Chapter 1053: Records of Wanyu (I)
Since it was decided, Li Jiangxia reported to Li Zhouwei and took the talisman. He descended in high spirits to muster the troops bound for the eastern shore.
Raising his hand, Li Zhouwei asked, "Long'er, Profound Peak Gate has come to seek a marriage alliance. A girl may be married off, and another among your brothers must also be chosen. Excluding your youngest brother Jiangnian, who do you think would be suitable?"
Only then did Li Jianglong kneel and speak respectfully, "Father, I believe that the marriage alliance with Profound Peak Gate is nothing more than a gesture of goodwill. The future remains uncertain. It would be better to choose one of my younger brothers and delay the marriage. That way, if something happens later, there will still be room to maneuver, and we will not be placed in an awkward position. As for marrying off a daughter, we must still see how Profound Peak Gate proposes."
Li Zhouwei only said, "We cannot evade putting Profound Peak Gate at ease. We must not treat this lightly, for otherwise it will show a lack of sincerity."
Li Jianglong bowed again and replied respectfully, "As your direct son, I am willing to go to Profound Peak Gate to cultivate, in order to settle Profound Peak Gate's concerns. As for the marriage, I sincerely hope it can be arranged with one of my younger brothers instead. I am foolish, but I still fear that forcing the matter might breed calamity."
Li Jianglong's reasoning was not without merit. If Changxi died, Profound Peak Gate's fate was uncertain. If the worst came to pass and Profound Peak Gate perished, then would the heirs of a direct descendant such as Jianglong or Jiangxia in such a marriage not be burdened with an inherited enmity?
On the other hand, Jiangliang was still a child. Even if he were betrothed, it would take at least ten years before marriage could happen. Changxi might be long since perished, and Profound Peak Gate's situation would be clear, sparing them from being entangled too deeply.
What did catch Li Zhouwei somewhat off guard was his son's willingness to personally go to Profound Peak Gate to cultivate. Lifting his head, he looked at his third son and said in a deep voice, "After matters at the eastern shore are settled, I had planned to entrust Milin Mountain to you. You would stabilize the one hundred and eighteen households while your younger brother would take over the eastern shore. Yet you insist on going to Profound Peak Gate yourself. Have you truly thought this through?"
His sons were all talented in governance and descendants of Bright Yang bloodline. They each had their own ambitions and factions. Unlike the previous generations, where brothers yielded to one another, even the young Jiangliang harbored no small aspirations. How could Li Zhouwei not be aware of this?
Now that prosperity was flourishing, distancing oneself from the center of power could only bring harm and no benefits. Li Jianglong's sudden wish to leave was truly unexpected.