Chapter 106
"I remember, it seems that Jiang Ning can purify even the deepest abyss, right? Archon, you didn't misspeak, did you?"
Xianyun, watching over Jiang Ning, spoke with a complex expression.
Zhongli replied, "Yes... at least, that's what Barbatos said."
"Then why? How could Hu Tao's 'Ghostly March' dish make Jiang Ning collapse with just one serving?"
Zhongli was at a loss for words: "Well..."
"Nevermind, at least Jiang Ning only fainted, and the immortal gastric lavage was timely," Xianyun said.
Xiao couldn't help but glance at Hu Tao, who was being lectured by Yanfei.
This girl was truly terrifying...
"Hu Tao! How many times have I told you! You're not allowed in the kitchen! What have you made this time!" Xiangling stood with her hands on her hips.
Yanfei also nodded, "That's right, this isn't even something humans can eat!"
Everyone began to criticize Hu Tao, clearly having suffered from her cooking before.
Hu Tao looked somewhat displeased, "But why is it okay when Xiangling used to always taste and cook those weird things?"
Yanfei responded, "What Xiangling makes is strange but at least somewhat edible. At worst, it's just unappetizing."
"Or the ingredients are just unusual," Yaoyao added.
"But it's nothing like yours. What you make is basically poison," Yanfei said.
Hu Tao muttered, "How was I supposed to know that someone who can purify the remnants of a god would actually succumb to my 'Ghostly March'?"
While they were talking, Jiang Ning gradually regained consciousness. He looked around confusedly, feeling like something dark was blocking his vision. And something soft was behind his head.
"Awake?" A voice came from behind the obscuring object - his master's voice.
Jiang Ning, not entirely naive, quickly understood his situation. His master's lap pillow, and that was his master's slime on his head...
"Awake? Are you feeling better?" Xianyun asked.
Jiang Ning sat up, and Xianyun helped him stand. Jiang Ning shook his head:
"I was..."
Xianyun explained, "You passed out after eating Hu Tao's 'Ghostly March'."
As soon as she said this, Jiang Ning seemed to recall that indescribable taste, feeling like something was still twisting and churning in his stomach.
Seeing Jiang Ning's uncomfortable expression, Zhongli said, "Okay, don't think about it... have some medicinal tea."
The medicinal tea prepared by Granny Ping had a refreshing fragrance. Just the aroma made one feel mentally relaxed. After drinking it in one gulp, his stomach immediately felt warm and comfortable.
Instant effect.
"Hehe, Jiang Ning, I really didn't expect you to be so dramatic... sorry," Hu Tao approached Jiang Ning, putting her hands together in apology.
"It's fine... but from now on, absolutely, absolutely do not enter the kitchen," Jiang Ning said.
"Mm-hmm, next time for sure..." Hu Tao quickly nodded.
"Alright, Shenhe, take your junior brother to rest," Xianyun called Shenhe over.
Shenhe nodded and directly picked up Jiang Ning, carrying him in her arms.
"Senior sister, I can walk," Jiang Ning was embarrassed.
Xianyun narrowed her eyes, looking at Shenhe's back, and suddenly said, "Wait... Shenhe, come here."
Shenhe, though puzzled, walked back, still carrying Jiang Ning.
Xianyun looked Shenhe up and down, then suddenly said, "I sense a change in your demeanor... extend your hand."
Shenhe looked down at the carried Jiang Ning, then slung him over her shoulder and extended her hand to Xianyun.
Jiang Ning: "..."
What about my dignity?
Xianyun held Shenhe's wrist, carefully sensing, then looked shocked:
"Your original yin is gone! Who was it?!"
It had only been half a year since they came down the mountain. How had her disciple already become a woman?
After shock came anger. She exclaimed, "Who was it! I'll definitely interrogate them thoroughly. And Ganyu! How did you look after your junior sister?"
