The following morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of Shen Yanzhou's room.
The young man had been awake for some time, yet he was still lying flat on his bed, both hands folded behind his head as he stared blankly at the ceiling.
His mind was busy searching for a way out of the disaster awaiting him.
How could he escape that boring training while returning to the wonderful life he had once enjoyed?
The more he thought about it, the more troublesome his situation seemed.
Ah, damn it! Why does Father have to be so serious? I only want to enjoy my life. Is it wrong for a handsome young man like me to have a little fun?
As the thought crossed his mind, his memories suddenly drifted back to the previous night.
The three beautiful women at the Spring Blossom Pavilion, their teasing laughter, and the pleasant time he had spent with them before his father arrived and ruined everything.
Shen Yanzhou grinned.
"Hehehe..."
His smile gradually widened as he recalled just how enjoyable the evening had been.
"Ahh... What a shame."
His eyes sparkled for a moment, but then he suddenly felt something trickling from his nose.
He raised a hand and touched the area beneath it.
When he looked at his fingertip, he saw a red stain.
"Huh? Why am I having a nosebleed?"
Shen Yanzhou hurriedly sat up and grabbed a cloth to wipe his nose. After checking himself for a moment, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"It must be because of Father's beating yesterday! That old man really has no idea how to treat his own son."
He grumbled as he wiped his nose.
A moment later, however, his expression darkened again.
His real problem remained unsolved.
If he refused to train, his father might genuinely ask his grandfather to escort him to the imperial palace and turn him into a eunuch.
A eunuch!
The moment he thought of that word, Shen Yanzhou's body stiffened.
In his imagination, he pictured himself standing in the imperial palace, dressed in a eunuch's robes, while the most important part of his manhood had become a thing of the past.
"Ughhh!"
He shuddered violently and hurriedly pressed his thighs together.
"No! Absolutely not!"
His pride as a man would never allow such a thing to happen!
He could accept many things in life. He could even endure being dragged through the streets by his ear in front of countless people. But becoming a eunuch?
Impossible!
Shen Yanzhou took a deep breath and clenched his fists, wearing an expression that made him look like a heroic warrior preparing to face his sworn enemy.
"Fine! I'll train! I'll learn martial arts and cultivation!"
After declaring this with great enthusiasm, he immediately prepared to get out of bed.
But just before his feet touched the floor, he suddenly stopped.
An idea had occurred to him.
A sly smile slowly spread across his face.
"Hehehe..."
He lifted his chin slightly, looking rather pleased with the plan that had just formed in his mind.
"If I have to train, then I should at least make sure there's something to make it worthwhile."
Without wasting another moment, Shen Yanzhou climbed out of bed and called for a servant to prepare his bath.
After washing up, he put on a light blue robe embroidered with white clouds along the edges of its sleeves. He neatly tied up his long black hair and secured it with a simple jade hair ornament before examining his appearance in a bronze mirror.
His handsome face was reflected on the mirror's surface.
His skin was clear, his eyebrows well-defined, and his bright black eyes carried a natural air of cleverness. Even after waking up, he still looked every bit like a young master from a prominent family.
Shen Yanzhou nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. With a face like mine, it shouldn't be difficult."
He flashed a confident smile and walked out of his room.
The Shen Family's training ground was already bustling when Shen Yanzhou arrived.
Located in the eastern section of the family residence, the grounds were surrounded by tall stone walls and several ancient pine trees. Along one side stood rows of weapon racks holding wooden swords, training spears, and various blunt weapons used to practice the fundamentals of martial arts. On the opposite side were several dark-roofed buildings where training equipment was stored.
Dozens of Shen Family members were practicing under the supervision of their instructors.
Some of the younger men repeatedly swung wooden swords, working to maintain proper stances and balance. Others practiced punches and kicks, while a few older members corrected their students' movements.
The sounds of clashing wood, shouted instructions, and footsteps filled the morning air.
At the center of the training ground stood a middle-aged man with a sturdy build.
He was Shen Yanzhou's father, the Patriarch of the Shen Family, and the man responsible for the young master's sudden interest in cultivation.
His face bore the sternness of a leader accustomed to giving orders and expecting obedience. He had thick eyebrows, a strong jaw, and a few strands of white hair near his temples. His long hair was tied neatly beneath a simple crown, while his dark robe was decorated with understated embroidery that nevertheless reflected his distinguished status.
