272: Believe me, the Yun family must stand together with the Ninth Mountain (asking for monthly tickets)

Just as Ping Kou Alley was bustling, on the other side, in a sedan chair at the back of the Xia Family’s carriage procession, heading towards the Yun Family and away from that street.

Xia Qing, the second daughter of the Xia Family’s main branch, adorned in a vibrant and elegant blue-and-white palace gown, held the emerald hairpin she had just “given away” in her hand, her Phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, a shifting light in her gaze.

Kneeling beside her were two delicate maidservants, using exquisite small wooden hammers to tap Xia Qing’s calves. One of the maidservants, with a hint of arrogance, began to chatter, “Er Niang is truly too easygoing. If that boy didn’t have the name of the Ninth Mountain, he would just be a dirt-footed commoner. How dare he be so rude and disregard Er Niang’s Face? Who does he think he is?”

Er Niang was the term of address used by the main branch of the Family for Xia Qing.

“Exactly, exactly! Er Niang’s Face was actually dismissed by a mere soldier. It truly shows how the world is degenerating. Er Niang is still too kind. If it were me, I would have killed him,” another maidservant, with a charmingly innocent appearance, chimed in, sticking out her tongue while speaking of murder.

Xia Qing’s gaze now shifted from the hairpin. With one hand, she hooked the chin of the charmingly innocent maidservant and smiled faintly, a hint of exotic allure in her radiance.

“You, a young lady, always thinking of killing, that’s not good. Even the uncles in front didn’t say anything.”

As she spoke, her fingertips traced the maidservant’s chin, her eyes flickering a few times. “The world is degenerating, indeed it is.”

“Er Niang, are you really planning to marry Cloud Skyborn from the Yun Family? This man is a military brute, probably very crude. Just thinking about his smell makes me feel sick. How can Er Niang endure it? It’s those famous Families who appreciate refined elegance that are more understanding of the nuances of romance,” the maidservant asked curiously.

From their years of accompanying and serving their Young Miss, they knew that Er Niang, though a woman, possessed a man’s heart. In a Family like the Xia Family, resources and inheritance often favored male heirs, yet their Er Niang had emerged victorious from the struggles among her many siblings, taking charge of and managing a significant portion of the Xia Family’s vast enterprises.

Her martial Dao progress was even on par with men, now just a step away from the Heavenly Gate.

Whenever she ventured out, countless Young Masters from renowned Families and Sects would orchestrate chance encounters, inviting Er Niang to accompany them, but not one had caught Er Niang’s eye.

They also knew that, given Er Niang’s personality, she was unwilling to be subjugated by those smelly men.

This time, Er Niang had proactively brought up the matter of forming a marriage alliance with the Yun Family. Even though Er Niang said it was to save the Family Head, as her long-time attendants, they couldn’t understand it.

In large Families, there wasn't such deep affection!

And this second daughter of the Xia Family, hearing the maidservant’s words, smiled meaningfully, “It’s not that I can only choose this person; it’s that he has been chosen by me.”

“Slowly, look at the long term.”

As she spoke, the woman’s Phoenix eyes gazed at the emerald hairpin in her hand, then she squeezed it.

The emerald hairpin immediately shattered, turning into fine crystal shards that were flicked out of the sedan chair with a sweep of her sleeve.

Not long after,

The horse team in front stopped.

Soon, a respectful voice came from outside the sedan chair.

“Young Miss, the Yun Family is almost here.”

“Good!”

“Go deliver the visiting card.”

“Let the uncles go in first.”

As she finished speaking, a deep voice came through,

“Qing’er, your third uncle and I will go first. After all, it’s not convenient for you to be directly involved in this matter. If there are any changes, you can then visit Yun San Gongzi in your own name.”

It was the voice of the Xia Family Second Master.

“Yes, as the two uncles command.”

Inside the sedan chair, Xia Qing responded obediently, then her Phoenix eyes flickered as she tried to recall Cloud Skyborn’s appearance and the small details of their past interactions.

