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Li Residence, main hall.
Two women faced each other, equally beautiful, yet one appeared gentle as water, the other, aggressively imposing.
It must be said that although Li Youwei's temperament wasn't as gentle as she appeared, her looks and aura were truly that of a noble lady, graceful and pure.
In contrast, the woman in the hall claiming to be Li Ziye's betrothed, Zhu Zhu, was sharpness personified, seemingly ready to wound anyone who dared come too close.
Simply put, she was a rose with thorns, beautiful yet untouchable.
"May I ask, Miss Zhu Zhu, who arranged this marriage?" Li Youwei was the first to speak up in the main hall.
"I can't say," Zhu Zhu replied with a smile.
"Then where does Miss Zhu Zhu come from?" Li Youwei changed the question.
"I can't say that either," Zhu Zhu responded again.
Li Youwei frowned slightly and asked, "Then what can Miss Zhu Zhu tell us?"
"I am Li Ziye's fiancée," Zhu Zhu said with a beaming smile.
"…"
Li Youwei was at her wit's end. Had her younger brother's charm grown so strong? Such a beautiful girl had come knocking on their door.
But who had arranged this marriage for her brother?
Adoptive father?
With this thought, Li Youwei looked at the woman before her and calmly said, "Miss Zhu Zhu, why don't you go back first? After I ask our adoptive father, if it truly was he who arranged this marriage, our Li Family will definitely give you a proper explanation."
"I have nowhere to go."
Zhu Zhu smiled and said, "Elder sister, the New Year is approaching. Surely you can let me stay until after the festival."
"This…"
Hearing this, Li Youwei hesitated. Was it really appropriate to keep such a mysterious woman in their residence?
Just then, Slovenly Zhang, reeking of alcohol and holding a wine jug, intending to buy more wine, passed by the main hall.
"Hm?"
As he passed by the main hall, Slovenly Zhang turned around, surprised at the sight of the unfamiliar woman inside.
This girl looks familiar.
Inside the main hall, Zhu Zhu also saw Slovenly Zhang and respectfully bowed.
"So it's you, all grown up now," Slovenly Zhang said, his face showing surprise.
Hearing this, Li Youwei was taken aback and asked, "You know her?"
"I can't say," Zhu Zhu replied, smiling at the old man outside.
Slovenly Zhang nodded, his face filled with emotion as he left the Li Residence, lamenting the relentless passage of time.
After Old Zhang left, the atmosphere in the main hall quieted down again, even becoming somewhat awkward.
Zhu Zhu was in no hurry, sitting down to continue drinking tea, patiently waiting for the Li family's eldest daughter to agree to let her stay.
Leaving was out of the question.
"Forget it."
Seeing this, Li Youwei could only compromise, saying helplessly, "Since Miss Zhu Zhu knows the Sword Enthusiast, you may stay for now."
"Thank you, elder sister," Zhu Zhu said, her lips curving into a smile as she put down her teacup and stood up to bow.
"Heh."
Li Youwei laughed soullessly. Would her younger brother run away from home if he knew she couldn't handle this woman?
***
Capital City, on the streets.
Perhaps because the New Year was near, the streets were bustling, filled with the sounds of hawkers.
Normally, Li Ziye would have been carefree, buying whatever caught his eye, throwing around silver to show off his nouveau riche flair, but today, he was in no mood.
Who exactly was that woman?
Li Ziye walked with a gloomy face, wondering when he had acquired such a fiancée.
"Brother Li, I think that girl is quite pretty. Why aren't you happy?" Bai Wangyu asked, puzzled.
"You don't understand a thing," Li Ziye replied irritably. "That woman is as cunning as a fox, not someone to mess with. Let me tell you, you don't want to marry someone too clever, or you'll end up bullied after marriage."
Bai Wangyu took his words seriously, admiring Brother Li's wisdom.
Wandering aimlessly on the streets, the two didn't head back until the sun was about to set.
At the Li Residence, Li Ziye and Little Red Riding Hood returned to find something amiss.
"Husband."
In the front courtyard, a striking figure in a red cloak appeared out of nowhere, smiling sweetly.
"Hisss."
Li Ziye nearly fainted at the sudden appearance of the woman and the devastating address.
Next to him, Bai Wangyu quickly supported him.
"Quickly, the meal is ready, and elder sister is waiting for us in the inner courtyard," Zhu Zhu said with a smile, then turned and headed for the inner courtyard.
Inner courtyard.
Li Ziye didn't know how he managed to get there, his gaze vacant and head heavy, struggling to accept reality.
"Husband, eat more."
At the dining table, Zhu Zhu kept serving the young man food, her face full of smiles.
In contrast, Li Ziye hadn't said a word since entering the residence, shoveling food into his mouth as if trying to stuff himself to death.
Across the table, Hong Zhu watched this bizarre scene, signaling to Li Youwei, asking what was going on.
Li Youwei returned a helpless look, indicating she was clueless too.
