347. Dongfang Hui’s Visit
Early one morning, the people from Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Xu Family, along with their two babies who had just turned a month old, were chatting and laughing in the courtyard where Mr. Qingyun resided. After the birthday celebration, Mo Xiuyao had also returned from the frontier. Mr. Qingyun, unable to bear the clamor of Licheng and concerned about the studies of his students at Lishan Academy, was preparing to leave the city and return to the academy. The others could not persuade him to stay, so they decided to have breakfast with him and then see him off.
Mr. Qingyun was very fond of the two newborns. Cradling Lin’er, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, Mr. Qingyun asked, "Have the two children been given their official nas yet?"
Ye Li replied with a smile, "Aren’t we waiting for Grandfather to choose good nas for them?"
Mr. Qingyun shook his head. "What kind of parents are you? Letting others na all three of your children. You’ve certainly been lazy."
Ye Li laughed. "How can Grandfather be considered an outsider? It’s their good fortune to have Grandfather na them." Even within the Xu Family, only her two uncles and her eldest brother had been nad by their grandfather.
Mo Xiaobao, nestled by Mr. Qingyun’s leg, nodded vigorously. "Mother is right! The nas Grandfather chooses are lovely." Although his father had given him a rather plain pet na, Mo Xiaobao was fortunate that his official na, Mo Yuchen, was quite impressive. In any case, it sounded much grander than his father’s na, so any na chosen by his grandfather deserved high praise.
Mo Xiuyao felt a little aggrieved. He knew that having Mr. Qingyun bestow a na was a privilege many yearned for, but... Were the nas I considered not good enough? Fine... he might have been a bit slow in choosing a na for his daughter. As for his son... Why does a boy need such a pleasant-sounding na? Talent is what truly matters.
Glancing at Mo Xiuyao’s dejected expression, Ye Li remained impassive. The re thought of the stacks of paper in the study, filled with potential nas for their daughter, made her head ache. Mo Xiuyao truly has no talent for naming.
Mr. Qingyun pondered for a mont and said, "Since Yuchen’s na includes the character ’Yu,’ how about we use the character ’Feng’ for Lin’er?"
Xu Hong Yu nodded and smiled. "Yufeng? Father, that’s an excellent na. Prince, Li’er, what do you think?"
Mo Xiuyao had no objection to his son’s na, and Ye Li also nodded with a smile. "A na bestowed by Grandfather is naturally an excellent one." One shouldn’t assu that a simple character like ’Feng’ lacked the imposing and noble air of ’Yuchen.’ Grandfather likely wished for Lin’er to grow up to be as free-spirited and unrestrained as the wind. After all, barring any unexpected circumstances, Mo Xiaobao was destined to inherit Prince Ding’s Mansion. Grandfather certainly did not want the tragedy of fraternal strife to befall them.
"In that case, Little Lin’er’s official na will be Yufeng. What about our little Comndary Princess? What shall we call her?" Qin Zheng asked with a smile.
Mr. Qingyun thought for a mont before suggesting, "How about Yuya?"
"Yuya? Does it share the ’Yu’ character with Yuchen and Yufeng?" Xu Qingchen inquired.
Mr. Qingyun shook his head. "No, that ’Yu’ character is too strong and domineering for a girl, which wouldn’t be beautiful. This ’Yu’ is from the saying ’Zhong Ling Yu Xiu,’ aning ’blessed by the spirits of nature, exceptionally gifted or beautiful.’"
Mo Xiuyao savored the na and found no fault with it. He had secretly considered countless nas before his daughter was born. While so might have been better, he had been unable to choose among them. Mr. Qingyun’s choice was both pleasant-sounding and imbued with a beautiful aning, befitting his adorable little princess. Nodding, Mo Xiuyao gently pinched the sleeping princess’s cheek in Ye Li’s arms and smiled. "Good. From now on, my little princess shall be called Yuya."
The nas that the others had deliberated over for so long were decided by Mr. Qingyun in a short while. Ye Li finally breathed a sigh of relief; she doubted she could have chosen better nas than her grandfather. As for Mo Xiuyao, while their daughter’s na might have been passable, his choices for their son were not to be relied upon. Now that the matter was settled and both babies had received wonderful nas, everyone was content.
"This month has been very hectic, and we didn’t even hold the babies’ first-month celebration... We mustn’t be so neglectful for their first birthday next year," Mr. Qingyun remarked with so regret as he looked at his two great-grandchildren. Although at his age he wasn’t overly concerned with formalities, he still felt a twinge of regret that his own birthday celebrations had overshadowed the twins’ first month. He would rather have foregone his own birthday feast than see the children slighted.
