Chapter 638: Sour?
Listening to Yun Che's evaluation, Mu Yurou laughed ambiguously: "So, you really like Zhixi?"
"Right," Yun Che said with a smile. "That's why I've taken her as my sworn sister."
"Sworn... sister?" Mu Yurou was stunned.
"Of course." Yun Che grinned. "What, did you want me to marry her and bring her home as your daughter-in-law?"
Mu Yurou was momentarily speechless, then asked in confusion: "Zhixi is excellent in every way. There are many young masters in Yaohuang City who admire her. Didn't she move you at all?"
"Moved? Of course she did." Yun Che said frankly. "But that kind of 'movement' is absolutely not romantic feelings. It's just a man's pure appreciation for a beautiful woman, and an even purer possessiveness... You could also call it the most instinctive and most vile beastly nature of men. I can't just ruin a girl's life because of that."
Mu Yurou laughed instead: "You two just met for the first time, so of course romantic feelings can't develop immediately. But having that kind of 'stirring' at least shows you're not repulsed by her, and even somewhat like her. With such a start, it's enough. Feelings can be cultivated quickly."
"Mother, you seem to really like Zhixi. Do you want me to marry her?" Yun Che said helplessly.
"Of course I do." Mu Yurou smiled. "Everyone who meets Zhixi likes her. Even if the Su Clan hadn't taken the initiative to send her to meet you, I was already planning to bring up the matter with them. In all of Huan Yao Realm, there aren't many girls worthy of my son, and Zhixi is definitely one of them. The family also believes you two are a perfect match. If you hesitate and another young master snatches her up first, it would be such a pity."
"Mm..." Yun Che rubbed his forehead in distress. "Mother, to be honest with you, she and I are not suited... very much not suited."
"Not suited where?" Mu Yurou's expression clearly said: you two are suited in every way.
Yun Che took a light breath, then slowly said: "I once deeply, deeply wronged a girl. She gave me everything, and I... After that, I swore I would never wrong anyone again. But... in moments of uncontrollable carelessness and helplessness, I have wronged one person after another. And even..."
Yun Che's voice paused, and the image of Chu Yuechan flickered through his mind. He didn't mention Chu Yuechan to his parents; if they knew he might have a grandchild out there, they would worry day and night.
And Cang Yue... married for over three years, but the time they truly spent together was extremely short. All he left her was one worry and heartache after another.
"Mother, you've seen and felt it during this time. I have many differences from others. And these determine that my life is destined to be anything but peaceful. Even if I myself want the most ordinary life, all kinds of storms will keep rolling toward me." Yun Che said calmly. "And Zhixi, though born into a Guardian Clan, has a reserved personality, gentle as water. Before marriage, she waits quietly in her boudoir; after marriage, she stays peacefully at home. For most men, she is the perfect wife candidate... but absolutely not suitable for me. If she marries me, I will likely wrong her for life."
Seeing Mu Yurou's still somewhat bewildered expression, Yun Che could only say helplessly: "Mother, besides, you already have a daughter-in-law. Why are you so eager for me to marry another Zhixi... Alright, alright, I promise you, your daughter-in-law is definitely not inferior to Zhixi."
"In looks, is she no less than Zhixi?" Mu Yurou asked with a half-smile. She seemed quite concerned about her daughter-in-law's appearance.
"Of course." Yun Che said without hesitation. Seeing his mother's expression seemed a bit doubtful, he raised his head and said seriously: "Mother, I'll tell you responsibly. Just in terms of appearance, your daughter-in-law surpasses Zhixi by a lot, a lot... a lot!"
"Oh?" Mu Yurou narrowed her eyes. "That I find hard to believe. Zhixi is no ordinary beauty. In all of Yaohuang City, there are few who can compare to her. Are you telling me the daughter-in-law you've found for me is as beautiful as a celestial being descending to earth, like Xiao Yaohou?"