Ganyu looked bewildered. Wasn't she supposed to ask why her junior sister had harmed her junior brother? No, that wouldn't be right. If she asked, wouldn't she be scolded for interfering?
No, wait. Calculating by bone age, the junior brother would be of age in a few days, so she wouldn't be scolded.
Shenhe said, "Master, I wasn't deceived."
Xianyun became even more furious. Look at this - she was already talking back to her master after being taken advantage of by a man!
"Ah Ping, help me investigate who was bold enough. I will..."
Before she could finish, Granny Ping helplessly interrupted, "Calm down, Xianyun. It's not the child's fault. I was in Liyue Harbor and wouldn't have let Shenhe be deceived."
Xianyun asked, "Then who could it be? Who could earn your approval?"
Granny Ping glanced at Jiang Ning, who was pretending to be motionless, and said, "Isn't he the one being carried on her shoulder?"
"Carried on the shoulder... huh?" Xianyun made a duck-like sound.
Then came disbelief. She felt as if something was blocking her throat, making it difficult to speak.
After a long while, she finally squeezed out a few words:
"Shenhe, Jiang Ning... you two..."
Shenhe quickly said, "Master, actually, I forced Junior Brother, it wasn't..."
Xianyun suddenly laughed, "Well done."
"Huh?"
Not just Jiang Ning and Shenhe, but even Zhongli, Xiao, and Granny Ping were confused.
They had prepared to restrain Xianyun and prevent her from lecturing about letting children follow their own fate.
But Xianyun seemed quite happy?
What was happening?
Xianyun said with a satisfied expression: "Well done, Shenhe. I didn't teach you in vain. You understand the principle of keeping good resources within the family. I always wanted to help you seize the opportunity."
"At first, I was wondering if you were too dull. I was even considering having Ganyu step in..."
"Master!" Ganyu's eyes widened in disbelief.
Then she was inwardly delighted. Great! The master didn't object.
Granny Ping remained silent. As Yanfei's guardian, she was actually pleased about Shenhe and Jiang Ning getting together. Her original plan was to wait until Jiang Ning was of age, but they couldn't even wait a few months before... accidentally cooking each other.
Granny Ping could only help cover for them and speak to Yanfei. Otherwise, with Yanfei's strict legal nature, she would definitely cause a huge commotion.
It seemed the root of the problem was right here. If the top beam is not straight, the bottom beam will be crooked... Oh, Xianyun, you're really something...
Zhongli, on the other hand, fell into deep thought.
He had seen many scenes in his long life, but this was a scenario he had never encountered before.
However, Zhongli was actually quite pleased. The more connections Jiang Ning had in Liyue, the more stable his future position as the Geo Archon would be, and the stronger his sense of belonging to Liyue.
Xiangling covered Yaoyao's ears. No, children shouldn't hear this.
Hu Tao covered Yanfei's mouth and simultaneously locked her up. Otherwise, Yanfei would start an extremely vivid judicial education class.
"So, Master agrees?" Shenhe asked, her expression calm but with a hint of joy in her eyes.
"Mm, I have no reason to object. I just hope you'll be good to each other..." Xianyun said.
Jiang Ning finally stopped playing dead: "Thank you, Master."
"Thank you, Master," Shenhe echoed.
Ganyu stepped forward and sincerely said, "Congratulations, Junior Brother, Junior Sister."
Everyone offered their congratulations. Hu Tao suddenly said, "When are you having a wedding feast? I want to sit at the kids' table."
"Uh..." Jiang Ning was awkward.
Hu Tao was seriously considering: I was thinking of having Jiang Ning marry into my family to avoid pursuing the matter of him stealing the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's secret technique of spirit pacification. But now it seems impossible. So I'll have to marry over instead.
As for Shenhe cutting in line... whatever, it's just a small matter.
And although she's not happy about it, Shenhe does have enough capital. If worst comes to worst, Hu Tao can have her breastfeed her future children with Jiang Ning to ensure they won't starve...
