Miss Murong arrived, so Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao naturally could no longer stay. However, neither of them left. Mo Xiuyao casually picked up the teacups they had been drinking from and led Ye Li through a hidden door. Xu Qingchen had chosen this inn for a reason—it was originally a Hidden Stakeout of Prince Ding's Estate in Ancheng. As the fourth-largest city in Western Liang, Prince Ding's Estate would not have ignored Ancheng. Behind the hidden door was a small, sparsely furnished chamber, containing only a table, a few stools, and a bamboo couch.
No sooner had the two sat down than they heard Miss Murong requesting an audience outside, followed by the sound of Xu Qingchen opening the door.
Xu Qingchen looked down at the lavishly dressed woman standing before him and smiled faintly. "Miss Murong, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Miss Murong's beautiful eyes, visible above her veil, stared fixedly at Xu Qingchen. Seeing the refined and ethereal man standing at the doorway with no intention of inviting her in, she bit her lip and asked, "Will Qingchen Gongzi not invite me inside?"
Xu Qingchen replied with a light smile, "It is rather late, Miss Murong. Your visit at this hour... might harm your reputation. It would be best for you to return." With that, he took a step back, clearly preparing to close the door again.
Panicked, Miss Murong reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Qingchen Gongzi..."
Xu Qingchen looked at her in surprise—he hadn't expected Miss Murong to be skilled in martial arts. Though he himself had no knowledge of martial arts, he was acquainted with many experts. Thus, with his discerning eye, he could tell that Miss Murong's abilities were above average, quite impressive for a woman.
"What is the meaning of this, Miss Murong?" Xu Qingchen retrieved his sleeve and asked calmly, his gaze lowered.
"Qingchen Gongzi... I—Mingyan has something to discuss with you privately. Please forgive my boldness," Miss Murong pleaded earnestly, looking up at him.
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Qingchen finally relented and stepped aside to let her in. Miss Murong visibly relaxed at his concession and entered his room.
Xu Qingchen's quarters were arranged with quiet elegance, a stark contrast to the opulence of the Murong family. Miss Murong glanced back at the white-robed, transcendentally refined Xu Qingchen and suddenly felt awkward.
She had been confident in herself—she was the most beautiful girl in Ancheng, the sole heir of the Murong family. She could afford the finest jewels, the most luxurious garments, and the most exquisite delicacies. But faced with this man, she suddenly felt ashamed of her ostentatious attire, as if the very adornments others envied had become vulgar in an instant.
She even began to regret listening to her maid's suggestion to dress so extravagantly to meet Qingchen Gongzi. Would he disdain her for being vulgar? Of course—the Xu Family was a scholarly dynasty, naturally inclined toward refined and understated tastes. At this thought, Miss Murong wished she could rush back and punish the maid who had given her such advice.
"Please have a seat, Miss Murong. Would you like some tea?" Xu Qingchen sat down and poured a cup, placing it across from him.Miss Murong expressed her thanks and took a sip of the tea, only to immediately furrow her brows. Since childhood, she had always used the finest and most exquisite things—even imperial princesses might not surpass her in material comforts. The tea Xu Qingchen had poured for her wasn’t of the best quality, nor was it freshly brewed to the right temperature. Had anyone else served her such tea, she would have refused to drink it. But seeing Xu Qingchen drink his own tea without the slightest change in expression, clearly finding nothing amiss, she had no choice but to endure it silently.
Noticing the woman opposite him suppressing her discomfort, a cold glint of amusement flickered in Xu Qingchen’s eyes. Of course, he knew what she was enduring and why. Tea appreciation was naturally an elegant pursuit, and the Xu Family had always excelled in such refined matters. He was well aware that the tea in this inn wasn’t the best. But though Xu Qingchen was a man of refined tastes, he was still grounded in reality. When official duties pressed to their limits, having tea at all was a blessing—who would fuss over the quality of the leaves, the water, or the temperature?
“What did Miss Murong wish to discuss?” Xu Qingchen asked bluntly.
Miss Murong had clearly never encountered a man so indifferent toward her. It wasn’t that Xu Qingchen was rude—in fact, he was far more courteous than most men she had met. Yet every word and action of his made it unmistakably clear that she held no significance in his eyes.
