Chapter 36 : Absolutely Not
Chapter 36: Absolutely Not!
Within the Inner City of Qingzhou, in a small courtyard behind the Myriad Treasure Pavilion.
Jiang Yu, dressed in a dark blue robe, sat on the ground, gripping the mouth of a wine jar as he tilted his head back and gulped it down fiercely.
Around his feet, empty wine jars lay scattered in disarray. The rich, fragrant aroma of wine drifted through the air with the wind.
Beside him, Lin Ya watched Jiang Yu in this state, shaking his head repeatedly with a sigh. “Jiang Yu, the young master of the Jiang Family—has a woman really tormented you into this?”
He simply could not understand.
The Jiang Yu of the past had been bright and open, confident and gentle. Even the direct daughters of the Zhou Family and Qin Family had never made him spare them a second glance.
But now, he truly could not comprehend what kind of woman could possess such charm—to captivate Jiang Yu to this extent.
It was beyond imagination.
“You don’t understand!”
Jiang Yu flung the wine jar in his hand aside. With a loud ‘bang’, the rich liquor splashed everywhere, yet he paid it no heed.
He raised his hand, pointing at Lin Ya, swaying unsteadily. “You have no idea how good she is.”
“Gentle and quiet, with just a hint of a temper.”
“Beautiful, with a figure like a painting, and a temperament like an orchid.”
“All the women in Qingzhou City combined aren’t worth a single strand of her hair.”
Hearing this, Lin Ya’s lips twitched, his face filled with speechlessness.
How could a perfect person exist in this world?
Let alone a perfect woman?
Women were always delicate, saying one thing while meaning another, and deeply drawn to strength.
In the eyes of ordinary people, they were unattainable, yet beside true powerhouses, no matter how proud they were, they would ultimately be toyed with.
In this era, although there were some powerful women, in the end, were they not no different from ordinary women—submitting beneath the strong?
“Didn’t you say you’d send the betrothal gifts directly?”
“She is destined to be your wife. Why torment yourself like this?”
Lin Ya could not understand.
Nor did he believe that in all of Qingzhou, anyone would dare oppose the Jiang Family.
Once the engagement was set, that daughter of the Li Family was destined to become Jiang Yu’s wife.
Once married, no matter how beautiful she was, would she not still belong to Jiang Yu? He could simply shut the doors and discipline her properly.
“Lin Ya, for someone who is the young master of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion in Qingzhou City, you don’t understand love at all!”
Jiang Yu’s body went limp as he lay flat on the ground, gazing at the azure sky. “Such a wonderful woman—if I cannot win her heart, I will never be happy in this lifetime.”
“I like her, and I want her to like me as well!”
“Only when two people walk hand in hand, intimately together, do the scenery and the life of this world gain meaning—become more beautiful.”
Lin Ya shook his head, though a trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes.
Could there really be such a perfect woman as Jiang Yu described?
Even a celestial maiden could not achieve that, could she?
“Then why does she not like you?”
Lin Ya could not help but ask. “You, Jiang Yu, are handsome, of noble background, and highly talented. Countless women in Qingzhou admire you.”
“So why does that daughter of the Li Family not like you?”
“I think she’s just putting on airs, saying one thing and meaning another. If she were unwilling, why would she agree to your proposal?”
At these words, Jiang Yu sat up straight, speaking with utmost seriousness. “She is not like those women you speak of.”
“She is not a worldly woman.”
“She is truly, truly wonderful!”
In Jiang Yu’s mind appeared those seven days in the mountain valley.
She had treated his injuries, caught fish, and cooked for him.
Like a celestial maiden, she had not a trace of affectation. Everything she did was orderly and composed.
Gentle and open-minded, sincere and earnest.
Like an otherworldly immortal flower, quietly blooming—distinct from all others.
At this thought, a trace of regret surfaced in Jiang Yu’s voice. “It’s because I proposed without her consent, because I wasn’t sincere enough—that’s why she reacted this way.”
“So what do you plan to do?” Lin Ya grew even more curious.
To make Jiang Yu so devoted, that daughter of the Li Family truly had extraordinary methods.
He never believed such a perfect woman existed—this was merely technique.
“In two days, the betrothal gifts will be delivered and the engagement set. I must marry her!”
“If I don’t, I will regret it for the rest of my life!”
Jiang Yu murmured softly, “After we are married, I will spend my entire life making it up to her.”
“...Tsk.” Lin Ya shook his head, feeling that Jiang Yu was beyond saving.
Most likely, for the rest of his life, he would be completely controlled by that daughter of the Li Family.
