90: Early morning rain on the eaves

The light of dawn, following a recent rain, washed over the flying eaves of the City Lord's Mansion, making the glazed tiles look crystal clear.

Liu Xuaner leaned against the carved window, watching the morning sun turn the dewdrops on the grass into tiny rainbows. Suddenly, she heard familiar footsteps from outside the courtyard; the crisp sound of wooden clogs hitting the bluestone startled the white pigeons nesting under the corridor.

Liu Xuaner's originally bright expression instantly darkened, and a surge of nameless anger rose in her heart.

"It's so early in the morning, what's he doing here again? Shouldn't he be off indulging in a drunken dream in some den of pleasure?"

She grumbled secretly in her heart, but years of upbringing and etiquette forced her to squeeze out a smile and walk forward gracefully.

"Madam Liu has quite the elegant mood."

Zhuang Xian stepped over the threshold of the living room, shaking a Xiangfei bamboo fan. The golden-threaded flowing cloud patterns on his wide sleeves brushed against the doorframe, shaking off a few specks of dust.

"This courtyard full of morning dew only serves to make Madam appear even more pure and refined."

Liu Xuaner curtsied and, maintaining her forced smile, said:

"Young Master Zhuang overpraises me. It is but a crude scenery. Young Master Zhuang, please come inside."

Inside the living room.

She took the tea from Cui Zhu and personally poured it to show respect.

The tea fragrance curled up as steam rose.

The two of them engaged in idle small talk.

Zhuang Xian showed no intention of leaving, leaning back comfortably in his chair while his gaze occasionally fell upon Liu Xuaner.

Suddenly, Zhuang Xian changed the subject, his eyes carrying a hint of profound mystery:

"Madam Liu, I observe that your Cultivation has reached the sixth or seventh level of Foundation Establishment. With such talent, there is hope for you to step into the Great Dao of the Golden Core. I wonder if Madam has ever thought of going to a Sect to Cultivate?"

Liu Xuaner was slightly taken aback, then let out a light laugh, her eyes shimmering with self-deprecation:

"Young Master Zhuang must be joking. I had my Cultivation Aptitude tested in my early years, and it was quite ordinary. How could a Sect possibly take an interest in me?"

Zhuang Xian picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and the corners of his mouth curled into a confident arc:

"There are exceptions to everything. With my connections in the Xihua Sect, ensuring Madam enters the ranks of the Outer Sect Disciples is no difficult task."

Liu Xuaner's eyes widened in surprise, and a ripple of emotion stirred in her heart.

Joining a Sect meant gaining access to Advanced Cultivation Techniques and receiving abundant cultivation resources every month. More importantly, it meant receiving the careful guidance of a master and precious Medicinal Pills to help with a Breakthrough during a Bottleneck.

These temptations were difficult for any cultivator to resist.

But soon, she regained her composure and smiled helplessly:

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Zhuang. It's just that my age is unsuitable; I have long passed the optimal age for entry. Furthermore, I am already a married woman and should remain at home to assist my husband and raise children."

Zhuang Xian keenly captured the fleeting yearning in Liu Xuaner's eyes and felt secretly smug:

"None of what Madam mentioned is a problem. I will manage things with the Sect; your entry is practically guaranteed. As for assisting your husband and raising children, as far as I know, Madam has no offspring to this day, and City Lord Bei is stationed at the border all year round. That excuse seems a bit forced, doesn't it?"

Liu Xuaner's face flushed slightly. She took a sip of flower tea to hide her embarrassment:

"As a woman, going to a Sect to Cultivate alone is simply not proper. Besides, I fear my husband would not agree. I appreciate Young Master Zhuang's kind intentions."

Zhuang Xian did not intend to give up easily. He looked at Liu Xuaner with burning eyes:

"If Madam is worried that Northern Mansion Lord will not agree, there is no need. I believe he will certainly support Madam in pursuing a higher Cultivation."

As he spoke, he quickly pulled out a sound transmission talisman, injected Qi into it, and muttered an incantation, sealing his inquiry into the talisman.

The sound transmission talisman turned into a streak of light and instantly vanished into the horizon.

Liu Xuaner wanted to stop him, but it was already too late. She could only sigh helplessly:

"Young Master Zhuang, you..."

"Madam, please be patient. There will be a reply soon."

Zhuang Xian laughed with full confidence.

Before long, Zhuang Xian and Liu Xuaner each received a directed sound transmission talisman from Bei Batian.

Zhuang Xian opened the sound transmission talisman in front of Liu Xuaner, and Bei Batian's enthusiastic voice came from within:

"Many thanks to Young Master Zhuang for promoting Xuaner. It is truly her good fortune to have met Young Master Zhuang! I hope that once Xuaner reaches the Sect, Young Master Zhuang can take good care of her."

