Section 36: Yuwen Wan’er and the Marriage Recruitment Drive
By Author: Gu Zhenren
February 9, 2013
Yuwen Wan’er is sixteen years old.
On Mermaid Island, sixteen is considered quite old, an age at which one should already be married. If a woman exceeds this age without being married, she is forbidden to marry for the rest of her life. This has been a tradition in the Mermaid Kingdom for tens of thousands of years.
This tradition was gradually falling out of favor. However, during the reign of the Mermaid King, a decree was issued that revived and even amplified this tradition. Now, on Mermaid Island, young girls as young as fourteen or fifteen begin planning for marriage. In the eyes of the Merfolk, a sixteen-year-old girl is already considered an old maid.
This isn’t due to any harsh rule by the Mermaid King, but is a consequence of Mermaid Island’s unique circumstances.
Mermaid Island suffers from a severe imbalance between its male and female populations, leading to a lack of population growth. The vast majority of newborns are female, with only one or two being male. In earlier years, Mermaid Island’s population even experienced negative growth. If this continued, the population would dwindle, and the kingdom would cease to exist – a grave consequence.
The Mermaid King encourages and promotes this tradition out of necessity. Every year, she holds a nationwide marriage recruitment drive, attracting talented young men from other regions to marry the women of the Mermaid Kingdom.
The women of the Mermaid Kingdom are highly regarded in Xingzhou. Along with the women of Anding Kingdom, they are considered the dual gems of Xingzhou, each with their unique charms. Every year, a large number of young men travel great distances to Mermaid Island to showcase their talents and wed a mermaid beauty.
The Mermaid King has issued multiple decrees over time, encouraging young people from other lands to settle on Mermaid Island.
Naturally, if a couple wishes to move abroad, the Mermaid Kingdom does not compel them to stay. However, they are required to have at least two children who will be raised by the Mermaid Kingdom.
This policy has been in effect for decades, and Mermaid Island’s population has shown vigorous growth. Nevertheless, due to the Mermaid Kingdom’s inherently weak foundation, the scarcity of people relative to the land persists to this day.
“Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.” The Mermaid King strictly adheres to this principle, ensuring even her own blood relatives follow this policy, lest she lose the respect of her people.
Therefore, even though Yuwen Wan’er holds royal status, she must participate in the marriage recruitment drive upon reaching sixteen years of age.
“Will I be married today at this marriage recruitment drive? From now on, I will live with a complete stranger? Perhaps we will grow old together, perhaps we will live in polite companionship, or perhaps we will become strangers in each other’s lives…” As she walked along the palace corridors, Yuwen Wan’er felt a profound uncertainty about her future.
She was dressed in a moon-blue silk gown, her pure and elegant demeanor resembling the bright moon over Jiangnan. She glided with graceful steps, as if she had stepped out of a beautiful painting of spring blossoms and gentle rain.
Her dark hair, like a cascading spring, was tied into a simple bun. Even for the marriage recruitment drive, there were no pearl or jade ornaments in her hair, revealing her usual simple style.
Her eyebrows were like delicate willow smoke, her eyes like clear bright moons, her nose delicately elegant, and her skin had a radiant glow. Her skin was like congealed fat, so delicate it could be broken by a puff of air. In the sunlight, her jade-like body shimmered, like a fairy from Mount Lu.
Her figure was exquisite, her spirit refined and elegant, exuding an aura of scholarly refinement. Yet, there was also an elusive, lingering trace of melancholy that seemed to emanate from her.
Three years ago, a chance encounter allowed her to escape the clutches of the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen. The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen was astonished by her beauty, finding it bore a striking resemblance to her own appearance in her youth. After discreet inquiries, she discovered that Yuwen Wan’er was, in fact, her granddaughter.
This was an extraordinary twist of fate. Yuwen Wan’er also learned her true parentage, and her life underwent a profound transformation. The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, nearing her end, showered her with boundless affection.
Regarding this marriage recruitment drive, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen had pleaded with her countless times, but Yuwen Wan’er remained resolute.
She had her own reasons. The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen believed she wanted to repay the Mermaid King for raising her and to uphold the Mermaid Kingdom’s ancient tradition. In reality, her true intention was to prevent further conflict between the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen and the Mermaid King because of her. The Mermaid King had raised her, and the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen was her blood relative. Caught between them, she would rather sacrifice herself than see either of them harmed or killed.
Just as the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen sighed, she was indeed too kind-hearted.
“Have you heard? Quite a few talented young men have come for this marriage recruitment drive,” a group of young women whispered. “Yes, I heard that Leng Moming, the future master of Yan King Sword Mansion, Gui Li, the successor of Nine Nether City, Meng Fei, the Little Prince of Mengyuan Kingdom, and Sun Yan, the young master of the Molten Gang, are all participating in this royal marriage recruitment drive.”
“These four young lords are the hot favorites this year. If I could be fortunate enough to marry one of them, I would die without regret.”
“Alas, with our capabilities, it’s probably out of the question. Not only will the young talents compete amongst themselves, but we must also showcase our own talents. By then, the third princess, sixth princess, and thirteenth princess, who are direct descendants, will surely stand out and shine brightly. What chance do we have with the Four Young Lords?”
