Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts-Chapter 458 - The Marriage Decree.

The old man’s voice slowly spread through the courtyard.

Everyone raised their heads and looked over.

They saw an elderly man slowly rising to his feet, with a young girl wearing a bamboo hat following closely behind him. Step by step, they made their way toward Old Madam Xu.

Most of the people who had entered the Xu residence were dressed in refined and dignified attire.

However, this old man’s clothing could no longer be described as merely “ordinary”—it was even somewhat tattered.

Yet, despite this, the old man exuded an extraordinary presence.

The young woman following closely behind him carried an air of noble aloofness.

Seeing the old man approaching step by step, Wu Yanhan wanted to stand up, but Xu Ming held onto her small hand and shook his head. “No rush, let’s wait and see.”

At another table, Li Han and the others also intended to rise, but Yu Ping’an pressed them down. “Let’s wait and watch. No need to be hasty.”

Li Han and his companions glanced at Brother Xu’s table and noticed that Xu Ming remained exceptionally calm.

Then, they turned to look at Mr. Cao.

Mr. Cao was still sipping his wine, appearing completely at ease.

Since even Mr. Cao looked so composed, it meant that he must have confidence in the situation.

Moreover, if anything were to happen, Brother Xu would be the first to act. All they needed to do was pay attention to his movements. Acting rashly could end up ruining whatever Brother Xu had planned.

The rest of the people in the courtyard murmured among themselves, discussing who this person could be.

Old Madam Xu slowly sat back down in her chair.

She felt that this person looked somewhat familiar, but the memories were too distant. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall them.

The old man stepped in front of Madam Xu and bowed respectfully. “I am Liu Feng. I have come to present a gift to Old Madam Xu.”

“Liu Feng...”

Old Madam Xu silently repeated the name in her heart. A memory seemed to be surfacing, yet she still couldn’t grasp it.

It wasn’t just Old Madam Xu—many officials in the residence also found the name familiar, as if they had heard it somewhere before.

“Liu Feng...”

“Liu Feng...”

“Could he be that Mr. Liu?”

Wu Yanhan repeated the name, and suddenly, her eyes lit up, as if she had just recalled something.

“You recognize him?” Xu Ming asked. He had never heard this name before.

As Wu Yanhan recalled the name, Old Madam Xu and several high-ranking officials of Wu Kingdom all remembered as well.

“I don’t know him personally, but I’ve heard of him.”

Wu Yanhan’s gaze became wary as she looked at the old man.

“The first Prime Minister of Wu Kingdom was also named Liu Feng.”

Xu Ming: “???”

Wu Yanhan continued, “Back then, Liu Feng was hailed as the greatest strategist of the land. Not only was he capable of devising plans within a command tent, but he could also fight on the battlefield himself. Our ancestor was able to conquer such vast lands and establish Wu Kingdom, largely thanks to this Mr. Liu.

“And Prince Shan was his disciple.

“But during the struggle for the throne, Liu Feng chose a side—the side of Prince Shan.

“After Liu Feng took his stand, many others followed him in supporting Prince Shan.

“At that time, Prince Shan’s chances of winning were indeed very high. Yet in the end, he still lost.

“As for how exactly Prince Shan failed? The historical records do not say. To be honest, even looking at it now, I still don’t see how he could have lost.

“After Prince Shan’s defeat, Liu Feng and several court ministers vanished without a trace. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and even my father all sent people to search for him, but to no avail.

“Some say he secluded himself in the mountains, abandoning worldly affairs to focus on cultivation. Others say he went to the Northern Wastelands.

“If he really is that Mr. Liu, then this is his first appearance in nearly three hundred years.”

Xu Ming was somewhat surprised. “Yanhan, you seem to hold this Mr. Liu in high regard.”

Wu Yanhan had always looked down upon the remnants of Prince Shan’s faction.

It wasn’t that she disdained the court officials who had participated in the struggle for the throne, but rather that she despised those who, even after their defeat, continued to stir up trouble.

Wu Kingdom was now stable and growing stronger by the day, yet these people were still causing disturbances.

Were they doing this for their own selfish desires, or for the people of Wu Kingdom?

But when speaking of this particular man, Wu Yanhan consistently referred to him as “Mister.”

Wu Yanhan was proud and had high standards—there were very few people she would ever address as “Mister.”

She nodded. “Although we stood on opposing sides, we cannot deny Mr. Liu’s contributions to Wu Kingdom. Without him, Wu Kingdom as we know it today might not even exist.”

Xu Ming asked again, “What realm is this Mr. Liu at?”

Wu Yanhan shook her head. “It is said that over two hundred years ago, he was a Jade Purity realm Confucian scholar.”

Xu Ming let out a slight breath of relief.

After reaching the Golden Core realm, progress in cultivation slowed significantly. And once one reached the Upper Five Realms, every step forward became an immense struggle.

If he was at the Jade Purity realm two hundred years ago, then logically speaking, he should still be at the Jade Purity realm now.

And Mr. Cao was already at the peak of the Jade Purity realm.

By that logic, there shouldn’t be much of a problem—Mr. Cao should be able to handle this former Prime Minister Liu.

But would a Jade Purity realm cultivator really dare expose himself in the capital of Wuguo (Wu Kingdom)?

More than his cultivation, his identity was even more significant.

So what was his real purpose?

Now that he had come, it was unlikely he would be able to leave.

“Sir, you are Liu Feng—the former Prime Minister Liu?” Old Madam Xu gazed at the elderly man before her and slowly spoke.

Liu Feng bowed and said, “Indeed, I am. I did not expect that you would still remember me. May I ask, how have you fared over the years, Old Madam?”

Old Madam Xu looked at this old acquaintance from the past and said, “Unlike you cultivators, this old woman does not have many days left. And don’t call me Old Madam Xu—you are far older than me.”

Liu Feng chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of roguish charm. “Calling you Old Madam Xu is just my way of showing respect, is it not?”

“Hah.” Old Madam Xu regarded him calmly. The usual muddleheaded old woman was gone, her eyes now sharp and calculating. “I wonder, Mr. Liu, what brings you to my Xu residence today? My humble home is hardly worthy of receiving such a distinguished guest.”

Liu Feng reached into his sleeve and took out an envelope. “I have come to deliver a gift to Old Madam Xu. I hope you will not find it displeasing.”

Old Madam Xu eyed the envelope in his hands but did not immediately take it. “And what might this be?”

Liu Feng smiled and slowly spoke two words:

“Marriage decree.”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel