Chapter 726 My Senior Sister Is Not Me, How Could She Know This Feeling? [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]
"Longling—"
"Longling—"
In the quiet courtyard, the crisp sound of jade clashing could be heard from time to time, both inside and outside the main hall.
Yu Nianyuan looked at the lively and cheerful Zhao Qingxiu in front of him with some helplessness.
She had already put down the bowl and was being led by the hand by Zhao Qingxiu as they walked back and forth in the courtyard, stopping to examine the various items.
It could be a well-repaired swing, a sturdy bench for two people to sit on together, a cozy main room, or a kitchen with traces of activity between two people.
With a gentle smile, Zhao Qingxiu pointed to the various objects in the courtyard that bore the marks of daily life, introducing Tanlang's craftsmanship and family-oriented nature to Yu Nianyuan.
She held Yu Nianyuan's hand and carefully wrote words on the latter's palm.
Yu Nianyuan watched silently for a while without saying a word, but she would carefully examine every item Zhao Qingxiu introduced, without being perfunctory.
But the woman in white remained silent.
I just heard my junior sister say that she and her lover cultivated together and advanced together, and unexpectedly obtained the phenomenon of the trapped dragon, because "he was missing from her destiny".
From that moment on, Yu Nianyuan stopped replying and remained silent for a long while, seemingly lost in thought...
In the courtyard corridor, Yu Nianyuan stared at his unusually lively and cheerful seventh junior sister for a long while before suddenly speaking, interrupting Zhao Qingxiu, who was enthusiastically writing in her palm:
“Xiao Qi, when you briefly mentioned this matter in your previous letter, my senior sister and I discussed it. We cannot rule out the effect of the tortoise shell longhorn beetle. The fact that you were able to recover your mental state and restore your cultivation speed this time may be because the half tortoise shell longhorn beetle you swallowed had a strange combination with the half tortoise shell longhorn beetle he swallowed. By a twist of fate, this rare and unusual dual cultivation effect was created.”
"oh."
Zhao Qingxiu tilted her head slightly, her little face full of anticipation as she wrote:
Are the senior female students happy?
Yu Nianyuan nodded: "Of course I'm happy for you."
After she finished speaking, she saw Zhao Qingxiu eagerly continue writing:
"Then I can't live without my beloved from now on. It's truly my destiny to be without him, don't you think, Second Senior Sister? I need him for my cultivation, what am I going to do, Second Senior Sister..."
Yu Nianyuan thought that if her seventh junior sister hadn't gone blind and was wearing the ribbon, she would have secretly rolled her starry eyes to peek at her senior sister's expression after writing this line. Perhaps her pitiful appearance would have softened people's hearts.
The woman in white neither agreed nor disagreed, but instead said:
"Little Seven, do you know that this method is breaking the rules? This technique is ultimately not the Great Dao, and the effects of half a tortoise shell longhorn beetle cannot be maintained for long. There will come a day when you will drain it all. If I'm not mistaken, this kind of dual cultivation with a clear distinction between the strong and the weak will greatly deplete the essence of the weaker party. Aren't you afraid of draining him dry, Little Seven...?"
Zhao Qingxiu's writing interrupted her:
Second Senior Sister guessed wrong.
"What guessed wrong?"
[My beloved is full of energy. I had checked on him with concern, but found that he was perfectly healthy and had not lost his vital energy. On the contrary, his foundation had become even stronger.]
Yu Nianyuan paused for a moment, then shook his head: "That's hard to say, but it doesn't seem like the right path after all."
Zhao Qingxiu asked:
[How can I trust my senior sister? Maybe I should investigate her myself.]
Yu Nianyuan was speechless: "He's a man, what am I supposed to investigate, and how could I possibly investigate him? Xiao Qi, don't be ridiculous."
Zhao Qingxiu suddenly turned to look outside the courtyard and asked:
The two Miss Fangs are outside. Why don't we let them come in and sit down? Let them keep Second Senior Sister company. I have to leave now. I'll entertain you when I get back.
