813. Eating Meat

Xu Yuanshuang wasn’t at all wary of Xu Lingyue. Although her mother had always warned her not to provoke the eldest daughter of the second branch, Xu Yuanshuang felt that even if she did provoke her, so what? Would Big Brother really deliberately blame her over something so trivial?

As for the scheming and strife between women, so long as a bottom line was maintained, men couldn’t be bothered to interfere.

What’s more, she and this cousin of hers weren’t like those women who fought over a man’s favour. How far could their conflict really go?

Her mother was simply too cautious, afraid that any quarrel would displease Big Brother.

Xu Lingyue spoke gently:

“Big Brother’s wedding guests will either be high officials and nobles, or heroes of a region. If the handwriting on the invitations is too delicate and dainty, how could they possibly be presentable? Big Brother holds an exalted position and doesn’t care about such things, but as his younger sister, shouldn’t you know better?”

Xu Yuanshuang had just picked up the brush, and immediately froze. Her expression turned awkward.

Ah, that’s a check… Xu Qi’an immediately looked at his birth mother, only to find her wearing a smile, as though she didn’t care in the least about her daughter’s predicament.

She’s waiting for me to smooth things over… Xu Qi’an wasn’t about to argue over such a trifling matter. While inwardly lamenting that with more women in the house, the drama really was becoming more entertaining by the day, he smiled and said:

“Lingyue scalded her hand yesterday, so it’s not convenient for her to hold a brush. As for Aunt Mu, Aunt Mu seemed rather tired last night, so let’s not trouble her.”

He gave Mu Nanzhi a covert wink.

Mu Nanzhi, who knew exactly what he was hinting at, kept a perfectly calm face and maintained the gentle smile befitting an elder. Under the table, however, the foot in her embroidered shoe viciously kicked Xu Qi’an.

The exchange of glances between them was very well hidden. In front of the family, Xu Qi’an had always presented himself as the younger generation. Whenever he addressed the Flower Goddess, he called her “Aunt” at every turn.

Besides not wanting Mu Nanzhi to socially die, he had a few selfish thoughts of his own. By placing the Flower Goddess in the position of an elder, even if she wanted to make a scene on the wedding day, she’d have no proper grounds for it.

And with the Flower Goddess’s proud and image-conscious temperament, it would be hard for her to do something so humiliating in front of a crowd. Most likely, she’d bottle up her anger and settle accounts with him in private.

So long as things appeared harmonious and peaceful on the surface, Xu Qi’an wasn’t afraid of her making mischief in private. When the time came, he’d simply thrust with his spear, and the Flower Goddess’s legs would go weak and her lovely body would melt.

She’d lose all fighting power.

“Yuanshuang, write one copy for me first. When Erlang comes back, we can let him copy it out.”

Xu Yuanshuang gratefully took the opening he gave her and smiled sweetly.

On the other side, Auntie took Little Pea by the hand and pushed her in front of Ji Baiqing with a beaming smile.

“Big Sister, this is my youngest daughter, Lingyin.”

Ji Baiqing looked over the round-faced, slightly daft-looking Little Pea and praised her:

“She looks clever and quick-witted, just like Lingyue. The daughters Xiaoru gave birth to are all excellent, very good!”

Pfft… Xu Qi’an nearly laughed out loud. He thought to himself that this was killing two birds with one stone, secretly taking a jab at Lingyue to avenge Yuanshuang, while also making Auntie happy.

Xu Lingyue was expressionless. She rarely showed that sort of mood.

Auntie was overjoyed. Stroking Little Pea’s head, she beamed and said:

“Our Lingyin has been clever since she was little.

“Quick, call her Auntie.”

Big Sister-in-law really knew how to speak. She was the first person ever to praise Lingyin for being clever.

“Auntie!” Little Pea called loudly.

Then she turned her head to look at her mother and asked in confusion:

“What’s an auntie?”

She had never had an auntie before, and didn’t know what role one was supposed to have.

Auntie had originally wanted to say that an auntie was her eldest uncle’s wife, but at the thought of Xu Pingfeng she felt disgust, so she changed her words:

“An auntie is Big Brother’s mum.”

Xu Lingyin was greatly shocked. Her mouth fell open.

“So I have two mums?”

Auntie nearly wanted to cover her face. Forcibly trying to save the situation, she said:

“Lingyin’s still little. She always thought Dalang was her blood brother.”

In Xu Lingyin’s eyes, she had always had two big brothers and one big sister. It had been that way ever since she was small. Sometimes she had wondered why Big Brother called mum and dad ‘Auntie’ and ‘Second Uncle’.

But she never thought too deeply about it.

Everyone simply used their own forms of address.

What a slow-witted child… Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai thought.

Ji Baiqing kept her smile, without the slightest change in expression, and said smoothly:

“It’s time she was given some basic education. Erlang is busy with official duties, and there’s no tutor in the house. Why not let Yuanshuang teach her to read and write?”

