Fan Wuji pondered for a moment, then said, “Ying’er, someone visited today, and your father feels he should tell you.”
Fan Ying’s expression became serious, listening attentively.
Fan Wuji sighed softly and slowly recounted the marriage alliance that Fan He had agreed upon back then.
“That Ye Qingyun is the person you were betrothed to, and he has arrived at the Fan Family. He is currently resting in the guest hall.”
Hearing this, Fan Ying’s expression showed no great change.
She was not a naive young girl; born into the Fan Family, she had understood many Family matters since childhood and was not a puppet to be manipulated.
But a faint hint of resistance flickered in her eyes.
The next moment, Jiang Ye’s figure couldn’t help but appear in her mind.
That day, she had seen that mysterious Young Master Jiang from afar outside the Fan Family’s guest hall, his face handsome, his demeanor like an immortal.
“I don’t want this marriage.”
Fan Ying finally spoke, her eyes clear, “Father, I only want to strive for my future by myself.”
Her gaze was firm, yet it carried a young girl’s pride.
As soon as she thought of Young Master Jiang’s figure from a few days ago, a blush involuntarily appeared on her face, and she shook her head, saying, “Moreover, I… only want Young Master Jiang.”
As these words fell, the hall fell silent.
Fan Wuji looked at his daughter, speechless for a long time.
After a moment, he said in a low voice, “Your father thinks the same.”
“And that Young Master Jiang… is very likely from the Longevity Jiang Clan!”
Hearing this, Fan Ying’s expression suddenly changed: “Could it be Jiang Ye, Divine Son of the Jiang Clan?”
The name of Jiang Ye had been widely known in recent months, even in the remote Eastern Wasteland of the Ancient Immortal Domain, it was common knowledge.
Fan Wuji shook his head: “I’m not sure. Anyway, while Young Master Jiang is still at the Fan Family, you should interact with him more, don’t miss this Opportunity…”
“As for that Ye Qingyun… at worst, the Fan Family will compensate him with some resources and send him away.”
…Time flew by, and three days passed in a blink of an eye.
During these three days, Ye Qingyun never met the Young Miss of the Fan Family.
And the Fan Family, from beginning to end, did not mention the marriage alliance, not even a hint of inquiry or acceptance, their attitude was peaceful but exceptionally distant.
Even in terms of hospitality, they were impeccable, arranging excellent accommodation, offering rare fruits and spiritual tea, and being thoroughly courteous, showing the demeanor of a noble Family.
However, Ye Qingyun also understood the Fan Family’s attitude.
“They don’t want to fulfill the marriage alliance with me…”
Ye Qingyun smiled indifferently, his eyes as deep as a secluded pool.
He did not rush to inquire, nor did he seek an audience.
His nature had always been calm and composed, disliking coercion, and besides, he never took this matter to heart.
In fact, Ye Qingyun had long since realized something.
The Fan Family’s attitude was not directed at him, Ye Qingyun, as a person, but rather at his background.
Or rather, they believed his recognized status was not a good match.
With the cultivation he currently displayed, having reached True King Fifth Layer at less than a hundred years old, if word got out, it would certainly cause an uproar.
Many major powers would even be willing to exhaust their resources to win him over.
He believed the talent he displayed was also extraordinary.
Yet, the Fan Family acted so coldly, even with a hint of disdain.
At first, he found it perplexing, but after quiet contemplation and careful observation, he vaguely sensed a clue.
During this period, the Fan Family had a continuous stream of mysterious visitors making discreet inquiries, each of them possessing unfathomable Qi, so much so that even he found it difficult to gauge the depth of their cultivation.
And the place they went was precisely the side hall where the mysterious “Young Master Jiang” resided.
“What exactly is going on?”
“Could it be because of that Young Master Jiang that the Fan Family changed their minds?”
Ye Qingyun had some understanding in his heart and was quite curious about this.
Actually, in his eyes, the Fan Family was just ordinary… He was once a descendant of the Ancient Ye Family, so his standards would not be low.
