Misty Rain of the Old Times

As the secondary capital of Yuhua Kingdom, Yucheng covers a large area with a population of nearly ten million. Its prosperity is comparable to that of the true power center, the capital. The fact that the name of the country contains the character "Yu" (玉) gives a sense of the significance of this city.

This place is a veritable den of dragons and crouching tigers. Chen Xuan only slightly relaxed his senses to pay attention to the area within ten miles and discovered no less than ten innate masters. He was not surprised by this, because people subconsciously gravitate towards the center of power.

As the group strolled down the street, Xia Mei spoke up, "Master, I just saw Wei Ziyan from the Wei family outside the Qin residence. After that incident, our Wei family of Jing Kingdom withdrew from the scene, and several branches scattered to different places. I never expected that Wei Ziyan's branch would actually come to Yuhua Kingdom and settle down."

"Did Aunt Mei notice him too?" Chen Xuan asked with a smile. He was not surprised by Xia Mei's keen observation skills.

Nodding, Xia Mei said with a hint of displeasure, "The Wei family was once the most prestigious family in our Jing Kingdom. Wei Ziyan was exceptionally talented and handsome, and a few years ago he was ranked among the Eight Great Talents. He was heavily cultivated by the Wei family and was expected to rise to a high position in the imperial court and become one of the pillars of the Wei family. However, Wei Wuyai went astray and stood on the opposite side of the master. In recent years, Wei Ziyan frequently visited His Highness, relying on his family background and talent. He was very annoying and even deliberately created chance encounters. It's easy to guess what he was up to. Therefore, I am quite familiar with him. I saw him in the crowd just now."

Xia Mei paused for a moment and added, "After Master's first trip to the capital, he gradually stopped bothering His Highness. Presumably, he learned about Master's cultivation level from the Wei family's intelligence, and given Master's close relationship with His Highness, he felt he had no chance and thus extinguished his desires."

Chen Xuan showed no emotion whatsoever, saying dismissively, "It's all in the past, don't worry about it."

We can't label Wei Ziyan as someone who's courting death just because he once pursued our wife Chen Xuan. It's not that pointless. Besides, he's quite sensible.

Speaking of these scions of noble families, they are indeed products of elite education. Chen Xuanzhen has hardly seen any of those spoiled brats. They are methodical in their actions, know when to advance and retreat, and understand loss. At most, they just can't get along with each other. There are really very few brainless idiots.

"Is Wei Ziyan here too? I didn't even notice. He's probably plotting to marry Qin Ruyu, the granddaughter of the Prime Minister of Yuhua Kingdom. He's quite hypocritical. I've disliked him from the beginning. He appears righteous and magnanimous on the surface, but he's actually full of bad intentions. He's just maintaining his image. Do you think I don't know what kind of people from noble families are behind the scenes?" The little princess said with a look of disdain.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan said somewhat awkwardly, "Well, a man who isn't a bit of a flirt in his youth is wasting his life, and everyone has a love for beauty. I, for one, am quite the ladies' man."

Chen Xuan has always been frank about his character, and from a man's perspective, he couldn't help but offer a sophistry.

The little princess covered her mouth and chuckled, "How can my husband be the same as him? I'm not speaking up for you out of love for your wife, but because that man is truly hypocritical. It's normal for men to be lustful, and my husband is open about it, never denying it. He doesn't actively pursue women, and if he does take a liking to one, he'll take responsibility. But that man appears gentle and refined on the surface, but in reality, he treats women as playthings. 'Beauty paper, beauty bowl, beauty cup,' those glamorous aristocratic families are actually so despicable behind the scenes. It's not even the same thing."

That's exactly right. Back then, Wu Jinxun of the Wu family provoked Chen Xuan, who then used his household registration book to kill him. Besides Wu Jinxun coveting the Xiaoyao Pill formula in Chen Xuan's possession and wanting to control him as a tool for producing the Xiaoyao Pill, witnessing the Wu family's inhumane and depraved behavior in the underground secret room was also a major reason.

Shaking his head, he decisively changed the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about these discouraging things. The Golden Jade Plaza is just ahead; soon we'll see the magnificent trees with their golden branches and jade leaves."

The little princess and Xia Mei exchanged a glance, hesitated, but ultimately said nothing, nodding happily and giving a soft "hmm".

Actually, she wanted to say that the Golden Branches and Jade Leaves weren't that pretty, because Rongguo had once given a few as a national gift to Jingguo. Some of them died due to soil and water conditions, but there was still one planted in the Imperial Garden of the palace. However, Chen Xuan had entered and left the palace many times and hadn't noticed it. But since he was in such high spirits now, there was no need to spoil the mood. As long as he was happy, that was fine.

