Volume 6, Chapter 349 – I Will Marry Off Liu Yingyue

“Yingyue’s matter? What matter?”

Lady Shen remained silent, but Fang Yun beside her immediately reacted defensively.

“Naturally, it’s about her marriage. Men must establish households, and women must marry. She’s already twenty-four or twenty-five years old, it’s time to properly choose a husband. Running around outside all day only damages the Liu family’s reputation.”

Liu Biao spoke with an air of self-righteous authority.

“Second Brother, let me make this clear—Yingyue is my daughter. When she marries and who she marries should be decided by me, her mother.”

Fang Yun, unable to tolerate this any longer, reminded him sharply.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, though you are Yingyue’s mother, you are still too young. Many matters are beyond your consideration. As the clan head, I will make the decision for her.”

Liu Biao replied with unreasonable arrogance.

“…”

Fang Yun had not expected him to be so domineering. For a moment, she was stunned into silence before finally stammering, “But have you forgotten what happened three years ago? My husband made an agreement with the Ancestress Shen, if Yingyue could complete her task, she would have the right to decide her own marriage.”

“Now that Eldest Brother is dead, how can that agreement still hold?”

Liu Biao sneered.

“What do you mean? Just because he’s dead, he’s no longer your elder brother?”

Fang Yun was both shocked and furious.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m only saying that though he was the eldest, his decisions weren’t always correct. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have died with grievances unresolved.”

Liu Biao’s tone carried a trace of mockery.

“You—!”

Fang Yun trembled with rage, tears rolling down her cheeks like broken strings of pearls. She had never dreamed that this so-called “second brother” would be so heartless as to bully her and her orphaned daughter.

“Enough! Stop quarreling!”

Lady Shen snapped impatiently and commanded, “First, send my eldest grandson off with dignity. Don’t let him remain troubled even in death.”

“Yes, Ancestress!”

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Liu Biao smirked triumphantly before strutting out with an exaggerated swagger.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang and her group were trudging along the official road. As a personal maidservant, and thanks to Huang Di’s influence, she rode inside the carriage with Liu Yingyue, the young mistress.

Xia Wei rode on horseback beside them, keeping watch. Aside from her, there were three male guards from the auction house. The two cultivators among them took positions at the front and rear of the group, while the coachman made the ninth member of their party.

Though Qi Huang enjoyed special treatment, she couldn’t help feeling restless. The journey was bumpy, and Liu Yingyue remained silent, occasionally shedding a few tears—making the ride feel like imprisonment.

Qi Huang wanted to comfort her, but the words died in her throat. She wasn’t sure if it would help. One wrong phrase, and her “comfort” might instead become “pouring salt on the wound”.

After a moment’s thought, she had an idea. For a grieving girl like this, diverting her attention was far less risky than direct consolation, and far more effective.

Having decided, Qi Huang spoke up:

“Manager Liu—ah, I mean, Sister… How long do you plan to stay at home? I still need to take the money back to save someone’s life.”

“Save a life? Whose life?”

Liu Yingyue seemed to snap out of her daze as she asked.

“Oh, it’s like this. I know a little girl named ‘Yao Yao’…”

Qi Huang then recounted the story of the little girl from Cheng Ling’s dream, narrating every detail.

Liu Yingyue’s beautiful eyes widened further with each word. She had never imagined such a pitiful family existed, a child who didn’t even know what a candied hawthorn was.

Seeing Liu Yingyue’s reaction, Qi Huang knew her plan had worked. She continued:

“Her grandmother knew her own illness was incurable, so she used the medicine money to fulfill Yaoyao’s small wish, her first taste of candied hawthorn in her life.”

“T-this… How could there be such pitiful people in this world? Heaven is truly blind, already a poor family, yet struck repeatedly with terminal illnesses.”

Liu Yingyue’s tears flowed freely, though this time, they were tears of sympathy.

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“Though Yao Yao’s grandmother didn’t burden the family further, the debts from treating her grandfather still remain. Now, people come knocking every few days, some even threatening to take Yao Yao as payment. That’s why I want to help her.”

Qi Huang smoothly wove her lie.

“So that’s it. No wonder a young girl like you would seek work outside. You’re truly kind-hearted.”

Liu Yingyue wiped her tears and sighed, then gently patted Qi Huang’s head.

“Very well. For Brother Huang’s sake, I’ll give you your payment now. You can go back, there’s no need to follow me to the capital. This journey is too dangerous.”

