A Pawn's Passage

On this matter, there was actually very little to discuss.

Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu could be considered figures of note, but they were not truly great figures whose union would warrant a grand ceremony that involved the entire Daoist Order.

However, they were not from insignificant families either. Both held high positions, and all the arrangements would naturally be handled by others, so there was no need for either of them to manage matters personally. They only needed to appear at the ceremony.

So there was really nothing to negotiate. It was just a simple agreement or disagreement. The Zhang family and the Yao family could not possibly haggle over houses, betrothal gifts, or dowries because that would be undignified.

There was an unspoken standard for marriage arrangements for prestigious families of this level. Thus, there would be no shortage nor excess, since flaunting wealth and competing ostentatiously was the behavior of the nouveau riche.

A marriage alliance was, at its core, an exchange of resources, so no one cared about such trifles.

After all, no matter how lavish the betrothal gifts or dowry, could they compare to shares in the Nanyang United Trading Company or to positions of authority within a Daoist Mansion?

For this very reason, Qi Xuansu’s visit to the Zhang family was little more than a formality. Whether Tantai Qiong chose to talk or not, the outcome was already decided.

To put it bluntly, this was more like a notification. After all, the Heavenly Preceptor had made the decision, Sage Cihang had acknowledged it, and the main branch of the Zhang family had compromised. There was no room left for opposition within the Zhengyi Sect.

In the end, Tantai Qiong spoke her true feelings. But even so, the necessary formalities had to be completed. After Tantai Qiong left, Qi Xuansu spoke with Zhang Juqi.

Zhang Juqi was easy to deal with. Qi Xuansu and his future father-in-law got along quite well. Zhang Juqi had someone prepare a small family banquet. Including Little Yin, there were exactly four people, and they simply opened a jar of Dreaming Death.

Zhang Yuelu was always known for being able to handle her liquor. Qi Xuansu was no longer what he once was. With his Wuliang-stage Martial Arts Practitioner physique, he could match Zhang Yuelu without issue. However, Zhang Juqi was a bit lacking by comparison. He could not match his daughter. Moreover, talking about his daughter’s marriage made him emotional, so what was meant to be a few light drinks turned into full jars of wine until he quickly became intoxicated. Little Yin joined in too because she would consume anything, and nothing affected her.