in peace."

Upon hearing this, the old maid did not refuse again; a smile spread across her face, showing she was truly delighted.

At that moment, a slender guard in dark robes entered the room, clasped his fists, and said: "My lady, the wedding procession has arrived five li away."

Bao Xiruo nodded slightly, and after putting on the phoenix crown, she glanced at the piles of wedding money on the bed and said softly: "In a moment, you will accompany Auntie to distribute the wedding money to the villagers; if any elderly are in particularly poor condition, remember to give them a little extra."

"Yes, my lady."

The guard accepted the order with a clasped-fist salute, stepped forward to pick up the wedding money, and at that moment, the faint sound of instruments could be heard from outside.

In Lin'an City, unlike the Yan mansion and the emperor who smashed cups in the palace, at this moment Venerable Kui Hua held a brocade box, leading a group of eunuchs, waiting outside the chambers of Yan Huixi.

As a red-clad figure emerged from the room supported by the maid Yun Ling, he hurried forward, bowed, and presented the brocade box from his arms, saying obsequiously: "I have heard that the Prince loves to collect divine technique manuals; this is a gift we have specially prepared for him. Please, Princess, pass it on to him."

Hearing that, beneath the bright red headscarf, Yan Huai Xi's powder‑rouged face showed a hint of hesitation.

The congratulatory gift, you have someone deliver it yourself; let me, a bride, pass it on—what words?

The Sunflower Elder added, "Honestly, this martial art is too precious; our family cannot entrust it to others. Please, husband, understand."

Yan Huai Xi pondered briefly, then reached out to take the brocade box. This old eunuch, since her return to the mansion, visits daily; at his age, it is not easy.

Feeling her way to open the brocade box, Yan Huai Xi slightly lifted the red headscarf and saw a brand‑new volume inside—a Sunflower Treasure Classic.

"These are items reserved for imperial concubines, a congratulatory gift our family prepared for the lady. A modest token; we hope the lady will speak well of our family before the prince."

The Sunflower Elder raised his hand to the eunuchs behind him; the eunuchs hurriedly opened the wooden crates beside them, revealing pearls, jade, porcelain ornaments—an array of treasures, everything one could imagine.

"Thank you, sir."

Yan Huai Xi gave a gentle nod, not refusing. Niu Dingtian had instructed her that if anyone presents a gift upon her return, she should accept it graciously.

After leaving the courtyard, amid the crack of firecrackers, Yan Huai Xi was helped into the eight‑palanquin sedan that had been waiting outside the mansion for a long time.

That day, three massive wedding‑procession convoys set out from Niu Clan Village, Hongmei Village, and within Lin'an City; after meeting five li outside Lin'an City, they proceeded together toward the Qiantang River Dock.

At the same time, nine huge sea vessels laden with dowry set sail from Peach Blossom Island, cutting through waves northward.

In the cabin, Miss Huang lifted the red headscarf, revealing a charming, radiant face.

Seeing the red wooden box already packed into her cabin and glancing at Huang Yaoshi seated by the window, she felt a little embarrassed.

The dowry was excessive; Peach Blossom Island's wealth had been emptied, and the nine sea vessels were packed to the brim.

Even the freshly issued Peach Blossom Island land deed lay in her arms at that moment.

Jiaxing Prefecture, Yan Guan Town.

It is precisely a Jiangnan water town.

The Han clan is a prominent local family with many branches, mostly scholarly households proud of their studies.

Cousins Han Xiao Ying and Han Baoju, who have been mixing with jianghu folk since childhood, have earned some reputation in the jianghu, yet are not well liked by their own clan.

Seven years ago, if not for the death of a close elder in the clan, the siblings would not have returned to their old home in Jiaxing, and Han Xiao Ying would not have encountered the gravely injured, unconscious Niu Dingtian outside Luoyang City.

After the siblings returned to Yan Guan Town, within a few days Han Xiao Ying's household set up red lanterns and red silk, naturally drawing the neighbors' attention.

People originally thought the elderly lady had married some rough man, but when a wedding procession stretching for miles arrived, carrying an eight‑palanquin sedan with drums and gongs at the bride's door of the Han family, the townsfolk were left staring in disbelief.

In these times, a sedan chair is a status symbol; only the powerful can use an eight‑palanquin sedan for a wedding, wealth alone is insufficient. Yet even the magistrate's son's marriage has never seen such a grand display.

"Brother, brother! Light the firecrackers! The Lin'an fleet is almost at the port!"

Zhu Cong squeezed through the cheering crowd and ran over, shouting from a distance toward Ke Zhen'e guarding the gate.

Several wedding processions had previously arranged to assemble at the Qiantang River in Jiaxing, then meet the sea vessels from Peach Blossom Island, and together travel upstream along the Yangtze River westward to Xiangyang.

Ke Zhen'e heard the voice, instinctively reached for the fire striker, then quickly smacked Han Baoju on the head, shouting, "The time's arrived! Aren't you lighting the fire while I, the blind one, do it?"

"Okay, okay, light the fire! Quickly, fire!"

Han Baoju hurriedly took out the fire striker and waved to summon a few distant relatives.

"Crackle—"

"The wedding money is being given! The wedding money is being given!"

Amid the deafening firecrackers, Han Xiao Ying, dressed in red with a headscarf, was pulled into the bridal sedan, while Han Baoju lifted a basket from the ground, loudly shouting out the distribution of wedding money one by one. (End of chapter)