ries Ye Ying, then you and he will be...” brothers-in-law What a displeasing relationship to contemplate! Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly; his hand turned the wheelchair in another direction toward the wood...345. The Eloquence of Prince Xu's Fifth Son

345. The Eloquence of Prince Xu's Fifth Son

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were busy dealing with various influential figures, while Xu Qingchen was showing no signs of efficiency at all. Mo Xiuyao finally had a moment of conscience and took over the usual official duties that Prince Qingchen usually handled to allow him to focus on handling a certain woman. In just a few days, almost everyone in Ding王府 knew about a lady who was pursuing Qingchen公子, only for him to avoid her as much as possible because he found her unsuitable.

The First Lady Xu, worried about her eldest son's future, came upon hearing the news. However, she returned disappointed after less than half an hour of talking with Dongfang You. Privately, she told Second Lady Xu: "I’d rather Qingchen never marries, than marry a woman who spends all day dreaming and tries to drag others into her fantasies."

No matter what attitude the Xu family took, everyday news in Ding王府 became the persistent attempts of Dongfang You to seek out Qingchen公子 for marriage. Some even started betting on how long Qingchen could hold out before he would marry Miss Dongfang.

"Young Master, Lady Dongfang is here to see you," reported a guard as Qingchen公子, who was enjoying some rare leisure time, heard the news. Looking at the guard's barely-suppressed smile, Qingchen公子 wished Mo Xiuyao were somewhere else. Rubbing his temples, Xu Qingchen said, "Tell Lady Dongfang that I'm not here." For the first time ever, Qingchen公子 felt like fleeing.

The guard looked somewhat troubled and reported back, "Lady Dongfang knows you’re in the house. If you won’t see her, she’ll wait at the gate until you do. Young Master… there are already quite a few onlookers outside."

Xu Qingchen was amused by this but realized that although the guards might enjoy watching the spectacle, they were also somewhat stuck between a rock and a hard place. Dongfang You’s status made it unwise to be too harsh with her before Ding王府 had a clear understanding of the situation surrounding Cangmang Mountain. Sighing in resignation, Xu Qingchen nodded and said, "Please invite Lady Dongfang in."

The guard left to do as instructed, while from outside came Xu Qingyan, who looked at his brother with a grin and asked, "Big Brother, is that Dongfang You looking for you again"

Xu Qingchen gave him a cool glance and said, "If you have nothing else to do, help me entertain guests. Don’t just wander around aimlessly." Xu Qingyan’s neck went up as he looked at his brother pitifully. This era was such that even Big Brother had started taking out frustrations on others. He’d been busy in the north for over a year and only came back home to rest during Grandfather’s birthday; how could he be described as idle

Crossing the threshold with great care, Xu Qingyan stood obediently before his brother and said, "Big Brother, I’m sorry."

Xu Qingchen asked with a smile, "What have you done wrong"

With righteous indignation, Xu Qingyan answered, "I shouldn’t be wandering around aimlessly. Right now, I will help Father and Uncle handle matters and then go to Grandfather to show my filial piety." The worst of his misdeeds was not gloating in front of Big Brother. Satisfied, Xu Qingchen smiled mildly and said, "Since you know what’s wrong, stay here to assist me with entertaining Lady Dongfang."

Uh Xu Qingyan widened his eyes in horror. He had seen the power of Dongfang You; she was not afraid to teach anyone about anything, whether it be ruling a country, being a queen or a wife, even motherhood. Had she ever been a mother Xu Qingyan wondered if she would dare to lecture Grandfather on how to behave as a teacher. The thought alone felt like a nightmare.

"Big Brother… Do you really need me here Lady Dongfang is looking for you."

Xu Qingchen smiled and said, "Why not Lady Dongfang is an honored guest of Ding王府, and it would be more proper if both brothers were to entertain her."

While Xu Qingyan was trying to beg off from his brother’s request, a figure in white appeared at the door. Dongfang You stood there with a slight frown upon seeing Xu Qingyan present as well. She nodded and asked coolly, "Why is Fifth Young Master here"

Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but widen his eyes; this lady's way of speaking was strange. Why did she ask why he was here Even if Ding王府 wasn't his home, it belonged to his cousin, so it made more sense for him to be there than her, a total stranger. Also, what was with that seemingly haughty frown and nod Taking a deep breath, Fifth Young Master Xu remembered the etiquette of hospitality and said stiffly, "Isn’t Lady Dongfang also here"

Dongfang You couldn't help but widen her eyes; even if she were obtuse, she could feel the hostility in Xu Qingyan's words. But she was puzzled as to why he treated her so coldly when she had been anything but friendly.

