Above the Galaxy

Minister Su Zhenlie is exerting even more effort, leading a group of government officials and hawkish scholars to extol the various advantages and feasibility of the 'abdication' system, clearing obstacles for the Shen Family's ascension...

His words and actions are totally mismatched with his name.

With a group of guards surrounding him, Shen Wuxiang stepped out of the car, took the initiative to shake Sheng Jing's large hand, and said apologetically, "Sorry for making you wait, Brother Sheng."

"Brother Wu Xiang, your gracious arrival adds luster to my humble abode. I'm glad to wait as long as it takes." Sheng Jing replied courteously, "My wife personally cooked a few dishes. Please have a taste, Brother Wu Xiang, and see if they are to your palate?"

"Sorry for the trouble. Sorry for the trouble. I came by unexpectedly; how could I trouble your wife to cook personally?"

After shaking hands, at Sheng Jing's invitation, the two entered the courtyard and sat down in the dining room as host and guest.

The servant brought various small dishes and soups, which were evidently appetizing in color, aroma, and taste, full of the flavors of home-cooked warmth, definitely not the work of cooking robots.

"Brother Wu Xiang, shall we drink white today?"

"White. What do men drink wine for? Like a weakling. I love white spirits; bold and fragrant. One sip makes me feel transparent all over." Shen Wuxiang, being from a military background, preferred strong spirits.

He always found wine and sherry to be mild sweet water, never bothering to glance at them.

"Brother Wu Xiang knows his drinks. I happen to have a bottle of Xi Ferng from the Blue Star era... Shall we finish it together today?"

"Absolutely." Shen Wuxiang smiled greedily and said, "This is a good thing, rare and precious."

Sheng Jing opened the bottle, poured a glass for each, and said, "This glass, I toast to Brother Wu Xiang."

"Toast to what?"

"The guest is a guest, and Brother Wu Xiang is the most distinguished among distinguished guests." Sheng Jing replied, "A toast to the most honored guest of my Sheng Family."

"This drink must be had." Shen Wuxiang raised his glass to clink with Sheng Jing's.

Both raised their heads and drank their glasses dry.

Sheng Jing refilled their glasses, but before he could raise his glass, Shen Wu Xiang preempted him: "This glass is for our twenty years of camaraderie serving in the same court."

Sheng Jing couldn't refuse and had to raise his glass, saying, "Cheers."

Both again drained their glasses dry.

Sheng Jing's capacity for alcohol wasn't strong, and after two consecutive drinks, he was straining to keep up, quickly suggesting, "Come, eat, let's eat. Try my wife's cooking."

"Great. I'm lucky to taste something good today." Shen Wuxiang finally picked up his chopsticks.

After eating braised ribs, steamed large threadfin, and New Star's unique leafy greens, Shen Wuxiang praised them, saying, "Home-cooked meals are the best; the tasteless stuff outside is no better than pig feed."

"That's because Brother Wu Xiang has had too many exotic dishes, occasionally changing the taste feels refreshing and delightful."

"Home-cooked meals have the flavor of the pot, the warmth of the hearth, and the spirit of family unity. How can outside compare? I've heard Brother Sheng never eats out or socializes, and it seems to make sense."

"I'm just not skilled in socializing, so I decline those invitations." Sheng Jing explained.

After having a few bites and a bowl of seafood soup, Sheng Jing finally raised his glass, saying, "Come, let me toast another to Brother Wu Xiang."

Shen Wuxiang pressed down his glass and said, "I have a request; if Brother Sheng won't agree, I cannot drink this third glass no matter what."

"Oh?" Sheng Jing grew cautious, yet maintained composure, smiling, "Let's hear it, Brother Wu Xiang."

"I heard Brother Sheng has a daughter of unmatched beauty, rated by the admirer Jie Wencai as 'aroma beyond aroma, beauty beyond beauty'. May I be allowed to meet her?"

"May I know why Brother Wu Xiang wants to see my young lady?" Sheng Jing asked in puzzlement.

"Brother Sheng, you know I have a grandson who's not living up to expectations named Xing Lan. He's of age but obsessed with martial arts, never considering settling down."

