Chapter 20 Drunken Welcome Banquet Mother has always loved Jiaoyue the most…
In one sentence, he revealed the hidden thoughts of many people.
Yes, this kind of thing is very common. Even among the most powerful families, there have been instances of using family-owned alchemical vessels to arrange marriages with others.
Perhaps at the beginning, people thought they were considering the well-being of the furnace beings, finding a suitable home for those with average abilities. But after tens of thousands of years, this behavior has become more natural.
It was as if the furnace was born to become a pawn for the family, as if the furnace did not need to cultivate seriously.
Gong Shirao glared at her angrily: "Third Elder, watch your words."
Gong Shirao, who also possessed the Furnace Body constitution, was furious.
She herself has a special constitution, and her daughter is almost certainly a potential vessel for her, so much so that she knew long ago that some members of her clan had such intentions, but this was the first time someone had danced in front of her.
The Third Elder didn't care at all. His cultivation was not weak, and even if Gong Shirao took out the sword left by Xie Qingyun, it wouldn't be a threat to him.
Instead, he mocked Gong Shirao: "Gong Shirao, you always have such a stern face, and your expression and tone are so fierce. No wonder Xie Jiaoyue used to be so afraid of you."
"In my opinion, you should let her get married sooner rather than later. Perhaps Xie Jiaoyue will be able to live a more comfortable life."
Gong Shirao was stunned by these words. She was fierce? Xie Jiaoyue didn't like her?
Having successfully interrupted Gong Shirao's train of thought, the Third Elder regained the initiative and continued, "I have inquired with the Director, and Xie Jiaoyue possesses the Yin Body, which means she is the finest furnace cauldron."
For some reason, the director did not explain the Heavenly Yin Body to the Third Elder in detail, but instead let the Third Elder guess on his own.
He guessed based on his own ideas, and the name sounded like a high-quality furnace.
"Our Xie family has been stuck at the Yellow Rank for many years without any progress. Do you think it's more reliable to rely on Xie Jiaoyue's mysterious Yin Body to condense her Golden Core in a few years, or to rely on her Furnace Body to make connections with other aristocratic families?"
The furnace of a Heavenly Spiritual Root is worth a lot of resources, and it might even be able to directly guarantee their advancement.
The Heavenly Yin Physique is rare; not only had the Third Elder never heard of it, but none of the others present had either. Upon reflection, they felt the Third Elder's guess seemed quite plausible.
But even the best furnace can be sold for money?
The second elder was so angry that he dropped his hairpin: "Third brother, those are members of our Xie family, do you have no humanity left?"
The Third Elder didn't think his thoughts were wrong at all: "I'm also doing this for the development of the Xie Clan. What's wrong with me? Besides, it's normal for a furnace cauldron to get married. Look at Gong Shirao, she's doing so well after marrying into the clan, and she's even become the clan leader."
He even felt wronged, because in such a large Xie family, he was the only one who truly cared about the family's future.
The second elder said, "Then why don't you offer yourself up?"
The Third Elder wiped his face and said confidently, "I'm too ugly, and I'm not a suitable furnace, so no one wants me."
Such bluntness left the Second Elder speechless, so angry he spun around in circles.
Normally, Xie Qingfeng wouldn't have a chance to speak in such situations.
But Xie Qingfeng couldn't sit still today. He hadn't expected anyone to question Xie Jiaoyue's treatment, but since someone had brought it up, it was a good thing for their second branch of the family.
After all, his eldest son was disabled, but he still had his second son who was of marriageable age.
He also stood up and said, "Ancestor, please think it over. Although the Third Elder's idea is too radical, he made a valid point: in all the years of cultivation, there has never been anyone who achieved the Golden Core while still in the mortal realm. If we put all our hopes on Xie Jiaoyue, it would be too risky for the Xie family."
Gong Shirao clenched her fists and said, "So what if it's a furnace or cauldron? How can others not do it, and why can't my daughter? The Xie family hasn't produced a Heavenly Spirit Root in many years, so Jiaoyue should receive the most resources!"