She had a good memory, but now, trying to remember, she couldn’t recall anything special about him. However, she was unhurried and confident; she just needed to proceed according to plan.

However, less than ten breaths later, the sound of horse hooves rang out from outside, and then someone reported, their voice somewhat breathless.

“Second Master, Third Master, Young Miss—”

“Many people have arrived outside the Yun Family. Our subordinates saw the carriages and retinues of the Murong Family, Liu, and Sihai Sect Families. What should we do?”

The Families mentioned by the person outside were all significant aristocratic Families and Sects in Jinguancheng.

As soon as these words were spoken, Xia Qing, with her elegant and bright eyes in the sedan chair, subtly changed her expression, though she had already anticipated this situation.

Since the Xia Family knew about the Yun Family’s connection with the Ninth Mountain, other Families would naturally know too.

“Qing’er, then you should go together. It seems that all the aristocratic Families and Sects inside the Yun Family today have the same objective as you and me. The method you spoke of, it seems only you can rely on it now,”

The voice of the Xia Family Second Master came from the adjacent sedan chair, seemingly unsurprised.

“Qing’er understands.” Xia Qing’s expression returned to calm as she responded.

Then, the procession continued until it stopped in front of a substantial estate.

“Young Miss, we have arrived at the Yun Family!”

A respectful voice came from outside.

Xia Qing’s beautiful eyes flashed, and she stepped out of the sedan chair. Her temperament and beauty instantly brightened the surroundings.

At the same time, from the other two sedan chairs, two middle-aged men, dressed in splendid attire and possessing extraordinary bearing, also stepped out in front.

They were, of course, the Xia Family’s Second Master and Third Master!

The two men looked at the carriages of various Families parked in front of the gate, their eyes narrowing slightly. So many forces had come to visit this formerly second-rate aristocratic Family.

Hopefully, this Yun Family wouldn’t get carried away!

At this moment, in front of the Yun Family mansion’s main gate, a butler-like figure stepped forward and bowed.

“I am Yun Fu, the steward of this residence. Two Heavenly Gate cultivators have graced us with your presence, please come in.”

The Xia Family had already presented their visiting card, and the steward politely greeted them without saying much, directly inviting them inside.

The Xia Family Second Master and Third Master, with their hands behind their backs, nodded, but their bodies remained still for a moment, turning their Faces to the side.

Just then, Xia Qing stepped forward from behind them, her bright eyes curving as she greeted them elegantly.

“Please inform your Young Master San Gongzi that I am an old acquaintance of his. I heard that Young Master San Gongzi has returned triumphantly from the demon front lines. Er Niang wishes to meet with Young Master San Gongzi and reminisce.”

The steward, hearing that this second daughter of the Xia Family wanted to see Young Master San Gongzi, showed a difficult expression.

“To be honest, Young Miss Xia, several ‘old acquaintances’ of our Young Master San Gongzi have already come to visit, but they have all been turned away. Moreover, Young Master has already said that he will not see anyone. This… perhaps Young Master has just returned from the battlefield and is quite busy. We, as servants, do not wish to disturb him!”

Xia Qing heard the steward’s tactful refusal, which seemed to imply something. Her long eyelashes twitched slightly, then she took out a jade pendant from her waist and said clearly:

“Seeing this jade pendant, your Young Master San Gongzi will surely come to see me. This is a token.”

“Then I will try again!” Steward Yun Fu took the jade pendant.

He was actually not unfamiliar with this well-known Er Niang of the Xia Family. It seemed Young Master San Gongzi had some past involvement with her. To be safe, he still took it.

And what he said was not false; indeed, many people claiming to be old acquaintances of Young Master San Gongzi had come to visit, but all had been turned away.

“Come, go ask Young Master San Gongzi!”

He called a servant, who took the jade pendant and ran towards the mansion.