“What a method. A woman with such skill is indeed rare in this world.”
Though Lin Ya did not speak ill of her in front of Jiang Yu, inwardly he was dismissive.
Women were nothing more than playthings for men.
As long as one was strong enough and held status, what kind of woman could one not have?
Like the current Emperor—his harem filled with beauties, each one stunning, yet all merely caged birds in his hands.
A single word from him could drive those so-called peerless beauties into frenzy, competing for favor.
How many men in this world had multiple wives and concubines?
Only the Jiang Family was somewhat of an exception, with strict rules.
But seeing Jiang Yu like this, he clearly understood the flaw of such a family.
Once a descendant was controlled by a woman, the entire family would fall into turmoil and decline.
In a normal family, heirs were strictly taught—so long as the family was powerful, so long as one had sufficient strength, women would come at a beck and leave at a wave.
Beauty was merely an embellishment to power and authority.
In fact, in the eyes of even older, more established families, women were nothing more than commodities—tools to seize interests.
Had not the world always been like this for countless years?
“All this wine has been wasted by you!”
Seeing Jiang Yu open another jar and gulp it down gloomily, Lin Ya showed a trace of regret. “Three thousand taels per jar—don’t even think about dodging the bill!”
“In my Myriad Treasure Pavilion, money is the only truth.”
With that, Lin Ya said no more and walked straight out of the courtyard, his gaze unconsciously turning toward the direction of the Li Family.
“Have I been influenced too? To actually feel curious?”
“Well then, in two days, I’ll go take a look.”
Lin Ya shook his head with a laugh.
Though the Myriad Treasure Pavilion wielded immense power, it remained neutral, never involving itself in disputes—only focused on making money.
It was rumored that behind it stood a supreme grandmaster of the same realm as the Emperor of the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty.
In the entire dynasty, very few dared to provoke it.
Two days later, the twenty-sixth day of the eighth month, Year 387 of the Great Yu calendar.
Auspicious for: marriage, construction, moving into a residence. Inauspicious for: long journeys, burial.
Early in the morning, the entire Qingzhou City became lively.
Jiang Yu wore a red robe, a red flower tied to his chest, riding a red horse as he departed from the main gate of the Jiang Family.
Behind him were one hundred and twenty chests, each carried by two men.
Every chest was filled with gold, silver, jewels, silk, brocade, and various auspicious fruits and furs symbolizing prosperity and many offspring.
Red silk tied into flowers connected into a line, resembling a great red dragon.
A grand procession advanced along the long street.
On both sides of the procession, drummers dressed in red with red ribbons tied around their heads beat gongs and drums with fervor.
The clamor shook the heavens, parading back and forth along the six main streets of Qingzhou City.
Wherever they passed, countless people gathered to watch. Children ran about noisily, their innocent laughter blending with the thunderous drums.
Balconies of restaurants and houses were filled with onlookers, all watching the magnificent procession.
Almost the moment the drums resounded across Qingzhou City, all its citizens knew—
Today was the day the Jiang Family and Li Family would formalize their engagement.
Countless people followed the grand procession, listening to the clamor, witnessing the celebration.
At the Li Residence, within Ziyun Pavilion.
Li Yunqing stood at a high vantage point, looking down at the servants bustling about—hanging red lanterns, pasting red silk and green paper decorations—yet her face remained silent.
The sound of gongs and drums had already passed by her residence eight times.
Offerings were made to heaven above, declarations made to earth below. The entire city bore witness—friends and people alike.
The scale was grand, the rituals complete.
When the procession arrived for the ninth time, it would be the moment for the betrothal ceremony to enter the residence.
Hearing the drums, citizens and acquaintances could enter to witness, and under everyone’s blessings, the exchange of birth documents and marriage contracts would take place, formally establishing the engagement.
There would also be a banquet to host all who came.
Today was destined to be extremely busy—many people would need to be greeted.
Li Yunqing wore a bright red long dress, her hair styled up, adorned with gold, silver, and jade hairpins that shimmered brilliantly.
Supported by Xiaolan, she stood by the window.
Even combining both her lifetimes, this was her first time witnessing such a scene. A normal person should have been overjoyed.
But at this moment, her heart was filled with confusion and unease.
“In great families, etiquette is paramount—so why are they rushing the betrothal like this?”
“Could it be they plan to advance the wedding date?”
At this thought, Li Yunqing became tense and anxious, even grinding her teeth slightly.
“No! The wedding must absolutely not be advanced!”
“Absolutely not!”