To convince herself, Hu Tao didn't even let herself off the hook.
Xianyun said, "Whether you have a wedding feast or not is another matter. Ganyu, you work every day, you've been promoted as much as possible, and I don't know what you're always busy with. When you have time, come back and visit more often."
"And you've been single for so many years. Aren't there any talented young men you like? Your mother knew your father when she was just over 500 years old."
"You're not young anymore. You're several times your mother's age when she met your father. Hurry up and bring someone back for us to assess."
"Master!" Ganyu blushed.
Is this the so-called Lantern Rite's traditional program of matchmaking?
Granny Ping said, "Xianyun, you're really overthinking. If Ganyu finds someone suitable, I would definitely know."
"Tell me what conditions you would set. I'll help you keep an eye out."
Granny Ping knew her friend was very selective, so she wanted to understand her requirements and help her look.
After thinking, Xianyun said, "At least they should be a long-lived species. If they're short-lived, I don't want to see Ganyu end up like her mother, who was heartbroken."
"Also, they must have some abilities and status. Of course, they should be presentable, and definitely must treat Ganyu well."
Granny Ping said, "Your requirements are quite challenging. It's like you want an immortal, or someone who can become an adeptus, who is good-looking, has potential, and has status..."
"Honestly, most of our old friends are Ganyu's seniors. Among peers of the opposite sex or adepti disciples, there's only Jiang Ning left in your family."
As Granny Ping hinted, Xianyun's eyes lit up:
"Right! Isn't Jiang Ning a perfect candidate?"
Good-looking, with an excellent background, destined to enter the immortal path, and his future status... after succession, he would practically have the highest status in Liyue Harbor.
The idea of multiple wives was nothing. So many Liyue merchants did the same. Wouldn't our Jiang Ning be at least as good as those ordinary mortals?
Xianyun became more excited about the idea and looked at Ganyu with sparkling eyes: "Ganyu, what do you say? If you agree, I'll arrange Shenhe and you to be married to Jiang Ning."
"Aba aba..."
Ganyu turned into a stuttering steam engine, unable to speak.
Shenhe said seriously, "I have no objections."
"And Jiang Ning?" Xianyun asked.
Ignoring the teasing looks from Xiangling and Hu Tao, and Yanfei's dissatisfied expression, Jiang Ning said:
"If Senior Sister agrees, I have no objections."
Looking like he was taking advantage of the situation.
"Then it's settled. Ganyu is surely just shy and not saying anything, which means she agrees. Today is truly a day of joy, we should drink more," Xianyun laughed happily, feeling a sense of fulfilled happiness after so many years.
Yanfei said, "Wait, isn't this against Liyue's laws?"
Zhongli said, "Rationally speaking, this doesn't violate the law. First, Jiang Ning is willing, so it's not against his wishes. Second, in Liyue, engagement or even betrothal from birth is not against the law."
"As long as they don't register at the Rite of Descension while underage, it's fine..."
"As for subsequent registration... well, after the Lantern Rite, it also won't violate the law."
Granny Ping glanced at Zhongli. This Archon was truly going to great lengths for his own successor...
Finding loopholes in his own country's laws.
Yanfei frowned, "No, when we get back, I'll discuss with Keqing and Ningguang to supplement the laws in this area!"
Xianyun and the others didn't object. Anyway, it wouldn't affect Jiang Ning later.
Looking at Ganyu, who was still frozen, Xianyun said, "Shenhe, take your senior sister, who will also be your sister in the future, to rest. It seems Ganyu is too excited and needs time to calm down."
Shenhe seriously said, "I entered first, so I'm the older sister..."
"What? Never mind, you can decide among yourselves..." Xianyun was stunned, then laughed and shook her head.
Hmm hmm hmm, little Ganyu, keep hiding. Do you really think I can't sense the talisman energy on you?
For the sake of Jiang Ning, you've already entered such an awkward stage, and you're still hiding?
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