Ye Li gently patted Xin’er’s swaddling clothes and said with a laugh, "Grandfather, please don’t worry. We’ll be counting on you to prepare the items for their ’ceremony of grabbing object’ on their first birthday next year. Besides, there were too many guests this ti. It wouldn’t have been appropriate to hold such a large celebration for newborns, and it would have been too much for them to handle. That’s why we decided to keep it simple."
It was indeed a common belief that children with a "light fate" could not bear excessive blessings, but the young heir and Comndary Princess of Prince Ding’s Mansion naturally had no such concerns. Ye Li said this partly to comfort Mr. Qingyun and partly because it was true. Holding another first-month feast would undoubtedly have thrust the newborn twins into the spotlight, so it was better to avoid it.
At this point, Mr. Qingyun recalled sothing and asked, "I heard that the successor of Cangmang Mountain has appeared?"
Although everyone had collectively tried to shield Mr. Qingyun from troubling news from the outside world, it was impossible to keep everything from him. It wasn’t surprising that he had heard so rumors over the past few days.
At the ntion of this, First Madam Xu’s face flushed with anger. "Father, you don’t know! That Miss Dongfang is rather... Our Xu Family absolutely cannot allow such a woman to marry into our family." The last ti they t, First Madam Xu had been thoroughly infuriated. She had gone to see Dongfang You full of hope and excitent, but the outco was like having a bucket of ice water poured over her. It chilled her to the bone and left her feeling utterly dejected. Having been married into the Xu Family for decades, First Madam Xu was known for her good temper. Yet, even she had been provoked enough to summon Xu Qingchen and scold him severely. Of course, the one most wronged was Young Master Qingchen, who had suffered innocently throughout the ordeal.
Mr. Qingyun raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh? Miss Dongfang wishes to marry into the Xu Family?"
Xu Qingyan imdiately volunteered to recount all of Miss Dongfang’s attempts to woo Young Master Qingchen for Mr. Qingyun. Fifth Young Master Xu spoke with great eloquence, vividly portraying Miss Dongfang’s "deep affection" for Young Master Qingchen, completely oblivious to the faint, cold smile playing on his eldest brother’s lips.
Mr. Qingyun found Fifth Young Master Xu’s tale as amusing to listen to as it was told. He even comnted at the end, "This young lady is quite interesting. Qingchen, what do you say?"
"Grandfather..." Xu Qingchen said with a hint of helplessness, "your grandson has no intention of marrying."
Mr. Qingyun stroked his snow-white beard and chuckled. "You’re not young anymore; you should give it so thought. However, it’s best to forget about this girl from Cangmang Mountain."
"Grandfather, have you ever t anyone from Qingyun Mountain?" Xu Qingyan asked curiously. Although Mr. Qingyun was young when the successor of Cangmang Mountain last descended, he had gained fa early on and was already renowned throughout the land by that ti. It was quite possible that he had encountered the successor of Cangmang Mountain.
Mr. Qingyun shook his head with a smile. "The last person from Cangmang Mountain to descend was the Mistress of House of the Southern Garrison Prince, the forr Empress Dowager of Xiling. However, I have t a few other individuals from Cangmang Mountain."
"Are there other people from Cangmang Mountain active in the world below?" Xu Qingyan asked in surprise.
Xu Qingchen explained, "Since Cangmang Mountain wields such great power, it’s impossible for it to be entirely inactive for decades. Naturally, there are those who manage its affairs secretly, albeit far more discreetly than the flamboyant appearances of its heirs."
Mr. Qingyun nodded. "That’s right. These individuals are utterly unknown in the world, attracting no attention whatsoever. So even live out their lives doing nothing remarkable and die of old age, no different from ordinary folk. Yet, among them are many capable and extraordinary people who are content to remain in obscurity. This shows that Cangmang Mountain must have extraordinary thods of controlling its subordinates."
"But that Dongfang You..." Fifth Young Master Xu looked puzzled. Dongfang You might be more learned than I am, but when it cos to cunning, I really can’t see anything special about her.
Mr. Qingyun shook his head. "This Miss Dongfang indeed doesn’t much resemble a successor of Cangmang Mountain. But the more this is the case... the more formidable the people sent by Cangmang Mountain to secretly assist her are likely to be."
Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "And formidable they are. Dongfang Hui, the master of Cangmang Mountain, has personally arrived in Licheng. I expect she’ll be paying us a visit very soon."
"Dongfang Hui?" Xu Hong Yu asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Ye Li nodded. "Indeed. Uncle, have you heard this na before?"
