Chapter 153: Presenting Betrothal Gifts to Marry the Alluring Abbess

It is estimated to take about ten days to return from Jiangcheng to the Su Family Manor in Yanggu County.

Among the children at home, Taohua's child had already reached the full-month milestone. Taohua and Xichun should have already given birth, and Jin Ping'er's child was expected to be born around the time he returned home. In addition, the children of Yilian and Qingqin would also be born successively.

At present, he could obtain 110 points of incense daily on his system panel. Ever since his first child was born, the fetuses in the wombs of his wives and concubines could no longer provide him with incense points; instead, children born thereafter provided incense points according to their innate potential. Among them, Grade A spiritual roots provided 100 points of incense daily. Grade B spiritual roots provided 5 points of incense daily. Grade C spiritual roots provided 0.1 points of incense daily.

Currently, he should only have three children in the world, yielding 110 points of incense daily. This indicated that the spiritual root of one of his children must be Grade A! Su Yang estimated that it was most likely the child of Meihua.

Along the way, Su Yang did not encounter any further trouble, accompanied by Xiaoqian, a second-rank incense deity, who kept him entertained and dispelled his boredom.

...

Things were not nearly as peaceful in the Seven Counties.

Ever since the bull demon occupied Peach Mountain, it issued orders to the magistrates of the seven counties, demanding them to conscript corvée laborers to go to Peach Mountain to repair, plant, and expand the area. In addition, a massive amount of meat was required.

Almost overnight, with the arrival of the bull demon, minor demons across the seven counties flocked to pledge their allegiance to him.

This bull demon's secular name was Niu Dadan. Apart from him, there was also a younger brother named Niu Erdan.

When visiting Yanggu County this day, Niu Erdan caught sight of Abbess Baiyu, who had come out to make purchases, and was immediately captivated. Abbess Baiyu was not yet forty, radiating the charming grace of a mature woman. With refined facial features, she must have been a great beauty in her youth, and the bull demon was instantly mesmerized. He hurriedly made inquiries and learned that the nun's hermitage was located in the backyard of the Su family, that she was known as Abbess Baiyu, and that she had a disciple named Jingxin who had married the master of the Su family. Jingxin was also a great beauty and was currently three months pregnant.

Niu Erdan was overjoyed. He hurriedly returned to Peach Mountain to discuss the matter with his elder brother, taking note of the Su family's background in the process.

"Aside from that peach demon, the master of the Su family only has third-rank strength. We have nothing to fear from him."

"Besides, Master Su has so many wives and concubines; what harm is there in letting one of them go to my younger brother?"

"Go, prepare betrothal gifts and send a formal proposal to that nun. Make sure she brings her former disciple along when she marries over."

Niu Dadan slapped his thigh and laughed, "Little brother, I never took you for such a unique palate. You actually fancy a nun?"

Niu Dadan was thinking entirely from the perspective of the bull demon tribe. Within their clan, it was common practice to cede one's wife to a more powerful bull demon.

"Hehe, brother, I just happen to have a weakness for this flavor...!"

Niu Erdan scratched the back of his head with a trace of awkwardness and said, "Brother, you don't understand the virtues of a nun...!"

Niu Dadan glanced at the peacock vixen by his side and thought to himself, *You are the one who doesn't understand the virtues of your own sister-in-law.*

However, what deeply depressed Niu Dadan was that despite spending so much time with this peacock vixen, she had never allowed him to make any physical progress with her. The peacock vixen did not know where she had picked up human customs, insisting on waiting until the wedding night before consenting.

"Miss Kong, don't you think our wedding banquet should be held together with my younger brother's?" Niu Dadan asked, looking at the peacock vixen in front of him with a face full of anticipation.

The peacock vixen pondered for a moment. A flash of reluctance crossed her clear eyes, but this matter had been dragged out for far too long. If she continued to stall, this bull demon would likely lose patience and resort to force against her. Although she felt deeply reluctant to marry this bull demon, she had no better choices left, so she finally said, "After you marry me, you must keep your promise to avenge my father. You must never forget."

"Naturally, naturally."

Niu Dadan nodded repeatedly, his heart surging with excitement. As long as the peacock vixen was willing to marry him, the matter of revenge could wait until his own strength grew stronger in the future. To go now would simply be courting death.

