C2 The Emperor's Betrothment

Rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat!

Down the bustling Vermilion Bird Street in Longjing, a carriage thundered by.

This carriage, six feet in width and eight feet in height, was constructed of ironwood, rendering it impervious to blades and spears.

The steeds yoked to it were the Northern Lands' exclusive Flaming Horses, their forms wreathed in flames as they galloped, capable of covering a thousand miles in a single day.

Owned solely by the Marquis Yongping Mansion, these Flaming Horses were a northern rarity, and the carriage itself was a masterpiece, hand-forged by the master artisans of the Ministry of Works.

Inside the carriage, Lu Yu was besieged by a deluge of memories, each one crashing into his consciousness like an unyielding tide.

In his past life, he was the Daolord of the Netherworld, ruler over its eighteen realms.

Armed with his saber, he was an unstoppable force, sweeping through the myriad realms with no equal, the epitome of a supreme Daolord!

Yet, at the moment he confronted the Sovereign, Heavenly Emperor Taiqian, he was betrayed. His Dao Companion, Shen Linglong, conspired with a host of Daolords to ambush him, leading to his demise alongside the Heavenly Emperor, his soul cast down to the lower realms!

"Shen Linglong, your Supreme Forgetting of Emotions has truly reached its zenith!"

"When your meridians were severed, your dantian shattered, it was I who exhausted every last spirit stone to secure a Life-Giving Pill for you, to restore your ability to cultivate!"

"Given your mediocre spirit root and lackluster talent, it was I who ventured to the sacred Kunlun Mountains, defying numerous exalted beings, to procure the Kun Tian Wood that transformed you into a prodigy of the heavens!"

"In your moment of tribulation, teetering between life and death, the world lauded you, Shen Linglong, for severing the heavenly thunder with a mere flick of your finger, oblivious to the fact that I bore the brunt of that relentless storm!"

"How could there be someone as callous as you? Coveting my Immortal Weapon, you seized the moment of my challenge to the Heavenly Emperor, striking me from behind, dooming me to death! You are worthy of nothing but death!"

Within the depths of Lu Yu's heart, a dragon seemed to roar with unrestrained fury.

At his fingertip, a razor-sharp energy effortlessly pierced through the sturdy iron plate, releasing tendrils of green smoke.

As if echoing the rage in Lu Yu's heart, a sudden peal of thunder resounded across the clear sky.

"Neigh! Neigh!"

The driver's frantic shouts pierced the air outside the carriage. The vehicle jolted briefly before grinding to a halt.

"Young master, I deserve the worst. For some reason, the horse has gone mad today!" the driver called out in a hushed tone through the carriage wall.

Lu Yu replied softly, "No matter, keep moving."

As the carriage rolled on, Lu Yu's turmoil slowly subsided.

Surviving Shen Linglong's ambush, Lu Yu's spirit did not scatter. Instead, he plunged into the lower realm alongside the soul of Heavenly Emperor Tai Qian!

The lethal array set by Shen Linglong and thirty Daolord experts nearly shattered the cosmos, ripping apart space and extinguishing all traces of life.

Yet, both were unparalleled warriors who miraculously survived such a deadly trap.

By some twist of fate, they descended into the lower realm, converging within the same body—a newborn child, whose life had ended too soon, now infused with the essence of two extraordinary beings.

Since his birth, Lu Yu had sealed his consciousness, engaging in a fierce battle within the spiritual plane against Heavenly Emperor Tai Qian, ultimately consuming the Emperor's residual soul to reclaim his body.

"Heavenly Emperor Tai Qian, truly a sovereign worthy of humanity's dominion," Lu Yu mused with a hint of melancholy, recalling his formidable adversary.

Through Tai Qian's lingering soul, Lu Yu had glimpsed an array of memories.

In a boundless cosmos, myriad stars stretched far and wide.

On each star, countless beings thrived—mortals, warriors, beasts, and demons, each inhabiting their celestial home.

And presiding over this vast universe was a dynasty known as 'Great Yu.'

Tai Qian was the sovereign of the Great Yu Heavenly Dynasty, revered as the Heavenly Emperor.

Amidst fragmented recollections, Lu Yu saw legions of mighty Daolords prostrating before Tai Qian.