Biting her lip in frustration, Miss Murong reached up and removed the veil that had concealed her face, revealing her striking beauty. Yet once again, she was disappointed—Xu Qingchen’s gaze didn’t waver in the slightest. Whether the woman before him was veiled or breathtakingly beautiful seemed utterly irrelevant to him. After studying him for a long moment, Miss Murong finally lowered her lashes, masking her vexation and defeat. “My name is Mingyan—Murong Mingyan greets Qingchen Gongzi.”
The room fell into silence. Murong Mingyan seethed inwardly. She had only seen Qingchen Gongzi’s gentle demeanor and refined manners, forgetting that this was the same man who had dared to openly defy her granduncle and the Murong family upon his arrival. How could such a man be easily swayed? When Xu Qingchen remained silent, she gazed at the aloof man with wounded pride and finally blurted, “Qingchen Gongzi… would you be willing to marry into the Murong family?”
The moment these words left her lips, not only did the shadow guards hidden nearby nearly lose their composure, but even Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li in the concealed chamber couldn’t suppress their shock. Ye Li’s delicate face darkened. “This Murong Mingyan has some nerve!” Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement. “Indeed, she does.” How dare the Murong family try to poach what was his? Did they have a death wish?
Outside, however, Xu Qingchen remained unperturbed. Calmly, he asked, “What does Miss Murong mean by this?”
A bitter smile touched Murong Mingyan’s lovely face as she stared at him. “Qingchen Gongzi heard my grandfather’s words. They intend to select one of the Ten Great Masters to become the Murong family’s son-in-law.”Xu Qingchen lowered his eyes and said, "I am not skilled in martial arts. Forget about the top ten masters, I couldn't even defeat a third-rate fighter. Miss Murong, you've come to the wrong person." Murong Mingyan shook her head. "No, Qingchen Gongzi is different. Your reputation spreads far and wide, and your intellect surpasses all. If Qingchen Gongzi were willing to marry into the Murong family, even the world's top martial artist—my grandfather—would willingly step aside."
Observing Xu Qingchen's indifferent expression, Murong Mingyan hesitated before asking, "Gongzi... you're unwilling?"
"I am unworthy of Miss Murong," Xu Qingchen replied modestly, though his words were a clear rejection.
Murong Mingyan's expression shifted slightly. "Why? Marrying me would grant you the entire Murong family. Could ruling the Murong family not be a thousand times better than serving Prince Ding in Li Cheng? Or... or is it that I am not beautiful enough to match Qingchen Gongzi?"
Xu Qingchen shook his head, smiling faintly at her. "Miss Murong, matters of marriage depend on fate. There is no such bond between us, so I must ask you not to force it. With your talents, beauty, and the Murong family's wealth, countless outstanding young men would gladly seek your hand."
A teenage girl, coming in person to ask a man if he would marry her only to receive such an answer—Murong Mingyan's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She gazed at Xu Qingchen with unwillingness. "Does Qingchen Gongzi already have someone in his heart? No... I've never heard of you being close to any woman. Even Princess Anxi of Nanzhao is already married. I refuse to believe there's any woman in this world more suited to you than I am."
Qingchen Gongzi sipped his slightly cooled tea with ease, watching the tear-streaked woman across from him calmly. "Marriage sometimes has little to do with suitability. Perhaps one day I will meet the right woman—she may not be exceptionally talented or breathtakingly beautiful, nor come from a prominent family. Miss Murong, measuring this by 'suitability' is meaningless. I assume you have nothing further to discuss, so please take your leave."
Thoroughly and mercilessly rejected, Murong Mingyan's bright face twisted with humiliation. Her beautiful eyes now held a trace of resentment as she gritted her teeth. "People saw me when I came in. If I were to claim something happened between us, who do you think the world would believe more—you or me?"
Xu Qingchen looked at her with mild exasperation and shook his head. "Miss Murong, if you were an ordinary girl, the world might side with you. But... right now, I suspect the entire city of An would believe me over you."
