Chapter 282

Lady Dou is now over forty years old, but having cultivated for many years and maintained herself well, she looks to be in her thirties. Her jade-inlaid nails are stained with balsam, and she looks dignified and graceful. She walks slowly into the hall, and Li Yuanping hurriedly comes down to welcome her, smiling:

"It is rare for Mother to come here."

Lady Dou nods slightly, sits down to the side, glances at Dou Yi, who is trying his best to lower his presence, and says to Li Yuanping:

"Managing a family is no easy task. Have you met with the people from the branch lineages?"

"Naturally, I have."

Li Yuanping replies:

"Li Qiuyang is away, so I sought out Li Xiewen. He had only just left when Mother arrived."

Lady Dou picks up her teacup, and upon hearing the name Li Xiewen, she sneers:

"When Li Xiewen was under your father, he was loyal and devoted, standing above all the other branch lineages and never associating with them. Once Li Pingyi died, this old fellow knew he had lost his path and immediately became thick as thieves with all the branch lineages. Over these past few years, he has vaguely become the representative of the interests of the Li family's branch lineages... It seems Li Yesheng taught him well. This ability to change one's face and play both sides is truly formidable!"

Lady Dou is strong-willed and does not mince words. In two sentences, she has laid out the situation clearly. Li Yuanping naturally understands the crux of the matter; he had specifically sought out Li Xiewen earlier to learn from him the views of the uncles and elders of the Li family's branch lineages. He replies:

"Li Xiewen has done so many things that he has offended quite a few people. Since he is unwilling to pin his hopes on us cherishing old feelings, he naturally has to change his stance. He must find a way to survive..."

Lady Dou, however, has a much tougher personality and simply says:

"I just can't stand that old scoundrel."

Mother and son exchange a look. Li Yuanping takes a sip of tea and replies:

"The Liu family was originally on good terms with our various branch lineages, but they were toppled by the Dou family leading the charge. Most of the clan's assets ended up in the Dou family's belly. According to the branch lineages, the Dou family's rise encroached upon their interests, so they are very dissatisfied. Li Xiewen's words are laced with barbs, and the subtext is quite obvious."

"The Ye and Li branch lineages now number in the tens of thousands, have produced quite a few cultivators, and are all related by marriage. They are truly difficult to handle. Mother perhaps should restrain the Dou family."

Lady Dou rubs the jade cup in her hand and glares fiercely at Dou Yi, scaring him into shrinking his head and not daring to speak. Lady Dou replies:

"I have always restrained them; otherwise, the Dou family's tail would have reached the heavens long ago. I only fear that with your father away, this group of clan elders will bully us, a widow and her orphan."

Li Yuanping laughs softly and replies:

"Eldest Brother is still at Wutu Mountain, and the Ancestor is at Lijing Mountain. Where would they get the courage? They are merely pushing him out to beat the drums on the sidelines. The Old Madam's dying wish was to beg us not to shelter the Liu family. They cannot figure out what the Ancestor is thinking, so they dare not say much more."

He pauses and continues:

"Looking at Li Xiewen's words, the Chen family is on good terms with the branch lineages. That Chen Mufeng is a disciple of Li Qiuyang, is betrothed, and is a rare genius. At seventeen, he is at the fourth layer of Embryonic Breath. Perhaps he can be transferred back from Huaqian Mountain to be used."

Lady Dou nods distractedly, raises her head with some confusion, and says:

"The Chen family... are they truly of farming origin? They produced one Chen Donghe who is already at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, and now comes a Chen Mufeng. Moreover, Chen Mufeng is not even a direct descendant of Chen Donghe. To think he could rely on that tattered cultivation art to reach the fourth layer of Embryonic Breath in one go!"

Li Yuanping shakes his head and replies:

"I have checked. The Chen family's progenitor was named Chen Erniu. He was originally a tenant farmer of our family who fled from Lichuankou years ago. He was clean and honest, truly a farmer. It is just that according to the clan records of his words and deeds, he was a man with a brain..."

Lady Dou nods, scrutinizing Li Yuanping's pale complexion, worry rising between her brows. She says gently:

Li Yuanping frowns, looking at his mother in confusion. Lady Dou says in a low voice:

"Marry early and produce an heir... This is not just my idea alone. I have written to Guanyun Peak, and your father is of the same mind."

Li Yuanxiu's death was a lesson too profound for Li Xuanxuan and his wife, and Li Yuanping's body is weak, so Lady Dou and Li Xuanxuan had planned ahead early on. Who would have thought that Li Yuanping would freeze upon hearing this, his face turning ugly as he replied:

"Eldest Brother was betrothed at eighteen. I am only twelve. Why the rush?!"

The words in Lady Dou's heart were harsh and could not be spoken, so she could only force a smile. Seeing his mother's expression, Li Yuanping immediately understood. With a look of sorrow, he replied:

"Is it because you fear my talent is low, my foundation is damaged, and I will die young..."

Hearing this, Lady Dou falls silent. She is a strong-willed person and cannot speak those gentle words of comfort. Mother and son look at each other. Li Yuanping collects his emotions and replies:

"There are many family affairs. I am already too busy dealing with the deficits and the matters of the outer surnames. Let us push it back for a while."

Lady Dou does not want to push too hard, so she hurriedly agrees. After sitting in the hall for a while, she finds an excuse to leave. Li Yuanping respectfully sees her out of the hall before returning to the head seat with a muffled sound.

The hall is cold and desolate, and the guards on both sides stand silently. Dou Yi hangs his head in silence below. Li Yuanping raises his head, lifts his jade cup, and gazes into the clear, bright tea, seeing a pale face without a trace of blood and grayish-red lips. He narrows his eyes and remains silent for a long time.

Although Li Yuanping has worked hard since childhood and talked late into the night with Li Yuanjiao, being much more sensible than the average youth, he is, in the end, only twelve or thirteen years old. Born with a shortened lifespan and a damaged foundation, how could he not hate it? It is just that he usually pretends not to care, but after Lady Dou said this, with no one around, the resentment in his heart can no longer be suppressed.

Putting down the jade cup, Li Yuanping looks at his wrists, which are as slender as a woman's. A nameless anger rises in his chest, burning hotly in his lungs and heart. He stretches out his delicate fingers, uses his thumb and forefinger to pinch his wrist hard.

The skin is like that of a dead person, pale and lifeless. It takes a long time for a little red to appear, which quickly turns purple and black until it breaks, bleeding and staining the desk bright red. Li Yuanping shakes his hand gloomily, his emotions gradually calming down.

"To the one who receives this... Ping is of age and should marry and have children. I wonder if there are any maidens of spiritual aptitude among the various surnames or towns?... If there is any result, please have Eldest Brother reply to me..."

Folding the letter, Li Yuanping calls out:

"Someone, come here!"

Someone hurriedly comes up from below, looks up at Li Yuanping—it is that Liu family member. He had originally been squeezed out of this messenger position by the Dou family, but was personally transferred back by Li Yuanping. His eyes are full of gratitude.

"Send this to Eldest Brother at Wutu Mountain."

(End of chapter)