After saying this, she realised the entire Xu family was staring at her with odd expressions, including her eldest son Xu Qi’an.

“Is there a problem?”

she asked with a frown.

Auntie gave a dry laugh and looked troubled.

“Well, Lingyin is, hmm, a little slow. Better forget it.”

Auntie was a kind-hearted person. She wouldn’t pit family against family.

Although she often said Lingyin had been clever since childhood, in her heart she knew that her Lingyin was perhaps, maybe, probably just slightly slower than other children her age.

While writing the invitation, Xu Yuanshuang said:

“Auntie, it’s no trouble. I may not have Erlang’s talent, but I’ve studied since childhood. Teaching Lingyin is well within my abilities.”

Since things had already been said to this extent, Auntie couldn’t very well refuse, and could only agree.

Throughout the whole process, Xu Lingyue didn’t say a single word. She would never appear so “malicious” in front of Big Brother.

Besides, anyone who had heard that Lingyin was difficult to enlighten had always thought they could manage it, whether grand tutors or academy teachers, or even Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen. Everyone thought the same.

Xu Lingyue had felt that even if she didn’t fan the flames, this cousin of hers would end up just like the others. And sure enough, that was exactly what happened.

Xu Yuanshuang nodded in satisfaction, then asked:

“I heard Lingyin has been learning Gu arts in the Southern Marches with this young lady all this time?”

This young lady whose mouth had never stopped moving.

Auntie replied:

“It was all Dalang’s decision. He said Lingyin didn’t like studying, nor did she have any talent for martial arts, so the only option was to send her off to learn Gu arts.”

Ji Baiqing smiled and said:

“It doesn’t matter if her talent is a little lacking. Diligence can make up for clumsiness. Dalang presumably has no time to teach her martial arts, and if there’s an opportunity, Yuanhuai can teach her a bit. Yuanhuai is, after all, a fifth rank expert. With such a gifted elder brother, don’t let it go to waste.”

She assumed that Dalang definitely had neither the time nor the interest to teach a child, and the same went for second brother Xu Pingzhi.

At a time like this, Yuanhuai’s role as a fifth rank Transforming Force martial artist became apparent.

Moreover, wherever one went, a fifth rank expert counted as a master. If he was willing to teach a child martial arts, it would show their goodwill towards Lingyin.

Lina spoke bluntly:

“He’s not qualified to teach Lingyin.”

That straight shot left her birth mother stunned, her expression awkward.

Xu Yuanshuang frowned and said:

“Yuanhuai is fifth rank, and not far from fourth rank either. How is he unqualified?”

Lina puffed out her cheeks and grumbled:

“Well, I’m fourth rank, and my dad’s third rank. With us teaching Lingyin, that’s enough. What’s a mere fifth rank joining in for?”

She didn’t care if someone wanted to teach Xu Lingyin to read, but when it came to teaching her cultivation, Lina wasn’t willing to agree.

This was simply not putting me, her master, in your eyes.

“Third rank?!”

Xu Yuanshuang froze, then probed, “Your father is third rank, and he’s teaching Lingyin Gu arts too?”

She took another look at Lina, realising that this Southern Marches girl who was always eating seemed to have quite an extraordinary background.

Xu Qi’an picked up the thread:

“Chief Longtu is Lingyin’s master as well.”

Xu Yuanshuang glanced at her mother and younger brother and found the same shock and curiosity on their faces as on her own.

This isn’t like the rumours at all. Wasn’t this youngest sister supposed to be dull-witted? Why would a third-rank master teach a dull disciple?

Ji Baiqing examined the simple-minded Little Pea and asked,

“How are Lingyin’s Gu arts coming along?”

Lina proudly lifted her chin.

“Lingyin’s physical strength is already comparable to an eighth-rank martial artist. By the end of the year at most, she’ll be able to fight a seventh rank. Her talent’s excellent.”

Auntie was greatly astonished. She looked at Little Pea in delight.

“You’re nearly catching up with your dad.”

Xu Qi’an said with a smile,

“Lingyin’s a genius of the Strength Gu tribe.”

Even the Gu God had designs on her.

Eighth rank now, seventh rank by the end of the year, and Big Brother hadn’t refuted it… Xu Yuanshuang stared blankly at the child who wasn’t even as tall as the table, and suddenly felt as though she had lived her nineteen years for nothing.

Seven years old and eighth rank?!

Could there really be a seven-year-old eighth rank in this world?

This was the dull child everyone in the Xu residence kept talking about?

Are all three children of the second branch this terrifyingly gifted… Ji Baiqing was inwardly shaken. She had thought Xu Lingyue and Xu Xinnian were already outstanding among their peers, but who would have thought that, compared with the youngest, the elder brother and sister hardly seemed worthy even to carry her shoes?

When I was seven, I was still tempering my qi and blood. I hadn’t even entered the ranks yet… Xu Yuanhuai seemed to have been stimulated. Clenching both fists, he longed to return to his courtyard and cultivate at once.

