mtl008 Chapter 164 Mahayana Ritual 22
Chapter 164 Mahayana Ritual 22
Chapter 164 Mahayana Ritual 22
Wen Sishu, who had arrived at the Mahayana ceremony venue with her senior sister, immediately spotted a familiar figure sitting quietly next to a woman dressed in gorgeous attire.
Wen Sishu was stunned as he looked at that familiar figure.
"Junior brother, what's wrong?" Yingyue asked curiously as she turned back when she saw that Wen Sishu hadn't followed.
"I think I saw my older brother!" Wen Sishu said hesitantly.
"Then I'll go with you to take a look!"
"Okay!" Wen Sishu's heart was filled with anticipation and complex emotions.
The two stopped where Wen Siyan could see them. Wen Sishu's eyes widened as he looked at the unfamiliar yet familiar face. For some reason, Wen Sishu felt a lump in his throat. He waved his hands vigorously, trying to make his older brother see him!
Wen Siyan was sitting next to his wife, sipping wine and occasionally responding to her questions. The atmosphere between the two seemed quite harmonious.
Sensing the commotion on Wen Sishu's side, he looked over and immediately spotted his long-lost younger brother.
He bowed to his wife, who was speaking to him, and said in a gentle and respectful tone, "Your Majesty, my younger brother has summoned me. Please allow me to take my leave first."
Following his words, the eldest princess of the Qiongyun Dynasty looked towards Wen Sishu, her lips curving slightly upward: "That is Yanqing's younger brother. Indeed, he is as handsome as his father. Yanqing has not seen his younger brother for a long time and must miss him. Go ahead and catch up with him. Don't worry, I will take care of him at the banquet."
Wen Siyan's eyes were filled with emotion and love: "Thank you for your concern, my lady. I'm leaving now."
"Go!" The eldest princess enjoyed the king's love and dependence.
Wen Siyan left the banquet and looked at his younger brother whom he hadn't seen for a long time. If it weren't for the brother's typical good looks, Wen Siyan probably wouldn't have recognized him.
"Brother!" Wen Sishu's tone was full of joy. Although Guiyuan Sect was very good, he missed his family very much, especially his eldest brother. Wen Sishu was more than ten years younger than Wen Siyan. The two were brothers born of the same father, so their relationship was naturally very good.
Seeing the brothers catching up on their old times, Yingyue felt it was inappropriate to interrupt: "Junior brother, you and your brother can have your own time catching up. I'll go check on Junior Sister Xiao Jiu first."
After saying this, Chao Wensi smiled politely, took his leave, and left the two brothers alone.
Wen Siyan reached out and straightened Wen Sishu's collar and hair, sighing with some emotion, "You've grown up!"
"Brother!" Wen Sishu hugged Wen Siyan, his longing overflowing.
"Alright, you're all grown up now, stop acting like a baby!" Wen Siyan looked at the small garden on the other side: "Let's go for a walk over there!"
"Okay!" Wen Sishu nodded vigorously.
The two brothers walked side by side in the small garden. The fragrance of various exotic flowers and plants wafted to their noses. It was a sunny day, and beautiful butterflies and bees danced in the garden. From time to time, the clear chirping of birds could be heard.
"How have you been doing at Guiyuan Sect all these years? Why haven't you sent a single letter home? It's making me very worried," Wen Siyan said, her tone full of concern.
"I am doing very well in the Guiyuan Sect. My master is also good to me, and with my master around, no one dares to treat me badly."
"I didn't have a chance to send letters home while I was in the secret realm, but I sent them as soon as I came out! I sent letters to you, Third Brother, Father, Mother, Second Sister, Fourth Sister, and even to Ancestor!" Wen Sishu counted on her fingers one by one: "I also received congratulatory letters from home. Brother, didn't you receive yours?"
Wen Siyan listened to Wen Sishu's words, her lips slightly stiffened, her eyes lowered slightly, and she remained silent.
Wen Sishu realized what was happening and quieted down.
Wen Siyan spoke gently, but with tenderness in his eyes, and slowly said, "It's probably because your family doesn't want you to have any connection with the royal family. You will be the Wen family's future path."