In the eyes of the world, Murong Mingyan was akin to a mountain of gold. Who would believe someone would reject such wealth? Moreover, even if there were any rumors between them, most would prefer to believe in their innocence. Compared to the Murong family, a single woman was insignificant. Murong Mingyan froze, quickly realizing the truth in his words.
With her threat rendered useless, Murong Mingyan's cheeks flushed with shame. Biting her lip, she said resentfully, "I will make you marry me!" Xu Qingchen smiled without responding, but his calm, unwavering gaze spoke clearly: I will never marry you.Finally, Murong Mingyan left in tears, covering her face. Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, closed the door, and sat back down to pour himself another cup of tea.
"Big Brother, what exactly does that Murong Mingyan want?" Ye Li pushed the door open and walked over to sit beside Xu Qingchen, asking softly.
Mo Xiuyao followed her out and teased with a laugh, "Isn’t it obvious? Naturally, it’s because Qingchen Gongzi is so handsome and extraordinary that Miss Murong’s heart has been stirred. Among the top ten martial artists, apart from Zhennan Wang and Ling Tiehan... and that Ren Qining, there aren’t many noteworthy figures. Zhennan Wang is older and missing an arm, Ling Tiehan is the leader of the assassin guild in the martial world, and Ren Qining has little reputation. Miss Murong is at the age of admiring young talents, so of course she wants to choose a husband she finds worthy."
Ye Li frowned and snorted lightly, "Just because she fancies him, does that mean Big Brother has to marry into her family? Who does she think she is?" If Big Brother were to foolishly agree, wouldn’t Grandfather and Uncle break his legs when he returned? The eldest son of the prestigious Xu Family marrying into a merchant family was bad enough, but to choose such a self-important woman on top of that?
Xu Qingchen chuckled, taking another teacup from the side and pouring her some cool tea. "Li'er, your big brother has no plans to marry right now. Besides, this is just Murong Mingyan’s own wishful thinking. Do you think Murong Xiong or the Murong Family head would agree? In my opinion... Ling Gezhu is the more likely candidate."
The Murong Family would never marry their daughter into the Xiling imperial family, so their options were extremely limited. If they wanted to oppose Zhennan Wang, the only possible candidates for Miss Murong would be Mo Jingqi, Ling Tiehan, or Mo Xiuyao. But since Mo Xiuyao hadn’t even appeared, the final choice would likely be between Mo Jingqi and Ling Tiehan. And Xu Qingchen believed Ling Tiehan was the more probable choice. After all, the King of Hell Pavilion was also located within Western Liang, and an alliance with the Murong Family would be a powerful collaboration. Moreover, Ling Tiehan had a grudge against Zhennan Wang, yet the King of Hell Pavilion and Ling Tiehan had remained unscathed all these years—proof that Zhennan Wang was wary of him.
Mo Xiuyao frowned thoughtfully and said, "Not necessarily. If Qingchen Gongzi were truly willing to marry into the Murong Family, Murong Xiong might abandon Ling Tiehan." An alliance between the Murong Family and the King of Hell Pavilion was good, but the future family head would no longer be from the Murong lineage. However, if the world-renowned Qingchen Gongzi married in, it would be entirely different. They could leverage the Xu Family’s ties with Prince Ding's Estate to counter the Xiling imperial family, while also relying on Xu Qingchen’s unparalleled strategies and Murong Xiong’s peerless martial prowess. Zhennan Wang would have to think twice before moving against the Murong Family.
"So... Brother Qingchen, you must be extra careful this time," Mo Xiuyao earnestly advised. Losing such a brilliant mind to share the burden of governance would truly be a great inconvenience for him.
Xu Qingchen pondered the possibility Mo Xiuyao had raised, then nodded with a smile. "Thank you for the reminder, Wang Ye." His response indicated he already had a plan in mind, so Mo Xiuyao said no more. Taking Ye Li’s hand, he stood up and said, "Use whoever you need. A Li and I will remain in Ancheng—stay safe." Xu Qingchen nodded calmly and watched them leave.After seeing off Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, Xu Qingchen stood in contemplation, pondering the events that might unfold the next day. In the candlelight, a faint smile graced his refined lips. There were many matters he preferred not to push to extremes, but... he hoped the Murong family would show the same tact tomorrow.