Xu Hong Yu remained silent for a mont before saying nonchalantly, "I do know soone nad Dongfang Hui."
Seeing this, Ye Li couldn’t help but glance at Mo Xiuyao beside her, who happened to look over at the sa ti. They exchanged a silent look. Judging by her uncle’s tone, their relationship didn’t seem to be an ordinary one. If things are really as we suspect, this is an incredibly dramatic twist!
Since Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao had noticed, the others naturally wouldn’t have missed it either. However, no one voiced any questions. Madam Xu and Qin Zheng, who typically concerned themselves only with household matters, certainly wouldn’t inquire further. After breakfast, Xu Qingfeng and Xu Qingze saw Mr. Qingyun off as he left the city. Only then did the rest return to the study to continue their discussion. Xu Qingyan had also been supposed to accompany Mr. Qingyun, but with a quick shift of his eyes, he claid he had sothing to attend to and would accompany his grandfather out of the city the next day to fulfill his filial duties. Then, without any sha, he followed them into the study.
"Father, what is your relationship with that Dongfang Hui?" As usual, Fifth Young Master Xu was the first to lose his composure. The other three quietly sighed in relief. If Xu Qingyan hadn’t asked first, even Young Master Qingchen might have felt awkward posing such a personal question to their father.
Xu Hong Yu, taken aback, shot Xu Qingyan an annoyed glance and chided with a laugh, "You rascal, what wild thoughts are you entertaining? We rely knew each other when we were young." A glance at the other three revealed they clearly shared Xu Qingyan’s thoughts. Mr. Hongyu was exasperated and angrily slapped Xu Qingyan on the forehead.
It wasn’t that they were conceited enough to think every woman would be drawn to Xu Hong Yu. Rather, even though Mr. Hongyu was now in his fifties, he still possessed a lean, distinguished appearance and an uncommon, refined elegance. One only needed to look at Xu Qingchen and his two brothers to imagine Mr. Hongyu’s dashing looks in his youth. Although the marriages of the Xu brothers had beco a persistent, difficult problem over the years, it was by no ans due to their lack of desirable qualities. On the contrary, it was because they were too outstanding, and well-bred young ladies who could be considered their match were few and far between.
Xu Qingyan paid no mind to his father’s scolding. Compared to this minor reprimand, he was more worried about the sudden appearance of an old fla of his father’s, or worse, a concubine. Never mind what their mother or his brothers might think; their grandfather would be the first to break their father’s legs.
"So, the timing of Cangmang Mountain’s people entering the world is actually quite arbitrary?" Xu Qingchen asked, raising an eyebrow.
Xu Hong Yu replied flatly, "They claim to the outside world that they erge once every sixty years, but how could it really be that strict? If it happened that their turn didn’t fall within those sixty years, would they be confined to the mountain for their entire lives? No matter how clever a frog at the bottom of a well is, its wisdom is wasted. They simply don’t make such a grand display of it. I t Dongfang Hui twenty-seven or twenty-eight years ago. She was only about sixteen or seventeen at the ti and had just co down the mountain to gain experience."
"Uncle, what is your opinion of this Dongfang Hui?" Ye Li asked.
Xu Hong Yu thought for a mont. "She was young back then, and perhaps a bit naive. However, her thods, decisiveness, and sharp mind were all impeccable. At least... she was far superior to that Dongfang You. So many years have passed; I can’t say for sure what she’s like now. But... do not underestimate her."
Xu Qingchen nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Father. I understand."
「」
As expected, just after noon, Chief Steward Mo ca to report that the master of Cangmang Mountain had co to call, specifying that she was here to visit Eldest Young Master Xu, Xu Qingchen. From this subtly emphasized clarification, one could sense a slight displeasure from the Cangmang Mountain party towards Eldest Young Master Xu. Xu Qingchen, who had originally planned to push the matter onto Mo Xiuyao, had no choice but to go to the front hall to et the guest as well.
Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li walked into the hall hand in hand and saw a middle-aged woman standing in the center of the room, admiring a painting with her hands clasped behind her back. She had not taken a seat, and Dongfang You, standing beside her, naturally did not dare to sit either. Several young n and won stood in attendance nearby. Even before entering, Mo Xiuyao could sense that these young-looking individuals were all exceptionally skilled and rare masters. In terms of martial arts, Dongfang Hui was actually the weakest among them. Despite this, the young n and won standing beside her remained with their heads respectfully bowed, not even glancing up as Mo Xiuyao and his party entered. They clearly held Dongfang Hui in high respect, even awe.
