The Desire Within

Translator: CinderTL

The next morning.

News of Prince Rui recruiting Xu Sanyan as a son-in-law spread like wildfire. When Yang Qizhu heard the news, her expression was as colorful as that of a stage actress.

She hadn't expected her father to be so cunning, resorting to such a method as recruiting a son-in-law.

She completely forgot that she had also planned to have Xu Sanyan marry into the Cui Family.

"I remember... Qiyuan is only sixteen, and her appearance..."

Yang Qizhu pursed her lips. Qiyuan was her half-sister, born with slight deformities—protruding lips, a hunched left arm, and a stiff right leg, causing her to walk with a limp.

In terms of appearance, she was worlds apart from herself.

If she were to be married into an ordinary family, given the status of the prince's mansion, it would still be considered a downgrade, and her in-laws wouldn't dare to mistreat her.

But Xu Sanyan was different. He was a Celestial Realm Martial Expert, and by no means a suitable match.

The head of the Cui Family sighed, "Xu Sanyan's talent is too high. A Celestial Realm Martial Expert at the age of twenty! The prince's move is understandable. Moreover, with the prince personally making the request, how could he refuse?"

Yang Qizhu sighed. Indeed, even if Xu Sanyan was a Celestial Realm Martial Expert, he couldn't defy her father's will.

...

In the inner courtyard of the prince's mansion, there was a waterside pavilion. A woman in a light pink dress sat on a wooden chair, holding a book and reading intently. From a distance, her demeanor was gentle and serene, blending seamlessly with the pavilion behind her, without any sense of incongruity.

But as the leaves fell from the trees, the woman raised her head, and her protruding lips disrupted the beauty.

"Ah... another year of falling leaves."

Yang Qiyuan lifted her palm, and a small bird from the distant eaves landed on her hand. The bird tilted its head, its lively eyes gazing at her.

Sensing her low spirits, the bird flew to her shoulder, brushing her cheek with its wings as if to comfort her.

Yang Qiyuan smiled, her mood lifting. She raised her hand to send the bird away, "Go, chase your freedom."

This bird wasn't her pet, just an ordinary sparrow in the world.

"Miss, good news, good news!"

At the end of the pavilion's corridor, a young maid with her hair tied in a bun ran over, her face beaming with joy, shouting without a care for the usual decorum between master and servant.

Yang Qiyuan didn't mind, just smiled and said, "Calm down, take a breath and speak slowly."

The maid picked up a cup of tea from the table to moisten her dry throat, then said with excitement, "Miss, guess what I heard?"

Yang Qiyuan lovingly smoothed the wrinkles on the maid's clothes and gently shook her head, "How could I possibly guess?"

The maid's eyes sparkled as she chuckled, "It's about you."

Yang Qiyuan was stunned, then slowly lowered her head, "Has father arranged a marriage for me?"

The maid was surprised, "You've heard about it?"

Yang Qiyuan shook her head. She spent her days reading in the pavilion, never interacting with outsiders. All news from the outside world came through this little maid. How could she have heard? It was just a guess.

The maid clearly didn't believe her, then added, "Miss, then guess who the prince has arranged for you to marry?"

Yang Qiyuan smiled self-deprecatingly. Her appearance was notorious throughout the Qi Kingdom. Everyone knew that Prince Rui's youngest daughter was ugly, with a strange appearance. Which young noble would be willing to marry her?

Those willing to marry her were either after her father's power or were forced into it. She had long accepted her fate.

"Which unfortunate young noble has been forced to marry such an ugly woman as me?" Yang Qiyuan said bitterly.

The maid didn't catch her self-mockery and continued cheerfully, "It's Xu Sanyan."

"Xu?"

Yang Qiyuan's first reaction was to search her mind for any prominent Xu families, but she couldn't think of any.

"Have you heard of the Xu family?" Yang Qiyuan asked.

The maid shook her head, "I heard this Xu Sanyan isn't from a prominent family, just an ordinary person."

Yang Qiyuan breathed a sigh of relief. That was fine. This Xu Sanyan was trading his happiness for a lifetime of wealth. It wasn't a bad deal.

The maid said mysteriously, "Miss, this Xu Sanyan is quite extraordinary..."

Yang Qiyuan glanced at her, smiling softly, "How extraordinary?"

