A charming smile can win a man's heart
Li Yanzhang brought his parents and Shi Yan to the west, to Xicun, where the four of them stayed at an inn.
Li Yanzhang's mother, Li Yunsheng, asked worriedly, "Will Xingyi be alright?"
Li Fengtan held her hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, since Xingyi is staying there, there must be something we don't know about."
Li Yanzhang was a martial artist with better hearing than others. As they left, he overheard something: "I am Han Xing, the leader of the martial arts alliance..."
He thought about it for a while, but still couldn't figure it out, and asked, "Father, Mother, when did Xingyi learn martial arts?"
Upon hearing this, not only Li Fengtan and Li Yunsheng were stunned, but even Shi Yan was taken aback. After all, in their impression, Li Xingyi was just an ordinary woman, powerless and weak, let alone skilled in martial arts.
Li Fengtan touched Li Yanzhang's head and said, "He doesn't have a fever. Why is this child talking nonsense?"
Li Yanzhang was speechless, waved his hand away, and said, "Never mind."
For some reason, Li Yanzhang felt something was off, as if something was missing. He suddenly clenched his fist in his other hand and said, "Ah! So Zizheng and Furong are missing!"
On the other side, Zizheng and Furong cried out in distress, "Young Master, Madam, where are you?"
Shi Yan then noticed that Fu Rong was not beside her. She had been dragged along in such a hurry that she hadn't noticed that someone else hadn't followed.
...
"So what do we do now?" Li Yanzhang asked.
Shi Yan thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps nothing will happen. Fu Rong knows a little bit of kung fu, and we don't know if she was taken away by someone else. After all, we were all randomly pulled away."
Li Yanzhang scratched his head and said, "Yes... that's right."
That day, Shi Yan was writing an article at the table by the window in her room. She didn't even notice Li Yanzhang walking up behind her. Seeing that she was very focused, Li Yanzhang didn't disturb her and just watched her write quietly.
Before long, Shi Yan finished writing. Seeing this, Li Yanzhang bent down and asked curiously in her ear, "What did you write? Why is it so long?"
Shi Yan was startled and quickly turned her head to look. Her tender lips kissed Li Yanzhang's fair face. Her heart was pounding loudly. For a moment, she couldn't tell whose heart was beating or if both of them were. The two of them were stunned and blushed instantly.
Li Yanzhang immediately straightened up and said, "I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous."
Shi Yan tried her best to calm herself down, picked up the article she had written, and changed the subject, saying, "This is the Magpie Bridge Fairy."
"The Magpie Bridge Fairy" Delicate clouds weave patterns, shooting stars convey sorrow, the Milky Way stretches vast and silent. A single meeting in the golden autumn breeze and jade dew surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world. Tender feelings flow like water, the auspicious day is like a dream, how can one bear to look back on the magpie bridge's return path? If two hearts are truly bound for eternity, why should they be together every day and night?
Li Yanzhang glanced at the article and asked, "Is it intended as a gift?"
Upon hearing this, even Li Yanzhang was stunned, because he didn't know why he felt that the article was meant to be given away, and he just blurted it out.
Shi Yan said, "I don't know, I'm just writing whatever comes to mind."
Li Yanzhang nodded and said, "That's fine. This is what it means for a woman to be well-educated and polite."
Shi Yan touched the article and smiled gently, "I really like the second and last sentences."
Upon hearing this, Li Yanzhang looked at her and said, "Actually, I think Your Highness can present this article to His Majesty."
Shi Yan shook her head and said, "Your Majesty already has someone in your heart, and I just want to find someone who is willing to never take a concubine for me and to spend the rest of his life with only me."
Li Yanzhang said, "But...you are now a Noble Consort."
Shi Yan smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, I am now a Noble Consort, and I can no longer... fulfill my wish."
Seeing this, Li Yanzhang felt a little sorry for her and comforted her, "It's alright. What if your destined marriage isn't in the palace? Maybe someone will really take you away in the future?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Yan subconsciously looked at Li Yanzhang, who was taken aback and felt somewhat embarrassed by her gaze.
Shi Yan suddenly asked, "If... your beloved is forced to become a concubine, would you take her with you?"
After listening carefully, Li Yanzhang said, "If that's the case, then I will definitely do everything in my power to take her away."
Shi Yan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "If that's the case, then the woman you like must be an excellent person."
Li Yanzhang laughed and said, "No, since she is an excellent person, then whether I like her or not, she is an excellent person."
Upon hearing this, Shi Yan asked curiously, "Then what kind of woman do you like?"
A gentle breeze blew by, and Li Yanzhang looked out at the blue sky and white clouds, saying, "Actually, I hadn't thought about this. When the time was right, she appeared."
Shi Yan also looked up at the blue sky and white clouds and said, "Fate... it's something that can't be explained or described."
That night, Shi Yan drank alone in her room, one cup after another.
In fact, Shi Yan had never drunk alcohol because she was a daughter of an official family and had to live for her family at all times, even her marriage was for the sake of her family.
But tonight she wanted to let loose and have some fun.
If there were a lotus flower, she would probably confide in it, but now she is all alone and can only drown her sorrows in alcohol.
But she forgot that alcohol can only numb her, not relieve her sorrow.
Hearing a noise from the next room, Li Yanzhang immediately went to check. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Shi Yan on the bed, facing the door.
She crossed her left leg over her right, rested her right arm on the pillow, and let her hand hang in mid-air by the bedside, holding a wine jug.
She held a wine glass in front of her abdomen with her left hand, her dark hair was loose, her snow-white face was flushed with the rosy glow of alcohol, and her delicate lips were made even more alluring.
