787: Chapter 513 787: Chapter 513 These daughters of the noble clan had access to abundant resources from a young age, with the support of their families, and did not need to rely on a man to achieve higher cultivation.
For the sake of familial interests, arranged marriages were common, with the Xuanyuan Family giving Xuanyuan Mengting’s hand in marriage to some nameless lad.
This nameless lad, who had so many women around him, seemed to command plentiful resources now and to contribute a lot to his family.
But that doesn’t change the fact that he was born a country bumpkin, orphaned and without parents.
How could he compare with men from great noble clans?
Everyone had their own opinions, and some people even felt that Xuanyuan Mengting was cheap for receiving such benefits!
The complexities of great clans were hidden beneath a veneer of harmony, but jealousy could still lead to nasty facades.
At the Xuanyuan Clan’s banquet, even the men of great families couldn’t compare to Jiang Tang in looks and skin complexion.
Not to mention that some women were envious of Jiang Tang’s good skin.
There were those who asked Xuanyuan Mengting if Jiang Tang had been consuming the Beauty Preserving Elixir since he was an alchemist and might have kept the good stuff for himself.
Xuanyuan Mengting’s response to them was that if Jiang Tang really did have such great skin from the Beauty Preserving Elixir, he certainly would not keep it to himself and would share with his girlfriends.
The women who were eager to know more of their secrets asked mockingly about where they had been recently and what had happened?
Xuanyuan Mengting shared what she could but did not respond to the more probing questions about their secrets.
The question that had been asked earlier—what stage had she reached with Jiang Tang?
Could she really speak of such confidential matters?
Xuanyuan Mengting then reminisced about the private moments she and Jiang Tang shared that afternoon.
Her face flushed red, as if she had consumed alcohol.
The women who had been observing Xuanyuan Mengting began to tease her, “Xuanyuan Mengting, you must be intoxicated with love rather than wine, captivated by your handsome husband-to-be without even drinking, right?”
“I think she is.
The groom-to-be is handsome, dashing, capable, and wealthy.
How did Xuanyuan Mengting get so lucky?”
“Exactly, our appearances as women are not inferior either, so why did the family choose Xuanyuan Mengting?
I am not convinced!”
Beyond their jesting, the women’s words carried tones of envy and jealousy.
Amidst her blushing, Xuanyuan Mengting felt that regardless of whether her friends were sincere or not, their sour words proved that they all envied her fortune in having Jiang Tang as her future husband.
Xuanyuan Mengting was also aware of some people who mocked her in secret, saying she was being used by her family, gaining a capable man but having to share him with many women.
There was nothing to be proud of, as it was just marrying into wealth, and this dazzling man might have to be shared with many women for a lifetime.
Some women dreamt their whole lives of being the only one but of course would not want to share their boyfriend or husband with others.
Yet sometimes a woman’s wishes do not align with reality, becoming a pawn in arranged marriages, with their significance undetermined.
It was better for Xuanyuan Mengting to be with someone as outstanding as Jiang Tang in looks and ability than to marry an ugly and short-statured man.
The daughters of noble clans shone brightly in terms of appearance and resources.
However, they found that the jewelry worn by Xuanyuan Mengting was even more dazzling, full of energy.
All girls liked to talk about jewelry and knew that such fine adornments were certainly not common, and what they wore were Magical Treasures.
Xuanyuan Mengting told them that it was jewelry given by Jiang Tang, although not all of it was directly gifted by him since some were made by her using materials he provided for Artifact Refining.
It wasn’t something that could be explained in just a few words before the other girls.
Seeing their covetous looks, she could not reveal the extent of her material wealth to them.
Such generosity was beyond the means of many.
Even among friends, there were those who appeared friendly but harbored ill will within.
Unequal treatment could lead to gossip, and sometimes it was better not to reveal everything.
Xuanyuan Jie was also among the crowd, having been introduced to Jiang Tang by this sister of his.
Jiang Tang’s improved abilities were plain for all to see, and from this, Xuanyuan Jie himself had benefited, raising his own cultivation substantially.
