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Ji Linglong felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Hearing those words, she shot him an angry glare, her beautiful eyes narrowing as she shot him a disdainful look. Hmph, nothing good ever comes from a dog’s mouth!
However, after this exchange, she found that his plain, pockmarked face was somewhat more tolerable.
Qi Xiao scratched his face and glanced around aimlessly. "Alright, let’s leave this place quickly."
Their trip to Misty Mountain hadn’t been entirely fruitless; at the very least, they learned that these unmarried girls would be sent to Baiyun Palace before their weddings. He had inquired around and discovered that ever since the decree from Baiyun Palace two days ago, the small towns had immediately begun selecting brides. Some even sent their chosen ones to Baiyun Palace overnight.
Qi Xiao frowned, his expression growing serious. It seemed these people were eager to offer sacrifices to quell the flood disaster. Although Baiyun Palace had given a five-day deadline, by the end of the first two days, seven or eight girls had already been sent off. Yet in the town they were currently in, there was still no movement.
Qi Xiao understood the situation well. Jiang Xinlian was after all the beloved daughter of a local couple; they could not bear to part with her. Other girls, however, were not so fortunate. If it weren’t for Baiyun Palace’s five-day ultimatum requiring all brides to be sent together, some of them might have been taken to drown in the river on the very night they were selected.
Ji Linglong rested her chin on her hand, looking puzzled. Logically speaking, the sooner they dealt with the flood disaster, the better, right? Other towns were sending brides so urgently; would Baiyun Palace notice their haste and decide to hold the ceremony earlier?
Upon hearing this, Qi Xiao's expression darkened further as he realized that this scenario was quite likely to happen.
At that moment, Ji Linglong’s expression shifted slightly. She pulled out a faintly glowing communication jade talisman from her pocket. As soon as it connected, Jiang Xinlian's choked voice came through.
"Please save me! Just now, an elder from Baiyun Palace came personally to urge my father; he’s already preparing to send me away!"
On the other side, Jiang Xinlian had bolted the door and was pressing her body against it tightly to prevent anyone from entering. Outside, Jiang Yuanbai was still desperately trying to persuade her.
"My dear daughter, I know you don’t want this, but you must think about all the people in this city and others! You should also consider your mother!"
The elder from Baiyun Palace had already come personally; there was no escaping this fate.
Madam Jiang forcefully pushed him aside as she stood in front of the door, crying heart-wrenchingly.
"You’re talking nonsense! You want to send our daughter away, don’t use me as an excuse! Even if I die, I won’t let them from the Baiyun Palace take her away!"
"My dear, you’re being foolish! Do you know what kind of existence the Baiyun Palace is? How can we resist them?"
"What does it matter? Even if they are powerful, can they just take our daughter by force? What kind of reasoning is that? Go ask around, where in the world is there such logic?"
"In the end, it’s your cowardice as a father that allows others to trample over us!"
"I’ve said it before, let someone else take Lian’er’s place, but you refused to listen. Are you intentionally trying to drive her to her death?"
"Is there really a father like you in this world?"
Jiang Yuanbai's face turned pale at the accusations, clutching his chest in agony. Just then, an old man with white hair stepped into the courtyard, his expression slightly stern.
"I apologize for intruding uninvited; I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you both."
Jiang Yuanbai hurriedly smiled and replied, "Elder, please don’t say that. This is all because my wife and daughter don’t understand; I hope you can forgive their ignorance."
Madam Jiang dared not raise her head, merely leaning against the door with a handkerchief covering her face as she sobbed softly.
The old man sneered coldly. "Don’t understand? I see your daughter and esteemed wife understand too well! With several cities and over a million people in Jiangling, how could they compare to your own daughter? One side is your flesh and blood; the other is a stranger. How can one choose? Isn’t it obvious?"
Jiang Yuanbai was frantic. "Elder, we absolutely do not have such intentions! Please rest assured, before nightfall, we will definitely send our little girl to Baiyun Palace. We won’t keep you or the elders waiting!"
Before he could finish speaking, Madam Jiang suddenly fell to her knees before the elder, tears streaming down her face.
"Elder, we only have this one daughter. Please have mercy on us!"
Jiang Yuanbai was anxious to pull her away but dared not act in front of the elder; he could only roar in frustration.
"Ignorant woman, stop talking nonsense here!"
Madam Jiang ignored him and clutched at the elder’s robe, pleading desperately.
"Elder, I’m not afraid of your disdain. Call me selfish or heartless if you wish; I truly cannot bear to let my precious daughter—who has been cherished since childhood—become someone else's bride!"
She took a step forward while kneeling, whispering her plea.
"Elder, there are so many young girls in this city; why must it be Lian’er? Why not let me find another beautiful girl instead? I will adorn her with gold and silver and ensure she is dressed beautifully. I will not be negligent; I will make sure Lord Longjun finds her pleasing!"
Seeing the round-faced maid standing not far away as if she were a savior, she quickly got up and rushed over, pulling the maid before the elder and forcing her to lift her head.
"Elder, what do you think? Is she beautiful enough? If she isn't, I can find other girls. Surely one of them will satisfy you."
The round-faced maid was terrified, her face tightly pinched by Madam Jiang, rendering her speechless as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Please, Madam, I—"
Madam Jiang covered her mouth firmly, silencing her completely while her gaze remained fixed on the Elder.
The Elder furrowed his brows, about to speak when Jiang Xinlian burst through the door.
"Enough! I will marry!"
Madam Jiang, furious at her defiance, slapped her across the face.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Jiang Xinlian covered her swollen cheek, stammering with tears welling in her eyes. Though her words were unclear, her tone was resolute.
"I said I will marry! I won’t let anyone else take my place in death!"
Madam Jiang looked at her in disbelief, seething with anger.
The Elder observed the two for a moment, his frown deepening as he spoke impatiently.
"We agreed on who would be chosen. The bride for the Dragon God cannot be swapped around like this! This wedding is of great importance. Since Miss Jiang is the most beautiful woman in Jiangling and shows such determination, it could not be better."
"Moreover, being chosen by the Dragon God is a blessing for you. Your crying and wild words are unbecoming and might even displease the Dragon God."
Beside them, Jiang Yuanbai repeatedly apologized, promising to educate his wife and daughter properly.
The Elder grunted in acknowledgment before turning to leave.
"You must deliver her before dusk."
Madam Jiang wept bitterly as she held Jiang Xinlian close. "My daughter, why are you so foolish?"
The round-faced maid lowered her head to cover her face, her gaze evasive as she recalled her previous words and actions, feeling guilty and unable to look at them.
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