46: Stunning beauty in the world

Despite his jealousy, he wasn't a fool to rush headlong into death.

The fact that he dared to kill Wang Chengming, and afterward Prince Rui not only didn't hold him accountable but even betrothed his daughter to him, showed his standing in Prince Rui's heart.

Xu Sanyan naturally saw the young man standing in front, observing him, but didn't pay him much mind.

The young man's expression shifted, finally revealing a smile as he approached, "I've long heard of Young Master Xu's great name. I am Cui Jie, and I greet you here."

Xu Sanyan glanced at him sideways, nodding faintly, not bothering to engage him further.

Being slighted, and by an imagined rival no less, stirred anger in Cui Jie's heart, and even the fake smile on his face was hard to maintain.

"Young Master Xu, you've achieved success at a young age, truly a grand reputation."

Cui Jie, relying on being in his own home, dared to make such a sarcastic remark.

Xu Sanyan's gaze shifted, meeting his eyes directly. Cui Jie, feeling a slight twinge of guilt, was about to look away when he remembered he was in Cui Mansion. What did he have to be afraid of? So, he bravely met his gaze.

"If you say one more word, I'll take your head and hang it on the city gate," Xu Sanyan said calmly.

"You!"

Cui Jie glared, wanting to lash out but not daring to; he truly feared Xu Sanyan would take his head off.

Just then, a middle-aged scholar walked over quickly, followed by a woman, who were the Head of the Cui Family and Yang Qizhu.

"Hahaha, Young Master Xu's presence honors us! We failed to meet you earlier, please forgive us, forgive us."

The Head of the Cui Family smiled and cupped his hands. Although he was the head of a prominent clan, he didn't dare to be arrogant in front of Xu Sanyan, as the latter was about to become Prince Rui's son-in-law.

Xu Sanyan stopped engaging Cui Jie and instead exchanged pleasantries with the two.

Cui Jie's face was grim, his heart already seething with boundless anger, especially after losing face in front of the person he loved, which made him feel utterly humiliated.

If looks could kill, Xu Sanyan would have been cut into a thousand pieces.

Yang Qizhu frowned, sensing that the two seemed to have had a disagreement, and then, adopting the demeanor of an elder, she chided, "Young Master Xu has come a long way. Instead of diligently hosting him, what are you doing here?"

Cui Jie gritted his teeth, suppressing the anger in his heart, and bowed, saying, "Aunt's lesson is apt."

The Head of the Cui Family naturally waved his hand, helping him out, "Your mother called you. Go quickly."

Cui Jie lowered his head, his face unreadable, and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, "Your son will go now."

With that, he turned and left without looking back.

Yang Qizhu glanced at his departing back, sighing inwardly. How could she not know her nephew's little schemes? But even if she knew, what could she do?

Cui Jie's mother was her own elder sister, yet he harbored different feelings for her.

In her heart, she had always treated Cui Jie as a junior to be cared for, but he wanted...

The Head of the Cui Family didn't even look at his son, his mind solely focused on Xu Sanyan, and the two chatted animatedly.

A moment later, Xu Sanyan brought the conversation back on track, "Young Miss Yang, are the twenty precious herbs we discussed earlier still available?"

Yang Qizhu smiled, "Of course they are. We will send someone to deliver them to your mansion shortly."

Xu Sanyan nodded, "No need, I'll take them back myself."

Twenty precious herbs meant twenty points of Qi. With these precious herbs, he might be able to attempt a Breakthrough to the Heavenly Human Realm mid-stage, and he wasn't comfortable letting others handle them.

Upon hearing this, the Head of the Cui Family gestured to a servant in the distance, "Go to the storeroom and retrieve twenty precious herbs and bring them here."

"Yes."

The servant responded and turned to leave.

Yang Qizhu tilted her slender neck, looking at Xu Sanyan, and said, "I heard that Father has betrothed my younger sister to Young Master?"

Xu Sanyan nodded, "That's right."

