Hidden Marriage: Spoiled by the Imperial Commander-Chapter 334: Sugar-Coated Cannonballs

Ah, this...

Yan Qianyi suddenly felt a bit awkward.

From the elderly man’s clothing and the expensive-looking cane next to him, it was undoubtedly Old Master Mu.

Old Master Mu was thoroughly enjoying himself, and she did not know whether to quietly wait for him to finish playing or to greet him.

Was this a test or a challenge for her?

Yan Qianyi decided to hold her ground for now.

At that moment, Old Master Mu, without lifting his head, asked her, "Which one do you think will win?"

Yan Qianyi glanced once and replied, "The one on your right."

That cricket had a fine and straight stripe on its head, black eyes, and golden teeth.

Such crickets were warriors in fights.

Old Master Mu paused, then finally looked up.

Upon seeing Yan Qianyi, he paused again.

Then, his face broke into a kind expression, "You are even prettier than in the photos."

Yan Qianyi smiled slightly.

Old Master Mu picked up the cane next to him, trying to stand up, but he could not muster the strength in his legs.

He exclaimed "Ouch" and extended his hand to Yan Qianyi, "Help me up."

Yan Qianyi did not expect Old Master Mu to be such an approachable person, entirely different from Nangong Jie.

He did not have the imposing presence that was overbearing, much like the elderly men in the neighborhood who played chess or walked birds in the early morning or evening.

He inexplicably felt approachable.

Yan Qianyi suddenly felt less nervous, relaxed completely, and stepped forward to assist him.

Finally standing up, Old Master Mu exhaled and leaning on his cane looked down at the crickets.

The match had been decided.

Old Master Mu smiled, "You guessed right."

"I didn’t guess."

"Oh?" Old Master Mu looked at her in surprise, "You really understand?"

"Yes, I do."

"Do you also like playing with these?" Old Master Mu’s face brightened, "Not many young people like this nowadays."

"I do." Yan Qianyi seized the opportunity to engage his interest.

She did not actually like playing with crickets, finding it boring and childish.

Her ability to distinguish came because crickets were also a type of medicinal herb that after specific processing could be used as a diuretic and for reducing swelling.

"Great!" Old Master Mu chuckled joyfully, "Now I have someone to accompany me in this hobby, Ah Lie has really found me a good granddaughter-in-law."

If the news of Ah Lie and Yan Qianyi’s marriage hadn’t burst out at the Federation Military Academy, he wouldn’t have even known he had a granddaughter-in-law.

Mu Kang was the first to know, yet he had still kept it a secret.

For that, he had hit Mu Kang with a cane.

"Come, let’s sit over there." Old Master Mu led Yan Qianyi toward the sofa, asking as they walked, "Are my books a lot?"

"Yes." Yan Qianyi nodded, "You truly have an extensive collection."

Old Master Mu turned back to Yan Qianyi and beamed with a wide smile.

"Ha ha ha... Let me tell you the truth, I haven’t read a single one of these books. I just bought them to appear cultured."

Yan Qianyi was momentarily stunned.

Old Master Mu was still kind of cute.

Old Master Mu sat on the sofa and continued, "That old coot Nangong Jie, he looks down on businessmen like me, calling me a nouveau riche. It’s just because he has read a few more books than me, what’s so great about that? The books in this study of mine are definitely more than in his place, right?"

Yan Qianyi sat down beside him. "I haven’t visited the Nangong Family yet."

Old Master Mu looked surprised, "You and Ah Lie have registered your marriage, and you haven’t been to the Nangong Family yet?"

Yan Qianyi shook her head.

"I see," Old Master Mu’s eyes flickered with a sharp light, "It must be that old coot looking down on you, not accepting you yet, right?"

Yan Qianyi didn’t confirm or deny, simply saying, "Ah Lie said he’ll take me there next week."

"That old coot, he thinks he’s too good for everyone, he didn’t even like my youngest son at first. Don’t take it to heart, as long as I like you, and the children you and Ah Lie will have will carry the Mu name, not the Nangong name. The Nangong Family has only one title to pass down, but our Mu Family has wealth like mountains of gold and silver."

Yan Qianyi politely smiled.

Old Master Mu then said, "I know you’ve taken over Yan’s, and you even revived it, you’re very business-savvy. As long as Ah Lie is willing to come back, I can hand over all the businesses under Mu’s to you."

Yan Qianyi was momentarily stunned.

Did that mean, as long as Ah Lie acknowledged his ancestral roots, she would become a winner in life, able just to lie down and be the richest?

Quite tempting, but no thanks.

She still hadn’t figured out whether her mother’s death had anything to do with Mu Feng’s accident.

Also, Ah Lie’s strong aversion to the Mu Family probably meant deep-rooted issues that wouldn’t easily be resolved.

Old Master Mu’s speech was an attempt to gauge Yan Qianyi’s attitude towards Mu Yunlie acknowledging his family roots.

Seeing her non-committal, Old Master Mu changed the topic, asking, "By the way, has Zicheng that rascal stopped bothering you?"

"No."

"If he bothers you again, don’t tell Ah Lie, just tell me—I’ll break his legs."

"Okay," Yan Qianyi nodded.

"Then later we’ll exchange contact details. Ah Lie is busy usually, but I’m very free. If you suffer any injustice outside, just tell me. I won’t allow my eldest grandson’s wife to be bullied."

Through this conversation, Yan Qianyi finally understood.

Old Master Mu was sugar-coating bullets for her.

As long as she accepted the status as the Mu Family’s eldest grandson’s wife, Ah Lie would have no choice but to accept it too.

The old man was taking a roundabout approach to save the situation.

After a thoughtful moment, Yan Qianyi said, "Thank you for your favor, but Ah Lie might have some childhood trauma, so it might be hard for him to get over it for a while."

Childhood shadows need a lifetime to heal.

She didn’t know what shadows lay in Ah Lie’s heart, but they were surely profound, otherwise, he wouldn’t be so averse to the Mu Family.

At first meeting, she quite liked Old Master Mu.

Compared to Nangong Jie, Old Master Mu was incredibly easy to get along with.

So she didn’t want to play false in front of Old Master Mu; it was better to speak plainly.

Old Master Mu’s expression immediately turned sad, he sighed and said, "The Mu Family owes that child, I was too focused on work before, neglected him, and now it’s too late to make amends."

Seeing the lively old man suddenly looking so sorrowful, Yan Qianyi couldn’t bear it and comforted, "Time heals all wounds, perhaps someday he could let it go."

Old Master Mu looked at Yan Qianyi, his face returning to a gentle smile, "Luckily he met you—I was worried before that with his personality, he might end up lonely all his life."

"Speaking of which, Ah Lie and I indeed have a special connection," Yan Qianyi’s tone became somewhat solemn, "That year his father was being resuscitated in the hospital, the chief doctor was my mother."

After talking so much, it was time to probe a little.

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