Chapter 1278
Guarding One's True Self
Chapter 1278 Guarding One's True Self
Not long after, Ye Fuxue returned to the Imperial Preceptor's residence. However, she did not go to see Qian Yuan. Instead, she returned to her temporary residence and closed her eyes to review the process of meeting Wei Yunxi that day. She felt that the other party was giving her some pointers. This feeling was strange, but it was also very real.
On the other side, Qian Yuan learned that his junior sister had returned but had not come to see him, which actually relieved him. He then began to recall his conversation with Yun Xi.
On the other side, after Yunxi held her coming-of-age ceremony, the ladies of various families began to frequently visit the head of the Prime Minister's residence, all for Yunxi's sake, each with their own considerations.
Regardless of Yunxi herself, the Prime Minister's Mansion she represents is enough to make some people's hearts flutter. In particular, the rumors that Yunxi was as beautiful as a fairy after her coming-of-age ceremony are enough to make men want to marry her. Even if they know that she is in poor health and does not have long to live, these young men are still willing.
They figured they could just marry her and treat her like a lucky charm, since if Yunxi got married, her dowry would definitely be no less than that of a royal princess. Marrying Yunxi would be more beneficial than harmful to them and their families.
After dealing with wave after wave of people who came to test her, the matriarch of the Prime Minister's residence finally went to pay her respects to the old lady. After all, as the eldest sister-in-law, she had no right to interfere in Yunxi's marriage.
"Madam, I have politely turned away those who came to test the waters. Some of them were so unscrupulous that they came directly to propose marriage, but I refused them by saying that Yunxi's marriage is for you to decide."
However, it wouldn't be good to keep refusing, as it might be detrimental to Yunxi and the Prime Minister's residence in the long run. After all, a family with a daughter has many suitors, and those excuses wouldn't last long.
The old lady sighed upon hearing her eldest daughter-in-law's words, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes, and then said:
“Yu Shu, you’re right. You should spread the word that Yun Xi will be remarried when she turns eighteen, and say that Yun Xi is not in good health and that you want to help her recover for another two years.”
"Yes, Madam, I've got it."
Yu Shu respectfully agreed; with her mother-in-law's words, she could relax a bit.
In fact, after the old lady saw that Yunxi's body was no different from that of an ordinary person, she planned to arrange a marriage for her youngest daughter after her coming-of-age ceremony. She even secretly selected several promising young men and was conducting an evaluation, but Yunxi stopped her.
Yunxi's original words were:
“Mother, I know my own body well. I’m afraid I can’t last two more years. The Imperial Preceptor Lingjian told you back then, have you forgotten?”
If we were to arrange a marriage now, wouldn't it be a losing proposition? Marriage might even hasten the passing of our daughter's life. It's better to maintain the status quo.
The lady's heart clenched, but she still tentatively said:
“Yunxi, I see you as no different from ordinary people now, why don’t you get married? Your mother only hopes that your life, even if it is short, will be complete, and that you can experience marriage and childbirth.”
Yunxi held the other person's hand and said:
“Mother, on the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, the current Imperial Preceptor Qian Yuan and his fellow disciple came to my courtyard in private to examine my body. The conclusion they reached was the same as that of Imperial Preceptor Ling Jian: I can only live to be eighteen years old.”
It's not that I don't want to live a complete life, but there's not enough time. Since that's the case, I just want to spend more time with you and Father. Why waste my feelings on unrelated people?
Yunxi's words eventually convinced the lady, which is why she made these excuses today.
Just as the wave of suitors for Yunxi was raging, Ye Fuxue had already tested the spiritual roots of children aged five to eighteen in Yufeng Kingdom, selected disciples suitable for entering the Dao and willing to cultivate, and prepared to return to the cultivation world with a group of little rascals. On the night before she left, she came to see Yunxi alone.
At that time, Yunxi was admiring the moon in the courtyard with only two maids serving her. Ye Fuxue's sudden appearance startled the maids, but Yunxi was not surprised at all.
Ye Fuxue waved her sleeve lightly, signaling the two maids to go to bed, before sitting down on the stone bench on the other side of Yunxi, smiling as she said:
"Miss Yunxi, I'm going back now, and I've come to say goodbye."
Yunxi took a sip of peach blossom wine and asked softly:
"Has the fairy found a satisfactory disciple?"
Ye Fuxue smiled faintly and said:
"We've taken in a few disciples with good potential, but they still need to pass the sect's tests. If their character isn't up to par, they won't be able to enter the sect to cultivate," Yun Xi chimed in.
"What the fairy says is true. Then I wish the fairy will be able to teach even more outstanding disciples in the future."
Thank you for your kind words.
After exchanging pleasantries, the courtyard fell silent.
Yunxi seemed completely oblivious, sipping her peach blossom wine while admiring the moon, her face showing a leisurely and contented expression.
After a long silence, Ye Fuxue finally couldn't help but speak:
"When I had some free time these past two days, I carefully considered what you said, and I think what you said makes a lot of sense. Although I don't want to admit it, it has always been wishful thinking on my part. I always thought that if Qian Yuan fell in love, I would also have a chance, but I forgot that the object of his affection was a specific person, not me."
Yunxi simply nodded after hearing this, without interrupting the other party.
Seeing that Yunxi showed no intention of speaking, Ye Fuxue continued:
“You’re right. If I continue to pester him, I’ll only get hurt. Besides, I don’t think Qian Yuan is good enough for me. I deserve better.”
He even raised his head slightly as he said this, seemingly gaining more confidence.
Yunxi smiled and nodded in agreement.
After saying all this, Ye Fuxue couldn't help but ask in the end:
"Did Senior Brother Qianyuan encounter some terrible people this time?"
Yunxi said calmly:
"The Peach Blossom Tribulation, the end result of being betrayed and abandoned by everyone, but the reason is not on his own. If I could meet Hui Weilan, whom you mentioned, perhaps I could see some clues."
After listening, Ye Fuxue simply nodded and didn't say anything more. Afterwards, she accompanied Yunxi to finish the pot of peach blossom wine and then left.
On the second night, Fuxue released the spirit boat and left the Yufeng Kingdom with the chosen disciples.
For the next two years, because of the Prime Minister's statement, those who were eyeing Yunxi's marriage could only put aside their thoughts for the time being and eagerly awaited Yunxi's eighteenth birthday.
However, before Yunxi's eighteenth birthday, she first met Hui Weilan. This person had taken on a mission from the mortal world specifically to meet Qianyuan and traveled a great distance to Yufeng Kingdom.
In fact, before leaving Yufeng Kingdom, Ye Fuxue couldn't help but tell Qianyuan what Yunxi had said and reminded him to be careful and to keep his true self.
Qian Yuan left the sect because he sensed something was wrong, in order to sort out his Dao heart. Now, after hearing Ye Fuxue's words, he became even more certain that his intuition was correct.
So when Hui Weilan came to see him, that feeling of being moved reappeared. This feeling came out of nowhere, which made him wary. After much deliberation, he simply brought Hui Weilan to visit Yunxi.
His reasoning was also quite valid:
"Before my junior brother Lingjian left, he asked me to take care of this woman, but I am a man after all, and it is not appropriate for me to visit the Prime Minister's residence so often. Now that you have come, it is a good opportunity to help her recuperate, which can be considered as me fulfilling my promise."
Hui Weilan not only did not refuse after hearing this, but also urged Qian Yuan to send the visiting card as soon as possible. She was also very interested in Yun Xi, who was rumored to have an extremely noble destiny.