Chapter 21

Wang Yuyan, the most talented woman in the Heavenly Dragon, was flipping through various martial arts manuals in the Water Pavilion, wondering about the genes of the old Duan, or perhaps his numerous romantic entanglements, which resulted in all daughters, each with a unique personality.

Wang Yuyan, the encyclopedia of martial arts, Ah Zi, the poison expert, Mu Wanqing, the masked female superhero, Ah Zhu, the master of disguise, and Zhong Ling, the invincible young beauty. Each one was more unique than the last.

Since childhood, Wang Yuyan, with her photographic memory, had memorized dozens of martial arts manuals to please her cousin. The time she spent with her cousin was pitifully short, and martial arts was the only topic they discussed. Otherwise, her cousin would talk about state affairs with his brothers.

While reading, Wang Yuyan suddenly heard her mother's call.

"Yuyan, Yuyan, come out quickly! Your cousin has come from afar, hurry and come to see him."

Hearing her mother's words, although puzzled—her mother usually didn't show a good face to her cousin—Wang Yuyan was still excited and ran out, dropping the martial arts manual.

As soon as she stepped out of the Water Pavilion, she saw a young man with a handsome face and a mustache standing beside Lady Wang, who looked only a few years older than herself.

Wang Yuyan looked around but didn't see Murong Fu's figure and asked in confusion, "Mother, where is my cousin?"

Lady Wang smiled brightly and said, "Isn't this your cousin?"

Wang Yuyan widened her eyes and pointed at Li She, saying, "How can he be my cousin? Mother is lying!"

Li She couldn't help but feel a nosebleed coming on, just like the first time he decoded a love action scene with Rola Takizawa.

Lady Wang didn't mind. Her silly daughter had been deceived by Murong Fu, and if it weren't for her junior disciple bringing the news, she and her daughter would have been ruined by the Murong family.

"How can this not be your cousin? He is the son of my distant cousin, naturally making him your cousin. Yuyan, hurry and greet him," Lady Wang said loudly. This was not only for Wang Yuyan to hear but also for the servants in the mansion.

Hearing her mother's words, although she had never heard her mother mention her maternal family, Wang Yuyan bowed and said, "Cousin, you are well." The servants who came with Lady Wang also called out, "Young Master Cousin, you are well."

Li She smiled charmingly and said, "Cousin, you are well. I came in a hurry and didn't bring any gifts, but I have this folding fan for you. It has a poem inscribed by a friend, and I believe you will like it." He handed the fan to her.

Seeing Wang Yuyan hesitate to take it, Lady Wang said, "Yuyan, hurry and thank your cousin. Your cousin Li She's friends are all great scholars, and this is priceless."

Wang Yuyan thanked him and took the fan. When she unfolded it, she saw powerful and graceful cursive script.

"Ten years of life and death, vast and boundless, not thinking, yet never forgetting.

A solitary grave a thousand miles away, no place to speak of sorrow.

Even if we met, you would not recognize me, my face covered in dust, my hair like frost.

Last night, in a dream, I suddenly returned home, by the small window, you were combing your hair.

We looked at each other in silence, only tears streaming down.

I can imagine the place that breaks my heart every year, the moonlit night, the short pine hill."

This touching and famous poem, "Jiangchengzi" by Su Dongpo, was specially prepared for Wang Yuyan by Li She. Girls of her age were all drawn to tragic and tender love stories. Li She had traded ten jars of 'Immortal Drunkenness' for this poem from Su Dongpo.

"Ah, this is the 'Jiangchengzi' by Scholar Su, his handwriting. This is a genuine work by Scholar Su," Wang Yuyan was captivated by the beautiful poem, having been raised in a noble family, she immediately recognized it as Su Dongpo's genuine work.

Li She smiled and said, "If my cousin likes it, that's enough."

Wang Yuyan, a girl of her age, naturally loved such romantic poems and was delighted, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, Cousin, thank you, Cousin."

Seeing how quickly Li She had made Wang Yuyan accept him as her cousin, Lady Wang was pleased and said, "You silly girl, these days you only read those useless martial arts manuals. What use is it for a girl to learn such things? We will visit your Cousin Li She's place in a few days. The first day of next month is my cousin's anniversary, and we will go to pay our respects."

Turning to Li She, she said with a regretful look, "Your cousin had a tough childhood, losing his parents early. He has been managing the Li family business alone. We will go to Bianliang to pay our respects."

Li She, impressed by Lady Wang's Oscar-worthy performance, responded, "Aunt, you are thoughtful."

