45: desire in heart

The next morning.

News of Prince Rui taking Xu Sanyan as his son-in-law spread like wildfire. When Yang Qizhu heard the news, her expression was as colorful as a flower opera performer on stage.

She hadn't expected her Royal Father to be so underhanded, resorting to such a method as taking a son-in-law.

She completely forgot that she herself had intended to have Xu Sanyan marry into the Cui Family.

“I remember… Qiyuan is only sixteen, right, and Qiyuan’s appearance…”

Yang Qizhu pursed her lips. Qiyuan was her half-sister, born with a slight facial deformity, everted lips, a hunched left arm, and a stiff right leg, causing her to limp when she walked.

In terms of appearance alone, there was a world of difference between them.

If she were married into an ordinary Family, given the status of the Prince’s Mansion, it would still be considered marrying down, and her in-laws would never dare to embarrass her.

But Xu Sanyan was different; he was a Heavenly Human Realm Martial Artist. No matter how one looked at it, they were not a good match.

The Head of the Cui Family sighed, “Xu Sanyan’s talent is too high. A Heavenly Human Realm at twenty years old! The Prince’s action is perfectly normal, and besides, with the Prince personally speaking, what room does he have to refuse?”

Yang Qizhu sighed. Indeed, even if Xu Sanyan was in the Heavenly Human Realm, he couldn't go against her Royal Father's wishes.

…

In the inner courtyard of the Prince’s Mansion, there was a waterside pavilion. A woman in a light pink long dress sat gracefully on a wooden chair, holding a book and reading it carefully. From a distance, her temperament was gentle and serene, as if she merged with the pavilion behind her, without any abruptness.

But as the leaves fell from the trees, the woman looked up, and her protruding lips marred this beauty.

“Alas… another year of falling leaves.”

Yang Qiyuan raised her palm, and a small bird from the distant eaves landed in her hand. The bird tilted its head, its lively eyes watching her.

Perhaps sensing her low spirits, the bird flew to her shoulder and rubbed her cheek with its wing, as if gently comforting her.

Yang Qiyuan smiled, her mood much improved. She raised her palm to send the bird away, “Go, pursue your freedom.”

This bird was not her pet; it was just an ordinary sparrow, no different from any other in the world.

“Young Miss, good news, good news!”

At the end of the waterside pavilion’s long corridor, a young maid with a bun in her hair ran over with a joyful expression, shouting loudly, completely disregarding the decorum expected between a master and servant.

Yang Qiyuan didn’t mind, only smiling and telling her, “So flustered. Take a breath and speak slowly.”

The maid picked up the tea on the table and moistened her dry throat, saying excitedly, “Young Miss, guess what I heard?”

Yang Qiyuan dotingly smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes, shaking her head gently, “How could I guess that?”

The maid’s eyes darted, and she chuckled, “It’s about you.”

Yang Qiyuan paused, then slowly lowered her head, “Royal Father has betrothed me?”

The maid exclaimed, “You heard?”

Yang Qiyuan shook her head. She spent every day in this waterside pavilion reading, never interacting with outsiders. All news about the outside world came from the young maid, so how could she have heard? It was merely a guess.

The maid clearly didn’t believe her, then continued, “Young Miss, then guess who the Prince betrothed you to?”

Yang Qiyuan gave a self-deprecating smile. Her appearance was well-known throughout the Qi Country. Everyone knew that Prince Rui’s Young Daughter was ugly and strangely formed. Which handsome Young Master would be willing to marry her?

Those who would marry her were either eyeing her Royal Father’s power or were forced to. She had long since resigned herself to her fate.

“Which unfortunate Young Master is forced to marry an ugly person like me?” Yang Qiyuan said bitterly.

The maid didn’t catch her Young Miss’s self-deprecation and still said with a grin, “His name is Xu Sanyan.”

“Xu?”

Yang Qiyuan’s first reaction was to search her mind for prominent families with the surname Xu, but after searching for a long time, she couldn’t find a match.

“Have you heard of the Xu Family?” Yang Qiyuan asked.

The maid shook her head, “I heard this Young Master Xu is not from a prominent Family; he’s just an ordinary person.”

Yang Qiyuan felt relieved upon hearing this. This was fine. This Young Master Xu was exchanging his happiness for a lifetime of wealth, which wasn’t a loss for him.