Had their paths not crossed, Tai Qian would have continued to reign supreme over humanity, adored and venerated by multitudes.

"It's a shame you crossed paths with me."

Lu Yu's face was a mask of indifference as he extended a finger, summoning a faint golden flame to dance upon its tip.

The brilliance of this flame paled in comparison to the dazzling golden light that radiated from the geniuses at the War God's altar. Yet, they were in different leagues entirely.

This was the Heavenly Emperor's Origin True Fire, persisting as long as a breath remained, its soul undying.

But now, the Heavenly Emperor's soul had been consumed by Lu Yu, his powers usurped entirely.

"This is a treasure. With this Origin True Fire, even if I face Shen Linglong's deadly formation again, I can fight my way through!"

Lu Yu withdrew the Origin True Fire from his fingertip, leaving behind a melted gap from which wisps of green smoke rose.

...

The Marquis Yongping Mansion stood to the west on the twelfth cross street of Longjing.

The estate sprawled over a thousand acres, its intricate gardens a hidden gem. As a Marquis of Great Liang, the mansion boasted a personal guard of five hundred, each one a handpicked elite from the northern army.

Longjing was vast. It took Lu Yu's carriage nearly half an hour to make its way back to the Marquis Yongping Mansion.

The twelfth street was home to noble families, bustling with activity on any given day.

"I've yet to properly spend time with my family in this lifetime."

In Lu Yu's recollection, he had used only a fraction of his soul to sustain a semblance of normalcy, his mind withdrawn. To onlookers, he appeared simple-minded.

By nature, Lu Yu was reticent and not given to conversation.

At five, he learned to read, but it took a whole month to master writing his own name.

At seven, he began martial arts training, spending three years to grasp the rudiments of a basic long fist.

His speech was halting and awkward, struggling to complete a sentence when engaging with others.

"For seventeen years, I've been locked in a struggle with the Great Qian residual soul, unable to fully unleash my soul and intellect. And all the while, I've been mistaken for a fool!"

"My father, a warrior of legendary prowess, was ridiculed for having a son deemed worthless. His valor should have earned him a dukedom and a life of luxury in the Central Plains, but he chose to defend the border for years, all for my future prosperity, never once returning home."

"Mother, with her gentle nature, often became the subject of mockery by the high society ladies of Longjing during their gatherings. She never spoke of it at home, but I know she endured many humiliations over the years."

"My elder sister, to carry on the family legacy, donned armor and joined the fray at fifteen, never marrying, even when she came of age."

My family has sacrificed so much for me.

I, the sole heir, have had the whole family rallying to my defense!

These memories caused Lu Yu's fists to clench tighter.

In my past life, I had no kin. I was born into slaughter, ascending to the rank of a Daolord only after crossing a sea of corpses.

This life, though I've not fully mastered my own body, has blessed me with the care and warmth of a family.

Without them, I would have perished long ago, succumbed to hunger or the cold, despite consuming the Taiqian soul.

...

At the gates of Marquis Yongping Mansion.

Stepping down from the carriage, Lu Yu immediately noticed several others lined up at the entrance.

These carriages, laden with finely crafted chests and adorned with the Coiling Dragon Flag, were attended by men in brocade and armed with swords, clearly not of insignificant standing.

"Young master, you've returned," the old butler greeted, his voice laced with urgency.

Lu Yu, sensing trouble, inquired, "Zhong Bo, to whom do these carriages belong?"

The butler, in hushed tones, urged, "Young master, please head to the back courtyard at once. Avoid the main hall."

Lu Yu's brow furrowed as he pressed, "What's the matter?"

The butler, taken aback by the young master's uncharacteristic response, hesitated.

"Out with it!" Lu Yu demanded.

Sweat beaded on the butler's brow as he trembled, "Someone from the palace has arrived. They say the Emperor has decreed a marriage for the Eldest Miss."

Lu Yu's brow furrowed at the news. He caught sight of the guards in their embroidered uniforms, clearly emissaries from the Palace.

With a chill in his voice, Lu Yu demanded, "Whom does the Emperor intend for my sister to marry?"

The old butler's voice shook as he replied, "King Wei!"

Lu Yu's expression turned icy, and he stormed into the mansion.

