"Hehe, what's that in Jiang Yu's hand? Could it be the birthday gift for the Empress Dowager?"
"Pfft!"
"Are you joking? He's worn that same long gown for at least two years; I've never seen him change it. What kind of gift could he possibly have?"
"You can't say that. Maybe Princess Yanran gave it to him to show off today."
"That's possible too! But after today, Princess Yanran probably won't be his anymore."
"Hehehe, a toad lusting after swan's flesh. He should look at himself and see if he's worthy."
Discussions and laughter echoed through the hall.
Ling Xiao watched the slightly lonely figure standing before the hall with a calm gaze, his expression indifferent.
Three thousand Luck Points, an aura of pill refinement around him, Flame Dao Principle, late Breakthrough Realm.
Most importantly, there's a Heaven and Earth Spirit Flame sealed within his body!!
As expected, nowadays, a son-in-law who doesn't know a bit of acupuncture, alchemy, or ancient medicine isn't qualified to be called a 'good-for-nothing'.
It seems this Jiang Yu is aware of the secret of Xia Yanran's divine physique.
Since he hasn't forcibly taken her, he's probably treating her illness with his medical skills.
Once Xia Yanran's physique is altered, not only will she retain her cultivation, but she might also feel grateful to him.
Then, by appropriately revealing some of his background and showing off a little, wouldn't he easily win over the talented maiden?
But...
I just don't get it. The world is so vast, and your methods are so impressive. Do you really have to cling to this one woman, enduring her humiliation, abuse, and the mockery and beatings from her family without a trace of resentment?
Most importantly!!!
You're clearly this capable, so how do you resist the urge to show off?
Ling Xiao shook his head. The seal on Jiang Yu's body was extremely profound, likely placed by a powerful expert.
If not for his system, he wouldn't have detected any clues either.
Otherwise, the various villains in Great Xia wouldn't dare to mock him so brazenly.
Sir, you should keep a lower profile.
If you hadn't met me, most of the people here would probably have their faces thoroughly slapped by Jiang Yu later.
Pity. Just a Flame Dao Principle. As for the Spirit Flame... I'll give it to Su Yan. I'm not fusing with it anyway.
It seems even in this barren Saint State, if a prodigy comprehends a Dao Principle, it's mostly one of the minor Five Elements paths.
Otherwise, Bai Zhixi's Void Dao Principle wouldn't be considered the strongest talent in the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan in a thousand years.
The Demon Body's third transformation still requires one more Dao Principle.
As for what surprise the third transformation will bring... I'm actually feeling a little anticipation.
As for Jiang Yu's background, Ling Xiao had a rough guess.
After all, there are only so many tropes, and they've been almost worn out after five or six years of writing.
Either he's the successor of some ancient sect, or a direct descendant of an imperial dynasty. His elders were once close friends, even life-and-death comrades, with the Xia ancestor.
During the peak of both families, they arranged a marriage for their descendants.
Then, the ancient sect or imperial dynasty Jiang Yu's family belonged to declined, or they were targeted during a succession struggle, pursued by enemies. Jiang Yu's elder pointed him here to Great Xia to lay low, forbidding him from revealing his talent for three to five years, lest he be noticed.
This type of son-in-law will likely encounter powerful figures from his former faction next, coming to take him back to the sect or dynasty.
'Second Young Master, the Eldest Young Master has passed. You are the legitimate heir now!'
'The master told us on his deathbed to bring you back to inherit the family business.'
Instantly, he reaches the peak of life, achieving supreme honor.
Will he leave?
Of course not. During these three years of laying low, our son-in-law has already fallen deeply in love with the female lead who humiliated, abused, and even made him wash her feet.
So, he will definitely stay to protect her and fulfill all her wishes.
A persona of devoted love and emotional development are the standard features of a good son-in-law.
As for showing off, face-slapping, and making a comeback, they're all variations on a theme.
What?
'Wife, you need three million spirit stones?'
'Use this card to withdraw them. I've already arranged it with the merchant association manager.'
'You can't withdraw without an appointment?'
'What, this card of yours...'
'Gasp! Quick, the VIP room!!!'
'Jiang Yu, the high-society ladies in the city are holding a show-off party, and they require husbands to attend. Will you come with me?'
'Although I don't really want you to go, they require me to bring you.'
'You don't have to go if you don't want to. What? You insist on going?'
Those with assets over ten thousand spirit stones sit at one table, those who've reached the Breakthrough Realm sit at another.