The old ancestor, sitting in the center, watched as everyone argued back and forth, each sticking to their own version of events, without saying a word to stop them.
When she felt that everyone had stopped arguing, she leaned back in her chair, took a sip of tea, and concluded: "Therefore, the key to everyone's dispute lies with Xie Jiaoyue and Chu Xingjin."
She first announced the treatment of Chu Xingjin: "Chu Xingjin is not a member of the Xie family, so let's raise him as a dual-spiritual-root person. This can be considered as the Xie family repaying the Chu family for their past kindness."
They've already done more than enough; they've repaid many favors already, and now they're still willing to mentor Chu Xingjin. The Xie family has done everything they could to be kind and righteous.
"As for Xie Jiaoyue, she monopolizes 70% of the resources in this generation," the ancestor declared definitively. She felt she had already been considerate of others' feelings; otherwise, she would have said 90%.
The Third Elder couldn't help but step forward: "Ancestor!"
The patriarch said calmly, "Third Elder, do you think this position should be yours?"
The Third Elder bowed angrily, saying, "It was I who overstepped my bounds."
He retreated helplessly, but his expression remained resentful, and he continued to snort coldly from the spot.
"Alright, you may all leave. Acting clan leader," she emphasized Gong Shirao's identity, also warning everyone not to underestimate the orphans and widows of the eldest branch of the family.
She took out a jade bed with a subtle purple glow: "This purple-gold bed is very suitable for Jiaoyue's constitution. It can help her absorb the golden spiritual energy. Please give it to Jiaoyue on my behalf."
The blatant favoritism made Xie Qingfeng extremely jealous, but he had nothing to say.
What can you say? His son is simply not as good as other people's daughters.
Upon receiving the gift, Gong Shirao slightly curved the corners of her mouth, bowed with a reserved smile, and said, "Thank you, Ancestor."
She understood that this was the patriarch protecting his daughter, clearly telling everyone that Xie Jiaoyue would receive the family's full support in the future.
Even if others have objections, they can only keep them to themselves.
The clan gathering, which was neither too big nor too small, came to an end, and people with their own thoughts left one after another.
The Third Elder could not question the Ancestor's decision, but he was unwilling to lose face, so he had to find other angles to attack Gong Shirao.
He said bitterly, "Don't think that just because Xie Jiaoyue is favored by the Ancestor, you can rest easy in the future. Your daughter has probably already lost her heart to you. When she rises to prominence, you might be the first one to suffer."
Gong Shirao was not afraid at all and retorted, "That is my family matter, no need for the Third Elder to worry about it."
After everyone had left, the Xie family patriarch stood alone under a withered tree with only a few green leaves remaining.
She wondered who would pass away first, her or the tree.
If she dies, the Xie family will probably not be able to disappear from the list of aristocratic families.
She didn't really care that much.
...
Xie Jiaoyue and Gongshi Moyu waited until the moon was high in the sky before Gongshi Rao returned.
Despite her weathered appearance, Gong Shirao maintained a proud and upright posture. Her long neck remained perfectly straight, and her sturdy back possessed the grace of a towering tree.
He looked like a rooster that had won a fight, its comb held high.
Her expression remained as serious as ever.
Her expression softened only when she thought about seeing her two children soon.
Gong Shirao suddenly remembered what the Third Elder had said today. Was she usually very fierce?
She asked Hua Lan, who was standing beside her, "How do I look now? Am I still quite gentle?"
Hua Lan didn't understand why Gong Shi Rao asked that question. She observed him honestly for a while and then said frankly, "You've gone from being very serious to being only 80% serious."
Upon hearing this, Gong Shirao couldn't help but frown again.
Hua Lan said, "Now it's become 110 degrees serious."
Gong Shirao: ...
"Hualan, go back and rest. You don't need to stay here."
It was time for Hua Lan to get off work. Cultivators are not incapable mortal emperors who cannot take care of themselves, and they do not need servants to serve them. These servants are just helping with the work during the day.
After Hua Lan left, Gong Shi Rao remained standing in the courtyard.