"I heard that Xu Sanyan is not even twenty yet, and he's already a Celestial Realm Martial Expert!"

"What?"

Yang Qiyuan was shocked, and the book in her hand fell to the ground.

The maid didn't understand cultivation. She had only heard it from others and couldn't grasp the significance of a Celestial Realm Martial Expert.

But Yang Qiyuan was different. She had been exposed to these things since childhood and was a martial artist herself. She understood all too well what a twenty-year-old Celestial Realm Martial Expert represented.

"Celestial Realm..."

Yang Qiyuan felt a deep sense of inferiority. She knew she wasn't worthy of him.

With his Celestial Realm cultivation, what kind of woman couldn't he have? Why would he marry her?

He was probably forced by her father, with no choice but to marry her.

Yang Qiyuan sighed softly, bent down to pick up the book, and calmly sat back in her chair to continue reading.

What else could she do but go with the flow?

The maid's heart was racing. She had heard that Xu Sanyan was not only incredibly powerful but also very handsome. As a chambermaid...

Thinking of this, the little maid's face flushed with embarrassment.

...

In a grand mansion in the west of the city, Xu Sanyan was in the study reviewing the household accounts, with an old man standing respectfully beside him.

This mansion was a gift from Prince Rui, and the old man was the house steward.

Xu Sanyan casually tossed the accounts aside and looked up at the old man, "Uncle Zhao, you'll continue to manage the household affairs. Just handle them as you see fit."

Uncle Zhao bowed, "Yes, master."

Xu Sanyan knew that Uncle Zhao was undoubtedly a spy planted by Prince Rui, but he didn't care.

With his cultivation, avoiding their surveillance was a trivial matter.

Xu Sanyan got up and left the mansion, heading towards the Cui Family. He still hadn't received the twenty precious medicines he had agreed upon with Yang Qizhu, so he decided to go and collect them.

Yesterday, Prince Rui had immediately set the wedding date, as if afraid he would change his mind. The wedding was scheduled for seven days later.

He knew nothing about his future wife. It was like opening a blind box—exciting yet uncertain.

But according to Prince Rui, his daughter was beautiful and gentle in nature, so she couldn't be too bad.

After crossing two long streets, Xu Sanyan arrived at a large mansion with a plaque that read "Cui Mansion."

Two guards stood outside the Cui Mansion and stepped forward to stop him, "Do you have an invitation, sir?"

Xu Sanyan shook his head, "Tell Yang Qizhu that Xu Sanyan is here."

The two guards exchanged glances, then said, "So it's Master Xu. The master has already instructed us. Please come in."

One of them led Xu Sanyan to the hall to sit, while the other went to inform the master.

At that moment, a young nobleman passed by the hall and glanced at him casually, then stopped the guard, "Who is this?"

The guard whispered, "Second Young Master, this is Xu Sanyan."

The young nobleman's eyes turned cold as he looked over. So this was the Xu Sanyan who had been causing such a stir lately?

A twenty-year-old Celestial Realm Martial Expert, who had killed Wang Chengming, a general under the Eldest Son, and yesterday, news had spread that he was to marry Prince Rui's youngest daughter.

He had stolen all the limelight in the city.

As a young master of the Cui Family, he had heard Xu Sanyan's name more than once from his aunt, Yang Qizhu.

What infuriated him the most was that Yang Qizhu, who usually looked down on him, treated Xu Sanyan with special regard, even personally traveling to Wanglong County to welcome him. This only deepened his jealousy.

He had never seen Yang Qizhu care so much about anyone.

The young man subconsciously pursed his lips, his heart filled with resentment.

He had long been infatuated with his aunt, but due to their relationship, he dared not express it, nor let others know.

He wanted Yang Qizhu so badly.

Her every word, her every smile, tugged at his heartstrings.

But why was she his aunt?

Why was she his mother's younger sister?

The young man's heart was consumed by desire, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

This overwhelming possessiveness, coupled with the frustration of unattainability, gradually twisted his nature.

So, every night, he had his chambermaid wear a handmade mask of Yang Qizhu's face during their intimate moments.

Of course, the mask was modeled after Yang Qizhu. This was the only way he could slightly satisfy his inner desires.

But recently, he felt that this method was no longer enough to satisfy him...

(End of the Chapter)

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