Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Born as Untouched Jade, Li Qiyu
Welcoming Guests Tower, third floor, guest room.
After all the tossing and turning of the day, little Wuyou had already fallen asleep, curled up on the couch, while Li Xingge sat cross-legged on the windowsill, cultivating.
At his current realm, sleep had already become optional.
...
Meanwhile.
Qingfeng Valley, the Li Clan, at the residence of the Third Elder, Li Xuanyong.
It was already deep into the night.
Yet Li Xuanyong’s entire household had no mind to sleep, because tonight was the night his grandson’s wife was due to give birth.
Li Xuanyong, dressed in a purple robe, sat upright in a grand armchair. Though his face remained calm, he could not conceal the excitement in his heart.
His branch of the family had always been sparsely populated.
He had only one son and one daughter.
His daughter had married far away for the sake of the clan. His son had given his life for the clan many years ago. When his daughter-in-law heard the tragic news, she followed him in death, leaving behind only a seven-month-old grandson, whom he and his wife had raised together.
Now his grandson was married and was about to have a child of his own.
Even if Li Xuanyong were to die now, he would be able to close his eyes in peace.
As they waited anxiously,
a loud infant’s cry suddenly rang out from the courtyard. The entire family’s spirits lifted at once, and they all turned toward the delivery room.
“Congratulations, Old Master! Congratulations, Young Master Sun! It’s a little young master!”
The midwife walked out with a beaming smile, carrying a baby in her arms.
Li Xuanyong slapped his thigh. His usual steadiness vanished without a trace, and his excitement overflowed onto his face.
A man who was ordinarily stingy to the bone shouted loudly, “Good! Excellent! Reward her! Reward her heavily!”
“Many thanks, Old Master.”
The midwife was all smiles.
Li Xuanyong stared at the infant in her arms, already too impatient to wait any longer, and was just about to take him—
Smack!
“You’re a grown man. What do you know about holding a baby? Don’t go frightening my precious great-grandson.”
Beside him, a silver-haired old woman with kindly brows and gentle eyes spoke with an expression of displeasure.
Li Xuanyong gave an awkward laugh.
The servants and maids nearby all did their best to hold back their laughter, struggling not to let it escape.
Who in the Li Clan did not know that the Third Elder feared his wife most of all?
The old woman took the infant from the midwife’s arms. Looking at the sturdy little baby, her eyes curved into slits with delight.
“Xingdong, come and look at your son.”
The old woman called out.
Yet after waiting for a while without a response, she turned her head and saw that her grandson had already run into the delivery room.
“That boy. All he knows is to worry about his wife. He won’t even spare a glance for his own son.”
The old woman muttered under her breath.
Though her voice was quiet, Li Xuanyong still heard it.
He immediately puffed up with pride. “Isn’t that just like me? All the men of my Li Xuanyong line are devoted lovers!”
The old woman rolled her eyes.
“Old woman, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”
Li Xuanyong rubbed his hands together and chuckled.
The old woman teased the baby in her arms and replied irritably, “Then say it. Stop hemming and hawing.”
“Xingdong is grown now, and he has a child of his own. It’s time for him to do his part for the clan. I want him to join the Enforcement Team.”
The old woman’s face stiffened, and then she burst out in anger. “I knew it. I knew you old bastard weren’t holding back anything good. No. Don’t even think about it!”
“Xingdong is a member of the Li Clan too. Why can’t he?”
Li Xuanyong shot back.
“You old bastard, of all people, should know exactly what kind of place the Enforcement Team is. Every day it’s all fighting and killing. If something happens to Xingdong in the Enforcement Team, what are we supposed to do then?”
The old woman shouted.
“Keep your voice down! So what if there’s fighting and killing? Without people like them fighting and killing, where do you think this life of food and clothing without worry comes from? I’ve made up my mind. Tomorrow, Xingdong reports to the Enforcement Team!”
“You dare!”
The old woman glared at him.
“What wouldn’t I dare? Serving the clan is the duty every clan member ought to fulfill!”
Li Xuanyong stuck out his neck and replied.
“Then with so many openings in the clan, why does it have to be the Enforcement Team? Wouldn’t the mines do? Wouldn’t the marketplace do? I’ve already lost one son and one daughter to the clan. Now I only have this one grandson left. Do you want me, with white hair, to bury another child with black hair?”
The old woman’s eyes reddened.
“So what if it’s the Enforcement Team? Other people’s children can join it and risk their lives for the clan, but the children of my Li Xuanyong are somehow special? They can cling to life and fear death? If that’s the case, then all the clan resources spent on them over the years would’ve been better fed to a dog. At least a dog knows how to guard the front gate for its master!”
Li Xuanyong shouted angrily.
“I don’t care whether you agree or not. This matter is settled. It’s useless to say anything more. First I am the Third Elder of the Li Clan, and only after that am I your husband!”
Li Xuanyong, who had yielded before his wife for a lifetime, was incomparably forceful now.
“Li Xuanyong, you bastard!”
The old woman was furious enough to grind her teeth.
