Reborn, the daughter of the Marquisate went crazy

Shengjing City, Jiang Mansion.

Xie Qingli paced back and forth outside Jiang Zhong's study. A Niang had been inside for half an hour, but the door remained firmly shut, not a single sound leaking out. The bronze bells on the eaves tinkled in the wind, adding to the anxiety.

She paused at the corridor, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the intricate lotus patterns on the pillars. Grandfather had always been strict, and she wondered if A-niang could untie the knot that had been lingering in her heart for years.

"Squeak-"

The door slowly opened and Jiang Muxue walked out. Her eyes were red and tears were still on her long eyelashes.

"Mother!" Xie Qingli's heart tightened, and he hurried forward to hold Jiang Muxue's hand: "What's wrong with you?"

Jiang Muxue raised the corners of her lips in a gentle arc. She raised her hand to tidy up her daughter's hair and said softly, "It's okay, mother. Go, your grandfather... is waiting for you."

The subtle aroma of agarwood lingered in the study. Jiang Zhong sat upright on a huanghuali wood armchair, his silvery hair gleaming coldly in the sunlight streaming through the window. Seeing Xie Qingli enter, his hawk-like gaze fixed on her, a gaze that seemed to possess substance, as if it could penetrate a person's heart.

"Li'er greets grandpa."

Xie Qingli bowed smoothly, and when he raised his head, his eyes were as clear as autumn water, but the fingertips hidden in his sleeves were trembling slightly.

Silence spread across the room. Just as Xie Qingli was about to lose his composure, Jiang Zhong suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. He stood up suddenly and gently pressed his broad palm on the top of Xie Qingli's head. "Good! Even if your eldest brother was here, he wouldn't last more than a moment before his legs gave out."

Xie Qingli's eyes widened, and she realized that it was just a test from her grandfather. Before she could think about it, she felt another heavy pat on the shoulder: "Let's go! Accompany grandfather to the martial arts training ground to exchange a few moves!"

Xie Qingli's pupils suddenly shrank, and he asked in surprise, "How did Grandfather know that Li'er was practicing martial arts?"

Jiang Zhong threw his head back and laughed, his voice as resounding as a bell. "What a coincidence! On my way back to the capital, I ran into that Taoist priest Lingxu. He said he had accepted a disciple with exceptional talent, and it turned out to be my granddaughter."

He stroked his graying beard, his voice tinged with mischief, "It's rumored that that old Taoist priest with the Ox-nosed nose is the best martial artist in the world, but I've never had the chance to spar with him. Today's a great opportunity to test the prowess of his beloved disciple!"

Walking through the corridors, I could faintly hear the sound of weapons clashing. In the martial arts training grounds, my second cousin Jiang Lingfeng and third cousin Jiang Lingji were teaming up to fight my eldest brother, Xie Tingyu. Their three spears swirled like silver dragons, each strike fierce and unstoppable, making it difficult to tell who was stronger.

Jiang Zhong stood at the sidelines with his hands behind his back, his eyes as sharp as lightning. Suddenly, he shouted in a loud voice, "Feng'er, charge to the right! Ji'er, defend the center and attack!"

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Lingfeng suddenly turned the tip of his spear, and with a move called "White Snake Spits Out Its Tongue", he went straight for Xie Tingyu's right rib; Jiang Lingji then retracted the force of his spear, turning it into an "Iron Lock Across the River", blocking Xie Tingyu's retreat.

Xie Tingyu advanced instead, using a single "Sweeping the Thousands" attack to simultaneously deflect the attacks of both men. He capitalized on the momentum, pivoting, his robes fluttering as he retreated from the fray, the tip of his spear pointed diagonally at the ground, a carefree smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Zhong laughed out loud upon seeing this: "Excellent! Yu'er has mastered the 'Sweeping the Enemy' move to the fullest. It seems all those years of training in the army were not in vain."

He turned to look at Jiang Lingfeng and Jiang Lingji, his voice sinking slightly, "You two have a good rapport, but you're lacking some ruthlessness. It seems you've been slacking off in your training."

The two men lowered their heads and said in unison, "Grandson, I admit my mistake. From today on, I will train twice as hard and will never slack off again."

