Chapter 48: Li Shanshan's Choice

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Main Hall of the Prince’s Mansion.
Prince Liang sat upright in the Grand Tutor’s chair, his complexion rosy and radiant, his face beaming with joy as he said, “Thank you all for coming to attend my son’s coming-of-age ceremony. It has been a long time since I felt this happy.”
“Prince Liang, these are the coming-of-age gifts specially prepared by my father and mother for the heir. I hope you won’t find them lacking,” said the young man sitting beside Prince Liang with a smile. At that moment, a servant carrying two gift boxes slowly entered.
When everyone saw what was on the boxes, they involuntarily gasped.
One box contained a short sword emanating a scorching aura. Even sheathed, the fervent spiritual energy radiating from it was palpable. It was evidently a rare, high-grade spiritual weapon.
The other box held a milky-white pill, glowing brilliantly, its medicinal markings exquisitely beautiful—also a rare, high-grade elixir.
“This is the High-Grade Spiritual Weapon 'Flaming Sun Sword,' forged from Dwarven Rock over forty-nine days and then refined for eighty-one consecutive days until it was perfected. It was crafted by the foremost blacksmith of the Xia Dynasty. I hope Prince Liang and the heir will like it.”
“Wow, such a beautiful sword! Father, may I touch it now?” The heir, sitting on the other side, nearly had his eyes fixed on the sword.
“Hm? Don’t be reckless. This treasure was personally prepared by the Xia Emperor for you. It’s not something you can just touch whenever you please,” Prince Liang said sternly.
Hearing this, the heir reluctantly withdrew.
“The Xia Emperor is so thoughtful; I am truly honored. My son’s talents are mediocre—how could he deserve such a grand gift?” Though Prince Liang’s words seemed self-deprecating, who would dare truly disagree?
“Haha, the heir is still young and certainly not an ordinary person. I believe after today, he will become a peerless talent among men,” the young man said generously.
At this, the others present secretly thought, “Peerless talent... who dares claim that in front of the Third Prince?”
The young man was none other than the Third Prince, still smiling gently.
“Haha, His Highness the Third Prince is indeed the Xia Emperor’s favorite, clearly inheriting the Emperor’s fine bloodline. Compared to him, my son is but a flickering firefly,” Prince Liang retorted, clearly catching the implied meaning in the Third Prince’s words.
The Third Prince narrowed his eyes, realizing Prince Liang was warning him not to overstep.
After all, not everyone in the hall was on the Third Prince’s side.
“Prince Liang flatters me too much. Compared to my two elder brothers, I am far from their caliber. Well, today’s focus is the heir. My mother heard that the heir has suffered from a stubborn illness since childhood, so she personally sought out a divine healer and prepared a sixth-grade tranquilizing pill, hoping it can cure the heir completely,” the Third Prince introduced the other gift.
“The Empress is always so attentive. I feel ashamed. When time permits, I will personally visit the court to pay my respects. Please convey my regards to your father and mother, and remind them to take good care of their health,” Prince Liang said kindly.

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After speaking, Prince Liang’s gaze shifted elsewhere.
There sat an elderly man wearing a robe embroidered with the characters “Wang Yue,” a straw hat shading his face. His humble attire seemed somewhat out of place in the grand Prince’s Mansion.
Yet in Prince Liang’s eyes flickered a trace of surprise, as if he had not expected this guest’s presence.
“You must be the Ruthless Elder of the Wang Yue Sect?” Prince Liang inquired.
“Heh heh, Prince Liang has sharp eyesight. On behalf of the sect leader, I have come to congratulate the heir on his coming of age. The sect leader also prepared a gift, hoping the heir will like it,” the elder said, producing a book from within his robe and waving it before Prince Liang.
The book emitted a faint yellow glow, clearly very old.
Prince Liang reached out to take it, and upon seeing the large characters on the cover, he exclaimed, “This is the sect’s advanced martial art, ‘Moon God Palm’?”
At this, even the Third Prince’s expression shifted slightly, revealing the martial art’s extraordinary rarity.
“Heh heh, the sect leader hopes the heir will visit the sect someday, so that Your Highness may rest assured,” the elder chuckled.
“Haha, I didn’t expect the Wang Yue sect leader to be so courteous. Truly a blessing for my son. But such a martial art is quite precious; it feels almost too hot to handle,” Prince Liang said, placing the ‘Moon God Palm’ beneath the desk.
“Heh heh, Your Highness is too modest. The heir is clearly no ordinary person. If he masters this art, his future will be boundless,” the elder persisted, unabashed.
Soon, the others in the main hall presented their gifts as well.
Besides the Third Prince and the Wang Yue Sect, there were gifts from the General’s Mansion, the Imperial Advisor’s Residence, and prominent local factions such as the Tiger Roar Sect, the Azure Dragon Gang, and the Iron Bronze Sect.
“Thanks to everyone for supporting my son. Besides the coming-of-age ceremony, there is one more announcement to make.”
“My son will be betrothed today to Li Shanshan, the daughter of Lord Li of North City.”
“Bring Shanshan in.”
Prince Liang smiled gently as he spoke.
This announcement stunned many; no one expected the heir of the Liang Mansion to be betrothed so soon, and to the daughter of the minor Lord of North City—wasn’t this a step down in status?

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Even the Third Prince hadn’t foreseen this move by Prince Liang.
He had seen Li Shanshan before—indeed a lovely girl with notable beauty. How had the heir taken such a liking to her so quickly?
The Third Prince was unaware that just after he left, Su Yang and Li Shanshan had departed North City as well.
It wasn’t that he was slow to gain information but that someone deliberately concealed it. This made Li Shanshan’s appearance all the more unexpected for him.
Captain Yu supported the elegantly dressed Li Shanshan as they entered the main hall. The two bowed slightly in front of Prince Liang.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Prince, Third Prince, heir, and honored elders.”
“Thank you, Captain Yu, for your hard work,” Prince Liang said kindly.
When the heir saw Li Shanshan’s beauty, his eyes nearly popped out. Were it not for the many people present, he might have already rushed forward.
“Truly a peerless beauty. To become my Liang Mansion’s daughter-in-law is a fitting match indeed,” Prince Liang said, visibly impressed by her charm. Though he had seen Li Shanshan before, he had not expected her to be so captivating after being dressed up.
It was a fortunate match for his son.
“Thank you for your compliment, Your Highness,” Li Shanshan replied calmly.
“Haha, I have already informed your father of this joyous occasion. From now on, North City and the Liang Mansion shall be bound by marriage. Should you need anything, I will not turn a blind eye,” Prince Liang said.
“If you have any requests, just speak them. If I can fulfill them, I will not disappoint you,” he added with a smile.
“Prince Liang, do you truly mean this? If so, I do have one matter I need your help with,” Li Shanshan seized the opportunity to speak.
Captain Yu tugged lightly at her sleeve, as if to warn her not to say anything reckless.
Yet Li Shanshan had summoned all her courage. Regardless of where she was or what dangers lay ahead, she would not fear anything if it meant helping him.
“Oh? What is it? Speak freely,” Prince Liang said with mild interest.
Li Shanshan slowly lifted her porcelain doll-like face and, enunciating each word, declared, “I want the life of this Wang Yue Sect Elder!!!”