The courtyard where they were staying was not too far from Jinyu Square. After all, they were staying in a relatively central area, less than ten miles away. They could arrive in an hour or two at a leisurely pace.

This Golden Jade Square is named after the Golden Branch and Jade Leaf Tree. It is located a short distance outside the Imperial Palace in the secondary capital, covering an area the size of several football fields. People are not prohibited from visiting and sightseeing there, as long as they do not recklessly storm the Imperial Palace. Even though it is the Imperial Palace in the secondary capital, it is still a symbol of the power of the Yuhua Kingdom, with a Grand Princess of the Grandmaster level presiding over it.

Soon after, Chen Xuan and his group arrived at the square. It was not a bare area; artificial hills, ponds, and landscaped gardens occupied nearly a third of the square's area. Everywhere was ingeniously designed and well worth seeing. The ground was also paved with square jade stones.

Using jade to pave such a large square is hardly extravagant, after all, it's not high-quality jade. In fact, the value of such inferior jade is not much higher than that of bluestone. Even without officials patrolling, probably not many people would steal it.

The square was crowded with tourists, chatting or discussing various topics in small groups. Many vendors roamed around selling their wares. Although setting up stalls was prohibited in the square, these vendors carried their goods around, skirting the rules. The patrolling officers turned a blind eye, occasionally taking some fruit or tea from the vendors without paying. It was an abuse of power, and the vendors even smiled obsequiously. They were grateful that the officers didn't confiscate their goods; they could still earn some hard-earned money here, so everyone benefited.

There are so many beautiful women in Yuhua Kingdom! Looking around the square, there are countless women with a beauty score of 6 or higher. Moreover, due to their customs, the women of Yuhua Kingdom dress quite freely and boldly, and it is perfectly normal for them to show their arms and legs. It's enough to dazzle anyone who sees them.

Chen Xuanxin glanced around confidently and thought that this alone made the trip worthwhile.

Seeing him looking around, his eyes constantly lingering on other girls' arms and legs, the little princess wasn't jealous. Instead, she encouraged him, "Husband, have you taken a fancy to anyone? If you have, go... well, in your words, it's called flirting. Don't be shy, I support you. If you're really too embarrassed, I can help you."

Having already developed immunity, Chen Xuan chose to ignore her tempting suggestion and whispered, "Looking left and right, you're still the prettiest, my wife. Just a bunch of pretty girls, I have no interest in you. What flirting? To put it bluntly, it's just harassing young ladies in broad daylight. Let's go, I heard people say that the Golden Branch and Jade Leaf tree is in the center of the square. The rockery and garden are blocking the view, so let's go straight over and take a look, consider it completing our check-in goal."

"Check-in? My husband is using words I don't understand again. Tsk, I've never seen my husband flirt with a young lady in the street before. It must be very interesting. Husband, do you want to try it?" The little princess still coaxed him with some interest.

When did my well-behaved wife turn bad? How could she even think of that? In this day and age, if you were to flirt with someone, it would be a crime if you took it seriously. If someone reported you to the authorities, you'd be punished. Of course, with Chen Xuan's model, if it weren't for the little princess and the others being around, it would be girls who would come up to flirt with him. Haven't you seen many young women and wives blushing and secretly glancing at him? They think the little princess and the others are quite an eyesore. Why aren't they the ones by that young master's side?

Amidst laughter and conversation, they passed several artificial hills and landscaped gardens and arrived at the central area of ​​the square. Chen Xuan's eyes immediately lit up when he saw the rare and precious tree species, the Golden Jade Leaf, that he had been longing to see.

I'd heard about this thing a long time ago. Back then, King Luo of Rongguo used it to trick him into going outside the city with ill intentions, but he ended up killing himself.

It was a strange tree, ten zhang tall, standing in the square. Its main trunk was over two meters in diameter, slightly curved and spiraling upwards, twisting and turning like a dragon. Its whole body was golden, as if cast in gold. Its branches and leaves were as dense as a canopy, shading the sky for a radius of hundreds of zhang. The leaves were shaped like maple leaves, about the size of a palm, as if carved from jade. It seemed that each leaf was different in color, red, white, green and pink. It did not appear messy or gaudy, but rather breathtakingly beautiful. Under the sunlight, it shone with iridescent colors, making people intoxicated by the sight. When the breeze blew, the leaves swayed and collided, producing a clear and melodious sound like the sound of metal and jade.

