Why would Yi Qinghan bother with that old man? Jin Huan abandoned her, not caring who the letter was for, opened it, read a few lines, and then, trembling with anger, kicked over the desk.
Qiu Lingling exclaimed in surprise, "What's wrong with you?!"
Jin Huanlai had thought Yi Qinghan would respect ancestral teachings and wouldn't do such a thing, but unexpectedly... he acted first and reported later? Jin Huanlai almost gritted his teeth: "You still say you didn't do anything!" Really nothing, yet he sent such a letter just a few days later!
Raise your hand.
Qiu Lingling closed her eyes in fright and screamed.
Faced with that little face that turned from red to white, he still couldn't bring himself to slap her. His raised hand gradually turned into a fist, which he clenched tightly and then slammed down in the air. Jin then sat down on the chair.
silence.
Qiu Lingling nudged him, saying, "Don't be angry."
Jin looked out the window for a long time before finally speaking with difficulty: "Do you really think he's reliable?"
"I'm your wife," Qiu Lingling said seriously, "It's really nothing."
Faced with this silly girl, Jin Hailai didn't know how to explain, and had a bit of a headache: "I mean, did he... you guys..."
Qiu Lingling blushed again and interrupted him softly, "I know, no."
Jin immediately looked up at her, his expression strange: "You know?"
Qiu Lingling stared at the ground, mumbling, "Isn't what you're asking about... matters between husband and wife..."
The little girl's strange behavior these past few days finally had a reasonable explanation—she really knew! Now it was Jin Dajiaozhu's turn to be dumbfounded, and gradually, his handsome face actually turned red.
He suddenly stood up, no longer looking at her, grabbed the letter, and strode towards the door: "I'm going to Retreat Valley, I'll go back to the garden to eat by myself!"
.
To be honest, Yi Qinghan wasn't too bad. His martial arts were decent, and his looks were barely attractive to young girls. But his identity was really inappropriate. It's good that the little girl is alright.
Suddenly enlightened, Jin kicked open the half-closed stone door: "Old man!"
He froze after uttering that one word.
The room was filled with a strong medicinal fragrance. Jin Yue was half-reclining on the couch, and a maid was holding a bowl of dark, sticky medicine next to her. She was so frightened by Jin Yue's roar that she dared not move.
Jin Yue smiled sinisterly and instructed the maid, "Can't you see my unfilial disciple has arrived? Put the medicine away and leave."
The maid did as instructed, put down the medicine, and left.
Jin walked over, frowning, "What's going on?"
Jin Yue said, "Old people get sick often, what's the big deal?"
Jin picked up the medicine and smelled it: "Why didn't you tell them to come find me?"
"I know medicine myself, what use is it to ask you?" Jin Yue leaned back on the pillow and said indifferently, "Birth, aging, sickness and death are the same for everyone, do you think I'm afraid of death?"
Jin Huanlai remained silent for a moment, then sat down on a chair beside the couch and sneered, "Evil lives on for a thousand years, you old man, you're not going to die so soon."
Jin Yue snorted: "Everyone says the emperor lives to be ten thousand years old, but does anyone really live to be ten thousand? The Thousand Hands Sect is growing stronger day by day. You are a smart man and know when to stop. I don't need to say more. Life is like a dream. I have had my moment of glory. It's not a waste for me to leave now."
Jin remained silent.
Jin Yue sighed: "I have been too ruthless and cruel in my life, and I have wronged many people, but you should understand that I have only dedicated my life to the Thousand Hands Sect and have never regretted it."
Jin Huanlai's eyes dimmed slightly: "Master..."
As soon as he uttered those two words, Jin Yue slapped him across the face and coldly said, "Only women are sentimental."
Jin was so angry he choked: "You, you, you..."
"A dignified leader can't even dodge a slap, he has utterly disgraced me!" Jin Yue mocked. "He made such a fuss after just a few words, he has no sense of defense at all. If the leader ever softens his heart towards someone again, he will suffer more than just a slap. The Thousand Hands Sect will be leaderless."
