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he did not think it was right for her to keep an image of her husband’s former fiancée. Mo Xiuyao said, “It's a gift for you; Agli, just do as you please.” Ye Li raised her eyebrows. Did he think she...247. Young Master's Calculation
247. Young Master's Calculation
"Qingchen from Li City has arrived!"
This simple announcement caused many to change their expressions drastically, with the first being Mo Jingqi. Although everyone knew that the split between the Northwest and the Great Chu was an irreversible fact, Mo Jingqi stubbornly refused to admit his own failure in pushing Duke Ding and the Mo Family Army into breaking ties with the Great Chu; instead, he blamed it on Mo Xiuyao's ambitious defiance.
So while no one could control what people thought privately, on the imperial court, officials were forced to follow the emperor’s preferences by calling Duke Ding a rebel. Though they shivered at their own words, who would tell them otherwise when they ate from the royal family's table
Now, with Xu Qingchen openly declaring his affiliation with Li City, it was like slapping Mo Jingqi across the face. More importantly, not only Duke Ding and the Mo Family Army were forced out, but also the Xu Family. With Qingchen Young Master grandly appearing under Mo Xiuyao's name here, what he’s telling everyone is that while you, Mo Jingqi, dare not use him, Mo Xiuyao does. The Xus might be hidden in the Great Chu, yet they immediately hold power in the Northwest. Such a comparison clearly shows who stands higher. It would have been odd for Mo Jingqi's face to remain pleasant.
Then there was Mo Jingli and Lei Tengfeng, along with some young talents harboring ulterior motives. After all, when Miss Mengmu is selecting her husband, a man’s looks must also count. Among those present, few could match Qingchen Young Master in both appearance and talent. Everyone only hoped that he didn’t know martial arts; otherwise, the Mengmu family wouldn't need to hold this selection process.
As for the other two important figures present, Ling Tiehan and Xu Qingchen had no conflicts of interest, and they were already familiar with each other, so he merely nodded in greeting. As for Southern Duke, although Qingchen Young Master was well-known throughout the world, he hadn't actually sparred with him. Furthermore, they were not contemporaries. Among the younger generation, only Mo Xiuyao could be considered a rival to Southern Duke, and thus he didn’t place much importance on Xu Qingchen.
Xu Qingchen had cultivated an air of equanimity since his youth; how could he care about this small gathering As Qingchen Young Master walked in wearing white robes, his lips still carrying the smile of spring water pear blossoms, countless martial women present couldn’t help but gasp and blush. Miss Mengmu beside Lord Mengmu was also taken aback—though she had a high opinion of herself and had met many talented men over these days, Qingchen Young Master's divine demeanor was unprecedented. She no longer remembered what her grandfather and uncle had instructed her to do; her heart beat wildly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please forgive my tardiness," Xu Qingchen smiled and bowed.
Southern Duke laughed loudly and said, "Qingchen Young Master is being too polite. Please be seated. May I ask if Duke Ding and his consort will also come" Qingchen Young Master calmly replied, "Southern Duke, it's been very kind of you to remember us; the duke and duchess are busy with trivial matters and cannot spare time. So, I, this idle man, came over for a bit of fun. Hope everyone won’t mind." Everyone politely responded—those present were all nobles from various countries, so they knew this divine-like young man was no ordinary person. Although the officials under Mo Xiuyao still hadn't received clear positions, it was obvious that Qingchen Young Master wielded power in the Northwest akin to a prime minister's.
"Hmph!" Guests present were very polite, but Lord Mengmu looked displeased. The Xu and Mengmu families could be considered two of the oldest lineages passed down through generations. However, while the Mengmus were rich beyond measure, they had always harbored grievances against the Xus.
The reason was simple—the Xu family upheld a scholarly tradition, producing renowned scholars and officials respected across many countries; their names echoed far and wide. The Mengmu family, being merchants, couldn’t even enter court politics. Moreover, once wealthy enough to rival a kingdom, they had to endure royal strikes both overt and covertly; who would believe the Mengmus' dwindling numbers weren't partly due to the Xi Ling imperial house’s machinations Though the Xus were also shunned by the royal family, their contributions to two successive dynasties couldn’t be erased without rewriting historical records.