Xu Qingchen smiled and said, "Miss Dongfang, please take a seat. May I ask what brings you here so early in the morning"

Dongfang You nodded and asked, "I would like to know if Mister Qingchen is willing to marry me." Hearing this, Xu Qingchen's smile froze, and Xu Qingyan's mouth twitched uncontrollably. After a pause, he lowered his head and sipped his tea calmly before saying after some thought, "Miss Dongfang, I believe I have already given you my answer: I reject it."

"Why" Dongfang You frowned, clearly finding it hard to understand why Xu Qingchen would refuse her. She then said, "I heard that Mister Qingchen has a special relationship with the Queen of Nanzhao, but she is married and about to have a child. As a remarkable man, you should know when to make decisions. Moreover, I am not inferior to the Queen of Nanzhao. Anything she can do, I can also do better..."

"Miss Dongfang!" Xu Qingchen frowned, displeasure evident on his handsome face as he said sternly, "The Queen of Nanzhao and I are merely friends; please don't spread false rumors. It's not a problem for me as a man, but the Queen and her consort have an affectionate relationship. Your behavior is..."

Dongfang You paused, nodded, and said, "Alright, it's my fault. Since that's the case, why doesn't Mister Qingchen want to marry me"

From the side, Xu Qingyan deeply felt that despite his elder brother being full of knowledge and strategies, Dongfang You was a real nemesis for him. Coughing slightly to clear his throat, Xu Qingyan asked with a smile, "Miss Dongfang, why must my elder brother marry you" Dongfang You said matter-of-factly, "Mister Qingchen is the aunt of the Defining Princess; after our marriage, Mount Cangmang will naturally assist the Defining Prince in achieving his great cause. Is there anything wrong with that" Xu Qingyan nodded and smiled, saying, "There's nothing wrong, but... why must it be you who assists the Defining Prince Isn't it possible for him to accomplish his goal without you"

Such a direct and almost impolite question caused Dongfang You some trouble. She furrowed her brows in thought before saying, "But I chose the future king—the Defining Prince—naturally he needs my assistance."

Xu Qingyan rolled his eyes and said, "Even without your help, the Defining Prince's house has been doing well."

"With me, the Defining Prince's house will do even better." Dongfang You regained her confidence and continued, "For all these years, the Defining Prince’s family still hasn't escaped the encirclement of surrounding strong enemies. Doesn’t this indicate a lack of ability in his aides"

Brothers fell silent; this was absolutely an indiscriminate attack. With one sentence, he had insulted everyone around and above the Defining Prince's house. Xu Qingyan cursed internally at her nonsense. Wasn't it obvious how well they were doing The area controlled by the Defining Prince’s family was now among the largest if not the second largest in all countries. Their military strength alone made other powers dare not provoke them; what else could they want In just a few years, after being besieged from four sides, they suddenly swept across the land; it wasn't even something one would see in stories!

Xu Qingyan inwardly braced himself and looked at Dongfang You with a nod, saying sincerely, "I understand. Actually, we are very pleased that Miss Dongfang is willing to assist the Defining Prince."

As Xu Qingchen stroked his teacup and raised an eyebrow towards his normally clever younger brother without speaking, Dongfang You looked at Xu Qingyan in confusion, not understanding why he had suddenly changed his mind.

Xu Qingyan coughed lightly and said seriously, "Manager Mo of the Defining Prince’s house has been a widower for many years. He is one of the people most trusted by the Defining Prince. If Miss Dongfang would marry him, both the Defining Prince and his princess would believe in your sincerity and Mount Cangmang's. What do you think, Brother"

This time it was Xu Qingchen's turn to have a twitch at the corner of his mouth; however, being skilled at concealing things, he naturally lifted his teacup to cover his lips as he nodded calmly and said, "Little brother makes a valid point."

"Manager Mo... Manager Mo" Dongfang You was instantly dumbfounded, barely remembering who this Manager Mo was. In fact, she had met him several times before—she only gave a slight nod even when in front of the Fifth Young Master Xu. To her, no matter how special his position might be, he was just a servant at the Defining Prince’s house and hence didn't leave an impression.

Xu Qingyan nodded and said sincerely, "Yes, that black-clad uncle. Speaking of which, in all Li City only this uncle can wear the dark attire of the Defining Prince's house while still looking so spirited and scholarly."

Dongfang You immediately recalled the gray-haired black-clothed manager she had seen on her first visit to the Defining Prince’s house; her face turned extremely awkward. She probably hadn't looked so bad back then when Mo Xiuyao publicly asked her to leave.

"He... How can that be possible!" Dongfang You almost instinctively rejected it.

