Chapter 533 Don’t dare to disobey
"Three times in a row, I deliberately avoided you, just to make you give up. I didn't expect you to be so persistent."

In the study, there was a small light, dim and hazy.

Luo Tianjin sat lazily behind the desk, holding a copy of the Heart Sutra in his hand. His deep and shrewd eyes stared at the uneasy Liu Xunyi with a half-smile.

"The Palace Master should know why I am here? He should also know..."

"Wait!" Luo Tianjin interrupted, "Tell me first, who are you here for?"

Liu Xunyi frowned, as if he didn't understand Luo Tianjin's hidden meaning, and asked suspiciously: "What does the Palace Master mean?"

"For yourself? For Yu'er? Or for Lin Fangda?" Luo Tianjin asked mysteriously.

Liu Xunyi hesitated for a moment and said seriously, "All of them are, and none of them are."

"Oh?" Luo Tianjin put down the Heart Sutra in his hand, picked up a cup of tea, and said with interest, "Tell me about it."

"First, I have no intention of overstepping my authority over you, so marriage is a serious matter and I dare not take it lightly. Second, it would be unfair to you if you marry a man who shares your bed with you but has different dreams from you. Third..." At this point, Liu Xunyi's tone slowed down and he sighed, "Third, your elder brother has been in love with you for a long time. If I steal your love away, how can I be a gentleman?"

"This is 'all for', let's talk about 'nothing for'."

"Not for myself, not for the young lady, not for my elder brother, just for the sake of the facts. The mansion master shouldn't marry the young lady to me." Liu Xunyi explained, "First, love should not be forced. Second, the mansion master promised me that the marriage was to deceive Ren Wuya, and it was just a show. Therefore... the mansion master shouldn't use the excuse of 'breaking a promise to a hero in the world' as a reason for us to get married..."

"presumptuous!"

Luo Tianjin's face darkened, and Liu Xunyi was immediately startled. He quickly bowed his hands and apologized: "Xunyi said something wrong, please forgive me, Lord."

"You didn't say something out of turn, you just said nonsense." Luo Tianjin said unhappily, "Liu Xunyi, who am I to you?"

"This..." Liu Xunyi was stunned and said hesitantly, "The Palace Master is Xunyi's benefactor and also Xunyi's master."

"There is a saying that goes 'Once a teacher, always a father'. Since you have no father or mother, your teacher is your parent, right?"

"Correct."

"Marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words. So why can't I let you decide your lifelong affairs?" Luo Tianjin said calmly, "First, it is precisely because marriage is a matter of life that I have to make the decision for you and cannot let you do whatever you want. Second, Yu'er loves you deeply, I don't need to say more, you know it very well, so marrying her to you can just satisfy her wishes. It would be really unfair to marry her to a man she doesn't like. Third, I raised Lin Fangda by myself, and I know his temper very well. There is only a brother-sister relationship between him and Yu'er, and there is absolutely no love between men and women. You don't need to doubt this, let alone worry about it."

"But Brother clearly said to Miss..."

"Xun Yi, I've already said it." Luo Tianjin's tone sank, and he repeated without question, "Lin Fangda and Luo Ningyu only have a brother-sister relationship, not a love between a man and a woman."

"This..." Luo Tianjin's tough attitude made Liu Xunyi not know how to refute for a while.

"Let me discuss the matter with you." Luo Tianjin ignored Liu Xunyi's hesitation and continued, "First, although love cannot be forced, it can be cultivated slowly. Why can other people's children get married first and then cultivate love, but you can't? It's ridiculous! Second, when I was at Huashan, I said 'marriage can be discussed in the long run', and never said 'it doesn't count', so don't take my words out of context."

"But……"

"It is precisely because I can 'consider the long term' that I will meet you tonight." Luo Tianjin said faintly, "Otherwise, why would I need to explain my decision to you?"

"How can it be 'taking the long term view'? It's clearly 'forcing someone to do something'..." Liu Xunyi was dissatisfied, but his voice was as thin as a mosquito's silk.

"Liu Xunyi, do you really hate my daughter?"

"Definitely not!" Liu Xunyi said hurriedly, "I don't dislike you at all, it's just..."

"If that's the case, why do you keep shirking responsibility?" Luo Tianjin said dissatisfiedly, "Do you know that your ignorance not only humiliates Yu'er, but also embarrasses me. If this matter is made public, people will think that my Luo family covets you for something? How could you be so mean and force yourself on you again and again? It's as if no one wants my daughter, Luo Tianjin, and I have to 'sell' her to you at a low price."

"I absolutely dare not!" Luo Tianjin's words made Liu Xunyi's heart tremble with fear. He felt a chill on his spine and quickly knelt on the ground, saying humbly, "I am of humble origin and worthless, and I am afraid that I am not worthy of you, young lady..."

"Hey!" Luo Tianjin waved his hand and said, "I have no other requirements from you. I won't take any betrothal gifts. Instead, I will give you a huge dowry. But there is one thing you must promise me."

Liu Xunyi was stunned and asked tremblingly: "What's the matter?"

"After you and Yu'er get married, you must give me three or five big fat grandchildren as soon as possible." Luo Tianjin said with a smile, "I can ignore the other children, but your first son must have the surname 'Luo', how about that?"

"This..." Liu Xunyi never expected that before she agreed to the marriage, Luo Tianjin had already started to consider the issue of offspring.

"Don't worry, I won't be greedy and let your Liu family be cut off." It's unknown whether Luo Tianjin is really confused or pretending to be confused. He turned a blind eye to Liu Xunyi's hesitation and said directly, "I only want the eldest son to have the surname Luo. As for the other grandchildren, it's up to you two to decide."

