A Bad Reputation, Not a Good Match

Across the vast Nine Provinces Continent, dynasties rose side by side and aristocratic houses flourished, all acknowledging Great Xia as supreme.

Within Great Xia today, the Chancellor wielded sole control over the government, his power towering to the heavens, his authority blanketing the realm, his name shaking the four seas.

His only son possessed a status that surpassed even the imperial heir.

The Su Family had remained tucked away in this tiny Yuyi City for far, far too long. Now, it seemed that such an opportunity had appeared before him...

A fine layer of sweat surfaced in Su Changkong's palm.

Su Qinghan took in every shift in her father's expression. Her jade-like hands clenched tightly, and her heart brimmed with both helplessness and anger.

Back when the Su Family had followed the marriage contract left behind by the older generation and forced her to marry Lin Fan, had it not been exactly the same?

She had thought her younger sister was luckier than she was, that perhaps she could escape such a fate.

Yet in the end, it was still the same...

"I don't mean anything else by it. I merely saw that Miss Qingyao was innocent and adorable, so I asked in passing."

Jiang Lan smiled casually, his gaze sweeping over Su Qingyao, who stood there blankly, as though he held a certain appreciation for her.

In the original plot, Su Qingyao indeed possessed a physique akin to a human cauldron, capable of aiding another's cultivation.

Moreover, due to her pure and childlike heart, she faced no obstacles in breaking through realms and would basically never encounter bottlenecks. The further she progressed, the faster her cultivation would rise.

However, that question just now had not been because he coveted her physique.

It was purely to maintain the habits and temperament of the original owner of this body, while also taking the chance to intimidate and threaten Su Qinghan.

Although he had pinned today's scheme against Lin Fan at the Snow Moon Pavilion on his father, his words and conduct had still differed somewhat from before.

A slight difference naturally would not arouse suspicion in a short time.

But once time passed and those differences became magnified, problems could easily arise.

Jiang Lan was currently still unsure about the condition of this body.

To be safe, it was better to remain cautious for now.

Playing the role of a lecherous Second Generation Scion was not difficult. Well, it did not really count as acting—after all, lust was simply in a man's nature.

Su Changkong cupped his hands and replied, "In answer to Young Master Jiang, Qingyao is sixteen this year and has never been betrothed. The family has always had her study diligently at the academy and devote herself to cultivation. Over the years, we have never allowed her any contact with men of the opposite sex..."

Upon hearing this, Su Qingyao stared blankly at her father.

Her head buzzed, and the color gradually drained from her little face, leaving it somewhat pale.

How had the conversation somehow turned to whether she was betrothed?

Did he intend to marry her off?

The female relatives of the major families in Yuyi City looked at Su Qingyao with undisguised envy and jealousy in their eyes.

Though they all knew Jiang Lan had a poor reputation and was no good match.

He was, however, handsome and refined, elegant beyond compare, and the foremost noble in Great Xia today.

Who would not yearn for such a lofty branch hanging within reach?

With the slightest nod from him, who knew how many talented young women would scramble to offer themselves to his bed...

"It is good that there is no such arrangement."

Jiang Lan continued to smile, then looked at Su Qingyao. "Miss Qingyao, you are sitting rather far away. Are you afraid of me?"

Su Qingyao still stood there as if stunned.

At his words, her pearly teeth bit tightly into her lower lip. Her pretty face was utterly bloodless, and she then looked pleadingly toward her father.

Yet Su Changkong seemed to have made up his mind. He remained standing with cupped hands and bowed waist.

It was as though he could not see Su Qingyao's gaze at all.

Qingyao, do not blame your father. This matter...

He sighed inwardly again and again, overwhelmed by guilt. But whenever he thought of the Su Family's current circumstances and the future that lay only one step away, his resolve only grew firmer.

The Su Family's pillar, the old patriarch, did not have many years left to live. Though Su Qinghan's talent was exceptional, she was ultimately still too young to support the enormous Su Family. Even if she entered the Dao Cang Sword Sect, it would not truly be of much use.

Among the Four Great Families of Yuyi City, which family lacked some marriage or kinship ties to those immortal sects and Daoist lineages?

Watching Jiang Lan gently swirl the wine in his golden goblet, Zhao Dieyi gave a soft spit.

She was considering whether to help this pitiful girl, Su Qingyao, out of her predicament.

Then she suddenly heard a voice, cold and clear as snow. "Qingyao is still young and does not understand the ways of the world or proper etiquette. She fears that if she comes too close, some rude and uncouth act may offend Young Master Jiang..."

A fresh, faint fragrance drifted through the air.

Su Qinghan rose and, with a few graceful steps, came to Jiang Lan's side before bending her knees and sitting down.

Her plain white, flawless gown set off her figure, making it appear ever more slender and graceful. Her legs were hidden beneath the folds of her skirt, seeming incomparably long.

"On behalf of my younger sister, Qinghan apologizes to Young Master Jiang. I hope Young Master Jiang will not take offense."

She slightly drew back her sleeve, revealing a stretch of fair, delicate wrist like polished jade. With her pale hand, she picked up the wine pot and filled Jiang Lan's cup, speaking apologetically all the while.

"Qinghan..."

"Big sister..."

Both Su Changkong and Su Qingyao were somewhat stunned. They had never expected Su Qinghan, ever proud and aloof like a snow plum, to suddenly step forward at such a moment and defuse the situation for her.

"It is Father who is incompetent. I have wronged you..."

The guilt in Su Changkong's heart only grew stronger.

Su Qingyao was moved, but at the same time filled with regret. If only she had been a little braver just now, her sister would not have needed to step in for her. She truly was far too useless...

Everyone at the banquet, Zhao Tianhe included, tacitly understood what was happening and behaved as though they had seen nothing.

Only the many female guests looked at Su Qingyao with the frustration of seeing iron that would not turn to steel. The opportunity had been laid right before her, yet she had not seized it, instead handing it over to her sister with both hands. Today, they had truly witnessed this girl's foolishness.

"Miss Qinghan, you jest. I was merely making an offhand joke. Why would I blame Miss Qingyao for no reason at all?" Jiang Lan smiled. Yet beneath the jade table, his other hand caught hold of the pair of jade-like hands Su Qinghan had just lowered.

Cool and soft, delicate as the finest flawless mutton-fat jade. He could feel how exceptionally slender and long her five fingers were.

As though caressing a jade work of art, his expression remained unchanged, though his eyes held keen interest.

Su Qinghan stiffened slightly, as if she had touched a venomous snake, goosebumps rising all over her body.

Yet before everyone's eyes, she did not dare pull her hands back, afraid of slighting Jiang Lan and provoking his displeasure.

Sitting there, she was practically on a bed of needles.

By the end of the banquet, Su Qinghan had lost count of how many times Jiang Lan had taken liberties with her.

Even after Su Changkong noticed, he could only force himself to pretend not to see, his eyes full of helplessness and guilt.

Only after the moonlight had passed the third eave did the banquet finally come to a complete end, and the guests began taking their leave one after another.

Zhao Tianhe was to leave Yuyi City the next day and return to Jingyang City. Halfway through the banquet, he had already departed with Zhao Dieyi.

After seeing Su Qinghan's situation, he truly feared that Jiang Lan would set his sights on Zhao Dieyi.

Once Zhao Dieyi's Absolute Yin Cold Meridian problem was resolved, she naturally had to return to Chi Yao Sect to cultivate as soon as possible, lest she attract the attention of thieves.