“The three of you, why don’t you wait in the main hall first? Many distinguished guests have arrived at the residence today, and the Family Head will surely be here soon.”

“No rush, let’s wait!”

The Xia Family Second Master waved his hand.

The key person they wanted to make a Breakthrough with was that Yun San Gongzi, and they wanted to see if Qing’er could make progress here.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, the Yun Family servant who had gone to deliver the token quickly ran back.

Seeing this, Xia Qing, who had maintained a calm and dignified demeanor, now showed a hint of urgency in her tone,

“What did your Young Master San Gongzi say?”

“Replying to Young Miss Xia—” The Yun Family servant said, holding out both hands, returning the jade pendant.

“Young Master San Gongzi said he would not see you!”

As these words were spoken, the second daughter of the Xia Family’s main branch felt her eyebrows twitching, her lips trembling, and her hand in her sleeve clenched tightly.

“Did you tell him that the Xia Family Er Niang wanted to see him?!”

“I did!”

“Did he see the token?”

“Young Master San Gongzi didn’t look; he just told me to leave,” the Yun Family servant replied.

Xia Qing’s Face flushed slightly, and she was about to speak again when she heard a deep voice from beside her,

“Qing’er, don’t say anymore.”

The Xia Family Second Master spoke, his tone somewhat grim, his expression a little unsightly.

Now there was only one last method left: to join with the other Families and “beg” the Yun Family for a solution.

“Someone, bring the items up!”

Soon, the Xia Family’s subordinates moved valuable gift boxes from the carriages, many of them sealed with talismans, apparently to prevent the treasures’ aura from leaking out.

When asking for help, one naturally had to give gifts.

Xia Qing hadn’t considered this aspect, but the Xia Family Second Master had thought everything through comprehensively.

“Let’s go, we’ll head to the main hall!”

Seeing this scene, Xia Qing’s pretty Face changed, then she let out a breath, feeling that she had lost her composure somewhat, and calmed herself down.

What a Cloud Skyborn!

Could it be that he was playing some game of feigned indifference with her?

These were all tricks she had long since discarded.

Her eyes brightened once more.

At this moment, in the Yun Family’s main branch study, three people were seated inside.

The Yun Family Head, Yun Fangting, Yun Chuxiong of the Yun Family’s second branch, and the Yun Family’s Young Master San Gongzi, Cloud Skyborn, the leading Lang Jiang of the Ninth Mountain.

Yun Fangting sat at the head, smiling, “Haha, it’s all thanks to you. These fellows who usually wouldn’t give my Yun Family the time of day have specifically come knocking today. I hear they even brought quite a few good things.”

“Their purpose, you know better than I. First, let me state that I cannot interfere in this matter. You two, father and son, handle it as you see fit.”

The Yun Family Head, Yun Fangting, had eyes full of spirit. He recalled how a month ago, he had decided to heed his nephew Cloud Skyborn’s advice to support the Ninth Mountain, which had led to today’s scene. It was truly exhilarating; the Yun Family’s status had risen with the terrifying prestige established by that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General, like a rising tide.

“I’ll go!”

Cloud Skyborn’s resolute brows furrowed, then he stood up and left, without the slightest hesitation.

Yun Fangting looked at his second brother, Yun Chuxiong, with some worry, “Are you really at ease letting Tiansheng go?” Yun Chuxiong smiled with relief, “Elder Brother, rest assured. Tiansheng has followed Ninth Zhonglang in campaigns across the east and west, seen countless grand spectacles, and grown very quickly. He has already surpassed me, his father. He can now take on the heavy responsibilities of the Yun Family!”

Yun Fangting nodded, full of praise, “It seems you two, father and son, have gained a lot from this trip. You’re also about to condense a Dao soldier, aren’t you?”

“Yes! I didn’t expect it either. Elder Brother, there are some things I don’t know how to describe, but trust me, the Yun Family must always advance and retreat with the Ninth Mountain in the future!”