Upon Yu Che's words, everyone was stunned.
Xue Zi Ning took several steps back, staring at him. "What do you mean, a man would do too?"
Hearing this, Yu Che's lips curled into a devilish smile, his enchanting gaze brighter than ever. "As long as it's you, regardless of gender, I..."
"Young Master Yu, be mindful of your words!" Xue Zi Ning coldly interrupted.
Yu Che stepped forward. "What, are you scared?"
"Yes, I am very scared. Therefore, Young Master Yu, please refrain from making such jokes in the future. Goodbye! Xue Lian, let's go." Xue Zi Ning turned and left.
Yu Che started to step forward again but was blocked by Xue Lian. "Young Master Yu, please stay."
Yu Che stopped, watching the receding figure, his eyes flashing brightly.
"Young Master, is the martial arts competition for marriage still continuing?" the Zhao Mansion's steward inquired.
Yu Che glanced at the steward, his gaze icy. The steward immediately said, "This old servant understands Young Master's intentions. Everyone, withdraw, withdraw..."
"Who told you to withdraw?"
The Zhao Mansion's steward was taken aback. Had the young master's expression not been clear enough? But who was he? To be the Zhao Mansion's steward was no ordinary feat. He quickly slapped himself and apologized. "It is this servant's misunderstanding of Young Master's words. Young Master, please do not be angry. This servant will have them stop."
With that, the Zhao Mansion's steward hurried forward. "Stop, everyone stop!"
Only then did Yu Che nod. "Uncle Zhao, you truly are getting old. You can even misunderstand my words."
The Zhao Mansion's steward quickly smiled and said, "Young Master speaks the truth. This servant is indeed getting old."
Not far from the crowd, Hua Yun Jin watched the enchanting Yu Che through the throngs of people. Li Chao, standing beside him, couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, do you think there's something wrong with this Yu Che?"
Hua Yun Jin withdrew his gaze and said, "Perhaps I am overthinking it."
"What has Young Master thought of?" Li Chao asked.
Hua Yun Jin shook his head. "Nothing." He truly was a bit suspicious, to think Yu Che was that person. How could it be? They were completely different.
Seeing Hua Yun Jin unwilling to speak, Li Chao didn't press further. He merely glanced at the magnificent Yu Che on the stage before withdrawing his gaze.
"Let's go!" Hua Yun Jin said, and left.
Li Chao quickly followed.
"Young Master, someone has come to compete," the Zhao Mansion's steward said, looking at the still somewhat dazed Yu Che, reminding him.
Yu Che raised his eyes and looked at the person standing on the stage. He saw that the woman was covered in fat, with saliva even dripping from her mouth.
"My little darling, if you marry me, all my family's wealth will be yours."
A cold glint flashed in Yu Che's eyes. He stood up, his crimson robes sliding down with his movement, without a single crease, extremely smooth, revealing them to be of the finest material.
He stood there, his slender and straight back like a pine tree, his face as jade, his demeanor refined and handsome, his gaze enchanting and bright as the morning glow, truly a demonic presence.
The woman opposite him seemed to have saliva flowing from her mouth. "Beauty."
He glanced at the woman, his voice clear yet carrying a chill. "You are not worthy of me."
These few words caused the woman to tremble. Looking at Yu Che once more, she felt an unprecedented chill. For a moment, it seemed as if the surroundings had frozen over, and she stood there, unable to move, only allowing the cold to penetrate her body.
"Please step down," Yu Che said coldly, waving his hand.
The Zhao Mansion's steward quickly ordered his servants to escort the woman away. This time, the woman obediently left the stage without any delay or hesitation.
"Young Master, the person..." The Zhao Mansion's steward had driven the woman away and turned back to find Yu Che had already vanished.
The Zhao Mansion's steward was inwardly displeased. Just a mere nephew of the Madam dared to treat him like this. One day, he would make him pay.
Madam Zhao looked at the woman kneeling at her feet, somewhat dazed. The woman raised her head, and that familiar feeling suddenly arose. "You..."
"My name is A Yao," the woman replied.
"A Yao..." Madam Zhao trembled slightly. She pulled the woman up and continued to ask, "When is your birthday?"
"Replying to Madam, when I was an infant, I was picked up by a Daoist priest. I have never known my birthday since childhood."
Madam Zhao trembled even more violently, her voice choked with emotion. "Then... did the Daoist priest who found you say when you were found?"
"The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. The Daoist priest said that the day he found me was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month."
Madam Zhao's body stiffened. She scrutinized the woman, tightly gripping her arm. "Child, my child..." Suddenly, Madam Zhao fainted.
Lord Zhao, Zhao Shen, upon hearing that his wife had fainted, rushed back to the mansion.
After Yu Che left the stage, he returned to his Southern Isle Pavilion. However, before he could enter, he heard a servant report that Madam Zhao had fainted.
Although Madam Zhao's health was not very good, this was the first time she had fainted in broad daylight.
Therefore, he didn't have time to change his clothes and hurried towards Madam Zhao's Jade Purity Pavilion.
"Madam, how could you have fainted?" Zhao Shen rushed into the inner chambers and saw Yu Min Xiang, who was pale on the bed, his expression turning cold.
The personal maids by Madam Zhao's side, Yue Gui and Yue Chu, immediately knelt on the ground. "My Lord, please do not be angry. Madam fainted after seeing Miss A Yao."
Seeing a woman faint? Zhao Shen said coldly, "Who is Miss A Yao?"
Yue Gui said, "My Lord, please wait a moment. This servant will go and invite Miss A Yao in."
"Go!" Zhao Shen said.
A Yao had come to the outside of the Jade Purity Pavilion after Madam Zhao fainted. She felt that she couldn't help much inside, and moreover, she still had to think about how to respond when Madam Zhao woke up.
However, upon coming outside, she discovered how large the Zhao Mansion was, far beyond her expectations. A family of this status might be hers in the future. How could she not be happy?
Suddenly, a figure in red caught her eye. She saw the most beautiful person she had seen in eighteen years. She couldn't describe it; she only remembered that no words could adequately portray it. It was simply breathtaking.
Her face was like jade, her features like a painting, her radiance dazzling. Standing there, she was like a person stepping out of a painting.
She stared intently. "Are... are you human?"
Yu Che, concerned about Madam Zhao, did not expect to be stared at for so long by a super ugly woman upon entering the Jade Purity Pavilion, and even asked if he was human.
"I am not human, are you?"
"No." A Yao shook her head, then after a moment, she realized she had just said she wasn't human.
"Miss A Yao, my Lord wishes to see you." Yue Gui came out and walked to A Yao's side, speaking slowly.