CHAPTER 714: THE BRIDEWEALTH PROPOSITION

Yuxuan didn’t flinch, though her eyes narrowed just slightly in thought. Shang Jiao lowered her gaze, and Lan Jing watched quietly, absorbing every word.

Mark continued in a steady tone. "Originally, my intention was simple. After completing the work I came here to do, I planned to return home with your daughter. She would have been my equal to the Empress, and we would’ve built a new sect together on my world." His voice shifted subtly as he spoke of the past plan, lighter and calmer, but then it hardened as he switched to the present reality. "But unexpected things happened. I became the Clan Head. Then the Sect Head. And now I am the ruler of the entire Azure Frost Dominion."

He let those words settle. Even Lan Jing inhaled sharply at the reminder.

"So the situation has changed," Mark said. "Now, they must come here instead."

Yuxuan placed her cup down slowly. "And her position?" she asked, voice unreadable.

Mark answered without hesitation. "Lan Xia will hold the same status as my Queen Consort. Equal. No lesser, no higher. Even if I marry in the future for political alliances or other reasons, no wife after her will ever surpass her in rank. The only exception is my principal wife, whose position is bound by old vows. But no one else, no matter their background, will outrank Xia."

Lan Xia’s fingers tightened slightly on her robe, her cheeks warming faintly. She didn’t look up, but her chest rose and fell just a little faster.

Yuxuan studied Mark’s expression, searching for any hint of insincerity.

Mark went on, voice steady, almost solemn. "As for taking care of her... You don’t have to worry. I will fulfill every vow I make during marriage."

A brief silence settled over the hall, but Mark wasn’t finished.

"And one more thing, to ease your worries," he said. "I promise you that only the children I have with your daughter will inherit rights to the Lan Clan. My other children from other wives will not be connected to the clan or be involved in its future. Last but not least, Lan Xia will have a greater right over our children’s future than I. How they were raised, who they will learn from, what path they will take, I might guide them as a father, but Lan Xia will be the ultimate decider."

Yuxuan’s expression finally softened, just a little. The last statement has both implications. One, Mark would more or less not care about his children’s future, just like how the Emperor would only care about a few selected princes and keep the future of other children in their respective mothers’ hands.

And two, the main branch of the Lan Clan’s lineage will only continue through Lan Xia’s children. As long as the elders convince Lan Xia, they could mould the future rulers of the dominion in whatever image they desire. It is easier to influence Lan Xia than Mark, after all.

The room fell into a pleasant silence as Yuxuan absorbed everything Mark had said. Mark sat still for a moment, then lifted his hand as he said. "Now for the official proposal."

With a simple thought, an object materialized before everyone’s eyes. It was a solid, gleaming cube of deep metallic black. It hit the table with a heavy thud, dense enough to make even the reinforced wood tremble for a second. Everyone’s eyes widened in recognition.

Mark said, sliding the cube forward, "Elder, I believe you know what this is. This is adamantium, the strongest metal in existence." His fingers tapped the surface as he explained. "This block weighs roughly 20 jin (ten kilograms). And according to the customs here, the groom must provide bridewealth." He reached into his inventory again and pulled out a simple dimensional ring, placing it next to the cube. "So I am giving you every adamantium block I have stored and refined over the years. All 1,042 of them."

Shang Jiao almost bit her lip to stop herself from gasping. Even Lan Jing jerked slightly as if jolted. But Mark didn’t pause.

"The remaining 1,041 blocks are in this ring," he said calmly. "You can forge battle puppets, divine weapons, divine armor... whatever you choose. As for my other treasures, I doubt they’ll be useful to someone already in the First Stage of Transcendence, so I didn’t bring them. If you want nothing, you can sell this too and make a fortune. I heard 1 jin (half kg) of adamantine is worth between 10,000-20,000 cronies. So, that’s a total worth of about 200 million to 400 million cronies in here. And this..." he pushed the cube and ring closer, "this is my bridewealth. Elder Yuxuan... will you give us your permission?"

There was a silence so deep that the faint crackle of the oil lamp became loud.

Yuxuan stared at the ring as if it were a mythical beast. Her hand trembled when she picked up the adamantium block; she needed both palms. Her expression flickered between disbelief and speechlessness before her voice finally escaped, shaky and thin. "You... you are offering one thousand and forty-two blocks... for her? I... I am not even her real family."

Before Mark could respond, Shang Jiao leaned forward with sparkling eyes and whispered, unable to hide her awe, "Gege... you must love Sister Xia very much to give something like this." Lan Xia’s cheeks tinted red in an instant, her gaze dropping to her lap as if she were afraid to meet anyone’s eyes. Mark glanced at his sister with a faint sigh, letting the comment slide as he looked back at Yuxuan.

"So," he said gently, "do we have your permission?"

Yuxuan exhaled slowly, almost shakily. Then a soft smile spread across her face, not the stern expression of a grand elder, not the cold mask she wore in public, but the gentle warmth of a mother. She nodded.

"Yes," she said quietly. "You have my permission."

Just as Mark smiled that his little proposal worked, she stunned all three of them by sliding the dimensional ring back across the table. She placed only the single adamantium cube aside and said, "And you may take the rest back. This one block is more than enough."

"Eh?" Mark blinked. Shang Jiao mirrored him, both equally dumbfounded. Even Lan Jing straightened his back sharply as he exclaimed, "Elder Yuxuan, do you truly understand what you’re refusing? Not even the imperial palace could reject such a gift."

But Yuxuan raised a hand calmly, stopping him.

Her expression softened further as she turned to Lan Xia, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead in a motherly gesture that made the girl stiffen, then lower her head shyly. "Bridewealth is not a transaction, Lan Jing..." she said, her tone firm yet warm. "Nor is it a bribe or purchase. It is simply a measure of sincerity. And Patriarch Zhen, I have seen your sincerity. In your words. In your decisions. In your willingness to carry the responsibility of her future beside your own."

She returned her gaze to him, eyes steady and sincere. "You are reckless. You are bold. You are stubborn. But you do not lie. You do not pretend. You did not try to hide your wives, your children, your flaws, or your weaknesses. And that kind of man will not hurt my daughter."

Lan Xia’s face was crimson now, her fingers tangled together on her lap, but her eyes watered faintly with relief.

Yuxuan smiled and rose gracefully. "I do not need anything else from you, Patriarch Zhen. I accept this single cube, as custom, and I give you my full blessing. We will begin preparations immediately. The time is short. There is much work to be done."

Mark exhaled in relief and nodded respectfully, glancing once toward his sister and Lan Jing, who both wore softened expressions. And Lan Xia, still looking down but smiling, clasped her hands together tightly, unable to hide the small tremble of joy running through her.

The wedding was now officially set.

*

When Yuxuan finally left the residence with Lan Xia, the atmosphere softened. Lan Jing released a small breath he had been holding for a while and turned toward Mark.

"Xiao Zhen," he said, folding his hands behind his back, "should I go to the mortal realm to inform your parents and escort them here? In both of your previous weddings, they only attended as guests, not as your parents. And this... this was your mother’s ancestral land, too. It would not be right for them to be absent when you stand as the patriarch of her ancestral clan."

Mark shook his head before the suggestion could settle. "No, Granduncle," he said softly. "They will not come. They should not come."

"Eh?"