Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies-Chapter 423 - 26: Various Motives, Sending a Concubine to the Door_2
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Li Yi carefully recalled and vaguely discovered that when Shen Qing saw Princess Yuzhen and Huang Furo, his gaze would occasionally fall upon their chests and hips.
He responded without hesitation, "Big breasts, big hips, good for bearing children, beautiful women."
Li Zhen Tian nodded in understanding and instructed, "Find a clan woman closely related by blood and of a similar age to Shen Qing, and select her according to this standard. Ensure she willingly marries Shen Qing as a concubine."
"Child will handle it right away."
A few days later, an edict issued from the rear palace arrived at the Marquis Wu’an Mansion.
Just as Princess Yuzhen had predicted, the Empress formally granted marriage, betrothing Huang Furo to him.
Simultaneously, a woman named Li Yuyao from a remote branch of the Li family was also selected.
She was as beautiful as a flower, gentle in personality, and well-versed in poetry and books from a young age, with outstanding talent.
After carefully dressing up, she was escorted by a competent team to the Marquis Wu’an Mansion.
Dusk fell, the moonlight like silk. Explore new worlds at novelbuddy
The rear gate of the Marquis Wu’an Mansion appeared unusually quiet in the night.
Li Yuyao, dressed in embroidered finery and adorned with pearls and jade, sat in a carriage surrounded by a group of black-clad, stern-faced guards.
Her eyes were filled with unease and fear.
Yet Shen Qing stood at the gate, frowning, his eyes full of surprise and confusion.
He never expected that Li Yi, a Shi family son who had always had conflicts with him, would send his clan sister to his mansion in the dead of night with such pomp.
"Marquis Shen, it’s been a while." Li Yi, approaching on a sturdy warhorse, said, "I apologize for the late-night visit; there is something I wish to ask of you."
Shen Qing’s impression of this young man was mediocre, and he replied flatly, "What can’t Master Li say during the day that requires a midnight visit and such a large entourage?"
Li Yi chuckled, his gaze shifting between Shen Qing and Li Yuyao, "Marquis Shen, previously I offended you due to my youthful ignorance, and I hope you won’t hold a grudge."
"My clan sister is in her prime at twenty-nine, similar in age to you, blessed with a face that could captivate the moon, and has long admired Marquis Shen. My father heard that Master Shen lacks a companion by his side, learned of my clan sister’s feelings, and specially ordered me to bring her here to become your concubine."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qing was somewhat surprised.
Daughters of the Shi family are very sought-after in the Great Zhou, and many consider it an honor to marry a Shi family woman.
How unimaginable that they were willing to offer a clan woman to him as a concubine.
The recent series of changes truly made him understand what it meant by "when poor in a bustling city, no one cares; when wealthy in remote hills, distant relatives appear."
When one becomes successful, those things previously out of reach become easily within grasp.
However, Shen Qing did not become complacent or let it go to his head.
With regards to the Li family’s actions, Shen Qing was wary and didn’t readily agree, continuously pondering their intentions.
Before he could speak, Li Yi preempted him and said, "Since she’s already here, I won’t disturb the Marquis further, farewell, giddy-up!"
After speaking, Li Yi and the family guards left one after another, leaving behind only two carriages and a little maid standing beside them.
The scene became silent.
Li Yuyao sat nervously in the carriage, clutching her sleeves, her face pale.
"Miss, you must alight quickly, the Marquis is about to return to the mansion and leave us here."
"Ah!"
The sudden turn of events made Li Yuyao cry out, opening the curtain at once and frantically jumping out of the carriage.
She saw Shen Qing indeed not giving her a glance, her heart sank, and hastily rushed over with a swift stride, kneeling before Shen Qing.
Li Yuyao looked up, her eyes glistening with tears, gazing at Shen Qing with helplessness and pleading: "Marquis Shen, please don’t send Yao’er away. Yao’er knows this trip is abrupt, but it’s a family arrangement, and Yao’er has no choice."
"If you turn me away, my parents will surely face death. I beg Marquis Shen to have great virtue, please accept Yao’er. Yao’er will serve you diligently."
"Yes, yes, my parents also sent a cart of dowry, and I hope the Marquis will accept it."
Shen Qing glanced at the carriage behind, indeed filled with crates of various sizes.
The wealth inside was enough for an average family to live for a lifetime.
However, for the current Shen Qing, it seemed somewhat unimpressive.
As Shen Qing remained unresponsive, Li Yuyao grew increasingly anxious.
She tentatively looked up at Shen Qing, and Shen Qing happened to be looking down at her, making her heart hang in suspense.
Her big eyes were now red, round tears rolling inside, dropping quietly without a word.
Shen Qing asked, "Why do you say your parents will surely die?"
"This time I’m here to serve the Marquis as arranged by the clan, my parents disagreed, thus angering the clan, and my coming saved them." Li Yuyao cried, "If the Marquis sends me back, they will certainly kill my parents. I hope the Marquis will be kind and take me in, even as a maidservant."
A nearby maid couldn’t hold back anymore, crying pear blossoms in the rain: "Miss..."
Shen Qing frowned, having long heard of the strict rules in prominent families, but hadn’t expected it would lead to punishment by death.
"Stand up!" Shen Qing said calmly, "I don’t like people kneeling."
Li Yuyao was startled, quickly got up, only to see her chest heaving, as if two little white rabbits were bouncing inside, quite lively.
Shen Qing looked her up and down; she was fair and clean, quite delightful.
Her figure was graceful and slender, both her looks and body met his aesthetic.
He asked, "What can you do?"
"To answer the Marquis, I have some knowledge of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
"And what else? Have you practiced martial arts?"
Li Yuyao answered without confidence, "I’ve practiced... a little."
"What is your cultivation?"
"Only to the level of stretching muscles and exercising bones."
Shen Qing said, "Alright, here, things like zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting won’t be of much use. If you wish to stay, find a way to train in martial arts. I don’t keep people around me who bring no benefit."
"You all, find Manager Tian and arrange a room for them." Shen Qing casually instructed.
Li Yuyao was momentarily stunned, then realized Shen Qing intended to take her in, immediately expressing her gratitude: "Thank you, Marquis."
Shen Qing said no more and turned to return indoors.
Time swiftly passed, a month gone, and it was year-end, with the cold wind rising.
In a restaurant named "Drunken Immortals’ Abode" in the capital, the aroma of hot dishes and fine wine blended, intoxicating those present.
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A few foreign men dressed as traveling merchants sat around a corner table by the window, their gazes not resting on the delicious food before them, but frequently sweeping outside, closely observing the patrols of the city guards and the majestic Imperial Palace in the distance.
"The capital’s defense, though seemingly tight, is actually full of flaws," one man whispered, "if our Sacred Sect were to launch a strong attack, we could surely break in."
"Oh? Brother Zhang, what do you mean by that?" Another man raised an eyebrow slightly.
The man named Zhang sipped his wine lightly, sharply analyzing, "Look at the city guard’s patrol routes. They seem erratic but actually repeat every night. As long as we grasp the pattern, we can easily evade them."
"And what about the Imperial Palace?" another middle-aged man inquired, evidently more interested in the palace, "That is under the emperor’s feet, heavily guarded."
The man surnamed Li smiled faintly, a hint of cunning flickering in his eyes: "Though the Imperial Palace is hard to attack, what business do we have there? This time, it is left to the commander and sect leader to assault the palace, we are not involved in that level of conflict."
"For now, our task is to compile the intelligence here, ensuring no mistakes, and leave the rest to them."
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