The twenty-fourth year of Jinghe.
Yecheng was undoubtedly a sacred land that scholars yearned for.
Yet Feng Yu, who had lived in Yecheng for sixteen years, wanted to run away every single day, for she had inherited none of her bookworm father's scholarly talent and was naturally not cut out for academic pursuits.
Of course, she had not inherited the martial talent of her Great General mother, Feng Chunya, either. Even practicing the Body Tempering Technique was a struggle for her, let alone entering the Dao through martial arts and becoming a Martial Saint like her mother.
Everyone knew she was a good-for-nothing.
But fortunately, no one looked down on her, and no one dared to say anything unpleasant to her face.
Perhaps they did behind her back, but that did not matter; either way, her mother's prize disciple, Li Le, would always stand up for her.
Although Li Le took meticulous care of her, she simply disliked him. As for why, there was a reason.
Li Le was ten years older than her. In his words, he had watched her grow up, so it was impossible for him to like her.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She did not even look down on him for being an old man who would turn thirty once he passed twenty-five, yet he actually deemed her too young?
Ah, if only Li Le would get injured sometime, allowing her to pull off a classic rescue of a beauty saving the hero.
According to her grandmother, her mother had saved her father's life in a bandit's den back then, getting herself a free Military Advisor and husband.
What a pity.
Imagination was beautiful, but reality was harsh.
Li Le was nothing like a good-for-nothing like her. He was an acknowledged martial genius, the type who had no rivals among his peers. If he did not respect the elderly and cherish the young, he could probably beat up those outside his generation as well.
Who in the world could possibly hurt him?
At this thought, Feng Yu slumped dejectedly into her chair, turning her head to look at the man who was currently munching on pastries while reading a storybook.
The man looked very young, but his actual age was estimated to be at least in his mid-thirties—a bona fide old man.
It was not just him; those who had practiced the Body Tempering Technique, or had entered the Dao through martial arts or scholarly arts, all appeared remarkably youthful.
She still remembered when she was ten years old, she had happened upon an ethereal beauty reading a book under a peach tree at Yecheng Academy. As someone who was diligent and eager to learn, she naturally had to go over and seek instruction.
At the time, she had even resolved to abandon Li Le, whom she had liked since childhood, for this peerless beauty.
After all, Li Le was not as good-looking as the beauty. There was nothing wrong with choosing the prettier one, right?
Besides, the beauty was named Shen Yu, and she was named Feng Yu. Both their names had the character “Yu” in them—it was clearly a match destined by fate.
In the end, before she could even declare her feelings to the beauty, her mother told her to call him Uncle Shen.
What a “Uncle Shen.”
Her heart instantly shattered into eight pieces.
Only after a long while did Feng Yu pull herself together. “Uncle Fang, when are you heading back to Chaoyang City? Take me with you, will you?”
Fang Shuo looked up at her. “I'm quite comfortable staying in Yecheng. Why on earth would I want to return to Chaoyang City?”
Feng Yu and Fang Shuo could be considered kindred spirits who met amid low hills and foul waters, so she understood his situation thoroughly. “Don't you want to go back and see your sister from another mother and father?”
“You mean Xiao Zhao?” Fang Shuo sighed with emotion. “Some time ago, Madam Lan handed the Lan family merchant association over to her. She's probably so busy she barely has time to breathe right now. She won't have time for me.”
Many years ago, he had met Lan Yi and A'han's daughter, Lan Zhao, in Chaoyang City; she was a smart and sensible girl.
Under Lan Yi's leadership over the years, the Lan family merchant association had long since become the largest merchant association in Great Xia. One could easily imagine the sheer pressure Lan Zhao faced upon inheriting such a massive enterprise.
Feng Yu let out a heavy sigh.
“It seems everyone has proper things to do. Only you and I are completely useless, loafing around all day.”
“Being ordinary has its own perks. At least we don't have to work from dawn to dusk like those capable folks.” Fang Shuo popped a pastry into his mouth and went back to reading his storybook.
But Feng Yu was no longer as optimistic as before. “Uncle Fang, but I don't want to go on being ordinary forever. I want to become someone capable so that Li Le can finally fall for me.”
Hearing the first half of her sentence, Fang Shuo wanted to encourage Feng Yu. But upon hearing the second half, he was filled only with exasperation at her lack of ambition.