“Grandmother, please stop arguing with Grandfather. I was the one who brought this matter up to him in the first place.”
A thick, deep voice suddenly rang out, cutting off their quarrel.
The speaker was a sturdily built young man with broad shoulders and a powerful back. He had thick brows and large eyes, giving him an honest, somewhat simple appearance.
The old woman froze for a moment, then hurriedly tried to persuade him. “Dong’er, do you know what kind of place the Enforcement Team is? Back then, your father...”
“Grandmother, please stop. I know very well what choice I’m making.”
“And besides, my father died for the clan. I have never blamed him for it.”
“Even though I don’t even know what he looked like, I have always been proud to have a father like him.”
“In truth, I have long wanted to join the Enforcement Team and serve the clan.”
“But I was always afraid that if something happened to me, Grandfather’s line would lose its incense forever. In that case, even if I died, I would have no face to meet my father.”
“But now I have a son as well. If anything should happen to me, then let him take my place and be filial to Grandmother. I ask only that you grant me this.”
With a thud, Li Xingdong dropped to his knees, tears glimmering in his tiger-like eyes.
The old woman stood frozen for a long while. In the end, she let out a long sigh.
Her voice choked slightly as she said, “The three generations of your line are all exactly the same. Your father was like this back then, and now you are the same. What more can I say? If you want to go, then go.”
“Thank you, Grandmother!”
Li Xingdong’s eyes reddened.
“Then hurry up and get up. Look at your son.”
Only then did Li Xingdong rise to his feet. Looking at the infant’s wrinkled red little face, he frowned and said, “He’s really ugly.”
“Weren’t you the same when you were little?”
The old woman rolled her eyes.
“Oh right, I still haven’t checked my great-grandson’s bones.”
At the side, Li Xuanyong slapped his forehead.
The old woman also came to her senses and hurriedly added, “Yes, yes, hurry and check my precious grandson’s foundation. Heaven forbid he takes after you and spends his whole life achieving nothing in either letters or arms!”
“You—!”
Li Xuanyong’s eyes flew wide with anger. He pointed a trembling finger at the old woman, but could not get a word out for quite some time.
“What ‘you’? Go on, glare and puff your nose at me again if you dare.”
Li Xuanyong’s mouth twitched.
“I won’t lower myself to the level of a woman like you.”
“Hmph.”
After saying that, Li Xuanyong reached out toward the infant and began feeling all over the baby’s body.
His expression gradually grew solemn.
Seeing Li Xuanyong like this, Li Xingdong and the others instantly felt their hearts rise to their throats.
Could it be that the child’s foundation was poor?
“Xingdong, go invite the Grand Elder immediately.”
“Grandfather, could it be...?”
Li Xingdong’s breathing suddenly quickened.
“Why are you still standing there? Go!”
“Yes!”
At the side, the old woman seemed to understand something as well, and quickly dismissed all the servants around them.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, the Grand Elder arrived.
“Grand Elder, check this child’s foundation for yourself. I’m not entirely certain.”
Li Xuanyong said in a low voice.
The Grand Elder nodded solemnly, took the infant, and began examining his innate foundation.
“Well, Grand Elder?”
Li Xuanyong could not help asking eagerly.
The Grand Elder stroked his graying beard and burst into hearty laughter. “Heaven truly intends for my Li Clan to rise! Third Elder, your judgment was right. This child has seventh-grade aptitude!”
“Seventh-grade aptitude... seventh-grade aptitude...”
Though he had already guessed that the child’s talent was extraordinary,
when that guess was proven true, he still could not suppress the excitement in his heart.
Li Xuanyong had been limited by his own talent. In this life, this was as far as he would ever go.
But his great-grandson possessed seventh-grade aptitude.
And he knew very well what a child with seventh-grade aptitude meant for the Li Clan.
“Xingdong, you and your wife have rendered a great service to our Li Clan! If the Family Head learns of this, he will surely be delighted. He will reward you heavily!”
The Grand Elder laughed as he patted Li Xingdong on the shoulder.
Li Xingdong scratched the back of his head and gave a simple, bashful grin.
He did not care about rewards.
He only hoped that his child could grow up safe and sound, and one day become someone useful to the clan.
“Grand Elder, since you’re already here, why not give the child a name as well?”
The Third Elder spoke up.
The Grand Elder nodded and fell into thought.
A moment later, he said, “By this generation, they should belong to the Qi generation. This child is a piece of uncut jade, so how about Li Qiyu? What do you think?”
“Li Qiyu!”
The Third Elder rubbed his hands together and burst into laughter. “A good name. From now on, this child shall be called Li Qiyu.”
“Qiyu’s talent is no ordinary thing. Our Li Clan is already standing in the midst of wind and waves, and right now all the pressure is being borne by the Family Head alone. Why not keep this matter sealed for now, lest it arouse the jealousy of those with ulterior motives?”
The Grand Elder suddenly said.
“That makes sense. We’ll do as you say. If anyone leaks this matter, they will be dealt with according to clan law.”
“Agreed.”