Upon seeing the tree, Chen Xuan couldn't help but stop and exclaim, "What a magnificent tree! It truly lives up to its name. It's so beautiful. In terms of ornamental value alone, even the White Cloud Tree pales in comparison." "It's really beautiful. I've never seen such a large tree here before. It must be at least four or five hundred years old," the little princess nodded in agreement.

Unaware that she had mentioned seeing this tree before, Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment and said, "Good heavens, I have an irresistible urge to steal it and plant it at home. No wonder it's surrounded by jade railings and heavily guarded, with even innate experts on duty. They probably take turns guarding it every twelve hours, leaving no chance for anyone with ill intentions."

That's what they say, but if Chen Xuanzhen really wanted to get his hands on it, even several grandmaster-level experts wouldn't be able to stop him. However, despite saying that, he disdained to do such a thing. There are so many good things in the world; he couldn't possibly hoard them all at home.

“That’s perfectly normal. Not only is this tree priceless, but it’s also a national gift from Rong Kingdom, so it should be well protected,” the little princess said matter-of-factly.

Touching his chin, Chen Xuan still hesitated, saying, "This is difficult. I originally wanted to get some leaves for my wife to collect, but each leaf has a slight difference in color. I can't just pick them all, that would be too inappropriate."

Unexpectedly, her husband still cared about her hobby. The little princess covered her mouth and smiled, saying, "There's no need, husband. You can't take the leaves of this tree with you. It's very special. Once the leaves leave the branch, they wither and turn into dust. I've collected so many leaves and learned about this tree, but there's no effective way to preserve them. You can't even freeze them the moment they leave the branch."

"Oh, I see. Then let's forget about it. I can't bear to damage such a beautiful tree. It's better to share the joy than to keep it to myself. Anyone who comes here can see its beauty." Chen Xuan decisively gave up his plan to collect the leaves. It wasn't that he couldn't take them with him, but he would need to experiment with it first. That would inevitably damage the leaves, which was unnecessary.

And just as the little princess said, once the leaves leave the branches, they wither and turn into dust. As they were talking, leaves fell and this scene unfolded. There were no leaves left on the ground, but instead a thick layer of colorful powder accumulated. It was truly magical.

If only he had a camera, Chen Xuan would have taken hundreds of photos of it and posted them on his WeChat Moments. Unfortunately, he didn't. He had also thought about painting it, just like many other painters around this tree. However, he didn't have the tools. Even if he did, his painting skills wouldn't be able to depict even 11% of its true beauty. At most, he could only paint something that looked like a photograph, but it would capture the essence. He guessed that Ning Guiliang would be more suitable. That guy was once the "Painting Master" among the Eight Great Talents of Jing Kingdom. Chen Xuan used the "Xiaoyao Pill" to squeeze a box of his painstakingly crafted works into his collection.

Many tourists, like Chen Xuan and his group, stopped to admire the tree. Everyone was captivated by it, and even those who had seen it more than once couldn't help but marvel. Some couples even made wishes under the tree.

While Chen Xuan was somewhat lost in admiration of the tree's beauty, the little princess was thinking, "My husband likes it so much, should we try to bring the one from the palace home when we get back? But now that Father has stepped down and my elder brother is in power, it might be difficult. Oh, isn't there Fifth Brother? If he successfully conquers Rong Kingdom, it shouldn't be hard to ask him for a Golden Branch and Jade Leaf."

The little princess had seen this kind of tree many times before. After looking at it for a while, she looked away and then noticed the other side of them. Her eyes lit up, and she tugged at Chen Xuan's sleeve, saying, "Husband, look over there! Two such beautiful girls! They're so beautiful! Even I, a woman, am a little moved. One is aloof and elegant, the other is like a willow swaying in the wind, a delicate orchid in a secluded valley—truly pitiful. But they clearly come from extraordinary backgrounds. Several guards are scattered around them, and no one dares to approach. I guess they're not easy to get close to."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan's lips twitched. He thought to himself that his wife was at it again. Fortunately, he was used to it. He looked up from the tree, shook his head, and said, "We've seen the golden branch and jade leaf. Our wish has been fulfilled. This trip was truly worthwhile. Even the most beautiful things are only amazing at first. Let's keep that beauty in our memories. Let's go look around somewhere else."

"Hmm, my husband, they are so beautiful! Look at them! If you're interested, find a way to marry them," the little princess kept urging.