In contrast, once the Mengmu family falls, who would remember them Furthermore, with Xu Family now having a powerful daughter-in-law and an exceptionally capable son, once Duke Ding’s power stabilizes, the Xus will undoubtedly rise even higher than before. How could one not sigh at the current state of poverty among the Mengmus
This light snort caused everyone present to shudder inwardly. Xu Qingchen's expression changed slightly; while he wasn’t deeply affected, seeing Southern Duke and Ling Tiehan’s reactions made him realize this was no simple matter. Turning towards Lord Mengmu seated at the head of the table, Xu Qingchen bowed respectfully: "Senior Mengmu, please forgive my rudeness."
Mengmu's snort carried special inner strength effective only to those similarly endowed; the deeper one’s inner strength, the more potent the effect. Unfortunately, he had been away from martial affairs for too long and hadn’t considered Xu Qingchen might not know any martial arts. Furthermore, Xu Qingchen stood out with his distinguished bearing and restrained charm, showing no hesitation when interacting with experts like Southern Duke Ling Tiehan. Mengmu only thought that Xu Qingchen must have used some special technique to conceal his martial skills—such techniques existed in the world of martial arts. Seeing Xu Qingchen remain calm and composed caused Mengmu’s face to darken even more.
"Why isn't Prince Ding here" Mu Mengxiong asked sternly. His tone was rather domineering, immediately making many people present feel displeased. People like the Southern Duke were all恨不得能生個七竅玲瓏心，想得不知道比尋常人多十倍百倍（Note: This phrase doesn't have a direct English translation and seems to be an idiomatic expression in Chinese literature that emphasizes someone's meticulousness or shrewdness）, wanting to think ten or even hundred times more than ordinary people. Although they generally didn't get along with Mo Xiuyao, no one could deny his capability and status. This old man's arrogant tone suggested he neither respected Mo Xiuyao nor them. The Southern Duke remained calm in appearance, but his cold eyes swept over Ling Tiehan, Mo Jingli, and others. Did this old man think that after decades of absence, everyone should obey him once he re-emerged How foolish!
Xu Qingchen wasn't upset; not even the smile on his face diminished a bit. Calmly, he said, "Prince Ding and his consort are busy with their duties and have no time to attend this year’s martial arts conference. I’ve already apologized on behalf of Prince Ding to Duke Southern and Pavilion Master Ling. They don’t mind."
Given Mo Xiuyao's status and skill level, the only ones who could possibly challenge him were the Southern Duke and Ling Tiehan.
If it was just about the martial arts conference, there wouldn't be anyone else to object once these two didn't care. Besides, attending the martial arts conference was entirely voluntary; if Prince Ding had no interest in coming, nobody could force him, right
However, Mu Mengxiong wasn’t satisfied with this answer and said sternly, "I issued an invitation to Prince Ding. Why isn't he here"
Xu Qingchen frowned slightly and glanced at Miss Mu standing beside her father. He didn’t immediately respond but instead turned around and sat down next to Ling Tiehan. Only when Mu Mengxiong seemed about to explode with anger did Xu Qingchen say calmly, "Our prince said he has no interest in matters unrelated to the martial arts conference."
Everyone fell silent. What matters were unrelated to the martial arts conference Almost everyone’s eyes focused on Miss Mu at once. She had been staring blankly at Mr. Qingchen but now was both embarrassed and furious, wishing she could sink into the ground.
"Rude brat!" Mu Mengxiong angrily smacked his palm in Xu Qingchen's direction, sending a powerful force that pressed down on Xu Qingchen like an avalanche.
"Mr. Qingchen!" The two bodyguards beside Xu Qingchen were shocked and immediately stood in front of him as shields. Ling Tiehan, sitting next to Xu Qingchen, also placed his hand on Xu Qingchen’s shoulder. When the two bodyguards in front of Mr. Qingchen wavered slightly, they quickly steadied themselves. A trace of blood appeared at one of their mouths, but with no sign of pain, they wiped it away and were supported back to stand behind Xu Qingchen by their companions. Ling Tiehan also withdrew his hand calmly but kept a watchful eye on Mu Mengxiong ahead.
Xu Qingchen remained serene, not even moving a hair. As if the threatening palm never happened, he sipped from his tea cup and elegantly said, "Thank you for sparing me, Senior Mu."
Mu Mengxiong harrumphed and sat back down without saying anything else, but the look in his eyes was dark and probing. Of course, Mu Mengxiong wouldn’t kill Xu Qingchen; perhaps killing him would be easy, even easier than killing Mo Xiuyao for him. But as long as he wasn't insane, he wouldn’t do it. He could kill Xu Qingchen and Mo Xiuyao but couldn’t wipe out hundreds of thousands of the Mo Family's soldiers. The outcome might very well lead to the Mo Family’s army leveling Mu Mengxiong’s family estate. A chip is a chip because it hasn't been used yet; once used, it would mean life or death.
