Chapter 0010: Searching for Him Thousands of Times in the Crowd

Su Rong'er had just heard that Chen Xuanqiu was wandering alone outside, which inevitably stirred her emotions. In her words, there were many hints, clearly indicating her desire to submit to him. However, Chen Xuanqiu jokingly remarked that the young lady of the Su family had not yet matured, and that their ages were not quite compatible, thus subtly expressing his refusal.

Su Rong'er had not changed in appearance at all, but her entire demeanor had undergone a significant transformation in an instant. Although she still possessed a beautiful visage, there was no longer a trace of the charming and alluring femininity; instead, there was a somewhat eerie aura about her.

Chen Xuanqiu was taken aback and immediately thought of the little miss in the courtyard who was around six or seven years old, and then he recalled a bright green hat

It turns out that this beautiful woman is named Su Rong'er, and she is a relative of the Su family, specifically a niece of Su Hu according to the family hierarchy

Madam Su, who is also the aunt of Su Rong'er, was worried that her husband had truly offended some terrifying evil forces, fearing that she too would be harmed and that her husband's lineage would be cut off. Therefore, she heeded the advice of the head of the Fengchang Institute, Chen Lixing, and moved away from the area to the capital city of Dayong.

Chen Xuanqiu originally intended to rise and take his leave, but her earnest inquiries left him momentarily at a loss for words, so he stammered: "I am neither a traveling merchant nor a scholar on a journey. Um... after my father's passing, I was uncertain about what profession to pursue in the future, so I sold off my family estate, intending to travel through the nine continents and seventy-two countries, to broaden my horizons and experiences before contemplating my future."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanqiu could not help but silently lament. The territory of Dayong is vast, and traveling from the State of Ji to Dayong requires passing through six or seven vassal states, making the journey exceedingly arduous

According to her, at that time, Su Hu was having a night banquet with friends when he suddenly fell ill. A black beetle the size of a thumb nail crawled out of his mouth. Moments later, beneath his skin and within his eyes, these black beetles began to gnaw at his flesh and blood, their appearance was enough to frighten the entire assembly of guests into a frenzy.

The beautiful woman felt that while there were certainly many handsome men in the world, such rumors were somewhat exaggerated; however, upon seeing Chen Xuanqiu at that moment, she believed it.

Chen Xuanqiu performed a long bow. When he initially arranged a marriage by proxy with another family, the children from both families had not yet been born, and thus no names had been given. Therefore, mentioning the name Chen Xuanqiu at this moment does not raise any concerns about associations.

The beautiful woman exclaimed in surprise: "You say Su ... ... he passed away eighteen years ago."

She slowly walked in front of Su Rong'er, clasping her hands behind her back, and asked in a low voice: "Could this person be the one we have been waiting for all along?"

The Great Yong governs the world through a feudal system, with seventy-two vassal lords, each possessing their own territories. Aside from collectively honoring the Great Yong Emperor as the sovereign, they actually hold considerable autonomy.

Chen Xuanqiu shook his head and said: "I just happened to remember that my father has a close friend here. Since I have come, I would like to pay a visit to the residence and express my respects. Xuanqiu has no ulterior motives, thank you for your kind intentions"

The beautiful woman looked at Chen Xuanqiu, also astonished. She had heard that in the Central Plains of Dayong, there was a beauty named Song Yu, who, when walking in the streets, often captivated young girls, causing them to throw flowers onto her carriage to express their affections. Song Yu would often return home laden with gifts.

Su Rong'er is a mature woman who is perceptive and understanding, while Chen Xuanqiu also possesses a high emotional intelligence. Therefore, in this small test, neither party found themselves in an awkward position. Chen Xuanqiu cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and took his leave.

Su Rong'er listened, her expression slightly changing, and with a soft sigh said: "Alas, looking at your demeanor, it is truly elegant; I, as a woman, cannot compare to you men. I, together with my husband Song Zhongshou, inherit our family business, possessing wealth in the millions, with thousands of acres of fertile land, and we have a lovely daughter. Originally, we were living in harmony.

The young master is ... ...

Su Rong'er’s eyes flashed with a glimmer, and she said in a deep voice: "What is your opinion on this?"

Ambiguous interactions between men and women require both parties to be aware and considerate, to have a sense of moderation and know when to advance or retreat. In such cases, it becomes a matter of fleeting emotions, like clouds drifting in the heart or water flowing over stones, leaving both parties with an indescribable charm and aftertaste. Conversely, it can become as crude as a dog fighting over a bone, and if mishandled, it may lead to enmity and mutual disdain.

Two years ago, I suffered a great misfortune and lost my husband. I have been living as a widow here. This year, I have just completed the mourning period, leaving behind my land and family estate, yet there is no man to support the household. Those relatives are eyeing my family's assets with greed, often plotting to seize my inheritance

Chen Xuanqiu looked in astonishment at the beautiful woman before him; her charm and grace, along with her apparent age, were truly surprising

Su Rong'er listened to Yingying rise, a fleeting look of disappointment crossed her face, and she sighed, saying: "You have come from afar, and I should have fulfilled my duty as a host. However, being a widow, there are many inconveniences, and to avoid idle gossip, it is indeed not appropriate for me to keep you here."