Yu Nianyuan said calmly:
"They're not tired, they don't need to sit."
Zhao Qingxiu asked:
Did they do something wrong and upset Second Senior Sister?
Yu Nianyuan spoke:
"No, but they like to meddle in other people's business. We don't need to bother with them. Besides, there's no need for them to come in, since we're leaving soon."
Zhao Qingxiu immediately turned around and walked to the lobby.
Yu Nianyuan asked softly, "Where is Xiao Qi going?"
Zhao Qingxiu obediently wrote: 【Pour some tea, Second Senior Sister, have a sip before you leave】
Yu Nianyuan narrowed his eyes and asked:
"What are you doing staying here, Xiao Qi? Aren't you going with your senior sister?"
Zhao Qingxiu shook her head:
I have to attend Tanlang's aunt's birthday celebration, so I don't have time today.
Yu Nianyuan pursed his lips: "Senior Sister told me to take you away immediately after I see you, and not to stay here. After all, it's dangerous under the enemy's nose."
Zhao Qingxiu took Yu Nianyuan's hand and wrote hopefully:
[I've been here for so long without any problems, a little longer won't make a difference. Second Senior Sister, could you please take a letter back for me and give it to Eldest Senior Sister? I want to tell her about my lover in person. Could you please put in a good word for me and my lover?]
Yu Nianyuan's tone was calm yet firm:
"It would have been possible before, but not now."
Zhao Qingxiu asked urgently, "Why?"
"Because it's unrealistic, I know there's a sentence you won't like to hear, and many people won't like to hear, and that is 'I'm doing this for your own good.' But my senior sister is indeed speaking from the perspective of someone who's been through it all, and she wants what's best for you. You can say that my senior sister and I are the patriarchs, and that we're breaking up a couple, but if we see it and keep quiet, watching you walk down the path we think is wrong, then we would be unworthy of the title of family."
Yu Nianyuan paused, then said softly but emphatically, "Senior Sister has something to say, and she must say it."
She reached out and touched Zhao Qingxiu's eyes, which were covered by a sky-blue ribbon, and said softly:
"If this were in the past, I might have disagreed with Senior Sister's suggestion regarding your marriage to a virgin, and I would have sided with you. But now, given the current situation..."
Yu Nianyuan shook his head and said sincerely:
"Senior Sister's attitude on this matter is indeed correct. Also, I must tell you first that I came here this time after gathering a lot of information. Some things are confirmed without a doubt. I came here after thinking things through from a conventional perspective, and the advice I gave you is also based on that."
Zhao Qingxiu insisted on writing:
My love is not like mine, and my senior sister is not me; how could she know this feeling?
Yu Nianyuan suddenly asked:
"Xiao Qi, do you know that tomorrow is the celebration ceremony for the Xunyang Grottoes, to celebrate the completion of the Donglin Buddha?"
Zhao Qingxiu was stunned for a moment:
Tomorrow?
"Yes, tomorrow."
Yu Nianyuan looked around and said meaningfully:
"It seems you stay in this courtyard all the time, and no news gets through."
Zhao Qingxiu lowered her head and stared blankly for a while.
【Senior sister, wait for me. We still have half a day. I need to go to the birthday ceremony first, and I'll go with you tomorrow. After I've dealt with the Buddha statue, I'll personally persuade the eldest senior sister. No need for you to trouble yourself.】
Yu Nianyuan shook his head and said only three words, brooking no refusal:
"You are not allowed to go."
Zhao Qingxiu's words also brooked no refusal, which surprised Yu Nianyuan; it was rare to see his seventh junior sister so resolute.
Second Senior Sister, I absolutely have to attend this birthday ceremony!
Yu Nianyuan explained:
"I mean, you are not allowed to go today or tomorrow. Go back to Jianze now. Fifth Junior Sister needs your help."
Zhao Qingxiu shook her head, her small face filled with confusion.
The woman in white gently rolled up her sleeves and retied the sky-blue ribbon that had become loose due to the violent shaking.
