Firmament Sword

”They’re not married yet?” Xu Luo glanced at Little Fatty, surprised. The corner of his mouth twitched as he said, ”Second Sister-in-law’s belly...”

”Ahem... It’s fine, it’s fine...” Little Fatty chuckled slyly. ”It’s not that obvious. You don’t know, but when Second Brother brought her back, his mother was dead set against the marriage!”

”Against it?” Xu Luo looked at Little Fatty and smiled. ”Was it because of her identity?”

Little Fatty said angrily, ”That shameless bastard Wei Ziting spread her true identity, causing an uproar throughout the Imperial Capital. After that, Second Brother’s mother absolutely refused to let him marry a Female General from an enemy nation.”

”Then what happened?” Su Qianqian, who was standing nearby, asked with wide, curious eyes.

This sort of story was always fascinating to young women, and even someone like Su Qianqian couldn’t resist her curiosity.

”Later, Second Sister-in-law was about to leave, so Second Brother flew into a rage. He took his men to the streets, caught over thirty people who were spreading rumors, and had them cut down right then and there. That scene... tsk, tsk...” Little Fatty sighed in admiration. ”It was a river of blood! He scared countless people into silence. In the end, the Emperor himself had to issue a decree approving the marriage, and only then did the matter finally come to an end.”

”Second Brother really hasn’t had it easy,” Xu Luo sighed, then sneered. ”To be able to push an honest man to that point, Wei Ziting is certainly capable.”

”Wei Ziting is a court official now,” Little Fatty spat resentfully. ”For a scumbag like him to become an official... the heavens must be blind!”

Xu Luo just smiled faintly. Wei Ziting’s return to power was something he had expected. He was Prime Minister Wei’s only remotely outstanding son, so of course he would be cultivated with great effort.

”Third Brother, let’s just find a chance to get rid of Wei Ziting! That bastard is too detestable!” Little Fatty said, gritting his teeth.

Xu Luo shook his head. ”Not yet. The time isn’t right.”

Little Fatty cursed, ”Damn it all! Every time I see Wei Ziting’s hypocritical face, I get the urge to rush over and smash it in!”

”You might not even be his match,” Xu Luo said, deflating him.

The corner of Little Fatty’s mouth twitched, and he grumbled, ”I’ll surpass him soon enough!”

”By the way, how is Sui Yan doing lately?” Xu Luo asked. He thought of the three rare manuals and the full bottle of Blood Pills in his ring. His heart stirred. ’I have to share at least some of these things with my brothers.’

”Oh, Sui Xiaoshi? Ever since he got back, he’s been busy helping Sister Guo Ying. To be honest, he’s done more than I have.” As he spoke, Little Fatty glanced at Xu Su. ”Aren’t you going to go see her, Brother Xu Su?”

Xu Su nodded slightly. ”You all carry on. I’ll go see her.”

Little Fatty had only been joking and didn’t expect Xu Su to actually go. He couldn’t help but offer a warning, ”Sister Guo Ying is probably with Xia Muyao right now. Aren’t you afraid of what will happen if you go...?”

Xu Su glanced at Little Fatty and gave a faint smile. Without a word, he turned and left.

Little Fatty watched Xu Su’s retreating back with admiration. He turned to Xu Luo and chuckled slyly, ”First Brother really has guts!”

Lan Xin sneered from the side. ”Oh, really? You’re quite envious, aren’t you?”

Little Fatty immediately changed his tune, declaring righteously, ”How could that be? A man must be faithful! I don’t approve of First Brother Xu Su’s behavior in the slightest!”

Su Qianqian let out a small laugh. Her gaze swept over Little Fatty as she thought to herself, ’I’ve never been this close to worldly people before. I always thought they were a crude and unbearable lot. But now, it seems the people of the secular world aren’t as bad as they’re made out to be...’

In the eyes of the truly powerful, ordinary secular people were no different from ants, completely beneath their notice. But Su Qianqian was a young woman with a rather simple mind; she didn’t really have it in her to look down on secular people.

Just then, another wave of laughter came from outside. The door was pushed open, revealing Xu Jie’s tall figure. Beside him was Mo Yun, her belly now gently swollen and beginning to show.

”Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law! What brings you here? I was just about to go see you!” Xu Luo quickly stood up to greet them.

Mo Yun gave Xu Luo a small smile, her eyes full of a gentle light. It was hard to see any trace of the former Iron-Blooded Female General in her.

Xu Jie was also beaming. Looking at Xu Luo, he said, ”I just saw our older brother leaving. It’s good you’ve all returned safely. Nothing major has happened in the Imperial Capital lately, except for the small matter of my wedding. Don’t be stingy with the gift when the time comes!”

Xu Luo put on a pained expression. ”Second Brother, isn’t that a bit much? Who asks for a wedding gift the moment they see someone?”

”I can’t do that with other people, but there’s no need to be polite with you. Everyone knows you’re a true tycoon now. As for me, your second brother, I’m as poor as a church mouse and in desperate need of cash,” Xu Jie said with a wide grin.

After everyone was seated, Xu Luo introduced Su Qianqian to Xu Jie and Mo Yun, not explaining her background but simply saying she was a friend.

Both Mo Yun and Xu Jie gave Xu Luo and Su Qianqian a meaningful look. Xu Luo, being thick-skinned and having a clear conscience, didn’t react at all. Su Qianqian, however, grew a little embarrassed under their scrutiny.

