His expression was serious, carrying a unique tenderness.
"Mother... Yuyan doesn't want to marry anyone. I want to stay with you forever." Wang Yuyan couldn't hold back anymore, sobbing in a muffled voice.
"Silly child, you have to marry someday."
Li Qingluo stroked Wang Yuyan's head.
Pausing briefly, she continued, "Yuyan, you're even more beautiful than your mother was when she was young, and your temperament is gentler and purer.
Men like you just the way you are. Li Daoqiang will be no exception.
He will protect you forever."
Wang Yuyan's face flushed red, and she shook her head with a hint of coyness.
Li Qingluo smiled at the sight, doting on her. "There's nothing to be shy about. Your mother chose Li Daoqiang precisely because of this, which is why I agreed to marry you to him.
Once you're married to him, no one will dare look down on our branch anymore.
Your mother will even bask in your glory, able to stand tall and face those people."
"Mother~!"
Wang Yuyan called out, both pained and reluctant, but the words of refusal to marry got stuck in her throat.
"Yuyan, your mother knows you're still resistant, but you must understand—I would never harm you.
You don't love martial arts, you don't want to practice them, and without formidable strength of your own, you can't control your own fate.
You're a member of the Wang family, and you're this beautiful.
In at most a year, those people will definitely use you for a political marriage."
"Ah, I never told you this before because I couldn't bear to burden you.
But the truth is, people have had their eyes on you for a while. I held them off, and with your cousin's face still carrying some weight, we managed to endure.
But even I can't oppose them forever.
Your cousin's influence isn't that great either.
Rather than facing some unknown candidate, it's better to choose Li Daoqiang.
Now that you're about to marry, I'm telling you all this."
Li Qingluo spoke softly, a trace of weariness and hidden helplessness in her expression.
Wang Yuyan lifted her head, staring blankly at her mother.
Those words had truly shocked her.
As a proper lady from a noble family, she understood political marriages well, but she had always thought they had nothing to do with her.
She never realized that her mother had been shielding her all along.
Her heart swelled with a mix of gratitude, guilt, and self-reproach.
She had never noticed her mother's struggles or her kindness before.
"Silly child." Li Qingluo saw through her daughter's thoughts at a glance and smiled calmly. "In this world, I only have you. Who else would I be good to if not you?"
Wang Yuyan threw herself into Li Qingluo's arms, hugging her tightly.
Li Qingluo held her back, murmuring, "When you have your own child, you'll understand why I've been so strict with you.
After you marry Li Daoqiang, remember—you must keep him close and give him a child.
Only by bearing a child will he love and protect you forever. Preferably a son.
If not, have another.
I believe that with your excellence, Yuyan, you can do it."
"Mother~!" Wang Yuyan squirmed shyly.
"Don't be shy. Your mother is teaching you what to do." Li Qingluo's expression grew a bit more serious, adding with concern, "You should still learn some martial arts in the future. It's better to know some in a bandit's stronghold."
"A bandit's stronghold!"
Wang Yuyan couldn't help but exclaim, looking up in surprise.
Her mouth fell open.
"You don't know about Li Daoqiang? Well, it's not surprising you haven't heard of him." Li Qingluo was momentarily taken aback, then understood.
After all, her daughter was a proper lady who rarely left the house.
Wang Yuyan suddenly realized, shocked. "Is he the bandit who once defeated my cousin and extorted him?"
When she said the word "bandit," her little face showed a look of near-tears.
"What's wrong with being a bandit?" Li Qingluo dismissed it lightly, a smile curling at her lips as she affirmed, "Everything in this world is fake; only strength is real.
Li Daoqiang is a bandit known throughout the land, but how many dare to look down on him?
Though he's greedy for wealth and lustful, I know his story well enough.
After he marries you, he'll treat you well."
"Mother, I..." Wang Yuyan's eyes were tearful, filled with fear, clearly bothered by his bandit identity.
"Don't worry. Your mother has seen many people in her life, and I won't be wrong.
Li Daoqiang is a bandit, greedy and lustful.
But he pursues wealth and women openly and honestly, never hiding it, and has never had major conflicts with the righteous path.
A man like that, with his strength, won't bring trouble.
As for lust—ha, what man isn't lustful?
With your beauty, Yuyan, and your learning, you'll surely make him cherish you in the palm of his hand.
Look, the first time he saw you, he was captivated, willing to offer ten million taels of silver as a betrothal gift.
Of course, after marriage, having children is the most important thing." Li Qingluo spoke with certainty.
Wang Yuyan's delicate face flushed crimson, and she buried her head again, unable to meet her mother's gaze.
Though still unwilling, she couldn't find the words to argue.
She didn't know, didn't dare, and couldn't bear to.
Li Qingluo said no more. Today's shock had been enough for Yuyan.
There were still three months to slowly guide her.
She had suffered losses, endured hardships, and faced difficulties.
She wouldn't let her daughter go through the same.
That's why she had agreed to this marriage so readily today.