Xie Jiaoyue did a great job this time and deserves praise. However, her husband died young, and she has been supporting the family alone for many years, always wearing a cold mask to hide her vulnerability. Over time, she seems to have forgotten how to speak gently.
So she decided to give a mental outline now.
Our Jiaoyue is so wonderful, Mother loves Jiaoyue the most.
She repeated it in her mind many times until she felt that the tone, attitude, and even expression were almost right before finally deciding to push open the door.
Creak.
"Mother."
"Madam."
When Gong Shirao entered the room, the banquet had already been prepared and set on the table. The specially made spiritual foods were held in specially made vessels, emitting a fragrant aroma and creating a rare and warm atmosphere.
In this atmosphere, two large eyes were staring at her intently.
Under such gazes, Gong Shirao felt her mouth go dry. She opened her mouth and said, "Jiaoyue, Moyu, have you been waiting long?"
He only uttered a common, polite remark.
The first attempt failed.
Gong Shirao tried again: "Our Jiao... Moyu rarely comes back."
Gong Shi Moyu didn't quite understand why the First Madam brought this up, but she still politely replied to the elder's concern: "Yes, thank you for your concern, First Madam."
He thought for a moment, then poured a glass of wine for the First Madam and himself, and then poured a glass of juice made from spirit peaches for Xie Jiaoyue.
Gong Shirao sat down, took a sip of wine, and then looked at Xie Jiaoyue: "Our Jiaoyue... Jiaoyue today..."
But he couldn't bring himself to say the rest.
Xie Jiaoyue looked at Gong Shirao blankly: "Mother, what's wrong?"
Gong Shirao didn't dare to look Xie Jiaoyue in the eye, and took another swig of wine: "It's nothing."
Although it is widely rumored that the Xie family's eldest branch is strict in its parenting and that she has many and detailed requirements for her daughters, in reality, they do not require them to refrain from talking while eating.
As long as you don't say "okay" while chewing, it's fine, since having food in your mouth is considered impolite.
So, after taking two bites of food and swallowing them, Gong Shirao began her third attempt.
"Bright moon."
“Mother, please speak.”
Gong Shirao still couldn't bring herself to say it, and could only call out Jiaoyue's name over and over again.
Xie Jiaoyue leaned forward and placed her hand on Gong Shirao's forehead: "She's not hot, what's wrong?"
Gong Shirao glared at Xie Jiaoyue and brushed Xie Jiaoyue's hand away.
She thought, since she couldn't say such cheesy things when she was too sober, wouldn't it be okay to say them when she was drunk?
She took the wine pot from Gongshi Moyu's hand, poured herself several cups, and drank them down one by one.
I finally got drunk.
Gong Shirao was overjoyed. Wine emboldened her, and she was sure she could now praise Xie Jiaoyue well, even better than she had prepared before, and make her daughter's heart flutter with joy.
Gong Shirao turned her head, her eyes wide open like a kitten at night.
"Jiaoyue... Mother... Mother..."
With a thud, Gong Shirao's head slammed heavily onto the table.
Wow, that's scary.
Xie Jiaoyue quickly stood up and went to Gong Shirao's side, checking Gong Shirao's breath with her hand.
All that could be heard was Gong Shirao's faint murmur.
“Our Jiaoyue, our Jiaoyue is the most outstanding in the entire Xie family, Mother, Mother has always…”
Gong Shirao closed her eyes, a satisfied smile on her face: "Mother has always loved Jiaoyue the most."
"You must, you must leave this place."
Xie Jiaoyue gently patted Gong Shirao's back and helped her up: "Alright, alright, I will definitely work hard to cultivate."
She was a high school student in China; all she did was study.
"Brother Moyu, the summer preparatory class, I mean the studies before the Ruzu Academy, we have classes scheduled from 5 am to 10 pm, can you keep up?"
A note from the author:
Because I want to update daily, the updates have been a bit irregular these past few days. Once I've accumulated a little bit of drafts, I'll be updating regularly at 9 PM.
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