After all, with such a direct disciple of the Guiyuan Sect's Medicine Peak present, as long as Wen Sishu lives, the royal family will have to consider Wen Sishu's reputation and dare not take action against the Wen family in the future.
Wen Sishu was speechless. In their family, there were probably not many people who were completely oblivious to the dangers of the world. In fact, when he was sent to the world of cultivation, besides being pampered, he also understood his responsibilities to some extent.
This topic was too hurtful, so Wen Sishu changed the subject: "Brother, how did you end up marrying..."
Wen Sishu recognized the woman next to him as the most favored princess of the Qiongyun Dynasty, who was also the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife and would become the next empress if nothing unexpected happened.
"Your Highness is very good to me! And I am her only right husband. Shushu, you and I are different. The royal family needs someone from the Wen family to form a marriage alliance. You also know your third brother's identity. Actually, this is very good. If I give birth to a princess in the future, I will be above ten thousand people, second only to the emperor."
Although Wen Siyan's tone was still gentle, it was devoid of any affection, only calm and ambitious: "You don't need to be sad. This is my own choice. Compared to the other princesses, the eldest princess is my best choice."
Wen Sishu felt sad listening to his brother's words, but he understood even more. After all, his elder brother had always been decisive, and marrying the eldest princess was probably a choice he made after careful consideration. As someone who had escaped the family's arrangements, he could only choose to understand.
"Are you going back for the ancestral birthday banquet?" Wen Siyan felt relieved when he saw his younger brother's understanding expression. He was most afraid that the person closest to him would not understand him.
If he had a choice, he would not want to marry into the royal family, but things have come to this point, and he will accept whatever bitter consequences may lie ahead.
"I've prepared a gift for my return trip!" Wen Sishu said earnestly.
"When the time comes, I'll take you on a proper tour of the palace! I remember when you were little, you always wanted to visit the palace, didn't you? And you were so envious when Mother took your second sister to a banquet."
Wen Siyan's tone was teasing, and the originally gentle beauty suddenly became much more lively, which could be described as vibrant and charming.
"Brother, that was all when we were kids!" Wen Sishu said shyly, "Are you sure you're okay with doing that?"
"Don't worry! The Empress Dowager holds absolute power in managing the harem, and she is very satisfied with me as her son-in-law. Taking you for a stroll is a small matter. Even if it gets to the Empress, she won't blame you."
Wen Siyan spoke with great confidence. Otherwise, why would he marry the eldest princess? It was because she was the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife, and the current empress was no pushover. She was highly favored. If it weren't for the authorization of the five major clans, she would have been the crown princess long ago!
"Okay." Wen Sishu's tone was expectant, and he was also relieved. Judging from Wen Siyan's words, he was doing quite well in the royal family.
"Brother, how is Third Brother now? How are Second Sister, Fourth Sister, Father, and Mother?"
Wen Sishu asked with concern, but his family wouldn't give him a definite answer, so he didn't really know how things were going at home.
"Your third brother?" Wen Siyan rubbed her forehead, her head throbbing with pain. "His son knows I married into the royal family, and he's been arguing with my mother to the death, wanting your third brother to marry into the royal family too."
But with his status, he could never be the princess's principal husband; at most, he could only be a concubine. But with my mother's status, how could she allow her son to be someone else's concubine? Besides, I had married the eldest princess, so I naturally refused.
Your father did choose many good wives for your third brother, but they were all ruined by your third brother's sons. Your third brother couldn't reach the high-ranking members of the royal family, and his sons looked down on the lower-ranking ones.
Fortunately, the family could afford to support a young master, and your third brother was such a cold and aloof person that he never cared about marriage, so he stayed at home.
As for my second sister, she is married.
Wen Sishu thought of his third brother's exceptionally handsome son and felt sorry for him. His father and mother had a very good relationship. Before he came to the cultivation world, apart from his third brother and fourth sister, all the children in his family were born to his husband.
Although the third brother's son was stupid and clumsy, he was quite handsome and was very much loved by his mother. Unfortunately, he had never given birth to a daughter, so she had high expectations for her third brother and forced him to be ambitious from a young age, so that he would not lose to his eldest brother.