"Young man, you're quite fortunate," Slovenly Zhang couldn't help but add fuel to the fire, teasing that the young man had quite the luck with women.
After the meal, Zhu Zhu pulled Li Ziye to her room and carefully handed him a red paper sparrow, whispering, "Husband, this is my token of affection for you. Take good care of it."
Li Ziye looked at the paper sparrow, puzzled. Was it supposed to be a paper crane? It didn't seem like it; it looked more like a bird.
A red bird.
"Husband, now it's your turn to give me a token of affection," Zhu Zhu said with a sweet smile.
Li Ziye paused, searching his pockets, only to find nothing but silver.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, he realized he was indeed a commoner, with nothing but silver to his name.
"Um… then silver it is."
Zhu Zhu thought for a moment, not showing any disdain, and pulled out a silver note. Then she grabbed Li Ziye's hand and bit it hard.
"Ouch!"
Li Ziye gasped in pain.
Zhu Zhu pressed the young man's bleeding finger onto the silver note, leaving a bright red fingerprint, her beautiful face breaking into a radiant smile.
Outside, Hong Zhu looked at the situation in the room with a strange expression, saying to Li Youwei, "This is so scary, isn't it? This girl can't really be Li Ziye's fiancée, can she?"
"I've already sent a letter to Yuzhou City today to ask our adoptive father if he arranged this marriage. We'll know the truth soon," Li Youwei said helplessly.
Inside the room, Zhu Zhu carefully stored the unique silver note and then pushed Li Ziye out of the room, smiling, "Husband, rest early. I'm going to sleep."
With a bang, the door closed, leaving Li Ziye completely out of sorts.
"Sister Youwei," Li Ziye said, "are you okay?"
"Heh."
Li Ziye's eyes were soulless as he returned to his own room.
***
The following days were torturous for Li Ziye. If not for Li Youwei's watchful eye, he might have already run away from home.
"The letter from our adoptive father has arrived."
On the seventh day, Li Youwei received a pigeon-carried letter from Yuzhou City and hurried back to the inner courtyard without even glancing at it.
Li Ziye sprang forward as he heard the news.
"What does dad say?" Li Ziye asked anxiously.
"Let's see."
Li Youwei opened the letter, her expression gradually turning to shock.
Li Ziye read the content and was also stunned.
The letter was simple: I don't know, I didn't arrange it, you deal with it.
In the courtyard, Zhu Zhu watched the siblings' expressions and smiled lightly, then continued folding her paper sparrows.
The red paper sparrows were vivid, as if ready to take flight at any moment. Yet, compared to the one given to Li Ziye, it lacked something.
"Old Zhang!"
After reading the letter, Li Ziye couldn't contain his frustration and angrily said, "What do you know?"
He had heard from Sister Youwei that this old drunk knew Zhu Zhu but refused to reveal anything.
"Ask your wife. What's the use of getting angry at an old man like me?"
Slovenly Zhang took a sip of wine, indifferent, "The girl doesn't despise you, what are you unsatisfied with?"
"…"
Li Ziye was so angry he wanted to slap his size 40 shoe on the old man's size 42 face.
"Husband, how's your Fei Xian Jue coming along?"
In front of the room, Zhu Zhu finished folding her paper sparrow and looked up, asking with concern.
"Same as always."
Li Ziye turned and replied.
"Oh."
Zhu Zhu nodded and smiled, "Husband, keep working hard."
"Hehe."
Li Ziye gave a soulless laugh and quickly walked up to Slovenly Zhang, whispering, "Old Zhang, tell me who she is secretly, and I'll give you a thousand jars of Intoxicated Blossom Brew."
"No need."
Slovenly Zhang grinned, "I'm planning to quit drinking."
A thousand jars of Intoxicated Blossom Brew couldn't compare to the pleasure of watching the young man's frantic state!
***
Meanwhile, at the eastern side of the Imperial Academy, in a small courtyard.
Qin E'nuo, as usual, came to help the Confucian Scholar with the vegetable garden. After shedding her Sword Immortal's edge, she seemed less transcendent and more down-to-earth.
"That girl seems to have gone to the Li Residence," Kong Qiu said with a smile as he worked in the garden.
"Let her go," Qin E'nuo replied calmly. "Sooner or later, they have to face it."
"I didn't expect that girl to come to the Capital City on her own. I thought they would need more time before meeting," Kong Qiu said with a smile.
"It's either a blessing or a curse, but a curse that can't be avoided," Qin E'nuo said with a calm mindset. "After the incidents with San Zang and Bai Wangyu, Li Ziye is clearly eager to become stronger. Maybe that girl can help him."
"Heh," Kong Qiu chuckled. "Speaking of which, that little girl's paper sparrow is quite extraordinary. And that Li kid, he only gave a silver note in return, too petty."
"I didn't expect that girl to give him that paper sparrow," Qin E'nuo said softly. "Now, their fates are truly inseparable."