"Mm, I wouldn't say she matches Xiao Yaohou, but they each have their own merits." Yun Che nodded without hesitation. Xiao Yaohou's beauty was indeed extreme, but neither Chu Yuechan nor Xia Qingyue was inferior to her. "My first wife, at least, is the number one beauty of Cang Feng Kingdom—"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yun Che's voice caught, and he knew it was bad. Sure enough, Mu Yurou's gaze turned to him: "First wife? So there are second, third, and little wives?"
"Uh, well..." The corner of Yun Che's eye twitched, then he lowered his head and confessed honestly: "Alright, I'll tell the truth. Actually, you have two daughters-in-law. The first is Xia Qingyue, whom I mentioned to you before—the one who had a childhood engagement with Xiao Yun. We married six years ago. Her beauty can indeed compare with Xiao Yaohou, and she's recognized as the number one beauty of Cang Feng Kingdom. The other is named Cang Yue, whom I married three and a half years ago. She is the only princess of Cang Feng Kingdom."
Mu Yurou's brows arched: "One is the number one beauty of Cang Feng Kingdom, the other is the only princess... My son's taste certainly doesn't disappoint. Only such women are worthy of my son."
Mu Yurou's words carried a smile and even more pride. Then her eyes drooped slightly, and she said sadly: "My Che has already taken two wives, had two weddings, and I was not there for either. I haven't even seen what my daughters-in-law look like..."
Yun Che quickly said: "Mother, don't worry. In two months, when Father's injuries are fully healed, I will use the Mysterious Ark I mentioned to return to Tian Xuan Continent. I'll definitely bring them back to see you then... Ah, but my princess wife will surely be willing to come back. As for Qingyue, her temperament is very different from ordinary women. Whether she'll be willing to come back... I can't say for sure."
"Then I'll have to think carefully about what gifts to prepare." Mu Yurou smiled. Judging by her expression, meeting her daughters-in-law for the first time seemed to make her a bit nervous. "Since you don't want to marry Zhixi, I'll make it clear to the Su Clan."
"By the way, what if Xiao Yaohou decrees your marriage to Zhixi? What would you do then?"
"Decree my marriage to Zhixi? Why would Xiao Yaohou do that?" Yun Che asked in confusion.
"Oh?" Mu Yurou looked equally puzzled. "Shouldn't Xiao Yaohou know about you two... Didn't you see her this afternoon?"
"This afternoon... did Xiao Yaohou come this afternoon?" Yun Che was startled.
"Mm." Mu Yurou nodded. "Xiao Yaohou came to check on how your father's injuries were healing. Then she specifically asked about you. I told her you were probably in the back courtyard. So she went straight toward the back courtyard... Did she not go find you, but instead left directly?"
"...What time did she come?"
"About the hour of Shen, three quarters." Mu Yurou said.
"..." Yun Che thought. If he remembered correctly, at that time, he should have been sitting shoulder to shoulder with Su Zhixi by the lotus pond in the back courtyard, feeding the fish.
"Che, what's wrong?" Seeing Yun Che suddenly lost in thought, Mu Yurou asked.
"Oh... I usually go to pay respects to Xiao Yaohou every day. I just realized I haven't gone yet today. Mother, I'll go to her place. I should be back soon." Yun Che stood up.
"Go early and return early." Sensing that Yun Che was clearly unsettled, Mu Yurou didn't ask further.
The sky had already darkened. Yun Che flew all the way to Xiao Yaohou's sleeping quarters. At the palace entrance, two maids stood quietly. Yun Che landed and politely said: "Yun Che of the Yun Clan requests an audience with Xiao Yaohou. May I trouble you two sisters to announce me?"
"Young Master Yun, please wait a moment." Both maids smiled slightly at Yun Che's arrival. The one on the right lightly stepped into the palace... After a short while, she came back out, but her expression was somewhat strange.
"Can I go in now?" Yun Che said with a smile.