"Fine, fine, you fucking go to hell!" Jin jumped up and threw him a letter. "Reply first."
.
Jin Yue glanced at it: "Why is the cult leader's letter to me?"
Jin returned, looking rather uncomfortable: "Yours."
Jin Yue then picked up the letter: "If it's mine, how could it have been opened by someone?" He unfolded it and glanced at it, then suddenly realized: "So it's a very happy event."
Jin sneered, "What's there to be happy about? You've given me a reply."
"How should we reply?"
"no."
“What’s wrong with it? I think it’s a good marriage,” Jin Yue said in surprise. “The Yi family has a long history with our Thousand Hands Sect. It would be very beneficial for us to have their help. I’ve heard that the Third Young Master Yi is handsome, from a good family, and skilled in martial arts. Moreover, I think his letter is well-written, which shows that he is a thoughtful and meticulous person. It would be a blessing for the girl to marry into that family.”
Jin almost burst out cursing: "Are you senile? That kid had no good intentions at all. Such an important matter, and his parents didn't even know about it? How could he be so careless!"
“We have to be flexible in all things. If he wasn’t sure, how could he dare to act on his own? Or he might have already written back home,” Jin Yue said understandingly. “He’s away from home, and his family is so far away. Maybe he’s afraid that someone will make a move first. We can’t blame him. As the saying goes, ‘A teacher for a day is a father for life.’ The girl’s parents died early. Since I am her teacher, I will naturally seek justice for her. Let’s agree to this for now and have that boy surnamed Yi go back and ask for his help after the betrothal.”
Jin was speechless for a long time before saying resentfully, "What kind of status does Yi Qinghan have? Even if his family agrees, who knows how many eyes are watching him? If that idiot really marries him, will she have a good life?"
"Not necessarily. Since this letter was written by Yi Qinghan himself, it shows his sincerity and he will definitely protect her."
"You can protect him for a while, but who can guarantee that he won't have a bunch of concubines in the future and still have time to care about her?"
"The cult leader seems to care a lot."
"You're crazy!"
Jin Yue stared at him for a while, then sighed: "If you want me to refuse, there should be a reason, so that others won't say we're putting on airs."
Jin Huanlai replied without hesitation: "Just say that girl is ignorant and not good enough for you. Also, your little apprentice is well-behaved and filial. You can't bear to let her marry so far away. You want to keep her to take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die."
"You've thought of everything so thoroughly. It turns out the leader already had a plan," Jin Yue said with a sudden realization, then shook his head. "Such a good marriage, wouldn't it be too unfair not to ask the girl's own opinion?"
“I’ve never seen you this fair before,” Jin added sarcastically. “Don’t worry, she won’t agree.”
Jin Yue sneered: "She doesn't agree because she thinks someone will take care of her. Who knows if she won't regret it in the future?"
Jin paused for a moment, then turned and left, saying, "Do whatever you want. I'm just doing this for her own good. She'll understand in time."
.
Because of what happened at the Peony Courtyard that night, and Jin Yue's illness, Qiu Lingling didn't go to see Yi Qinghan for several days. But she was finally invited to go when she went to the city to buy medicine. At first, she felt a little guilty, but later she saw that he was chatting and laughing as usual and there was nothing unusual about him. Gradually, she became less reserved. However, she became much more restrained in her behavior and stopped holding hands and other such actions. She found it difficult to say the name "Yi Qinghan" anymore.
"Is this the one I gave you back last time?" Qiu Lingling held up the Azure Dragon Pendant and examined it closely, exclaiming in admiration, "That person was really amazing, making it exactly the same as your original one!"
The young master said, "Zhang Zhen is the most renowned jade craftsman in the world. His skills are naturally unmatched. Whatever you need, just send it to him and he will make it." He paused, as if remembering something, and then asked, "I sent a letter to your master the other day. Did you see it?"
Qiu Lingling nodded and handed the jade pendant back to him: "Yes, what do you want with him?"
The young master remained calm and took the jade pendant: "You didn't see it?"
“No one dares to read Master’s letters except for Jin Huanlai,” Qiu Lingling shook her head, then remembered something, “I won’t be able to come see you as often as I used to.”