He was not particularly bulky, but his movements conveyed strength and control. Whenever he stood before the family members, no one dared to ignore his instructions.
"Lower your shoulders! You're too stiff!"
The patriarch's voice echoed across the training ground.
"Don't rely solely on the strength of your arms. Pay attention to your footing. If your balance is poor, a single attack will be enough to knock you down!"
The young man practicing before him hurriedly corrected his stance.
The patriarch watched a few more movements before giving a slight nod.
"Continue. Repeat it until your movements are no longer sloppy."
He then moved to another group and resumed his instructions.
That was when Shen Yanzhou entered the training ground.
He did not immediately approach his father. Instead, he stood near the entrance and calmly surveyed his surroundings, as though assessing the situation.
Unfortunately, it did not take him long to discover a serious problem.
Every single person there was a man.
There wasn't a single beautiful woman in sight who could make the morning more enjoyable.
Shen Yanzhou's smile faltered slightly.
What a miserable place.
Nevertheless, he quickly restored his smile. He had already come this far, so he couldn't give up without at least trying his plan.
With light steps, he approached his father.
"Father!"
The patriarch, who had been correcting a family member's movements, turned around. When he saw his son, the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile that immediately made Shen Yanzhou feel uneasy.
"Hmm?"
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"Looks like my threat last night finally frightened you into obedience."
"Frightened?" Shen Yanzhou lifted his chin confidently. "Father, there's nothing in this world that your handsome son needs to fear!"
"Is that so?"
The patriarch raised an eyebrow.
"In that case, I suppose there's no need for me to trouble your grandfather. I only need to ask him to—"
"Stooop!"
Shen Yanzhou immediately raised both hands.
"Father, don't be so hasty! I've come here to train. Let's make peace and forget all that talk about becoming a eunuch."
He patted his chest with an expression of utmost sincerity.
"I swear I'll train seriously!"
The patriarch studied his son from head to toe.
Shen Yanzhou looked serious. At least, he was trying to look serious.
However, his eyes occasionally wandered from side to side, observing the family members practicing around him. His gaze was clearly not that of someone eagerly embarking on the path of cultivation.
The patriarch immediately understood what was going through his son's mind.
He almost laughed but eventually settled for a quiet snort.
This brat. Even now, his mind is still wandering somewhere else.
Shen Yanzhou failed to notice that his intentions had already been exposed. Instead, he stepped a little closer and put on an expectant expression.
"Father, may I ask you for something?"
"What now?"
"Could we invite Chang Shiyue here?"
The patriarch's eyebrows moved slightly.
Shen Yanzhou hurriedly explained before his father could ask any questions.
"Chang-guniang has been practicing martial arts for a long time. Her fundamentals must be much better than mine. If I could train alongside her, I would certainly learn a great deal. Besides, since we're already engaged, wouldn't it be good for us to spend more time together?"
He nodded several times, as though he had just presented an entirely reasonable argument.
"That way, I can improve my martial arts while strengthening our relationship. Wouldn't that benefit everyone?"
The patriarch fell silent.
For some reason, hearing his son mention Chang Shiyue with such seriousness made him feel that something was amiss.
He knew Shen Yanzhou too well.
The young man would usually come up with a thousand excuses to avoid training. Now, all of a sudden, he wanted to practice alongside his fiancée?
The patriarch narrowed his eyes.
What is this brat planning?
Although suspicious, he did not immediately refuse.
"Very well. I'll ask a servant to deliver an invitation to Chang-xiaojie. Whether she comes or not is up to her."
He looked at his son sternly.
"And listen carefully. You will continue training even if she doesn't come. Don't think you can use her presence as an excuse to slack off."
Shen Yanzhou's smile froze for a moment.
Cold sweat began to form on his forehead.
What if she doesn't come?
He imagined himself spending the entire day training under his father's supervision, surrounded by a group of young men who cared about nothing but their stances, punches, and sword swings.
No beautiful women.
No pleasant conversation.
No opportunity to relax.
Nothing but training!
His back was practically drenched in sweat just thinking about it, even though the morning air was still cool.
"Father..."
"What?"
Shen Yanzhou swallowed nervously.
"Could you ask the servant to deliver the invitation as quickly as possible?"
