Chapter 120: The Question of Marriage

An Yi watched as Li Ruoxian darted to the window, pushed it open, and vaulted out. She secretly groaned, wondering if Bai Wuming had come by again. If the two of them crossed paths and started a fight, it would be a disaster, so she hurriedly followed her out.

An Yi’s light-body technique was only mediocre; she could not change direction in mid-air and landed directly on the ground. Li Ruoxian, however, tapped her toe on a bamboo stalk and leaped onto the roof like a bird. She scanned her surroundings with vigilance, but there was no one suspicious to be found.

An Yi looked at the shattered white porcelain cup and a dead bird on the ground, exhaling in relief. "Second Senior Sister, Second Senior Sister, please come down."

Li Ruoxian jumped down from the roof. Fang Rong, hearing the commotion, ran out from the room. "Miss, what happened?"

"It’s nothing, Second Senior Sister just killed a bird," An Yi said, suppressing a laugh.

The dead bird on the ground was not a pigeon, and there was no small wooden tube tied to its leg. It was likely just a bird that had accidentally flown in to forage and unfortunately met its demise at the hands of Li Ruoxian, proving the old adage that "birds die for food."

An Yi was very grateful for the bird's appearance; she used the topic of migratory birds flying south to successfully deflect the conversation about marriage. However, another problem arose.

Li Ruoxian spotted the sword on the wall, walked over, and took it down. Upon seeing the hilt, she asked in surprise, "Nineteenth Junior Sister, how do you have the Liuguang Sword?"

"A friend gave it to me." An Yi had completely forgotten that she had ever heard the name of the Liuguang Sword before Bai Wuming gave it to her. As for the question of why this sword—originally intended to be awarded to the winner of the Taihu Sword Competition—ended up in Bai Wuming’s hands after the competition was canceled, she didn't even consider it.

"A friend?" Li Ruoxian stared at An Yi with a look of pure gossip. "A man?"

"A woman." Faced with Li Ruoxian’s piercing gaze, An Yi lied without a hint of guilt and reached out to take the Liuguang Sword. "Is there something wrong with this sword?"

"No, what could be wrong with a precious sword that can cut through iron like mud?" Li Ruoxian smiled. "I just didn’t expect this sword to be in your hands now."

"What is the problem with the sword being in my hands?" An Yi continued to ask.

Li Ruoxian made a fist with her right hand, placed it to her lips, and coughed twice. "This Liuguang Sword is a treasure that many famous swordsmen in the martial arts world dream of possessing."

An Yi asked calmly, "There are many swords that can cut through iron like mud; what is so special about this Liuguang Sword?"

Li Ruoxian was clearly stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected An Yi to be unaware of the sword's value. She gave a strange smile and said, "The Liuguang Sword is one of the four famous swords forged by the previous master of the Famous Sword Villa. Of the four, three already have owners; only this Liuguang Sword remained at the villa. It is worth a thousand pieces of gold and is hard to come by."

An Yi’s gaze flickered slightly. She wasn't narcissistic enough to believe that Bai Wuming gave her the Liuguang Sword simply because he liked her, but his motive for gifting such a valuable weapon was worth pondering.

Li Ruoxian noticed the brief ripple in An Yi’s eyes and leaned in close. "Nineteenth Junior Sister, who is this friend of yours? Such a grand gesture, to be willing to give you such a famous sword."

An Yi looked at Li Ruoxian’s beautiful face, now only inches away, and calmly averted her gaze to the hole in the window, hoping another bird would fly in to end this conversation.

No bird appeared, but the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs provided a timely rescue. An Yi stood up and hung the sword back on the wall. "Someone is coming up."

"Nineteenth Junior Sister, don't try to dodge your sister's question again." Li Ruoxian insisted on an answer.

"Second Senior Sister, I’m not dodging. I’ve already answered: it’s a friend." An Yi looked at her, smiling as she emphasized, "A female friend."

Li Ruoxian shook her head. "I don’t believe it."

"Second Senior Sister, it’s the truth," An Yi said earnestly.

The footsteps stopped at the door, and Fang Rong’s voice came from outside. "Miss, the wife of the manager has brought people to repair the window."

"Let them in," An Yi said with a smile.

Fang Rong and the others entered and bowed to An Yi and Li Ruoxian.

"Second Senior Sister, let’s go downstairs." An Yi walked out of the room, and Li Ruoxian had no choice but to follow her down to the small side hall to sit.

Taoren served freshly brewed tea and snacks before withdrawing.

Li Ruoxian sipped her tea to moisten her throat, gathered her strength, and continued her interrogation: "Nineteenth Junior..."

"Miss, the Eldest Young Master and Young Master Cheng are here," Taoren announced as she saw An Kang and Cheng Ruizhi enter the door.

Li Ruoxian frowned deeply. Why did they have to come at such an inconvenient time?

An Yi felt a sense of relief—she was finally free!

The hour was getting late, and Li Ruoxian’s party needed to return to the inn. They first went to Jingli Garden to bid farewell to An Qinghe and Madam Luo, and the An siblings then saw them to the gate.

An Yi asked, "Second Senior Sister, when do you and Ruizhi plan to start your journey home?"

"The second of the tenth lunar month is an auspicious day for travel and relocation." Li Ruoxian couldn't wait for the Young Lord Gong any longer; she had to take her son home for the New Year.

An Yi frowned in distress. "I have to be a guest that day, so I won't be able to see you off."

