Chapter 226: Still Alive

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

His movement affected the wound in his right shoulder and he grimaced.

Madam Gu, who had her eyes lowered, suddenly looked up. An intense shadow flashed across her turbid old eyes, as if there was a ferocious beast hiding inside that only needed to open its mouth to eat people. It was fierce and gloomy.

That gaze shocked Gu Jian.

Gu Jian couldn’t continue. He closed his mouth in embarrassment and felt his shoulder hurt even more.

Madam Gu glanced at him from the corner of her eye and said calmly, “Go.’

These words were addressed to Granny Li.

‘Yes, Madam,” Granny Li mumbled. She bowed and hurried out.

Outside the ancestral hall, the old maid who had come to pass the message was waiting expectantly. When she saw Granny Li, she welcomed her with a smile and said, “Granny Li, the eldest son-in-law is already at the outer gate.”

What?! Granny Li’s expression changed slightly.

She had been counting on stopping the Murong family’s bridal escort before they entered the Marquis Mansion. Now that they were all inside, it would be troublesome.

Granny Li suppressed the uneasiness in her heart and only said, “1’11 go take a look.” Then, she walked straight in the direction of the outer gate against the cold wind.

The cold wind was bone-chilling. Granny Li’s fingertips were numb from the cold, but Murong Yong wasn’t afraid of the cold at all.

At this moment, Murong Yong was at the outer ceremonial gate. He was wearing a bright red groom’s robe with a bright red embroidered ball tied to his chest.

The white horse under him was also tied with a big red hydrangea ball. A big red bridal sedan chair was parked beside him. Beside him were two Murong family disciples who had come to welcome the bride and a few servants who were in charge of blowing and carrying the sedan chair. This bridal escort team of less than ten people looked a little shabby.

The groom should have invited his relatives and friends to help him welcome the bride. Along the way, they played and beat the drums. They couldn’t wait for the entire capital to know that the two families were getting married.

When a daughter married in the Marquis Mansion, her brother-in-law should first block the door and the groom would have to undergo a “test” before he could enter.

However, because it was a blessing and time was tight, the Murong family and Madam Gu had already agreed that the wedding ceremony would be simple.

Murong Yong tugged at his slightly tight collar and waited patiently. His sword-like eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his handsome face was flushed without any joy.

He had been told at the last minute by his parents an hour ago that his grandmother was in a bad state. The wedding had to be brought forward, and then he had put on the groom’s wedding suit and gone out with the bridal escort team to welcome the bride.

Even now, he was still a little stunned as he stood in the Marquis Mansion. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder after the firecrackers exploded, along with a few strands of hazy smoke.

The cold wind blew, and the fine red paper of firecrackers scattered on the ground, mixed with the fallen leaves of the branches.

Murong Yong, who was on the white horse, pulled the reins and made the horse turn half a circle in place. He raised his well-defined chin slightly and looked at the blue sky with a slightly fierce gaze.

He actually didn’t believe in the so-called rushing of joy.

The point was, he didn’t want his grandmother to die at this time either.

Therefore, even if there was only a 30% chance, he didn’t want to give up.

Murong Yong slowly lowered his gaze and landed on the vermilion door of the Marquis Mansion. There were a total of 30 golden nails nailed to the door.

This was the symbol of the Marquis Mansion.

In the Great Jin Dynasty, there were less than 50 to 25 nails on the door of ordinary officials’ residences.

The Murong family was one of them.

Compared to the Dingyuan Marquis Household, the Murong family’s foundation was much weaker. From his grandfather to his father, Murong Hao’s generation, they had fought back the Xirong people with Imperial Duke Wei in the northwest more than ten years ago and made countless contributions. Only then did they get conferred the title of fourth-grade official by the late Emperor and enter the capital.

The Murong family took this one step further, but it stopped there.

Ever since he became sensible, he had been thinking about improving the Murong family, and had also been working hard for this.

If her grandmother went at this time, the Murong family would have to observe mourning for three years. After three years, who would still recognize the Murong family? There were many hot- blooded men in the army who were desperate for fame and fortune.

He admitted that he wasn’t inferior to others and was willing to shed blood and sweat for the Imperial Court. However, he needed opportunities and time. The next three years were too precious!

Murong Yong’s eyes burned with heat. The sharpness in his eyes made people afraid to look straight at him.

After driving the white horse in another direction, he looked in the direction of the inner courtyard again. A gentle and dignified figure appeared in his mind. She was as beautiful as a lotus in the wind.

Initially, he thought that he was just marrying a “rich lady”, but Gu Yunzhen yesterday surprised him.

Murong Yong’s gaze burned even more. It was so bright and burning, with a hint of interest.

The gatekeeper of the Marquis Mansion greeted Murong Yong and said politely, “Eldest Young Master, the Marquis Mansion is paying respects to their ancestors this morning. I’m afraid it will take a while.”

Murong Yong was clearly the main character today, but the guard couldn’t help but glance at Shangqing Spiritual Master, who was wearing a yellow robe not far away.

Shangqing Spiritual Master held a silver horsetail whisk in his hand and stood against the wind. His eyes were like the morning stars, and he stood like a pine tree facing the wind with an extraordinary bearing.

The gatekeeper looked reverent.

Shangqing Spiritual Master suddenly moved and looked up at the sun in the sky. He calculated with his fingers and said indifferently, ‘Second Young Master Murong, it’s getting late.”

“It’s not good to miss the auspicious hour.”

His voice was neither hurried nor slow, detached from the mortal world.

Murong Yong frowned and glanced at the doorkeeper with a dignified gaze.

‘Eldest Young Master…” The gatekeeper smiled apologetically. He was about to say that he would send someone to the ancestral hall to take a look when he saw a familiar voice coming from the northwest.

“It’s Granny Li.” The gatekeeper was delighted and hurriedly introduced her to Murong Yong. “That’s Granny Li, Madam Gu ts personal servant.”

On the other side of the external door, Granny Li walked over with a few old women.

She didn’t walk fast. Her usually smiling face was now a little solemn, startling the gatekeeper.

Granny Li stopped about seven or eight steps away from Murong Yong. She bowed politely and said,

‘Second Young Master Murong, our Madam said that this marriage is over..”