The patriarch glanced at him.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Chang-xiaojie is not a servant of our family whom you can summon whenever you please. She is a daughter of the Chang Family. If she is willing to come, she will come."
"Of course, of course. Father is absolutely right."
Shen Yanzhou nodded quickly, but his heart was already growing restless.
The patriarch finally turned toward a servant standing nearby.
"Go to the Chang Family residence and deliver an invitation to Chang-xiaojie. Tell her that Yanzhou wishes to practice martial arts with her."
"Yes, Patriarch!"
The servant bowed respectfully before promptly leaving the training ground.
Shen Yanzhou watched him depart with an expectant gaze.
Hurry up. Don't disappoint me, Chang-guniang.
One hour passed.
Shen Yanzhou stood at the edge of the training ground, holding the wooden sword he had been given. He had tried to perform a few basic movements, but his attention kept drifting toward the entrance.
Whenever he heard footsteps, he immediately turned his head.
Unfortunately, the person who appeared was always another family member or a servant going about their duties.
There was still no sign of Chang Shiyue.
Don't tell me she really isn't coming?
Shen Yanzhou grew increasingly anxious.
He tried to swing his wooden sword again, but his movements were far from serious. A young man practicing nearby even glanced at him with a puzzled expression.
The patriarch, who was observing from a distance, could only shake his head.
"Focus on your sword!" he reprimanded.
Shen Yanzhou immediately straightened his back.
"Yes, Father!"
He resumed his practice, although his thoughts were still elsewhere.
Two hours passed.
The sun had climbed higher in the sky. Sweat soaked Shen Yanzhou's forehead and neck, while his light blue robe had begun sticking to his body. Even his neatly arranged hair was now slightly disheveled.
He tightened his grip on the wooden sword.
Damn it. Is Chang Shiyue really not coming?
His jaw tightened. He was even grinding his teeth in frustration.
If she doesn't come, today will truly be the worst day of my life!
He imagined himself practicing until sunset alongside his father and a group of young men who cared about nothing but their stances, punches, and sword swings.
The thought nearly brought him to tears.
But just as his patience was about to run out, a servant at the entrance suddenly bowed respectfully.
"Chang-xiaojie."
Shen Yanzhou immediately turned around.
Standing there was a young woman dressed in seemingly simple clothing made from fine-quality fabric. Her outer robe was pale blue-white, embroidered with delicate plum blossoms along the sleeves and hem of her skirt. Her long black hair was neatly arranged in a bun, adorned with a white jade hairpin that glimmered softly in the sunlight.
A thin veil covered her nose and mouth, leaving the upper half of her face visible.
Her clear, phoenix-shaped eyes were slightly elongated and radiated composure. Her eyebrows were slender, while the fair skin around her eyes looked smooth and flawless. Her gaze was cool but not empty; there was a quiet firmness in it, as though she was accustomed to carefully assessing things before making a decision.
Even with part of her face concealed, the young woman's elegance was difficult to hide.
Her posture was straight and balanced. Every step was light yet steady, revealing that she had trained her body diligently for years. Her robe moved gently with her movements, and a faint fragrance of plum blossoms lingered in the air as she passed the trees bordering the training ground.
She wore no excessive jewelry. Apart from the jade hairpin and a simple white sash around her waist, her appearance was almost entirely unadorned. Yet that very simplicity made her seem all the more graceful and refined.
Chang Shiyue made no effort to attract anyone's attention. She simply walked forward calmly, but several members of the Shen Family unconsciously paused their training to glance in her direction.
It was hardly surprising that people throughout Qinghe Prefecture often described her as one of the most beautiful young women in the region.
To Shen Yanzhou, who had spent the entire morning surrounded by sweaty faces and wooden swords, her arrival felt as though someone had just opened a window in a stuffy room.
His eyes immediately lit up.
The fatigue and frustration that had been building inside him for the past two hours seemed to vanish in an instant.
"Shiyue!"
He hurried forward, nearly forgetting that only moments ago he had been cursing his own fate.
Chang Shiyue stopped and turned her gaze toward him.
"Shen Yanzhou."
Her voice was calm, without any excessive warmth.
Shen Yanzhou paid no attention to her flat tone. Instead, he smiled broadly, trying to present himself as a polite and considerate fiancé.
"You finally came."