Yang Qizhu subtly exchanged a glance with the Head of the Cui Family, then slowly began, "Has Young Master Xu heard about my younger sister's condition before?"

Xu Sanyan frowned; the subtle actions of the two just now had not escaped his eyes. Could there be a hidden truth?

"Please, Young Miss Yang, tell me in detail."

The Head of the Cui Family nodded imperceptibly, and only then did Yang Qizhu speak, "My younger sister is gentle by nature, inherently kind, and is a rare virtuous wife and good mother, only..."

Xu Sanyan pressed, "Only what?"

"Alas..."

Yang Qizhu seemed to find it difficult to say, "My younger sister has Innatelimb spasms, and her appearance is somewhat... different from ordinary people."

Xu Sanyan understood, but he didn't care. After all, he wasn't marrying Yang Qiyuan for her as a person, but to understand the cultivators behind Prince Rui.

Xu Sanyan then thought, what was Yang Qizhu's purpose in telling him these things?

To make him resent Prince Rui?

Or to make him break off the engagement?

Xu Sanyan shook his head. If he dared to break off the engagement today, Prince Rui would definitely kill him at all costs.

In this era, being rejected in an engagement was a great humiliation, especially when the other party was a great figure like Prince Rui.

The dignity of the imperial family could not be defiled!

Presumably, her goal was to make Xu Sanyan have an issue with Prince Rui, so she would have an opportunity to win him over.

Xu Sanyan curled his lips inwardly. Women were dispensable to him. If Yang Qiyuan couldn't be used, then she could serve as an ornament.

Just then, a light sound of footsteps approached, and the three simultaneously turned their heads to look.

Before the hall, an elegant woman walked in, dressed in a light green long dress that made her already slender figure appear even more graceful.

Her eyes were like a crescent moon in the night sky, reflecting a crystalline luster, and her cheeks were flushed. She seemed to shyly steal a glance at Xu Sanyan, then quickly lowered her gaze.

Then she stopped, curtsied gracefully, and with alluring red lips, softly said, "This humble girl, Cui Wanying, greets Father, Aunt, and Young Master Xu."

Xu Sanyan's eyes lit up. This woman was truly a peerless beauty!

Yang Qizhu secretly observed Xu Sanyan's expression and made her calculation. Indeed, heroes find it hard to resist beautiful women. For a young man like Xu Sanyan, nothing was more alluring than a beauty.

The Head of the Cui Family smiled and said, "Haha, let me introduce Young Master Xu. This is my elder brother's daughter. She has been intelligent since childhood, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, truly a rare talent."

Cui Wanying softly said, "Head of the Cui Family, you flatter me."

Yang Qizhu spoke, "Young Master Xu, do you remember what I told you that day, that the Cui Family intended to take you as a son-in-law?"

Xu Sanyan nodded, "Of course I remember. Could it be... this young lady?"

"Precisely."

Yang Qizhu sighed with regret, "Alas, Father's word was law, and he forcibly broke up a perfect couple..."

Xu Sanyan's gaze was full of aggressive scrutiny as he looked Cui Wanying up and down, very curious what sound she would make when she cried out.

As for Yang Qizhu's words, he was full of disdain; such a divisive scheme was too crude.

If he were truly an eighteen-year-old youth, there might still be a chance of success.

Cui Wanying waved to the servants behind her, and two servants walked forward, carrying neatly stacked wooden boxes. "Young Master Xu, the precious herbs have been brought for you."

"Thank you, Young Miss Cui."

Xu Sanyan was all smiles, his attitude completely different from when he faced Cui Jie earlier.

Cui Wanying personally carried the wooden boxes, placing them one by one on the table beside Xu Sanyan. As her sleeves fluttered, wafts of fragrant air drifted, inviting contemplation.

Their eyes met briefly, and Cui Wanying immediately shyly averted her gaze.

Yang Qizhu and the Head of the Cui Family exchanged glances, nodding secretly.

Young love is human nature.