Then where does the one with assets over a hundred million, who has comprehended a Dao Principle, possesses heaven-defying alchemy skills, and is at the late Breakthrough Realm sit?!
Dammit!
I'm afraid you won't be sitting at any table.
Having met me, Ling Xiao, you'll be the one lying in the coffin at the front of the banquet.
"Empress Dowager, on your birthday today, your grandson-in-law has prepared a gift. I hope you like it." Jiang Yu first glanced at Ling Xiao, a hint of confusion on his face, then bowed slightly and handed the wooden box in his hands to the guard in front of him.
However, his clear eyes inadvertently drifted towards Xia Yanran and the Qi Deqiang beside her.
Seeing his gaze, Qi Deqiang arrogantly pointed at the wine cup in front of him. Xia Yanran obediently filled it for him, looking every bit like a maid.
No matter!!
Whoever that young man sitting up there is, as long as Emperor Xia isn't an idiot, Xia Yanran will still end up in my possession.
Jiang Yu?
Pfft!
What right does a mere good-for-nothing have to possess such a talented woman?
"Oh? A gift for the Empress Dowager? I wonder what treasure it is?" Emperor Xia's face held a trace of concealed disdain as he took the wooden box and opened it immediately.
Inside was a simple, ancient-looking stone ring, carved with a dragon shape, and... that was it. No other divine peculiarity.
It was... an extremely ordinary stone ring?!
"Pfft!!"
In the hall, some people, seeing the ancient ring pinched in Emperor Xia's hand, couldn't hold back their sneers.
"Is this fucking... a carved art piece?"
"Hahahaha, Jiang Yu truly never disappoints us!"
"That's so him!!"
Hearing the crowd's comments, Xia Yanran's face grew even paler.
I told you not to come and embarrass us. Why didn't you listen?
A stone ring?
You have the nerve to give that to the Empress Dowager as a birthday gift?
Do you think the people of Great Xia have never seen a stone before?
An insult!! This is simply an insult to Father and the Empress Dowager!!
"Jiang Yu, is this the birthday gift you prepared for the Empress Dowager?!" Sure enough, Emperor Xia's face gradually darkened.
Especially today, in front of all the ministers and foreign envoys, Jiang Yu's actions were nothing short of humiliating!!
"Indeed. This ring is a family heirloom of mine. On the Empress Dowager's birthday, your grandson-in-law offers it to her." Jiang Yu's voice was clear and bright, as if he hadn't heard the crowd's ridicule at all.
As for this ring... it was indeed bestowed upon him by his clan's elder on his deathbed.
The elder said it was precious, an artifact from ancient times, a heavy treasure of the family, and that he must keep it safe.
Originally, he was unwilling to take out this treasure.
But he had heard about what happened in the hall on his way here.
Emperor Xia intended to betroth Xia Yanran to Qi Deqiang. If he didn't bring out some of his bottom-of-the-trunk treasures now, I'm afraid the entire Great Xia would still look down on him!
Moreover, Jiang Yu had studied this stone ring for three years but had never figured out what exactly made it precious. But... the elder was a sixth-grade Divine Emperor; why would he lie to him on his deathbed?
So, it was probably that his cultivation wasn't high enough to perceive its divine peculiarity.
He did have some spirit stones and divine artifacts on him, but today, he wanted to astonish everyone!!
The three-year period was almost up.
The seal on his body was about to be released.
When the time comes...
Hehe, all those who looked down on me will kneel before me, begging for forgiveness!
As for this family heirloom, what does it matter if I give it to the Empress Dowager?
As long as it makes Yanran happy, makes the Empress Dowager value me, and makes Emperor Xia change his mind, what's there to regret about a spiritual treasure?
Anyway... his lineage was already wiped out. What use was a family heirloom anymore?
Jiang Yu clearly remembered when he fled all the way to Great Xia back then.
If Xia Yanran hadn't agreed to marry him, he'd probably still be on the run, surviving who knows where.
These three years in the Xia palace, though seemingly humiliating and disgraceful, Jiang Yu understood that Xia Yanran actually cared for him.
Otherwise, why did she refuse every time Consort Hua pestered her daily to annul the marriage?
Yanran!!
Don't worry, these days of suffering are about to end!
In the future, I, Jiang Yu, will be your pride!!
Even without a background, with my talent and alchemy skills, I will inevitably achieve unparalleled glory!!