“You still haven't given up? Madam Ye's youngest son is your childhood friend, yet you don't like him. Why must you stubbornly cling to a man who is ten years older than you?”
“Uncle Fang, that's only because Cheng Yang isn't as good-looking as Li Le! What is wrong with liking good-looking people!”
Feng Yu huffed and added, “If you weren't my Uncle Fang, I would have liked you as well.”
Fang Shuo was so startled he nearly tumbled off the daybed.
“My dear niece, that really won't do.”
In his anxiety, he even slipped into his local dialect.
Feng Yu stroked her chin, her gaze sweeping up and down Fang Shuo's pretty, feminine face. She boldly declared, “Uncle Fang, looking closely, you're still quite attractive in your own right. Besides, we share the same bad habits and know each other inside out. From this angle, we're a match made in heaven. No wonder you haven't found a wife even in your mid-thirties—could it be you've been waiting for me to be born?”
Fang Shuo: “???”
“Feng Xiaoyu, read fewer of those romance novels.” He scrambled up from the daybed, sat up straight, put on his best solemn elder expression, and began to nag, “When you were a baby, I even changed your diapers. The generation gap between us is so wide. If I had any designs on you, wouldn't that make me a pervert?”
“Your Uncle Fang has treated you very well, giving you all the best food and fun toys over the years. Don't go ruining my life!”
Feng Yu kept her face expressionless. “Is there really any need to bring up the fact that you changed my diapers when I was little?”
“If I don't, I fear you will stray onto the wrong path.”
Fang Shuo said righteously, “It must be those mushy romance novels that have corrupted you. Tomorrow, I'll burn every last one of them and supervise you myself to make sure you read proper books.”
Feng Yu felt as though her world had collapsed.
She threw herself onto the floor and began to roll around. “I don't want to live anymore! None of the people I like like me back...”
Fang Shuo developed a massive headache. “Enough, don't you like that Li Le? I'll help you think of something.”
Feng Yu's eyes lit up. No longer wailing or screaming, she scrambled up from the floor and leaned close to Fang Shuo.
“Hurry and tell me, what brilliant tricks do you have up your sleeve?”
“I'm not much smarter than you; what brilliant tricks could I possibly come up with?” Fang Shuo said. “Tomorrow is my Little Senior Sister's birthday. Come with me to Xindu City to attend the banquet.”
“I'm not going.”
Feng Yu was utterly disappointed. “Your Little Senior Sister is the famous Cui He, right? The birthday banquets of such prominent figures are always incredibly tedious. I won't understand a single thing they say about administrative decrees or policies, and going will only embarrass me.”
In the past, her mother had also enjoyed taking her to various banquets, but she could never find common ground with her peers.
She would talk to them about which pastry shop was delicious or which storybook was well-written, but they would tell her she was neglecting her duties and urge her to focus more on the livelihood of the people and serving the nation.
The most annoying among them was her childhood friend, Cheng Yang. His father was the Cabinet Minister Cheng Ji, his mother was the dean of Yecheng Academy, Ye Qingqing, and his older brother was the young and promising Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Cheng Yan. By all accounts, he could have easily slacked off, yet he was more competitive than anyone else. Not only did he overwork himself, but he also demanded that others do the same.
Every time he saw her playing, he would transform into “Master Cheng,” pulling out a ruler from lord knows where and slamming it on the table to make her study.
This guy was her childhood nightmare.
Seeing Feng Yu dazed, Fang Shuo said helplessly, “My Little Senior Sister's birthday banquet won't be a grand affair. She's only inviting close friends. Tomorrow at her house, you can grab just about anyone and ask them how to pursue a husband, and they'll easily come up with dozens of great ideas for you.”
“Really?” Feng Yu looked surprised.
Fang Shuo felt a swell of pride. “Of course. My Little Senior Sister is a genius of the century. Could anyone close to her possibly be a fool? Every single one of them is incredibly sharp.”
Feng Yu stared at Fang Shuo, who lacked intellect but had looks: “Then what about you, Uncle Fang?”
Fang Shuo: “...”
“You really are my wonderful niece.”
He ground his teeth.