But his eldest brother was outstanding, famous even in the capital. Fortunately, his third brother was naturally aloof and never argued, so there was no laughing matter of brothers fighting. Moreover, their mother managed the children very strictly and did not allow the other party's son to interfere too much in their education.
Otherwise, they wouldn't dare to even think about it. It was precisely because of this that they felt some pity for their third brother and his siblings, so their relationship wasn't bad.
Otherwise, his third brother would have been forced to marry long ago. After all, his second sister was married. If his second sister hadn't tacitly agreed, her husband would probably have disapproved of his son, who was already an adult, staying at home. It would have been impossible for him to stay at home.
Thinking of his second older sister, he felt excited: "My second older sister actually got married! Whose family is it? She has such high standards, how could someone she likes?"
"It's Jin Yu Academy, the eldest son of the An Sheng family. My second sister even made a promise not to take a concubine until she was fifty and had no children, and she even asked the Empress to act as matchmaker." Wen Siyan never expected that her second sister would fall in love with someone at first sight, and even cause such a stir in the entire capital. Not taking a concubine, how wonderful!
After all, no matter how loving her father and mother were, and even the whole imperial city knew it, there were never fewer people in the inner courtyard.
However, he knew his father didn't care, and like him, he didn't care either. If the eldest princess was willing, he was willing to personally choose someone for her. Fortunately, the other party wasn't that shameless.
"Jinyu Academy, the eldest son of An Sheng!" Wen Sishu read aloud, her tone filled with disbelief: "I still remember, I attended his baptism when he was born, and my second sister even held him. How shameless!"
The other person is two years younger than him! If you think about it carefully, she probably made her move right after his second sister came of age!
Upon hearing Wen Sishu's words, Wen Siyan couldn't help but touch his nose. Although he hadn't thought there was anything wrong with the two of them being together, after hearing what his younger brother said, he felt that his second sister was a bit shameless.
However, in terms of age, the eldest princess was actually older than him. She may have participated in his baptism as well, since he was her second wife according to his status. However, his first wife was born into the royal family, but she was not in good health and did not give birth to any children. She was ill for a long time before passing away.
Taking advantage of the fact that he also received the Queen's decree, he chose the eldest princess.
Looking at it this way, it seems... no, we can't think like that, it's a great disrespect to the wife.
Although that's what she thought in her heart, Wen Siyan's thoughts still drifted away involuntarily.
Wen Sishu also thought of Wen Siyan and the eldest princess, and silently swallowed the rest of her complaints. Her eldest brother and second sister were different!
"What about Fourth Sister?"
Ahem! Let's change the subject!
"She has established a new residence outside the family. She gained the Empress's favor at the imperial examination banquet and was appointed as an official in the countryside. Now she is a fourth-rank official. She did not want to compete with her second sister for the Wen family's wealth, so she asked her mother for permission to leave the Wen family with her son and establish a new residence."
"Fourth Sister's son is also willing?" Wen Sishu asked with a hint of doubt. After all, his mother was still alive. If his mother had died, it would be normal for him to go to the new mansion with his daughter. But this situation was no different from letting Shishu go.
"Of course, he also knows that her lover is not favored by his mother, and he is soft-hearted and often bullied by other boys. If it weren't for his father's constant care, he would probably have been bullied to death. After having his fourth sister, he regards her as his pillar of support. When his fourth sister speaks, he has no objections and follows her without hesitation!"
Wen Siyan said helplessly. His mother's servants all had different personalities, none of them were alike. He suspected that his mother was collecting stamps.
"How is Father now?" Wen Sishu asked with concern.
"I'm having a very comfortable time!" Wen Siyan nodded.
"Relaxed?" Wen Sishu asked, her tone filled with doubt.
"Yes! A month ago, I went back to the manor to see my father. He had gained weight and become more plump. He seemed to be living a very comfortable life, and I saw that he had a smile on his face."
Wen Siyan's tone was tinged with envy. After all, his father's current life was exactly what he aspired to: "Didn't my second sister get married? Father has entrusted all the household affairs to her husband, and he manages them very well."
