Otherworld Advance Team-Chapter 1754 - 1747: Wealth Cannot Move

The story of Ichuan Fei plunged everyone present into silence, including the previously talkative Xing Hu. He stared with his mouth open, glancing back at the equally shocked Qingtang.

Then, Ichuan Fei continued, "Yichuan Yue and Yishan eventually fled all the way to Jiangzhou and settled there, where they had a child..."

"Exactly," he was interrupted by the excited Xing Hu before he could finish, "it’s certain that Qingtang was born in Jiangzhou. Her parents are Yichuan Yue and Yishan, as stated in that letter."

"Is that really the case?" Ichuan Fei asked with a gentle smile.

"What do you mean?"

"I don’t mean anything." Ichuan Fei shook his head and walked straight to Qingtang, looking her directly in the eyes.

Faced with his gaze, Qingtang bowed her head deeply, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Since the truth is revealed, Qingtang, it seems you should be the child of Yichuan Yue and Yishan." Ichuan Fei asked.

"Qingtang, that’s wonderful." Xing Hu looked at her, speaking excitedly.

But Qingtang kept her head down, still not daring to meet Ichuan Fei’s gaze.

"Yichuan Yue was my father’s half-sister, my aunt, which means you are my cousin. We of the Yichuan Clan have never mistreated our kin." Ichuan Fei continued.

After a pause, he continued without waiting for Qingtang or Xing Hu to speak, "You’re no longer young this year, let me offer you a choice. Jiuyun Shuang, heir of the Jiuyun Clan from Northern Province, is young and talented, brave and mighty. I shall betroth you to him, forming a century-long alliance between the Yichuan and Jiuyun clans. What do you think?"

"What do you mean?" Upon hearing this, Xing Hu exploded, pointing at Qingtang and questioning Ichuan Fei, "Qingtang just found her family, and you plan to kick her out like a ball?"

"You misunderstand," Ichuan Fei smiled slightly, calmly saying, "Jiuyun Shuang is currently serving in Shengjing, even if you marry there, you won’t leave Shengyuan Prefecture, and she can return to Liangyu Mansion at any time. Jiuyun Shuang and I have been acquainted for years, his character is well-known to me, he would not harm our own sister. After all, the Yichuan Clan always values harmony above all."

Listening to him, Xing Hu looked bewildered, not knowing what to say. He glanced back at the still bow-headed Qingtang, feeling unidentifiable fear in his heart.

"Well then," at this moment, Cheng Ziang, who had been quietly listening, couldn’t help but raise his hand cautiously and say, "Though I know my words are redundant, but... Xing Hu and Qingtang are childhood sweethearts, separating them like this doesn’t seem right?"

Ichuan Fei smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated Cheng Ziang’s words, and immediately replied, "Qingtang’s mother fell in love with a commoner and was consequently banished by the family. As the eldest son of the family, naturally, I do not wish for my siblings to repeat the mistakes of our predecessors."

"To the Manor Lord, childhood sweethearts growing old together is surely a beautiful thing. But they hail from a great surname and a common status. Hence, they’ll inevitably face some troublesome issues that would prevent their lives from being happy."

"Of course, I wish for my cousin to find happiness, yet I also hope she can have a stable living environment. Being well-matched in social rank may sound too cold-hearted, but rampant recklessness is not necessarily a wise choice."

"Alright..." Cheng Ziang was left speechless, quietly closing his mouth.

But whether it was a delusion or not, Cheng Ziang couldn’t shake the feeling that Ichuan Fei’s words had an underlying message. Or perhaps, there was something he hadn’t disclosed to Xing Hu and Qingtang.

"Therefore," Ichuan Fei looked toward Qingtang, continuing, "Make your choice now, will you choose to integrate with the Yichuan Clan, accepting my advice as your elder brother, or..."

Qingtang kept her head down, not knowing how long she remained silent. Eventually, she summoned enough courage, raising her tear-stained eyes to bravely gaze upon Ichuan Fei.

"You said the Yichuan Clan does not prevent kin from freely choosing their marital partners, right?" Qingtang took a deep breath and asked.

