Bai Zheng knew that the two elders were boosting her courage, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She replied with a smile, "With His Highness the King of Wen and the Grand Duke here, Zheng'er is not afraid."
"Girl, you've forgotten A Yuan again!" The Grand Duke let out a hearty laugh.
Everyone immediately burst into laughter.
Amidst the banter, a young man stepped into the main hall under the guidance of Bai Fu.
Bai Zheng was standing behind Bai Yinan. She looked up.
The man was tall and straight. Beneath his seemingly calm eyes lurked a sharp, hawk - like gaze, which made his chiseled and handsome face with deep features even more imposing.
"I'm Zhuo Lingxiao. Greetings to Lord Bai, the Marquis of Dingyuan, and to the two... gentlemen."
Evidently well - trained, even though he didn't recognize the King of Wen and the Grand Duke Zhou, Zhuo Lingxiao, the Crown Prince of the Prince of Xuanning, still strictly followed the etiquette of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He bowed to the people in the hall one by one until his gaze fell on Bai Zheng.
Zhuo Lingxiao's eyes became even sharper. He sized up Bai Zheng without any hesitation for a while before slowly saying,
"Is this the future wife of the Marquis of Dingyuan, Miss Bai Zheng?"
Facing Zhuo Lingxiao's inquisitive gaze, Bai Zheng acted as if she didn't notice. She stepped forward with a smile and returned the greeting, "Bai Zheng. Greetings to the Crown Prince."
A strange look flashed across Zhuo Lingxiao's eyes. After a long while, he suddenly burst into laughter, "Marquis, you really have good taste. This young lady seems to be a formidable character."
Feng Linyuan smiled faintly, "Zheng'er is timid. Your Highness, don't scare her."
Zhuo Lingxiao laughed heartily, "Marquis, rest assured. How could I be a man who doesn't know how to cherish the fairer sex? The future Marchioness is elegant and generous. She is definitely not as timid as the Marquis described. In fact, she is very well - matched with the gift our Great Liang has prepared."
Bai Yinan said with a timely smile, "Your Highness, you flatter her. My daughter is just extremely lucky to marry into the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion. She only bears the title of the Marchioness in name. In fact, she's just an innocent girl. How could we trouble Your Highness to come from afar to present a gift?"
Zhuo Lingxiao gave Bai Zheng a meaningful look, "Everyone will know after seeing it. Whether Miss Bai deserves this gift from our Great Liang or not."
Hearing this, Bai Zheng had a bad feeling.
Zhuo Lingxiao clapped his hands gently. A man in the guise of a guard came up, holding a long and narrow carved wooden box in his hands.
"Is this the gift Your Highness has prepared for my daughter?" Bai Yinan glanced at it and asked.
Zhuo Lingxiao nodded. He stared intently at Bai Zheng with burning eyes. He waved his hand, "Miss Bai, why don't you open it and take a look yourself?"
Bai Zheng looked at the shape of the box. She knew in her heart that this gift was probably not an ordinary piece of jewelry. After pondering for a moment, she raised her eyes, winked at Zhuo Lingxiao, and showed a smile, "Then Bai Zheng won't be polite."
Saying so, she stepped forward.
Bai Yinan instinctively wanted to stop her. Then he saw Feng Linyuan looking calm, and the King of Wen and the Grand Duke Zhou also showing no signs of unease. Remembering what they had said just now, he finally calmed down.
Yes, no matter how bold and reckless Zhuo Lingxiao was, he wouldn't dare to make a move against Bai Zheng at this moment.
Bai Zheng stretched out her finger, hooked the lock on the wooden box, and then looked up at Zhuo Lingxiao.
Zhuo Lingxiao nodded slightly. Only then did Bai Zheng open the wooden box.
Suddenly, a biting cold air hit her face.
In the exquisite carved wooden box, a long sword lay there.
Seeing the sword, Feng Linyuan's face changed slightly.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard the King of Wen say in a deep voice, "On the happy occasion of the Marquis's wedding, why does Your Highness present such a thing?"