"As a grandpa, I'm anxious, and I thought of the Sheng Family's daughter... If the two families could form an alliance through marriage, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"..."

Sheng Jing contemplated silently.

He didn't expect Shen Wuxiang would have such an idea; proposing a marriage alliance to tie the Sheng Family to their ambitions.

For a regular family, it's naturally a hundred times welcome.

That's Shen Xinglan, the Kirin of the Shen Family, a prodigy.

Not yet twenty, he broke into the Mountain Gate and ascended to the Grandmaster Realm...

Such feats could dazzle countless people.

But, could he agree to this marriage proposal?

He knew who his daughter's heart was set on.

Moreover, does aligning with the Shen Family serve the interests of the Sheng Family?

If he doesn't agree...

How would he explain to Shen Wuxiang?

Seeing Sheng Jing's prolonged silence, Shen Wuxiang's smile gradually faded, picking up a peanut and crunching loudly, as if he bore deep grudges: "What's this? Does the Zanying Clan disdain our small households?"

"There's no aristocracy in front of the Shen Family." Sheng Jing immediately denied, saying, "I'm just considering the difference in generations? Aren't the two young ones' ages too far apart?"

"If I remember correctly, Xing Lan is only twenty-one now? While Xin Huai is already twenty-seven, soon to turn twenty-eight in two months. That's several years older than Xing Lan, is that appropriate?"

Although Sheng Jing and Shen Wuxiang referred to each other as 'Brother', it was merely a respectful term in political circles.

In reality, Shen Wuxiang was much older than Sheng Jing, and Sheng Xin Huai was seven to eight years older than Shen Xing Lan...

According to the 'brotherly' term between Shen Wuxiang and Sheng Jing, Shen Xing Lan should call Sheng Xin Huai 'aunt'.

"What's the problem?" Shen Wuxiang said nonchalantly, "An old saying goes, 'a woman older by three years is like holding a gold brick'. Xin Huai being six years older than Xing Lan means holding two gold bricks. I think it's perfectly suited."

Sheng Jing smiled wryly and said, "My daughter has been spoiled by me; she's very assertive and always insists on handling her own matters. Whether this will work out, she has to make the decision herself."

"No problem. You talk to her first; I believe she's a smart child, and she will choose the right man for herself." Shen Wuxiang hinted.

"Hopefully so."

Only then did Shen Wuxiang raise his glass, saying, "Come, come, let's drink to this fate. Perhaps in a while, we'll become one family."

Sheng Jing raised his glass to clink with him and then drank it all down.

As the white spirit went down his throat, it tasted clearer and more bitter than the previous two glasses.

After escorting Shen Wuxiang out, Mei Yuyin and Sheng Xin Huai came downstairs.

"Why did he come?" Mei Yuyin asked, unceremoniously.

She had no fondness for Shen Wuxiang; regardless of the diplomatic facade, ever since their internment by the Security Bureau, conflict was inevitable.

Sheng Jing recounted Shen Wuxiang's request, and Mei Yuyin and Sheng Xin Huai exchanged worried glances.

"Just sent away Shen Lewen, now it's Shen Xinglan... Why are Shen Family members haunting us endlessly?" Mei Yuyin said angrily.

Days ago, Shen Jianping led his son Shen Lewen to propose marriage, which Sheng Jing rejected.

Not long afterward, Shen Lewen was poisoned in a business KTV...

Now, Shen Wuxiang represents Shen Xinglan to propose marriage.

In Mei Yuyin's eyes, Shen Family men were especially targeting their daughter.

This thought, placed in other Phoenix City wealthy families, was infuriating.

They eagerly wanted their daughters to marry into the Shen Family, yet here was someone desperately pushing them away...

Sheng Jing looked at Sheng Xin Huai, asking, "What do you think?"

"Wasn't Shen Xinglan disfigured? Tell Shen Wu Xiang I suffer from the aversion to the unsightly... seeing something ugly makes me lose appetite, nauseous to the point of vomiting..."

"..."

"Isn't it inappropriate to say such things?"

"What do you think?"