Otherwise, no matter how strong Li Daoqiang was, she wasn't entirely without means to resist.
But after calm deliberation, Li Daoqiang was indeed one of the best matches for Yuyan.
As long as Yuyan bore him a son, she would never have to worry about being bullied again.
Over the years, she had seen this clearly.
That night.
Li Qingluo hosted a banquet for Li Daoqiang.
She stayed only briefly before leaving, as it was inconvenient for a woman.
Instead, Murong Fu entertained him.
The two seemed to drink quite heartily on the surface.
After the feast, they each returned to their rooms.
In the dead of night, Li Daoqiang opened his eyes, glanced in one direction, smiled wryly, and closed them again.
In that direction, on a small boat near the shore.
Deng Baichuan was detailing everything that had happened since Li Daoqiang's arrival to a gray-clad man before him.
That man was Murong Bo. He listened intently, his eyes flickering. When Deng Baichuan finished, he nodded approvingly. "Fu'er did well this time. A real man needn't worry about a wife.
Even if the Lin'an Wang family might not let him marry Yuyan, even if they did, it wouldn't be of much use.
The Lin'an Wang family has already grown distant from our Murong clan. With her mother's connection, it's enough for now.
Using Yuyan to win over Li Daoqiang is good.
But facing a young peerless expert, he still fell short—his thinking wasn't thorough enough.
Yuyan, after all, isn't a member of the Murong family."
Deng Baichuan was startled, looking thoughtfully at the gray-clad man. "Master, do you mean..."
Murong Bo smiled and explained in detail.
After a while, he sent Deng Baichuan back.
Deng Baichuan returned to his room cautiously, waited a moment, then went to Murong Fu's door and knocked.
"Brother Deng, what is it at this late hour?" Murong Fu asked curiously.
Deng Baichuan first sealed the sound, and Murong Fu immediately followed suit, his expression turning serious.
"Master, I've been thinking—our efforts to win over Li Daoqiang still aren't thorough enough," Deng Baichuan said gravely.
"Go on." Murong Fu frowned, puzzled.
"Master, I know you have a good relationship with Miss Yuyan, but she isn't a member of the Murong family after all," Deng Baichuan said solemnly.
Murong Fu's face tightened, his thoughts racing. "Brother Deng, do you mean...?"
"Miss Yuyan's surname is Wang—she's a Wang. Once she marries Li Daoqiang and has children,
over time, even the best relationship will fade.
Li Daoqiang will care more about the Wang family than ours," Deng Baichuan said heavily.
Murong Fu's eyes flickered as he paced a couple of steps, the more he thought, the more sense it made.
That was likely how it would turn out.
His expression darkened, and he said urgently, "What do we do? The only attractive women in our Murong household now are A'Zhu and A'Bi.
In terms of looks, they're not lacking.
But their status is low—Li Daoqiang might not value them much."
"Master, you've forgotten your clan sisters from the Ming Kingdom," Deng Baichuan said softly.
Murong Fu's eyes lit up. "You mean those from the Ming side?"
Deng Baichuan nodded, and Murong Fu fell into thought, hesitating.
"Master, though we've had little contact with the Ming side in recent years, we share the same blood and roots.
They're also named Murong—part of the family.
You have no sisters, but they do. They are your sisters because they bear the Murong name.
If they marry Li Daoqiang, he'll be tied to the Murong family forever.
If they bear him children, the bond will be even deeper," Deng Baichuan reasoned carefully.
"Phew!"
Murong Fu let out a light breath, nodding firmly. "Brother Deng, you're right. Those from the Ming side are also Murongs.
If they bear Li Daoqiang children, those children will carry Murong blood.
That's the strongest connection."
"Yes, that's how noble families form alliances through marriage," Deng Baichuan agreed.
"But over the years, our contact with them has dwindled. Will they agree?" Murong Fu asked uncertainly.
"Li Daoqiang is famous across the land. They likely won't refuse. We can ask first, then confirm with Li Daoqiang," Deng Baichuan mused.
"Mm, this needs to be done quickly. Brother Deng, contact them immediately," Murong Fu ordered solemnly.
"Understood." After agreeing, Deng Baichuan's eyes flickered with hesitation, and he sighed inwardly before speaking. "Master, no matter what, those from the Ming side will still be somewhat distant from us.
In that case, with Miss Yuyan and the Ming Murong lady,
we'd best also offer someone closest to us."
Murong Fu raised an eyebrow, understanding. "You mean A'Zhu and A'Bi?"
"Yes, in terms of beauty, A'Zhu and A'Bi are second to none. The only concern is their status.
But that's easy to solve—Master can adopt them as sisters. They have no surname and grew up in the Murong household; just let them take the Murong name.
With that identity and their excellence, Li Daoqiang won't reject them.
Then, with Miss Yuyan, the Murong lady, and A'Zhu and A'Bi working together, there'll be no flaw.
Li Daoqiang's bond with our Murong family will be unbreakable."
(Chapter 3, thanks for the support, requesting full subscription.) ......