The next day, at the General's Residence training grounds,
a lithe and graceful figure moved fluidly across the practice field.
Spinning, bending back, and with a flick of the wrist, a sword flower thrust forward.
"Bang!"
The sword in her hand, radiating a cold gleam, pierced through the icy wind, producing a sharp crackling explosion.
"Clap, clap, clap, clap!"
A string of applause rang out from the entrance of the training grounds.
Jiang Yuerong stopped her movements and turned to look. Her eyes lit up upon seeing the visitor."Qin Zixuan, when did you get here?"
"I've been here for quite a while! Alas, the Third Miss was so focused on her sword practice that she didn't notice me at all!" Qin Zixuan, the young marquis of the Dingbei Marquis Household, dramatically sighed towards the sky, wearing the look of someone who had been neglected.
"Cut it out! You're pretending too much—say you're fat, and you're already panting!" Jiang Yuerong handed the sword to a nearby servant, then took the handkerchief offered by a maid to wipe the fine sweat on her forehead.
"Hehe, but it seems your swordsmanship has improved quite a bit! I was so mesmerized watching that I didn't dare interrupt you!"
Jiang Yuerong's face lit up with pride as she spoke of her martial prowess."Of course! I just advanced recently. Now I'm a high-level martial master!"
Qin Zixuan looked at her with surprise."When I left, you had only just reached the intermediate level. How did you advance to high-level in just three short months?"
"Well, you must know who our Third Young Miss is! Aside from the eldest young master, she's the most talented in martial arts within the General's Manor!" Before Jiang Yuerong could respond, her personal maid Xiaoling couldn't help but interject.
Jiang Yuerong frowned slightly but chose not to say anything further.
"Yes, yes, your young miss is indeed one of the most outstanding among the younger generation in Shangjing City. I can't compare!"
At that moment, Nanny Wu entered, carrying a fox-fur cloak in her hands.
Seeing the thin training clothes on Jiang Yuerong, Nanny Wu's face filled with concern."Third Miss, how can you be so careless about your health? You should have had the servants prepare a cloak for you! Although you just finished training, the weather is freezing. What if you catch a cold? That would be no small matter!"
As she spoke, she gave Xiao Ling a sharp glare and scolded,"The Third Miss may forget because she's so focused on her martial arts, but what about you, who are supposed to attend to her? Where's your sense? If anything happens to the young miss, I definitely won't forgive you!"
Just moments ago, Xiao Ling, who was speaking so proudly to the young marquis, shuddered in fright.
"Don't blame her, Nanny. I was the one who told them not to bring it," Jiang Yuerong spoke up to smooth things over, then turned to Xiao Ling and instructed,"What are you waiting for? Go pour some tea for the young marquis to warm him up!"
"Yes!" Xiao Ling responded quickly and retreated.
It was only then that Nanny Wu seemed to finally notice the young marquis. She bowed respectfully and said,"This old servant greets Young Marquis Qin. I was so focused on caring for my lady just now that I neglected proper manners. I hope the young marquis won't take offense!"
Qin Zixuan simply waved his hand without saying anything.
Nanny Wu draped the fox-fur cloak over Jiang Yuerong's shoulders, and the group moved toward the nearby warm pavilion.
As soon as they sat down, Jiang Yuerong couldn't help but ask eagerly,"Nanny, why have you come so early? Have you finished what I asked you to do?"
Although Jiang Yuerong was the third young lady of the General's Manor, she was not born of Lady Wang.
However, unlike Jiang Li, her mother, Zhao Wanyue, did not come from an illustrious noble family but from a wealthy and prosperous merchant household.
Even as a concubine, Zhao Yiniang was a prestigious concubine. Within the manor, everyone respectfully referred to her as Madam Zhao.
Moreover, Jiang Yuerong's exceptional talent in martial arts earned her great favor from the general, giving her a notably high status among the young masters and ladies of the manor.
Even Lady Wang held her in great affection!
However, Jiang Yuerong was never one for poetry or literature. Whether it was horse riding, archery, or wielding weapons, she always found herself immersed in martial pursuits, completely impatient with anything scholarly or refined.
Since Jiang Li usually kept a low profile, Jiang Yuerong assumed that Jiang Li's level of work would be on par with her own expectations.
Thus, she had someone from her courtyard go and request Jiang Li's help to write on her behalf.
"Of course, it's been taken care of!" Madam Wu carefully took out the homework retrieved from Jiang Li by the servant and handed it over.
Qin Zixuan reached out first, taking the few sheets of paper and flipping through them.
At a glance, he could tell that this was the homework assigned to Jiang Yue Rong by her teacher. The content was fairly standard, leaving nothing notable to comment on.