The mother and her two children realised that this child might well be, apart from Dalang, the most talented member of the Xu family.

“Mum, I’m going out to play.”

Xu Lingyin didn’t like staying here listening to grown-ups talk.

“Off you go,” Auntie warned. “Don’t trample the flowerbeds.”

“What happens if I do?” Xu Lingyin asked cautiously.

“We’ll roast you and eat you,” Xu Qi’an frightened her.

Xu Lingyin ran off in fear.

Lina ran out after her, and swept the pastries off the table on the way.

…

With the wedding date drawing near, Auntie had a pile of things to do. It was her duty as the mistress of the household. Her only helper, Xu Lingyue, was dragging her feet, so Auntie seized the chance to keep her sister-in-law behind to help.

Ji Baiqing was naturally willing. After all, it was her eldest son who was getting married.

Xu Qi’an took a stack of finished invitations and returned to his room. He needed to check for omissions and fill in any gaps. Every friend who ought to be invited had to be invited, none could be missed.

First came the court. He would only invite a few key members of the Wei Clique, such as Censor Zhang Xingying, Liu Hong, and the others.

As for the Wang Clique, former Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen definitely had to be invited, though he would most likely send Wang Simu to attend the wedding feast in his place and not appear himself.

There were many people from the Nightwatchers’ office to invite, the nine Gold Gongs, as well as familiar colleagues like Song Tingfeng, Zhu Guangxiao, Li Yuchun and the rest.

Among them, Brother Chun had obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Within a radius of more than ten metres around him, Zhong Li couldn’t appear.

All this required him, the host, to make proper arrangements.

He also had to invite the old colleagues he had met when he worked as a bailiff in Changle County. If one became rich, one shouldn’t forget old friends, that was basic decency.

The great scholars of Cloud Deer Academy and Headmaster Zhao Shou definitely had to be invited too. One thing to note was that, no matter what, no poetry could be composed at the wedding feast, or several of the great scholars might start fighting regardless of the occasion. That would be troublesome.

The people from the Sitianjian naturally had to be invited as well. Yang Qianhuan needed a small table prepared separately for him, facing the wall with his back to the guests.

I’ve got to keep Zhong Li by my side at all times. Otherwise, if some bloody disaster breaks out at the wedding, that’ll be bad. If I invite Senior Brother Sun, Protector Yuan will most likely come along too. No, that won’t do. If it comes, the wedding won’t be able to proceed.

If Song Qing comes, I’ll have to make it clear in advance that he mustn’t bring a gift. I’m afraid he’ll carry over a ‘clone version of Luo Yuheng’.

The Earth Book group are all in the capital, so none of them will be absent.

Then there were his friends from the jianghu. Of those who truly caught his eye and with whom he had that level of friendship, there were only the people of the Wulin Alliance.

I won’t invite the people from the Southern Marches. I’ve only just slept with Luanyu. If she comes too, that’ll be the end of it. Besides, I’m worried Longtu will bring his entire tribe over to eat at the banquet…

Sigh, what sort of people are these!

Xu Qi’an rubbed the space between his brows.

“Creak…”

The door was pushed open. Mu Nanzhi came in with a cold face, clutching a handful of candied dates. As she ate, she sneered,

“Oh, Silver Gong Xu still hasn’t finished writing his invitations? Want Aunt Mu to help by writing them for you?”

“Sure, sure!” Xu Qi’an said with a grin.

“As it happens, I’m still one short. Hmm, I still need to invite Princess Consort Mu Nanzhi, the Zhenbei King’s princess consort, to come to the manor for the wedding feast.”

Mu Nanzhi said fiercely,

“I’ll expose your crimes as a lecher in front of all the guests. I’ll say you sullied me, seized me by force, and have no shame at all.”

Xu Qi’an put on an innocent expression.

“Aunt Mu, how can you be such a hooligan?

“Could you act a bit more like an elder?”

Mu Nanzhi flew into a rage, baring teeth and brandishing claws as she pounced over to scratch up his face.

But Xu Qi’an caught both her hands, twisted them behind her back, and pinned her onto the desk.

As they messed about, the writing desk began to rock with loud bangs.

…

In the courtyard, Xu Lingyin and Lina sat by the stone table sharing pastries.

“Master, I want meat.”

With her mouth stuffed full of cakes, Xu Lingyin whined, “Could you go and find some for me?”

Lina’s mouth was full of cakes too. She gave her a glance.

“You want me to go find meat so you can gobble up all these pastries by yourself, don’t you?”

Xu Lingyin looked at Lina warily. She hadn’t expected Master to see through her thoughts. Master was amazing.

Lina muttered,

“I want meat too, but it’s not time for lunch yet. If we were in the Southern Marches, as your master I’d take you out hunting.”

Master and disciple sighed at the same time. At that moment, a rustling sound came from the flowerbed. A moment later, an adorable fox cub poked its way out.

Six eyes met.

813. Eating Meat

Page Comments