"What?"
"He actually wants Yun Lang to marry you, and me to be his principal wife."
"What?"
"Your father said that although our Xuanyuan family cannot compare to those prominent families, in the Northern Desert, we are still considered among the top. My status is noble. If I were to become your father's concubine, it would surely bring you honor," the Old Madam said slowly.
"Grandmother, how can he say that? How can he assume that if I marry him, it would benefit him?" Xuanyuan Ziyao said in exasperation.
"Because he knows Yun Lang! He is the number one young master in the world!" the Old Madam said proudly.
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Ziyao was stunned.
She suddenly thought of a possibility.
Could it be that Yun Lang really looked exactly like that Yun family young master from the rumors?
"Is that Yun Lang really that formidable?" Xuanyuan Ziyao's eyes twinkled with a strange light. "Grandmother, tell me, who exactly is he?"
"I can't tell you this for now, lest you get into trouble," the Old Madam said.
"Grandmother!"
"Alright, let's put this matter aside for now. The most important thing at hand is to handle your betrothal to Yun Lang. This marriage is a done deal."
"I disagree!" Xuanyuan Ziyao snorted coldly. "I want to marry the man I love, not someone I dislike."
"You..." The Old Madam's chest heaved violently with anger. "If you refuse, then get out of the Xuanyuan family immediately."
"Grandmother!" Xuanyuan Ziyao looked at the Old Madam in shock. "Are you really going to drive me out of the house by saying that? I am your granddaughter. Can you truly bear to?"
"You girl, you're becoming more and more outrageous!" The Old Madam was thoroughly enraged.
"Fine! Since you refuse to let me marry Yun Lang, I will no longer pursue that. However, I will absolutely not marry that Yun Lang!" Xuanyuan Ziyao said stubbornly.
"You..." The Old Madam was so angry she almost spat out three liters of blood. Pointing a trembling finger at Xuanyuan Ziyao's nose, she said, "I am your own grandmother! How can you be so disobedient to me?"
"I have never acknowledged you as my birth grandmother," Xuanyuan Ziyao said stubbornly. "If it weren't for the fact that I am your granddaughter, do you think I could still be sitting here safely, talking to you tonight?"
"You unfilial wretch, I'll beat you to death, you unfilial daughter!" The Old Madam, driven to madness by Xuanyuan Ziyao, raised her hand as if to strike.
"Grandmother, you're going to hit me?" Xuanyuan Ziyao stared at the Old Madam with wide eyes.
"I will if I have to!" the Old Madam said furiously. "Today, I must teach you a good lesson, otherwise, you truly won't know the immensity of heaven and earth."
With that, the Old Madam's palm swung down towards Xuanyuan Ziyao.
*Slap*
"Grandmother, how could you hit me?" Xuanyuan Ziyao clutched her cheek, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Grandmother is doing this for your own good. You dare to say you are unwilling to marry Yun Lang. Do you know that his strength is far above yours? If not for your father's sake, do you think Grandmother would stoop so low as to sacrifice her granddaughter by marrying her off to someone she dislikes? You are so foolish, you can't even see the bigger picture!" the Old Madam scolded with grief and indignation, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Grandmother, you are being biased!" Xuanyuan Ziyao cried.
"Hmph! Biased? If not for Yun Lang, our Xuanyuan family's business would have been ruined by him!" the Old Madam said angrily. "If I had a choice, I would rather let you marry that Yun Lang than not marry Yun Lang!"
"Why?" Xuanyuan Ziyao asked unwillingly. "Yun Lang's strength is greater than mine? Then why did you agree to Father's absurd condition?"
"What do you know!" the Old Madam snorted coldly. "Yun Lang has a powerful background! If our Xuanyuan family's influence wasn't so weak, and if he could help our Xuanyuan family rise, how would our Xuanyuan family have fallen to this point?"
"Grandmother, you mean, you want Yun Lang to help our Xuanyuan family, and from then on, we can become the rulers of the Northern Desert?" Xuanyuan Ziyao's eyes shone with excitement.
"That's right. I want to leverage Yun Lang to help our Xuanyuan family establish a firm footing in the Northern Desert," the Old Madam said. "Don't forget, it was your mother who helped me ascend to the position of clan leader in the first place!"
"So, my father didn't marry my mother because he liked her, but because he was forced to?" Xuanyuan Ziyao said with sudden realization.
"Your father, to save the Xuanyuan family, sacrificed me without hesitation! And, to protect the Xuanyuan family's assets, I must also sacrifice my granddaughter. These are things I must do."
"But Grandmother, why didn't you directly discuss it with Yun Lang's father, but instead sought out Yun Lang's father?" Xuanyuan Ziyao continued to press.
"How could I know they would have such a marriage alliance?" the Old Madam sighed. "At that time, our Xuanyuan family was already in dire straits. If his father hadn't extended a helping hand, our Xuanyuan family would have been annihilated long ago. His father was our only hope."
"Grandmother..."
"Ziyao! You must understand, only by attaching ourselves to Yun Lang, this mighty tree, can our Xuanyuan family regain its former glory! You cannot, because of your wilfulness, ruin the entire family!" the Old Madam said earnestly.
"Alright..." Xuanyuan Ziyao hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement.
"This is my good granddaughter!" The Old Madam nodded with satisfaction. "Since you have decided to marry Yun Lang, then prepare yourself to join him on the battlefield tomorrow!"
"What?" Xuanyuan Ziyao's eyes widened. "I... I can't go!"
"Why not?" the Old Madam questioned with a frown. "You must know that if you don't go, Yun Lang will become the Northern Desert's consort!"
"But, I don't want to go." Xuanyuan Ziyao said stubbornly.
"You need to understand that the Xuanyuan family currently needs Yun Lang, this great tree, for support! If they lose Yun Lang, I fear the Xuanyuan family will be bullied," the Old Madam persuaded patiently.
"No, I cannot leave the Xuanyuan family!"
"Then what meaning is there for you to stay in the Xuanyuan manor? If you want to marry Yun Lang, you cannot stay in this family any longer! You must go out and gain experience to become better!" the Old Madam said patiently. "If you don't go, you will never be able to stand beside Yun Lang, and you might even fall out over this engagement!"
"But, I don't love him at all. Marrying him is just to solidify my position in the Xuanyuan family."
"You don't need to explain. In any case, you must listen to Grandmother and go marry Yun Lang, not that good-for-nothing!" the Old Madam insisted.