"Young Master Yun... please stop." The maid raised her hand to block him. With an awkward expression, she said: "Xiao Yaohou seems to be in a bad mood today. When she heard you had come... she told me to relay to you... one word."
"One word?" Yun Che squinted, leaning forward slightly. "Is it... 'scram'?"
The maid's expression panicked. She lowered her head and could only answer softly: "Yes."
"Hahaha!" Unexpectedly for the two maids, Yun Che didn't get angry but burst into laughter. And his laughter was completely natural, not at all forced, as if he was actually delighted... proud?
"In that case, please trouble sister to deliver a few messages to Xiao Yaohou." Yun Che said with a smile. "First, if the Su Clan requests Xiao Yaohou to decree my marriage to Su Zhixi, she absolutely must not agree, because Zhixi is already my sworn sister. Second... I have already obediently scrammed. Since Xiao Yaohou is so annoyed with me, I'll try to appear before her as little as possible from now on. Sisters, thank you for your hard work on night watch. Yun Che takes his leave."
Yun Che flew up and quickly disappeared into the night.
"She told you to scram, and you laugh contentedly? Have you lost your mind?" Mo Li said softly.
"If she hadn't told me to scram, but instead calmly asked me to see her, I would probably be disappointed instead." Yun Che said with a smile. Clearly, he was in a very good mood. "As expected, even the most powerful woman has weaknesses. Being soft on her is completely useless, and being tough is impossible... She doesn't yield to softness or hardness, but she does seem to be susceptible to sourness."
Mo Li: "??"
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Days passed one by one. With the pacification of Prince Huai's rebellion, the murderous atmosphere in Yaohuang City finally gradually dissipated. The only thing that didn't diminish was Xiao Yaohou's intangible imperial might. Now, whether it was the Guardian Clans or the various princely mansions, all were completely obedient to Xiao Yaohou, holding her in utmost reverence, with not a single person daring to defy her in the slightest.
But another month passed, and there was still no news of Ming Wang. It seemed he had found an extremely hidden place to hole up.
Though Yun Che longed day and night to return to Tian Xuan Continent, Yun Qinghong's injuries still required him. He treated Yun Qinghong on schedule every day. He spent most of the rest of his time practicing the Purple Cloud Art. Sometimes he went to the Medicine Pavilion to refine pills, sometimes to the Weapon Pavilion to find a few swords to feed to Hong'er, sometimes to heal people's injuries, sometimes to spar with the younger members of the clan... Oh, "instruct" was more accurate. He did basically the same things peacefully every day. But ever since that night when he was refused entry at Xiao Yaohou's door, just as he had said, he never went to see her again.
Under Yun Che's care, Yun Qinghong's body recovered very quickly. He rarely showed the expected weakness, instead being full of energy every day. He hadn't forgotten that Xiao Yaohou herself had decreed the marriage between Xiao Yun and Tianxia Diqi. He picked an auspicious day, brought betrothal gifts, and personally went to propose. Although Tianxia Xiongtu had long approved of Xiao Yun and Tianxia Diqi's relationship, as the elder of the woman's side, he maintained enough reserve during the Yun Clan's visit. His expression remained flat throughout, showing no joy, and occasionally even revealing a hint of bitterness and reluctance...
However, when Yun Qinghong presented one of the betrothal gifts—ten Overlord Pills—the white jade seat under Tianxia Xiongtu's rear exploded, and the entire Tianxia Clan exploded right along with it...
Accepting the ten Overlord Pills, every hair on Tianxia Xiongtu's body trembled. He even secretly calculated in his heart: even if someone offered ten Overlord Pills to buy his daughter, he would probably consider it for quite a while...
The wedding date for Xiao Yun and Tianxia Diqi was set quickly, exactly one month later—also the day Yun Che had fixed for his departure.
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[Time to return to Tian Xuan Continent. I recall a saying... sharpening the knife for the Divine Phoenix?]