Chapter Ninety-Three: You Are Not Worthy!

Seeing Li Yi so overbearing, a flash of anger crossed Ugly Aunt’s eyes, but it vanished almost at once. She changed her expression, put on a smile, and said, “To be favored by Young Master Yi is an honor for my Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Since Young Master Yi insists on coming in today, it is not impossible, but Xiaoxiang Pavilion has kept its rules for more than ten years, and they cannot simply be broken at a word. Young Master Yi should at least let me give those above me an explanation.”

A strange look flashed in Li Yi’s eyes. Clearly, he had not expected her to be so easy to talk to. He certainly did not believe they truly cared so much about the status of the eldest grandson of a duke’s household. They had not even spared Li Ke’s face. There had to be something fishy about a business deal that came to his door.

Li Yi said calmly, “What kind of explanation do you want?”

Ugly Aunt rolled her eyes and said, “Heh, we won’t make things difficult for Young Master Yi. I have heard that Young Master Yi is unmatched in both poetry and prose. Might I ask whether Young Master Yi could compose a poem on the theme of women, to serve as a poem for a fan?”

Li Yi smiled in understanding. So this was their aim. Heh, was it really that simple?

Li Yi stood up and snapped open his folding fan with a sharp crack, smiling faintly. “Bring me writing materials.”

A look of delight appeared on Ugly Aunt’s face. She immediately clapped twice, and at once someone came in carrying a writing table. On it were brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and a fan.

Li Yi walked to the table and lifted his brush, pondering silently. Ugly Aunt, Li Ke, and Cheng Chumo hurried over as well. Watching Li Yi compose a poem and inscribe it on the spot was not something one got to see often.

After a moment, Li Yi suddenly opened his eyes. Just as he was about to write, he said, “After I finish the poem, this fan won’t just be given to you for free, will it?”

Ugly Aunt nearly choked on her breath. You were about to put brush to paper, and everyone was concentrating on you, and then you come out with that? Wasn’t that just deliberately stifling people?

Gritting her teeth, Ugly Aunt said, “Count this fan as the fee for your early entry into the inner hall. On top of that, we will pay you another one hundred strings of cash. How about that?”

Li Yi seemed to want to confirm it once more. He picked up the fan and asked again, “So, this fan is mine now?”

Ugly Aunt only wanted him to start writing, so without much thought she replied, “That’s right!”

Only then did Li Yi smile faintly. Gathering his focus once more, he began to write, and elegant flowing calligraphy bloomed across the paper.

“Since ancient times heroes have been countless,
The surging seas and vast currents fill the world with verse.
Through all ages men have loved to speak and judge,
But who says women cannot rival men?”

The poem was finished.

Cheng Chumo did not see anything remarkable. Li Ke could see a little, but felt no deep emotion. Yet Ugly Aunt’s eyes shone brightly, and for a moment she was even lost in thought. The poem itself did not display overwhelming brilliance; there were no ornate phrases, no dazzling display of talent. But the line she wanted was there: who says women cannot rival men? Those words struck straight at Ugly Aunt’s heart. The moment she saw the poem, she fell in love with it to the very bone. What was more, it was written by Li Yi himself, which made its meaning even greater. After all, Li Yi now counted as a master of the age.

After finishing the poem, Li Yi thought for a moment more. Then he turned the fan over and, on the back, wrote six bold characters in standard script: Heroines do not yield to men.

A righteous and overwhelming force, completed in one breath. Then he added his signature.

When Li Yi was done, Ugly Aunt could hardly wait to snatch up the fan, but Li Yi got there first.

Ugly Aunt stared at him in astonishment. “Young Master Li, what do you mean by this?”

Li Yi glanced at her, then gave a wicked smile. “Nothing much. I just suddenly remembered that it’s almost time for dinner, and my grandmother told me to go home and eat. So I’ll come to the inner hall of Xiaoxiang Pavilion another day.”

