“Xu Ping’an! I know you don’t like my identity, and you don’t want to get involved in certain matters. But how many times have I told you that I would never let family affairs implicate you? Why are you avoiding me like this?”
Xu Ping’an sighed softly.
“Oh… Miss Liu, why are you doing this? The falling flowers wish to follow the flowing water, but the flowing water has no intention of loving the falling flowers. A forcefully twisted melon… won’t be sweet.”
“Not sweet, but it quenches thirst!”
This… what more could anyone say?
This eldest young lady of the Liu family was truly a bit willful.
But there was no way around it, who could blame her? This eldest legitimate daughter of the Liu family possessed rare and excellent aptitude in recent years.
It was said that she was already destined to enter the Liuyun Sect in the future, and not only that, but she would be a direct disciple of the Blazing Fire Peak within the Liuyun Sect.
The Liuyun Sect was the largest sect within the Great Qi territory.
The sect had thirteen peaks, four of which were used for other purposes, and the nine peaks were divided into nine factions. The Blazing Fire Peak was one of them.
Legend had it that it specialized in the fire element among the Five Elements.
The Peak Master of Blazing Fire Peak was one of the thirteen elders of the Liuyun Sect. It was said that their strength was already close to that of the Liuyun Sect Master, and they were a famous strong practitioner of the righteous path.
“Miss Liu, you can’t say that… Even if I were truly unmarried, the difference in our statuses is as vast as heaven and earth. There’s truly no possibility whatsoever. Old Master Liu once warned me not to get too close to you. Since there’s no possibility between us, why insist?”
Liu Yingying’s eyebrows furrowed, and her sharp eyes stared intently at Xu Ping’an.
“Have you really not felt even a little bit of affection for me?”
How could he not have? When such a beautiful girl shows you favor, any man would be moved!
Moreover, at that time, he was unmarried and she was unmarried; it should have been a natural progression, but fate had other plans.
“Never.”
As these two words left his mouth, Liu Yingying’s face instantly turned pale, but she merely took a deep breath and quickly composed herself.
“Fine, then today I’m here to see a doctor. I can enter your courtyard for that, right?”
“Of course.”
Although he didn’t want her to enter, offending the county magistrate in Liuye County still offered a chance to survive. Offending the Liu family… well, then he’d just have to move away early.
Xu Ping’an raised a hand in a welcoming gesture and turned to go to the east wing.
After all, at the moment, both the east and west rooms in the main house were occupied, so it really wasn’t suitable for her to go in there.
“I didn’t expect that after more than a month of not coming, your place has started to change. Why did you suddenly think of building wing rooms? I told you before that I wanted to stay for a few days and asked you to build two wing rooms. Do you still remember what you said?”
Liu Yingying walked beside Xu Ping’an, her eyes constantly surveying the newly built wing rooms, seemingly pondering which one would be more suitable for her to stay in.
“I remember. At that time, I said that my courtyard was small, and I lived alone here, so it was truly unsuitable for an unmarried woman to stay.”
“Hmm, and now, with the wing rooms, it’s fine, right?”
“This…”
What could he say to that?
Liu Yingying had come early in the morning, clearly looking for trouble.
Now, she hadn’t found trouble but had found a good excuse and was planning to stay here.
Oh, my goodness.
Having one young lady was enough, and enduring an additional princess was also bearable.
If this eldest young lady of the Liu family also moved in, who knew what rumors would spread outside.
Xu Ping’an instinctively wanted to refuse, but unexpectedly, before he could speak, a familiar voice came from the main house.
“Sir is really up early~”
Xu Ping’an’s heart trembled.
The young lady of the Liu family’s face instantly darkened.
Oh no!
Something’s about to happen!
Just then, the main house door was pushed open, and Xiao Jing elegantly walked out, supporting Li Yu’er.
That touch of a sickly beauty’s charm couldn’t help but evoke pity in people’s hearts.
“She… she… who is she?! Why is she living in your house!?”
At this moment, Liu Yingying’s mouth was wide open; she was completely stunned.
“This… let me explain, actually…”
“Actually, sir doesn’t need to explain. This humble one is merely a temporary fancy of sir’s. I understand, I don’t ask for anything… just a tiny bit of recognition is enough~”
Li Yu’er suddenly interrupted him and, after speaking words that gave him goosebumps all over, the entire courtyard instantly fell silent.
Zhao Pingzhi, who was watering plants, froze, his face filled with horror.
Xiao Jing, who was supporting Li Yu’er, froze, looking at her in disbelief.
Liu Yingying was equally dumbfounded.
“I… you… he…”
Liu Yingying’s eyes instantly turned red.
She pointed at Li Yu’er, trembling all over, then pointed at Xu Ping’an, trembling and unable to speak.
“You…”
Xu Ping’an was also bewildered; he never expected Li Yu’er to suddenly say something so astonishing.
“You scoundrel~”
Suddenly, Liu Yingying’s angry cry, laced with tears, echoed in the courtyard.
Immediately after, an embroidered shoe with a white upper and green sole stomped hard on Xu Ping’an’s instep.
Liu Yingying burst into tears, ran out of the courtyard without looking back, and got into her carriage.
Then came a rapid jingle of horse bells, and the carriage gradually moved away.
Everyone present watched this scene unfold until, three breaths later, a cry of pain startled the still-dazed onlookers.
“Hiss! Blast it!”
Xu Ping’an grimaced and squatted down, vigorously rubbing his instep.
“How are you, sir? Are you alright?”
At this moment, only one person still had a full smile, and that was… Li Yu’er, who had just dropped that ‘earth-shattering bombshell’.
Her peach blossom eyes held a hint of mischief, and she smiled sweetly as she watched Xu Ping’an squatting on the ground, rubbing his foot.
Her voice carried a touch of playfulness.
“Hiss~ Miss Yu’er, was that really necessary?”
Xu Ping’an rubbed his instep, looking at Li Yu’er with a wry smile.
She smiled slightly.
“Didn’t I see sir was in trouble and offered to help? What’s wrong with that?”
What’s wrong with that?
If the Prince of Zhennan had heard those words just now, he would have peeled his skin off!
“Miss Yu’er, you’ve taken this joke too far. No matter how much trouble I’m in, it’s not enough for you to say something like that.”
Xu Ping’an looked back in the direction the carriage had driven off, sighing helplessly.
“Never mind, never mind. This is good too.”