Chapter 634: I Am Not A Threat To You

If a girl as loyal as Shangguan Lingxiu had her heart planted in the idea of someone, her love and devotion would never fade even under the test of time - Ji Lingxi was sure of it.

To be honest, Shangguan Lingxiu could still put aside her status as a lady in a situation like this to drink with Yun Yang despite being in public; to Ji Lingxi, it was already a hard feat to accomplish, as one way or another, her intentions had been clearly revealed.

The Shangguan Family of Generals' remaining elders had seen a better part of life while the next generation still had not come of age. In a time like this, Shangguan Lingxiu - the pillar of the family - would never abandon the family to seek her own happiness.

As Yun Yang's skills heightened further, his future would not just stop at the Empire of Yutang.

He could leave, walk out, or vanish at any moment.

If Yun Yang left, she did not know when would be the next time they would meet. Perhaps they might not meet ever again; or perhaps when they finally meet once more, she would have already become an old lady.

Instead of doing nothing, she should seize the opportunity when she was still able to - go see him more frequently, to have more meals, to spend a little more time together...

If there was such a day in the future... these would certainly be the memories of a lifetime!

At least we had our moment - it was better than having none at all!

When she lay across her deathbed, moments away from departing the world, she would recall these pleasant memories, replaying them over and over again in her head. At least, I have experienced love. Once upon a time, he and I - we had our moment together!

Ji Lingxi dared to place this bet with a hundred percent of confidence - her guess may not be perfectly accurate, but she reckoned it would be at least eighty or ninety percent of hitting the right spot.

She was confident indeed, for if she stepped into the shoes of Shangguan Lingxiu, savoring similar experiences and predicaments - she would do the same, she would definitely do the same!

She might be even bolder, even more extravagant with her actions!

Shangguan Lingxiu remained silent for a long time, her head drooped.

"Not bad, Sister Lingxi. Everything sentence, every word you said - it was exactly like how I imagined it to be," She murmured softly when she finally lifted her gaze, staring straight into Ji Lingxi's eyes. "That was really all I was thinking about in my heart - is that foolish of me?"

Ji Lingxi gaped at her, at a loss as to how to respond.

Shangguan Lingxiu smiled calmly. "In the Empire of Yutang, girls are considered of suitable age to wed when they turn sixteen. Most even become mothers when they're about seventeen or eighteen. I— I am already twenty-two this year."

"My eldest nephew, the oldest among the six of them, must be at least fourteen or fifteen to be deemed suitable of age to take over the family's duties- they would be much wiser and informed about the dealings of the world by then."

"However, my eldest nephew is only nine this year."

"That means..." Her voice lowered by a notch. "To begin letting go, I'll have to wait for another six years, at the very least. Even if it was only five years, I will still be twenty-seven by then."

"Even if that time really comes, can I really let it go, completely? I will still have to guide my nephew, no matter what. I can only truly let go - truly be relieved from this duty - when he officially takes over the duties and responsibilities of the Shangguan Family of Generals - when he's fully qualified to be the heir of the family."

"At the very least, that would add on a year of guidance. By then, I would be twenty-eight."

"Lingxi, do you know what being a twenty-eight-year-old unmarried maiden means, here, in the Empire of Yutang? That's almost the equivalent of being an old maid. Even if I never found the one for me by then, and planned to settle with just anyone at all, it would still be quite a far shot."

"The ones who are of a similar age would already have wives and children; fifteen and sixteen-year-old teenage boys are simply too childish to stir my interest - I doubt they'd even be interested in an old maid like me. If I really do plan to wed in the future, the ones I could only find are widowed men in their thirties or forties - they would be my only alternative."

"However, instead of choosing a fate like this, I'd rather be single for life. What do you think?" implored Shangguan Lingxiu, with a faint smile upon her lips.

Ji Lingxi could not help but to agree with a nod of her head.

Yes, I concur. If that was how it was going to be, it would be a much better option to be by yourself till the end of days.

"Therefore... I am not a threat to you," said Shangguan Lingxiu bitterly. Her heart shattered into a million pieces the moment the words left her lips as if it incurred irreversible damage. She could taste something sour in her mouth as she took a moment to compose her thoughts before speaking again. "I won't deny that I fancy Yun Yang, but I am not a threat—n-not even half a threat to you."

Ji Lingxi's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she emitted a soft sigh.

She stretched across and held Shangguan Lingxiu's hand with her own. "Sister Lingxiu, you must've misinterpreted the reason behind our talk - let me finish."

With her hand in Ji Lingxi's, Shangguan Lingxiu could only gape at her.

Ji Lingxi gulped a few times, swallowing with great difficulty. "We all know that it is, in fact, a common practice for men to wed many women at once. Women like you and I, however, will never willingly allow this to happen - to share my man with someone else."

When she said 'my man' with such vigor, her already flushed face turned into an even deeper shade of crimson. A virgin maiden like her speaking in such a manner - the waves of embarrassment that followed naturally was hard to suppress.

Shangguang Lingxiu nodded, still gaping at her. She did not understand what Ji Lingxi was trying to tell her.

"About this, my stand is still strong- I will not agree," repeated Ji Ling Xi.

"However outstanding she is, however impressive— I will not agree to it."

"Even when faced with the largest powers of the world, I will still not agree to it."

"My man should belong only to me— and will only belong to me!"

Ji Lingxi declared determinedly.

"You don't have to repeat yourself - I understand, I truly do," replied Shangguan Lingxiu in a small voice.

If it was me, I would never agree to it either. We're all women here - do you really have to repeat this over and over again? Are you simply trying to show off? Shangguan Lingxiu mulled pensively.

Ji Lingxi's chest puffed outwards in a volatile manner as she clung on to Shangguan Lingxiu's arm desperately. "Nonetheless... I am currently plagued with a situation which is getting out of hand..."

"Getting out of hand? What do you mean, getting out of hand? What are you trying to say?" asked Shangguan Lingxiu, stunned at Ji Lingxi's bizarre behavior.

There was a sheen of embarrassment in Ji Lingxi's eyes, but she proclaimed bravely. "What I'm saying is... if - no, when it comes to the t-time you hand over your duties, sister... i-if it was me... I still can't... that... I...I..."

Her words became increasingly jumbled the more she spoke. Finally, she shut her eyes tight and spat it out with resolve.

"I-If that time really comes, can we be together - forever?"