The young master's eyes flashed, and he looked up at her: "What?"
Because Jin Huanlai was very angry, Qiu Lingling blushed and mumbled, "It's nothing, Jin Huanlai just won't let me go down the mountain... Besides, Master is sick, and I have to take care of him."
The young master looked at her for a while, then smiled and said, "In that case, I won't keep you any longer. I'll have them deliver it to you." He turned and instructed Liu Bai, "Take out the thousand-year-old Poria cocos from the other day and send two people to deliver it to Elder Jin as a token of my appreciation."
Liu Bai agreed and left.
A thousand-year-old Poria cocos is extremely rare and hard to come by; even money can't guarantee its availability. It would be of great benefit to her master, so Qiu Lingling couldn't refuse and happily said, "Thank you so much! You're so kind."
The young master smiled and shook his head: "I only hope it will be useful and that your master can recover soon." He then pointed to the beautiful white parrot: "If you are not afraid that it will be fried and eaten, you can take it back with you."
Qiu Lingling laughed: "No, I'll come back to see it when I have time."
.
In the study of the South Tower, the crystal curtains flowed like water, and the summer heat lingered outside the window, with shadows of green trees swaying. The young master sat at his desk, holding a fan in his right hand and flipping through accounts with his left, an opened letter lying beside him.
Liu Bai suppressed a laugh: "Just as you predicted, young master. What do we do now?"
The young master didn't even look up: "What else can I do? Are you trying to make fun of me?"
Liu Bai quickly lowered his head: "This subordinate dares not."
"It would be a laughing stock if word got out that the third young master of the Yi family failed to get a marriage proposal," the young master said, pushing the bill aside. "The Thousand Hands Sect and the Yi family have a history, but their relationship is not deep. It would be beneficial for them to get the Yi family's help. That old man Jin Yue is ruthless in his actions. Why would he be reluctant to give up a disciple for the sake of the Thousand Hands Sect? Besides, it's not a matter of life and death."
Liu Bai said, "In that case, Jin Huanlai was intentionally trying to stop us. Perhaps he also has feelings for Miss Lingling..."
The young master said, "If he were willing, he wouldn't have had to wait until now."
"Then why did he stop him?"
The young master closed his folding fan and chuckled after a long while: "Perhaps he and his fellow disciple have a deep bond and are worried that the little girl will be bullied in our Yi family."
Liu Bai thought for a moment and nodded: "That makes sense." He looked out the window and wiped his sweat: "It gets so hot in the south, it's like a steamer. We'll need ice soon."
The young master remained silent, but his brows slowly furrowed.
.
Since the last incident, the two disciples in Jinyuanli have become much more distant for no apparent reason, and their meetings are quite awkward. As a result, Master Jin suddenly became diligent and filial, spending his days either going to the Valley of Retreat or dealing with matters until very late, sometimes even neglecting to eat.
However, he returned very early today. Although Qiu Lingling didn't rush over to hug him, she happily took his hand.
Jin quickly broke free: "Where did this thousand-year-old Poria cocos come from?"
Qiu Lingling lowered her head: "That..."
"Yi Qinghan?"
default.
"Why are you being so friendly? I've never seen you, surnamed Yi, have such a good relationship with the old man. You brat, you still haven't given up. It seems I should find an opportunity to warn you." Jin snorted and secretly plotted.
Qiu Lingling pulled him and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll visit him less often in the future."
Coming to his senses, Jin coughed and said, "That kid doesn't seem like a good person. Just keep an eye on him. What are you talking to me about?"
Qiu Lingling blinked, smiled, and hugged him: "You are my husband."
The embrace, as warm as ever, felt completely different now, carrying too much temptation. Jin suddenly pushed her away: "I'll say it again, I am not your husband!"
"Will you marry me?"
"Nonsense!"
Qiu Lingling lowered her eyes and murmured, "Don't you want to marry me?"
Jin didn't answer, nor did he look at her again; he turned and left.
Qiu Lingling panicked: "Hey, where are you going!"