Chapter 85: The Xiao Family

After leaving the palace, Shen Yian took Ye Liyan to the Xiao family’s mausoleum.

After returning from the martial arts world and then leaving the palace, he had spent a considerable time talking, so much so that after he solemnly introduced Ye Liyan, he didn’t know what to say.

Ye Liyan, on the other hand, had spoken quite a bit, though to Shen Yian’s ears, it sounded more like she was making vows.

A warm breeze gently ruffled their long hair, and the few weeping willows surrounding the garden residence rustled, as if responding to the couple.

“My timing is quite fortunate,” came Bai Hu’s (Xiao Xiang’s) voice from behind them.

A bunch of white chrysanthemums and a jar of fine wine were gently placed before the tombstone.

“I thought you’d stay up in that tree until we left,” Shen Yian chuckled softly.

“Liyan was just speaking to my sister. How could I disturb her?” Xiao Xiang smiled gently at Ye Liyan.

From this brief exchange, Ye Liyan easily discerned the identity of the beautiful woman before her.

“Liyan pays her respects to Aunt,” she said.

“Look at Liyan, and then look at you, boy. Do you know anything about respecting your elders?” Xiao Xiang chided.

“Mm-hmm,” Shen Yian nodded repeatedly, indicating his agreement with everything she said.

Xiao Xiang shot Shen Yian a glare before taking Ye Liyan’s small hand. “Come, Liyan, stay away from this fellow. Auntie has something to tell you.”

“Husband…” Ye Liyan looked towards Shen Yian.

Shen Yian nodded and smiled, “It’s alright, go ahead. Don’t be afraid, she won’t turn into a tiger and eat you.”

Xiao Xiang silently raised her fist in a threatening gesture.

Shen Yian quietly took half a step back.

The two women walked to the tombstone.

“Here, Liyan, this is something my sister left in my care before she passed. She said to give it to Little An’s wife when he marries.” Xiao Xiang took out a jade bracelet engraved with cloud patterns.

“Aunt, this… I…”

“You can’t refuse, you know. This is our Xiao family’s acceptance of you.”

“Thank you, Mother and Aunt.”

“We’re family now, no need for such formalities.”

Xiao Xiang helped Ye Liyan put on the jade bracelet, then turned to the tombstone with a wistful smile. “Sister, you’ve seen it all. The task you entrusted to me, I’ve completed it perfectly.”

“Little An!” she called out.

Standing not far away, Shen Yian, who was watching the ants moving with his spiritual sense, came back to his senses after hearing the sound: “What’s going on?”

“Come and have a couple of drinks with my sister and me.”

“Sure!”

Shen Yian called for Cheng Hai to bring two blankets from the carriage, and the three of them sat down in a circle.

“Why didn’t you come yesterday?” Shen Yian asked softly. He had personally delivered the invitation to Xiao Xiang.

“I had a mission.”

“What mission?”

“With Tianwu City so lively yesterday, what mission do you think?” Xiao Xiang countered.

“Alright, fine.”

“Here, I’ve already given Liyan hers, this one is yours.”

Xiao Xiang handed over a fish-shaped jade pendant necklace.

“Is this from Sanqing Mountain’s blessing?” Shen Yian asked, surprised as he sensed a trace of Taoist energy.

“Mm, you have a good eye,” Xiao Xiang nodded approvingly.

“I thought Sanqing Mountain had closed itself off from worldly affairs?”

As he spoke, Shen Yian prepared to put on the pendant. Beside him, Ye Liyan thoughtfully reached out to help him wear it.

“They have closed off, but it depends on who they’re closing off to,” Xiao Xiang opened her fan, smiling and sighing at the affectionate couple.

Within Great Qing’s territory, the Martial Guard Division could enter any faction’s domain without being refused, a privilege granted by imperial authority. Such was its dominance!