Her eyes were unfocused as she mumbled at the newcomer, "...Yan...Zhang."
After she finished speaking, she fell asleep, and the moonlight shone on her just right.
At this moment, Shi Yan appears incredibly charming and captivating, a truly delightful sight.
At that moment, Li Yanzhang's heart was pounding. The surroundings seemed to have fallen silent, leaving only the sound of his heart pounding.
Li Yanzhang silently stepped forward, took the wine cup and wine pot and put them away, then thoughtfully covered Shi Yan with a blanket.
Back in his room, he immediately poured a bucket of ice-cold water over himself.
Li Yanzhang! Wake up! She is a Noble Consort! She is not someone you can covet!
The next day, as expected, Li Yanzhang caught a cold. At the dinner table, Li Yanzhang kept sneezing!
Li Yunsheng asked worriedly, "Yanzhang, are you alright?"
Li Yanzhang quickly waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine, you guys continue eating."
Seeing this, Shi Yan said, "Let's go see a doctor."
Li Yanzhang said, "I'll go by myself later."
Shi Yan said, "Just don't forget to go."
After hearing this, Li Fengtan looked at Li Yanzhang and said, "Did you hear that? Don't forget to go, don't make us worry."
Li Yanzhang smiled and said, "Understood, Father."
Li Fengtan paused for a moment when he heard the word "father," because Li Xingyi also called him that.
Li Fengtan blurted out, "I wonder how Xingyi is doing now? When will he come to pick us up?"
At this moment, Li Yunsheng's heart ached as if it were being torn apart. She said, "Xingyi... she'll be alright, she'll definitely... be alright."
Seeing this, Shi Yan took Li Yunsheng's hand and comforted him, "The Empress is clever and quick-witted, and is His Majesty's beloved. His Majesty will protect her no matter what. If His Majesty cannot protect her, he will not let her stay there."
Hearing this, Li Yunsheng was relieved and said, "Yes, His Majesty cherishes Xingyi very much, as we could tell from the banquet."
Li Fengtan said, "Then we should be able to go back soon."
Suddenly he turned to look at Li Yanzhang and said, "Speaking of which, Yanzhang, you are the older brother, so you should be the one to get married first."
Upon hearing this, Li Yunsheng immediately said, "That's right, Yanzhang should get married too."
Li Yanzhang was taken aback by these unexpected words. He pointed to himself and said, "Me? It's time for me to get married?"
Li Yanzhang's parents nodded in unison, saying, "Yes."
Li Yunsheng thought for a moment and said, "Yanzhang, why don't you see if there's anyone suitable here? Taking a concubine wouldn't be a bad idea."
Li Yanzhang unconsciously thought of Shi Yan and said, "No, I also have my requirements."
"First, her family background is good. Second, she is exceptionally beautiful. Third, she is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Fourth, she has a gentle personality. Fifth, I love her and she loves me too."
Li Fengtan thought carefully about whether such a person existed, and said, "You have too many demands, kid."
Li Yanzhang stood up and said, "The rest of our lives belong to two people, so naturally we must choose carefully. This is a lifelong matter, so we can't be hasty."
Li Yunsheng asked, "Two people? You're not going to take a concubine?"
Li Yanzhang walked to the door, turned back and smiled, "No, my heart can only hold one person, just like my father."
The boy's smile was as warm as the sunshine, and his words were like a spring breeze caressing the girl's heart, creating ripples.
Li Fengtan gave him a thumbs-up as he walked away and said, "Good boy! You're worthy of being my child! You have my style!"
Li Yunsheng smiled as he watched his retreating figure, while Shi Yan was completely stunned.
I... I think I found that person, but unfortunately, there's no future for us.
Li Yanzhang went out to find a doctor and got some medicine. When he was about to return to the inn, he found Shi Yan strolling on the street.
Li Yanzhang stepped forward, took a light blue hairpin from a nearby hairpin shop, and handed it to her, saying with a smile, "Miss, light blue suits you better."
Shi Yan was taken aback when she saw the person who had come in, then smiled and said, "Thank you, you are indeed very beautiful."
Seeing this, Li Yanzhang slowly inserted the hairpin into Shi Yan's hair and said, "Among the crowd, her beauty is unparalleled; all other beauties are as insignificant as dust."
Shi Yan said, "Young Master Li seems to know how to compliment people."
Li Yanzhang laughed and said, "I am not very talented, I can only praise you, Miss."
Shi Yan smiled slightly at him and said nothing more.
Upon arriving at the inn, Li Yanzhang personally brewed the medicine and drank it all in one gulp, his movements clean and efficient, showing no fear of bitterness.
Shi Yan looked at the candied fruit in her hand, then at Li Yanzhang, and said, "It seems we don't need it."
Upon hearing this, Li Yanzhang casually took the candied fruit and said, "Thank you, this is just the right amount of snack."
Shi Yan smiled gently and said, "That's good."
At night, Li Yanzhang practiced his sword in the backyard of the inn, and Shi Yan's room window had a view of the backyard.
Shi Yan sat upright by the window, looking down at Li Yanzhang, and smiled unconsciously.
Li Yanzhang was diligently practicing his swordsmanship. After a while, he sat down on a stone bench to rest, picked up a teacup from the table, drank it down, and said, "What kind of tea is this? Why does it taste so bad?"
Shi Yan said from above, "That's green tea. It's normal for people who aren't used to it to find it unpleasant to drink."
Li Yanzhang looked up when he heard the sound, met Shi Yan's gaze, and they both smiled at the same time.
At this moment, nothing is related to romance or anything else; it is solely about the sincerity between the two people.
The boy's light was so dazzling that it illuminated the gloom surrounding the girl.
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