"Well...!" Li Xiaoya had been backed into a corner. Silver-tongued as he was, he could not come up with an excuse. When he first returned, he had wanted to come here with Xian'er, but she had refused. Naturally, he could not shift the blame onto her. More importantly, he had spent his first few days back lost in Zhang Hong's tender embrace, and that was even less suitable to mention. He really was in the wrong this time.
"Hmph! Go on, then! Aren't you good with words? Isn't that tongue of yours so clever?" Fairy Qingxia seemed to be in a temper. She snorted and berated him without pause.
"It was indeed my fault for not coming promptly to ask Martial Aunt Qingxia for Xian'er's hand!" Unable to explain himself, Li Xiaoya simply abandoned any attempt at excuses and spoke respectfully. He paused, bowed deeply to Fairy Qingxia, and continued, "I came today for Xian'er, specifically to ask you for her hand in marriage. I hope you will give us your blessing!"
"My blessing?" Fairy Qingxia said coldly. "Li Xiaoya! Don't think that just because you've had that sort of relationship with my Xian'er, she belongs to you! If you want to marry my Xian'er-"
"Master!" Liu Xian'er protested bashfully from beside her. Her exquisite face turned scarlet. How could her master bring up something so embarrassing?
"Don't interrupt!" Fairy Qingxia snapped. "I told you to find a loving, honorable husband, yet you insisted on choosing this little swindler! It's not as though no one else wanted you!"
"...Yes, Master!" Liu Xian'er opened her mouth to say something, but seemed to remember something else. She could only answer respectfully and lower her head in silence.
"Martial Aunt!" Li Xiaoya was beginning to get angry. He said loudly, "Heaven itself can