Liu Xunyi knew clearly that once Luo Tianjin made a decision, no one else could change it. However, considering his situation and true identity, he still had to bite the bullet and give it a try.

First, to preserve his loyalty to Zhao Xin. Second, to protect Luo Ningyu's happiness.

After all, Liu Xunyi will have to return to Tianji Pavilion sooner or later. Once his identity is revealed, he and Luo Tianjin are bound to part ways on bad terms.

By then, if Luo Ningyu has become "Mrs. Liu", she will inevitably be caught up in the grudge between the two men, entangled and in excruciating pain.

Liu Xunyi made up his mind and said bluntly: "May I ask the Palace Master, this matter... is there really no room for negotiation?" Luo Tianjin narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in return: "Could it be that your Liu family was once a famous noble family? You valued the eldest son..."

“No, no, no!” Seeing that Luo Tianjin had misunderstood, Liu Xunyi hurriedly explained, “I’m not talking about the child, I’m talking about this marriage…”

"boom!"

Before he finished speaking, Luo Tianjin suddenly threw the teacup in his hand onto the table.

In an instant, the teacup overturned and the tea spilled all over the place, soaking the Heart Sutra on the table and drowning out Liu Xunyi's desire to argue.

He knew that Luo Tianjin's action was a sign of extreme impatience. If he said another word, it would be considered "ignorance of the times" at best, and shameless at worst.

Under Luo Tianjin's sharp gaze, which was neither happy nor angry, neither gloomy nor sunny, Liu Xunyi felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

At this moment, Liu Xunyi's heart was beating fast. He knew that Luo Tianjin was waiting for him to compromise, but a trace of obsession in his heart was struggling to support him, making him prefer to remain silent rather than say one thing and do another.

"Looking for clothes." After an indeterminate amount of silence, Luo Tianjin slowly spoke, "Leader of the Wulin, Lord of the Xianwang Mansion, Northern Xianwang... no matter what your identity is, you must maintain dignity. And I am also a person who cares about face."

Just with this one sentence, Liu Xunyi was exhausted, sweating profusely, and no longer had the will to fight against it.

"Xun Yi...I understand."

"If you want to achieve great things, you need ambition, vision, and means." Luo Tianjin taught, "Love is long-lasting, but heroes are short-lived. At the beginning, I didn't want these eight words to become Xuan'er's shackles. Today, I don't want them to become your shackles. Do you... understand your teacher's intentions?"

"The Lord's words are worth ten years of study." Liu Xunyi nodded and said, "I will try my best..."

"It's not about trying your best, it's about making sure." Luo Tianjin said seriously, "Whether you are a man or a woman, choosing a partner to spend your life with is definitely a profound knowledge. Not only do you have to know how to be in love, but you also have to know how to be far-sighted. If you choose the right one, it's like riding the wind and waves, soaring up to 90,000 miles. If you choose the wrong one, it's like sailing against the current, working hard but still failing. Xunyi, one day you will understand that marrying Luo Ningyu will be the wisest decision you have ever made in your life, because there will be no other woman in the world... better than her."

"Yes."

"Think carefully, if it weren't for Yu'er risking her life to save you when the mansion was purged, you would have been chopped down by Huang Yulang. How could you be here today?"

"I have no way to repay you for your kindness, young lady." Liu Xunyi said sincerely, "If it weren't for your protection, I don't know how many times I would have died."

"Good to know, go down!"

"Yes."

In a trance, Liu Xunyi left Luo Tianjin's study.

Under the moonlight, he was alone, staggering towards the east courtyard like a zombie.

"Since the Palace Master has made up his mind, it is absolutely impossible for him to take back his decision. Right now, I can only find another way..."

Just when Liu Xunyi was distracted, a hurried figure came towards him in the corridor and bumped into him.

"Who?"

"Liu Zhishan, be careful, I am a villain, Li Jia."

The visitor quickly stepped back, bowed to Liu Xunyi, and asked with a smile: "Excuse me, Liu Zhishan, is the master in the study?"

Li Jia is a doctor in the Xianwang Mansion. He is a skilled doctor and was personally appointed by Luo Tianjin to accompany him on his trip to Huashan. This person played an indispensable role in saving Jiang Yiwei and Liu Xunyi's lives.

"It's Mr. Li. I'm so sorry!" Liu Xunyi greeted him. "You look so hurried. What happened?"

"The mansion master ordered me to look after Mr. Jiang San and wake him up as soon as possible. I dare not neglect it." Li Jia said proudly with a smile on his face, "Grandma Taohua is indeed the best doctor in the world. With her acupuncture and medicine, a miracle has happened in just two hours."

"Miracle?" Liu Xunyi asked in surprise, "You mean... Third Master woke up?"

"He hasn't fully woken up yet, but there are signs of waking up." Li Jia nodded and said, "I'm sure he will wake up in an incense stick of time. The mansion master has instructed that Mr. Jiang Sanye should tell him immediately after he wakes up, so I was in a hurry... I almost bumped into Liu Zhishan, I hope you will forgive me."

"My life was saved by you, sir. How can I offend you?" Liu Xunyi smiled modestly, stepped aside to make way, and said with a bow, "In that case, I will not block you from receiving the credit. The Lord of the Mansion is in the study right now. Please come in, sir!"

"Okay, okay! Liu Zhishan, walk slowly. I will go ahead."

"Sir, please!"

After saying that, Li Jia no longer hesitated, bowed to Liu Xunyi, and then hurried to the inner courtyard.

Looking at Li Jia's back, Liu Xunyi smiled indifferently, then thought of his own situation, and couldn't help feeling worried. He sighed softly and walked away silently.

……

(End of this chapter)