As Xuanyuan Mengting’s cousin, he enjoyed a drink with his future brother-in-law, discussing their shared future.
Jiang Tang had a favorable impression of his brother-in-law Xuanyuan Jie, and they got along like brothers, without any sycophancy, but with genuine warmth!
The banquet continued for an hour, and if it were merely about eating, it would have been over quickly; many people were not there for the food since those with high cultivation levels were no longer concerned with mere satiety.
Only the children whose abilities are insufficient must eat at every meal.
This dinner banquet was for socializing, for the sake of those wines and juices, and also to make an appearance in front of Jiang Tang.
Many more came to increase their cultivation and to ask for advice on their issues.
After the dinner ended, the family had originally arranged for Jiang Tang to stay in a courtyard.
“I’d rather stay in Xuanyuan Mengting’s courtyard room!”
Jiang Tang didn’t want to go to the guest courtyard; he had been thinking about having a world of their own for these two days.
He wanted to continue the activities that they hadn’t finished during the day, at night.
Xuanyuan Mengting’s father and mother had already recognized Jiang Tang as their son-in-law.
Would the young couple do anything improper if they stayed together in a courtyard?
During the day, when the two of them were locked in the courtyard, Xuanyuan Mengting’s father had drunk wine and her mother had drunk juice; they went back to their own courtyard for cultivation and did not check on their daughter and son-in-law.
They only knew that their doors were shut all afternoon.
To refuse now seemed a bit too late; moreover, they had consumed wine and juices at night again.
The abundance of spiritual energy and the desire to cultivate in seclusion made them not reject Jiang Tang’s suggestion.
If they…
it seemed that a marriage because of pregnancy wouldn’t be unacceptable.
In the competition among many girls’ families, their daughter needed to have higher capital.
This was the mindset that the family meeting had communicated to them as parents.
With the idea of intermarriage already in progress, if the young couple truly fell deeply in love and couldn’t control their feelings, they wouldn’t obstruct them.
Pretend as if they knew nothing and let nature take its course!
In their own family, it seemed they couldn’t refuse whatever the new son-in-law wanted to do; thereby indulging him, it seemed to have a slightly bad influence on their daughter.
They could only play dumb!
Jiang Tang was very satisfied with this outcome; he could have a world of their own with Xuanyuan Mengting at night again.
The two of them returned to the courtyard, which seemed to have been cleared out just for them.
The courtyard was quiet; it was unclear where all the maids and matrons who used to work there had gone.
Jiang Tang and Xuanyuan Mengting walked through the courtyard garden, accompanying each other on a moonlit stroll.
Jiang Tang held the beauty’s waist, snuggling close—the feeling of bliss.
In such beautiful scenery and perfect moment, how he wished time would stand still!
“Come, let’s sit here!”
“Hmm,” Xuanyuan Mengting agreed obediently.
Jiang Tang checked with his Divine Sense and found that there was truly no one in the courtyard.
So, he activated a Magic Formation, preventing others from using Divine Sense to spy on them.
The two of them arrived at a small pavilion and sat down by the table inside it.
On the pavilion’s table, Jiang Tang placed various fruits and even some pastries.
The fruits Jiang Tang produced were specially grown in his space for making wine, juicing, and eating.
These pastries were made by Green Ox, who was now learning various kitchen skills so he could satisfy their food and drink needs.
The ingredients for the pastries were from space materials, some made from space fruits—fragrant, sweet, and rich in spiritual energy.
“I want to eat this pastry.” Jiang Tang commanded Xuanyuan Mengting to arrange food for him.
Xuanyuan Mengting’s delicate hands picked up a small pastry and fed Jiang Tang personally.
Jiang Tang opened his mouth to receive a slice of cake, which he didn’t swallow immediately.
Instead, with a look, he guided Xuanyuan Mengting’s mouth towards his.
Each of them ate from one side of the pastry, which led to their mouths meeting in a kiss.
Jiang Tang was already holding Xuanyuan Mengting, and now their mouths were kissing while they ate.
Xuanyuan Mengting had never played such a game with a man, especially after being around so many girls before.