During his travels outside, Ye Qingyun had also gained some understanding of the recent situation of various powers.
Every villager in the small mountain village was a powerful figure who could be called a great expert in the outside world!
This Fan Family was almost insignificant in front of the small mountain village… Ye Qingyun shook his head slightly, sighed softly, and murmured, “Granny Yun was right, the reason the Ancient Immortal Domain declined is because of the prejudice and arrogance arising from immortal bloodlines…”
“They only recognize background, not cultivation; they only revere ancestors, not the present…”
However, Ye Qingyun merely sighed.
He was once the Legacy of the Ancient Ye Family, and even if his name was now obscured, he possessed a complete Legacy.
He had lived in seclusion in Wangchen Village for fifty years, drinking and discussing the Dao with several ancient, fossil-like great experts, receiving extensive instruction.
He cultivated his own Dao, treading a vast and long path.
His heart was not angered; his Dao Heart cultivation was also extremely high, and he would no longer be bothered by such trivial matters.
Moreover, the Fan Family was not being impolite.
Ultimately, Ye Qingyun didn’t truly care much about this marriage alliance… That night.
In the Fan Family’s guest hall, the lights were still on.
The gauze lanterns swayed gently, and Jiang Ye, clad in a black robe with Dragon patterns, stood in the bamboo pavilion, holding a white jade wine cup, his expression calm.
Moonlight cascaded upon his face, making his clear, handsome face appear even more refined and ethereal, like carved jade.
Inside the pavilion, fragrant tea and warm wine were already prepared, filling plain cups, and a red-clad figure slowly approached from the side, her steps light, carrying a faint, elusive fragrance.
Fan Ying had arrived.
She had changed out of the luxurious robes she usually wore, today opting for a simple light red dress, her hair loosely tied, appearing less formal and more like a young woman with her own thoughts.
“Young Master Jiang, are you not resting yet?” she asked softly, her eyes gently falling upon him, holding a hint of shyness and anticipation.
“The wind is clear, the night is quiet, and peace is rare, so I wanted to sit for a while,” Jiang Ye said in a gentle tone, turning to look at her, his gaze light but not cold: “And Young Miss Fan?”
Fan Ying lowered her head, her ears flushing, and after a moment, she softly said, “I… also couldn’t sleep, and wanted to come here to see.”
As she spoke, she had already entered the pavilion and sat opposite Jiang Ye, her fingers slightly curled, playing with the hem of her dress, appearing somewhat nervous.
Jiang Ye smiled and said nothing more, only pouring her a cup of tea.
The tea aroma wafted, and the atmosphere was subtle.
These past few days, he had not stepped out of the side hall, yet he had caused many undercurrents within the Fan Family, and even the Old Ancestor of the Fan Family, who had always maintained his status, had personally sent someone to visit him in secret for a talk.
And Fan Ying’s closeness to Jiang Ye had become increasingly evident over the past few days, her eagerness almost overflowing.
Though unspoken, she had already fallen for him, only waiting for his response to make it a natural progression.
But Jiang Ye only responded indifferently, his words neither warm nor cold, seemingly intimate yet distant, controlled just right.
He never took the initiative, yet he always cast a glance or offered a word of concern at the most opportune moment, just like now, his hand pouring tea for Fan Ying, his movements extremely natural and gentle, with such composure and grace.
Every casual gesture made Fan Ying’s heart flutter slightly, and her cheeks flushed.
A hint of probing appeared in Fan Ying’s eyes, her tone gentle: “Young Master, are you accustomed to staying at the Fan Family these days? If there is anything unsatisfactory, please do not hesitate to say so, the Fan Family will do its best to meet your requirements.”
Jiang Ye nodded lightly and said, “The Fan Family’s hospitality is warm, and the environment is serene and elegant. I am very satisfied, thank you for your concern, Young Miss Fan.”
Hearing Jiang Ye say this, a surge of joy involuntarily welled up in Fan Ying’s heart. She quickly said, “It’s good that Young Master is satisfied. Actually… I came today because I have something else I wanted to discuss with Young Master.”