Even though Father Lin was very displeased that Lin Yan chose someone from the imperial court, and moreover, a member of the royal family.
But he had no way to refuse, because his daughter genuinely liked that Prince Chu. However, from another perspective, his daughter’s actions were so dangerous, and if she had such an identity, it could also protect her somewhat.
After all, no matter how arrogant martial artists were, they wouldn't dare to directly attack royalty.
However, even with this, it didn't stop Father Lin from disliking Qin Cong.
The betrothal procession sent by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager soon arrived at the Lishan Sword Sect. With the "three letters and six rites," all the customary procedures were observed, giving the Lin family great face.
As soon as this news spread, it caused a sensation in both the martial world and the imperial court. Everyone was discussing this marriage. Those in the court couldn't understand why His Majesty's only full brother would choose a woman from a martial arts sect.
But eventually, they learned that it was this Miss Lin who had cured Prince Chu’s body, so they largely understood.
Martial artists also found it difficult to comprehend why the royal family would form a marital alliance with a little-known sect like Lishan. After all, if the royal family were to choose to ally with a martial sect, they should have chosen a major one.
However, even if no one understood, the marriage preparations proceeded with great fanfare.
Just as the Lishan Sword Sect began preparing dowry for Lin Yan, Luo Yu Xuan quietly left Lishan.
Ever since he learned that a certain group of people were coming for him, he had wanted to leave. After all, he didn't want to cause more trouble for Lishan.
He knew that after his junior sister's marriage to Prince Chu was settled, Lishan would be extremely safe, and that person would likely not target Lishan anymore.
But he dared not gamble. His first home was already gone, and he couldn't allow the Lishan Sword Sect to face any further danger.
If he were to bring any danger to Lishan, he would never forgive himself.
Just as Lin Yan married into the capital and became the Crown Princess, Luo Yu Xuan arrived in the Northwest. Here, he saw someone he was incredibly familiar with.
Peng Xue Zhu, the woman who had stirred his heart. But he did not alert her. After all, a woman surnamed Peng appearing in the Peng family's sphere of influence made him suspicious.
However, he soon found out that Peng Xue Zhu was his fiancée by arranged marriage, and the only daughter of the Peng family head.
He suddenly understood why the Peng family head hadn't found him for so many years, but had made a move shortly after he learned of his background.
He had initially thought it was because the Peng family head had been keeping an eye on Sunset Villa, but now it seemed to be this Miss Peng's doing!
After understanding the Peng family's influence, he realized he had no way to contend with them, not even with Lishan’s help.
Thinking of his junior sister marrying that prince, he felt that the imperial court might be interested in the Peng family's horse farms, especially since the nomadic tribes in the north were always eyeing them!
A mischievous smile appeared on Luo Yu Xuan's lips. He realized he too had changed, for he needed to adapt to this dark and treacherous society! His junior sister was right, he had indeed been too naive before.
While Lin Yan was the Crown Princess, she utilized her status to do more. For instance, she improved more agricultural tools and textile machinery, had people research high-yield crop varieties, and opened up maritime trade routes.
She even collaborated with the Empress and several princesses to establish schools specifically for women.
These schools offered different specializations based on family background, enabling the women to acquire a skill that would allow them to support themselves after graduation.
Although many noble families looked down upon this Crown Princess, finding her too meddlesome, they still had to send their daughters to the schools.
After all, these were places where the Empress served as the nominal principal, and princesses and daughters of imperial kinsmen were also studying there.
To forge connections with them, they had to enroll their own daughters. However, after some time, they noticed the changes in their daughters.
Upon investigation, they discovered that their daughters were learning not only needlework and womanly virtues but also basic medicine, arithmetic, policies, and laws.
The young women in these schools gained broader perspectives and became more cheerful and resolute. Their conversations shifted from makeup and jewelry to new policies and current events.
Young women who had not attended these schools found themselves lacking common ground with them. Particularly, they also observed that the relationships between their daughters and sisters had improved considerably, with no more petty squabbles or jealous competition.
As girls' schools sprang up in various regions, a new type of vocational school was also established in many places. This initiative was spearheaded by the Crown Prince, who was only a little over ten years old.
The young Crown Prince had always been curious about the martial world his aunt lived in, so he had been practicing martial arts. When he was assigned this task, he was particularly delighted, as it meant he could leave the capital and travel to other places.
The establishment of these vocational schools allowed more poor children to become literate and have more choices. Simultaneously, it led to a more prosperous life for all the citizens.
Within just a few years, the tax revenue of the entire Great Qi multiplied severalfold, with agricultural taxes steadily decreasing. As the imperial court became wealthier, labor services also became paid employment, and many farmers without specialized skills chose to earn money through labor services during their off-seasons.
The entire Great Qi developed rapidly, becoming prosperous and thriving, truly achieving a state where all nations paid tribute. Coupled with the intelligence network of the Tingfeng Tower, no corrupt official could escape their notice, and governance reached an unprecedented level of clarity!
With the assistance of the imperial court, Luo Yu Xuan rebuilt Sunset Villa. At the same time, he exchanged some of Sunset Villa's secret manuals for the imperial court's clandestine help in dealing with the Peng family in the Northwest.
When Sunset Villa was first rebuilt, Peng Xue Zhu came to find him. But he refused to see her. Although he knew she was not directly involved in the extermination of the Luo family, he still couldn't accept her.
It was not until later, when Luo Yu Xuan led his men to attack the Peng family, that Peng Xue Zhu looked at him with disbelief.
"Why?" she murmured.
Her father had promised her that she could be with Luo Yu Xuan, so why had he become her enemy?
They had an engagement, and they were in love, weren't they? But why had it come to this? Why was Luo Yu Xuan treating her like this!
"It's just fate playing tricks. If you want to blame someone, blame your father. He exterminated the Luo family for their wealth. I won't be as ruthless as him; I will spare your lives."
Luo Yu Xuan didn't look at Peng Xue Zhu again. He spared their lives not out of kindness, but because this evil deed could not end just like that.
After the Peng family head and the individuals he had secretly hired were killed, rumors began to circulate in the martial world about the crimes committed by the Peng family head.
One by one, the accounts were shocking! Especially the massacre of Sunset Villa over twenty years ago. It was widely known that the Peng family head and the late master of Sunset Villa had been close friends.
Who would have thought that someone’s true intentions were hidden behind a friendly facade; that one’s best friend would exterminate one's entire family.
The Peng family lost their power and their reputation. At this point, the remaining members of the Peng family finally understood why Luo Yu Xuan had not killed them. Like stray dogs, they could only live in hiding in remote towns.
Luo Yu Xuan later married the daughter of a merchant, and together they managed Sunset Villa. Although he did not become the martial arts alliance leader as in the original storyline, his life brought him peace and contentment.