However, the calligraphy itself stood out—vigorous and powerful, with strokes that seemed to penetrate the paper, hiding sharp edges and revealing a distinct, unyielding spirit.
"Nice handwriting! Who wrote this?" Qin Zixuan repeatedly nodded in admiration.
"What? Couldn't it be me who wrote it?" Jiang Yue Rong snatched the papers back with a huff.
When she saw the handwriting, she was secretly surprised—why hadn't she noticed before that Jiang Li's writing was so elegant?
Qin Zixuan and Jiang Yue Rong had grown up together and were very familiar with one another!
Qin Zixuan mercilessly exposed her,"Oh, come on! With your handwriting, you can barely pass as decent. To write like this, you'd need to practice for several more years!"
Jiang Yue Rong didn't mind and admitted readily,"Fine, I won't lie. This wasn't written by me. I asked my fifth brother, Jiang Li, to help with it!"
"Jiang Li? The fifth young master of your household who's always kept a low profile?" Qin Zixuan asked with a touch of surprise. He had heard of Jiang Li, the seemingly unremarkable fifth young master of the General's Manor, but he hadn't really seen much of him.
The last time he had laid eyes on Jiang Li was five years ago!
A small, weak figure, quietly standing in the corner, barely leaving any sense of presence!
"Yes, that's right! He usually prefers quiet and doesn't go out much due to his frail health." Thinking of Jiang Li's situation, Jiang Yu'er turned to Nanny Wu and instructed,"Later, take thirty taels of silver from my private stash and send it to Jiang Li as a token of gratitude!"
Nanny Wu frowned and said,"Fifth Young Master helping you solve your worries is already an honor for him. Why would he need you to send such things? Besides, he is now a scholar, a xiucai, and he likely wouldn't think much of this small amount..."
She hadn't finished speaking when Jiang Yuerong coldly interrupted,"Nanny, never say such things again! If he helps us, it is only right that we express our gratitude!"
Nanny Wu lowered her head, not daring to speak further, but a trace of disdain still flickered in her downcast eyes.
Jiang Yuerong suddenly realized what Nanny Wu had just said and asked,"You said my fifth brother passed the Xiucai exam?"
"Yes! I saw it with my own eyes. Fifth Young Master's exam plaque is genuine and cannot be falsified!"
"I didn't expect him to have such ability. When did he go to take the Xiucai exam without a word?"
No one answered her question."Forget it, he's always liked to keep to himself. But it's good that he managed to pass the Xiucai exam. I suppose his days will only get better from now on!"
Jiang Yu'er thought of the set of"Four Treasures of the Study" her father gifted her previously, and gave another order:"Bring that set of writing tools from my storage and send it along as well! Consider it a congratulatory gift from me, as his elder sister. Go now!"
Qin Zixuan quietly listened to the conversation between the mistress and her maid, not interrupting them.
He thought to himself: someone capable of writing such exquisite calligraphy could never be as ordinary as the rumors suggested.
However, he had heard a bit about Jiang Li's background. Even if Jiang Li chose to feign ignorance, it was understandable.
This realization sparked a hint of curiosity in Qin Zixuan's heart toward Jiang Li.
Once Madam Wu left to carry out her task, Qin Zixuan picked up the tea on the table and took a light sip.
"If I'm not mistaken, your younger brother is only fifteen or sixteen, correct? For someone so young to pass the imperial scholar examination, he must indeed be quite remarkable!"
"I also didn't expect him to pass the scholar examination, but he was indeed very clever as a child," Jiang Yuérong remarked, shaking her head with a sigh as she thought of Jiang Li's circumstances.
"Bring your little brother out someday and introduce him to us!"
"Sure, but I can't guarantee whether he'll be willing," Jiang Yuérong replied with a smile, picking up a piece of pastry from the plate and nibbling at it delicately.
Although she was skilled in martial arts, her upbringing as a noble family's young lady was impeccable. Her mannerisms were no different from those refined girls who spent their days writing poetry and embroidering flowers.
"By the way, why did you come looking for me today?" Jiang Yuérong asked, only remembering to inquire about Qin Zixuan's purpose after eating several pieces of pastry.
"Nothing much. A few days ago was your birthday, and I was out of town, so I didn't have time to prepare a gift for you. Now that I'm back, I came to apologize in person!" Qin Zixuan said, pulling a book from his robe and handing it over to Jiang Yuérong.
"This is nothing. Birthdays are the same every year, no need for apologies or gifts. There's no need to stand on ceremony!" Jiang Yuérong said, though she still accepted the book.
When her eyes landed on the cover, her gaze lit up instantly. Without hesitation, she turned to the servants nearby and commanded,"All of you, step outside and wait!"