Mu Mengxiong was publicly humiliated by Xu Qingchen, causing his father's face to pale as well. The planned accusations were retracted, and the Southern Duke declared the martial arts conference officially open with a cool expression.
According to tradition, the first day of the martial arts conference wasn’t particularly exciting. It was mostly new talent showing off their skills; the real excitement started on the second and third days. Sometimes contests would end quickly by the third day or drag into the fourth or fifth. That depended on how powerful the remaining contestants were. Once the fights began, spectators naturally became enthusiastic, but those seated below the stage had already lost interest.
Nearby under a tree, Ye Li leaned against Mo Xiuyao’s shoulder and frowned at what was happening on stage. Mo Xiuyao patted her reassuringly, saying softly, "Don’t worry; Brother is fine."
Xu Qingchen clearly knew Mu Mengxiong wouldn't dare kill him and chose to sit beside Ling Tiehan, who could protect him from any attacks if Mu Mengxiong didn't go all out. No matter the outcome, Mu Mengxiong’s reputation as someone willing to attack a defenseless person would be tarnished. Ye Li nodded and asked, "How skilled is Mu Mengxiong in martial arts"
Mo Xiuyao frowned and replied, "Far above both me and Ling Tiehan." This wasn’t surprising; Mu Mengxiong was much older than them all. Even if he hadn't been a natural talent at martial arts, his age alone made him formidable.
"What did Mu Mengxiong mean by what he said earlier" Ye Li asked with a frown.
Moxiu Yao laughed in a low voice, "What could it possibly mean He must think the Dingwang Mansion doesn’t give him face. Some people like to act high and mighty when they get old and think that everyone should kowtow to them. But do they really have the capability"
Ye Li tilted her head slightly, looking at the people on stage and smiled with pursed lips, "I feel… Miss Murong might not be in agreement with Lord Murong and his grandfather. However... that Miss Murong can’t even get into Mr. Xu’s door." Since Xu Qingchen appeared, she had never taken her eyes off him. If it weren't for the fact that she wore a veil which covered part of her face, and the competition on stage drew everyone's attention away from them, many people would have noticed her intentions.
Moxiu Yao held Ye Li’s arm and said with a low laugh, "You don’t like her" Ye Li smiled faintly. "There's no question whether I like her or not. Neither Brother-in-law nor the Xu Family will ever like her."
Moxiu Yao was not interested in who Xu Qingchen liked or disliked. He straightened himself and said, "It seems we won't see anything exciting today. Let’s go back to town first. Maybe there’ll be something interesting tomorrow or the day after."
Their sudden exit did not draw much attention from the crowd. However, when they returned to An City, the manager of Qingyuan Inn was quite surprised. After all, it seemed strange that these two people should leave early without watching such a lively competition outside town. Moxiu Yao smiled faintly and said only that his wife wasn't feeling well and so he had come back earlier. The inn’s manager immediately understood and saw the couple up to their room respectfully. As handsome as this young man was, he was already married, naturally making him unavailable for Miss Murong. Then it didn’t matter whether or not they watched the competition.
Moxiu Yao and Ye Li did not personally attend on the first two days of the martial arts competition. Naturally a master of his caliber wouldn't be interested in such petty squabbles at the arena. However, he had heard that several young masters stood out and made it into the top ten during these two days; among them was Ren Qining whom they had encountered several times by chance. At the same time, Lord Murong announced at the end of day two’s competition that he would choose a husband for his granddaughter from within the top ten competitors. This announcement stirred up much controversy and commotion. A letter from Xu Qingchen also arrived in Moxiu Yao and Ye Li's room.
"Brother-in-law, do you have any plans" In the guest room of Xu Qingchen’s residence, Ye Li sat beside a desk drinking tea as Moxiu Yao leaned against the window admiring the scenery far away. Seated on the other side, Xu Qingchen looked at Ye Li and said to Moxiu Yao by turning his head slightly, "What are His Royal Highness's thoughts"
Moxiu Yao turned around lazily and replied, “Didn’t I already leave it in Brother’s hands Do as you see fit. Such a small matter shouldn't be difficult for Brother.”
Xu Qingchen was indifferent to this and said indifferently, "Lord Murong's idea is indeed unrealistic, but there are many people interested in it. After all… the wealth of the Murong Family could rival that of an entire country. Before today’s competition, Mo Jingqi has already sent someone to make contact with Lord Murong."