Her movements were gentle and patient, and she spoke at the same time:
"We don't care about matching social status. We in Yunmeng Jianze never look at social status or wealth, but only at morality and character. Many disasters in the world are not caused by poverty or lowliness, but by people's hearts."
"Many lessons learned by the seniors of the Queen's Palace at the foot of the mountain can be attributed to the word 'human nature,' which is more terrifying than the evil dragon. A single thought in the human heart can nourish thousands of evil dragons."
"It is easy to slay a vicious dragon, but difficult to entangle the human heart."
[My beloved is a good man]
Seeing that she was writing with great force, clearly showing resistance, Yu Nianyuan asked directly:
Do you know his identity outside?
[Jiangzhou Officials]
Yu Nianyuan nodded:
"Yes, he's not just an official, but a high-ranking one. His surname is Ouyang, and his given name is Rong, but do you know his courtesy name?"
Just as Zhao Qingxiu was about to write, she suddenly stopped and did not put pen to paper.
But Yu Nianyuan had already read it aloud:
"Your courtesy name is Lianghan. You are Ouyang Lianghan, the scholar of the Xiuwen Pavilion and the governor of Jiangzhou, bestowed by the pseudo-emperor. He was in charge of building the Donglin Buddha. He also personally issued the decree restricting Yue women in Jiangzhou. As for the Fang sisters, do you know why they left without saying goodbye these days? They haven't come to see you for a while. Xiaoqi, haven't you noticed anything strange?"
Zhao Qingxiu's body trembled, and her fingers also trembled.
Yu Nianyuan said softly:
"He should know that you are a Yue woman. As for whether he knows the identity of Yue maiden, he does not know. Judging from his methods in dealing with the Fang sisters and Master Yizhi, and the leniency he showed... he does value you and is afraid that you will be sad. However, his overall stance is still on the side of the court. Judging from his issuance of the decree restricting Yue women and his assistance in drafting our arrest warrants for the female officials of the Imperial Observatory, he will not be lenient in dealing with us 'rebels of the southern Jianghu' except for you."
"This kid is far more complex than my senior sister and I thought. He is very meticulous in his actions and is definitely a smart person."
"But your senior sister and I don't like people who are too smart, especially smart people who are biased, they are particularly hateful."
"Moreover, the smarter a man is, the easier it is for him to manipulate people's hearts, because it's too easy. And I've heard that he has more than one woman, you. You can wait for him for ten years without ever waiting for him, but he can't wait for you for ten years without ever waiting for you. Xiao Qi, you are too romantic and sincere. This kind of extremely intelligent man is not a good match, and deep affection is easily short-lived."
Yu Nianyuan grasped Zhao Qingxiu's trembling hand and slowly said:
"So, stop indulging in your own fantasy. Putting aside his conflicts with us and the unjust things he did, even if I understand his position and difficulties, Senior Sister and the other sisters of Jianze will never forgive him. How do you expect to convince everyone?"
"There's something else I don't know if you've considered. That Buddha statue is bound to collapse eventually, and he and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion need the Buddha's merit to report to the Empress. The collapse of the Buddha is tantamount to dereliction of duty. If he finds out that you are the innocent Yue Chuzi who cannot be cleared up, that you are a key rebel in the eyes of the court, and that it was your senior sisters who destroyed the Buddha, what choice will he make?"
"Is it to give up my future and abandon my clan to go into the mountains with you and cultivate in seclusion in Yunmeng?"
"Or is it that he wants to lead you into the imperial court and continue your career? In that case, you are his biggest weakness, the biggest Achilles' heel that his enemies can attack. He's just waiting for the day that's revealed. Until then, can you sleep soundly?"
"Even if he chooses the former, you will carry a huge guilt for the rest of your life. He studied hard for ten years, and with just one impulsive act, his future is ruined. He will retreat to the deep mountains and forests to live in seclusion. In the days to come, he will always harbor resentment. What's the point?"
"One person can endure hardship, but two people can't, because they will feel that their suffering is caused by the other person."