Xu Qingyan blinked and said, "Why not Although our Xu family is close to the Prince of Ding, it's nothing compared to those who have served the Prince for generations. Grand Steward He has been loyal to the Prince's family all his life. Besides... Miss Dong isn't concerned about whom she marries, right So marrying Grand Steward He would be perfect. I believe that although he doesn't want to marry, he will make sacrifices without hesitation for the sake of the Prince’s family. However, my eldest brother is different; our Xu family cares a lot who my brother marries. My grandfather said... ‘Better to have nothing than something bad.’

Miss Dong encountered someone like Xu Qingyan for what seemed to be the first time in her life, and her pretty face flushed from red to purple to green, changing colors like a palette.

Xu Qingchen secretly gave his brother an approving look. He put down his teacup and said to Miss Dong, "Miss Dong, my fifth younger brother is absolutely right. If you are willing, the Prince's family would naturally welcome your presence wholeheartedly. I can also invite His Royal Highness to personally visit Cangmang Mountain on your behalf for a proposal. What do you think"

"No way!" Miss Dong nearly screamed, and this sudden outburst caused her mysterious aura to vanish as if she were just an ordinary angry girl upset about her marriage prospects. "That’s an old man! And he's only a servant too! How could I marry him"

Xu Qingchen and Xu Qingyan exchanged glances, neither of them commenting on Miss Dong’s words. It should be this woman who isn’t good enough for Grand Steward He, shouldn't it Although the grand steward is rather old, he looks decent and doesn't seem aged at all. He holds an important position in the Prince's family as the head steward, undoubtedly being a trusted confidant of the prince. It’s just that he has no intention of marrying; if he were actually looking for a wife, many families in Li city would be eager to marry their daughters to him.

Though it wasn’t very gentlemanly to upset a young lady with such matters, Xu Qingchen had been irritated by Miss Dong recently. Seeing her act like this now made his displeasure even more apparent on his face.

"In that case, it seems Miss Dong isn't sincere. We in the Prince's family don’t need any extraordinary assistance. If you please, you may take your leave," said Xu Qingchen coolly, offering her tea as he escorted her out.

Miss Dong left dejected once more and glared at Xu Qingyan before she turned to leave with a final declaration that she would not give up.

The room fell silent after she departed. Xu Qingyan couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer, clutching his stomach as he laughed until he bent over backward. Watching his brother laugh so hard, Xu Qingchen shook his head lightly and smiled without comment. Rubbing his belly with one hand while wiping away tears of laughter from the corner of his eye, Xu Qingyan asked, "Elder Brother, is this woman truly from Cangmang Mountain This is just too…"

Xu Qingchen said calmly, “Whether she’s from there or not will soon be known. But it should be correct; therefore… people can't leave the mundane world for too long, otherwise they might raise such oddities. I wonder if the lord of Cangmang Mountain regrets this.

"Young Master Dashi and Young Master Wu, His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness request your presence," said Grand Steward He standing at the door with a calm expression.

The two unarmed men looked at each other awkwardly, feeling somewhat guilty for having just mocked their fifth younger brother. "Grand Steward He, when did you arrive"

Grand Steward He calmly replied, "When Fifth Young Master was praising me as one who would make sacrifices without hesitation for the Prince's family. Thank you, Fifth Young Master."

Xu Qingyan felt ashamed and said, “Steward, no need to be polite.”

Miss Dong’s expression remained very bad when she left Ding王府, and the gazes of those around her made her feel as if needles were pricking her. She was not a wooden doll without feelings; she could clearly sense people's gazes and whispers about her. Although many people considered it to be just another joke at Xu Qingchen’s expense, in reality, Miss Dong was the one being mocked because Xu Qingchen had suffered an unprovoked misfortune regarding this matter. However, Miss Dong regarded these as inevitable obstacles on the path to success and would grit her teeth and endure them, pretending that nothing happened. But today's mockery from Xu Qingyan left even her tough facade somewhat strained.

She clearly wanted to help Ding王府; she believed that what she and Cangmang Mountain could bring to Ding王府 was something the Prince of Ding wouldn't be unaware of. Yet, they refused to recognize her worth. For a moment, Miss Dong hated the Prince for not recognizing her value and despised everyone in the Xu family for their arrogance in rejecting her offer. If it were anyone else, she would have wanted to establish ties with Cangmang Mountain long ago; but Ding王府’s people showed such haughtiness and rudeness! Nonetheless, her resolve and determination remained unshaken. Before leaving the mountain, she had made a solemn vow to her master that she would achieve extraordinary feats surpassing her ancestors. She was determined to assist in creating an emperor who would unify the world, making Cangmang Mountain renowned across the land.

