My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

These stars seem to flow in delicate torrent, creating a splendid milky way that slanted toward the starry sky.

It’s extremely beautiful.

...

At this moment, in the spacious guest hall of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, many people had already taken their seats.

"Elder Ning, is our matter then settled like this?"

Cheng Zhihai and Wu Yuemei sat at the head, smiling.

This time, it was Cheng Zhihai who spoke, his tone quite relaxed.

Beneath Cheng Zhihai and Wu Yuemei, an elegantly dressed elderly woman nodded slightly.

"Being able to form a marriage alliance with Duke Zhen’s Mansion is a fortunate matter for our Taihao Sword Sect."

Cheng Zhihai said with a smile, "In that case, let’s hold the marriage ceremony soon."

The woman known as Elder Ning nodded her head, then raised her eyes to look at Cheng Zhihai and said, "Mr. Cheng, it is of course excellent for our Taihao Sword Sect to form a marriage alliance with Duke Zhen’s Mansion. However, any children born must inherit the position of Master of the Taihao Sword Sect in the future, and this must be agreed upon beforehand."

"If the Court, because of this matter, causes any issues with the succession of the Duke’s position within Duke Zhen’s Mansion, I shall not be responsible."

The underlying meaning of Elder Ning’s words was clear. By forming a marriage alliance with them, the Taihao Sword Sect expected any future children to inherit the position of Master of the sect. If, in the future, the Court interfered and Cheng Guang couldn’t inherit the Duke’s position because of this, then it would not be their concern.

After all, the relationship between the Court and the Sects of the Martial World was not very good.

Court officials and Sects of the Martial World always remained clearly distinct from each other.

Now, the marriage alliance between Duke Zhen’s Mansion and their Taihao Sword Sect could be seen as setting a precedent to some extent.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhihai chuckled and said, "Elder Ning need not worry about this."

Cheng Zhihai knew very well that he was taking a risk by rejecting many noble daughters from Court families and choosing to marry the current divine maiden of the Taihao Sword Sect.

However, he had his reasons for doing so.

The greater the power of Duke Zhen’s Mansion grew, the more he could feel the pressure from the Emperor.

Although he had an extremely good relationship with the Emperor.

Even the entire Duke Zhen’s Mansion had an excellent relationship with the Emperor.

But who could say what might happen in the future?

Just looking at the current situation, even though he had an excellent relationship with Emperor Zhou, Emperor Zhou could find any excuse to curb the power of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

If their relationship worsened in the future, or if something else happened, it was quite possible that Duke Zhen’s Mansion might be completely eradicated.

As long as the Sky-Man, the Duke of the State, was present, all was well.

But once the Sky-Man, the Duke of the State, was gone, the fate of Duke Zhen’s Mansion would be entirely in the hands of Emperor Zhou.

Cheng Zhihai knew he had to prepare for the worst. Making a marriage alliance with a humble Sect of the Martial World was a test move for now, in case he ever needed to break away from the Court and seek stability.

In the past, the work of his Bureau of the Lamp had wiped out many sects in the Martial World, and the sects of the entire Great Zhou bore deep hatred for Duke Zhen’s Mansion and the Bureau of the Lamp.

But the Taihao Sword Sect was different. It was one of The Four Great Sword Sects and, unlike Spirit Dao or Martial Cultivation, followed the path of the Sword Cultivator, often choosing to remain hidden from worldly conflicts and seldom appearing.

The location of the Taihao Sword Sect did not belong to Great Zhou, or even any other dynasty for that matter; it was independent and isolated.

The Taihao Sword Sect would have become a nation within a nation if it had a dynasty’s name.

By forming an alliance with the Taihao Sword Sect, Cheng Zhihai provided a safeguard for his own Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Elder Ning nodded and replied, "If that is so, then I shall say no more. Tomorrow, have the Princely Heir come to our sect to pick up the person."

As she said this and stood up, preparing to leave.

Suddenly, a light twinkled from far within the Imperial Palace, followed by the resounding toll of a grand bell emanating from the depths of the Imperial City.

Hearing this sound, Cheng Zhihai’s expression changed slightly and he stood up immediately, looking toward the Imperial Palace.

"This is His Majesty summoning the officials for an urgent meeting. Why would it sound at this time? Could it be that something significant has happened?"

Cheng Zhihai muttered to himself, first turned to Wu Yuemei and said, "Yuemei, I’ve just been informed that Guanger has returned; go check on him and then get some rest early. I’ll go to the Imperial Palace to see what’s happening."

After saying this, Cheng Zhihai excused himself with an apology to Elder Ning, stepped on Qi, and flew in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

After Cheng Zhihai left, Elder Ning, who had also intended to leave, did not linger in Duke Zhen’s Mansion either. She got to her feet along with other elders and disciples from the Taihao Sword Sect and walked out of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Once they were some distance away from Duke Zhen’s Mansion, Elder Ning, leaning on a walking stick, looked toward the distant location, her brows knitted slightly. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"What has happened? Why would Emperor Zhou suddenly convene all the officials for a meeting at this hour?"

Elder Ning murmured to herself.

Behind her, a female disciple emerged, clad in a white dress with a veil over her face, appearing to be around twenty years of age, but with a lithe and graceful posture. Light blue lotuses were embroidered on her sleeves, while silver threads on her long dress outlined wisps of clouds.

This young woman, with her slender waist, her skin like creamy snow, and the outlines of her shapely figure visible beneath her layers of robes, said,

"Grandmother, why did you agree to this marriage alliance with Duke Zhen’s Mansion for me?"

She clung to Elder Ning’s arm with a hint of reproach in her voice.

At first sight, she seemed to have a lofty and unapproachable disposition, but the moment she spoke, her voice was filled with soft complaints, so gentle that it made anyone who heard it feel their bones go soft.