Two years ago, a daughter was born. The father, with the baby in tow, lived a very comfortable life. As for the mother, she took in a few more young servants; if it weren't for Zheng Yi, Shiwu wouldn't have bothered the father at all!
Wen Sishu listened, feeling truly happy that his children were happy, he was enjoying the company of his grandchildren, and he didn't have to serve his wife: "Second sister has a child, brother, why didn't you tell me? It's me, the uncle, who is in a bad position. Not only did I not attend the baptism, but I didn't even bring back a gift!"
As he spoke, Wen Sishu rummaged in his ring and finally pulled out a piece of white jade of excellent quality: "You can give this to your second sister later, as a gift from me, her uncle. I'll make another one when we get home!"
"Alright. But you're not my uncle anymore, Mother has had several more younger sisters and brothers!" Wen Siyan accepted the white jade from his hand.
Wen Sishu's lips twitched as he listened: "Mother is really still vigorous for her old age! Never mind, I'll just give each of them a gift at the Ancestor's birthday banquet. There's no need for you to take them back, brother."
How can these younger sisters and brothers compare to a biological niece!
The two chatted for a while longer, with Wen Siyan looking at him intently.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Wen Sishu asked, seeing her brother's serious expression.
"The decrees for the succession of the five major sects have been issued to all the major dynasties." At this point, Wen Siyan's tone was serious and pleading as he grasped Wen Sishu's hand: "I don't know the specifics, but little brother! Although I don't know which sect in the Qiongyun Dynasty is in charge, I hope you can help me! Help me become the Empress of the Qiongyun Dynasty!"
Hearing his brother's request, Wen Sishu said earnestly, "Between brothers, there's no need for requests."
Uncle Wensi knew why his brother married the eldest princess. Of course, he wanted him to get what he wanted. Generally speaking, the responsible sects would not participate in royal struggles, but they could choose who would become the future empress.
"Thanks, little brother!" Wen Siyan smiled charmingly, then asked Wen Sishu in a low voice, "I heard you are an alchemist. Are there any fertility pills in the cultivation world? I wonder if the eldest princess is impotent. I've been married to her for several years, and I still haven't gotten pregnant. Her harem is also not very prosperous; she only has two sons and one daughter over the years."
Thinking of this, Wen Siyan sighed. Why hadn't he paid attention to these things back then? It's a pity that the two of them were already bound together. He didn't want his hard work to benefit someone else. The future empress must come from his womb!
Wen Sishu thought for a moment and shook his head: "No, I don't study this kind of pill."
Seeing Wen Siyan's somewhat dejected appearance, Wen Sishu said, "Why don't I ask Junior Sister Xiao Jiu? She has a good talent for alchemy and see if she can refine this kind of pill."
There are fertility pills in the cultivation world, but they cause too much damage, and the children conceived are generally not very talented. Wen Sishu didn't want her brother to suffer like that.
"Then I'll leave it to your junior sister. If she succeeds, I will reward her handsomely!" Upon hearing this, Wen Siyan's previously extinguished hope was rekindled.
Wen Sishu didn't make any promises, mainly because he trusted Cheng Jiu but didn't want to put any pressure on him.
Wen Siyan got her wish and chatted intimately with her younger brother for a while before patting him on the shoulder: "I just heard your senior sister say she's going to find your junior sister, Xiao Jiu. It's getting late, you should go too, don't keep them waiting! As for me, I should go back now."
"Goodbye, brother."
"Goodbye!" Wen Siyan and Wen Sishu bid farewell and returned to their wives' sides.
"Finished talking?" The eldest princess, who was exchanging pleasantries with others while maintaining social etiquette, felt the figure sitting down beside her and asked in a low voice.
"Your Highness, the matter has been completed, please rest assured," Wen Siyan said gently.
"Yanqing, you truly are my virtuous wife." The eldest princess looked at Wen Siyan with tenderness in her eyes. "However, I haven't entertained your younger brother yet. It's my fault as your older brother and sister-in-law. We'll see when your brother returns to the Qiongyun Dynasty. As his older brother and sister-in-law, I will definitely entertain him properly."
“There will be an opportunity!” Wen Siyan replied with a gentle smile.