Wang Yuyan had never left home before, and the farthest she had been was secretly visiting Murong Fu's Swallow Pavilion. The news of a long journey made her even more excited.

After a series of performances by Lady Wang and Li She, the next morning, Lady Wang set off for Bianliang with Wang Yuyan and over twenty maids.

On the journey, Li She treated the group with the highest luxury, and the managers of the 'Heavenly World' branches called him by his title, confirming his identity as the owner. Li She also recited Ming dynasty poems to please Wang Yuyan.

Seeing her junior disciple's talent, handsome appearance, and excellent business acumen, Lady Wang couldn't help but think of her old rival.

The journey of over a month passed in joy and sightseeing. Wang Yuyan often thought of Murong Fu, but Li She's stories like 'Butterfly Lovers' and 'Dream of the Red Chamber' successfully diverted her attention. Unfortunately, he also cultivated a group of book fans, including Lady Wang, a loyal fan.

"Cousin, Cousin, what happened after Zhu Yingtai was discovered to be a woman by Liang Shanbo? Tell me!" Wang Yuyan urged.

Li She, frustrated, wanted to slap himself. Why did he start this? Now he had to tell stories every day. But seeing Lady Wang's urging look in the carriage, he continued the tragic love story with his magnetic voice.

After over a month, they finally arrived in Bianliang. To maintain the act, the portrait of the fairy sister was already hanging in the incense hall of Li She's mansion.

Seeing the portrait, Lady Wang was even more convinced. Although it was painted later, no one who hadn't entered the Lanhuan Jade Cave could have seen this statue.

Perhaps recalling her childhood or her parents, Lady Wang burst into tears.

Li She quickly comforted her, "Aunt, take care of your health. Your mother has been gone for many years. She wouldn't want to see you so sad. Now you have Cousin Yuyan and me to keep you company. We are your family."

Wang Yuyan, seeing her mother's tears, quickly added, "Yes, Mother. Your cousin will be very happy to see you grown up. Don't be sad."

Lady Wang held Wang Yuyan's hand and said slowly, "Good child."

In the following harmonious days, Li She bought another large mansion in Bianliang for Lady Wang and her daughter. He often entertained Wang Yuyan with riddles and jokes, showing off his literary talent and discussing poetry with her. This greatly increased Wang Yuyan's affection for Li She.

However, today was a day of turmoil for Wang Yuyan. The reason was simple: in her dream last night, she didn't dream of her long-desired Cousin Murong Fu, but of Li She, with his mustache, who was considerate, gentle, and talented, and often made her happy.

Although they were both cousins, Wang Yuyan was still gloomy and locked herself in her room.

"Cousin Murong Fu is very good to me. We grew up together. I can't betray him," a voice like an angel said in her heart. Then a mischievous, devilish laugh followed, "Cousin Li She is also very good. He tells jokes, takes me to see flowers, and often makes me happy. Would Cousin Murong Fu do that? He only talks about martial arts and state affairs, which is so boring."

Wang Yuyan was startled by the two conflicting thoughts in her heart. She held her burning cheeks and scolded herself, "Wang Yuyan, are you asking for trouble? How can you think like this!"

She then started to torment the flowers in the garden, plucking petals one by one. "Cousin Murong Fu, Cousin Li She, Murong Fu, Li She, Murong Fu, Li She! No, no, let's start over." Wang Yuyan shouted, plucking petals in confusion.

As a mother, Lady Wang naturally noticed her daughter's abnormal behavior. But when she heard her daughter mention Li She's name, she was stunned. She had planned to make her daughter forget about Murong Fu and find a suitable match. She never expected Li She to enter her daughter's heart.

Li She called her senior sister, making him a senior to Wang Yuyan in this strict era. If this were to get out, it would be a disaster. But she had already acknowledged Li She as her nephew in front of Wang Yuyan, leaving her with a bitter feeling.

Lady Wang was also troubled. She sighed and said to herself, "This silly girl, I finally made you forget about Murong Fu, and now you like your junior uncle. What should I say to you?"

But then she thought, Murong Fu had ambitious goals, and Wang Yuyan would not have a good life with him. Although Li She's martial arts skills were not as good as Murong Fu's, he was at least someone Wang Yuyan could entrust her life to. Li She, though called her senior sister, had not formally joined the Xianxia Sect, only learning some of its martial arts. Moreover, Li She was only seventeen, while Murong Fu was ten years older than Wang Yuyan. Considering that Murong Bo was the murderer of her husband, Lady Wang would never let her daughter marry the son of her father's killer.