The Grand Duke Zhou thought for a while and said with a smile, "Maybe the customs of the Western Liang are different from ours in the Great Zhou, which has led to this misunderstanding. Your Highness may not know that in our Great Zhou, a sword is a deadly weapon and an inauspicious object. On a happy occasion, Your Highness, please take this sword back."
Bai Yinan quickly said, "Yes, we can't accept this gift. We appreciate Your Highness's kindness, but the item..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Zhuo Lingxiao, "A deadly weapon and inauspicious?!"
He raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Bai Yinan casually, "This is a gift that our Great Liang has painstakingly searched for to congratulate the Marquis on his happy occasion. I didn't expect that none of you here could recognize what kind of precious sword this is?"
Sensing the veiled contempt in Zhuo Lingxiao's tone, Bai Zheng's heart skipped a beat. She looked closely at the sword in the box.
The long sword had a simple and ancient appearance. It was black all over. The scabbard was covered with diamond - shaped dark patterns, which were sharp and clear. The sword hilt carved with a golden phoenix was majestic and solemn. Although the sword body was hidden in the scabbard, one could still feel the chilling killing aura.
This was obviously an unparalleled precious sword that could devour blood for thousands of miles once it was unsheathed.
"Even if others don't recognize it, I think you, the Marquis of Dingyuan, should recognize it, right?" Zhuo Lingxiao looked at Feng Linyuan with a half - smile.
Hearing this, everyone looked at Feng Linyuan, who had remained silent all along.
"Could it be..." The King of Wen suddenly thought of something, "Is this the Feng Yin Sword?"
Zhuo Lingxiao said with a beaming smile, "Correct. This is exactly the Feng Yin Sword."
The faces of everyone in the hall immediately changed.
The Feng Yin Sword was the sword of the old Marquis Feng Zhen. Or rather, it was the weapon that the successive Marquis of Dingyuan in the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion had carried with them on the battlefield.
It was said that once the Feng Yin Sword appeared, the situation would change.
As the most famous sword in the Great Zhou, the Feng Yin Sword was no less renowned than any other heirloom famous sword. Every year, there were countless assassins who broke into the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion for this sword.
As a treasure passed down in the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion, it was bestowed by the founding emperor of the Great Zhou, who was the elder brother of the first Marquis of Dingyuan.
It had accompanied the successive Marquis of Dingyuan in their conquests across the world and was invincible. No one could tell how many people it had killed and how much blood it had drunk.
Until seven years ago, when the old Marquis Feng Zhen died in the Battle of Yan City and Feng Linyuan was seriously injured and had no intention of taking care of it, the Feng Yin Sword disappeared without a trace.
Many people had searched for it both openly and secretly, but it had never been found again.
In this case, this gift was indeed the most suitable one for the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion and also the one that showed the greatest sincerity of the Western Liang.
Seeing everyone's expressions, Zhuo Lingxiao said contentedly, "After hearing that the Feng Yin Sword was lost, my father was extremely anxious. He spent a great deal of manpower and effort before he finally found this sword. It's just right to return it to its original owner on the happy occasion of the Marquis of Dingyuan's wedding."
Bai Yinan stood up and bowed to Zhuo Lingxiao. His face was solemn as he said, "We really have to thank Your Highness for such a generous gift."
The Feng Yin Sword could even be regarded as a national treasure of the Great Zhou.
By presenting such a gift, Zhuo Lingxiao would not only win the gratitude of the Bai Mansion but also that of the entire Great Zhou.
"Marquis, are you satisfied with my gift?" Seeing that Feng Linyuan, who should have been the happiest, was expressionless at the moment, Zhuo Lingxiao couldn't help but ask.
Only then did Feng Linyuan show a gentle smile, "Naturally. Please convey my gratitude to the Prince of Xuanning on my behalf. I will always remember the Prince's kindness."
Bai Zheng also nodded and said, "Bai Zheng is also extremely grateful. Uncle Fu, quickly put this sword away and keep it properly."
Hearing this, Bai Fu immediately stepped forward. Just as he was about to take the sword box, he was blocked back by Zhuo Lingxiao.
"Wait a minute."