The maid said mysteriously, “Young Miss, this Young Master Xu is quite extraordinary…”

Yang Qiyuan glanced sideways and chuckled softly, “How extraordinary?”

“I heard Young Master Xu is not yet twenty, and he’s already a Heavenly Human Realm Martial Artist!”

“What?”

Yang Qiyuan was greatly startled, and the book in her hand accidentally fell to the ground.

The maid didn't understand cultivation; she had only heard it from others and couldn't grasp the significance of a Heavenly Human Realm Martial Artist.

But Yang Qiyuan was different. She had been exposed to these things since childhood and was a Martial Artist herself, though her strength was not worth mentioning. Still, she was somewhat an insider and could fully comprehend what a twenty-year-old Heavenly Human Realm Martial Artist represented.

“Heavenly Human Realm…”

A deep sense of inferiority welled up in Yang Qiyuan’s heart. She knew she was not worthy of him. With his Heavenly Human Realm cultivation, what kind of woman couldn't he obtain? Why would he still marry her?

He was probably forced.

Yang Qiyuan sighed softly, bent down to pick up the book, and calmly sat back in the chair to continue reading.

Since things had come to this, all she could do was go with the flow.

The maid’s heart surged. She heard that Young Master Xu was not only exceptionally strong but also very handsome. As a maid who would accompany her mistress…

Thinking of this, the young maid couldn’t help but blush.

…

In a large mansion in the west of the city, Xu Sanyan was reviewing the Family accounts in the study, with an old man respectfully standing by his side.

This residence was bestowed upon him by Prince Rui, and this old man was the butler of the mansion.

Xu Sanyan casually tossed the accounts aside, looked up at the old man, “Butler Zhao, all matters big and small in the mansion will still be under your jurisdiction. Just arrange them as you see fit.”

Butler Zhao bowed, “Yes, Old Master.”

He knew that Butler Zhao must be an informant planted by Prince Rui, but he didn't care.

With Xu Sanyan’s cultivation, it was easy to avoid their sight.

Xu Sanyan got up and walked out of the residence, heading towards the Cui Family. The twenty precious medicines he had discussed with Yang Qizhu earlier had not yet been obtained, so it was a good time to get them.

Yesterday, Prince Rui had set the wedding date on the spot, as if afraid he would go back on his word. The wedding was set for seven days later.

He knew nothing about his future wife, which felt as stimulating as opening a blind box.

However, Prince Rui said that his daughter was beautiful and gentle, so she probably wouldn't be too bad.

Passing through two long streets, Xu Sanyan arrived in front of a large mansion. The plaque above it clearly read “Cui Mansion.”

Two guards stood outside the Cui Mansion. They stepped forward and stopped him, “Does Young Master have an invitation?”

Xu Sanyan shook his head, “Tell Yang Qizhu that Xu Sanyan has arrived.”

The two guards exchanged glances and said, “So it’s Young Master Xu. The Head of the Family has already given instructions. Please come in.”

One of them led Xu Sanyan to sit in the hall, while the other went to summon the Old Master.

Just then, a Young Master passed by the hall, inadvertently glanced at him, and stopped the guard, “Who is this person?”

The guard whispered, “Replying to Second Young Master, he is Xu Sanyan.”

The Young Master’s eyes turned cold upon hearing this. He turned his head to look. So this was the Xu Sanyan who had been causing such a stir recently?

A Heavenly Human Realm Martial Artist at twenty years old, who had killed Wang Chengming, the great general under the Eldest Young Master. Yesterday, news even spread that he was going to marry Prince Rui’s Young Daughter.

He had stolen all the attention in the city.

As a Young Master of the Cui Family, he had heard this name more than once from his Aunt, Yang Qizhu.

The most hateful thing was that Yang Qizhu, who usually disdained him, treated this Xu Sanyan with special regard, even personally traveling to Wanglong County to welcome him, which made him even more jealous.

He had never seen Yang Qizhu care so much for anyone.

The young man unconsciously pursed his lips, his heart filled with resentment.

He had admired his Aunt for a long time, but due to their relationship, he dared not show it or let others know.

He loved Yang Qizhu too much. Her every word, every action, every smile, touched his heartstrings so deeply.

But why was she his own Aunt?

The young man’s emotions were consumed by desire, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.