"Qingchen Gongzi," a shadow guard announced from the doorway. Xu Qingchen straightened slightly and turned his head. "What is it?"
The shadow guard stepped forward, presenting a sealed letter with both hands. "A message just arrived from White Tiger." Xu Qingchen took the letter, and the guard respectfully withdrew. Breaking the wax seal marked with a white tiger emblem, Xu Qingchen's brow arched slightly. This Ren Qining... seemed unremarkable at first glance, but he turned out to be rather intriguing. Pity he had to overplay his hand by testing Mo Xiuyao and Li'er. Resealing the letter, he summoned another shadow guard to deliver it to Prince Ding and Wang Fei. Shaking his head, Xu Qingchen turned and retired to his inner chambers.
Back at the inn, Ye Li was still simmering with quiet anger. Mo Xiuyao, observing her furrowed brow, couldn't help but tease, "A Li, how could your elder brother possibly fancy such a woman? Seeing you this upset makes your husband jealous." Ye Li shot him an exasperated glare, to which Mo Xiuyao responded by pulling her into his arms with a chuckle. "Isn't that so? After all, it's Elder Brother Xu's own marriage. Why must you fret so much over it? Your husband can't help but feel neglected."
Leaning against Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li voiced her doubts hesitantly, "Am I interfering too much?" Truthfully, Miss Murong wasn't as terrible as she'd imagined—it was just that when it came to her elder brother, she wished for nothing short of perfection. Yet, as he had said, compatibility wasn't solely about superficial qualities.
Watching her troubled indecision, Mo Xiuyao couldn't resist planting several kisses on her cheeks before murmuring with amusement, "A Li, you're overthinking because you care too much. What kind of man is Elder Brother Xu? If he truly liked someone, no amount of disapproval would stop him. Since he spoke as he did, it's clear he has no regard for Murong Mingyan. Your judgment wasn't wrong—she truly isn't worthy of him." At times like these, Mo Xiuyao didn't mind praising Xu Qingchen a little more.
Somewhat reassured, Ye Li silently reminded herself to refrain from commenting on her brother's romantic prospects in the future. People naturally tended to impose their own standards, labeling this one good and that one bad. In the end, as long as her brother was happy, others needn't say more.
"Greetings, Wang Ye, Wang Fei." A shadowy figure materialized soundlessly in the outer chamber, standing respectfully with hands clasped. Mo Xiuyao frowned in displeasure. "What is it?"
"Qingchen Gongzi ordered this subordinate to deliver a letter."
"Bring it here," Mo Xiuyao drawled lazily from the bamboo couch.
The messenger hesitated briefly before stepping forward. Inside the chamber, the window was half-open, and Wang Ye lounged indolently against Wang Fei, refusing to budge. Just as the thought crossed his mind, a piercing glare struck him like icy blades, sending a shiver down his spine. He hastily presented the letter and declared crisply, "This subordinate takes his leave."
Noting his discretion, Mo Xiuyao gave a noncommittal hum. The messenger, as if granted amnesty, vanished like a gust of wind.Mo Xiuyao reclined lazily on the bamboo couch, resting his head on Ye Li's lap as he leisurely opened the letter. Soon, a low chuckle escaped him. Ye Li looked puzzled, "What is it?" Mo Xiuyao handed her the letter with a smile, "As I said, the Murong family has set up such a grand stage—they must be planning to recruit some formidable figures. This year's Martial Arts Tournament has been rather dull. It seems tomorrow will bring some interesting developments."
Ye Li studied the letter with growing confusion, her delicate brows gradually furrowing. "Even our people couldn't uncover Ren Qining's background. Such a person..." Mo Xiuyao interjected, "Such a person either has never appeared in the martial world before or belongs to some long-hidden, mysterious faction. Heh... quite intriguing. Ren Qining's sudden emergence surely isn't just for the sake of a mere 'Top Ten Masters' title, is it? It seems your elder brother's plan to unite others against Murong Xiong might not succeed."
"Do you have any thoughts on this?"
"Thoughts? Isn't this your elder brother's responsibility? My dear, we're just two inconspicuous bystanders. No need to worry."
------------------Author's Note------------------
Dear readers... Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Wishing you all a joyful family reunion~
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