Chen Xuan looked in the direction she indicated, nodded, and said objectively, "She is indeed very beautiful, about on par with you ladies, but to say that she would make my heart flutter at first sight is an exaggeration. Even Tingyin, who is known as the most beautiful woman in Yuhua Kingdom, couldn't win my heart with her looks alone."

Upon hearing this, the little princess looked at Chen Xuan strangely and teased, "Husband, you said you weren't interested in Tingyin. You brought her up several times since we came to Yuhua Kingdom. Anyway, I've already said that no matter how beautiful she is, she's too old. You can't bring her home. I have no objection to keeping her outside."

"I'm just stating the facts, okay?" Chen Xuan said speechlessly.

As he spoke, a thought struck him. With so many people in the square, those two women were stunningly beautiful; surely someone would recognize them. From the whispers of the crowd, Chen Xuan already knew their identities and couldn't help but murmur, "My lady, you're absolutely right. They truly have extraordinary backgrounds. It's quite a coincidence that we've run into them. That aloof and elegant woman is called Sun Qingzhu, a master of the Innate Realm, her cultivation level is probably in the middle range of that realm. Such cultivation at under twenty-five years old is truly exceptional talent. She's one of the ten most recognized beauties of the Yu Hua Kingdom. However, her other identity is even more special; she's the first disciple of the Grand Princess, a grandmaster-level expert of the Yu Hua Kingdom. Truly, a great teacher produces a great student!"

"As for the other one, the one my wife described as pitiful, her status is even more special. She is also one of the ten most recognized beauties in Yuhua Kingdom, the granddaughter of the powerful Grandmaster Qin Yan, the one rumored to be suffering from a strange illness, Qin Ruyu. It seems the rumors are true; she looks like a frail, sickly beauty, making one want to protect her. It seems she does indeed have a health problem, but I can't determine the cause based on just a few glances. This is truly a case of beauty being envied by heaven. To be honest, putting aside her family background, such a beauty is enough to make countless men lust after seeing her at first sight. It's fortunate that she has such a family background; otherwise, her appearance, without any cultivation, would be a source of trouble."

Chen Xuan learned about their identities from the whispers of people in the square. Their appearance was quite unexpected, but given their backgrounds, it was only natural that they would get together. In fact, they were close friends.

Hearing him say this, the little princess blinked and said, "Oh, my dear husband, you said you weren't tempted? Did you fall for them at first sight? You found out their identities so quickly, just admit it! I won't laugh at you. If you really have those desires, I'll even help you get what you want."

Her willingness to help Chen Xuan flirt with other women was a regular occurrence for her, and Chen Xuan simply let it go in one ear and out the other, not paying any attention to it at all.

As he spoke, he glanced at them and then looked away. Surrounded by beauties all day long, he was immune to them. However, at this moment, he frowned slightly and looked at Sun Qingzhu and Qin Ruyu again, but he was looking at Qin Ruyu more.

It wasn't that Chen Xuan was lustful at first sight; rather, it was because when they looked at each other, the other person also looked back. Chen Xuan and his companions were always the center of attention wherever they went, so it was normal for them to be noticed by the other person.

The key point is that when Qin Ruyu looked over, a hint of amazement flashed in her pitiful, sickly eyes. It was fleeting and well hidden, but Chen Xuan's keen senses still caught it.

With just a glance from the other person, Chen Xuan felt a strange sense of malice rising in his heart, as if a hunter had spotted its prey. It wasn't directed at him, but at the little princess and the others. Chen Xuan didn't think it was just his imagination; he always trusted his intuition.

That Qin Ruyu, the granddaughter of the Grandmaster-level expert Qin Yan, and one of the Ten Beauties of Yuhua Kingdom, is definitely suspicious and not as simple as she appears on the surface!
Rumor has it that she contracted a strange illness several years ago, which is why she has never married. Could she be a lesbian? Is she using her illness as an excuse to cover it up?

"It shouldn't be. That fleeting malice wasn't the delight shown by a fellow enthusiast; it was a deeper, more sinister intent. I cultivate the Way of Nature, and I'm extremely sensitive to the wickedness of the human heart. This Qin Ruyu definitely has a hidden, sinister side. No matter who you are or what your background is, if you have malicious intentions, don't blame me for being ruthless."

These thoughts flashed through his mind. Having no grudge against her, Chen Xuan wouldn't rashly attack in broad daylight based on a single glance from her. He was already on guard, and turned back with a smile, saying, "Wife, that's enough. Let's go, let's look elsewhere."

...(End of this chapter)