Hearing footsteps, Dongfang Hui turned to face the entrance, a faint smile on her lips. "Prince Ding, Princess Consort Ding. A pleasure to et you."
Ye Li returned a light smile and a nod. "Madam Dongfang of Cangmang Mountain, the pleasure is ours. Please, take a seat. Has Prince Ding’s Mansion been lacking in its hospitality in any way?"
Dongfang Hui smiled. "Princess Consort, you are too kind. Please forgive our unannounced visit."
Mo Xiuyao led Ye Li to the main seats, and only then did Dongfang Hui take the first seat to the right. Xu Qingchen leisurely walked over and sat opposite her. Dongfang Hui glanced at Xu Qingchen, a subtle flicker in her eyes. Looking up at Ye Li, she smiled. "You’er is young and ignorant, and has acted recklessly, causing much trouble for Prince Ding’s Mansion these past few days. I beg your forgiveness, Your Highnesses."
Ye Li glanced at Dongfang You, who stood behind Dongfang Hui, and smiled. "Madam Dongfang, you are being too serious. Miss Dongfang is our guest. It is we, Prince Ding’s Mansion, who have been remiss in our hospitality towards Miss Dongfang. I hope you will not take offense."
Dongfang Hui’s brow furrowed slightly, her gaze towards Ye Li now holding a touch more admiration. She then looked at the demurely standing Dongfang You beside her, a faint sense of regret welling in her heart. If only You’er possessed the sa astuteness as Princess Consort Ding, would things have co to this pass?
After studying Xu Qingchen for a long mont, Dongfang Hui asked, "This must be Eldest Young Master Xu, Young Master Qingchen?"
Xu Qingchen inclined his head and offered a slight smile with a cupped fist salute. "Indeed, this junior is he. It is an honor to et you, Madam Dongfang."
Dongfang Hui nodded and sighed softly. "Young Master Qingchen’s distinguished bearing truly lives up to his reputation as the foremost young master in the land. Mr. Hongyu must be deeply gratified to have such a son."
"You flatter , Madam," Xu Qingchen replied, his smile still composed and unperturbed. This seed to please Dongfang Hui even more.
Initially, if her thoughts were rely about upholding Cangmang Mountain’s reputation and managing the aftermath for Dongfang You, now Dongfang Hui genuinely felt that it would be an excellent thing if Xu Qingchen could beco Cangmang Mountain’s son-in-law. She had no children of her own and had raised Dongfang You since childhood, investing far more effort than many biological parents. Naturally, she hoped her disciple could find a good marriage. Unfortunately, Dongfang You had little understanding of worldly affairs and would likely face a difficult life no matter whom she married. Even with Cangmang Mountain’s backing, there was no guarantee her husband would truly cherish her. If she were married only to be put on a pedestal, her life wouldn’t be much better than that of a widow. The Xu Family, however, was different. Given the Xu family’s esteed principles and conduct, they would never mistreat her if Dongfang You married into their household. Alas, Dongfang Hui was unaware that Dongfang You had already thoroughly offended First Madam Xu, Young Master Qingchen’s own mother.
Seeing this, Ye Li sighed inwardly. What is Dongfang Hui thinking, looking at my eldest brother as if sizing up a prospective son-in-law?
Silence hung in the hall for a mont before Ye Li spoke. "May I inquire as to the purpose of Madam’s esteed visit?"
Dongfang Hui smiled faintly. "I haven’t descended the mountain in decades. It just so happened that this unruly disciple of mine ran down the mountain, so I had no choice but to co find her, and take the opportunity to look around. You’er has been spoiled by since she was young. If she has caused any offense, I hope you will forgive her."
Ye Li smiled. "Not at all. Miss Dongfang is both beautiful and talented. Madam, you are truly fortunate to have such a disciple."
From Ye Li’s deanor, Dongfang Hui knew that persuading the Xu Family to agree to Dongfang You’s marriage would not be easy. After a mont’s thought, she sighed softly. "Princess Consort, You’er is to bla for this situation with her mischief. Cangmang Mountain’s numbers have dwindled over the years, and I never intended for You’er to descend the mountain. Though Cangmang Mountain is sowhat desolate, it’s far better than being embroiled in the current chaotic world. Who knew the child would sneak off down the mountain without our knowledge? But things are as they are. You’er is, after all, a young woman. I don’t ask her to bring glory to Cangmang Mountain; I only hope she can marry safely and well, support her husband, raise her children, and live a peaceful life. That would be enough."