"What’s the need for seeing off? Don't bother. I hate farewell scenes the most. Alright, that’s that! I’m leaving, take care." Li Ruoxian ducked into the large sedan chair.

"Second Senior Sister, Ruizhi, have a safe journey," the An siblings said in unison.

Just as the strong men lifted the sedan, they heard Li Ruoxian call from inside, "Put it down."

The chair was set on the ground, and Li Ruoxian climbed back out. "Nineteenth Junior Sister!"

An Yi walked down the steps. "Second Senior Sister, is there something else?"

"Nineteenth Junior Sister, when you get married, remember to send me an invitation. Even if we are worlds apart, I will rush over to drink at your wedding feast." Li Ruoxian remained obsessed with An Yi’s life affairs.

An Yi was left speechless. "Second Senior Sister, it’s about to rain, please take care on your journey!"

"I will write to Master," Li Ruoxian declared, before climbing back into the sedan.

An Yi sighed helplessly. Was Second Senior Sister going to have Master force the Young Lord Gong to marry her?

The men lifted the sedan and departed in a grand fashion. An Yi turned to see An Kang looking at her thoughtfully. Her heart skipped a beat as she walked over to him. "Eldest Brother, let’s go inside quickly, it’s going to rain."

"Little Sister, you..." An Kang scanned the others. "Let’s go inside and talk."

An Yi followed An Kang to the study in the outer courtyard and dismissed the servants. An Kang looked at An Yi with a serious expression. "Little Sister, tell your brother: in the past two years, were you bullied while you were away?"

"No."

An Kang’s gaze grew heavier. "Did you make a secret vow of marriage with someone?"

"No."

"Then why did Madam Cheng say those things? You, and who?"

"The 'you' Second Senior Sister mentioned didn't refer to anyone specific. We were just chatting, and she said that since I’m already fourteen and approaching my coming-of-age ceremony, she was asking what kind of person I wanted to marry."

"And how did you answer her?" With his worries eased, An Kang became curious about what type of man his sister liked.

"I said I wouldn't marry; I wanted to stay at home and let you and Second Brother support me for the rest of my life," An Yi said with a playful smile.

"Silly girl." An Kang laughed heartily and reached out to pinch An Yi’s nose. "Talking nonsense again."

"Eldest Brother, you're annoying!" An Yi swatted his hand away. "Pinching my nose again! I’m not talking to you."

With that, An Yi quickly escaped. She had finally sent off Li Ruoxian, only for An Kang to start in on her; this marriage topic was endless!

An Kang stood by the door, watching her slender figure walk away, nodding with a smile. His sister was growing up; what kind of family would be suitable for her? He would have to discuss this carefully with their parents; he couldn't let his sister’s future be delayed.

That evening, Madam Huang, who had gone four meals without food, finally had a bowl of steaming white porridge. Spiritless and exhausted, she no longer had the energy to challenge An Yi, who sat across from her. She didn't dare resist the simple meal of porridge and pickles, keeping her head down and eating in silence.

An Yi watched Madam Huang, who was pale and sallow without her usual rouge. If her brother confirmed that the Huang family had used Madam Huang to latch onto the An family, then Madam Huang was just a pitiful pawn. As long as she behaved herself, once the matter was settled, An Yi would not intentionally make things difficult for her if she chose to leave the An household.

Madam Huang finished three bowls of porridge, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and stood up. She walked over to An Yi, curtsied, and said, "Miss, this concubine knows she was wrong. In the future, I will serve the Master and the First Mistress well..."

"My parents don't need your service; you just need to stay in this courtyard," An Yi interrupted coldly.

Madam Huang looked up at An Yi, then lowered her gaze, a flash of hatred crossing her eyes. "This concubine will reflect in her room."

"If you are willing to let go of your schemes and stay quietly in your room, I won't mistreat you regarding food and clothing. But if you dare to have any crooked ideas, I have plenty of ways to deal with you."

"This concubine wouldn't dare. I truly know I was wrong." Madam Huang felt An Yi’s gaze upon her like the sharp edge of a blade, making her scalp tingle. How could this girl, only in her teens, have such a chilling look?

"Whether you dare or not, we shall see. I don’t believe empty words." An Yi stood up, looking down at Madam Huang, who remained in her curtsy. "Aunt, get some rest."

An Yi left with Fang Rong and Taoren. Madam Huang straightened up and watched their departing backs with a cold, vicious look. Green-bean and the others, watching from the side, couldn't help but shiver.

The next three days passed in the An household with great tranquility.

On the second of the tenth lunar month, after the rain cleared, An Yi left Fang Rong to keep an eye on Madam Huang and took Xiangqin and Taoren in a carriage to attend the banquet at the Princess’s Mansion.

The main gates of the Princess’s Mansion were closed. The carriage went around to the side gate leading to the back quarters. Zheng Yun, leading the head maids and servants, was waiting there to welcome the guests. The carriages pulled up in turn, and young ladies in elaborate dress stepped out with their attendants.

The An family carriage stopped steadily, and An Yi and her maids descended.

Zheng Yun stepped forward with a smile. "Miss An, why are you so late? The County Princess has already sent people to ask three times."

An Yi bowed to Zheng Yun and was about to enter when she heard someone call out from behind, "Miss An, please wait!"

***

Author's Note:
I am very sorry for these past few days! The word count of my updates makes me too ashamed to face you all. Please, no bricks—don't smash little Xianxue; she's too fragile. Just throw some eggs or tomatoes, and I will accept them while wearing a pot on my head.

This book is first published on Xiaoxiang Academy; please do not repost!