Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

The man appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, handsome and distinguished.

Seeing the gaze of Jiang Ning and Ji Minghao, He Jinseng smiled faintly.

Jiang Li glanced at Jiang Ning and then nodded slightly.

Before arriving at the east courtyard, Jiang Ning had used the Sound Transmission into Secret Skill to inform Jiang Li.

"Young Master He, this is my younger brother, Jiang Ning!" Having said this, he immediately turned and left.

Following the method Jiang Ning had just described through Sound Transmission into Secret Skill.

Taking Liu Wanwan, Jiang Yiming, and Little Dumpling to the front hall.

In the front hall, as long as they were by Lin Qingyi's side, they would be safe and sound.

At this time.

Seeing Jiang Li turn and leave, He Jinseng secretly shook his head.

"Truly a country bumpkin!"

Then he looked at Jiang Ning and glanced faintly at Ji Minghao.

"Commander Jiang, I had originally planned to visit you today."

"I didn't expect Commander Jiang to have guests to entertain today!"

"Since that's the case, I'll not impose further today and will visit another day!"

Having said this, He Jinsheng turned and left.

Ji Minghao was immediately astonished behind him.

Jiang Ning also looked slightly contemplative.

After He Jinseng's figure disappeared and his footsteps gradually faded away.

"This man truly lacks manners! He looks like a man of noble birth, comes to visit, and doesn't even introduce himself?" Ji Minghao's face showed slight anger.

Jiang Ning said, "He is the second son of Qinghe Marquis Mansion. How could he not know etiquette? He simply doesn't consider us important!"

"Qinghe Marquis?" Ji Minghao immediately sneered, "A mere declining marquis, not even the eldest son, and yet so arrogant?"

Elsewhere.

He Jinseng walked away by himself.

Along the way, he recalled Ji Minghao's face, and couldn't help but turn back and look at the white wall that stood between him and Ji Minghao.

"That person looks familiar!"

"Could I have seen him before?"

Then he shook his head, "Never mind, he can't be any important figure! What important figures could there be in this small town? Could there be someone more significant than my Qinghe Marquis Mansion?"

...

Inside the east courtyard.

At Ji Minghao's inquiry, Jiang Ning simply recounted his grievances with the Qinghe Marquis.

However, he omitted the most crucial news.

That was the news of Young Master He Jinyun having been killed by him.

This kind of news, even his close friends like Cheng Ran weren't privy to, let alone Ji Minghao, whom he had just met.

A moment later.

After listening to Jiang Ning's words, Ji Minghao nodded slightly.

"So that's it!"

"This man's visit today was indeed unexpected!"

Then Ji Minghao looked at Jiang Ning, "Do you need my involvement in this matter?"

"Not necessary!" Jiang Ning shook his head.

"Alright then!" Ji Minghao nodded, then took out a palm-sized, gold inlaid jade token from his person. The token had the character "Hao" engraved on its face.

"This is my Identity Token. If there's a need in the future, carrying this token is like having me personally present. You can use it to mobilize troops from various places."

Seeing this, Jiang Ning unhesitatingly accepted the Identity Token handed over by Ji Minghao.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"I told you not to be so formal!" Ji Minghao feigned anger.

"Brother Ji!" Jiang Ning bowed.

"That's more like it!" Ji Minghao smiled.

Then, he stood and said, "Brother Jiang, we've chatted enough! Why not meet my seventeenth sister?"

"What seventeenth sister?" Jiang Ning was startled.

Ji Minghao grinned, "Naturally, in accordance with my aunt's wishes, to matchmake you with my youngest sister, Little Seventeen! If you two are fated, then we would be doubly related, able to share endless conversations, occasionally indulging in wine and merriment. Wouldn't that be delightful?"

Hearing Ji Minghao's words, Jiang Ning was even more stunned.

He then shook his head and gave a wry smile, "Brother Ji, your joke is too much! What is my status, lower than a Seventh Grade official! And what is the status of Brother Ji's sister?"

"That's a priceless princess!"

"How could there be any possibility between her and me?"

Ji Minghao looked at Jiang Ning, then seriously shook his head.

"Brother Jiang, why belittle yourself unnecessarily?"

"At your age, you've already reached the Bone Forging stage in Martial Arts!"

"With such talent, you're surely destined for a place among the Grandmasters in my eyes!"

"Once you achieve the position of Grandmaster, no matter what your status, you'll be worthy of my sister!"

"And I have my own selfish reasons," Ji Minghao said with an even more earnest tone.

He continued, "Brother Jiang must also be aware that when the royal children reach marriageable age, they become pawns in political marriages."

"Nowadays, with the descendants of those nobles and high officials living so debauched a lifestyle, how many of them are truly suitable matches?"

"I'd rather my sister eighteen marry someone who is kind to her, someone she would be pleased with, instead of marrying those others as a joyless wife."

"And in my eyes, Brother Jiang, you are far more outstanding than those men!"

"If it's truly fated, Brother Jiang, you need not worry."

"I'll personally smooth any difficulties for little eighteen."

Watching Ji Minghao reveal his sincere and serious expression,

Jiang Ning couldn't help but inwardly sigh.

From Ji Minghao's words, he truly was a good brother.

And everything he had said was indeed true.

Royal women, do they have the freedom to marry whom they wish?

If they marry well, relying on their royal status, they can avoid being mistreated in their husband's household.

But if marrying a powerful noble or official's son whom the royal family wants for an alliance, any grievances must be silently swallowed.

This so-called princess status is just a glamorous facade, used as a bargaining chip.

In such cases, one is nothing more than a political sacrifice, void of any real happiness.

At that moment,

seeing Jiang Ning in a reflective mood, Ji Minghao stood up and pulled Jiang Ning by the arm.

"Brother Jiang, you can't deny me this favor!"

"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded. "I'm actually quite eager to see what kind of stunning beauty Great Xia's seventeenth princess is."

"That's better! I assure you, my sister's beauty will astonish you!" Ji Minghao said proudly, apparently taking pride in his little sister.

...

Elsewhere,

In the main hall,

"How boring!" The girl in a pale yellow long dress sat on a stool, swinging her legs, and rested her fair chin on the table in front of her.

Under her feet was a square charcoal stove, lively with fire.

Lin Qingyi, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile gently.

"At this hour, your brother and Jiang Ning should be together; why not go and find them?"

"Alright!" The girl immediately straightened up, stretching her arms above her head, loosening her supple waist.

From behind, one could see the detailed silhouette of her waist, no larger than a handspan.

While stretching, she asked Lin Qingyi, "Sister-in-law, is this Jiang Ning really as handsome as you say?"

"Handsome!" Lin Qingyi nodded slightly. "Had I met him when I was young, I likely would have admired him!"

"You're still very young, sister-in-law!" the girl immediately said with a giggle.

"Don't be silly!" Lin Qingyi scolded her playfully, feeling inexplicably shy.

Suddenly,

Lin Qingyi's face brightened with a smile.

"They're coming!"

Hearing this, the girl's eyes sparkled with delight, and she hurriedly looked towards the slightly ajar hall door.

The next moment.

Squeak—

The door was pushed open.

She then saw the figures of Jiang Ning and Ji Minghao.

At the same time,

Jiang Ning also saw Lin Qingyi, still in her blue dress, and the fair-faced girl in the pale yellow long dress standing next to her.

Both were now standing.

The girl stood next to Lin Qingyi, looking considerably petite, a whole head shorter than Lin Qingyi.

When she caught Jiang Ning's gaze, her eyes began to dart around, sometimes to the sides, sometimes overhead, never daring to meet Jiang Ning's eyes directly.