Mo Yun glanced at Lan Xin and said softly, ”Let’s leave the men to their chat. Why don’t we go see how the banquet preparations are coming along and talk in the back?”

Lan Xin greatly admired her new sister-in-law, so she had no objection. Su Qianqian also felt a bit awkward staying, so she smiled and rose to her feet as well.

After the women had left, Xu Jie gave Xu Luo a thumbs-up. ”Third Brother, you’re really something else. Impressive!”

Little Fatty started counting on his fingers. ”Sister Lianyi, Princess Qiqi, Phoenix...”

Xu Luo rolled his eyes. ”There’s nothing between us...”

”Oh...” Little Fatty drew out the sound meaningfully, then grinned. ”Right. She’s already followed you home. No relationship at all!”

”It looks like you’re looking for a beating.” Xu Luo gave Little Fatty a cold smile. ”Want to have a go?”

”Second Brother, look! Third Brother is bullying me!” Little Fatty grumbled with a wronged look on his face. ”I was only telling the truth.”

Xu Jie laughed, then said, ”Wei Ziting has become a court official.”

Xu Luo’s smile vanished. He nodded. ”Little Fatty just told me. If he behaves himself, we can ignore him for now. But if he wants to cause trouble, I don’t mind settling our accounts.”

”Prime Minister Wei has been keeping a low profile lately, but at the same time, he’s been consolidating his power. It looks like he’s planning to use this time to move against us,” said Xu Jie.

Little Fatty sneered. ”That bunch of overfed, idle Civil Servants! All they know how to do is scheme and fight for power all day. They’re nothing but a pack of degenerates!”

”Not all Civil Servants are like them,” Xu Luo said. ”Right now, the most important thing is to make sure Second Brother’s wedding is a grand and glorious event.”

Xu Jie shook his head with a bitter smile. ”Let’s forget it. My mother is still set against it. Even with the Emperor’s personal decree, she’s unhappy. Mo Yun has been very hurt by this as well.”

Xu Luo asked, ”Why is your mother so against it? Is it just because of Second Sister-in-law’s identity?”

Xu Jie shook his head slightly. ”Before this, she had arranged another marriage for me. She didn’t know about Mo Yun at the time and had already reached an agreement with the other family. I was supposed to get engaged as soon as I returned. She never expected me to come home with a bride already in tow. She had no way to explain it to the other family, so she took all her anger out on me.”

Little Fatty said dismissively, ”Then just marry them both. What’s the big deal?”

Xu Jie shot Little Fatty a glare and sneered, ”Then why don’t you try marrying three or four at once? Let’s see if Lan Xin has any objections.”

Little Fatty glanced guiltily toward the door. ”My mother didn’t arrange a marriage for me. Besides, Lan Xin is more than enough for me.”

Xu Luo said, ”I’m sure your mother will come around. If not, just move out after you’re married. Once Second Sister-in-law gives her a grandson, she won’t have any more objections.”

”I hope so,” Xu Jie said.

”Oh, right, Third Brother. While you were away, a few new influential figures popped up in the Imperial Capital,” Little Fatty said, looking at Xu Luo. ”And one of them said, ’Xu Luo? You mean that waste of space who fainted just from beating a drum? When he gets back, I’d like to see for myself what he’s really made of!’”

Little Fatty’s imitation was spot-on.

Xu Luo raised an eyebrow. ”Who was it?”

Little Fatty sneered. ”He’s from a powerful family in the southern Ying City. He has Royal Family blood, and Ying City is his family’s fiefdom, making him a top-tier noble. He joined a sect when he was young and cultivated there for twenty years. They say he’s incredibly powerful. Now that he’s in the Imperial Capital, he’s gotten quite close to the Sixth Prince.”

”The Sixth Prince...” Xu Luo murmured. ”I’d almost forgotten about him.”

”You’ve risen too quickly in the last two years. It’s only normal for people to gossip behind your back. Don’t pay them any mind,” Xu Jie added.

Little Fatty sneered. ”I’m just worried that even if we ignore them, they’ll come looking for trouble on their own. Some people never learn their lesson until they get knocked down a peg.”

”Has there been any movement from Fengyue Building?” Xu Luo asked, looking at the two of them.

”Fengyue Building? It’s been booming lately. The new owner is very high-profile, too. He’s been associating with many scions of the Royal Family, and he’s especially close with the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince. All these children of powerful families who’ve gathered in the Imperial Capital recently have practically made Fengyue Building their second home. They spend all their time there,” Little Fatty said.

Xu Luo nodded but said nothing more.

A short while later, Sui Yan returned with Guo Ying, Xia Muyao, and Xu Su. The banquet at the Xu Mansion was ready.

Xu Luo glanced at the calm faces of Xia Muyao and Guo Ying, then at Xu Su, whose eyes were filled with resignation. He smiled and said, ”Now that we’re all together again, no one’s leaving until they’re drunk!”

Guo Ying’s eyes held a hint of a smile as she looked at Xu Luo. ”Xiaoluo, we meet again.”

Xia Muyao simply gave a small smile and nodded at Xu Luo in greeting.

Su Qianqian, Mo Yun, and Lan Xin emerged from inside. Seeing the others, they all came over to exchange greetings.

The scene instantly became lively, and Xu Su, who had been on edge the whole time, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.