I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

As evening fell, Shen Xian lay alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the night sky.

With the Ye family now involved, the Shen family wouldn’t dare to act too recklessly. In the end, the final decision would likely fall to Ye Qingxian herself.

So, for the most part, the matter was settled.

However…

Shen Li had lost all face today. Given his temperament, he certainly wouldn’t let this go.

It seemed some preparations were in order.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Mo Lan and Mo Zhu standing just outside the courtyard gate. The two had been forcefully assigned to him by Shen Li, clearly to keep him under surveillance.

If he wanted to make any moves, he’d have to do it without alerting those two pairs of eyes.

Just then, a noble figure appeared at the gate.

“Madam!” Mo Lan and Mo Zhu immediately bowed in greeting.

Nangong Wan, dressed in a cloud-green gown, stepped into the courtyard. Shen Xian quickly rose to his feet. “Mother, what brings you here?”

“I came to see you,” Nangong Wan replied, her smile tender.

She gestured for him to sit, then said softly, “You handled today’s matter very well.”

She was referring to him inviting the Matriarch of the Ye family.

Shen Xian chuckled. “I’m afraid you’re the only one who thinks so.”

His actions had completely derailed the plans of the family’s upper echelon. They were probably cursing his name in their hearts.

“Pay them no mind,” Nangong Wan said. “As long as I am here, they won’t dare to lay a hand on you.”

“What about Second Brother?” Shen Xian met her gaze, deliberately speaking aloud instead of using a spiritual transmission, hoping Mo Lan and Mo Zhu could overhear.

Nangong Wan’s expression shifted subtly, and she fell silent.

Today, her second son’s behavior had been a profound disappointment. He had shown an almost complete disregard for familial bonds.

“Your Second Brother has always been highly regarded by your father, ever since he was a child. He’s just… a bit cold-hearted,” she hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

Both sons were her own flesh and blood. Asking her to punish one for the sake of the other was an impossible choice.

“Mother, say no more. I understand,” Shen Xian interrupted, looking at her earnestly. “This is a matter between us brothers. We should be the ones to resolve it.”

Nangong Wan looked at her youngest son, her face etched with guilt.

Unsure of what else to say, she changed the subject. “Xian’er, the Ancestral Ceremony is approaching. I came to tell you that if you don’t wish to attend, you don’t have to force yourself.”

The purpose of the Ancestral Ceremony was to gain the approval of the clan’s ancestral formation. This would allow family members to enter the ancestral grounds for protection should the family ever face utter destruction.

But the ceremony was not without its dangers. Considering her youngest son’s limited lifespan, it made little difference whether he received the formation’s approval or not.

That was why she didn’t want him to take the risk.

“No!” Shen Xian refused unexpectedly, his voice serious. “Mother, I will attend.”

Before, he might have skipped it.

But now, his perspective had changed.

Shen Li would undoubtedly attend the Ancestral Ceremony; it was a crucial step in securing his position as the heir.

But what if Shen Li failed to gain the formation’s approval?

The future heir’s reputation would be in tatters.

After the humiliation Shen Li had put him through today, Shen Xian had already decided to kill him. This Ancestral Ceremony was merely the first step in his retaliation.

Next, he would make Shen Li understand the consequences of crossing him.

“Since you’re determined to go, I won’t say any more,” Nangong Wan relented.

At that moment, Shen Xian abruptly changed the topic. “Mother, with the Ancestral Ceremony so close, I’d like to request a protective magical formation.”

Nangong Wan frowned slightly. “Xian’er, why the sudden need for a formation?”

“My cultivation is still shallow,” Shen Xian said, glancing meaningfully toward the courtyard gate. “I must have some way to protect myself.”

Nangong Wan followed his gaze and saw the faint outlines of Mo Lan and Mo Zhu outside the gate. A flicker of understanding flashed in her eyes.

She was well aware that Shen Li had sent them.

She hadn’t thought much of it before, but now, she couldn’t help but reconsider its implications.

She sighed softly. “I have been negligent. Tomorrow, you may go to the Treasure Pavilion and choose a suitable formation.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Shen Xian’s eyes gleamed, but he feigned hesitation. “But… what will Second Brother say?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Nangong Wan’s voice turned cold. “I will speak to him personally. You go and choose the very best one.”

She paused, then lowered her voice. “At the Ancestral Ceremony, if anyone dares to play any tricks…”

Shen Xian smiled knowingly. “Your son understands.”

As Nangong Wan rose to leave, her sleeve brushed past him, and a jade talisman slipped silently into his palm.

She sent a spiritual message directly to his mind, “This token will allow you to select several additional treasures.”

The Ancestral Ceremony was a serious affair, and she would not allow anything to happen to her youngest son.

After his mother left, Shen Xian toyed with the smooth jade talisman, a cold smile curling his lips.

He gazed at the two blurry figures outside the courtyard and murmured, “The Ancestral Ceremony… the real show is just beginning.”

…

The next day, Shen Xian made his way to the family’s Treasure Pavilion.

The Treasure Pavilion stood deep within the misty mountains behind the Shen estate, constructed entirely from millennia-old mystical ironwood. Its seven-tiered eaves were adorned with thirty-six bronze bells that chimed crisply, though there was no wind.

Each bell was engraved with intricate runes that shimmered with a faint golden light in the sun.

Shen Xian ascended the staircase, each of its green jade steps etched with defensive formations.

Twelve stone statues flanked the steps, each one so lifelike their eyes seemed to glow with a dangerous red light.

These were guardian puppets crafted by generations of Shen ancestors, each said to possess the strength of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

“Third Young Master, please halt.”

Two gray-robed elders materialized silently before the pavilion gates.

The elder on the left had a gaunt face and wore a bronze ring on his right index finger, inscribed with the words “Pavilion Guardian.”

The elder on the right was stooped, with a string of bronze keys hanging from his waist, each key engraved with different runes.

Shen Xian produced the jade token his mother had given him. “I’ve come to select a few items.”

The gaunt elder took the token, his fingertips glowing with spiritual energy as he verified its authenticity.

Once the verification was complete, both elders stepped aside in unison. “Third Young Master, you may proceed.”

“Third Young Master, would you like this old man to accompany you?” the elder on the left asked.

After all, the young master had never visited the Treasure Pavilion before and was likely unfamiliar with its contents.

“No need. I’ll look around on my own,” Shen Xian replied.

Though it was his first time here, he had thoroughly studied the family’s ancient texts and knew the layout of the Treasure Pavilion quite well.

And with that, the two elders vanished.

Shen Xian entered the Treasure Pavilion alone.

What he hadn’t anticipated, however, was running into the one person he least wanted to see.

“Third Brother, have you also come to select treasures?” Shen Li asked with a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Shen Xian had no time for his games and turned to leave.

But Shen Li continued, his voice following him. “Third Brother, are you still upset about yesterday? Your elder brother was only acting in the family’s best interests.”

Hearing this, Shen Xian froze. He turned around slowly, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Second Brother, does your face still ache?”

Shen Li’s eyes instantly turned to ice.