"Indeed." Ichuan Fei nodded.

"Then why make me choose, can’t I be part of the family and decide my marriage at the same time?" Qingtang continued.

"Of course you can, but," After a pause, Ichuan Fei resumed, "This is merely a suggestion. If you choose to marry a commoner, that’s naturally fine, but the clan inevitably stirs up some noise. If you marry into the Jiuyun Clan, with your status as Yichuan kin and the wife of the Jiuyun Clan’s Young Master, you will enjoy greater status and prosperity, leading to a smoother path to success. Such prospects, of course, I would be pleased to see."

"But I don’t even know Jiuyun Shuang!" Qingtang appeared quite agitated.

"Knowing him is not necessary, he has a good character, and with my assurance, what worries do you have?" Ichuan Fei replied.

"Then why don’t you marry him yourself," Qingtang said somewhat incoherently, agitatedly, "I don’t want to marry someone I don’t know and live a so-called life of success."

"Sometimes, even members of the Yichuan Clan can find themselves not living freely," Ichuan Fei seemed undisturbed, speaking slowly, "I already mentioned that the Yichuan family always faces the risk of extinction, scattering clan members among other great families ensures matrimonial connections while maximally diversifying kin, hence..."

"No, no, I don’t want," Qingtang grew increasingly agitated, turning to look at Xing Hu, passionately saying, "I don’t want to marry someone I don’t know, I want to be with someone I’ve known my entire life, even if I am the Young Master of a great surname and he is just a commoner. If you must force me, I’d rather abandon this status and return to Jiangzhou, living a life from dawn till dusk."

"Qingtang, don’t be foolish, this is a splendid opportunity, you belong here." Xing Hu loudly urged.

"I don’t belong here," Qingtang said emotionally, "I am just the village woman waiting for her love to return at the village entrance. I can’t imagine life without you. I’ve waited for you for so many years, from when I was a maiden until my bloom. Now, suddenly I am told to marry a man I don’t know, why? I waited all these years, not for this day!"

"Qingtang..." Hearing her heartfelt words, Xing Hu was not just shocked, he was deeply moved.

"You should rethink, marrying Jiuyun Shuang grants endless riches and honor, and you can return home anytime. Both household doors will always be open to you." Ichuan Fei continued to urge.

"No, I don’t acknowledge it, hence I am not part of the Yichuan Clan," Qingtang resolutely said, "You may forget about me as your cousin and let me and Xing Hu leave. I’ve thought it through, I waited for him so many years, I can’t let my expectations go to waste. So-called wealth and honor, merely means food to eat, clothes to wear, and then? Compared to what I’ve sacrificed, it’s insignificant."

"Qingtang..." Xing Hu was incredibly moved.

"Let’s go," Qingtang actively took Xing Hu’s hand saying, "We’ll leave here, even if we can’t go home, as long as there’s you and me, that’s home..."

"Ha ha," Faced with Qingtang’s reaction, Ichuan Fei seemed completely without any negative emotions, instead appearing calm, "I thought you’d remain silent all along, but unexpectedly, you’re quite articulate."

"Qingtang has always been cheerful in private." Xing Hu said.

"Xing Hu!" Qingtang glared at him, annoyed and furrowing her brows.

"Ha ha ha," Ichuan Fei suddenly burst into hearty laughter, adding, "Xing Hu, this girl is quite nice, worth marrying her. Why not do it today, I’ll arrange your wedding for both of you."

"What exactly do you want?" Xing Hu asked cautiously, frowning.

"Nothing, just happy for my kin, as a brother, seeing my siblings find happiness, isn’t that something worth rejoicing?" Ichuan Fei said.

"Qingtang doesn’t acknowledge you, we have no relation with the Yichuan Clan anymore, no need for flattery." Xing Hu said.

"Qingtang naturally has no relation with the Yichuan Clan, for she’s not one of its members." Ichuan Fei’s subsequent words once again stunned everyone present.

"What do you mean, just now you clearly..."

"I was merely making an assumption, understand?" Ichuan Fei said indifferently.

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