As long as one retrieves that "priceless" jade pendant and reveals the token, one can enjoy a beautiful wife and a luxurious mansion, living in wealth and splendor. Who would have thought that such troubles would arise

Chen Xuanqiu listened and said with a face full of regret: "I just saw your daughter in the courtyard, and she is truly a beauty. Unfortunately, she is a bit too young; otherwise, I would not hesitate to boldly seek her hand in marriage, hahaha..."

Su Rong'er cast a glance at Chen Xuanqiu, slightly lowered her head, and said gently: "I often think that if I could find a suitable man to be the head of our household, it would put an end to the schemes of those unscrupulous relatives, and my mother and I would live our lives without worry!"

Song Qian drooped the corners of her mouth, smiled faintly, and said: "It is not as simple as just having the surname Chen. If he were to disguise himself as a woman, he would be even more charming than you. Do not forget who that person's mother is. Besides that woman, who else could give birth to such a prodigy?"

Only in the area of the Fengchang Temple, there are branches of various vassal states, all unified under the jurisdiction of the Fengchang Temple, which belongs to the central country of Dayong

After the tea had been steeped three times, the flavor had already faded, and only then did Chen Xuanqiu listen to the beautiful woman explain the circumstances.

Su Rong'er cast a glance at Chen Xuanqiu with her beautiful eyes and said: "Although my uncle has passed away, I am still a member of the Su family. Now that I have inherited this grand residence from my uncle, and since you are a friend of my late uncle, it is only right that you receive my assistance. However, I am curious as to why you have come to Qingliang Prefecture and if there are any difficulties for which you require help"

He originally just wanted to come and gauge the situation, to take a look at the young lady from the Su family. Although he had not seen the Su family young lady before, it was said that she was as beautiful as a painting, and this beautiful woman was also stunningly attractive. One could imagine that his fiancée would certainly not be lacking in beauty either

I am Chen Xuanqiu

However, the head of the Fengchang Institute in Qingliang Prefecture, Chen Lixing, intervened but was unable to uncover any information, and this matter ultimately ended without resolution

A person who adapts to circumstances is very skilled at finding reasons to comfort themselves, which is why Chen Xuanqiu, who should have been quite disappointed, unexpectedly began to feel somewhat pleased with himself

Zhongjing is the location of the Fengchang Temple, where no evil cultivator in the world dares to go to seek death

The petite figure of Song Qian'er, resembling that of a child, ominously declared: "Better to kill the wrong person than to let one escape. Tonight, we shall take care of him!"

On a certain night eighteen years ago, Pastor Su suddenly fell ill with a strange ailment. When Su Rong'er spoke of this, her complexion changed, appearing somewhat pale, indicating the level of shock she must have felt upon hearing the news at that time

Oh?

Chen Xuanqiu was originally hesitant, unsure of what kind of family the person his mother had arranged for him in the Yi Kingdom. Since Madam Su had gone to Zhongjing, it would be better to make a trip to Zhongjing. The distance from Zhongjing to the Yi Kingdom is not that far, and perhaps he could secretly meet the young lady from the Yi Kingdom first and choose the best one from among them.

The Su family also sought assistance from the Fengchang Institute, which is a branch organization of the Fengchang Temple of Dayong stationed in various regions across the world

Chen Xuanqiu chuckled lightly, then stood up and said: "It was just a small joke; if I have caused any offense, I beg your pardon. Since there are no men in your esteemed residence, it would be inappropriate for me to linger too long in the melon patch or under the plum tree. I shall take my leave now."

The subsequent investigation revealed no clues whatsoever. There are rumors among the public suggesting that Master Su has fallen victim to some malevolent sorcery. However, throughout the entire ordeal, no murderer has ever appeared, leaving one to wonder where justice can be sought

Su Rong'er said: "He also has the surname Chen, but this single point of similarity does not provide certainty."

Chen Xuanqiu's attitude was extremely respectful, and although the beautiful woman before him appeared quite young, she would ultimately be his mother-in-law, so he could not afford to be frivolous: "My father is a close friend of Su Hu, Uncle Su. I have traveled to Qingliangzhou on this occasion and specifically came to pay my respects. May I ask if Uncle Su is at home?"

The best tacit understanding should be that I comprehend your feigned reserve, and you are aware of my ulterior motives. If one wishes to take a step further, a subtle hint from you will suffice for me to grasp the intention. Conversely, if you do not wish to agree, a few words will allow us to understand each other clearly, enabling us to withdraw in a timely manner without hurting feelings

The adorable young girl Song Qian, around six or seven years old, was hiding in the flowers, watching Chen Xuanqiu float in and out. As she turned around and walked into the living room, the moment she stepped over the threshold, her entire demeanor and aura suddenly changed

Su Rong'er nodded and curiously asked: "This Qingliang Prefecture is located in the far west of Dayong. You have traveled a thousand miles to reach here; may I ask if you are a traveling merchant or a student on a journey of learning?"

Although she still has a naive and lovely face and the body of a little girl, there is a sense of weariness in her demeanor, especially in her eyes, which convey the spirit of an elderly person nearing the end of life