Shen Yian helplessly said while helping Ye Liyan put on another pendant, “Aren’t you afraid that the old man guarding Sanqing Mountain will come to Tianwu City to complain about you?”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, what right does he have to complain? Right, sister?” Xiao Xiang raised her cup, drank, then poured another cup on the tombstone.

“I’m not so sure about that,” Shen Yian drained his cup as well.

“Smack!” The fan hit him squarely on the head.

“Why are you drinking so fast?” Xiao Xiang said irritably.

“You both drank it all, it wouldn’t be right for me to just take a sip, would it?”

“Smack!” 

Shen Yian’s head was lightly hit by the fan again.

“We’re your elders, you’re the younger generation.”

“Besides, I only intended for you to have this one cup. How are you going to drink with me and your sister now that you’ve finished it?”

“Can’t I have another cup?” Shen Yian asked, quite aggrieved.

“No, your sister will blame me for indulging your drinking.”

“……”

Time passed unknowingly, and an hour had gone by. Xiao Xiang, after all, had important duties to attend to. After finishing the last cup of wine, she left first. Shen Yian and Ye Liyan stayed behind to tidy up the area.

“Mother, we’re leaving now. We’ll come see you again another day.”

Shen Yian didn’t call her “Imperial Consort,” as he felt “Mother” was more intimate and closer.

Another warm breeze came, perfectly timed, very light and gentle, as if seeing them off.

The carriage slowly returned to the prince’s mansion.

The vast Tianwu City had returned to its usual busy state. Aside from the flower petals remaining on rooftops and in corners as evidence of yesterday’s floral spectacle, people rarely discussed or mentioned it, as if it had never happened.

The twelve Hidden Guards and the Twelve Hours had gradually departed after yesterday, leaving only Yin Hai at the prince’s mansion.

“Liyan, have you remembered it all?”

Shen Yian had passed on both [Sword] and [Splendid Blossoms] to Ye Liyan.

“Yes, Liyan has memorized everything.”

“Your talent is no less than mine. In the future, I might need to rely on you for protection,” Shen Yian joked.

“Liyan is willing to protect her husband for a lifetime,” Ye Liyan answered with particular seriousness.

Her earnestness made Shen Yian deeply feel the dual sensation of loving and being loved.

With this feeling empowering him, he felt he could defeat ten Divine Wandering realm experts for Ye Liyan.

“If you want to protect me, you have to at least surpass me first, right?” Shen Yian gently tapped her smooth nose with his finger.

“Liyan will work hard to surpass her husband.” Ye Liyan’s pretty face turned slightly red.

“Good! Your husband is waiting for you to surpass him. Let’s go to bed first.”

The first half of the sentence was fine, but the latter half instantly put Ye Liyan in a dazed state.

“Hus…band, isn’t it… still early?”

After being loved, Ye Liyan became particularly charming when she entered a shy state, revealing a kind of mature charm from the inside out that made even a Great Qing gentleman like Shen Yian subconsciously swallow.

Shen Yian instinctively looked outside. Damn, the sun hadn’t even set yet.

“I meant to help you initially form the sword’s embryonic form…”

“Oh, oh…”

After hearing the explanation, Ye Liyan’s face reddened even more.

It must be said that someone gifted with both talent and cheat codes could only be described as terrifying.

Back then, in the Martial Pavilion with Shen Lingxiu’s guidance, it took him half a night to form the sword’s embryonic state.

Ye Liyan managed it in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

In two hours, the sword form she condensed matched his days of effort.

Shen Yian was tired of expressing his envy.

If Ye Liyan had been cultivating diligently in the Duke of State’s mansion, with various resources supporting her, she would now be at least a Heavenly Martial Realm expert.

After dinner, when the sky had completely darkened, Shen Yian carried Ye Liyan and secretly climbed over the city wall to the outskirts.

“Husband, why are we out so late?”

The two sat on a grassy hillside, with Ye Liyan snuggled close to Shen Yian, her tone like that of a girl doing something naughty for the first time, both scared and a little excited.

Shen Yian smiled mysteriously: “To watch the meteor shower.”