Jiang Zhong snorted softly, suddenly reaching out to take the spear from Xie Tingyu's hand. Jiang Lingfeng and Jiang Lingji exchanged a glance, their faces instantly pale. Was their grandfather going to personally "instruct" them? They couldn't even handle Xie Tingyu, so if they had to accept their grandfather's "instructions," they wouldn't be able to leave their bed for half a month.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhong walked past them and turned to Xie Qingli with a loving smile on his face: "Li'er, pick a weapon that suits you."

Xie Qingli untied the Flowing Clouds and Flying Moon Whip hidden at her waist. The silver-white whip gleamed coldly in the sunlight. She respectfully performed a warrior salute and said, "Li'er is used to using this whip. Please teach me, Grandfather."

Xie Tingyu and the other two were stunned, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground. Especially Xie Tingyu. Li'er was a delicate and weak girl, and she was afraid she couldn't withstand a single blow from her grandfather!

"This..." Xie Tingyu's throat tightened and his voice changed: "Grandfather! Li'er..."

Before she could finish her words, Xie Qingli had already landed on the field like a fleeting shadow. With a flick of her wrist, her Flowing Clouds and Flying Moon whip suddenly unfolded. A silver light flashed, and the sound of the whip tip piercing the air was incessant, carrying a faint sense of murderous aura.

"Alright!" Jiang Zhong's eyes lit up, his hair and beard standing on end. He laughed heartily, and soared up like an eagle. The heavy black iron spear felt like nothing in his hand, its tip gleaming with a cold light, like falling stars.

One old, one young, one strong, one gentle, over ten moves had already been exchanged in the blink of an eye. Jiang Zhong's spear movements were as powerful as the crash of waves; Xie Qingli's whip movements were dense and agile, like willow catkins drifting in the wind. Each of their moves was exquisite and fierce, and neither of them was willing to give in.

The three people on the sidelines were stunned. Xie Tingyu's face turned pale and his hands clenched into fists unconsciously. How could this be the frail sister he remembered?

After a hundred moves, Xie Qingli faltered slightly, exhausted from the prolonged battle. Jiang Zhong seized this fleeting opportunity, abruptly shifting the force of his spear, and clamped the silver whip firmly in his grasp like a mountain.

"Excellent!" Jiang Zhong put away his gun and laughed, stroking his beard as he praised, "Li'er's whip technique combines both hardness and softness, with countless variations. It's more than ten times stronger than these useless brats!"

He glared at the three people beside him and said, "This is what the bloodline of my Jiang family should be like! That old Taoist Lingxu does have some real talent and knowledge."

Xie Qingli put away his whip and saluted, his cheeks flushed from the intense battle: "Grandfather, you are too kind. Li'er is still far from it."

Turning her head and glancing at the pale Xie Tingyu, her heart suddenly tugged. She hurriedly took two steps forward, gently grabbed Xie Tingyu's sleeve, and said in a soft and glutinous voice with a bit of guilt: "Brother..."

This gentle call softened Xie Tingyu's previously hardened heart. He pretended to be tough, pulling back his sleeves, turned his face away, and said coldly, "We've known each other for so long, and I didn't know... Li'er had such abilities."

Xie Qingli's body trembled slightly, a sour feeling surged in his heart, and tears suddenly appeared in his bright eyes: "Brother, Li'er really didn't mean to hide it from you..."

Seeing this, Jiang Lingfeng and Jiang Lingji immediately squeezed in between the two. Jiang Lingji poked Xie Tingyu's shoulder with a playful smile and said, "If you don't want such a talented and beautiful sister, why not give her to our Jiang family?"

Jiang Lingfeng grinned at Xie Qingli, acting like a gentle brother, and softened his voice: "My dear cousin, move to the Jiang Mansion tomorrow. The brothers will hold you in their hands and cherish you..."

"How dare you!" Xie Tingyu suddenly became anxious. He protected Xie Qingli behind him, his handsome face flushed red. "This is my sister, Xie Tingyu. We are blood relatives. Don't even think about taking advantage of her!"

Jiang Zhong stood with his hands behind his back, watching his grandchildren playfully fighting in front of him, a loving smile in his eyes. In the past, these mischievous little boys would play around, but now with a sweet and gentle granddaughter, he could finally experience the joy of playing with his grandchildren.

Several people were arguing fiercely when they suddenly saw the housekeeper Cheng Shan hurried over and bowed to report: "General, someone from the palace has come to announce the decree and is waiting in the front hall..."