Zhuang Xian nodded with satisfaction and looked at Liu Xuaner's complicated expression:

"You see? Even Northern Mansion Lord has said so. Madam shouldn't have any more worries now, right?"

Liu Xuaner gripped the sound transmission talisman tightly and forced a thin smile:

"Thank you, Young Master Zhuang. I still need to discuss this matter further with my husband; it cannot be decided so rashly."

Zhuang Xian laughed heartily:

"Then Madam may take your time to discuss it. I won't disturb you any longer."

With that, he rose to leave.

As they reached the door, the Golden Core Elder asked respectfully:

"Is the Young Master still going to Chunxiang Tower today?"

Zhuang Xian laughed loudly:

"I'm in a great mood today, so of course I'm going! But first, let's go to Brocade Pavilion to catch up with the Embroiderer."

The laughter of the two men gradually faded into the distance, leaving only Liu Xuaner standing there with a dejected expression.

In a room at the border, Bei Batian held the sound transmission talisman, his brow furrowed and his expression flickering between dark and light.

After a long while, he stood up, looked out at the vast scenery beyond the window, and muttered to himself:

"A real man need not worry about being without a wife. It's just this Zhuang Xian—he doesn't seek any benefit, yet he wants to take my woman?"

His fingertips continuously rubbed the sound transmission talisman until finally, his Qi erupted, and the talisman instantly turned to dust.

After Zhuang Xian left, Liu Xuaner used a technique to draw out her Spiritual Sense and probed into the sound transmission talisman.

Bei Batian's voice echoed in her mind:

"Xuaner, go with Young Master Zhuang to the Sect to Cultivate. Before that, be sure to take good care of Young Master Zhuang and make sure he has a good time in North Border City..."

Liu Xuaner's face instantly turned pale and purple, and her chest heaved violently.

Bei Batian's seemingly caring words were actually every bit an attempt to curry favor with Zhuang Xian, as if he were giving her away like a gift.

She suppressed the anger in her heart and walked towards Su Yunniang's Yunxiang Courtyard.

In Yunxiang Courtyard at that moment, Su Yunniang was focused on tending to some Spiritual Plants. The scissors moved nimbly in her hands as she trimmed the tender green leaves.

Seeing Liu Xuaner approaching, a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face, and she put down her tools:

"Sister is here! Come inside and sit. Qiu Lan has brewed some nourishing prairie chicken soup; it's perfect for us to taste together."

Seeing Su Yunniang's warm smile, the gloom in Liu Xuaner's heart dissipated slightly, and she responded with a smile:

"It seems I've come at just the right time."

In the side room, Su Yunniang pulled Liu Xuaner to sit down and personally served her a bowl of soup:

"Drink this soup while it's hot for the best flavor. It's not only nourishing but also has beauty-enhancing effects."

Liu Xuaner took a spoonful of soup, and her eyes immediately lit up as she tasted it:

"It is indeed delicious and not oily at all. I'll have Cui Zhu come and learn from Qiu Lan later so I can drink such wonderful soup often."

Su Yunniang smiled gently:

"If you like it, drink more. Come to your sister's place more often, and I'll make sure there's always enough."

After chatting about daily trifles for a while, Liu Xuaner finally spoke about the sound transmission from Bei Batian.

After Su Yunniang finished checking the sound transmission talisman with her Spiritual Sense, her face turned pale instantly. She trembled with rage and crushed the talisman fiercely:

"Our husband is truly generous. Oh, no—he hasn't been my husband for a long time!"

Seeing Su Yunniang so angry on her behalf, a warm current rose in Liu Xuaner's heart, and she said gratefully:

"Thank you for your concern, sister. I only blame my own poor fate."

Su Yunniang looked at Liu Xuaner with heartache and sighed:

"The Xihua Sect specializes in the Great Dao of Yin and Yang. What kind of place is that? Yet Bei Batian clearly knows that your going there is like walking into a tiger's den, and he is still so heartless. We must have been blind to marry such a man back then!"

Liu Xuaner forced herself to cheer up and gave a bitter smile:

"Meeting a selfish person like him is our misfortune. When I return from my successful cultivation at the Xihua Sect, I will surely make him regret it!"

Upon hearing this, Su Yunniang's expression changed drastically, and she said hurriedly:

"Sister, what nonsense are you saying! How can you go to such a place? No, absolutely not! I will not let you take such a risk!"

Liu Xuaner sighed helplessly:

"Sister, do you think I want to go? It's just that I have no choice..."

Su Yunniang hesitated, then after a moment of silence, she said firmly:

"Don't agree yet. At worst, I will take you and flee the Tianqi Dynasty. I absolutely cannot let you go into such danger!"

Hearing these words, tears welled up in Liu Xuaner's eyes, and her heart was filled with emotion...