Chapter 490 - Chapter 490: Chapter 486: Choosing a Consort_1

Chapter 490: Chapter 486: Choosing a Consort_1

Jiang Dalang had no objections, but he would still need to discuss with the clan leader and the other village elders.

Stroking his beard, Chen, the clan leader, pondered for a moment and said: “It’s okay for Sun Licheng to buy a house in our village, but if others like Zhang San and Li Si come to buy as well, we won’t be able to accommodate them.”

Dongchen Village is only so big. Even if Yingbao included many farms, there wouldn’t be enough space to construct many courtyards.

“We should establish some rules for our village in the future to prevent others from wanting to move in,” suggested an elder.

Jiang Dalang nodded, “Let’s decide then: only those with marital connections or familial ties within three generations can buy houses and land here. Everyone else is prohibited.”

“Indeed, let’s proceed with this plan,” the clan leader agreed.

“What about Sun Licheng?” Jiang Dalang asked.

The clan leader replied: “He has been serving as our village head for decades. Let’s give him a break this time but make no exceptions in the future.”

“Alright, let’s do that.”

The agreement was unanimously reached and they even wrote an announcement to be posted on the notice board next to the divine tree.

Most of the children in Dongchen Village had been to school, so they informed their illiterate parents about the content of the announcement.

Meanwhile, Yingbao and Wei Zhan brought their parents into the divine mansion. Their grandparents and the aunt also entered. She then teleported to Beijing and brought them out.

As Jiang Wu would be getting married in a few months, they took this opportunity to attend the wedding and visit other family members.

The aunt was most delighted as she finally got to see her second son, Jiang Quan, and her third son, Yuanbao.

She and her husband, Jiang Dalang, were content living in the countryside and did not wish to settle in Beijing. However, if they could see their sons’ families regularly, it would still make them very happy.

“Sister! You’re awake!” Jiang Jie and Jiang Wu were very happy to see their sister. Jiang Jie even called his son to meet his aunt whom he had never met before.

The little one was about seven or eight years old. He blinked his eyes at his aunt, then looked at his parents, asking curiously, “Dad, why do you call auntie sister?” His auntie appeared much younger than his father, looking about the same age as his elder sister. How could she be his dad’s sister?

Jiang Jie: …

Yingbao patted her nephew’s head and smiled, “I am older than your dad, hence I am your sister.”

The little one seemed more confused than before.

At this moment, Nuannuan and Wuhui returned. Hearing that her mother had arrived, Nuannuan ran into the house quickly.

Seeing her mother sitting all right, Nuannuan burst into tears, rushing into Yingbao’s arms. “Mother! Mother! You are finally awake!”

Yingbao hugged her daughter and whispered comforting words to her, “It’s all mom’s fault, I won’t leave you again.”

She felt extremely guilty for missing out on her daughter’s childhood.

“Wu… wu… Mother, Nuannuan misses you every day, but you have been unconscious for so long, Nuannuan is really sad.” Nuannuan couldn’t stop crying while hugging her mother, making everyone in the room wipe their tears.

Yingbao was almost heartbroken, she patted her daughter and coaxed her, “Nuannuan, don’t cry. Mother will take you to a place later.”

Nuannuan nodded, “Mother, please take Nuannuan with you wherever you go.”

“Okay.”

After mother and daughter calmed down, Wuhui saluted Yingbao: “Auntie, I am Wuhui. Do you remember me?”

“Of course, I remember you,” Yingbao looked at Wuhui fondly. “You’re all grown up now, aren’t you seventeen this year?”

Wuhui nodded, “Almost eighteen.”

Yingbao asked, “Have you taken the imperial examination?”

Wuhui scratched his head and shook his head: “I want to study cultivation with Uncle Wei and Sister Nuannuan, I don’t want to take the civil service examination.”

“You come over here,” Yingbao beckoned him.

Wuhui stepped forward and stood in front of Yingbao.