Upon hearing the order, the servants quietly exited the room, though they left the door ajar— it was important to avoid unnecessary gossip about a young man and woman being alone together.
Once they had walked far enough away, Jiang Yuérong's face lit up with excitement as she exclaimed,"Where did you get this'Xuantian True Qi Palm' manual?"
"This time, I happened to come across it by sheer luck. So, what do you think? Does it suit your taste?" Qin Zixuan said with a smile, sipping his tea.
"Perfect! Perfect! Perfect! This is absolutely to my liking!" Jiang Yuérong nodded enthusiastically like a pecking hen, eagerly flipping through the manual.
This Xuantian True Qi Palm is incredibly exquisite, consisting of eighty-eight moves, focusing on fierce and vigorous techniques. It is primarily designed to refine the body, temper the physique, and strengthen muscles and bones.
Though Jiang Yuérong was born with slightly greater strength than most women, her body, after all, was still softer and weaker compared to men. If she could master this palm technique, she would become even more formidable in the future. It was truly a gift that hit the mark and warmed her heart!
"Qin Zixuan, you're really something! I heard this Xuantian True Qi Palm is a martial technique that was lost from Xuandu Temple, and yet you managed to find it!"
She couldn't help but lower her voice as she spoke,"There are rumors that the Xuandu Temple was once a sacred place for martial arts a hundred years ago. It was at its peak, with countless martial arts manuals stored within. But for some unknown reason, it later fell into decline!"
"I've heard similar rumors as well, and it seems to be true. The Xuandu Temple once had numerous masters, with a great number of followers and thriving incense offerings. There are even rumors saying that all martial arts in the world originated from here!"
"Then how did it suddenly disappear without a trace? There aren't even many rumors about it in the streets!" Jiang Yue Rong said, clearly very curious.
Qin Zixuan waved at Jiang Yue Rong, and she leaned in closer.
He lowered his voice and said,"I've heard that there was a traitor who came out of the temple, and one after another, they harmed the elders within. In just three years, most of the elders were either killed or wounded. Later, it was even discovered that Xuandu Temple had been colluding with foreign forces. This is what ultimately angered the imperial court, leading them to unite with various powerful factions to hunt down Xuandu Temple!"
"Is that true? I've never heard of it!" Jiang Yue Rong said, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"Who knows! Anyway, it's just something I heard on the way," Qin Zixuan shrugged.
"Sigh, now the Buddhist teachings are flourishing in the Great Han Kingdom, and Xuandu Temple has become a taboo. If we want to uncover the truth behind all this, it might be impossible!" Jiang Yue Rong couldn't help but sigh.
She flipped through the manual in her hands, unwilling to take her eyes off it.
"By the way, I ran into your fourth brother just now. He mentioned inviting me to go hunting on the mountain in a few days. Not sure if you're interested!"
"Not going, not going! I need to make the most of my time and study this manual properly." Jiang Yue Rong didn't even lift her head.
Seeing that she was so engrossed in the book, Qin Zixuan didn't want to disturb her further.
"Alright then, it's getting late, so I'll take my leave!"
"Alright, next time, I'll treat you to drinks at the Zui Xian Lou!"
"Sounds good!"
After making their plans, Qin Zixuan left.
Meanwhile, Old Wu, carrying Jiang Yue Rong's belongings, made her way to Jiang Li's Zhiqiu Courtyard.
"Young Master Wu's work was greatly appreciated by the Third Miss. These ten taels of silver are your reward from the Third Miss!" Old Wu said, maintaining her usual haughty demeanor.
Jiang Li didn't even lift his head, continuing to flip through the book in his hands."Take the things back. I'm helping her, not for her reward."
"Heh, the Third Miss is kind-hearted. She knows you've been living in hardship, which is why she offered to help you. Yet you're so ungrateful! Truly, some people just don't know when to appreciate kindness. What a disgrace!"
Jiang Li remained unfazed, showing no reaction to her words.
"Miss was still saying she wanted to give you this set of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone as a congratulatory gift! What a waste of the Third Miss's good intentions! This is a gift from the Master to the Third Miss, and you're not even worthy!" As she spoke, Old Wu spat on the ground in contempt.
Hearing the words"congratulatory gift," Jiang Li's eyes flickered slightly, but in the end, he said nothing further.
Instead, he fixed Old Wu with his deep, dark eyes and coldly said,"Get out!"
Old Wu trembled under the frosty gaze he gave her.
It was unclear whether she was frightened or simply enraged.
After a moment's hesitation, Old Wu thought to herself, I'm a martial artist. Why should I be afraid of a sickly weakling like him?
"Ungrateful wretch, born with a lowly fate!" She muttered angrily under her breath, picked up the things, and left in a huff.
But her steps were noticeably quicker than when she had entered.