“Sister, don’t misunderstand! I did take this job to help her, but I’ve never intended to be a fraud. I may be young, but I’m strong! With me here, nothing will happen to you on this trip.”

Qi Huang quickly clarified.

“Oh? How old are you, then?”

Liu Yingyue asked skeptically.

“Seventeen.”

Qi Huang gave a half-truth. Seventeen was Cheng Hongling’s age, technically, this body’s age. As for her own? Strictly speaking, she was already pushing thirty, but no one would believe that if she said it.

“Seventeen?”

Liu Yingyue smiled bitterly. “Little sister, though I’m not a cultivator, I’ve traveled far and wide. I know a thing or two about the cultivation world. Most seventeen-year-old cultivators are just beginners, they can’t even defeat my guards, let alone wandering spirits and ghosts.”

“Sister, there are always exceptions. Have you heard of the Honghua Sect’s Fairy Hongling? Isn’t she only sixteen or seventeen?”

Qi Huang offered a pointed reminder.

“Little girl, you’re comparing yourself to Fairy Hongling? How many Fairy Honglings exist in this world?”

Liu Yingyue couldn’t help but laugh.

“Sister, if you don’t trust me, at least trust Brother Huang, right?”

Qi Huang countered, inwardly relieved. Her plan had succeeded, Liu Yingyue’s mood had clearly improved.

“You’re really not going back?”

Liu Yingyue hesitated before confirming again.

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“Of course not. I promised to protect you, how could I quit halfway?”

Qi Huang declared firmly.

“Fine. But for the rest of the trip, you must stay close to me. Don’t run off, or if something happens, I won’t know how to explain it to Brother Huang.”

Liu Yingyue warned once more.

‘Ugh. Still doesn’t believe in my strength, huh?’

Qi Huang sighed inwardly but didn’t bother arguing further. Until the Evergreen Conference, staying low-key was for the best.

“But I must make this clear, whether I can return after this trip depends entirely on luck.”

Liu Yingyue’s expression turned solemn.

“Why is that?”

Qi Huang played dumb, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.

After a brief hesitation, Liu Yingyue briefly explained the family troubles weighing on her. After all, she was in low spirits and needed someone to confide in.

“But Uncle was fine, how could he pass away so suddenly?”

Qi Huang seized the chance to ask.

“I don’t know the details. Mother only said an evil spirit invaded our home.”

Liu Yingyue replied after some thought.

“If it really was an evil spirit, then there’s nothing to be done. But we shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

Qi Huang voiced her skepticism.

“Yes, I think so too. Whatever the truth is, I will uncover it—otherwise, I’d be failing as a daughter.”

Liu Yingyue gritted her teeth in determination, though her resolve wavered as she added, “Of course, that’s assuming I even make it to the capital safely.”

“Don’t worry. With me here, not only will you reach the capital, you could even go to the imperial palace without a scratch.”

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Qi Huang reaffirmed confidently.

Liu Yingyue ignored her and lamented, “The world only sees the Liu family’s wealth and influence, but not the lives and blood our ancestors paid for it. My great-grandfather died traveling on business, attacked by wandering spirits. My grandfather and his two brothers also died young the same way. So when I left home, I was prepared—I never held any illusions of safety.”

“Then… who is this ‘Ancestress’ to you?”

Qi Huang asked, shocked.

“She’s my great-grandmother, the previous clan head. After losing her husband and sons early, she single-handedly carried the Liu family forward until my father could take over. That’s why her authority in the family is absolute.”

Liu Yingyue explained.

“What a remarkable elder.”

Qi Huang silently admired her.

Meanwhile, the newly “legitimized” Liu Biao returned home in high spirits and shared the good news with his wife.

“Congratulations, husband! But the title of clan head is just nominal. To reap real benefits, you’ll need to strategize carefully.”

Madam Liu reminded him. Her surname was Lu and her given name was… ¹ I’m not sure why this is cut off but I hope it was intentionally done by the author, not an error from the raws itself

“I know that. But everything must be done step by step. Eldest Brother hasn’t even been buried yet, there’s no need to rush!”

Liu Biao replied calmly.

“True. But as the saying goes, ‘preparedness averts peril’. It’s best we plan ahead. Do you have any ideas for the next step?”

Madam Liu was shrewd.

“Next step? Naturally, I’ll marry off that unfilial daughter Liu Yingyue and fulfill the beneficial alliance we failed to secure three years ago. Only then can the Liu family thrive, and only then can I, as clan head, profit.”

A sinister smile crept across Liu Biao’s face.