Looking at the vulgar-featured bull demon before him, covered in black hair and possessing thick limbs, the peacock vixen could not help letting out a long sigh, feeling utterly helpless.

...

The next day.

A procession of betrothal gifts, carried by demons, slowly entered Yanggu County and was placed right in front of the main gate of the Su residence.

This spectacle naturally caught the attention of the townspeople of Yanggu County.

"What are these demons carrying these things here for?"

"It looks like they're delivering betrothal gifts! Look at those items—they're all used for marriage proposals!"

"Betrothal gifts? To whose household? Which family's daughter are these demons trying to marry?"

"What a terrible misfortune! What kind of good end could await any family's daughter who marries these demons?"

The residents of Yanggu County discussed the matter in low voices. The demons, completely uninhibited, shouted loudly to the crowd: "We have come to the Su family to propose marriage and take Abbess Baiyu and her disciple as our brides...!"

These words instantly caused an uproar throughout Yanggu County, like a bomb dropped from the sky.

Everyone knew that Jingxin was a wife and concubine of Master Su, and moreover, she was already pregnant!

This... was this not pure absurdity, an act of bullying others by leveraging power?

The Su family was in grave danger!

...

"What are you playing at?"

Zhao Shu stared at the demons before him, his brows tightly knitted as a trace of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

"Naturally, we are delivering betrothal gifts!"

"The gifts have been delivered, and here is the formal proposal letter. Hand them all over to your master."

"We shall take our leave now."

As soon as the leading third-rank demon finished speaking, he immediately led the horde of demons away from Yanggu County, leaving the betrothal gifts and the proposal letter behind.

Looking at the proposal letter in his hand, Zhao Shu instantly felt an ominous premonition rising in his heart.

"Master Zhao, what about these betrothal gifts?" a servant at the entrance asked. "How should we handle them?"

"Leave them here for now. I am going to report this to the Mistress."

Clutching the proposal letter, Zhao Shu hurried into the inner courtyard and handed it to Zhang Qingshi.

Zhang Qingshi was the head mistress of the household. Whenever Su Yang was away, all matters naturally rested entirely on her decision. At that moment, she was inside Xichun's room to check on Xichun's newborn child, along with several other wives and concubines of the household.

"A proposal letter?"

Hearing Zhao Shu's words, Zhang Qingshi also frowned deeply. She slowly unfolded the letter and, upon reading its contents, a flash of anger and displeasure immediately crossed her eyes.

"Elder Sister, what does it say inside?" Zhao Hongyuan asked, cradling her four-month pregnant belly.

"That's right, Elder Sister, what kind of proposal letter is it? Our family doesn't seem to have any daughters of marriageable age, and even if it were for a son, isn't it far too early?" asked Li Doukou, supporting her seven-month pregnant belly.

"Have a look yourselves!"

Knowing that this matter could not be concealed and needed to be dealt with swiftly, Zhang Qingshi handed the proposal letter to the wives and concubines gathered around her to read one by one.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy and froze.

Anger surfaced on everyone's faces as they spoke out: "This bull demon is simply too arrogant! It's one thing to come and propose to Abbess Baiyu, but how dare they drag Sister Jingxin into this as well? Do they not know that Sister Jingxin is already our master's concubine?"

"Elder Sister, we must never agree to this bull demon's demands. Otherwise, where will our family's dignity and honor be placed? Wouldn't our master be driven to fury upon his return?"

"The master went off for the imperial examinations, and we don't know how many days before he returns. This letter says they will come to collect the brides in ten days. We must think of a way."

"That bull demon possesses second-rank strength, while the master and I are only at the third rank. Furthermore, I am currently pregnant, and that bull demon also has several third-rank subordinates under his command. Our Su family is afraid this time...!"

Tao'er, who had been driven down from Peach Mountain, wore an extremely grim expression on her face.

"What is there to be afraid of?"

"Would that pack of demons dare to storm into the city and snatch people away?"

"Precisely, Elder Sister! At worst, we stop doing business, stop going out of the city, and simply wait for the master to return and make the decision. Those demons wouldn't dare to run amok inside the city...!"