With her hand on his head, after a moment of examination, she said, “I will open your veins for you later.”

Over the ten years when she was absent, Wuhui had been close to Nuannuan like a real brother. If so, she might as well help him and let him cultivate too.

Wuhui was so delighted that he almost jumped up. He gave Yingbao a deep bow, “Thank you, auntie.”

After the family had dinner together, Yingbao brought them all into the divine mansion.

Of course, that included Wuhui.

She then chose several young children and opened their veins.

Afterward, she brought a lot of body tempering spiritual medicines from Treasure Building and tempered their bodies one by one.

When Wuhui felt the spiritual energy around his body for the first time, he felt like the whole world had changed.

“Auntie, I want to stay here!” Wuhui enjoyed the company of flowers, grass, and spiritual beasts. Even if there were no humans here, he was more than satisfied.

After thinking for a moment, Yingbao said, “Okay, I’ll pick a few more children to come here and practice with you later.”

Wuhui wanted to say no, but knowing that his aunt meant well for him, he nodded, “Okay.”

Jiang Quan and Yuanbao walked around and found it fascinating, but they still preferred the hustle and bustle of human life.

“Although it is good here, it’s too quiet. I definitely can’t stand it,” Jiang Quan asked his children, “Do you want to stay or go back?”

The two children shook their heads like rattle drums: “We don’t want to stay!”

There were no playmates here, nor were there bustling markets. It wasn’t fun at all.

Jiang Jie’s younger son, Jiang Qi, however, said, “I want to stay, together with Brother Wuhui.”

In the end, only Jiang Qi and Wuhui decided to stay in the divine mansion for dedicated cultivation. Needless to say, Nuannuan also stayed.

She was afraid that her mother would abandon her again, so she decided to stay with Wuhui and Jiang Qi.

After seeing her family members off, in a couple of days, Yingbao and Wei Zhan received a royal decree summoning them into the palace to discuss matters.

Yingbao received the decree and rode the carriage with Wei Zhan into the palace.

Not only the Emperor, but Empress Lu was also present in Zichen Hall.

Now that Wuyang was the Crown Prince, Lu Consort naturally became the Empress.

When the Emperor and Empress saw Yingbao and Wei Zhan, they stood up to greet them and gave them seats.

After sitting down on his throne, Zhou Wuchang stroked his beard and asked Yingbao, “Yingbao, I heard that there’s a divine tree in your village?”

Yingbao gave the Emperor a look and replied, “It’s not a divine tree. It’s just villagers spreading rumors. Your Majesty, please don’t believe them.”

Zhou Wuchang just asked casually and quickly changed the subject, “I’ve been unwell recently, feeling dizzy and suffering from headaches if I sit for too long. So, I plan to give the throne to Wuyang, allowing him to handle the government affairs.”

Yingbao and Wei Zhan listened silently.

Zhou Wuchang glanced at the Empress. Immediately, Empress Lu said, “But Wuyang is not married yet. We want to help him choose a consort and finalize the marriage first, to put our minds at ease.”

Yingbao blinked, “Your Majesty indeed has a point.”

The moment she said this, Zhou Wuchang and the Empress were at a loss for words.

After a pause, Zhou Wuchang cleared his throat and said, “Yingbao, since you have been in a deep sleep these years, you may not know that Wuyang often goes to Zhouhe County. He and Nuannuan have grown up together since childhood.”

Realizing what he was implying, Yingbao stood up, saluting Zhou Wuchang, “Master, the matters of young people should be decided by them. I can’t make decisions for Nuannuan.”

If her daughter also liked Wuyang, she wouldn’t oppose it. But, the boy was still immature, completely immersed in cultivation, and even mentioned traveling around the Ten Thousand Worlds with his parents.

Moreover, her daughter was only fourteen years old this year. Even if she really fell in love with Wuyang, she would not allow her to get married prematurely.