Ugly Aunt’s anger surged. She stepped to the doorway and blocked Li Yi’s path, saying coldly, “If you want to go home, leave the fan behind.”

Li Yi frowned. “What? In broad daylight, are you trying to rob me?”

Ugly Aunt said, “Rob you? Hmph! This fan was originally a thing of my Xiaoxiang Pavilion. I am only taking back what belongs to me. How can that be called robbery?”

Li Yi laughed. “Hahaha, it seems Ugly Aunt’s memory isn’t very good. Just now, Ugly Aunt clearly said that the moment I put brush to paper, the fan belonged to me!”

Ugly Aunt froze, only then remembering that she had fallen into Li Yi’s trap. Her expression changed at once. “Heh, there are only four of us here. Of course, whatever you say goes! Hmph! But since the day Xiaoxiang Pavilion opened, no one has ever dared to snatch things by force. Does Young Master Li want to try?”

Seeing her break her word, Li Ke could not stand it any longer. “Ugly Aunt, what do you mean by this? That’s going too far!”

Cheng Chumo also looked angry. “Hmph! If you want a fight, then bring it on. Am I supposed to be afraid of you?”

Yet Li Yi showed no trace of panic. He伸出手 to stop Li Ke and Cheng Chumo, who were growing angry, and continued unhurriedly, “Ugly Aunt, from the way you speak, it sounds like you are dead set on using force to take it, doesn’t it?”

Ugly Aunt looked at the three men before her. A hint of wariness flashed in her eyes, but then she looked at the fan in Li Yi’s hand, and resolve replaced it. That fan was all she had to comfort herself with. She absolutely could not let it go.

“I have already said it. I only want to take back what is mine.”

“What is yours?” Li Yi gave a mocking smile, then held up the front of the fan for her to see. “Look carefully. My name is written clearly right here, and my signature is on it as well. You say it is yours—who would believe that? Do you have proof? Heh, I have no time to waste with you. If you want to take this to court, I’ll accompany you anytime. If you want to use force, I don’t mind either. I’m sure you’ve heard that I killed dozens of assassins just yesterday. I wouldn’t mind opening the killing again.”

As Li Yi spoke, killing intent seeped out from him, frightening Ugly Aunt so badly that her face changed drastically. Only then did she remember that the young man before her was still a god of slaughter.

After a moment, Li Yi withdrew his killing intent, and Ugly Aunt finally came to her senses. Seeing that force would not work, she thought it over and could only choose softness.

“Young Master Li, I was wrong just now. Please forgive me. But I truly like that fan very much. Might Young Master Li part with it? Any price will do.”

Li Yi smiled faintly and looked at Ugly Aunt coolly. “Sorry, I’m not selling.”

Ugly Aunt was nearly going mad. “Why?”

“Because...” Li Yi looked at her seriously and said, “because you are not worthy.”

“I’m not worthy?” Ugly Aunt froze. Then her face turned bleak. “I’m not worthy...?”

With no expression at all, Ugly Aunt glanced at Li Yi once, then turned and left.

Watching her depart, Li Yi slowly shook the fan, deep in thought.

“Brother Yi, aren’t we being a little too harsh with a woman?” Li Ke was still young after all, and there remained a trace of stubborn kindness in his heart.

“Too harsh? Heh. Decheng, not everything is as simple as it looks. Don’t use your sympathy carelessly. It will make your sympathy worth nothing. Like today—do you really think this Ugly Aunt is as she appears?”

Li Ke was slightly startled. “Huh? Brother Yi, are you saying there’s something wrong with Ugly Aunt?”

Li Yi said, “Heh, I don’t know whether there’s a problem, but I do know there must be something wrong here. All right, let’s stop here for today. We can talk about anything else tomorrow.” With that, Li Yi left.

Li Ke called after him, “Brother Yi, where are you going?”

Li Yi replied, “Didn’t I already say? Going home for dinner.”