The old housekeeper's face paled, and he quickly followed, pleading, "Young master, please, think this through!"

...

In the grand hall of Marquis Yongping Mansion, Madame Yurou, Lu Yu's mother and a lady of the first rank, knelt on the floor. As she lifted her head, her eyes betrayed her shock.

Before her stood several eunuchs, led by the Red Eunuch who arrogantly clutched an imperial edict.

"Madam, receive the decree," commanded the eunuch in a piercing tone.

Madame Yurou hesitated only briefly before reverently lifting the edict with both hands. She then rose to her feet and asked with urgency, "Gonggong, isn't the Emperor currently leading a campaign? Why would he suddenly decree a marriage?"

The eunuchs exchanged glances and, with a flick of their horsetail whisks, remained silent, fixing Madame Yurou with a steady gaze.

With a furrow of concern, Madame Yurou quickly summoned her maids to present each eunuch with a gold ingot.

The eunuchs' faces softened as they accepted the money.

The Red Eunuch, with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, said, "At this year's imperial hunt outside the capital, your daughter Lu Lengshuang captured the most game and claimed first place. King Wei was utterly smitten. He immediately penned a letter to the Emperor, who was miles away at the time. Today, we received His Majesty's edict here in Longjing. By marrying into the royal family, Marquis Yongping Mansion will henceforth be kin to the Emperor. Madam, my congratulations to you!"

Madame Yurou's complexion turned ashen. She had not anticipated such a turn of events.

At 24, Lu Lengshuang was of prime marriageable age, and Madame Yurou had been paying close attention to her prospects. Yet, she never imagined that the Emperor himself would be the one to arrange the match.

She had never imagined that the Emperor would decree her daughter to marry none other than King Wei of the current dynasty!

An outsider would have been tolerable, but King Wei was out of the question – she could not let him marry her daughter!

To call King Wei a beast would be too kind!

The Fourth Prince, Yang Yishan, was named King Wei at the tender age of three and left the palace to establish his own prefecture.

By ten, he had brutally murdered his maidservant, reducing her bones to ashes and scattering them on the steps for people to trample.

At twelve, he brazenly abducted a commoner's daughter in the street, tied a rope around her neck, and dragged her behind his carriage until she was a bloody, unrecognizable mess before he finally stopped.

By fifteen, he had created a den of debauchery within his palace, abducting virtuous women and indulging in revelry day and night.

The fate of the women taken to his palace was grim; few, if any, emerged alive, and those who did were left with scars too deep to heal.

Madame Yurou shuddered at the thought. She would never permit her daughter to wed such a vile man!

"Eunuch, my daughter Shuang-er is a soldier at heart, lacking the gentle touch of a typical woman. Marrying His Highness King Wei could lead to impropriety. Besides, she holds the rank of general in the Longwu Army, which surely makes it difficult for her to step away," Madame Yurou said, her voice laced with hesitation.

The Red Eunuch sneered, his sharp voice betraying his insight into Madame Yurou's motives, "The Longwu Army serves at the Emperor's pleasure. A simple edict is all it takes to transfer her. Lu Lengshuang's marriage to His Highness King Wei is a stroke of luck. As a princess, she'll bask in endless luxury and honor."

Madame Yurou stood her ground, "I must have my daughter return to discuss this matter!"

With a dismissive wave, the Red Eunuch retorted, "There's no need. Your daughter has already been summoned by His Highness King Wei to the prince's mansion. Prepare yourself to embrace your future grandchildren!"

Madame Yurou's face turned pale as she demanded, "What have you done to Shuang-er?!"

Her sudden assertiveness seemed to irk the eunuchs.

The Red Eunuch snapped back sharply, "King Wei's interest in your daughter is a blessing earned by your ancestors' good deeds. Don't be ungrateful!"

Anxiety filled Madame Yurou's eyes as she retorted, "I am a first-grade lady of the Imperial Court. How dare you address me in such a manner! Tell me, what have you done to Shuang-er?"

The Red Eunuch's laughter was scornful and loud. "Even if you are a First Rank lady, I've dealt with First Rank officials before! You wretch, it seems you're asking for a whipping!"

With those words, the Red Eunuch produced a horsewhip from his sleeve and raised it, poised to strike Madame Yurou.