"One person can sacrifice, but two people cannot, because the one who sacrifices will always look down on the other."
Zhao Qingxiu, her eyes blindfolded with ribbons, looked around, seemingly somewhat bewildered.
Yu Nianyuan heard her somewhat disordered breathing.
The woman in white closed her eyes and made the decision for her:
"Xiao Qi, don't go to any of them. Don't go to the birthday celebration, and don't go to tomorrow's event either. Go back to Jianze. I'll handle the rest. Senior Sister won't blame you. Besides, with me here, your husband's life will definitely be safe. No one can touch him. I can guarantee you that right now..."
"Xiao Qi, do you know that last time he captured one of our people, Senior Sister sent me here to confront him and take his head? But not now. He's family to you, so we won't hurt him."
"This outcome will make it easier for Senior Sister to explain herself. Otherwise, if she goes back empty-handed without bringing you back, she'll be the one to come next. I can't help you with that now, and I'm being honest with you about that."
Yu Nianyuan's voice trailed off slowly.
Zhao Qingxiu stood there, seemingly oblivious to whether she had heard anything.
The courtyard remained silent for a while.
Just as Yu Nianyuan was about to speak again.
Zhao Qingxiu suddenly stopped trembling and reached out to touch the gift box on the table.
Yu Nianyuan pressed her jade-like hand on the gift box and said, word by word:
"Seven, little one."
The sky-blue ribbon covering Zhao Qingxiu's eyes had darkened slightly, as if it had been soaked in water, and she lowered her head to write.
Yu Nianyuan stared intently at it.
I understand, I... I don't care.
Zhao Qingxiu buried her head like an ostrich, clumsily hugging all the gift boxes into her arms, not letting a single one out.
She squatted down on the spot, her thin, slender fingers continuing to write on the ground:
I don't care who he is outside, but at home he's my beloved, and this is home.
Yu Nianyuan gradually frowned, while Zhao Qingxiu hugged her knees and buried her head.
The two stood and squatted, locked in a silent stalemate.
After an unknown amount of time, Yu Nianyuan suddenly spoke:
"How about this, senior sister, you can have another option."
Zhao Qingxiu, who was squatting on the ground with her knees drawn up, slowly raised her head.
She still clutched the gift box tightly.
...
The mansion in Huaiye Lane is filled with joy today.
From morning to afternoon, the maids and stewards inside and outside the house walked with a joyful and festive air.
Inside the house, at the entrance of the Yinbingzhai courtyard.
Ouyang Rong was standing on tiptoe pasting a red couplet.
Halfway through applying the ointment, he touched his right eyelid, which had been twitching every now and then since he woke up this morning.
I've heard that the left side brings good fortune and the right side brings misfortune, but who in their right mind would believe in that stuff? To be practical, it's just eye strain.
Ouyang Rong muttered something under his breath.
"Little Rongzi!"
Miao Si suddenly jumped out of her sleeve, touched her chin, and asked with a serious expression:
"Do you think... the embroiderer might also prepare a generous gift for this fairy maiden?"
Ouyang Rong immediately smiled.
He discovered that when people are extremely speechless, they can actually laugh.
"She doesn't even know you, what would she give you?" Ouyang Rong asked疑惑地问道, "Is it a mirror? To look at yourself?"
Miao Si, seemingly kind-hearted by nature, didn't detect the mockery and tilted her head, saying:
"But she knows you have so many women. Women have a strong sixth sense, so she must also know about me, or she might have prepared a gift for the sister she forgot."
Ouyang Rong immediately gave the arrogant little ink spirit a flick on the forehead:
"I don't know you well, so don't talk nonsense. Besides, I haven't settled the score with you for the last time you complained. If the embroiderer finds out, she definitely won't like you."
The brilliant idea hidden in his sleeve sighed:
"If I had known, I would have jumped out last time and called you a heartless man, and scolded you just like Xie Yatou, and acted like an older sister."
Ouyang Rong: ?
(End of this chapter)
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