Moxiu Yao harrumphed and said coldly, "Mo Jingqi is getting even less choosy now; he picks up anything and everything." Xu Qingchen smiled wryly and said, "Your Royal Highness doesn't have to be so harsh. Whether or not Miss Murong can become Your Royal Highness's wife aside, at least the wealth of the Murong Family is enough for anyone to take a stab at."
From the perspective of a minister, Xu Qingchen would also advise Moxiu Yao to marry into the Murong Family. After all, marrying one woman could bring such enormous wealth; how could he pass it up But Moxiu Yao was not only the person he had to assist but also his brother-in-law. For Li’s sake, no member of the Murong Family would even dare think about setting foot in Dingwang Mansion. If the Dingwang Mansion did not want them, nobody else could have them! A cold glint flashed across Xu Qingchen’s amiable eyes.
"Brother-in-law" Ye Li looked at Xu Qingchen worriedly; Moxiu Yao had recklessly thrown everything on his shoulders. Although he was of exceptional intelligence, what he had to deal with now were martial artists in the武林 (literally "martial arts world"). Sometimes people from the江湖 (literally "rivers and lakes", a metaphor for martial artists) acted before they thought, making it somewhat dangerous.
Xu Qingchen smiled calmly. "No worries, Li, don't be concerned; Brother will handle everything properly." No one can threaten Li’s position or happiness, not even the number one martial artist of fifty years ago.
"Your Royal Highness, if we are to deal with Lord Murong, is there a chance" Xu Qingchen asked.
Moxiu Yao frowned and said after some thought, "At most, I only have a thirty percent chance. Lord Murong's inner strength far surpasses mine; if the battle isn’t settled quickly, he’ll win eighty percent of the time." Average martial artists fight by competing in techniques, inner strength, and stamina. But for them, such masters of their caliber, physical strength doesn't matter anymore. Therefore, as long as Lord Murong wasn't on his deathbed from old age, they wouldn’t have a chance to compete with him physically since he could hold them back solely with his inner strength. So, being old was almost not even considered a weakness for Lord Murong.
Xu Qingchen tapped the table absently and asked after a while, "If one prince isn't enough, what about two or three"
"Do you mean…" Moxiu Yao stood up and stared at Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen lowered his gaze and said calmly, "The Murong Family has great ambitions, but Lord Murong is old and cunning. That kind of personality… will be a disaster sooner or later!" His calm tone carried an edge of killing intent. Moxiu Yao studied him for a moment before saying, "There's no need for three; either adding Ling Tiehan or Lei Zhenting to me would be enough to deal with Lord Murong."
"Very good." Xu Qingchen nodded satisfactorily and said, "Then... it might not be necessary for the prince to intervene personally." If Mo Xiuyao were to join forces with Ling Tihan or Lei Zhen霆 (Note: The original text includes a character '霆' which is likely a typo as it appears in an English context. It should probably correspond to a Chinese name, hence I'll keep it as is.), they might be able to handle Meng Mu Xiong even without Mo Xiuyao's presence.
“Big Brother, Meng Mu Xiong’s martial arts skills are too high; the Meng family likely still has some military preparedness. You must be extremely cautious,” Ye Li quietly advised.
Xu Qingchen nodded, his smile warm and faint but with a hint of sharpness in his eyes, "Li'er, you need not worry."
"Reporting to Mr. Xu Qingchen, Miss Meng requests an audience," a guard outside announced respectfully.
Xu Qingchen narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "Please invite Miss Meng up."
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Recommend my friend's work: "A Rural Herbs Chef"
...
Jiang Yunyi, who had thought she would die in a car accident and return to the netherworld with her eyes closed and opened again, found herself reincarnated!
A shabby thatched cottage trembling with fear, an empty house, emaciated younger siblings.
Her biological mother was dead, her father weak and incapable, her grandfather cold, and her grandmother detested her.
The vile relatives were eyeing the two acres of thin farmland and three dilapidated huts, thinking to sell off her brother and sister to buy grain.
---
Jiang Yunyi’s anger boiled over! The reputation as the top herb chef was not something she had claimed without reason!
Caring for her siblings’ health, supporting her incapable father, dealing with the vile relatives.
Opening shops everywhere, money flowed in, handsome men stripped down to their skin, shocking this certain woman.rning into sobs, with tears of blood streaming down from his eyes. The Empress Dowager was visibly shocked by this sight and took two steps back: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, you..."Momo Jingqi snee...