It had to be said, as a master and the one in charge of Cangmang Mountain, Dongfang Hui’s painstaking concern for her disciple was truly touching. The problem, however, was that the consequences of fulfilling her wish would have to be borne by the Xu Family and Xu Qingchen. Whether for the sake of the Xu Family, her eldest brother, or the strategic plans of Prince Ding’s Mansion, Ye Li could only grit her teeth and refuse.
Looking at Dongfang You, Ye Li smiled. "It is Miss Dongfang’s blessing to have such a wonderful master as you, Madam. Miss Dongfang is as beautiful as a flower, and skilled in both literary and martial arts. She also cos from a distinguished background. If Madam intends to find a husband for her, is there any reason why the heroes of the world wouldn’t flock here upon hearing the news?"
Dongfang Hui’s smile faded slightly. She looked at Ye Li and asked, "Then... what about Eldest Young Master Xu?"
Ye Li paused for a mont before replying composedly, "My eldest brother’s marriage is naturally a matter for our grandfather and my uncle and aunt to decide. Although I am the Princess Consort, I am still of the junior generation. How could I dare to make such a decision myself?"
Dongfang Hui understood. Ye Li’s words, at the very least, showed one attitude: Prince Ding’s Mansion would definitely not use Xu Qingchen’s marriage to gain the support of Cangmang Mountain. In fact, it subtly implied that Prince Ding’s Mansion was unwilling to form a marriage alliance with Cangmang Mountain. This made Dongfang Hui regard Mo Xiuyao with even greater esteem. After all, in the entire world, he was probably the only one capable of resisting such a temptation and pushing away such powerful, readily available assistance.
Dongfang Hui frowned. "Does the Princess Consort an that I should discuss this matter personally with Mr. Hongyu and his wife?"
Ye Li gave a gentle smile. "Matters of children’s marriages should naturally be discussed with their parents." It wasn’t that Ye Li wanted to push the trouble onto Xu Hong Yu and First Madam Xu; rather, she truly lacked the authority to refuse on Xu Qingchen’s behalf. Even if she were to refuse for him now, Dongfang Hui would likely still bring up Xu Hong Yu and First Madam Xu. After all, nowhere in the world was it accepted that a younger female cousin could decide her elder male cousin’s marriage.
Dongfang Hui appeared sowhat resigned. Looking at Xu Qingchen, she asked, "What does Young Master Qingchen have to say? Although You’er was wrong in this matter, she is still a young woman. I, too, am a woman and naturally understand the difficulties we face."
Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow. Dongfang Hui was reminding him that after all that had happened these past few days, Dongfang You’s reputation was already ruined. If he didn’t marry Dongfang You, he would appear irresponsible.
Xu Qingchen glanced at the unconcerned Mo Xiuyao beside him and said lightly, "Madam, you are taking this too seriously. Originally... Miss Dongfang stated her intention to marry into Prince Ding’s Mansion. The nobles from various states who were present at the ti all heard this. Madam also knows that our Xu family’s rules have never sought a woman of devastating beauty or outstanding talent. We only ask for an untarnished reputation and a gentle, virtuous character. Besides, with Miss Dongfang’s character and talents, why would she need to worry about a lack of heroes from all over the world vying for her hand in marriage?"
Although Xu Qingchen spoke with great gentleness and courtesy, his words sounded extrely jarring to Dongfang Hui’s ears. Xu Qingchen implied that Dongfang You, hailing from Cangmang Mountain, had no need to be concerned about her reputation. Never mind that she was rely involved in so rumors; even if sothing more serious had actually happened, she wouldn’t lack suitors. The Xu Family, however, was an exception. The daughters-in-law of the Xu Family didn’t need powerful skills or backing; all that was required was an untarnished reputation and a virtuous, gentle character. Unfortunately, Dongfang You possessed neither of these.
Even with Dongfang Hui’s usually easygoing nature, she was angered by Xu Qingchen’s words, which were like a series of veiled attacks, causing a dull ache in her chest. She also realized that this ’Immortal Young Master’, who appeared so gentle and refined, held a very poor impression of Cangmang Mountain, even harboring a veiled hostility. Compared to Prince Ding’s indifference and the Princess Consort’s tactful refusal, this Young Master Qingchen was the one who truly detested Cangmang Mountain. Dongfang Hui couldn’t be certain whether Xu Qingchen’s attitude towards Cangmang Mountain stemd from Dongfang You’s incessant pestering these past few days. However, judging by the Xu family’s disposition, even if they were displeased with Dongfang You’s entanglent, they wouldn’t display such outright dislike and hostility.
Frowning, Dongfang Hui inwardly thought, Perhaps I’ve been a bit too hasty.
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