Chapter Nineteen: The Pear Blossom Courtyard

“Come, let’s go to the main courtyard,” Zhongli Yu said, gazing at Zhan Yan’s joyful expression with a tenderness so deep it seemed to flow like water.

“All right,” Zhan Yan nodded.

Zhongli Yu took her hand and led her inside. Before long, a beautiful arched gate appeared before them, bearing the bold characters: “Pear Blossom Court.”

“Why is it called Pear Blossom Court?” Zhan Yan looked up, curious.

“Do you remember when you were seven, I snuck into the Youlan Court of the Prince of Zhen Nan’s residence to see you? You were picking pears then, and the fragrance was intoxicating. I loved that feeling so much. When I returned, I ordered pear trees to be planted in my own courtyard, and renamed it Pear Blossom Court.”

“You secretly came to see me? How did I not know?” She wondered how his martial arts could be so remarkable.

“I concealed my presence, so you wouldn’t notice and be upset.”

“So, your courtyard in the Prince Chun’s manor is also called Pear Blossom Court?”

“Yes. If you don’t like it, Yan’er, you can change it later.”

“No, I like it very much. It doesn’t need to be changed.”

“Good. Then hurry and ask Grandpa Wu Li and your senior brothers to move in. Tomorrow, I’ll come to propose marriage.”

“But I haven’t come of age yet. Isn’t this too soon?” Zhan Yan felt it was all happening too fast. Though, in this era, some women married without ever meeting their husbands, in her previous life, such speed would have counted as a whirlwind marriage.

“By the time I’ve prepared the wedding, you will have come of age. The timing will be just right,” Zhongli Yu said earnestly.

“Don’t you think it’s too fast?”

“It’s not fast at all. I’ve already waited ten years and three months for you, plus the month until you come of age—ten years and four months altogether,” Zhongli Yu said pitifully.

Zhan Yan was momentarily speechless. Indeed, from the day they met, this man had taken her words to heart. How could she refuse him now?

“How did you have the courage to wait ten years for me? Weren’t you afraid I’d marry someone else?” Zhan Yan asked curiously.

“Of course I was afraid. I can’t imagine what I’d become if you married someone else. But I just wanted to wait for you, no matter the outcome,” Zhongli Yu spoke slowly, as if lost in memories. Back then, he was just a boy, barely understanding love, but he knew he liked that little girl—the one abandoned in the wild who neither cried nor complained. He couldn’t bear the thought of her marrying another. He simply wanted to wait, to keep her by his side, care for her, and protect her from harm.

“I’m glad I met you,” Zhan Yan smiled softly.

“Does that mean you agree?” Zhongli Yu’s eyes shone as he asked eagerly.

Zhan Yan nodded, her silent consent.

“I’ll send someone to find Grandpa tomorrow, and have him bring my brothers to live here.”

“Has Grandpa Wu Li wandered off again?”

“Yes. He can’t sit still. He spends all his time running around, delighting in stealing others’ wine.”

“I’ve heard of Grandpa Wu Li’s fondness for drink.”

“Actually, Grandpa’s name isn’t Wu Li—it’s Gu Yan. But he never lets us tell anyone his real name, so now hardly anyone knows it,” Zhan Yan said softly.

“Gu Yan?” Zhongli Yu looked surprised. “It’s said that forty years ago, the greatest martial artist was named Gu Yan. But after the woman he loved passed away, Gu Yan vanished from the world.”

“I’ve never heard that story. What happened?” Zhan Yan asked, intrigued.

“Forty years ago, Gu Yan was considered the greatest martial artist—no one ever defeated him. Later, a master named Zhou Xiang appeared, unrivaled except he hadn’t fought Gu Yan. By then, Gu Yan had met the woman he loved, Han Ruomei, and for her, he willingly withdrew from the martial world. They lived quietly in a secluded forest, untouched by worldly matters. No matter how many invitations Zhou Xiang sent, Gu Yan ignored them. Eventually, Zhou Xiang found Gu Yan’s hidden home, but Gu Yan refused to fight. Zhou Xiang waited in the woods for a month, but couldn’t sway him. To provoke Gu Yan, Zhou Xiang killed Gu Yan’s wife while he was hunting. Enraged, Gu Yan confronted Zhou Xiang, and it’s said that within ten moves, Zhou Xiang lay dead at Gu Yan’s feet. Overnight, Gu Yan’s hair turned white, and he disappeared from the martial world forever,” Zhongli Yu recounted.

“That Zhou Xiang was truly despicable. How could he kill someone’s wife just for a duel?” Zhan Yan’s face was full of indignation.

“Some people become obsessed with being the best, and their hearts turn cruel. Poor Grandpa, losing the woman he loved,” Zhongli Yu sighed.

“No wonder Grandpa drinks so much—he’s drowning his sorrows. Even with all the fine wine at home, it can’t keep him in. He prefers to steal others’ wine, and no matter how they hit him, he never strikes back,” Zhan Yan said helplessly, her heart aching. What courage must it take for this old man to survive alone? For some, death is not the hardest thing—it’s living on that is truly difficult.

Gently, Zhongli Yu drew Zhan Yan into his arms, softly patting her back to comfort her.