“Oh, look! Isn’t that Sister Wan’er up ahead? What a coincidence, running into you here,” a group of young girls called out, their voices melodious, as they hurried over from behind.
Yuwen Wan’er turned her head and smiled gently. Her smile blossomed like pear blossoms, fresh and ethereal, illuminating the corridor. In her uniquely soft tone, she replied, “Greetings, younger sisters. It is indeed fitting that we meet, as I too am participating in this marriage recruitment drive.” Seeing Yuwen Wan’er’s clear and beautiful smile, all the young girls’ eyes involuntarily flashed with a hint of jealousy.
“Oh dear, I just remembered! Sister Wan’er is already sixteen years old this year, so it’s no wonder she’s participating in the recruitment drive,” one exclaimed. “Speaking of which, why is Sister Wan’er still dressed so plainly? This is the annual royal marriage recruitment drive; it would be good to at least wear some pearls or jade hairpins.”
“Although we will all wear masks to conceal our faces during the recruitment drive, our attire and jewelry cannot be hidden. This is our primary way of showcasing our charm! If we fail to be chosen, the consequences are unimaginable.”
The young women chattered animatedly.
Yuwen Wan’er shook her head slightly and smiled, “I seldom wear such things. Besides, even if I am not chosen, it doesn’t matter. Yuwen Wan’er will still be Yuwen Wan’er, and life will remain as stable and unchanging as ever.”
“Heh heh heh, Sister Wan’er, we’ll go on ahead. We still need to touch up our makeup before participating in the recruitment drive.”
“Yes, yes, Sister Wan’er, hurry up! The recruitment drive is a major event.”
The young women said with twinkling eyes.
“Alright, I’ll see you all at the recruitment drive then,” Yuwen Wan’er nodded.
The young women quickly bid farewell and swept past her like a gust of wind.
“I can’t believe Yuwen Wan’er is participating in this recruitment drive! This is terrible. She excels in everything – music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she’s also a master cultivator. Fortunately, we’ll be wearing masks during the drive to hide our true appearances. Otherwise, I fear even the third princess and the others might have their limelight stolen by her.”
“There are only three princesses – the third, sixth, and thirteenth. But there are four favored young lords. Originally, there was some hope for the remaining young lord. Alas, my luck is truly terrible. With Yuwen Wan’er’s appearance now, we have no chance at all.”
“This is truly deceptive! I always thought she had a weak and non-confrontational personality. I never expected her to be so shrewd, deliberately choosing this opportunity to make her move.”
“Hmph, listen to her arrogant reply just now. She’s speaking in reverse; who knows how mockingly she feels inside.”
Yuwen Wan’er heard the discussions carried by the wind and a bitter smile touched her lips. Why did her sincere words lead to such misunderstandings? But, forget it. Haven’t I always been surrounded by various misunderstandings… Why bother arguing? It’s just others’ opinions; I’ll live my own life.
I truly wouldn’t mind failing to be chosen and remaining unmarried my entire life, content to spend my days with flowers and plants, serving my grandmother – that would be happiness enough.
Regarding love, Wan’er’s fear and confusion far outweighed her anticipation.
“Hurry in, you’re the last one. This is your mask. Once you put it on, only your destined husband can remove it. If you are not chosen, Yuwen Wan’er, you will have to wear this mask for the rest of your life. The consequences are severe, so perform well.”
Upon entering the grand hall, Yuwen Wan’er received a mask from the staff and placed it over her nose. Her beautiful eyes scanned the room, noticing that almost all the seats were occupied, leaving only the most inconspicuous one in the corner.
She suddenly understood why the young women had hurried off earlier. They had come in early to secure a conspicuous position. She wasn’t angry; she chuckled softly. She was actually hoping for everyone’s disregard, wanting to fail in the end. While she had to repay the Mermaid King’s kindness and abide by the Mermaid Kingdom’s traditions, failure wouldn’t be her fault. Compared to an uncertain future, she preferred her current peaceful and serene life.
She walked to the seat in the far corner and sat down, her exquisite body hidden in the dimness. She inwardly sighed with relief at her good fortune and relaxed her entire being.
The marriage recruitment drive began.
Instantly, young men from various backgrounds, some refined and handsome, some heroic and mighty, some charming and alluring, and some bright and spirited, took turns appearing.
With each challenge, they competed against each other. Sometimes, they composed poetry, calligraphy, and paintings on the spot, showcasing their vast knowledge; sometimes, they keenly analyzed current affairs, speaking eloquently; sometimes, they displayed various skills, excelling in weapon forging, pill refining, and other crafts; sometimes, they brandished swords and wielded sabers, demonstrating their martial prowess.
Naturally, the royal princesses present were not idle. After each challenge for the young men, the princesses would present their own challenges, covering a wide range of topics, from astronomy and geography to current affairs and performing arts. The competition among the princesses was equally fierce.
The hall was abuzz with activity, while Yuwen Wan’er seemed to have disappeared, becoming an outsider. She was not anxious at all, remaining detached from the proceedings. She propped up her chin, pondering cultivation-related puzzles to pass the time.
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