"Miss Dong" Miss Dong’s expression was absent-minded as she left Ding王府; a deep male voice came from behind her. Turning around, she saw Mo Jingli standing not far away and immediately pulled herself together. She looked up at him calmly.

It couldn't be denied that Miss Dong’s so-called secret techniques were indeed quite impressive. In the instant she lifted her head, it was as if a different person stood before them. Her beautiful face remained expressionless without a smile, yet radiating an irresistible allure, like a fairy bathed in mysterious light. For a moment, Mo Jingli even felt his heart skip a beat.

"Duke Li, is there something you need"

Moxing Li gathered his thoughts and strolled towards Dong Fangyou, looking down at her with a question in his eyes. "Miss Dong, are you feeling down"

Dong Fangyou was no fool; she could tell that Moxing Li was trying to befriend her. However, she soon realized that Duke Li's attempts at being nice did not lift her spirits but rather reminded her of the indifferent rejections from Ding王府 and the Xu family towards her. She immediately felt disinterested and looked at Moxing Li before lowering her gaze indifferently.

As long as he didn't meet Dong Fangyou's face or eyes, Duke Li was still himself and could sense her coldness towards him.

"Did Miss Dong visit the Ding王府 again" Moxing Li remained calm and asked while walking beside her.

Dong Fangyou stopped in her tracks, looking at Moxing Li seriously. "Does Duke Li look down on me" Moxing Li shook his head. "Of course not. However, I have some advice to offer you so that you won't keep running into walls."

Dong Fangyou was surprised. "Tell me about it."

Moxing Li said, "It's well known how deeply Moxiu Yao loves Ye Li; he would never do anything that might upset the Duchess of Ding."

Dong Fangyou nodded. "I already know this, so I don't plan to interfere in their relationship." Moxing Li continued, "I understand you think Xu Qingchen is a good match for you, but... although Xu Qingchen appears gentle and refined, he's probably even more proud than Moxiu Yao inside. He won’t accept an arranged marriage without love. That’s why despite being over thirty, Xu Qingchen hasn't married. Even people like Qingyun Scholar and Hongyu Scholar can’t force him to do anything against his will. If you persist in pursuing him, it might backfire on you."

Dong Fangyou was slightly stirred; she seemed to be pondering something. "Is that so Then if..." If I make Xu Qingchen fall in love with me

Moxing Li could see from her expression what she was thinking and smiled faintly. "Moreover, there's one more thing you should know. The Xu family is strict about their women staying at home; even though they寵愛the Duchess of Ding and don't constrain her because of her surname Ye and Moxing, it’s only because she doesn’t belong to the Xu family. No matter how talented a Xu woman is, in the end she must stay at home to manage the household and educate her children. Even now's Lady Xu and Madam Xu were once famous talents, but they are no longer well-known. So if you really want to marry into the Xu family, you should think carefully."

Dong Fangyou looked at him coldly. "I know what you’re thinking, but I’ve already chosen the Ding王府 so your thoughts won’t change anything."

Moxing Li’s smile froze and he forced a laugh. "Miss, don't joke around; I’m only trying to warn you out of good intentions."

Dong Fangyou snorted and ignored him as she headed towards her temporary residence.

Behind her, Moxiu Yao watched her leave with eyes gleaming with determination.

Dong Fangyou didn't stay at the Southern Duke's inn; he was right that Cangmang Mountain’s influence spread across the country. Even in Li City, they had their own base. The place Dong Fangyou stood in was a spacious courtyard within Li City. During the time when Moxing Army first arrived, many officials and merchants fled into the inner lands, leaving numerous houses empty. This residence was bought then but remained unoccupied until Dong Fangyou’s arrival.

Dong Fangyou waved away the servants who came to greet her and turned back towards her room. As soon as she closed the door, she saw a figure sitting beside her bed. The dim light in the room, combined with layers of gauze curtains, made it difficult for her to see clearly who was there. She flipped her wrist and held two short swords before pointing one at the person and shouting, "Who are you" Without waiting for an answer, she leaped forward, her short swords turning into silver streaks slicing through the curtains.

"Yue." A low, slightly hoarse voice echoed in the room. Dong Fangyou’s heart skipped a beat as she quickly defended herself and landed gracefully. As the figure emerged from behind the curtains, she immediately knelt down respectfully and called out, "Teacher."

The person was an approximately forty or fifty-year-old woman with features more striking than Dong Fangyou's. Despite her advancing age, she still retained a certain charm. She looked at Dong Fangyou coolly before nodding slightly. "You’re quite bold. never loses his childlike heart. Therefore, being born in the deep palace and raised by women is a shortcoming for Later Master as a king but it's also his strength as a poet.SeventeenAn objective po...