Although he wanted to pack Feng Yu up and throw her out, he still cherished their relationship as uncle and niece. The next day, he took her to Xindu City to attend Cui He's birthday banquet, intending to help her find an advisor.
Not having attended a banquet for many years, Feng Yu felt rather anxious. She followed closely behind Fang Shuo step by step.
After passing through two corridors, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
The spring sunlight, filtered through a sunshade of flowering trellises, fell onto the ground like scattered flecks of gold.
A winding stream flowed past, its banks lined with brocade cushions and low tables. Delicate small plates drifted upon the running water, carrying amber wine and pastries as they slowly floated downstream.
Around twenty men and women sat at the gathering, all dressed in spring robes of various colors, yet each elegant to perfection.
The gentle gurgle of water, combined with the fragrance of wine and flowers, brewed a lazy, languid intoxication in the warm spring breeze.
Feng Yu had long since been captivated by the row of beauties, each with their own unique charm. Without a second thought, she slipped ahead of Fang Shuo, asking the young gentleman in green robes nearest to her with a flushed face, “May I ask how old you are, young gentleman, and if you are betrothed?”
This young gentleman in green was truly good-looking, and he still carried a youthful air; he was surely not very old.
“Young gentleman, my name is...”
Before she could introduce herself, a slap landed on the back of her head, and Fang Shuo's voice came from behind her.
“Feng Yu, that is your Uncle Lu Sui.”
To prevent Feng Yu from saying anything outrageous, Fang Shuo immediately went down the line and introduced everyone at the gathering.
“That one is your Uncle Lin Xun.”
“That one is your Uncle Chen Zhi.”
“That one is your Uncle Cheng Ji, whom you know.”
“That is your Uncle A'han, whom you also know.”
“That one is your Uncle Zhu Jingzhe.”
...
Feng Yu's heart broke again and again.
No longer staring at the handsome men who were all of the uncle generation, she turned her gaze toward the women who resembled a blooming garden of a hundred flowers.
Fang Shuo glanced sideways at Feng Yu, once again shattering her dream of becoming intimate friends with the beauties.
“The one at the head seat is your Auntie Cui He.”
“The one next to her is your Auntie Pei Wanning.”
“You know that one; she's your Auntie Fang Yingqiu.”
“That is your Auntie Shen Ying.”
“I don't need to introduce your mother, Feng Chunya, right?”
“Dean Ye Qingqing, you know her as well.”
“You shouldn't have forgotten your Auntie Lan Yi, right? Last time, she brought you sweet pastries from the Western Regions.”
“That one is your Auntie Su Aheng.”
“That one is your Auntie Fan Miaozhen.”
“That one is your Auntie Qiao Yue.”
“That one is your Auntie Yu Ran.”
...
This banquet had gathered almost all the legendary figures from the era when the Divine Lady descended to the mortal realm. Anyone else would have been thrilled beyond measure.
Yet Feng Yu felt only that life was utterly meaningless.
How vexing.
She had truly been born at the wrong time!
Fang Shuo had absolutely no time to care what Feng Yu was thinking.
He searched through the winding-stream tables again and again, but he still could not find Shen Yu, which left him feeling rather disappointed.
Ever since the Divine Lady's fall, Mr. Shen had closed his doors to visitors. Aside from matters concerning the livelihood of the common people, nothing could move him.
He would not even see Little Senior Sister.
It was highly likely that Little Senior Sister was sorrowful as well.
“Feng Yu, what are you standing there in a daze for? Come over and wish your Auntie Cui a happy birthday,” Feng Chunya called out.
With her mother speaking, how could Feng Yu dare to disobey?
“I wish Auntie Cui joy every year...”
After uttering a few auspicious phrases, she obediently sat down beside Feng Chunya and buried her head in food.
After the banquet concluded, Fang Shuo took Feng Yu to find Shen Ying, who loved joining in on the excitement and was full of crafty ideas, to ask for her help.
“Come closer, you two, and listen to me,” Shen Ying waved them over.
After a series of comedic twists and turns, Feng Yu and Li Le eventually came together and tied the knot.
Their marriage plaque was hung on the Marriage-Binding Tree gifted by the Divine Lady in the great desert. Exposed to the wind and sun year after year, it remained hanging securely, without a single crack ever appearing on its surface.
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